WOLFE'S PROFILE

author=Kaliesto
I think midi needs to evolve in quality in some way without increasing too much of the file size.

Various companies and individuals have been doing that for decades; MIDI is actually extremely flexible. Soundfonts, like gadesx pointed out, special effect definitions like Yamaha XG, and a whole range of software/hardware controllers have all helped MIDI to evolve.

The problem is in a case like ours, when playback quality is often limited by the quality of the synth on the computer being used to play the game. Beyond the fidelity of the instruments, attack/decay rates, dynamics, pitch range, and even pitch tuning can vary from computer to computer, making it difficult to compose a MIDI that will sound the same to everyone. For example, someone might compose a fast and flighty flute part, but if your favorite soundfont has a flute sample that's soft and slow, it'll sound way off.

Inconsistency is the main problem. But if you have control over playback quality, MIDI is fine. Some modern videogames still have MIDI songs, they just come packaged with decent instruments. In theory we could do the same thing with our games; tailor your songs to a common softsynth like Yamaha XG70 (developed for the Windows version of Final Fantasy 7), direct your players to download it, and you can be sure everyone hears the music the way you intended.

A bit more voting time would be great. My fiancée and I bounce back and forth between in-town and out-of-town, and thus, DSL and satellite. I can't really download anything until tomorrow; uploading my game here was glacial.

I think everything is sorted on my submission now. Thanks Deckiller, Ankylo, and any other RMN staff for the extra help!

In RPGMaker 2000 I use the "swap tiles" feature to switch passability using upper tiles. I have a set of regular barriers for the upper level, and duplicates of a path tile with O passability for the hero to walk on. If you have a generic parallel event controlling your map, you can have it track the hero's XY position and specify ranges where the hero would cross under, as opposed to over. If the hero crosses any of those thresholds, swap the regular barriers (with X passability) with an alternate set of identical or near-identical barriers with star passability, and the upper path tile for an identical or near-identical tile with star passability. I added visual cues by removing the dark outline of the barriers and checkerboarding the path tile with transparent color so the player can "see" through the bridge.

You can also just place local events on either end below the bridge, set to activate upon touch. Either way, the nice thing is that the O passability upper tiles can obscure and override any barrier below, so you can make the path twist and turn if you want. RPG2k prioritizes the upper tile, and it should work in 2k3 too. Much easier than duplicate chipsets.

Congrats Kunsel! And congrats Athenium for our tie for second place!

Lately I've been doing nothing but chiptunes; it's great to find out I can be competitive with a GM soundfont too. It's inspired me to reconsider midis instead of mp3s for my current RPG project.

Thank you to everyone who voted for me! :)