A new way to play instruments in Tower Unite - ABC Notation

Suggestions
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Playing instruments in Tower can be fun, albeit difficult. The current system also makes it impossible for certain chords to be played, as you have to hold down shift to access the black keys. I propose a new way to play them alongside the already existing method.

This is ABC. It’s a musical notation that’s read from ASCII characters in a text file. This means that you could write your own “sheet music” (with a text editor), or download already existing .ABC files that others have made. When complete, you can load up any software capable of playing back .ABC files and hear the music! It’s completely automatic. If you need proof that it can work well, look at Starbound, a game that already supports ABC instruments.

The best part? Multiple people playing the same .ABC file can enter a special “Band name”, which is actually a keyword that will synchronize them with every other person also playing an instrument with the same keyword specified. It’s one of the most glorious things I’ve ever seen implemented successfully in a game.

@donglekumquat I know you’re the music dude here, what do you think?

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This is absolutely a great idea! Not only would this make playing more difficult songs a breeze, there are already hundreds of ready-made .abc files to use. It’s always a joy to come prepared with any .abc files you like and to show them off with friends.

Perhaps the implementation of .abc support could earn TU some recognition on some .abc file hosting sites.
Of course, being able to play instruments directly is a feature that isn’t often seen accompanied with .abc support. If implemented, TU could set a standard in that department, by allowing players to autoplay or play themselves. Maybe even play themselves while autoplaying, who knows?
4 Likes
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man I love playing portal still alive in that game on the steel drum

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You have NO idea how much i love that feature in starbound, its actually the thing i like about starbound the most…

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5

OMG what if they did this for the NES guitar?

instant purchase

If this becomes a feature then i hope they add the band feature so people can make bands.

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Another up for this would be custom music sheets. On your piano, maybe have a way to import a little image, (Similar to a mini canvas) sitting on your piano for you to see. That, or have a mini HUD while playing the piano so you can flick through your sheets with ease. That would be really hard tho.

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It wouldnt really be hard, thats how it was in Gmod Tower, and i believe custom sheets will become available at some point.

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YES! please this needs to be a thing!

not only would it make playing music easy but it would also make the work with adding new instruments a lot easier!

and it does not even have to replace the whole system cause we can still have the advanced piano, drums and upcoming guitar.

but yeah i would love to have ABC instruments

1 Like