Audio, It's huge...

Gyva02

Or should I say the lack of it. For fun I got set up on Project 1999 (classic EQ emulator) And I'm having a blast. One thing I absolutely love is when you wander away from a town and all you hear is the wild around you (no music). You hear the bugs, the creatures, nearby footsteps, howling, the wind, ect. ect... . It's really really immersive to have only the sounds of nature with you when you are far from town. When it rains the thunder is awesome, BOOM!!! lol, completely forgot how cool that was. I hope you guys have all kinds of high quality nature audio to put into this game. Also hope you keep music to the populated towns or magical sites we stumble into...

What do you guys think?

Dullahan

Definitely agree.  The ambient sounds in zones were huge.  I still remember walking out into Toxxulia on my erudite for the first time.  The sounds alone made it scary, even before I realized how dangerous it was trying to traverse the zone or kill the inhabitants.

Rattenmann

I did the same on project 1999 lately. Just checking out if my "old feelings" still hold true or if i am wearing rose colored glasses.

• I had 3 people wanting to help me out before i reached level 2.
• I had 5 people on my friendlist before reaching level 5. (that is 5 more then i put on there in the past 7 or 8 years in modern games)
• The sounds, oh god the sounds.... scary and beautiful game at the same time.

 

No. No rose colored glasses. Just a better game then whatever we get nowadays. And sounds and the great use of music (or the lack of music if it does not fit!) are a big part in that.

 

Dullahan

Only people who didn't play it say its nostalgia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J80Ndm1iVpA&feature=youtu.be

elocke

It's definitely nostalgia.  Also...what does this have to do with Pantheon?  A lot of those sounds are stock sounds you can hear anywhere these days, but I agree in some respects, sounds can make a game.  I like soundtracks myself with an awesome ambient sound effects and the option to loop music or turn it off whenever and however I want.  GW2, EQ2, WoW etc. all do their soundscape very well.  Future games need to have this to even hope to compete.

Dullahan

Ah, good old nostalgia remarks.  There are countless distinctions with EQ that can't be found in other mmos to this day, sound being one of them.  I'm sure its only nostalgia that led hundreds of thousands of people to sign up on eqemulator.

Many of the sounds from EQ have become stock sounds solely because the experience was that palpable; people have sought to replicate it by using its sounds.  I still hear effects popularized or that originated with EQ in games, tv and movies.

The difference is in the way sound in games like EQ created an amazing atmosphere.  I agree, at least WoW did that right as well to a degree.  I still recall ambient sounds in some areas that really made the experience memorable like the sound of dogs barking in Ogrimmar.  I can't think of a recent mmorpg that really created an eerie or tense atmosphere by way of sound alone.

Good news is sound and music were the reason why Joppa joined the Pantheon team, so I'm expecting big things from him.

goboygo

Originally posted by Dullahan

Ah, good old nostalgia remarks.  There are countless distinctions with EQ that can't be found in other mmos to this day, sound being one of them.  I'm sure its only nostalgia that led hundreds of thousands of people to sign up on eqemulator.

Many of the sounds from EQ have become stock sounds solely because the experience was that palpable; people have sought to replicate it by using its sounds.  I still hear effects popularized or that originated with EQ in games, tv and movies.

The difference is in the way sound in games like EQ created an amazing atmosphere.  I agree, at least WoW did that right as well to a degree.  I still recall ambient sounds in some areas that really made the experience memorable like the sound of dogs barking in Ogrimmar.  I can't think of a recent mmorpg that really created an eerie or tense atmosphere by way of sound alone.

Good news is sound and music were the reason why Joppa joined the Pantheon team, so I'm expecting big things from him.

Your right like the OP is right.  Today kids have 13 different options for what they listen to when playing a game so most could care less and think sound and in game music is trivial and optional.   Atmosphere and sound aren't really at the top of the list for allot of young gamers these days.  I on the other hand think its 30% to 35% of the game.  It really can make or break a game for me.  I cant count the number of times I've heard people say " I turn off game sounds completely  and listen to (insert generic band hear) you don't need that crappy in game music and sound effects".  When in fact the music and sound effects are both amazingly good on the game they are referring to.  Its like trying to convince someone that Sistine Chapel is pretty when they are just there to get a glimpse of the pope.

Gyva02

Originally posted by elocke
It's definitely nostalgia.  Also...what does this have to do with Pantheon?  A lot of those sounds are stock sounds you can hear anywhere these days, but I agree in some respects, sounds can make a game.  I like soundtracks myself with an awesome ambient sound effects and the option to loop music or turn it off whenever and however I want.  GW2, EQ2, WoW etc. all do their soundscape very well.  Future games need to have this to even hope to compete.

lol It definitely is not nostalgia. I'm not reminiscing about past times I'm in the game and I'm loving it, it has become my main game and I found myself putting in over 12 hours a day for the last 3 weeks. Something I haven't done in over a decade with a game so they did something right

What does pantheon have to do with EQ??? Pantheon is going to be the Everquest Next that everyone wanted. Have you watched the pantheon videos? It's game combat is mirroring that of EQ's combat. Theres no bunny hopping parkor dodging garbage here. It's a tab target skill system that slowly increases as you use them. Just like EQ in "You get better at swimming (6)" "You get better at 2H slashing (12)" This is how your skills will advance here as you use them. We also have Brad Mcquaid who who was also an EQ Dev filling the roles of lead programmer, lead designer and producer. Here at Pantheon he's the director. (yes I wiki checked lol)

Pantheon has EVERYTHING to do with with EQ. 

And I'm super excited for it!!!!!

 

Scumm

I know exactly what you're talking about.  That moment when the city themes cut out and atmospheric sounds kick in.  Even though you could be relatively close to the gate, it really give you a feeling like you're lost in the wilderness.  Music is a powerful thing and the absence of music can be just as powerful.

 

Rattenmann

Originally posted by Dullahan

Ah, good old nostalgia remarks.  There are countless distinctions with EQ that can't be found in other mmos to this day, sound being one of them.  I'm sure its only nostalgia that led hundreds of thousands of people to sign up on eqemulator.

Many of the sounds from EQ have become stock sounds solely because the experience was that palpable; people have sought to replicate it by using its sounds.  I still hear effects popularized or that originated with EQ in games, tv and movies.

DING!

Originally posted by Gyva02

lol It definitely is not nostalgia. I'm not reminiscing about past times I'm in the game and I'm loving it, it has become my main game and I found myself putting in over 12 hours a day for the last 3 weeks. Something I haven't done in over a decade with a game so they did something right

Same actually.... damn. Anyone wanna powerlevel my Necro to level 12 tho, i can't stand being outdamaged by my pet anymore! *grin*

What does pantheon have to do with EQ??? Pantheon is going to be the Everquest Next that everyone wanted. Have you watched the pantheon videos? It's game combat is mirroring that of EQ's combat. Theres no bunny hopping parkor dodging garbage here. It's a tab target skill system that slowly increases as you use them. Just like EQ in "You get better at swimming (6)" "You get better at 2H slashing (12)" This is how your skills will advance here as you use them. We also have Brad Mcquaid who who was also an EQ Dev filling the roles of lead programmer, lead designer and producer. Here at Pantheon he's the director. (yes I wiki checked lol)

Pantheon has EVERYTHING to do with with EQ. 

And I'm super excited for it!!!!!

 

Exactly this. Pantheon, if they like it or not, will be judged by EQ standards. It is considered the last string of hope for us old farts. If they deliver, i and many others i am sure, will shower them in money. Got plenty of money to spend on a hobby. The joy of being employed.

There is no way in hell that Pantheon will not be compared to EQ on every single feature.

SlyLoK

Great sound design to me is one of the most important things to have in any game. I still think the best sound design of any game ever came from an old GMUD named Legends of Kesmai.. The sound made that game being 2D Tile Based not matter at all.

Wish EA would sell the IP already but they wont because they still use code that game used in their new games ( and Legends is nearly 2 decades old ).

On another note I wish Kesco was still around.

Robsolf

IMO, sound is where much of the immersion comes from.  Even having a 27" monitor still feels like a window looking in; it's having great audio from a game, playing through a competent sound system that does the most to make you feel like you're in a great big virtual world.