Messages

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Chrono / Gameplay Casual Discussion / Re: I know you guys know this song

« on: December 10, 2013, 07:42:50 pm »

Did Beethoven use sound samples, too...?

He certainly borrowed from the masters that came before him. (all the great composers do)

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Chrono / Gameplay Casual Discussion / Re: I know you guys know this song

« on: December 08, 2013, 01:40:43 pm »

The samples are paid-for and produced specifically for commercial use, so Mitsuda isn't "borrowing" anything. Actually he uses his samples quite artfully, building clever rhythmic structures and harmony around whatever he uses. Most musicians/music producers just load up the samples and call it a composition (especially in rap/hip-hop, film and western game music). Mitsuda doesn't base his work around samples, he uses samples to add color to his work.

(And yeah, the Chronopolis electronic rhythm thing is also a library sample)

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Chrono / Gameplay Casual Discussion / Re: I know you guys know this song

« on: November 24, 2013, 12:38:15 pm »

Yes, both the Song of Neph samples and Dragon God samples are pulled from sample libraries.

Also, relevant thread:
http://vgmdb.net/forums/showthread.php?t=11231

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Chrono / Gameplay Casual Discussion / Re: The long night is upon us

« on: November 23, 2013, 09:15:24 am »

It's not just Chrono. Turn-based JRPGs are on their deathbed.

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Chrono / Gameplay Casual Discussion / Re: I know you guys know this song

« on: November 23, 2013, 09:11:46 am »

The percussion is different. I wonder if that electric sitar-thing part is from a sample library. That would make the most sense. So this probably isn't stolen at all, it's just that particular instrument part is probably from a collection.

Mitsuda, of course, uses many of these in his music.

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Submissions / Re: New Chrono Trigger Soundtrack Finished & Radical Dreamers in progress!!!

« on: October 19, 2013, 12:30:11 pm »

Did you use midi files from vgmusic.com as your base?

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Chrono / Gameplay Casual Discussion / Re: Queen Leene "easter egg"

« on: August 25, 2013, 08:58:32 pm »

Doesn't seem to be any mention of it at The Cutting Room Floor.

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General Discussion / Re: Yoichi Wada moved Square Enix's offices based on advice from a fortune teller...

« on: January 17, 2012, 07:50:57 pm »

lol yea I saw this not too long ago. guy's less than a tool imo. the only thing I can do is take solace in the fact that basically no one (especially no major players) from square of old ( say the first 10 ff) are there anymore, so it's a new company.

That's actually not true.

Takashi Tokita, lead designer, director and scenario writer of FFIV (and one of Chrono Trigger's directors), remains at the company. He has mainly been working on portable titles.

Also remaining is Hiromichi Tanaka, designer of FFIII, producer of Secret of Mana, director of Seiken Densetsu 3, producer and battle system designer of both Xenogears and Chrono Cross, and producer of FFXI and FFXIV. He has since been forced to step down from his role as XIV producer and we have no idea what he's doing now. Ironically, Tanaka is one of the three founding members of Square.

Akitoshi Kawazu, who has been working on dozens of Square titles starting with the original Final Fantasy, also is still at the company.

Hiroyuki Ito, director and designer of Final Fantasy VI, director of FFIX, and co-director of FFXII.

Hiroshi Minagawa, art director of FFTactics, Vagrant Story, and co-director of FFXII.

Akihiko Yoshida, character designer of FFTactics, Vagrant Story, FFXII, FF3DS, and more.

And so on.

So, yes, many senior designers, writers, and composers have jumped ship, but many remain. The problem is that their talent and wisdom is being squandered in favor of the current trend toward action games. The fact of the matter is, the Square brand has always been about RPGs. No matter what kind of game they make, it always has a strong RPG element. This has been their calling card since the company's inception nearly three decades ago. But now, their brand is being turned inside out: the "RPG" touch is becoming secondary to a principle of action. Action action action. It is an utter obsession in the Japanese game industry right now in their effort to both mimic Western blockbusters and their own home-grown Monster Hunter. I'm happy there's a market for such games, but not when it's to the detriment of niche genres.

Not until Square concedes that they can't dispense with their turn-based roots and embraces this format will their company (and its remaining talent) recover their reputation. Believe me: now is the worst time for Square to make something like a new Chrono game. It would be an action game with little or no recognizable RPG elements.

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General Discussion / Anyone want to make a Chrono-themed Minecraft server?

« on: January 01, 2012, 10:52:34 pm »

There are a lot of good minecraft servers out there, but few have a consistent theme. In a Chrono-themed server we could recreate locations from the series, such as the different eras, etc. I'm sure by now you've all seen the Enhasa recreation on youtube. Better yet, a server filled with compendiumites would be a nice change. Sometimes the conversation to be found on some servers is a bit... challenged.

Just a thought.

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General Discussion / Re: Musica Ludi Report on Mitsuda Interview

« on: December 16, 2011, 05:43:34 pm »

I'll just be happy to see another 100% Mitsuda soundtrack. We haven't had one of those since, what, Deep Labyrinth?

Inazuma Eleven 2 (2009), and possibly Lime Odyssey (we don't know if anyone assisted Mitsuda with it).

There's also Treasure Report (2011), we're not sure about other composers' involvement.

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General Discussion / Re: Musica Ludi Report on Mitsuda Interview

« on: December 07, 2011, 08:13:19 pm »

Turns out Mitsuda is working on three projects: one which has been announced, a second with a "great creator," and a third which is still a secret. Any guesses? I can't find the original interview, but here is the report by Musica Ludi: http://musicaludi.fr/6934

Hmmm... Interesting.

Well, we know that Mitsuda's current focus is the Chrono Cross arranged album. That's project #1.

"Great creator"? Hopefully the creator in question is Tetsuya Takahashi, and the project in question is either the Wii U or 3DS game that Monolith Soft is currently developing. This would make the most sense since Mitsuda has worked on several Takahashi projects, and Takahashi is certainly someone who has been called a "great creator".

The "secret project" obviously could be anything. A game, anime, or perhaps a second Xenogears orchestral album.

Don't expect anything Chrono-related. Square is so self-absorbed with FFXIII spinoffs as well as a new action RPG (which is being developed by Product Development Division 1, therefore it will be terrible), there's really no chance.

Whatever the projects are, hopefully they will have a stronger Mitsuda presence. The last full-length RPG score he did (by himself) was Soma Bringer (a Takahashi production) and the Inazuma Eleven games (the third of which featured other composers, and the anime of which is now being taken over by a different composer).

Anyway, I'm trying to think of other upcoming high-profile RPGs. Konami is making Frontier Gate (with tri-Ace), and while the main town music is reminiscent of Mitsuda, it's not his work. There's also a new Suikoden DS game in the works, but that will surely be headed once again by Norikazu Miura and another fleet of freelance composers just like they did with Tierkreis.

There's also Level-5's many upcoming games. Time Travelers is an action game of some type and its producer is Akihiro Hino. Guild01 is a compilation of four games including an RPG by Yasumi Matsuno (although we're already pretty certain Hitoshi Sakimoto will be handling the music). There's also Girl's RPG, Fantasy Life, and a Gundam RPG (Mitsuda has done a few vocal themes for more recent entries in the franchise). Mitsuda, of course, was the driving force behind Inazuma Eleven's music for many years, so he obviously has a good working relationship with Level-5.

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General Discussion / Re: I have just released a game soundtrack!

« on: September 14, 2011, 07:15:28 pm »

Wow, I feel very humbled! Thank you for all the kind words and support.

Excellent work. I can definitely hear the Mitsuda influence. You, Sir, have earned my $10.

"Blue Field" is my favorite. It reminds me of CC's "Voyage."

Indeed, the opening guitar riff of Blue Field is probably the most "Mitsudian" thing I did! I'm glad you found it enjoyable, and hopefully calming!

Yeah, I tried looking up the actual game on youtube and it doesn't look like something I'd be too into, but really this music is TOP notch, not only influenced BY Mitsuda but also comparable TO his work. An admirable feat achieved very well. We at Overture can't stop talking about it, and I've been listening for days. When I have the money, I'll purchase it.

Again I am feeling humbled! I'm glad you've enjoyed the music, even if the game's not quite your cup of tea (not mine either!)

In the mean time, it'd be amazing if you'd be interested in working with Overture for the two Chrono games we have in development. Even if you only wanted to do one song we'd bow to you! Hell even if you aren't interested, you deserve the respect anyway.

I haven't yet read about these projects but I will certainly have a look! I'd be interested in helping you out.

Pretty much everything they said =)
Yesterday I got VGMA and I loved Forest in the Storm too... and I'm looking forward to Mega Man XA! ;D

Glad you liked it! I'm definitely excited to release MMXA, and hopefully I can do that ASAP... there's still much work to be done!

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General Discussion / Re: I have just released a game soundtrack!

« on: September 12, 2011, 07:09:32 pm »

So how many game soundtracks do you have under your belt now?

Three complete, and two in-progress.

I'm glad you two enjoy the music! It's why I do what I do.

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General Discussion / I have just released a game soundtrack!

« on: September 12, 2011, 04:54:43 pm »

You can stream it at:
http://jschwebke.bandcamp.com/

I'd love to hear some reviews! I suppose I'd call the style a mix of Chrono Cross and Suikoden with a touch of Wild ARMs. It's definitely RPG-styled, anyway. I do consider Yasunori Mitsuda as one of my biggest influences, so if you catch a Mitsudan-like mannerism here and there, don't be alarmed.

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Chrono / Gameplay Casual Discussion / Re: My thoughts on the baddest girl in Prehistory...

« on: September 04, 2011, 09:02:35 am »

As I was verifying my comments by checking the retranslation, I found an interesting tidbit:

Ayla: Kino man......
   If Ayla die, have baby, whatever, Kino chief.

In the Woolsey version, the "have baby, whatever" part is missing. The "whatever" in particular is disappointing, because it suggests that the Japanese person who wrote the line took it as an absolute given that a female who gives birth would lose her positions of societal authority. I'm glad Woolsey pared it down.

I think the "whatever" in this case refers to any scenario wherein she might be otherwise unavailable. "have baby" might mean the actual birth, during which she obviously wouldn't be acting as chief. The line is not specifically about giving birth; it's about cases in which Ayla could not act as chief out of absolute necessity. She can't do it when she's dead; she can't do it when she's in labor; and she can't when she's traipsing about prehistory and beyond with Chrono & Co.