One to Fifty, One Zone - Long OP

[Aistaraina]

Actually here....
http://grooveshark.com/#/album/Final...Zilart/3781964
Anything from Zilart to get the creative vibes on zone ideas flowing
Notice how each song fits so well with the themes of the zones, such cohesion.

I just want to thank you for posting that link. Brought back some good memories of the XI days. The music in that game is just phenomenal. You are quite correct, the music for each zone was quite unique, therefore causing each zone to feel unique in it's own sense.

Currently we one gigantic map per zone, where we the players are probably only using <5% of it. And through each of these giant zones we have one single background song for the entire map. I've gotten to the point where I've turned the BGM off, and blast Disturbed, or some Trance or Hardstyle in the background to try and make things a bit more exciting.

I just came across the Norg track on that link, and I recall walking into one of the tiny town settlements in Thanalan, and there was no change in music... it also looked like crap. The XI settlements had feeling to them. Individuality. Unique zone layouts, and personalized music to go along with it. While I realize this thread is about creating a more distinct, natural world that is fun to explore, the music should not be forgotten. Music is used to set the mood of the environment, or the battle, and plays an intricate part in making the player believe.

[Zahak]

I just want to thank you for posting that link. Brought back some good memories of the XI days. The music in that game is just phenomenal. You are quite correct, the music for each zone was quite unique, therefore causing each zone to feel unique in it's own sense.

Currently we one gigantic map per zone, where we the players are probably only using <5% of it. And through each of these giant zones we have one single background song for the entire map. I've gotten to the point where I've turned the BGM off, and blast Disturbed, or some Trance or Hardstyle in the background to try and make things a bit more exciting.

I just came across the Norg track on that link, and I recall walking into one of the tiny town settlements in Thanalan, and there was no change in music... it also looked like crap. The XI settlements had feeling to them. Individuality. Unique zone layouts, and personalized music to go along with it. While I realize this thread is about creating a more distinct, natural world that is fun to explore, the music should not be forgotten. Music is used to set the mood of the environment, or the battle, and plays and intricate part in making the player believe.

here here!! I wish SE would make nobuo redo his songs. Make them longer too.. he said so himself he wasn't happy with how they turned out.

[kurokawa]

here here!! I wish SE would make nobuo redo his songs. Make them longer too.. he said so himself he wasn't happy with how they turned out.

I used to have the album of all the ffxi songs played on piano solo. T'was gorgeous.

[EdenArchangel]

I just want to thank you for posting that link. Brought back some good memories of the XI days. The music in that game is just phenomenal. You are quite correct, the music for each zone was quite unique, therefore causing each zone to feel unique in it's own sense.

Currently we one gigantic map per zone, where we the players are probably only using <5% of it. And through each of these giant zones we have one single background song for the entire map. I've gotten to the point where I've turned the BGM off, and blast Disturbed, or some Trance or Hardstyle in the background to try and make things a bit more exciting.

I just came across the Norg track on that link, and I recall walking into one of the tiny town settlements in Thanalan, and there was no change in music... it also looked like crap. The XI settlements had feeling to them. Individuality. Unique zone layouts, and personalized music to go along with it. While I realize this thread is about creating a more distinct, natural world that is fun to explore, the music should not be forgotten. Music is used to set the mood of the environment, or the battle, and plays an intricate part in making the player believe.

You're welcome ^^ Pretty sure the original OST as well as the expansion OSTs are on there, Zilart just happened to be when I started, thus the most meaning for me.

I agree completely. Unique music in diverse zones is as big an issue as everything else expressed in this thread.

(Oh, and I tend to blast Shin Megami Tensei OSTs in my going-ons xD)

[Zanfire]

^ ive gone to the point of just running radio stations or last.fm in the back. I think the first think that got to me even before being tired of the zone music was the damn loud DING sound from tabbing or selecting stuff. And though this is probly meant for another thread, the damn rotating circles for the targets is awful to me. Its right in the middle of things and its distracting (half the time i cant always tell what im targeting) what ever happened to just using a pointer above the monster (on its name) and making it glow a couple time.....its just works....dont change it for the sake of being different.

[kurokawa]

Just had a humble ish thought before I trott off to bed.

The area designers, if they read this thread, will be mortified and truly gutted that their work has undergone such fierce (but hopefully largely constructive) feedback from the community. Sorry fellas!

I just wanted to say to Bayonne if you read this sir, can you please pass on my (our?) thanks to the devs for the designs they've made so far. We moan alot in the community and i'd hate for them to go home feeling crap after reading our feedback. Yes the areas need work, mistakes may have been made with the limitations and guidelines the devs worked to, but the areas have so much potential right now. They're massive canavases to work on!

I hope this thread can be read in the right way, and that com reps, devs and even yoshi see it and know that we love the game and want to make it better. That's why we grumble and joke, argue and laugh.

We care loads and just want freedom to explore a truly diverse world.

[EdenArchangel]

^ ive gone to the point of just running radio stations or last.fm in the back. I think the first think that got to me even before being tired of the zone music was the damn loud DING sound from tabbing or selecting stuff.

Off topic, but audio > system sounds to 0 fixed the sounds up for me

Back to topic---

We'll be heard this week! We MUST

[Kiara]

I just want to thank you for posting that link. Brought back some good memories of the XI days. The music in that game is just phenomenal. You are quite correct, the music for each zone was quite unique, therefore causing each zone to feel unique in it's own sense.

Currently we one gigantic map per zone, where we the players are probably only using <5% of it. And through each of these giant zones we have one single background song for the entire map. I've gotten to the point where I've turned the BGM off, and blast Disturbed, or some Trance or Hardstyle in the background to try and make things a bit more exciting.

I just came across the Norg track on that link, and I recall walking into one of the tiny town settlements in Thanalan, and there was no change in music... it also looked like crap. The XI settlements had feeling to them. Individuality. Unique zone layouts, and personalized music to go along with it. While I realize this thread is about creating a more distinct, natural world that is fun to explore, the music should not be forgotten. Music is used to set the mood of the environment, or the battle, and plays an intricate part in making the player believe.

I was just about to post this also.

Thank you Eden and Aistaraina. Yes! It's a subtle thing that many people take for granted, but MUSIC is definitely another key reason why FF XI felt so varied and interesting, and why FF XIV so far is lacking.

As everyone's been pointing out, besides having one giant zone from Rank 1 - 50, we're stuck listening to THE SAME MUSIC TRACK from Rank 1 - 50 in the same ONE REGION.

If SE does finally break up the zones as we're asking for, I hope we get some fantastic varied music as well.

To be fair, I think Mor Dhona's morbid, epic music is wonderful and evokes feelings of Castlevania + classic Final Fantasy (especially during its Purple Fog weather) but even that falls short if that ends up staying as 1 large region, with 1 music track.

Here's to hoping tomorrow's Producer Letter and Patch 1.18 is the beginning of greatness.

[Mack]

You're thinking of Windurst, bud.
Heaven's Tower music was lovely -- I think something I really liked about the XI music was the use of traditional and ethnic instruments in many areas. Pan flute, mandolin, harps, shakers, all that nice stuff that added exotic 'spice.' ^^
As opposed to predominately electronic creations.

Actually here....
http://grooveshark.com/#/album/Final...Zilart/3781964
Anything from Zilart to get the creative vibes on zone ideas flowing
Notice how each song fits so well with the themes of the zones, such cohesion.
(What XIV misses)

OH wow Kazham music is so much better than I remember it, brings a tear to my eye.

[Averix]

I apologize if that has already been said but I didn't want to try reading through all the posts. I think the one zone idea was a great idea, implementation is just awful. From the games I have played people have repeatedly cried that everything is too instanced now and it doesn't feel cohesive. This is what leads to the one major hub for gathering in most games. I think the hub in FFXIV is more to do with population. When the game was first released players were everywhere and it made it feel alive.

It's easy to see where SE got this idea, and if put together right I think it would have really paid off. Sadly, they took the idea of using one zone and didn't think about what that would mean or implement all the features it would take to truly make areas feel unique. I think with enough thought in the future about how to make areas more distinct while keeping it all one zone, it can actually be a large selling point for future players.