Harmonix Debuts Phase for iPod

Guitar Hero developer Harmonix, along with Viacom's MTV Games, has announced the release of a new interactive rhythm/music title, Phase, available on the iTunes Store for play on the video-enabled iPod Nano, iPod classic and the fifth-generation iPod. Phase works with the music already stored on a user's iPod, and the game is played using the iPod's click wheel to tap and glide along with the songs. There are two gameplay modes: QuickSpin, which lets users play a single song at a time, and Marathon, which presents five songs in an increasingly-difficult set. The rhythm gameplay is set against animated backdrops like "Neon Nights", "Sonic City", and "Deep Sea", created by artist Aaron Stewart. Players can store and view their high scores on the iPod. Harmonix lead producer Kasson Crooker commented, “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." He continued: "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.”