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ALTERNATE REALITY -THE CITY - MUSIC RECREATED - Thoughts?


Jace Hall

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I liked your version! Just remember, it was 1984 and I only had 4 square wave voices (good ole pokey chip) and had to write in hex so it could be compiled into binary for the old atari which had a clock speed of 2... (the apple at the time had a clock speed of 1 hehe).

 

Wait. Are you Gary Gilbertson or Philip Price? From your post it sounds like you made the original song. Is that accurate?

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Hey everyone, I'm new here having just been referred by my life-long best friend. I'm 43 now, but remember like it was yesterday playing AR together back in the 80's. Being a musician, I've always thought that GG's work was some of the most groundbreaking / iconic pieces EVER ad still do. So first, off kudos to YOU for your sweet version as well. Loved the depth of sound!

 

I too, have found myself re-booting AR music over the years. I even wrote a few new ones inspired by AR (i.e. "The Nightstalker"). I'd love for you AR fans to come check it out - @Gary especially!!!! Would love to share how you've inspired me!!! Here are some links:

 

https://soundcloud.com/bruce-scull-765619196

 

Some old favorites there and some new ones - 15 TOTAL - Some lyrics for "The Nightstalker":

 

Brave heros, they have tried to hunt him.
Not many have survived to tell the tale.
Of a creature that's so fierce
A nightmare who brings death
His fangs ready to pierce
Your soul
You take your last breath.
The Nightstalker shrouded in darkness
The Nightstalker he brings your demise
The Nightstalker is black
The Nightstalker is cold
The Nightstalker attacks
Just run, just do what you're told.
Legendary strength born to rip you.
A gaping maw, designed to eat you whole.
And tear you limb from limb
Only when light is dim
You'll meet your doom
Expect the worst
Shadow black death looms.

The Nightstalker shrouded in darkness
The Nightstalker he brings your demise
The Nightstalker is black
The Nightstalker is cold
The Nightstalker attacks
Just run, just do what you're told.

 

 

Some lyrics for the other originals as well if you want more, just ask :) Would love to get your feedback on these! Oh and the nextgen hack job version of the opening credits I did is on YouTube here:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R3jOiHmJBw

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I do not wish to hijack this thread, but I would like very much to share the playlist from AR that I put together with Mr. Gilbertson's approval. So as not to repeat myself, here's the cross post from the Philip Price thread:

 

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/214790-atariage-welcomes-philip-price-creatorcoder-of-alternate-reality/page-12?do=findComment&comment=4208019

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  • 4 weeks later...
JACE


I was google-n AR for the heck of it one day and saw a link to your AR version. When I saw your picture, I thought hmmm that guy looks familiar...

But didn't know why till later when I read your bio.


I was back in Hawaii for a bit after Monolith but then was... Well, a lot of places. Currently, I am in Newport Beach, Ca.


Hi to the other guys on Jace's post... As you can imagine it's a thrill to hear different versions of AR songs and listen to the ones inspired by them.


Btw Jace... Do you remember that Kurzweil 2500X you gave me? It still works! Recently I added a Kurzweil Forte.

Seems you guys have got me (now with some spare time), motivated as well haha.

Edited by ARO2
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  • 2 weeks later...

 

JACE
I was google-n AR for the heck of it one day and saw a link to your AR version. When I saw your picture, I thought hmmm that guy looks familiar...
But didn't know why till later when I read your bio.
I was back in Hawaii for a bit after Monolith but then was... Well, a lot of places. Currently, I am in Newport Beach, Ca.
Hi to the other guys on Jace's post... As you can imagine it's a thrill to hear different versions of AR songs and listen to the ones inspired by them.
Btw Jace... Do you remember that Kurzweil 2500X you gave me? It still works! Recently I added a Kurzweil Forte.
Seems you guys have got me (now with some spare time), motivated as well haha.

 

 

Awesome!

 

Looking forward to hearing your new compositions! Do you still keep in contact with Mr. Price?

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  • 2 weeks later...

Jace:

 

Haven't talked to Phil in years... He seems to be under the radar these days. I did hear from others that he was visiting people in Kona about a month ago.

 

For the heck of it here are a couple of new basic versions of a couple of old AR songs.

 

https://youtu.be/AxrSqlpkv3I Alternate Reality - The City
whoops - just noticed you can't link directly from here... ya need to copy and paste to browser.
Edited by ARO2
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  • 8 months later...

Hello Gary,


I hope you're still following this. Despite the great tricks you made the Pokey perform, I always thought your music transcended its electronic origins and could have been something that would have suited a full-on band, although I acknowledge that it is difficult to find instruments that convey the same feel as some of the outlandish sound effects you produced.


I generally dislike remakes of game music because they're usually almost entirely instrumental and made up of synthesizers and, unfortunately, often an overkill of reverb. I know there have been a number of projects around to have 8-bit music hits performed by bands and orchestras (I once visited one dedicated to C-64 composers). Has there ever been a project like that to capture your music?


Your AR music struck a note with me (ha ha, bad pun sorry) because they carried hit potential. I know you've been listened to by hundreds of thousands of game players, but a number of your songs would I think not have miss stood in the music charts if given the right kind of production.

 

Ah man, I've ran into AR taverns just to listen to some music. In fact, for the City game it took me a long time to find that one song was only played in the exclusive entrance-fee-only taverns. "These are just moments in my life, That I've held out for you to see, Look at them, Look at them and tell me if, You see the real me, I have been waiting for you, I have been hoping ...". Damn, 30 years on, some of the lyrics still stick.

 

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  • 4 months later...

Well with this quarantine business I had a moment to dig up some old
versions of my various AR tunes... As I recall you cannot link directly
from this posting but you can copy and paste the selections.

Note:
The numbers after the song titles refer to yearly dates of...
composed - audio version - video version.

========

https://youtu.be/FhPKnNkngGI   Wishing Well   84-97-01
     [Dungeon theme... yes I messed with it a bit in this 2001 version]     
https://youtu.be/AvnT5Gm-8HU   Moments in My Life   83-97-01

https://youtu.be/nKHCNDbjeNo   Let In The Light   83-97-12

https://youtu.be/INCqNLHRkd0   Into The Fray   84-97-06

https://youtu.be/gBnMPgzrdkU   ARMOR   83-97-12

https://youtu.be/1K3IOcXu1Ik   Ganthem   83-97-12

https://youtu.be/9PIQGzLnISQ   Waves at Home   83-97-06

https://youtu.be/Qu8IXpBljjk   DeathAR   83-97-12

========
Some tunes that were slated to be used in ARO97 - which didn't happen
       
https://youtu.be/N_1xmSUJR-4   Vanish   97-97-06

https://youtu.be/e-FlNb7AW30   Bring You Tonight   97-97-98
       [remember - 20+yr old graphics]

https://youtu.be/f5O6ECnQU0w  Could We Be   97-97-98
    [remember - 20+yr old graphics]

https://youtu.be/FTCW7Rvf23I  Good-Evil Guild   83-97-06

https://youtu.be/py4XnXG7CGY   The Dark   97-97-01

https://youtu.be/_ihCO3yHGKQ   Never Been   97-97-98

https://youtu.be/zt0JfRFRBJ0    Morning Sun   97-97-98

========
Some tunes just for fun...

https://youtu.be/7TyB8WJcgG8    Lyrae   82-18-18

https://youtu.be/ZpUQ3ELXZZ0  AR Overture    97-97-14

https://youtu.be/O0IhiIboKok   I Am Pacman   97-97-19
       [just for fun]
 

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Haven't listened to all of them yet, Good-Evil Guild brought back good memories, even though it sounds quite different compared to the original. And I really liked Wishing Well, The Dungeon Theme. Definitely not sequenced note for note. I think you even played most of it live, but I like that sound :)

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6 hours ago, ARO2 said:

Well with this quarantine business I had a moment to dig up some old
versions of my various AR tunes... As I recall you cannot link directly
from this posting but you can copy and paste the selections.

Note:
The numbers after the song titles refer to yearly dates of...
composed - audio version - video version.

========

https://youtu.be/FhPKnNkngGI   Wishing Well   84-97-01
     [Dungeon theme... yes I messed with it a bit in this 2001 version]     
https://youtu.be/AvnT5Gm-8HU   Moments in My Life   83-97-01

https://youtu.be/nKHCNDbjeNo   Let In The Light   83-97-12

https://youtu.be/INCqNLHRkd0   Into The Fray   84-97-06

https://youtu.be/gBnMPgzrdkU   ARMOR   83-97-12

https://youtu.be/1K3IOcXu1Ik   Ganthem   83-97-12

https://youtu.be/9PIQGzLnISQ   Waves at Home   83-97-06

https://youtu.be/Qu8IXpBljjk   DeathAR   83-97-12

========
Some tunes that were slated to be used in ARO97 - which didn't happen
       
https://youtu.be/N_1xmSUJR-4   Vanish   97-97-06

https://youtu.be/e-FlNb7AW30   Bring You Tonight   97-97-98
       [remember - 20+yr old graphics]

https://youtu.be/f5O6ECnQU0w  Could We Be   97-97-98
    [remember - 20+yr old graphics]

https://youtu.be/FTCW7Rvf23I  Good-Evil Guild   83-97-06

https://youtu.be/py4XnXG7CGY   The Dark   97-97-01

https://youtu.be/_ihCO3yHGKQ   Never Been   97-97-98

https://youtu.be/zt0JfRFRBJ0    Morning Sun   97-97-98

========
Some tunes just for fun...

https://youtu.be/7TyB8WJcgG8    Lyrae   82-18-18

https://youtu.be/ZpUQ3ELXZZ0  AR Overture    97-97-14

https://youtu.be/O0IhiIboKok   I Am Pacman   97-97-19
       [just for fun]
 

I've always loved "Waves". Many thanks for this version!

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I like that last one. :) Never Been, also.
 

I'll admit I'm more of a fan of the Pokey sound than these old 90s synths, it sounded fresher and punchier.

 

But Gary, ever considered brushing the songs up with Cakewalk? The fully fledged version is free, these days. Would also be really nice with actual vocals.

 

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Fire Button...

 

I thought Cakewalk went out of business along with what it turned into -  Sonar.

I have Waveform9 and the pro-version of Melodyne...  Just not a lot of time to play with them *smiles*.  Oh... And I don't have a singing voice or I would haha.

You're right though... Would be fun to clean em up 21st century style.

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I don't know the history of it, but it's still very much alive: https://www.bandlab.com/products/cakewalk. I downloaded it recently to see if I could make my electric guitar sound better (turns out it's just a crap guitar). 

 

But it looks like you have the tools already, so don't bother. :)

 

I wasn't suggesting you sing it by yourself, though. But there seem to be plenty of talented singers around the world and you don't have to be sitting in the same room with them anymore these days, what with all the cool audio recording and editing options. Surely there must be a few enthusiastic people out there who would love to partner on such a project? I know I would, if I could sing.

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