Some tunes inspired by / composed for Kenshi

[somnia]

Hi there, recent lurker here. Also this is my first post, so hello.

I've played the demo of Kenshi for a couple of hours, half of which was just running around the world (the other half being me completely screwing things up). Even with only the desert, the feeling the vast emptiness gives me was very strange. I did see vast deserts and nothingnesses in other games, top-down, isometric, fps - but none felt this simple and free. Anyhow, inspired by this, I wrote some tunes, which is what I do in much of my time. None of them are complete yet, but have some potential to grow, imho.

This is me, humbly sharing them with you:
http://soundcloud.com/polimat/for-kenshi

[MonGooS]

Hey Somnia

I dunno what idiot said this:

but also I was told by another gamer that he's probably too busy to deal with stuff like this and my music was probably bad anyway.

But whoever he was, just ignore him. Chris is probably busy (developing the game), its not that he doesn't want to see it. I am sure next time he is on the forums he will reply.

I personally enjoyed it, it could use a little work here and there. It gives a fantastic atmosphere and if this was playing while I was running through the hot and harsh deserts of Kenshi, it would definitely help with the immersion.

Keep it up! I can't wait to hear some more stuff from you!

PS: Instead of people complaining when someone tries to do something to help the game along, I think more people should start being active and helping out. Chris is developing this game alone with little to no funding. This is exactly the kinda thing I would want if I was developing a game.

[Kamos]

I actually really enjoyed that man and I think it could really fit the desert feel. I also really like the segment at the tail end of you Rock/Electronica Showcase - Snippets project.
Chris graces us often enough but he's a solo artist creating a master piece after all .

[Eric1212]

I also enjoy it a lot ! +1 for somnia !

[Blxz]

Hey Somnia

I dunno what idiot said this:

but also I was told by another gamer that he's probably too busy to deal with stuff like this and my music was probably bad anyway.

Huh, where did this quote come from? not from this thread....?

EDIT: Ahh, on the linked website, I got it. Also....nice music. I actually really like this. It feels distinctly like multiple songs rather than a single tune but otherwise, very nice and relaxing.

EDIT2: Actually, I liked the first part the most. I feel it stagnates a little towards the middle and end. I hope you don't mind some criticism. I mean it as constructively as possible.

[Qikdraw]

I liked those!

I am not a music guy, so I'm not going be able to pick little things out. My only criticism would be the 3rd section could do without the pipes at the begining. But that may only be my preference. What I came away with was a sense of Asia, the Middle East and Africa all combining together, which was pretty cool!

Again I am not a music expert in any way shape or form, nor do I pretend to be. somnia has done something I could never do, so my observations are just coming from a place of an idiot. Feel free to disagree with anything I have said.

[somnia]

Thanks everyone for your comments, glad you liked it. I was half expecting a backlash to be honest.

About the criticisms: I agree, first part is the one I'm most happy with. But this is not a whole song, I just put all the tunes I made into one file so it's easy to listen/share all at once. And the winds (bawu to be specific) at the beginning of the third section is there to make the piece feel empty, which goes away and gives a feeling of progression once the strings come in, so yeah, they are kinda out of place there, but for a reason. In any case, thanks for taking the effort and criticise, I appreciate it, and they are extremely useful for me even if I defend my music like it's my baby.

[gusmil]

Hi there, recent lurker here. Also this is my first post, so hello.

I've played the demo of Kenshi for a couple of hours, half of which was just running around the world (the other half being me completely screwing things up). Even with only the desert, the feeling the vast emptiness gives me was very strange. I did see vast deserts and nothingnesses in other games, top-down, isometric, fps - but none felt this simple and free. Anyhow, inspired by this, I wrote some tunes, which is what I do in much of my time. None of them are complete yet, but have some potential to grow, imho.

This is me, humbly sharing them with you:
http://soundcloud.com/polimat/for-kenshi

Okay Im gonna give a post with three things in mind.

1: I was at work when I read this but I wanted to check the music out so one quick search on youtube on kenshi with gameplay in the desert (easy to find) Yes the music suits the game so I guess you nailed it rather well.

2: However I Must say that the first section the first couple of seconds made me cringe as it was way to loud and intense start, however can be solved rather easy with just lower the sound and increase it to full again after a few seconds. or it might just be the first tone.

3:

Not only my attempts were in vain, but also I was told by another gamer that he's probably too busy to deal with stuff like this and my music was probably bad anyway. Oh well.

Chris is working full time on this project and is very busy (and the more silent he's the more time that means he's spending on kenshi), so you shouldn't really put it that way, give him a few weeks, You wont grow a flower over an night. So I must say it feels a bit immature to put in that sentance, also if I were Chris I would frown over reading that, which goes against your aim of goal. but aye I know of whom you speak of, happy to see you didnt involve names, but Chris should been left out I feel.

#4 secret: I liked your music and have played it now in a loop of 40 mins only to make sure I feelt it was suitable for kenshi.

[somnia]

However I Must say that the first section the first couple of seconds made me cringe as it was way to loud and intense start, however can be solved rather easy with just lower the sound and increase it to full again after a few seconds. or it might just be the first tone.

I agree. I think I took care of it in a later iteration, but I'll look into it again just in case.

Chris is working full time on this project and is very busy (and the more silent he's the more time that means he's spending on kenshi), so you shouldn't really put it that way, give him a few weeks, You wont grow a flower over an night. So I must say it feels a bit immature to put in that sentance, also if I were Chris I would frown over reading that, which goes against your aim of goal. but aye I know of whom you speak of, happy to see you didnt involve names, but Chris should been left out I feel.

I'm aware he's busy, I'm not trying to force him or talk behind his back (he isn't even who I'm talking about). In fact I just added that part later on, cause some friends were asking me if I had sent the tunes to the developer. I understand your concern, thank you for mentioning, but I don't think I'll change or remove it now.

I was at work when I read this but I wanted to check the music out so one quick search on youtube on kenshi with gameplay in the desert (easy to find) Yes the music suits the game so I guess you nailed it rather well.

I liked your music and have played it now in a loop of 40 mins only to make sure I feelt it was suitable for kenshi.

This makes me very happy both inside and outside, so I think I'll just go and have a drink in your name sir. Someone listened my music for 40 minutes, willingly? That's something to celebrate. Thank you.

[gusmil]

Haha, make sure you take a big one then, cuz you'll have to drink for me to as I dont drink

[Captain Deathbeard]

Sorry for not responding, I am really busy and I get a lot of messages offering music work and samples for the game, so I tend to think "I'll look at that later" and never get round to it.

I am not planning to have any music in the game (if i do, it will be added at the very end). I want to focus on the atmospherics and sound quality, and I find a lot of games use music to hide their poor sound effects. But your work is really good, keep at it and you could be a professional soundtrack composer one day.

[somnia]

Sorry for not responding, I am really busy and I get a lot of messages offering music work and samples for the game, so I tend to think "I'll look at that later" and never get round to it.

I am not planning to have any music in the game (if i do, it will be added at the very end). I want to focus on the atmospherics and sound quality, and I find a lot of games use music to hide their poor sound effects. But your work is really good, keep at it and you could be a professional soundtrack composer one day.

Please don't apologise, I wasn't trying to blame you or cause trouble to anyone. I understand and respect your stance on the matter, and thanks for your feedback. Again, congratulations for creating Kenshi. Can't wait to see how it will turn out in the end.

Cheers

[ganf]

I think some music in the larger taverns would be nice. Put a small band playing in the corner that you could tip to play a certain tune perhaps? It would be something to do while waiting to heal up after getting jumped between towns or some such rot, if you don't feel like spending the night at an inn. Give you a reason not to hit the fast-forward button while munching your hot-pocket... Ahem...

[Psychedelic Warlord]

I think some music in the larger taverns would be nice. Put a small band playing in the corner that you could tip to play a certain tune perhaps? It would be something to do while waiting to heal up after getting jumped between towns or some such rot, if you don't feel like spending the night at an inn. Give you a reason not to hit the fast-forward button while munching your hot-pocket... Ahem...

Perhaps even hire a travelling musician for your band of troops? I can imagine having a bard to play a little soothing or inspiring music while you're healing up or waiting about could give your troops a slight buff.

Not a bad composition at all OP, certainly better than I could do, I'm detecting Middle Eastern influenes as well as the Oriental, my only complaint is that the arrangement feels perhaps a little cluttered, but the up-tempo percussion meshes well with the graceful strings/wind to give it a sensation of vague lurking menace amongst the dunes.

I could certainly listen to something like that on loop for a while, don't give up buddy

Sorry for not responding, I am really busy and I get a lot of messages offering music work and samples for the game, so I tend to think "I'll look at that later" and never get round to it.

I am not planning to have any music in the game (if i do, it will be added at the very end). I want to focus on the atmospherics and sound quality, and I find a lot of games use music to hide their poor sound effects. But your work is really good, keep at it and you could be a professional soundtrack composer one day.

Mm, not even perhaps a little title screen music?
Though the sound of the wind whistling through lonely gullies and sweeping across trackless plains is always a great go-to for a sense of mystery and desolation, perhaps not so great for towns though.
Although I remember Geneforge by Spiderweb Studios uses a sort of general Bustle noise, laughing children and trundling Oxcarts when in towns, which was quite atmospheric (though their execution of it was made a little annoying by the specific noise of high-pitched babbling children, which occurred more often than it needed to).