Rock Band Recruits Quazal
It was supposed to be for online middleware, but all Quazal does is drink and hump groupies.
Published: November 16, 2007
Building an online game is kinda tough. Building an online music game is even tougher, but Harmonix Music Systems knows how to rock things to an extent; both Amplitude and FreQuency (by way of an add-on post-release) sported online modes. But with Rock Band, you're taking two relatively speedy guitar parts a la Guitar Hero, adding in Karaoke Revolution-style judged vocals and throwing in drums. Getting them all the sync up (even if you can't actually hear the other parts online) is no easy task.
That's exactly why Harmonix turned to the middleware provider Quazal, who hooked the developer up with their Rendez-Vous tech to help set up online lobbies and matchmaking services -- not to mention osme other solutions like Net-Z to keep the game all running like a peach online. Because peaches totally run well online. Totally. Also, we have no idea what kind of voodoo Quazal actually uses, but then that's probably why they're a middleware company; we don't need to know how it works, just that it makes games better.
“When working with any game of this scale online, there are a million and one different challenges to overcome, on both design and pure technology fronts,” explains Mike Verrette, Producer at Harmonix. “Working with Quazal to address and solve these challenges lets us know that we’ll be delivering an incredible experience to our users this fall, and that we’re ready to bear the brunt of the onslaught of online gamers come launch day.”
“Having been a fan of Harmonix’ titles for years and years now, it’s incredible to work directly with them,” squealed Mike Drummelsmith, Developer Relations Manager at Quazal. “Rock Band is ambitious, the userbase is going to be huge, and I look forward to jumping online and rocking out with friends and strangers alike.”
And now you know more than other people about Rock Band. Take that, supposed best friends!
That's exactly why Harmonix turned to the middleware provider Quazal, who hooked the developer up with their Rendez-Vous tech to help set up online lobbies and matchmaking services -- not to mention osme other solutions like Net-Z to keep the game all running like a peach online. Because peaches totally run well online. Totally. Also, we have no idea what kind of voodoo Quazal actually uses, but then that's probably why they're a middleware company; we don't need to know how it works, just that it makes games better.
“When working with any game of this scale online, there are a million and one different challenges to overcome, on both design and pure technology fronts,” explains Mike Verrette, Producer at Harmonix. “Working with Quazal to address and solve these challenges lets us know that we’ll be delivering an incredible experience to our users this fall, and that we’re ready to bear the brunt of the onslaught of online gamers come launch day.”
“Having been a fan of Harmonix’ titles for years and years now, it’s incredible to work directly with them,” squealed Mike Drummelsmith, Developer Relations Manager at Quazal. “Rock Band is ambitious, the userbase is going to be huge, and I look forward to jumping online and rocking out with friends and strangers alike.”
And now you know more than other people about Rock Band. Take that, supposed best friends!
