A new Phase of gaming for the iPod

The already all-conquering appeal of the iconic Apple iPod music and media player is set to grow yet further this week following the release of Phase, an innovative and interactive music videogame developed by Harmonix, which is best known for its hugely popular console-based music software franchise Guitar Hero. Harmonix Music Systems introduces its new software title 'Phase' for download for iPods via the Apple iTunes Store. Credit: Harmonix.

Harmonix Music Systems introduces its new software title 'Phase' for download for iPods via the Apple iTunes Store. Credit: Harmonix.Available for exclusive download through the iTunes Store, iPod owners equipped with the new iPod Nano with video, iPod Classic, and the fifth generation of the iPod can now invest a mere $4.99 USD for Phase, duly gaining access to a "compelling rhythm-action" game that is played interactively in conjunction with the user’s iPod music collection and the touch-sensitive iPod click wheel."Our goal with Phase was to create a fundamentally accessible, casual music experience for iPod users where we implemented our years of work with rhythmic gameplay elements and present them in ways that any music fan can easily understand and have fun with," described Kasson Crooker, Lead Producer on Phase for Massachusetts-based Harmonix Music Systems. "We wanted to create something that took users beyond the standard game format, tap into the unique design of the iPod, and give players a fresh, new way to deepen their relationship with their own music – the music they love," he added.Similar to the Guitar Hero titles, three lanes of musical notes stream down the screen to a target-equipped beat bar, at which point the player must press left, right, or centre on the click wheel to coincide with the correct on-screen notes. It also includes short held notes, depicted by dotted arcs, which require the player to move their finger around the click wheel to match the on-screen arc. Of course, to amass points, the player must hit notes accurately during songs while chained rhythm grants score multipliers and dropped notes cost the player valuable life hearts.The innovation of Phase, the central facet that sets it apart from Guitar Hero, is that it places a playlist file on the user’s iTunes interface upon downloading. From here, the user is able to import their own music directly into the game, which is then specially coded for playback during gameplay, analysing beats and note patterns for musical interaction. While the game comes with its own limited selection of music, including a track by Freezepop (a band containing the above Kasson Crooker), the genuine appeal of Phase is its obviously intuitive controls, innovative design, and the longevity it provides based on the size of the user’s music collection.Offering two gameplay modes and hip animated backdrops taking players on a stylised musical journey through the likes of Deep Sea, Neon Nights, and Sonic City, Phase will also store player high scores, which will be viewable through the iPod player.