SAN FRANCISCO — With the release of the iPod-exclusive rhythm title Phase, Harmonix proved they have the technology necessary to let players import their own music into one of the company’s rhythm titles through a process called “Procedural Generation.”
This technology is easily the most requested feature in the firm’s games (most importantly the recent Rock Band), but according to Phase Senior Designer Chris Foster, the system they have in place is simply not robust enough to handle the demands of a title like Rock Band that uses so many instruments.
Continuing, Foster added that “Harmonix is currently pursuing the possibility of allowing players to import their own music into” Rock Band’s inevitable sequels, but gave no details on when or how this would occur.
Oh my God, YES! After my near orgasmic post yesterday concerning the hardcore crush (pun intended) I have on indie game Fez I finally got a chance to play it here at GDC!
Fez seeks to expand on the already cool 2D/3D transitional gameplay of games like Super Paper Mario and Crush by allowing the player even more control over the revolutionary perspective switching mechanic. With a nice Cave Story-esque retro look, the game rocketed to the top of my must-play list after only seeing yesterday’s short, hardly revealing video.
But was Operation: Play Fez a success or did I leave disappointed? It is me who is typing this, so the reaction was probably a little bit on the positive side. But hit the jump anyway for my hands-on impressions. Maybe I will surprise you (hint: I won’t).
Phil Harrison? Not happy. Back when he was boss at SCE Europe, he oversaw the transformation of the PS2 from a gamer’s console into a mainstream entertainment device, thanks to SCEE titles like SingStar and Buzz! Because of those titles (and the millions of PS2s they helped sell), the inroads made by the Wii don’t seem as revolutionary in Europe and Australia as they do elsewhere, because we’ve seen girls and families gaming together on a PS2 for years. So why, he wonders, didn’t Sony Japan do the same thing?
It’s a very interesting and frustrating thing for me to experience because I have been banging the drum about social gaming for a long time, with SingStar, EyeToy and Buzz.
And our Japanese colleagues said that there is no such thing as social gaming in Japan - people do not play games on the same sofa together in each other’s homes. It will never happen. And then out comes the Wii.
…which proved them so, so, so wrong, he leaves unsaid. Maybe Japanese SingStars might help, eh? They certainly can’t hurt.
Harrison admits frustration at Sony Japan [GI.biz]
Oh my God, YES! After my near orgasmic post yesterday concerning the hardcore crush (pun intended) I have on indie game Fez I finally got a chance to play it here at GDC!
Fez seeks to expand on the already cool 2D/3D transitional gameplay of games like Super Paper Mario and Crush by allowing the player even more control over the revolutionary perspective switching mechanic. With a nice Cave Story-esque retro look, the game rocketed to the top of my must-play list after only seeing yesterday’s short, hardly revealing video.
But was Operation: Play Fez a success or did I leave disappointed? It is me who is typing this, so the reaction was probably a little bit on the positive side. But hit the jump anyway for my hands-on impressions. Maybe I will surprise you (hint: I won’t).
SAN FRANCISCO — With the release of the iPod-exclusive rhythm title Phase, Harmonix proved they have the technology necessary to let players import their own music into one of the company’s rhythm titles through a process called “Procedural Generation.”
This technology is easily the most requested feature in the firm’s games (most importantly the recent Rock Band), but according to Phase Senior Designer Chris Foster, the system they have in place is simply not robust enough to handle the demands of a title like Rock Band that uses so many instruments.
Continuing, Foster added that “Harmonix is currently pursuing the possibility of allowing players to import their own music into” Rock Band’s inevitable sequels, but gave no details on when or how this would occur.
Phil Harrison? Not happy. Back when he was boss at SCE Europe, he oversaw the transformation of the PS2 from a gamer’s console into a mainstream entertainment device, thanks to SCEE titles like SingStar and Buzz! Because of those titles (and the millions of PS2s they helped sell), the inroads made by the Wii don’t seem as revolutionary in Europe and Australia as they do elsewhere, because we’ve seen girls and families gaming together on a PS2 for years. So why, he wonders, didn’t Sony Japan do the same thing?
It’s a very interesting and frustrating thing for me to experience because I have been banging the drum about social gaming for a long time, with SingStar, EyeToy and Buzz.
And our Japanese colleagues said that there is no such thing as social gaming in Japan - people do not play games on the same sofa together in each other’s homes. It will never happen. And then out comes the Wii.
…which proved them so, so, so wrong, he leaves unsaid. Maybe Japanese SingStars might help, eh? They certainly can’t hurt.
Harrison admits frustration at Sony Japan [GI.biz]
Top developers explain why they prefer the Xbox 360 to develop games on:
Top developers explain why they prefer the Xbox 360 to develop games on:
Tentatively set for release in 2009, LEGO Universe seeks to provide gamers with “a virtual extension of the real-world LEGO” gameplay, by allowing MMO fans a chance to virtually live among each of the thousands of LEGO sets that have been created over the years.
Most impressive in this quest is LEGO’s plan to integrate fabrication of objects directly into the title.
Any structure or vehicle you may construct out of the MMOs virtual blocks, you can also export to LEGO who will allow you to purchase traditional LEGO sets that are exact replicas of what you’ve created in-game.
The biggest hurdle to LEGO in creating LEGO Universe is the challenge of transitioning a toy designed to assist people in furthering their own creativity through multi-colored bricks.
To draw an analogue to the issue they face, it’s almost a plastic brick version of what Will Wright had to do to create every title since SimCity.
According to Hansen, though, the creation system is only half of the title’s design.
The game will also include a traditional MMO-style plot which reflects the barebones ideas presented in the firm’s real-world brick sets: LEGO Knights vs Dragons, LEGO Sailors vs Pirates, and so on.
The title’s release is roughly a year off, but Hansen did reveal the fact that the game’s key trailer should hit the ‘net near the end of 2008.
Certainly it is still too early to judge the game entirely, but as long as LEGO maintains their trademark attention to detail and appeases the rabid fanbase they’ve created in the preceding 70 years, LEGO Universe could be the Wii of MMOs; It certainly bucks trends, but it does so with such confidence that players may very well adore a fresh take on the stale, overcrowded genre.
The fine folks at Sony Online Entertainment were kind enough to invite the Destructoid crew out to a GDC after-hours shindig here in San Francisco to celebrate the establishment of the new SOE G.I.R.L. scholarship. The Gamers In Real Life scholarship partners with The Art institutes to encourage and promote the development of games that are more interesting for women to play.
SOE created this program in response to findings from a survey they conducted on women and videogames. This survey showed that 61% of female students surveyed believe that male dominance in the games industry is a deterrent to women persuing a career in the industry. Also, almost half of those surveyed said that they’d like to see women portrayed as leaders in games.
“It’s no secret to female gamers: Women are out there in significant numbers, playing MMOs, action games, first-person shooters, etc. What is lacking in the equation are women behind these games and we hope GIRL can help support this program,” said Torrie Dorrell, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, Sony Online Entertainment.
“SOE’s program is a key component of our GIRL initiative because the scholarship will be the gateway for one student into this field of expertise; I invite other publishers to join us in supporting this initiative.”
This scholarship offers $10,000 to any student (male or female) attending any Art Institutes school. Applicants are required to submit an in-game design, concept art, and two essays before March 31st of this year.
SOE also showed off hot new footage of The Agency at this event. The G.I.R.L. team is involved in the development of this upcoming MMO.