Concerning disabling in-game music to allow for better hearing

[Bogeyman 23]

Hey everyone! This short suggestion of mine concerns my love for the in-game music, and why I've still disabled it.

Background

The music is great, and it really adds to the atmosphere. However as time passed and I died to bandits a few times I decided to disable the music because I wanted every legitimate advantage possible to hear potential bandits near me. I'd love to be able to turn it back on again, but I don't want to choose between the atmospheric music and hearing well.

The suggestion

The option to disable the music should of course be available, but I would prefer it there was no advantage in doing so. That is basically my suggestion, but I do have some ideas for the implementation as well.

Implementation

Sound levels for such things as footsteps and gunshots (well, everything really) could perhaps be increased (assuming they are audible in the first place) when music is enabled.

I see two possible outcomes that I would like:

1. Disabling music doesn't make it easier to discern e.g. footsteps. (ideal)

2. Disabling music is slightly disadvantageous in terms of discerning e.g. footsteps. (still preferable to how it is now, for me, but obviously others might prefer playing without the music on so this outcome doesn't really help overall)

I imagine it would be pretty hard to achieve outcome #1 though. Sound levels would have to vary depending on the current noise of the music and maybe even take sound frequencies into account to get it exactly right. But hopefully it's possible to get it approximately right.

Closing comments

I don't know how you feel about this, if you prefer playing with music disabled or enabled, so let me know if you feel like it.

Also, I do realize this isn't exactly a pressing matter or something that is absolutely necessary to make the game good. I still wanted to put my idea out there.

Thanks!

[brightlitefilms 37]

Disable music in the audio options. Nuff said.

[BunnyHillPro 111]

Just disable in options, it's fine as is.

[L0G!N (DayZ) 149]

I actually put the music on 3 clicks or so, soft enough to not hear it when i should be hearing other things, but hard enough to add some 'mood' at quiet moments ... as well as adding some atmosphere (aka scare me) with added noices...

[ryan__mc__@hotmail.co.uk 131]

People that dont want music on at all shouldnt be punished by lowering the rest of there ingame sounds such as footsteps just so its better for those that want the music on. Anyways having music playing in the backround isnt realistic so if you put the music on you need to live the concenquences(Less noticeable ingame sounds)

Edited July 24, 2012 by Massicor

[Bogeyman 23]

I actually put the music on 3 clicks or so, soft enough to not hear it when i should be hearing other things, but hard enough to add some 'mood' at quiet moments ... as well as adding some atmosphere (aka scare me) with added noices...

Thanks for your comment! I'll try that. It seems like a good compromise.

As for the rest of you:

The idea was to find a way to not make it advantageous to disable the music, not make it disadvantageous to have music disabled (even though I did say I would accept that so long as it was very slight, and I did point out that even then it wouldn't really help overall as not everyone would prefer having the music on). However that is assuming there is anything at all to gain from making it tactically viable to have music enabled (i.e. just as viable as having it disabled).

I guess I can't really decide what you post in this thread, but try to keep your comments relevant.

People that dont want music on at all shouldnt be punished by lowering the rest of there ingame sounds such as footsteps just so its better for those that want the music on. Anyways having music playing in the backround isnt realistic so if you put the music on you need to live the concenquences(Less noticeable ingame sounds)

Again, I'm not asking for any such punishment.

You do have a point in that background music isn't exactly realistic, but it's still there for a reason. Good background music is supposed to be subtle to the point where you don't really think about the music, which means it doesn't matter if it's realistic or not as you're not consciously aware of it. The effect is supposed to be the opposite: better immersion.

But I suppose you could argue whether or not the music in DayZ achieves that or not.

Anyway... I will admit that my suggestion is probably too much work for what it could potentially achieve. So don't mind me Rocket et al, I just felt like putting my thoughts out there.