Some ambient animal sounds (Dev response)

[Naraku_Diabolos]

Don't really fit the area at all. One that sticks out as a HUGE sore thumb is the loon calls in Thanalan. Why would a loon, a bird that belongs to lakes in colder, northern climates, be used as an ambient animal sound in a desert region? Is there some reason why it is used in the deserts and canyons in Thanalan? Though I do like the sounds of Spring Peeper frogs used when it rains in Gridania!

I do know a company, devs, that has a wealth of ambient nature sounds. I own all of their released albums. The brand of albums are Dan Gibson's Solitudes, look them up on iTunes. It would be cool if we had wolves howling in Coerthas, and hawks screeching in the Coerthas areas in Heavensward.

[Limecat]

I'd like to see the critters at times too. I've only ever noticed birds flying overhead, but it would be cool if they could add little fish/frogs/songbirds/bugs and others as untargetable wallpaper creatures here and there.

[Naraku_Diabolos]

I know what you mean! In FFXI, I've seen owls in trees and fish swimming in the water. I also remember the Sharks down at the beaches.

[LlenCoram]

There is a single fish swimming in the water at the Silver Bazaar docks in Western Thanalan.

It's the only one I know of.

[Naraku_Diabolos]

There is a single fish swimming in the water at the Silver Bazaar docks in Western Thanalan.

It's the only one I know of.

Only one fish?? Wow. I remember when ARR was in Alpha, a Dev said we would have a lot of wildlife. We do have non-monster fireflies in Gridania at night.

[Canadane]

It would be cool if we had wolves howling in Coerthas

Oh man this would send chills up my spine, if the snow wasn't already doing that!

[Malakai]

Coerthas: Birds and Hawk ambiances during day, at night it would get quiet with a few howls from dogs/wolves. Full time BGM as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XWjdKre5kg

Black Shroud: Daytime had bird & insect ambiances and insects like dragonflies that flew around the lakes. At night time frogs would be perched on rocks near rivers and the ambiance would change to frog croaks and owl hoots.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvCXvt43clM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7juiwNhbOM
The daily run... :P most veterans would remember doing this daily. There was no freely teleporting around for a few gil or choco's at the early stage you can rent/use. You actually had to travel on foot (and later on when you did get your company choco) around to places while conserving the anima you had for the important tele's. And it wasn't bad either, most people enjoyed traveling around mainly due to the music and ambiances, it made you feel like a part of that world. 2.0 lacks the "world" feel to it. There is hardly any exploration to be had, it's just small instanced area's and zones. It's just instant gratification to get somewhere in a short amount of time. So instead of allowing players to immerse themselves into a world and feel a part of it and explore and free roam in vast huge area's it all feels condensed down. It's like they swapped out exploring and adventuring to be part of the world to instead making it all instant get to places so you have more time to grind against the RNG mechanics of the game then enjoy the scenery, music, and world feel. But that's just me and how I feel. I'm sure they can't do vast big zones due to PS3 limitations. But still the world doesn't even feel "alive" anymore. Yea there's chatter ambiance when lots of people are around but most of the time those people are just standing around doing nothing waiting on DF to queue.

[tymora]

I remember an old post during Alpha..."where are the fish?!"

[Mahri]

I think my favorite animal ambiance is when it rains in the Shroud, there is this utterly cacaphonous bird chirping going on.

I have no idea why that happens, but it's 100% true to real life. Birds just love making noise when it rains.

[Naraku_Diabolos]

I remember Coerthas 1.0 with its ambient sounds...I miss hearing the hawks and birds chatter. The ambient sounds of birds in the Black Shroud was way more life-like, too. Now that you shared that video, I remember how it felt to be in the Shroud. We need more animals and sounds. Devs, hear us out!