🎸 New Skill Unlocked: The Guitar!
Hi, Alex here!
Paralives is a game about life and how sad would life be without music? That’s why we’ve previously shown how your Paras can learn the piano and today’s post is all about our second instrument, the guitar. 🎸
🎥 First of all, please watch the video at the top of this post to see the guitar skill in action
A Parafolk playing the guitar.
The Creation Process
Choose the instrument to add to the game: We already picked piano as our first one. For the second and last one that will make it for the game’s release, we considered our options and went with guitar since it’s a very popular instrument to learn in real life, along with piano.
The Guitar Object: To start off, Chloé created the acoustic guitar itself and its stand.
Find references for the animations to create: Alice looked at many many videos of guitarists to find the movements to recreate in her animations.
Create the character animations: Using the reference videos, Alice created 3 different guitar playing animations, one for each skill range (low, intermediate, high). Since there are many music tracks for each skill range, we couldn’t make animations that play the exact chords and notes of each music track. That would have taken a tremendous amount of work to animate and we prefer to use this time for other important game features.
Make sure the animations work with Paras of different heights: Anna and Alice then worked on using our animation adaptation tools to make sure the animations work well with characters of different heights. For instance, a child or a Para that is not very tall will need to hold the guitar a bit differently because their arms are not as long as the average adult character.
Record existing tracks: Some of the tracks we picked for the game are public domain so Andrei simply recorded them with his guitar. In the video, Greensleeves is one of these.
Compose new tracks: Other guitar tracks were composed by Andrei and are completely original. In the video, all the tracks after Greensleeves are original compositions.
Record composed tracks: Andrei recorded the tracks he composed. However, even though he’s a good guitarist, he didn’t feel comfortable recording the high level tracks.
Work with a professional guitarist to record the high level tracks: Andrei worked with Remi Cote, a talented guitarist to record the more difficult tracks.
Practice Interaction: Jérémie made it so when you ask your Para to perform the “Practice” interaction on the guitar, they will play random tracks that their current skill level allows.
Play Specific Song Interaction: Jérémie also added the “Play song…” interaction to the game and it allows players to pick a specific track they want their Para to play. Modders will be able to add new tracks to the game pretty easily.
What We Could Improve in The Future
🎸 In addition to acoustic guitars, we could add electric and classical guitars
🕺 Add more animations to make guitar playing look more varied
💿 Add more tracks of different styles
➕ More ideas already mentioned in the piano Patreon post
Side Note: Patreon Community Chat
Some of you might have used the Community section here on our Patreon to ask us questions about the game. Recently, Patreon decided to remove that feature from their website to replace it with a new chat feature. We loved answering your questions in the Community section so feel free to ask them on the new Patreon chat now! However, please note that the chat only works on the Patreon mobile app for now and will be available on Patreon’s website at a later time. As always, you can also contact us on our Discord server or through DMs here on Patreon 💌
Have a great weekend and take care of yourself! 🦒
Alex
Edit - February 29th, 2024: This post is now public, feel free to share it!
Comments (67)
my daughter gon be a violin prodigy and son a pianiiiist
I would love an electric guitar! Maybe multiple types (if possible) since not all of them look the same? I would also love to be able to play drums and start a band
Can we get a ukulele? That would be so fun. It can be the same skill as guitar just to keep it simple.
Adding a vote for a future electric guitar, please :)
Did you think of having a Para sitting while playing guitar? I never really understood why I would stay all the time 😅. In real life I usually sit playing guitar.
it's probably far easier to animate them standing, sitting Parafolk would clip through their guitar or end up as weird hybrid with it ;)
I would love if you all added tracks playable by multiple instruments so we can start Para bands! Maybe a singing skill too?
Wow, the sound is pristine!
wow, incredible work. I LOVE the songs you've included so far! the design and sound are both impeccable. a big thank you to everyone who worked on this feature ❤️❤️
I would love to sing and play the instrument at the same time!
Wowzza! You guys are rockin the guitar. I too appreciate the neck slides when one isn't great, it shows more imperfections and realism. As their skill improves, then yes the grating slides will disappear. I honestly cannot wait for this game. Keep up the amazing work team Para, and don't forget some cake and coffee breaks along the way and give one another hugs for jobs well done. <3
Woah I really like how the guitar sounds :)
Totally in love with what you have achieved
can paras play the guitar both standing and sititng down?
I can just imagine listening to my para playing these exceptional pieces originating from such talented people. We are so lucky to see all the behind the scenes elements of making this game it truly is amazing.
*me whilst trying to calmly read this post* "THEY'RE ON A STAGE 🥹🥹 DOES THIS MEAN CAN THEY PERFORM AS A COHESIVE BAND!?! 😭😭" Also, that guitar sounds lovely 💕
I love the guitar, and oh what fun it will be to watch my Para go from low skill to high skill... I'm already hearing the melodious sounds and vibrations!! And, the side by side scenes of the IRL guitar solo was a thrill to watch. I thoroughly enjoyed!! 👏
Woah I really like how the guitar sounds :)
1) When the camera pans around Maggie, you can see her white shirt through the guitar's sound hole. 2) I don't know if this is intentional, but Maple Leaves (intermediate level) sounds...not great. The sound of the guitarist's fingers sliding up and down the neck is really distracting.
intermediate level not sounding great makes sense. lmfao.
I cant believe Patreon just straight up removed the community posts and replaced them with the chat instead of giving us both. Terrible decision if you ask me, and I hope they reverse it. Especially since you cannot even view the old posts anymore and you guys' responses!
Yeah, entire communities losing YEARS worth of exchanges without having a say is terrible. I kept a history of all the questions/suggestions I was interested in, and their replies, so that I'd be able to discuss them when the game releases... but I kept that history in links ! So there is no archive I can think of. This is horrible behavior. I can't wait for Paralives to be out, first and foremost because I can't wait for Paralives to be playable, but also because the Paratreon is the last reason I'm on this hellsite and I wish nothing but to close my account once I'm not supporting the Paradevs anymore.
I am a wee bit sad we only get 2 instruments for release. But I do completely understand it. Will there be DLC for Paralives? Or would more instruments come in an update? Or would we have to buy more instruments separately, like would we have to buy the electric guitar item? Or is that a bit too far into the future to think about?
Thanks so much for the kind words everyone! Glad you like the results!
Eh I like the guitar more than the piano! The piano was good but the guitar it's really beautiful, it made me feel emotional. It's really really beautiful.
Oh my gosh, the little detail of the unskilled guitarists having to look down to find the fret and the delay between the notes/chords has my whole heart. That's me every time I try to learn to play guitar. Same with the little audible drag on the strings (I don't know if there's a name for it) between chords at the intermediate level, like they don't quite have the hand strength and flexibility to do it properly yet. I just love how much the para's confidence in their playing animation improves as they skill up, it really tells the story of embracing a new skill!
Something that would be neat somewhere down the line is to allow us to upload our own music that our Paras can play. Definitely like an MVP 7 idea lol
That would be cool yes! It will already be possible using the modding tools though which regular players should be able to do without too much problems if they follow an easy tutorial
This looks fantastic. I agree that guitar was the logical instrument to pick. Do Paras react to music, and in particular music being learned, when someone picks up an instrument in their proximity ? I can't remember if I asked before. Congrats to Andrei and Remi for the new original songs ! (the ensh*ttification of Patreon continues u_u )
Thank you! Paras don't react to music being played yet but we aim to do so. Their autonomy could choose to listen to people playing if there are some nearby
Really great addition. If I may ask, what other instruments were you considering? Will it be possible to add our own guitar songs for paras to play?
We didn't seriously consider many other instruments since guitar seemed liked a no brainer Adding new guitar song will be possible using the in-game modding tools so regular players could do that if they want to follow a simple tutorial on how to do it
Andrei always impresses me with his compositions. I can't wait to see what tracks he composes for when para are listening to the radio
looking great as always!! <3
I love love love the cozy feel this game has all around! Cant wait to play it when it releases!!!
i just played the video in full screen and it's like playing a game 😻
I’ve always wanted to have the option to play guitar while sitting in life sim games since that’s such a normal thing for people to do. Is this something you’ve considered as an animation option? I love what’s been shared so far!
Thank you! For now, we only did the standing animations for the guitar because we have a lot of other hobbies and interactions to add to the game before release still but it would be nice to add animations to play guitar while sitting in the future!
Very cool!
yaaay!
Ayo looking good!
I literally cannot wait to play this game. Its going to be so fun
Same, it's shaping up so well! 💚
Love that the guitar will also be available in the base game! A couple of questions: - Did I read correctly that children can also play the guitar??? Will there be a smaller guitar for them or can they only play up from a certain height/age? - I saw in the replies that playing in a band won't be an option on release; would paras still be able to play guitar (and/or piano) at the same time though through the group interaction option? - Will paras be able to take guitar/piano lessons from someone (NPC or perhaps a skilled guitarist) somewhere (rabbithole, at home?)? - Can a skilled player get a (side) job as an instructor/teacher? - Do paras have to learn new songs/compositions before they can play them? I loved having to read books/music sheets in TS3 to expand on their skill and repertoire. - Can paras perform/busk? - Can the guitar itself be personalized by changing color and maybe even texture? - Is the guitar a 'personal' item that a para would 'carry' with them or is it an object that gets placed (on its stand) somewhere and anyone can pick it up to play and then put it back in its place?
Thank you! - Children will be able to play guitar starting at a certain age and it will be the same guitar object. The exact age is still to be determined - We still have to work on what will happen when playing guitar as a group. They might play short part of tracks one after the other, like if they were practising together or play the same thing at the same time - Lessons are not planned for now but we would like to have them in the future if we can! - We are planning to add jobs related to music - We are not planning a mechanism where you have to learn songs before playing them but it would be a nice thing to add eventually maybe! - Paras can play a song in front of people and we might add an interaction where other Paras can watch them perform - Yes, the color swatch of the guitar can be changed - The guitar is an object that gets placed (on its stand) in build mode and anyone can pick it up to play and then put it back in its place
Spotify playlist-able! Love the hand animations and the Dance of the Dragon
I JUST WANT TO PLAY THIS GAME ALREADY IT LOOKS SO GOOD 😭😭
The guitar looks like it's floating, especially when the Para is playing. Maybe add a strap? There is a reason why Andrei is sitting down, after all.
Thanks for the feedback, I get what you mean! Maybe we could add a strap but it's a technical challenge since it would have to adapt its length automatically depending on the height of the Para. Being able to play while sitting would be great but we would need different animations so we will only have playing while standing for now so we can focus our efforts on adding other skills and hobbies before release
Still can't get over how good the visuals are for this game, brilliant art direction and choices, and what's more, it has a timeless quality, so regardless of graphics advances elsewhere this game will always stand out with it's beautiful illustrated style
Awww, thanks so much Daniel!
Beautiful! I love Dance of the Dragon. There is so much work, love and attention to detail in all of this.
Again, I'm so happy there will be playable instruments!! Looks and sounds great! Will the Para's ever be able to play together? Would be so cool if we could start a band! But don't know if it's too advanced. Especially since you're a small team. I'm so impressed with what you've been able to do as an indie team so far!
Thanks so much! We'd love to be able to play as a band in the future! It would be great to add that in an update after release one day
I adore this, great job so far! The high level animation looks a bit repetitive though with the one arm and knee animation.Maybe something a little less dramatic so the animation loop would look more natural.
Thanks for the feedback! We'd like to add more animation variations in the future
Awesome. Do you think there'll be an option to add your own tracks to music skills?
It will be possible using the in-game modding tools so regular players could do that if they want to follow a simple tutorial on how to do it
Amazing, will parafolks play as a band in the game like sims2?
Not at launch but it would be a cool feature to add one day!
I'm already obsessed with Dance of the Dragon 😍 Well done!
Omg I love love this!! So fluid and natural too I love the animation and the music (good job Andrei 🤩) love it ✨❤️
Sounds so good ❤️ Will Paras be able to sing along with their playing?
Not now but it would be a really great thing to add eventually after the release of the game!
Cant wait
Sounds like me, in the first few seconds! 😀 Honestly he details here! He plays and the Parafolk parallels movement! I am gobsmacked. 😍😋
Hehehe, don't give up!