Well when it comes to designing an RPG beside the programming and graphics you have to take care of your music and sound.Ok,sound effects are standard(sword sounds,battle horns,etc.)and easily configurable,but when it comes to music you have to take care of your musical theme,i mean if it suits for the RPG''s storyline. I''ve heard many opinions on that but i would like to hear some more: Let''s say our game is a medieval RPG(dragons,wizards,knights and all this stuff) Most people i ask say classical music(classic guitar,trumpets,some piano,etc.) suits better and it is the standard for such games. But i like better metal sound and when i say metal i don''t mean Thrash ,Death or Black -music that blows you off- but epic,melodic music or even speedy Power Metal. There are many groups out there which play metal and their thems are based only on medieval and fantasy themes(Blind Guardian,Rhapsody,Warlord,Iced Earth,etc.). What is your OPINION? I will respect any answer,thanks. Voodoo4

With your promise of respect, I must say that I have in the past discaounted a game or watched a movie entirely because I felt it had inappropriate music. If a developer doesn''t have common sense enough to find appropriate music, How can I trust them enough to invest serious time into their game?

As an interesting note, people are most used to orchestral compositions in film scoring. Anything else ends up feeling dated in a few years. (See the movie Ladyhawk for an example of how modern music + Medeival setting can go horribly wrong)

My suggestion: Try and base it off the subject matter. If you are setting a horror game in historic Transylvania, find music from that area and period. I used Les Mystere De Voix Bulgares (Sp?) a Bulgarian Female choir. Close enough to the area to be accurate. In a game I''m working on now, VIKING BERSERKER PONG (you read that right) we''re using a Viking Black Metal band kinda feel, to emphasize the comedic values of our subject (no offense to any Amon Amarth fans out there.)

Remeber the golden rule of design: Just because you like it, doesn''t mean your audience will.

Odin''s Law!

Metal is great But just cos the lyrics might sometimes be based on war and battles and medieval stuff, doesn''t mean the music is. Personally I think it would be inappropriate and detract from the game. Go for something that sounds like it would fit the story''s time period and location, as Landfish said.

Oh, and regarding this:
"Remember the golden rule of design: Just because you like it, doesn''t mean your audience will."
The 2nd rule is:
"Do what you like: if you like it, chances someone else will do."

My $0.02

Find a few mood songs. When your game is at the *happy*tm party play some happy music, when your game is at
*insane & evil wizard the rules the universe*tm play some insane and evil music. How bout say FF8, when near the evil socerres(sp?) you get that creepy music, you know the one I''m talk about..."edas...minuos...vedas.." something like that..

I listen to Zombie while I play AOE2. It depends on the mood you wish to create. Just remember to keep the music theme (metal, classical, etc) a constant, unless you want to present comic releif .

They''re rules for music in games.

Depending on what you want the player to feel you''ll use that or that instrument.
I use instrument to define the personna of my characters in an RPG, and I find that interesting.

Depending on the scene you will want to have metal or classical music, or single instrument playing.

I prefer to use ''classical'' style music for RPG, but I don''t see any problem using metal for battle scene for example, and single instrument for scenes in which the character is in love or lost.
(The music tempo... must be appropriate of course.)

I think that we must care not making a game with patchwork of music, because music is always heard and must follow the story and is responsible of a part of the feeling/ game ''ambiance''.

My thought...

-* Sounds, music and story makes the difference between good and great games *-

I think you did not understood the metal genre i want to use.Well there will be no lyrics(it''s a music theme after all).The piece of music that inspires me is a great melodic song synthesized by William J. Tsamis(the ex-songwriter of Warlord if you have ever heard of them - www.lordianguard.com //That''s his new band) which starts with a melancholic whistling and goes on with trumpets in symphonic style.It is called King Of Kings and you won''t find it anywhere cause it''s from a demo tape.I tell you,if you don''t hear it you can''t imagine what i''m talking about.When i first heard this piece i forgot everything i knew about epic rythme!
I don''t think i will ever get a permission to add this song in my game,but it worths a try...
Anyway thank you all for the advice.I really liked this phrase:
"Remember the golden rule of design: Just because you like it, doesn''t mean your audience will."
I''ll keep that in mind.
So, what i want now is an instrumental music theme inspired by medieval times.Hmmm...If i don''t get a permission i believe i''ll try some classical or electric guitar(with the help of a friend of mine) and maybe some keybord...
Thanks
Voodoo4