Beats (video game)
Encyclopedia
Beats is a rhythm-based video game for the Sony
PlayStation Portable
handheld gaming system. It was released in 2007 at the PlayStation Store
.
for this limitation, nor is it obvious how the game determines which 127 tracks are loaded from the library. (What is known is that the game loads the same set of tracks from the user's /MUSIC directory each time.)
During the game, three stationary targets, or landing points, (just one in Novice mode) are spaced evenly at the center of the screen. Symbols appear from off the screen and glide towards these targets in rhythm with the music. The symbols represent notes that players are meant to synchronize their button presses to and are identified by the four PlayStation face buttons: circle, "x", square, and triangle. These notes are generated based on the rhythm of the music using a beat tracking algorithm. While often occurring on the beat, notes can also occur off the beat at times. Tracks with greater emphasis on rhythm
, especially techno
songs with a strong, well-defined beat
or powerful bass lines, generate the best in-game beat patterns.
The objective of the game is to hit the corresponding face button as each note glides onto its landing point. The better the player's timing, the more points are given for that button press. Point multipliers are also awarded for successive correct inputs; hitting an incorrect button or missing a note will result in the point multiplier to decrease. Additionally, glowing symbols occasionally appear, and correctly hitting these notes will fill an "overdrive meter" on the left side of the screen. Once the overdrive meter is full, the player can activate "overdrive mode" which doubles the score multiplier temporarily. However, while in overdrive mode, symbols will travel diagonally and glide in from off angles instead of their normally vertical (center target) or horizontal (left & right targets) flight paths.
Additionally, Beats includes a lightweight music mixer
, allowing players to make and record their own remix
es using instrumental
tracks
from the game and from other SCEE titles, such as Team Buddies
, EyeToy Kinetic and Drop Ship. Once recorded, players can share their creations with other players online. Players may also collaborate with others in online "Jamming" sessions.
Beats also comes with an 70 different visualizations
that play in the background in sync with the music and player actions as well as a variety of themes for the user interface.
gave the game a score of 7.0, and were impressed by the "sheer number of visualizations" on offer, but noted that despite the ability to import the player's own music, "the first five minutes of the game are just about the same as the next five hours".
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
handheld gaming system. It was released in 2007 at the PlayStation Store
PlayStation Store
The PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The Store offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games,...
.
Description
In addition to downloading music from the Internet, users may also use their own music to play along to in the My Music Challenge mode. Beats automatically loads the track titles and artist names of the songs it finds on the user's PSP. However, the game will only read up to 127 tracks for the user to choose from. There is as yet no explanation from SonySony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
for this limitation, nor is it obvious how the game determines which 127 tracks are loaded from the library. (What is known is that the game loads the same set of tracks from the user's /MUSIC directory each time.)
During the game, three stationary targets, or landing points, (just one in Novice mode) are spaced evenly at the center of the screen. Symbols appear from off the screen and glide towards these targets in rhythm with the music. The symbols represent notes that players are meant to synchronize their button presses to and are identified by the four PlayStation face buttons: circle, "x", square, and triangle. These notes are generated based on the rhythm of the music using a beat tracking algorithm. While often occurring on the beat, notes can also occur off the beat at times. Tracks with greater emphasis on rhythm
Rhythm
Rhythm may be generally defined as a "movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions." This general meaning of regular recurrence or pattern in time may be applied to a wide variety of cyclical natural phenomena having a periodicity or...
, especially techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
songs with a strong, well-defined beat
Beat (music)
The beat is the basic unit of time in music, the pulse of the mensural level . In popular use, the beat can refer to a variety of related concepts including: tempo, meter, rhythm and groove...
or powerful bass lines, generate the best in-game beat patterns.
The objective of the game is to hit the corresponding face button as each note glides onto its landing point. The better the player's timing, the more points are given for that button press. Point multipliers are also awarded for successive correct inputs; hitting an incorrect button or missing a note will result in the point multiplier to decrease. Additionally, glowing symbols occasionally appear, and correctly hitting these notes will fill an "overdrive meter" on the left side of the screen. Once the overdrive meter is full, the player can activate "overdrive mode" which doubles the score multiplier temporarily. However, while in overdrive mode, symbols will travel diagonally and glide in from off angles instead of their normally vertical (center target) or horizontal (left & right targets) flight paths.
Additionally, Beats includes a lightweight music mixer
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
, allowing players to make and record their own remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es using instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
tracks
Multitrack recording
Multitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...
from the game and from other SCEE titles, such as Team Buddies
Team Buddies
Team Buddies is a game released for the PlayStation on September 18, 2000. It was published by Midway Games and developed by Psygnosis Camden Studio .-Story:...
, EyeToy Kinetic and Drop Ship. Once recorded, players can share their creations with other players online. Players may also collaborate with others in online "Jamming" sessions.
Beats also comes with an 70 different visualizations
Music visualization
Music visualization, a feature found in electronic music visualizers and media player software, generates animated imagery based on a piece of music...
that play in the background in sync with the music and player actions as well as a variety of themes for the user interface.
Release and reception
IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the game a score of 7.0, and were impressed by the "sheer number of visualizations" on offer, but noted that despite the ability to import the player's own music, "the first five minutes of the game are just about the same as the next five hours".