A thanks to the GW team (music) - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

William Auric KoA

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2005

Knights of the Alliance

E/N

05 Oct 2005 at 15:45 - 1

Devs,

Just want to say thanks for the new music options that we have in Guild Wars. I've never played any game that has so much support for something like new music. It's a great relief to find a game that really takes all the things I like about video games and makes them all better, one update at a time. From a true video game music lover, thanks.

William Auric
Knights of the Alliance
www.allianceknights.net

RTSFirebat

The Humanoid Typhoon

Join Date: May 2005

UK

Servants of Fortuna [SoF]

R/

05 Oct 2005 at 16:26 - 2

Well if you talking about the new "battle pak 1" music update, then yes it very good.

For only $5.99 which is hardly anything you get a new selection of music to have in towns.

Only thing I'm not happy about is:

1. You have no cotrol over what tracks play, and when. A control interface like they had in Red Alert 1 and 2 comes to mind.

2. Places like Lion's Arch no longer have unque music playing anymore... if ever.

3. You keep hearing the same two tracks over and over again, the loop is set and annoying as hell!

Come on A.net, give us music control options.

KvanCetre

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2005

The Madison Scouts

E/Mo

05 Oct 2005 at 18:20 - 3

I only had to pay 4.49

Tactical-Dillusions

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Grimsby, UK

R/

05 Oct 2005 at 18:33 - 4

I started to setup my paypal account to accept my debit card instead of my dreaded credit card...just waiting for the direct debit confirmation, then i will be buying the battle pak.
If it's anything near as good as the rest of the music, i will be happy.

Aracos79

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

The Great Southwest

Shadowstorm Mercenaries

E/

05 Oct 2005 at 18:36 - 5

I'm actually disappointed with the music changes. I liked how places like Lion's Arch had a specific theme. And certain music just suits certain places. For example, the dreary and somber theme that used to play in Ascalon suited it very well. The upbeat and wistful Shiverpeak music does not suit Ascalon well at all. I like the expanded tunes, but certain themes should have stuck to certain places.

mortalis doleo

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2005

my house

The Cutting Edge [TCE]

N/

05 Oct 2005 at 19:37 - 6

i utterly hate the fact that the new music costs money!

its related to the game, so they should just release the music for free/in chapter 2.

my parents dont want to pay 6$ for video games music, and i cant blame them... this is very annoying

ether

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2005

Sweden

Mo/N

05 Oct 2005 at 19:43 - 7

you dont have to buy it.. and you'll certainly get new music in chapter two anyway.

KvanCetre

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2005

The Madison Scouts

E/Mo

05 Oct 2005 at 20:07 - 8

Quote:

Originally Posted by mortalis doleo

i utterly hate the fact that the new music costs money!

its related to the game, so they should just release the music for free/in chapter 2.

my parents dont want to pay 6$ for video games music, and i cant blame them... this is very annoying

Thats why you give them 6 dollars to pay for it. Or, wait until you're old enough to actually own a debit card.

Also, they didn't have to give us any new music at all.... but they did. They had to pay a composer and musicians to write and perform music. How do you think they were going to pay him?

Life ain't free, neither is music.

mortalis doleo

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2005

my house

The Cutting Edge [TCE]

N/

05 Oct 2005 at 20:31 - 9

i agree this is better then nothing, im just saying it screwes the younger audience over...

William Auric KoA

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2005

Knights of the Alliance

E/N

05 Oct 2005 at 21:47 - 10

They could always tell their parents "at least we're not paying x amount of dollars a month so I can play WoW, UO, FF11." I'd agree that it seems like you don't hear any of the old music any more and I do kind of miss the Lions Arch theme. But overall, I'm pretty happy with the new stuff. I'm glad to hear that others are as well!

William Auric
Knights of the Alliance
http://www.allianceknights.net

Gaile Gray

ArenaNet

Join Date: Feb 2005

06 Oct 2005 at 06:46 - 11

Hey, all,

Just to let you know, the "triggers" for the music are going to be adjusted. I know I spoke with the programmer last evening, and he said they'd be making tweaks so that, for instance, the lovely Lion's Arch town music would be back in place. Look for that in the near future!

As for the Battle Pak, what can you get for $5.99 these days? And what can you get that directly influences and improves your daily gameplaying experience? I would have killed to have more music added to my favourite games in the past. Now, with the free mini-pak and Battle Pak One, I have more than two hours of great music. I'm happy.

Drow Ingpool

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2005

South Fl

R/E

06 Oct 2005 at 06:55 - 12

Highwayman and Desperados for the win=) Dont mind me im an old nerd =p

Drow

PieXags

Forge Runner

Join Date: May 2005

The Infinite Representation Of Pie And Its Many Brilliances

06 Oct 2005 at 06:55 - 13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

As for the Battle Pak, what can you get for $5.99 these days? And what can you get that directly influences and improves your daily gameplaying experience? I would have killed to have more music added to my favourite games in the past. Now, with the free mini-pak and Battle Pak One, I have more than two hours of great music. I'm happy.

I was sort of thinking I could go buy a bundle of CDs from the mall or something. I see your point though. I only wish they would've put the GOOD music in the game, and then allow you to buy some of the same quality. Instead of putting the boring music in the original game, then paying for the decent stuff. In all the trailers and gameplay movies of the game, the music was wicked. It was intense, it just seemed more involved and more epic as a whole. Then the game had...really pretty boring music once you got to Kryta. (Personal preference, though.) I did like the mini-pak though, and I did manage to get the GW special edition sound track thing. Pretty neat with those bonus tracks.

generik

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

06 Oct 2005 at 07:17 - 14

I understand they need to have DRM on it.. but I reallly reallllly hope they would release those tracks on AAC so I can use it on my (other) mac and iPod.

Not everyone uses Windows you know

Fantus

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

06 Oct 2005 at 07:22 - 15

Quote:

Originally Posted by generik

I understand they need to have DRM on it.. but I reallly reallllly hope they would release those tracks on AAC so I can use it on my (other) mac and iPod.

Not everyone uses Windows you know

The know...

...they just don't care.

As for the music, I would gladly pay them $10 and not only $6, if the battle pak came without the DRM handcuffs attached. But since you can't even burn the battle pak on a CD to listen in your stereo, I don't really know why I should give them ANY money at all. This kind of DRM is not acceptable, period.

PieXags

Forge Runner

Join Date: May 2005

The Infinite Representation Of Pie And Its Many Brilliances

06 Oct 2005 at 07:38 - 16

That's another good point, we COULD spend $6 on a bundle of CDs we can play whenever the hell we WANT to, when we're not in game or at our PCs.

John Bloodstone

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2005

Requiem Lords

R/Me

06 Oct 2005 at 09:47 - 17

I would have been interested in buying the battle pak except that the free sorrows surnace pack screwed up my game to the point where it was unplayable. The DRM built into the music paused the game for 10 seconds before each new track.

Assuming the new pak also uses DRM tech, that renders it useless to me sadly

HunterZ

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2005

Vault Thirteen

R/N

06 Oct 2005 at 15:21 - 18

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Bloodstone

I would have been interested in buying the battle pak except that the free sorrows surnace pack screwed up my game to the point where it was unplayable. The DRM built into the music paused the game for 10 seconds before each new track.

Assuming the new pak also uses DRM tech, that renders it useless to me sadly

Can anyone else confirm that this happens? I haven't reached SF yet so I can't try the free pack, but I was thinking of buying the new battle pack. However, I don't think it's worth both $6 AND a 10 second wait between tracks while the music decrypts itself.

Zakarr

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

Finland

06 Oct 2005 at 16:04 - 19

Battle Pak 1 adds 16 new tracks to Guild Wars. Several places have their own new music included. Price $5.99 USD is nothing compared what you will have if you like Guild Wars music.

However, there is some delay issues with this new pak. I get sometimes loading pauses for example in Aurora Glade. This started to happen once I installed the Battle Pak 1. Also some tracks seems to have a bit lower volume compared to other tracks. Usually I don't have to touch music volume but with these new tracks it become more necessary if I want to hear all details.

HunterZ

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2005

Vault Thirteen

R/N

06 Oct 2005 at 16:08 - 20

Zakarr: That sounds annoying. It also sounds like you think it's worth it though - is that true?

Xonic

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2005

Mo/Me

06 Oct 2005 at 18:06 - 21

I couldn't even get the mini pack (?) that's relased with SF update to work...

KvanCetre

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2005

The Madison Scouts

E/Mo

06 Oct 2005 at 18:52 - 22

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if they DRM didn't exist, I could easily buy it and send it to as many friends as I like, thus they make no profit.

I don't know if I'm even allowed to use my licsenses on two of my own copies of guild wars on two seperate computers or not... maybe i should ask them.

William Auric KoA

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2005

Knights of the Alliance

E/N

06 Oct 2005 at 18:54 - 23

I haven't had any problems with extra loading times or any of that stuff. At least if I have then I certainly have not noticed it. I'll pay closer attention when I log in and play tonight. Also, thanks to Gaile Gray for that post and clearing up a few questions in the thread!

Xonic, what kind of problems are you having?

William Auric
Knights of the Alliance
http://www.allianceknights.net

Xonic

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2005

Mo/Me

06 Oct 2005 at 19:05 - 24

I followed the instruction on that download site, but windows media player kept on giving some generic error without specifices. Emailed that site's tech support, followed their fix instructions and still no help.

maybe my IE security was too high when I tried to get the lience for those music files, not sure. don't really care much atm. I am not a computer dummy (am a programmer, actually), but I just don't feel like spending valuable gaming time to figure out how to get digital music files to work.

Zakarr

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

Finland

06 Oct 2005 at 19:58 - 25

Quote:

Originally Posted by HunterZ

Zakarr: That sounds annoying. It also sounds like you think it's worth it though - is that true?

For me it's worth it even with those problems because the new music is so good. I have always wanted more music to GW and now I got it.

John Bloodstone

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2005

Requiem Lords

R/Me

06 Oct 2005 at 20:24 - 26

Quote:

Originally Posted by HunterZ

Can anyone else confirm that this happens? I haven't reached SF yet so I can't try the free pack, but I was thinking of buying the new battle pack. However, I don't think it's worth both $6 AND a 10 second wait between tracks while the music decrypts itself.

The funny thing is that I get the delay between tracks in WMP too, but if I unplug my network (internet) connection it goes away, so it's obviously sending some data somewhere...

Chadatog

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2005

06 Oct 2005 at 20:30 - 27

For eveyone getting a delay with any of the music downloads try defraging. Also defraging the hd after patches helps too. Remember that you are downloading higher quality music than is origonally included in the game so it may take a bit more of the processor wich will cause the slowdown upon entering an area.

HunterZ

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2005

Vault Thirteen

R/N

06 Oct 2005 at 20:59 - 28

I guess I'll have to wait until I get to Sorrow's Furnace and then try the free pack first.

dreamcrafter

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2005

I live in Berlin but I'm forced to work and sleep in the most boring place on earth

R/E

07 Oct 2005 at 09:22 - 29

I just dl'ed the Battle Pack and now have all 3 music expansions for GW. I like the music just fine and I also don't seem to have any of the problems related to the DRM thingy.. Though I have to say that the whole thing is kinda annoying, since I really prefer mp3s and would have loved to burn the whole thing on cd.

Still, I really like the music and it's just a few €s, so I guess it's ok..

Nequam

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

London, Canada

Servants of Fortuna

07 Oct 2005 at 10:17 - 30

I also purchased all three of the music packs, and I haven't experienced any problems with the game, listening to them, or burning them to CDs (and *cough* ripping them back to MP3s afterwards). I really enjoy the music in the game and, to me, the purchases were well worth it.

Though I don't like the whole DRM thing, it hasn't really gotten in my way and I've made backups of the licenses just in case something happens.

Fantus

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

07 Oct 2005 at 11:07 - 31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nequam

Though I don't like the whole DRM thing, it hasn't really gotten in my way and I've made backups of the licenses just in case something happens.

It won't bother you if Windows Media Player is the only music playback device you ever use...

...everybody else probably won't like the DRM shackles very much I guess.

RTSFirebat

The Humanoid Typhoon

Join Date: May 2005

UK

Servants of Fortuna [SoF]

R/

07 Oct 2005 at 12:06 - 32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fantus

It won't bother you if Windows Media Player is the only music playback device you ever use...

...everybody else probably won't like the DRM shackles very much I guess.

There are ways around the whole DRM problem, but I'll leave it for people to figure our themselves.

IceD'Bear

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2005

Awoken Myth [MYTH]

Mo/

07 Oct 2005 at 16:21 - 33

If you have problems installing - make sure you have ActiveX and cookies enabled in IE. Changing hardware can also cause troubles with DRM.

If you experience lag on track change, reinstalling WMP 10 usually help.

Oh, and you can listen to the music in the latest versions of WinAmp too.

Fantus

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

07 Oct 2005 at 21:52 - 34

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTSFirebat

There are ways around the whole DRM problem, but I'll leave it for people to figure our themselves.

I have a background in IT security, so I guess I can figure out... However, some people might be less lucky, which is why DRM needs to be fought to the death.

Hellza Poppin

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Oct 2005

Wisconsin

N/W

13 Oct 2005 at 23:38 - 35

I agree with many of the themes here:

The new music itself is fun and refreshing when revisiting the game, I'm glad this is turning out to be a viable business model for Soule.
I feel uneasy encouraging the DRM with my dollars, and WMP is the last player I would use, but it hasn't been too inconvenient so far with regards to converting the music to other formats and any performance/compatibility implications for the game itself.
I'm glad they realized they need to tweak the playlists - I wanted more variety, not for the old music to disappear - the major hubs definitely need their themes in the rotation.