So, what's going on in DesertDweller's world?
Hm...one moment, lemme ask him real quick.
*Picks up telephone and dials number*
Hello? Yes...um...yeah. Aha! That's right. Now I remember. Yes, thanks, goodbye.
*Click*
Sorry about that. You see, DesertDweller is so busy these days he's hardly done anything in the indie world. He doesn't even have time to blog, so he hired me to write this thing for him. As you can see it's quite difficult as I have to write about what he's been doing. Anyway, let see...things he's up to.
1. Music
Yes, as always, DesertDweller has been giving music priority during free time. He even works on it during his 30 minute breaks while working! The guy is near crazy--he's gotten this VST plugin called Symphonic Orchestra FREE by East West/Quantum Leap. Basically it's a free version of their extremely high quality orchestral samples, including strings, some horns, cellos, and some reeds to boot. Of course, this has made DesertDweller extremely excited about making orchestral pieces; once he has $1000 to spare he wants to purchase the Complete Composers Collection, giving him tons more samples like choirs and chimes along with fuller effects. He's also been eyeing lots of keyboards on craigslist, hoping to snatch a decent one at a bargain deal so he can more efficiently knock out tunes.
Of course, DesertDweller's also been putting his passion to good use. He's involved in 3 separate game projects doing music for the developers. We'll see which ones (if any) pan out eh?
2. Improv on the Piano
Believe it or not, DesertDweller loves to spend what precious little free time he has at home fooling around on the piano trying to mimic some tune or come up with a unique one of his own. He's been spending hours playing Cave Story, Legend of Zelda, and Spirit Engine II pieces, converting the sounds to piano and whatnot, then taking the music wherever it leads him. The ocarina likewise has been used quite often lately.
3. The Spirit Engine II
OK. So maybe DesertDweller isn't THAT busy on weekends, and a lot of time has gone into playing through The Spirit Engine II, but it has been worth it. He's already beaten the game once on Easy, and is currently playing through on Normal now that he has half a clue about the battle mechanics and core strategy.
More on this game later; there's a lot to learn from it.
4. Work
Yes, DD has a job as a math, physics, and now...chemistry and spanish? That's right, DD has recently subbed for missing Spanish tutors and took up some science hours to tutor chemistry...and technically bio, anat and phis, ochem, and others but he's really quite useless in there. Why he took those extra hours I don't know.
He has almost definitively decided his major is going to be electrical engineering!? That's a knew one, I certainly wasn't expecting to hear him say that. Apparently physics II: electricity and magnetism has been really easy for him, so he's been all excited about how everything at the atomic level has been working, something many other engineering majors don't get to focus on.
5. NOT Zelda
Sadly, DesertDweller has momentarily lost interest in Link's Awakening, his current project. Progress will pick up soon as the busy part of this semester is near over.
However, what he has been doing is participating wayyy too much in online discussion about possible Zelda theories, especially concerning the meaning behind the whole concept of Link's Awakening. (no spoilers!)
6. NOT Sports
:( Yes, a sad consequence of DesertDweller having a job is that he has no time to play sports anymore, with the exception perhaps of ping-pong. He does however play his ping-pong religiously nearly every weekday, winning quite often.
7. NOT Happy Little Ditty
This I don't understand. DesertDweller was on a roll and was near done with the AI. Once he finished that part he would be all inspired again and be able to work on HLD for several weeks to come without losing enthusiasm. What happened? I honestly don't know, you'd have to ask him yourself.
I hope this has been enough to entertain you for 5 minutes or so. I'm not sure how well I communicated his current interests and doings, but hey, it's better than nothing right?
Until next time,
Mo Zanzabar
Public Relations Agent for The Game Maker Desert
Posted on 27 February 2010 | 12:03 am
After a week of stressing out over what I would enter into the competition, I finally submitted my entry, Synthetic Feelings, to the Share Your Best Music competition at FreeBrain
Through this piece, I learned how to control a vst plugin directly via a midi controller. (was so excited when it actually worked, w00t!) Struggled for volume balance but in the end I think it came out okay.
Mostly exercised all I've learned over the past several months.
OH YEAH! I made cover art too! This was required for the competition so I threw something together in 10 minutes or so. It's basically 10 effects used in sequence plus some text. Don't think it turned out great but it didn't turn out horrible either.
General Info
Title: Synthetic FeelingsAppr. Size: 3.1 MB Length: 2:59 Brief Description: I had a hard time squeezing this song into 3 minutes, which was the maximum length for the competition. I think this song has a lot of potential, and hope it stands a chance in the competition. :D Used a couple nice synths for this tune, strings, piano, a drum kit, plus some random bass plugin.
And filters. LOTS of filters.
Embed:
Posted on 15 February 2010 | 10:46 am
Okay.
So I've played through many Zelda games, and have the soundtracks for almost all of them (excluding the Oracle games, original Legend of Zelda, Minish Cap, and both Four Swords games), I'm going to make a top-25 music list. I will be taking into account when the game's soundtrack was made (so I would expect more from a more recent game)
Also, while the same songs will make it into every top-n Zelda song list, I prioritize based on not only the sound, but the story and meaning behind the title to me.
25. Great Fairy - Wind Waker
This melody is both the menu and fairy theme for most Zelda games. However, my favorite rendition is played when you meet the "great" child fairy of Mother and Child Isles in WW. The mood suddenly becomes so much more playful.
24. Gerudo Fortress - Ocarina of Time
Yes, I did have to pick this one. Another huge favorite of Zelda fans, Gerudo Fortress adds variety and spice to the desert setting of the Gerudo.
Tons of remixes to this song exist. My favorite is chthonic's Anthem of a Misguided Youth, closely followed by Mamacitas in My Valley by Diggi Dis.
23. Staff Credits - Four Swords Adventure
I haven't played FSA, but this is still a great, upbeat tune. Not much else to say about it...
22. Inside a House - Any Game
It is so interesting to watch the evolution of this tune almost every Zelda game has. OoT, MM, WW, and TP all have the same melody, while AoL, LA, and FSA, and PH all have new/different songs for when Link enters a house. Spirit Tracks completely discards the whole notion altogether, playing slower versions of village tunes when Link enters a house.
This would be a tune I would like to remix when I get a chance.
21. Clocktown Day X - Majora's Mask
Another of my favorite songs from Majora's Mask, Clocktown, played on any day, is a happy little ditty that progresses to become less happy and more mysterious as days go by, while still maintaining the melody.
My favorite is the Third Day rendition.
20. Saria's Song/Lost Woods - Ocarina of Time
I prefer to call this song Saria's Song, but most people recognize it as the Lost Woods theme. There's such a cheerful and quick-paced feeling behind this song; it just had to make the list.
I made an (albeit not as great as my other's) remix of this called Dance Saria.
19. Overworld - A Link to the Past
Overworld! I do like the OoT overworld more, but I pitied ALttP because only a couple of it's songs made my list, so I put this one. This is where the Legend of Zelda theme started to become much more popular.
18. Temple of Time - Ocarina of Time
Indeed, I do have to include the epic theme of the Temple of Time. I don't have much to say about this besides the fact that it's a great ocarina song.
17. Linebeck's Theme - Phantom Hourglass
Oftentimes I get almost too focused on the story in the Zelda series, that I unfairly weight songs based on the setting behind them instead of individual merit. Linebecks' Theme is a song I like based purely by how it sounds. While most of the song is ok, the best part is right during the chord change, when you expect a minor chord like the first run-through, but you get a major one.
16. Tal Tal Heights - Link's Awakening
!!! I'm still playing Link's Awakening so this song has been rather spoiled for me, but it's yet another epic tune form the Zelda series. Another favorite among Zelda fans, the song inspires courage and fortitude.
The melody is similar to the main Zelda overworld theme; what changes are the underlying bass notes.
Best remix I've found: Mountain of Dreams by Willrock. Definitely wanna check this out if you don't do anything else.
15. Midna's Desperation - Twilight Princess
I haven't played TP, so I can't say much about the story around this song, but if it's anything like Farewell Hyrule King, then this song would be higher on the list. The song itself is kinda indeterminate. The song never really seems to pick a mood, leaving you with a weird, complicated, empty feeling.
14. Windmill Hut/Song of Storm - Ocarina of Time
An exceedingly popular tune from Ocarina of Time, the unique nature of the windmill hut and it's place in Kakariko Village adds to the already stunning melody.
I have remixed this song, but looking back, the mix is horrible and not posted here.
In Majora's Mask this song saves you from curses.
13. Kokiri Forest - Ocarina of Time
This is probably the first Zelda song I ever heard, back when I was 12 or so and was babysitting for a friend, the kid I was watching was playing OoT. He didn't know what to do, so this song got stuck in my head. The song is ok, but right at the bridge at 0:39, I'm still not sure why, but that chord progression sticks in my head. Random trivia: Outset Island from Wind Waker is a remix of this tune. (probably are since both are Link's starting location)
I've tried remixing this song several times but to no avail. Outset Island, it's in-Zelda remix, however, has a great 8-bit remix First Time on Outset.
12. Dragon Roost Island - Wind Waker
Yes, we all know this song has to make the list. There's no two ways about it, the instrumentation for this tune is awesome; the rhythm is exciting and inspiring.
11. Kakariko Is Safe/Resurging of Kakariko of Village - Twilight Princess
This is one of those songs that is so easy to get lost in. I whip out my ocarina and could play this one song easily for 30 minutes straight.
So beautiful. So relaxing.
10. Battle - The Adventure of Link
Ok, so the quality of music wasn't that great back then. Nevertheless this is an awesome tune. There's a rendition of this one available on ZREO that demonstrates how much potential the melodies in this song have. (link)
9. Overworld Theme - Spirit Tracks
Now we're getting to the good stuff. This theme is so packed with adventure and spirit (ha!) it's crazy. The pan flute was a great choice for a main Zelda instruments; it sounds like a really breathy ocarina or something.
Love the mix here.
8. Staff Credits - The Wind Waker
A pet peeve of mine. Lots of people love the Title Theme for Wind Waker. Hardly anybody remembers the Staff Credits, which expands on the Title Theme so much there's hardly a comparison.
A great ZREO rendition of this piece can be found here.
7. Aboda Village - Spirit Tracks
Yes, this is the cutest song ever. You can't deny it. If I transpose all the notes down a full-step, I can play it on my ocarina. So much fun.
I have little idea what goes on in Aboda Village, but it must be the Windfall Island of Spirit Tracks because the music makes you think the whole village is all hustle and bustle. (as much as villages can be... >_>)
6. Mabe Village - Link's Awakening
After making this list, I'm surprised I put this so high. It is one of the many Zelda songs I love to play on my ocarina. It's a simple melody that's so much fun to listen to. Makes me think of a bittersweet farewell or something.
I would love to remix this when I get a chance.
5. Farewell Hyrule King - Wind Waker
A beautiful piano rendition of the already popular (but not as much in my book) Hyrule Castle from A Link to the Past. This song is one of the reasons I so much liked Wind Waker--it reminds me of how much Ganondorf's side of the story is revealed in the Wind Waker. You almost pity him; he was originally a good leader, but pressure from his disadvantaged people compelled him into conflict with Hyrule.
The wind. It is blowing.
4. The Legendary Hero - Wind Waker
One of the less memorable songs from Wind Waker, but very much a gem, The Legendary Hero has an epic mood to it. Especially when the (violin?) comes in 0:53 into the song and the main Overworld theme plays, basically recapping the history of Hyrule from the Ocarina of Time.
3. Zelda Theme/Zelda's Lullaby - Ocarina of Time
This melody too is full of story and nostalgia. I remember when I first played Ocarina of Time, I kept wondering why such a boring melody on the ocarina was so important in the game. Then I heard the whole song; wow, what a work of art.
Not so well known is that this melody was first heard in A Link to the Past whenever you obtain a crystal. It was enhanced into Zelda's Lullaby in OoT, where it became much more popular.
Great remix of this song: Pachelbel's Ganon by djpretzel from OCRemix
2. The Ballad of the Windfish - Link's Awakening
Another beautifully crafted piece; half the tunes in Link's Awakening seem to be based off of this melody. It's amazing how with so many limitations in the quality of music, that such a simple song can be so entrancing. There's a beautiful rendition of it by Fox Amoore available here.
1. Song of Healing - Majora's Mask
Winning the top position for Zelda music is easily my favorite that I have heard. The stories of Darunia, Mikau, Pamela, and the Happy Mask Salesman further enhance the meaning behind this already incredible song. I made a remix of this song here.
Inside a House Insi
Posted on 2 February 2010 | 4:41 pm
