Video Gaming News - March 2003
Foster City, CA (March 5, 2003) - Sony today announced that it had
signed five new artists for its upcoming music themed game, Amplitude.
From Sony:
Adding to the mass-appealing music roster of Amplitude, newly signed acts
include Herbie Hancock, Papa Roach, Baldwin Brothers, Production Club, and
Manchild. These artists will join other major recording artists on the Amplitude
roster that include blink 182, David Bowie, Dieselboy, Freezepop, Garbage, Logan
7, Mekon, Quarashi, and Weezer. Developed by Harmonix Music Systems, Amplitude
allows players to become a rhythmical DJ and jam with more than 25 diverse songs
in virtual, vibrant, interactive musical environments while mixing and remixing
hit songs during offline and online gameplay.
Taking advantage of the PlayStation 2 online capabilities through the Network
Adaptor (Ethernet/modem) (for PlayStation(R)2), Amplitude allows players to
challenge their friends online in multi-player and remix mode. Utilizing
lobby-chat capabilities and other unique online features, such as a
ladder-ranking system, players will be able to collaborate and compete with each
other to form an online music community. During online gameplay, Amplitude
supports both broadband and analog users.
Among the five newly signed acts, there is a custom remix provided by Herbie
Hancock with his hit "Rockit" featuring Mixmaster Mike, DXT, Rob Swift, DJ Qbert,
Babu Faust, and Shortee. Papa Roach's featured Amplitude track is on their
latest album titled, 'lovehatetragedy,' which heralds the refining and
refocusing of their sound as they shed some of their identification with
rock-rap fusion and strip down to a purer, but equally high-impact rock attack.
"I'm stoked on the overall creativity in Amplitude," said Jacoby Shaddix,
Papa Roach. "The graphics and intense competitions are insane."
"We are thrilled to offer a deeper and wider selection of artists to the
Amplitude music roster," said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony
Computer Entertainment America. "With additional tracks from Papa Roach, Baldwin
Brothers, Production Club, Manchild, as well as Herbie Hancock, we've provided a
unique forum for all of our PlayStation 2 fans, young and old, to enjoy music
not just from their stereo but game console."
The additional new tracks include Baldwin Brothers with "Urban Tumbleweed,"
Production Club with "Rockstar" and Manchild with "Nitrogen Narcosis." Based in
Chicago, the Baldwin Brothers create a rump-shaking jazz-funk stew mixing
impeccably tight live instrumentation and stanky ol' Fender Rhodes grooves with
whimsical samples, thick beats and turntable skills. The Production Club is the
creation of producer Wally Gagel and "Rockstar" is the first full-length release
for the group. Manchild are songwriting partners Max Odell & Brett Parker. Their
critically acclaimed debut album "Untied States" is an exciting mixture of
dance, rock & hip-hop.
Building upon the critically acclaimed PlayStation(R)2 title Frequency(TM),
Amplitude presents a redesigned interface allowing gamers and music lovers to
recreate their favorite songs from the ground up by triggering instruments such
as drums, bass, vocals and guitars via their controller. Focusing on not only
the thrill of creating and mixing music, Amplitude also provides a fast-paced
competitive dynamic environment encouraging players of all skill levels to
challenge and collaborate with each other both locally and online.
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