Did you miss Titan Talk yesterday! No worries, here is a summary!
Special Guest: Kellen
- Audio Manager at Titan Forge, working on Smite for almost 11 years
- Oversees and directs audio/music for the game
- Collaborates with various departments to ensure seamless audio integration
Kellen joined the show to discuss the ongoing work on Smite’s music and audio systems, along with the team’s approach to bug fixes and upcoming improvements.
Housekeeping & Recent Bug Fixes
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Hot Fixes Deployed:
- Fixed an issue where minions dealt no damage to familiars or pets.
- Further potential fix for the mini map overlay bug appearing in the store.
- Resolved an issue with the Health Chalice not refilling on respawn if it had zero charges upon player death.
- Fixed an audio bug causing the “ally has left the game” sound to play in post-match lobbies.
- Restored music packs functionality in Assault mode.
- Updated Aladdin’s lamp inventory behavior to prevent despawning other active items.
- Fixed Zeus’s ultimate hit sound on his T5 (and base) skin so it now plays the correct effect.
- Modified Bari’s Sacred Bell projectile and warning circle visuals to be more clear.
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Known Issues & Ongoing Work:
- Pele’s Pyroclast Return: Investigating a bug with Pele’s pyroclast projectiles not returning properly.
- Silent Wish Chest Ghost Rolls: Working on a fix for ghost roll issues—players will not lose any currency in the meantime.
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Several other bug fixes mentioned by the dev team, including:
- Ymir Wall & Yemoja 3 incorrectly breaking Magi’s.
- Bari’s Mystic Surge incorrectly tracking minion/jungle camp kills.
- Match audio persisting into the end-of-match lobby.
Music & Audio in Smite 2
Music Packs Overview
New in Smite 2: Music packs have finally been introduced in Open Beta 5. These allow players to customize their in-game music, from the fountain-lobby intro track to epic kill streak pieces.
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Why Music Packs?
- Adds new layers of personalization and immersion.
- Dynamic music triggers for taking down objectives, kills, and more.
- A broad range of musical styles from calm lofi to heavy metal.
Top 10 Most-Equipped Music Packs (from Smite 1)
- Jetpack Fighter – Surprising #1 pick with an energetic, futuristic vibe.
- Ruby (Licensed)
- Slushy (Licensed)
- Cyber Tokyo – Dark synthwave inspiration.
- From the Nether – Spooky, ominous undertones.
- Spirit Guide – Epic orchestral adventure feel.
- Senpai – Anime-inspired, lively track.
- Hellfire Syndicate – Metal-meets-hip-hop for a demonic/fashion vibe.
- Heavenly Hymns – Ethereal and classic Smite orchestral.
- Pirate – An adventurous pirate-themed rock mix.
Note: Some licensed packs cannot be carried forward into Smite 2.
Kellen’s Personal Favorites
Kellen, who oversees much of the audio direction, listed his top picks:
- Worlds Collide – A unique fusion of lofi and metal elements.
- Season of Souls – Dark and intense metal reminiscent of fast-paced action games.
- Chibi Mech – High-energy and upbeat EDM/trance blend.
- Sea Shanty – Features actual Hi-Rez employees singing a jaunty pirate tune.
- Arcane Purity – Magical orchestral vibe ideal for a wizardly or mystical mood.
- Divine Uprising – Classic, epic orchestral theme.
- Bollywood – Vibrant, culturally-inspired track that’s a hidden gem.
- Lo-Fi – Perfect for chill gaming sessions.
- Prism of Soul – Epic, slightly tragic orchestral piece.
Each pack was created by partnering with a range of composers, followed by feedback and iteration rounds. Some highlight collaborations have been done with producers like Andrea Bellucci, as well as artists from the metal band Hath.
Behind the Scenes: Audio Direction
How Audio Themes Are Crafted
- Collaboration with God Designers: Kellen meets with design teams to understand a character’s abilities, tone, and needs.
- Sound Palettes: Each god or theme receives a “sound palette” to set cohesive elements and textures across all abilities.
- Iterative Development: Feedback is crucial—multiple revisions happen before finalizing a set of sounds.
- Challenges: Avoiding overly literal sounds (e.g., barking bunnies) and ensuring variety among thematically similar gods.
Dynamic Mixing & Future Audio Improvements
- Dynamic Mixing: Adjusts volume and intensity of different sounds (e.g. hits, global events) in real-time.
- Potential Upcoming Tech: Expanding dynamic mixing for better hit feedback, better positional audio, and more.
- Music Packs: Kellen teases an idea to create a possible “music pack playlist” system, letting players select and randomize segments from their owned packs.
Working on Licensed Music & Projects
- Slipknot Collaboration: A huge highlight, culminating in exclusive Slipknot crossover packs & skins. Kellen recounts meeting the band and how important authenticity is in such high-profile partnerships.
- Monster Cat & Other Collaborations: Deeper behind-the-scenes look at how new partnerships evolve and factor into Smite’s audio identity.
Community Q&A Highlights
- Announcer Packs: The team is looking into bringing them to Smite 2. This includes the beloved Cthulhu and Lorelady versions, plus potential new ones.
- Zeus T5 Audio Issue: Recently addressed so T5 Zeus’s ultimate & hit sounds now match the intended design.
- DJ Skins Playing Music Together: Formerly a complicated system in Smite 1, but it may be easier in UE5. The team is investigating ways to bring back group-synced music.
- Sun Wukong/Guan Yu Drums: Classic requests to restore old, iconic drum sounds and themes. It’s under consideration for the future.
- Upcoming Gods & Audio Teaser: Next god’s name starts with an H — and yes, they have a voice.
Key Dates & Events
- Pele Pyroclast Fix: Ongoing investigation to ensure return projectiles function properly.
- Silent Wish Chest Issue: Being resolved so ghost rolls no longer occur.
- Community Tournaments: Nika and Hazer are hosting the Smite 2 Euros. Catch the drafts and matches this week.
- St. Patrick’s Day Event (Starting Friday): Complete matches to unlock the Celtic Music Pack for free.
Final Takeaways
- Continuous Updates: The Smite 2 team is rapidly tackling bugs, performance improvements, and community feedback.
- Ever-Evolving Audio: Music packs add flavor; new dynamic mixing systems are on the horizon, with Kellen constantly refining the in-game soundscape.
- Stay Connected: More shows coming, including Monday’s “Merlin” reveal episode. Don’t miss the daily news on bug fixes, new features, and Q&A!
Here are the items that have been hotfixed in the last 24 hours:
- Fixed an issue where Bari could get an extra enhanced ability
- Fixed an issue with Pele’s Pyroclast where return charges were not properly registering
- Fixed an issue with Thanatos Ultimate where he would retain his speed buff after respawn
- Fixed an issue where Bari’s foot was twitching in the lobby
- Made it easier for gamepad players to lock in gods for Assault
- Bari’s audio will no longer loop at start
- Ragnarok Force X now plays the correct music