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Sea battle sounds

E

Elsilhe

Powder Monkey
Storm Modder
I've always thought that the sea battles are missing something... something like ambience, I think. Yes, the explosions, gun fire etc. are adequate at the moment, but there are times when - I at least - feel like there was no soul on board other than the captain.

So what would I like to do is to create something that lets you feel like you are part of the crew, not some distant observer. The first thing I wanted to do was the alarm sound when the battle begins. You know: the drumming, the whistles, lots of footsteps and shouting... It just kicks the adrenaline in!

But now to the very question: I haven't learned how to create new sounds, and I haven't seen any topic about it besides the music-adding one. Forgive me if there truly is one, but in that case please link me to it.

So what should I do? I have the new sound file ready, and I'd like to add it to be heard on certain event. I'm not afraid of coding (I do that for living), but I'm asking if there is somebody who could give me (and of course to anybody else interested!) a small tutorial on subject so I won't have to learn it myself <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> Of course, if it's at all possible!

Thank you! Haarrrr!
 
Don't know about about putting, but be a great if I coud hear something like "Autch", Uaaaaaaahajajaji", "Oi" or "Man Down" when cannon-ball hits hull.... Afcourse my written text is insane, but you got my sugestion, right?
 
Yeah, that would be great. Also, maybe some shantees (crew singing) or something when at sea.

<a href="http://www.grsites.com/archive/sounds/view/255/" target="_blank">Whistle</a>

<a href="http://www.grsites.com/archive/sounds/view/1934/" target="_blank">Military drumroll</a>

<a href="http://65.186.65.233/sounds/FX/Seagulls.mp3" target="_blank">Seagulls</a>
 
Yeah, and something like "Yahooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!" When you win battle...
 
Yes, those are just the things I meant!

Here is the sound file I've been working on. It is not finished, as I'm yet to decide whether I like the drums or not (it is just a quick sample), and that how the sound should end. But I'm posting this unfinished work so you'll get a better idea of what I'm having in mind.

I wish - at least - that there is somebody who could TRULY make use of these sounds in the game, so I would not be doing useless work. But even more I wish that there is somebody who could give me a quick tutorial of how to get those sounds to the game.

Also, if you have good links or you possess some sound effects that you feel might be appropriate to be used in the game, feel free to send them here!
 

Attachments

  • prepare_for_battle.mp3
    164.1 KB · Views: 85
Thats very good! Now, try to put it ingame to see what effect it has on your gameplay. i can´t help you by telling you what soundfile you´ll have to replace. The boarding soundfile, as an example, is definately present - somewhere <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":?" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" />
 
I finally decided to learn to add the sound by myself <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" /> It was actually easier than I thought, it just took time to figure out where to make changes.

So I added my new sound in the sound_alias.ini file, and started searching the code where is decided if there it is a battle or not. Found that from AIShip.c. There, an if-statement sets a boolean in Sound_OnSeaAlarm function true or false depending if there will be a battle. This function, in turn, is located in sound.c file. There, I added a line PlayStereoSound("prepare_for_battle"); , referring to the file I added in sound_alias.ini

Now when I play and there is enemy near, the first thing that happens after I have taken command at sea is my alarm sound playing in the background! And I can tell you, that feels awesome! And it's not even finished yet!

I hope my small explanation of my doing helps other souls who would like to add their own sounds. There are still a lot to learn, but for starters I think I did pretty well <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> And I want to point out that I did not REPLACE any of the original (or the Build) sounds, I added a completely new sound in to the game.

But now that I truly can do this, I think I'm going to take a deeper look of what could be done with the voice world, especially in the battles. I'll keep you up to date as I progress. At least this will be great fun for me, if no-one else! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="xD:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />
 
ooh, awesome. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" /> i might be able to get my hands on some appropriate sounds, but i really wouldn't know when.
 
Thank you!

Besides the sounds, I'd also like to know the names of some traditional (read: popular at the time) sea chants (or shantees). PeterWillemoes gave me this idea, it would really create atmosphere if - from time to time - the crew would be caught singing. Especially at evenings when the sea is calm <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />
 
Any chance of a download for the "prepare for battle"?
It sounds awesome! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />
 
Thank you very much! And much more so because it is just a quick "beta" sound <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

Unfortunately I don't know where I should put files for download, I first thought that the attachment would do, but no. Please, inform me about this!
 
could you also let a 'prepare to board' sound play when the grappling hook icon appears in a sea battle? that would be fun.
 
<!--quoteo(post=260970:date=Jun 13 2008, 03:14 PM:name=Morgan Terror)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Morgan Terror @ Jun 13 2008, 03:14 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=260970"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->could you also let a 'prepare to board' sound play when the grappling hook icon appears in a sea battle? that would be fun.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I'm working on this (read: tracking down the code), I'm quite sure it can be done.
 
Should be possible indeed, though I couldn't tell you exactly how due to lack of knowing the answer myself. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />
 
i wish i still had the game 'robin hood: legend of sherwood' on my computer. that one has loads of usable quotes.
 
I have managed - with much appreciated help of Pirate_KK - to make the "boarding" sound play when the grappling hook appears. Now all I need is to do is to make a new sound for it...

I'm progressing slowly, though, as I don't have all the time I would like to have... But, progress is made, in any case! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />
 
As long as there's progress, we're happy. Good job! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":onya" border="0" alt="me.gif" />
 
Just to let you know... I have made a code that rings ship's bell every half hour, as it was done for real. And not only the same sound all around, but a different one depending on the current hour according to this table (the lower one)!:
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship's_bells" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship's_bells</a>

So for short, it plays 1-8 bells every half an hour around the clock. Eight "bells" means the end of one watch, and is played at 04:00, 08:00 and 12:00 am and pm. The attachment represents the "two bells" sound, which is played at 01:00, 05:00 and 09:00 (again am and pm).

I think this adds excellent atmosphere, especially for those who love to sail around the Caribbean without going to the map <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />
 

Attachments

  • bell2.wav
    261.9 KB · Views: 143
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