Music

Overview

Similar to the sound effects, a process was created to streamline the creation of music and to ensure consistency.

1. Research music from games with a similar setting and themes
2. Select instruments you wish to use in the song
3. Create the song in GarageBand, ensuring the feel is consistent with the emotion you are trying to create e.g. minor tonalities & dissonance for a scary song

4. Polish and export the song
5. Implement the sound using Resource Service. e.g:

private static final String backgroundMusic = "sounds/musicFile.mp3";
...
private void playMusic() {
  Music music = ServiceLocator.getResourceService().getAsset(backgroundMusic, Music.class);
  music.setLooping(true);
  music.setVolume(0.3f);
  music.play();
}

Since the game consists of calmer base building during the day and more intense tower defence at night, we chose to create 2 different styles of music to match these tones.

Sprint 1

In the first sprint, we chose to only develop music for the day time. This is because the day-night cycle was not yet implemented. The following songs were created and pushed to the sounds folder:

• bgm_dusk.mp3
  • Uses a single acoustic guitar to create a sense of loneliness but also safety
  • Plays during the day bgm_day_mountain
  • Created with synthesisers, conveys a sense of incoming danger
• night1.mp3
  • Uses a single mellow synthesiser, conveys loneliness and the darkness of night
  • Plays at night
• night2.mp3
  • Utilises synths and creepy background noises to create a sense of danger and uneasyness
  • Plays at night when the player is attacked

Sprint 2

In the second sprint, we mainly focused on making sound effects, and only a few new songs were created:

• BgCricket.mp3
  • Crickets & creepy sounds for a scary ambience at night to create immersion and tension
  • Plays alongside the background music at night time
• shopping_backgroundmusic-V1
  • Upbeat track created on GarageBand
  • Consists of string instruments being plucked to create an upbeat and safe feel
  • Plays while the player is in the shop
• player_win.mp3
  • Created with synthesisers and piano on GarageBand
  • Creates excitement and satisfaction at beating the game
  • plays when the player wins the game