CELESTA AUNGM
Kang Lo Directorate
Gallente Federation
68
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Posted - 2013.12.16 15:20:00 -
[1] - Quote
Without a doubt, Patch 1.7 has to me shown CCP to be holding firmly on track with their aim to establish a NEW, seriously tradition-bending, but seriously brain-wrestling and fun, gameplay design with Dust 514. The proof of your game's grip on me is in the 2 hours I spend on it every night after work--like dinner and bathing, it has become a body-n-health necessity.
That said:
I have a detailed and calibrated sound system in my living room, and when I play Dust through it, it brings out a wealth of sound effects that your staffers created for the game. Not only do these sound represent an incredible dedication and fastidious desire for details (because 50% of the PS3 consolers who just their flatscreen speakers or headphones may never get a chance to appreciate the work you've done), but also they are some of the most "MATURE" sound effects I've ever heard in a sci-fi based video game:
It's easy and expectant for combat sounds to be LOUD and throat-grabbing, but many of the sounds in the NON-combat portions of the game are subdued and discrete. The ship-engines thrum in the Merc Quarters, the NeoCom activation that uses all low-frequency sound, the music played played throughout the entire Starmap interaction--some of the quietest atmospheric music I've ever heard used in a game... These are what I mean by "mature" sound effects.
 The new Electronic Sound of the End-Of-Match Screen is one effect that just does not FIT into that subdued, adult, atmosphere you've made.
 At first I thought the fault was in the NATURE of the sound (perhaps too electronic, like an early Hollywood sci-fi movie with ray guns and robots). I wanted to suggest REMOVING it, because I was sure it is as irritating to other players as it sounds to me.
However I could be arriving at a wrong conclusion. The fault may be simply that the sound effect is tuned TOO LOUD, and is drawing too much unjustified attention to itself. If the volume of this one sound effect is dropped 60% or so, it might fall perfectly into the same mature palette you've created for the rest of the menus.
I leave the analysis to your staff; I'm sure you'll work out the solution. These past few months, you've earned my increasing confidence in Dust 514. Thanks for the game!! |