WebGuitar (not really a game)

WIP games, tools & toy projects
#1

This isn’t a game (yet) but it can be fun. Use left/right arrow keys to strum and number keys 1-8 to change chords. You can also edit the chords manually. I have a version working with a Wii Gutiar Hero controller that I may release soon once I get the handling a bit more stable and hate-mail filters installed.


http://www.angryoctopus.co.nz/webguitar/screen_2.png

Incidentally, I posted this on an Auido Forum and someone left this comment:

sigh…

#2

Looks nice, seems to work, but - no sound!

Using JRE version 1.6.0_06 Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM
Direct Audio Device: DirectSound Playback, Unknown Vendor
#3

Cool… Yeah thats fun and well implemented. Impressive. Managed to get some of my fav songs sounding reasonable. Is there any way to go up an octave?

[quote]Direct Audio Device: DirectSound Playback, Unknown Vendor
[/quote]
Got the same message in console, but I get sound so not sure thats related…

#4

Odd, I haven’t had any issues on several different computers. Do you have multiple soundcards or anything else slight strange, does this one work for you?

You can change any of the hot key chords to anything you like, just change the fingering for the currently selected chord. Also you can change the tuning of the guitar (top right).

#5

Can you record the music you make on it? Rather than making a game you should make a sound recording program so people can easily make music for their games.

#6

I was actually thinking about doing that. I have done a bunch of lightweight pure Java software synthesizers so far and was thinking of making a simple Mario-Paint-esq (but a bit more advanced) music tool for games. If you want to try some others click below:

Lead Synth:

http://angryoctopus.co.nz/synth2/screen_1.png

Drums:

http://angryoctopus.co.nz/synth4/screen_1.png

Full Featured:

http://angryoctopus.co.nz/synth/screen_1.png

#7

This is great!!!

Some suggestions:

  • Allow up-strumming always, so the bidirectional strumming is easier
  • Spread playback over at least two channels, so that the last chord doesn’t break up when changing chords
  • Consider multikey “gestures”. So we can configure something like:
    • Additionally pressed Up and Down arrows modify chord type (maybe betwen maj and min)
    • Additionally pressed Keypad-0 pitches the chord up by an octave (or quinte or whatever)
    • Additionally pressed CTRL damps the tone
    • Or using the first 4 numbers only, but in binary encoding :):):slight_smile: to select 64 combinations of chords and chord types
    • Other switchable effects could be half strumming speed, arpeggio …
  • Consider a midi-out to allow us to wire gtr or guitar rig :slight_smile:

If you will ever release this source, let me know 8)

#8

I tend to strum down alot and just hit a few strings on the way up (when playing an actual guitar) so that’s why I made it work that way, but enough people have commented that I will change it.

I wanted to simulate a real guitar so it doesn’t make sense to have multiple channels. When you change chords I mute the strings slightly and set them to open for a fraction of a second but it still needs a bit of work to sound natural.

Yeah I could have expression keys to modify the chord, good idea. I was actually thinking about a modifer key to switch to power chord versions.

Don’t you mean 16 combinations (2^4)? The guitar hero controller has 5 buttons so you can get 32 chords without paging them (more than many guitarists know I’d wager).

Once again, great ideas.

Could do but I am already spending far too much time away from games on this.

Will do, I pretty much always release source if enough people request it. The only reason I don’t initially is the time it takes to clean-up and package it.

#9

Something just occurred to me, cylab do play the guitar? Seems there is a bit of overlap between guitarists and game developers for some reason. I know Kev Glass plays a bit (according to his website).

Anyone else?

#10

no

yes - loud & clear…

#11

I can’t hear anything on the guitar either.
But I can also hear the piano synth …

#12

I was more refering to the overlapping of the sustain.

My bad, did my comment after a birthday party, so I wasn’t quite sober :wink:

Not really a guitarist. I only know some basic chords but I try to be a drummer :slight_smile: I think there is a quite an overlap between (game) developers and musicians in general.

#13

Edit:
Ok, I’ve checked this and in WebGuitar I was grabbing the SourceDataLine in the constructor for the applet rather than init(). Check it now and see if it works.

#14

Did either SimonH or teletubo get a chance to try this agian?

#15

still no sound here .
I tried with link, is it the correct one ?
http://www.angryoctopus.co.nz/webguitar/webguitar.php

maybe it’s one of that applet issues that things are not re-loaded.

Just to be clear, it supposed to play the chord whenever I press 1-8, right ?

#16

Not a tweet! Same error.

#17

I assume you tried to click on the applet to give it focus!?

#18

Plays sound when you strum with left/right, 1-8 to change the current chord. You should see the pick moving back and fourth across the strings.

Blast… back to drawing board. So just to clarify, the pick is moving across the strings, you just aren’t hearing sound?

#19

my bad . I didnt read the instructions carefully , and was trying to clck everywhere, but not pressing left right

maybe you should put the instructions in the page ?

#20

[quote=“ShannonSmith,post:18,topic:34158”]
Cool. It works. Penny finally dropped - I assumed that clicking on things would make noise & so I missed the arrow keys bit…
Instructions on the page (like maybe ‘use the arrow keys’) would help.