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Good examples of games that simulated chords with arpeggios?

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 10:22 pm
by psc
Looking for some cool examples that showcase this technique. Any good games or demos come to mind?

Re: Good examples of games that simulated chords with arpegg

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 10:35 pm
by tepples
You won't find this technique in Japanese-programmed games, but you will find it in Silver Surfer, Solstice, M.C. Kids, Jurassic Park, and anything by Codemasters.

Homebrew game: Super Bat Puncher
Demo: Stars SE by ccovell and Memblers, whose music is a cover of the theme from Comic Bakery
Demo: High Hopes by Aspekt

Re: Good examples of games that simulated chords with arpegg

Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 3:51 am
by Asaki
Yeah, I was going to say, every time I hear that effect I feel like I'm playing a Codemasters NES game.

Re: Good examples of games that simulated chords with arpegg

Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 5:19 am
by cyc
one of my favourites is the title tune of robocop 3 by jeroen tel.

Re: Good examples of games that simulated chords with arpegg

Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 7:28 am
by rainwarrior
Alberto Gonzales made two PAL NES soundtracks that are just covered in arps:
- Asterix
- The Smurfs

A few more from the Follin Bros:
- Wolverine
- The Incredible Crash Dummies
- Pictionary (track 3) has some very nice arps

Neil Baldwin:
- Hero Quest
- The Magician

There's probably a lot more to be found by looking for european developed games. It's not universal (e.g. I don't think David Wise was a fan of arps) but following it should lead you to find more.

Re: Good examples of games that simulated chords with arpegg

Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:18 am
by Movax12

Re: Good examples of games that simulated chords with arpegg

Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 2:35 pm
by Drag
I would say to avoid Codemasters music, because although they use arpeggios, they do it in a very obnoxious way that isn't as pleasing to hear as, say, the arpeggios used by Tim Follin's music.

Re: Good examples of games that simulated chords with arpegg

Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 3:44 pm
by psc
Wow, that video is exactly what I was looking for. Super useful.

I was always struck by how heavily Mortal Kombat 3 on GameBoy used arpeggios. I don't think I've ever heard anything similar yet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8URIPBym ... CBF0CE670D

Re: Good examples of games that simulated chords with arpegg

Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:37 pm
by OneCrudeDude
tepples wrote:You won't find this technique in Japanese-programmed games
Unless I'm mistaken, these games seem to do it.

Kid Icarus
Bubble Bobble Part 2
Final Fantasy III (NES)
Bad Dudes (though this is really rapid duty cycle swapping and not an actual arpeggio)

Re: Good examples of games that simulated chords with arpegg

Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:53 pm
by tepples
I guess you're right. But still, your first three examples are the same effect heard in the beginning of "Balloon Trip" from Balloon Fight, which is only two notes and quite a bit slower than the typical European arpeggio effect. Given what I've heard in cover versions of "Balloon Trip" in Brawl and elsewhere and in the outdoor theme of Super Mario Bros. 2, I think that's supposed to represent a tremolo.

Re: Good examples of games that simulated chords with arpegg

Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 11:23 pm
by OneCrudeDude
I'm not musically (or anything really) inclined, so I guess you're right. If those sounds that rapidly switch from a series of notes are tremolos, then what would an effect similar to this be?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsEsaI3rdqk

Re: Good examples of games that simulated chords with arpegg

Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 5:45 am
by thefox
OneCrudeDude wrote:I'm not musically (or anything really) inclined, so I guess you're right. If those sounds that rapidly switch from a series of notes are tremolos, then what would an effect similar to this be?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsEsaI3rdqk
Hard to say what part you mean exactly, but I'm guessing you mean vibrato.

Re: Good examples of games that simulated chords with arpegg

Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 6:52 am
by rainwarrior
Possibly chorus/echo? Duplicating one channel on another at a delay and slightly quieter (echo) and/or with a detune or vibrato (chorus).

Re: Good examples of games that simulated chords with arpegg

Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 11:32 pm
by ccovell
If you want to hear Japanese composers do arpeggio, check out Magical Chase (sorry it's not on the NES):

Mainly:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 8g-s#t=921
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 8g-s#t=265 (the tinkling sounds)
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... g-s#t=1704
etc.

Re: Good examples of games that simulated chords with arpegg

Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 4:36 pm
by rainwarrior
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles opens with a fading in arpeggio.