Rockstar Lays Down the Beaterator
With none other than Timbaland onboard to give the once Flash-based beat maker a PSP makeover.
Published: March 14, 2007
You may know him for helping Justin Timberlake bring sexy back, but beat man Timbaland will soon be associated with something a bit more, shall we say, rocking. The prolific producer has teamed up with Rockstar Games to bring Beaterator, formerly the company’s browser-based music sequencer and sampler, to the PlayStation Portable. Rockstar Leeds, the company’s go-to portable developer as of late, will be at the helm.
"Music has always been a hugely important part of everything we do here," nods Sam Houser, Founder and Executive Producer of Rockstar Games. "Two years ago, we launched a web-based version of Beaterator on our own website and people really embraced it. That inspired us to build and create something very interactive and unique. Having Timbaland involved in the game is a real honor and only adds to our excitement about the title."
Beaterator will not only offer the luxury of a handheld beatmaker (a convenience that Eidos has recently cashed in on as well), but a wealth of original music (presumably in the context of) several “rhythm games and challenge modes.”
"I've always been a huge fan of Rockstar and love playing their games," credits Timbaland. "I'm thrilled to be partnering with them and making music for Beaterator. I cannot wait to get this in the hands of our fans!"
The original Beaterator (which you can tinker around with here) came complete with eight sequencing tracks, up to 240 bars to record over, a fistful of studio effects, an assorted sound bank from the likes of Juan Atkins, Steinski and others, an the ability to upload your own samples off of your hard drive (or possibly Memory Stick?) and manipulate them as you please. We’ll know soon enough which features make it into the portable cut when the game drops this summer.
"Music has always been a hugely important part of everything we do here," nods Sam Houser, Founder and Executive Producer of Rockstar Games. "Two years ago, we launched a web-based version of Beaterator on our own website and people really embraced it. That inspired us to build and create something very interactive and unique. Having Timbaland involved in the game is a real honor and only adds to our excitement about the title."
Beaterator will not only offer the luxury of a handheld beatmaker (a convenience that Eidos has recently cashed in on as well), but a wealth of original music (presumably in the context of) several “rhythm games and challenge modes.”
"I've always been a huge fan of Rockstar and love playing their games," credits Timbaland. "I'm thrilled to be partnering with them and making music for Beaterator. I cannot wait to get this in the hands of our fans!"
The original Beaterator (which you can tinker around with here) came complete with eight sequencing tracks, up to 240 bars to record over, a fistful of studio effects, an assorted sound bank from the likes of Juan Atkins, Steinski and others, an the ability to upload your own samples off of your hard drive (or possibly Memory Stick?) and manipulate them as you please. We’ll know soon enough which features make it into the portable cut when the game drops this summer.