MUSIC CONTEST II - Discussion

[Sephalo]

I and some others on hive thought it would be cool to get a second music contest running because the last one was a pretty good succes for a first time. What kind of theme would people here think of?

Here are some of the theme idea's:

Specific themes:
- Desert
- Under Water
- Forest
- Starcraft
- Action Music (for a boss battle or something)

More open themes:
- A theme song written to fit with a certain character from either the warcraft or starcraft lore. Like a song for Medivh or Jaina (don't know any sc2 characters)
- A theme song for a warcraft location like Orgrimmar, Stormwind, Darnassus or Wyrmcrest Temple, Wailing Caverns, Deadmines or something.
- A song that replaces the background movie of a specific Wc3 campaign movie. <Examples>

 

[Sabertooth]

*cough* Boss Battle *cough*
Just an idear to add to the list.

 

[Sephalo]

Added!
*Action Music* For boss battles in your case

 

[WherewolfTherewolf]

Wow, I made this same thread a while ago and it was completely ignored.

- Desert
- Under Water
- Forest

I'm all for the sort of terrain-scape sort of thing, it allows creative freedom but still ties it all together.

- Starcraft

Eh, I found with the Wc3 theme that people got seduced into thinking they must make background music - also with races and stuff people seemed to write the music first and then try and tie it in later. Also Sc is such a broad theme that its hard to tie it all together.

 

[Sephalo]

Wow, I made this same thread a while ago and it was completely ignored.



I'm all for the sort of terrain-scape sort of thing, it allows creative freedom but still ties it all together.



Eh, I found with the Wc3 theme that people got seduced into thinking they must make background music - also with races and stuff people seemed to write the music first and then try and tie it in later. Also Sc is such a broad theme that its hard to tie it all together.

Yeah true. But we could think about a theme that has to do something to starcraft. Like a race music theme for the races in starcraft ah well.
i liked the terrain-scape idea's too together withthe background music for one of the wc3 campaign movies.

 

[WherewolfTherewolf]

- A song that replaces the background movie of a specific Wc3 campaign movie.

Well I'm not sure many people are going to do the Wc3 movie theme as it makes things even more complicated - writing to go along with the actions in a movie adds another layer of difficulty that will most likely turn away a lot of people. Also the pieces would mostly be pretty short - the movies aren't all that long.

 

[Panda]

Since the new starcraft is coming out, that would be an awesome contest to start.

 

[CoBrA b]

How about this?

Theme music for a character from the Starcraft universe.

It ties in Starcraft, and narrows the theme down but also gives a wide variety of characters to choose from.

Alternatively, we could do the same theme, but for the Warcraft universe instead. This would give an even broader range of characters to choose from.

I'm all for the environmental themes, but, going along with that idea, another theme could be to try to evoke a specific place in the Warcraft (or Starcraft) universe. This was already kind of stated in the "A theme song for a warcraft city like Orgrimmar, Stormwind, Darnassus or something" idea, but I wouldn't want to limit it only to cities, as many of the most evocative places in both the Warcraft and Starcraft universes are far outside the city limits.

Alternatively, in my own vein of musical storytelling, another idea might be to try and retell an event in Warcraft (or Starcraft) history, through music.

 

[WherewolfTherewolf]

Alternatively, in my own vein of musical storytelling, another idea might be to try and retell an event in Warcraft (or Starcraft) history, through music.

That could be an interesting premise - there was a few (really good) musical retellings of events in the first contest.

The main thing right now for me is that the people come to the understanding that these contests are music contests, not a background music contest - so they can be as creative with their music as possible without letting whether or not it is "distracting to the player" inhibit them - all too many people kept complaining that "it doesn't fit in with Wc3 music, its too electronic, its too loud, etc. etc."

With Sc2 coming out soon, then having a Sc2 related theme could be good to spark interest.

 

[VoidLordXtreme]

w00t music contest 2 ??

i would love a sc2 theme... due i have no time now (exams) and later im making holydays in an other contry where theres no pc with wc3

 

[WherewolfTherewolf]

where theres no pc with wc3

You don't need Wc3 to make music, also while your there you could see if there's any instruments you can't pick up where you normally live which may give you an edge in the contest (if your in to actual instruments).

 

[VoidLordXtreme]

yes i know but still... theres no pc with wc3, however there is internet but i will not have time to do anything there (due to friends, swimming, having fun )
anything does include composing/making music... im playing guitar btw.

but there is a time peroid (1-2 weeks) between exam time and holidays ... i hope i have enough time there to participate.. i would love to ...

 

[Panda]

Just a suggestion, if we are going to have a 2nd music contest, shouldn't we make a section just for music? to keep all of it in? Because it may be useful for alot of people, not just in the contest.

 

[WherewolfTherewolf]

I already asked Pyritie after the last contest for a sticky in the art forums for the music from the contests. He said people can just look through the contest archives.

I still think it would be a good idea to have someplace just for the music.

I know Ralle's planning some big thing that would allow for many different types of resources to be uploaded but I don't know exactly how he's going to do it - by the way he talked about it seems like it will be more geared to things like soundsets so people can pair them with the model they go with, I hope I'm wrong and that his system will allow for things like standalone music etc. etc.
-Also I believe he said he's got a lot of other things to do first so we shouldn't expect this for a while

 

[VoidLordXtreme]

a music section would be awesome, really great and very useful (cinematics, all kind of maps)... im looking forward to the "new hive" Ralle is planing to make..
it will be great

 

[CoBrA b]

Yeah. A music section would be awesome. I think that the current sound/music art section just doesn't quite work for people who want to find music to use in their maps. You have to browse through dozens of soundsets, questions about this and that, and other stuff before you find a single thread that contains music, let alone the type of music you're after. Even having a Sounds section, where sounds are categorized would be better. That way, instead of just music, people could submit soundsets, sound effects, music, etc.


On a side note, in terms of scheduling, I would really love it if this contest could start AFTER the end of June, as June is going to be a hectic month for me. I think that this was probably what most people already had in mind, but I'm just putting it out there, so that, hopefully, this contest can start at a good time for everyone.

 

[Sephalo]

A while ago we had a discussion about having a music/sound section for resources just like skins, models icons etc. Some people were against it but some other people understood the reason why we want this. If I remember right Ralle was thinking about it to figure something out for us when there would come a whole new system for thw or something.

Anyways the contest. Yeah June is a better month to start with the contest. Could maybe make the contest start 1st of June and end 1st of July or something.

 

[WherewolfTherewolf]

Anyways the contest. Yeah June is a better month to start with the contest. Could maybe make the contest start 1st of June and end 1st of July or something.

June probably is best - thats when most peoples exams are finishing up and most people get out of school for summer

 

[CoBrA b]

June probably is best - thats when most peoples exams are finishing up and most people get out of school for summer

N-n-n-n-no! June is a terrible month for me. July would be MUCH better. In fact, even late June is okay, but I'm going to be incredibly busy for at least the first half of June, if not the whole month.

Still, if you really want to start in June, I guess I could either just wait until things clear up for me, and work really hard at that point, or just work on my piece whenever I have time.

EDIT: Here's an idea, how about starting on the Summer Solstice?

 

[WherewolfTherewolf]

Idk - its best to see what everyones schedules are first.

Also Idk who's hosting it this time

 

[Sephalo]

I could host the contest, but would love to attend myself as well. So I won't be judging it. We could vote for the month people prefer to start this contest on.
June 1st or July 1st. Maybe we can let the contest take 6 weeks or something and let it start June 1st so people that have June as a busy month still got a few weeks to work on stuff.

 

[Devine]

How about we just have a specific genre as a theme?

 

[Sephalo]

How about we just have a specific genre as a theme?

That will automatically make multiple people unable to join the contest and would probably reduce the amount of entries. Last music contest we had EMPerror with a littlebit techno-ish music and Cobra B with more "tribal" music to fit with his tauren. Both 2 completely different genres. If we would say the genre would become tribal music we will might make it impossible to enter for people that are using programs withoud sound modules to fit within a certain genre like that. Otherwise making the genre techno will make it hard or uninteresting for others to join like myself because I'm not a huge fan of techno music. I think letting players decide their own genre is better. Techno music can still fit within many concepts of themes, especially in the Starcraft theme idea. While a piece played by an orchestra could also fit within starcraft music, per example for music for a protoss temple or something.

 

[Devine]

That will automatically make multiple people unable to join the contest and would probably reduce the amount of entries. Last music contest we had EMPerror with a littlebit techno-ish music and Cobra B with more "tribal" music to fit with his tauren. Both 2 completely different genres. If we would say the genre would become tribal music we will might make it impossible to enter for people that are using programs withoud sound modules to fit within a certain genre like that. Otherwise making the genre techno will make it hard or uninteresting for others to join like myself because I'm not a huge fan of techno music. I think letting players decide their own genre is better. Techno music can still fit within many concepts of themes, especially in the Starcraft theme idea. While a piece played by an orchestra could also fit within starcraft music, per example for music for a protoss temple or something.

I find that a musician should be able to make music in any genre. Variation is fun.

 

[Sephalo]

I find that a musician should be able to make music in any genre. Variation is fun.

True in a certain way.
I'm a student of one of holland's conservatories and we're getting educated to play music of alot of different styles. But there is still a wall between classical music, modern music and electronic music.
Musicians can RARELY master 2 of those things at the same time. One of the best "modern music (like funk, rock, soul, pop... etc)" composters in my point of view is Stevie Wonder or were the Beatles but they would never have been able to write classical music. Think about Michael Jackson. He wouldn't have been able to make classical music just as good as let's say Beethoven. While I still want to call them both musical geniouses.

The genre most people write is something between classical and modern music OR electronic music. If we make the contest for classical music only then it would be no fun. If we make it for electronic music only it wouldn't be fun either. I just like the way people can specialise in their own stuff.

I myself am a bassguitar player and I play Rock, Reggae, Funk, Soul, Jazzrock, Bebop and Fusion... did I forget something.. ahh yeah Pop as well. You can call that variation but I would bever be able to play classical music as good as I play my kinds of music. Maybe because of the instrument but I don't know ANY piano player that masters jazz as good as classical music. For the non-musical audience you may think someone masters both but if you go in depth of the playstyle, a good musician will deffo see what kind of player someone is.

So I wouldn't vote for making this contest limited to a certain genre.

 

[WherewolfTherewolf]

My whole intentions in the first contest was to bring variation.

If we made it a genre thing - then we'd practically have to make it Orchestra music since that's what a huge majority of people here though - a lot of people don't like Orchestra music, it normally seems boring and uneventful. The idea is to leave the sound open to interpretation from the person writing the music.

Also if we did genre's we'd run out of themes pretty fast

 

[Pyritie]

Idk - its best to see what everyones schedules are first.

Also Idk who's hosting it this time

Look at the "Exam times" thread, it's a sticky in this forum I think

 

[Panda]

I already asked Pyritie after the last contest for a sticky in the art forums for the music from the contests. He said people can just look through the contest archives.

I still think it would be a good idea to have someplace just for the music.

I know Ralle's planning some big thing that would allow for many different types of resources to be uploaded but I don't know exactly how he's going to do it - by the way he talked about it seems like it will be more geared to things like soundsets so people can pair them with the model they go with, I hope I'm wrong and that his system will allow for things like standalone music etc. etc.
-Also I believe he said he's got a lot of other things to do first so we shouldn't expect this for a while

Yeah, it would just be really easier with a section instead of looking in the contest forums.

 

[Sephalo]

Apperantly May and June are the most busy exam months for people so the best would be to start 1st of July. I think it's a little late and hate waiting so long so what would people here think about something like Monday 21 June. So people that have June as a busy month will only miss 1 week and we can start a littlebit earlier.

 

[CoBrA b]

Apperantly May and June are the most busy exam months for people so the best would be to start 1st of July. I think it's a little late and hate waiting so long so what would people here think about something like Monday 21 June. So people that have June as a busy month will only miss 1 week and we can start a littlebit earlier.

Sounds fine to me.

 

[Sephalo]

I'd like to ask Pyritie to make a poll whenever we're ready for one. So what do you say are you happy with these options for a poll or would you miss something?

- Locational: People chose between those 4 locations; Desert, Under Water, Forest or Tundra.
- Starcraft: You have to create music that suits Starcraft II.
- Action Music: Basically background music for a combat scene in a game like whenever you start a bossbattle or do a duel versus someone.
- A theme song written to fit with a certain character from either the warcraft or starcraft lore. Like a song for Medivh or Jaina (don't know any sc2 characters)
- A theme song for a warcraft location like Orgrimmar, Stormwind, Darnassus or Wyrmcrest Temple, Wailing Caverns, Deadmines or something.

Then there's the question. Should this become a BACKGROUND music contest or shouldn't it matter as long as it's music?

 

[WherewolfTherewolf]

Then there's the question. Should this become a BACKGROUND music contest or shouldn't it matter as long as it's music?

-Music contest, the idea is to make art and thus not be limited in your choices simply because it may distract the player. The music can be background music if the contestant chooses too, but it shouldn't be judged as background, that would distract from the fact that its art.

Yeah I know the whole its a Wc3 modding forum argument, but if we can have unrelated Concept Art contests then we should be able to have unrelated Music contests - and isn't a Blizzard related theme good enough already for the blizz factor?

This is all my opinion of course.

I'd like to ask Pyritie to make a poll whenever we're ready for one. So what do you say are you happy with these options for a poll or would you miss something?

Seems like you got everything there. A poll would help advertise the contest at the same time as choosing so the theme so that seems fine.

 

[Pyritie]

I'd like to ask Pyritie to make a poll whenever we're ready for one. So what do you say are you happy with these options for a poll or would you miss something?

- Locational: People chose between those 4 locations; Desert, Under Water, Forest or Tundra.
- Starcraft: You have to create music that suits Starcraft II.
- Action Music: Basically background music for a combat scene in a game like whenever you start a bossbattle or do a duel versus someone.
- A theme song written to fit with a certain character from either the warcraft or starcraft lore. Like a song for Medivh or Jaina (don't know any sc2 characters)
- A theme song for a warcraft location like Orgrimmar, Stormwind, Darnassus or Wyrmcrest Temple, Wailing Caverns, Deadmines or something.

Then there's the question. Should this become a BACKGROUND music contest or shouldn't it matter as long as it's music?

You started the thread; you can add the poll

 

[Sephalo]

You started the thread; you can add the poll

Oh oke. I thought only moderators could start polls.
Anyways I give it a shot however I have no clue how to make a poll.