Def Jam Rapstar Gamescom Preview

 

Def Jam Rapstar is a game that's looking to change how people think about the casual singing game. Developed by Terminal Reality, it will be the first singing game that is focused purely on hip-hop music and it's something that 4mm Games really think will capture a new audience.


Featuring tracks from Hip Hop's 35 years of history, there will be around 40 tracks when the game ships. They will be radio edits, and there will also be no lyrical adjustments. There will also be region specific content, such as Dizzee Rascal in the version that's released in the United Kingdom.

4mm Games are under no illusion about who their target audience are, and they're hoping that this game will have much more appeal to the guys than the girls. That's not to say that there isn't content for female audiences, but it's going to be tailored for a male audience. To try and increase camaraderie the game is going to support co-op play, where players will take part to sing/rap to different parts of the song and also perform duets. Players will then be judged on three criteria upon completing a song: word recognition, beat recognition and pitch recognition. Not everyone can sing with perfect pitch, and adding these two extra scoring avenues makes the game much more accessible and rewarding.

If a camera is attached to the game it would have been recording the performance. Upon completing of the song, the player can then choose their favourite 30 seconds from the recorded performance, which can then be slightly customised with different elements. More customisation options will be unlocked by playing through the career mode, but there is a good selection available from the get-go.

Aside from creating its own niche within an existing genre, Def Jam Rapstar is looking to really promote the community experience. They have registered the website‚ defjamrapstar.com‚ and this will be the hub for the community. Upon finishing a performance, the video will be uploaded to the website and the rest of the Def Jam Rapstar community will be able to rate the performance. This will be a great way to get feedback, as well as promotion. There will be some original beats featured in the game, and if performances are of a high calibre, there's a chance that it could really lead somewhere.

However, Def Jam Rapstar's community isn't just open to those with a big talent for rapping. It's also possible to contribute as a promoter, manager or video editor. It's these extra dimensions that really make Def Jam Rapstar more than just a game, and it's already been called the American Idol of the Hip Hop world. It will also be possible to make crews, which can then battle each other across the internet

 

The game is scheduled for a Winter release, and it will appear on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. There will be full support for all existing peripherals as well as an extended range of products. Downloadable content will be available instantly at launch, and there will be new tracks added every single week.

http://www.gamingunion.net/news/def-jam-rapstar-gamescom-preview--370.html