X-COM and Sound Design

[BandofGypsies]

It seems as though this forum has become a little stagnant... and more of a stage for the circular bouts of Pod vs Everyone… each to his own I say.. (although I see some references used to help bolster one’s point of view a little bewildering.. perplexing.. and… maybe even nonsensical.) Probably not helped by the ABSOLUTE absence of any news from 2K about our revered franchise...

Anyhow..To bring up another topic.. and perhaps one thing that hasn’t been discussed as far as I can see is - music.

Both Battlescape/Combat and General Ambient/Base backing tracks.

The pulsating sound of the battlescape plagued my mind in the wee hours.. very 50’s sci fi.. Tense.. unforgettable.. the high toned, digital fluterring of noises.. the swirling
vortex effect just drills into your psyche..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpamA...eature=related

From TFTD.. How foreboding and ominous is this piece?.. the tension. The dark brooding feeling of the sound..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiVUXCp8_jo

This piece of music I find just so relaxing and ambient.. even in its own right, it would be a fantastic soundscape.. Hour after hour of this, I failed to be bored by its repetition. From Apocalypse …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFwJf...3DF7FA6F5B66EF

Not only did X-com play so well, It was accompanied by such fitting music… all thematically so in tune with what X-com was about…

2K, I hope your sound design is up to scratch.. because these previous pieces set a high benchmark…

Does anyone else here share a same appreciation of the sounds that accompanied the first 3 X-com games? And feel that sound design is a crucial part of overall game development?

[AlphaCent]

Music was almost half of X-com...for me at least. But i started off on the Amiga version which had better music than other platforms. But yeah, i pretty much loved all of x-com music.

Here's an awesome remix of the intercept music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3y1r5F9UeU

[Shrike]

Heehee, that rock remix of the intercept music reminded me of this fanart.

http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=xcom...et=48#/d1v622w

90s extreme made even MORE extreme!

[AlphaCent]

That pic is awesome, too bad it's not in the right resolution otherwise i just might put it on my background.

[ShanDaMan]

The sound design in X-COM1 was truly amazing. The music during the battlescape set the right mood, but the sounds during the alien's turn added to the mysterious, dangerous atmoshpere. Was that the sound of a apartment door opening? Was that the UFO sending out more soldiers? Was that the Chrysalid attack sound? Just how many aliens are out there?

The way those sounds stirred the imagination while you were looking at a scary "Hidden Movement" screen was a big part of the reason the game was so tense. When the "Hidden Movement" screen was quickly replaced by a snippet of movement, it forced the player to frantically note the details to anticipate which door the muton just went through or what direction that shot came from.

The sounds and graphics worked so well that I often found myself holding my breath until either I saw civilians walking around or it was my turn again.

[Nosmirc]

The only issue I really had with the music was that after the nth ground mission, that repeative beat started getting on my nerves lol...Just needs some variation.

[Brian Damage]

The original X-Com's sound design was a crucial part of the whole, and I note it sports not a single background tune that becomes irritating over an extended period of play, at least for me.

As for the integration with the gameplay, it occurs to me that it might be difficult to get the same sort of effect as ShanDaMan describes in an FPS. Possibly a similar feeling could be created by having the AI's major priority be to stay out of the player's line of sight until it has the tactical advantage.

[AlphaCent]

Hey hey, it was 1994...don't get greedy now.

[BandofGypsies]

Here's an awesome remix of the intercept music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3y1r5F9UeU

Powermetal-tastic.
Great..

Didnt realise the playstation version had different music..
Glad to see others here recognise the importance of a fitting, well put together soundtrack...

Trawling through the net i came across this slightly tragic yet awesome clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMFIziZRKuk

He has the passion. In spades.
DO YOU 2K??