Iron Grip Media Update

[-smash-]

Sound design is a key ingredient as to what makes or breaks a game. The team (Specifically Vance Dylan, the projects lead sound designer) behind Iron Grip: The Oppression have been hard at work creating a life-like cache of sounds that will be implemented into this modification. Since March 2005, this rigorous work is paying off and the development team has put together a video interview with Vance Dylan, all about the process of making a great sounding game.[br]

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[br]All of this is being topped-off with three new renders of the Devastator tank. It may be slow and a bit weak when it comes to armor plating, but it sure packs one hell of a punch![br]In other news, Fyght Club has been picked to lead the beta-testing stages of this mod, so good luck to them! Be sure to check out all the other videos, screenshots and MP3’s that involve the development process of the game over at Iron Grip’s official website.

 

[JrdnGrn]

Sine March 2005, this rigorous work is paying off and the development team has put together a video interview with Vance Dylan, all about the process of making a great sounding game.<.

I'm assuming that supposed to be since.

This mod looks great so far. I like the professionalism with the sounds.

That tank looks awesome, looks like it can destroy a few things.

 

[Sulkdodds]

They're like the best ever mod apart from all those other best ever mods.

 

[MutantBeef]

Nice tank Vince.

 

[Crispy]

Wowzors. I knew Sonic was a pr0 but seeing all the lewt in his room just hits that point home. I agree and disagree with some points raised in the video, though.

Modding has, and always will be in its baser form, something that's done in the comfort of your own home for little or no cost. Modders always start small, and that's not to say that mods can't start small and work their way up as they concentrate on bringing in more advanced features, and so although I think sound design is something that can really add to a game, it's not something that can be done to the level Sonic Valley is capable of without expensive equipment and extensive knowledge. There's nothing wrong with not replacing original game sounds if you simply don't have the tools needed (not everyone has a studio in their bedroom with access to multi-channel mixing desks, or the money to pay for it).

However, I agree with what Sonic is trying to do for sound in game design. It's something that really gets left out of mods far too much, and requires as much discipline and allows for as much creativity as other areas of development. His message is sound enough (excuse the pun!), but I think he's being unrealistic to write off mods because they haven't got expert soundmen and equipment involved in the project. Even a simple music score to highlight key moments in the game can greatly improve the playing experience; Afraid of Monsters is a testament to that. And, like I said, as a mod gets bigger and desires to achieve greater things, sound experts like those at Sonic Valley and little-known groups like Scottish-based Avionix can be contacted to give the gameplay that edge over its previous incarnations.

[Edit] Added links.

 

[simon]

Shows again how dedicated us modders are to bring the best possible experience to you all. Each mod has it's area's where they are best at, and I guess Iron Grip will have their superior sounds. Great work guys and girls?

 

[NeoNight]

wow. Thats really great to see modders going all out like that.

 

[Ennui]

Excellent.

 

[omikron]

I like it a lot, will raise the bar a little.
Simon, do you work in the game industry mate?

 

[simon]

No omikron, I don't

 

[Varsity]

The tank/steam train is excellent!

 

[Majestic XII]

Wowzors. I knew Sonic was a pr0 but seeing all the lewt in his room just hits that point home. I agree and disagree with some points raised in the video, though.

Modding has, and always will be in its baser form, something that's done in the comfort of your own home for little or no cost. Modders always start small, and that's not to say that mods can't start small and work their way up as they concentrate on bringing in more advanced features, and so although I think sound design is something that can really add to a game, it's not something that can be done to the level Sonic Valley is capable of without expensive equipment and extensive knowledge. There's nothing wrong with not replacing original game sounds if you simply don't have the tools needed (not everyone has a studio in their bedroom with access to multi-channel mixing desks, or the money to pay for it).

However, I agree with what Sonic is trying to do for sound in game design. It's something that really gets left out of mods far too much, and requires as much discipline and allows for as much creativity as other areas of development. His message is sound enough (excuse the pun!), but I think he's being unrealistic to write off mods because they haven't got expert soundmen and equipment involved in the project. Even a simple music score to highlight key moments in the game can greatly improve the playing experience; Afraid of Monsters is a testament to that. And, like I said, as a mod gets bigger and desires to achieve greater things, sound experts like those at Sonic Valley and little-known groups like Scottish-based Avionix can be contacted to give the gameplay that edge over its previous incarnations.

[Edit] Added links.

Agrees. It's not that modders don't want awesome sounds in their mods, they do. It more of a question of how to get a hold of a person with the right equipment, the knowledge and the time. Most professionals don't see why they would want to help out a team of modders free of charge when they can do a "real" job and get money from it.

 

[mbrithoms]

looks nice

but as crispy was saying, you can have all the eye/ear candy you want but it has to fall into place.

My claim to fame? I once made a very small mod for medal of honour, its still the most downloaded mod for it ever and its been in pczone coverdisks on their mags 5 times here in the uk.

 

[Sulkdodds]

Haha, I misread that as 'I once made a very small mod called medal of honor' and I was expecting you to rant about how 2015 stole your idea.

 

[mbrithoms]

Haha, I misread that as 'I once made a very small mod called medal of honor' and I was expecting you to rant about how 2015 stole your idea.

lol.....wait maybe they did (phones solicitor)

 

[markymarc]

Statements

Hey everyone,
I just registered myself, so here is a "Hello" to everybody in the com.
First I didn't want to post my comments to that video. But the more I think about it, the more I feel I have to speak for me and other mod devs.

I really agree that it is an awesome movement of the mod community to get as good and as close to the quality of retail games. It is amazing what those non profit developers can pull off. I am proud to be one of those hundreds teams and I love to share my talents with others. It makes you proud to see your project grow and get more and more real.

Back to the video: I actually saw the first behind the scene footage and right now right here I don't want to comment on some of the issues if have seen during the recording. That really doesn't matter. Everybody makes mistakes and we learn from it.
What really made me comment here are the statements from the sound artist when he was talking about the quality of sounds and how some mod devs just take the sound from the original game and modify it. He also gave other examples where people actually steel sounds from other games and movies, and I agree, that is illegal. But then he said basically, the people that don't create their own sound in sound foley sessions really don't do a "Real Mod", what ever that means. I thought that this statement, even if he didn't mean it that way, pretty much cut down all other sound artist, who do not have the chance to record with pro mics, in a pro studio, don't have a friend who has a couple of guns. Some of those guys attend high school or are at collage and cannot afford an equipment like that or don't have the opportunities. I think it is wrong to cut those people down but saying that they don't do a real mod.

I can see that he was talking out of excitement, but seriously, that doesn't do him or the mod any good. I thought that his statements were very arrogant and naive. There are a couple of things that he did during recording where I could say easily, what an armature. But hey, this is about the pation of creating something unique and something we can be proud of. Lets cut the crap and lets not cut other mod devs down. If people don't have the equipment and take HL2 sounds for their mod and edit it, that's fine. There are so many things you can do with it, if you are good with effects, editing and arranging. Furthermore some people do buy sampler cds and use parts of those sounds. That is very acceptable if you don't know how to do sound foley or if you don't have the money. I started small myself too, now I do my own sounds and love the idea of it. But I don't go out there and tell other people that they suck, just because they don't do what I do. This showing off style "hey, our mod rocks because we do sound foley" is just ridiculous, but I am sure he didn't mean it like that.

We musicians or sound artist use to say this line: If you cannot do it right, don't do it but look for alternatives. Which basically means, if you have a crap mic and don't know how to record sounds, just don't do it. Cause after all, what counts is that you deliver a good sound for the mod. Nothing more nothing less. Just don't do illegal things by taking sounds from movies or other games. I don't see anything wrong by using HL2 sounds when you do a HL2 mod.

That's about. I don't want to point my finger at the sound dev from Iron Grip, but on the other side I had to comment on that. No offense.

M.

 

[Ome_Vince]

I can assure you Sonic's intentions were merely to give an inside preview, and to give an explanation on how much time he's spending on creating his own sounds.
In no way did he sound, or meen to sound arrogant or to show off.
If this was reflected we sincerely apologise, for it was just meant as a behind the scenes look.
We greatly admire the modding scene and merely want to contribute to it the best we can.
We wish to create alot of behind the scenes stuff, tutorials etc, to contribute knowledge and perhaps help in the future.
Sonic has allready provided an extensive tutorial on recording sounds for games on moddb.

What i do want to add is this;
Sonic is a sound engineer, and his focus is sounds. Now his point was sounds in mods+games are often neglected. People focus on the models and graphical work.
If certain model qualities are often neglected the modeller guys will object and comment on it, and in a behind the scenes look show people how much time they spend to perfect their models.
Sonic was commenting on the negligence alot of mods and also commercial games have towards sounds in games.
His point of : "just taking sounds from other games" was a mere example on how people in general "think" about the whole sound issue.

He merely wants to help, and mature the focus on sound which is so important.

Apologies again if this didnt come across in the video, I hope this clarifies the situation, and in the future we'll double check everything that gets released for insensitive remarks.

 

[Sonic]

Indeed my statements were not meant to offend or put down any mods. If anyone was offended I extend my apologies .