Loud footsteps in the first Thief games

[Nico A.]

Here's something I was wondering about already, but after seeing the top comments of the following video, I couldn't help but ask for your opinion:

 

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

 

Now I loved the sound of Garrett walking on stone or wood in the original Thief series. Yeah, I didn't like the consequences, like alerting the guards, I just liked the sound of it. And tbh I was a little bit disappointed when I heard that the Dark Mod's thief running on stone wasn't all that loud. I can't help but like to hear the footsteps I'm making. Does anyone else feel that way?

 

BUT - it's kind of ridiculously loud. When running on stone, you can hear a horse, not a thief. And even when running, it shouldn't be so loud as if you're wearing hooves. So... what are the excuses for it being so loud? I mean, even if they are quieter, the steps in TDM are still unrealistically loud, people here often state how important immersion is.

Is it maybe just because it is nicer for the player to hear himself - even more when he doesn't see himself?

Maybe the thief indeed wears wooden shoes. But why would he/she do that?

Or is it psychologically more correct? (a thief would presumably pay a lot of attention to the sounds he/she produces, so maybe it would seem louder)

Or, at the worst, is it the nostalgia, that we simply want to keep some things from the old games which were, due to insufficient technical capabilities back then, highly unrealistic?

 

Let me know what you think.

[Obsttorte]

Is it maybe just because it is nicer for the player to hear himself - even more when he doesn't see himself?

That's the point. By making all sounds a bit louder, it is more easier for the player to differntiate whether or not the noise he is making could alert a nearby ai.

 

In TDM, this is something that is much more difficult to decide.

 

This is a two-sided blade. On one side, less louder sounds may be more realistic, but louder sounds can help understanding the gameplay, and the players effect of certain things happening in game, like an ai that got alert.

[Sotha]

It is a game. Gameplay trumps realism.

[jaxa]

You're supposed to be able to hear yourself so that you know what you're walking on and how fast you're moving. There may be a slider for footsteps volume too. I will check.

Edited August 16, 2013 by jaxa

[Professor Paul1290]

If I remember correctly it used to be louder.

 

It ends up being one of the reasons I avoid older gameplay footage when introducing people to The Dark Mod. If I show older gameplay video, footstep tapping is literally one of the first things that get pointed out as jarring. I notice the current sounds are just much better recieved generally.

 

Interpret that how you will of course.

Edited August 16, 2013 by Professor Paul1290

[jaxa]

TDM 2.00 includes these footsteps bugs:

 

- 0003488: [AI] Go over female footsteps (Springheel) - feedback.

- 0003502: [AI] Zombie not making water footstep sounds (Springheel) - resolved.

- 0003461: [sound] Check player volume for footsteps (Springheel) - resolved.

- 0003499: [sound] Need More Zombie Footsteps (Springheel) - resolved.

- 0003471: [sound] Default "snd_footstep" not playing for AI (grayman) - resolved.

 

http://bugs.thedarkmod.com/view.php?id=3461 (resolved)

 

"check and make sure the player volume matches the volume the AI hears. Some footstep sounds should be reduced in volume."

[SeriousToni]

Some of the footstep sounds were revamped for 2.0 by Springheel and myself.

[Moonbo]

Another thing they did in the original games, which is hard to pick up on unless you're listening for it, was to add a reverb effect to almost all of the footstep sounds. I don't know why this works, but it really does heighten the tension. Maybe it sort of acts as a poor man's EAX. Maybe TDM's sounds would benefit from the same treatment?

[jaxa]

Someone was complaining about lack of reverb on various sounds earlier. Does it have any merit?

[i30817]

Glad to see the 'running in water audio assault' was recognized and fixed.

[Mr Mike]

Another thing they did in the original games, which is hard to pick up on unless you're listening for it, was to add a reverb effect to almost all of the footstep sounds. I don't know why this works, but it really does heighten the tension. Maybe it sort of acts as a poor man's EAX. Maybe TDM's sounds would benefit from the same treatment?

 

For the love of God, please. This!

[i30817]

As was said before, i read that they are waiting for OpenAL support instead of hardbaking reverb into sounds.

[SeriousToni]

Someone was complaining about lack of reverb on various sounds earlier. Does it have any merit?

I tried to add reverb to the footsteps and it worked out very well for those I did but then a discussion started wether we should do this or wait for OpenAL. Since OpenAL would have the benefit of making every sound having reverb based on the location I stopped making reverbed footsteps. There will be an overhaul in 2.0 though.

 

Glad to see the 'running in water audio assault' was recognized and fixed.

lololol