Sound shapes

PixelJunk 4am is not a game. Q Games’ Rowan Parker describes it as a more of an “instrument than a game”. The title – which has been developed in collaboration with DJ Baiyon – sees you using the PlayStation Move controller to manipulate music. Everything is handled with gestures; you are essentially creating sounds in 3D space using the precision of Sony’s motion wand.

Parker continued:

There’s no pointers, no shooting, no ‘waggling’ mini-games. This is an instrument built from the ground-up to fully utilize the PlayStation Move hardware. Using all 3 spacial axes (X, Y & Z plus one more axis for twist), the accelerometer & the gyro, we’ve built a Virtual Canvas in space for you.

Sounds incredible, doesn’t it?

Even better is the game’s implementation of online. PixelJunk 4am allows you to broadcast live through the Internet. “Anytime you play, you will be streaming live on PSN for anyone to tune in and listen to,” Parker explained.

If you don’t want to play the game, but just want to listen, Q Games has announced that it will release a free viewer available for everyone.

Parker said:

You can use it to stream any live performances currently happening worldwide. Follow your favorite performers, leave it running as live background music at parties or just enjoy the visuals powered by the PS3 SPU’s brute force.

So there’s a musical social network within a game that allows you to manipulate sounds in 3D space. If, like us, you’ve got a background in music technology then you’ll probably be massively excited by all this. The big question is: when do we get our hands on it?

Q Games is still being a bit vague, but Spring appears to be the window. We can’t wait.

[source blog.us.playstation.com]