Sound Shapes
Developer(s)Queasy Games[a]
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Designer(s)Jessica Mak
Shaw-Han Liem
Composer(s)Shaw-Han Liem
Jessica Mak
Jim Guthrie
Deadmau5
Beck
Platform(s)PlayStation 3
PlayStation Vita
PlayStation 4
ReleasePS3, Vita
  • NA: 7 August 2012[2]
  • EU: 15 August 2012[1]
  • JP: 27 September 2012
PS4
  • NA: 15 November 2013
  • EU: 29 November 2013
Genre(s)Music, platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Sound Shapes is a 2012 music platform video game developed by Queasy Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. It was originally released in 2012 and a port for the PlayStation 4 was released in 2013. The game, designed by Jessica Mak and Shaw-Han Liem, is a side-scrolling platform game with a musical focus.[4] The game also features the ability to create levels and share levels with other users. The Vita version of the game features use of the touch screen and back touch pad to place sounds of different musical instruments during creation of levels.[5] Sound Shapes was shown at industry conference E3 in 2011 and picked up nominations for best of show award from media sites including IGN, 1UP, and Electric Playground.[6] It also received 2 Game Critics Awards (Best Mobile and Best Casual), and received three nominations at the 16th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.

At the Spike Video Game Awards 2011, it was announced that Deadmau5 would be contributing songs and sound material to the project.

Beck has contributed 3 new songs to the game: "Cities", "Touch the People", and "Spiral Staircase". These are still exclusive to the game as of 2017, despite fan desire to see them released digitally.

It was included on the "Best of PlayStation Network Vol. 1" compilation disc, released 18 June 2013.[7]

Development

Mak and Liem wanted to develop a game that could give beginners a sense of joyful creation, without the need for harmonic training or complicated music theory. They prototyped their idea for about a year before settling on the coin-collecting musical mechanics that the final game has. To cater to the 'hardcore platformer' player base, Death Mode was introduced. It was important to marry the sound with the style, so each album was a close collaboration between a musician and a visual artist. In some cases levels began with a song, in other cases a style, and evolved naturally from there.[8]

Downloadable content

At launch Sound Shapes had various downloadable content (DLC) available.

The first round of DLC was released on 4 December 2012, having three sound packs and a curved terrain pack. It introduces five new instruments and Beat School levels.[9]

The second round of DLC was released on 12 March 2013, having more milkcrate free updates and a Car Mini-Album Creator pack. It also introduced a much requested feature of offline play.[10]

On 14 May 2013, two new sound packs were released. One being an 80s sound pack, adding synth features, and the other DLC being a dubstep sound pack featuring new Beat School features.[11]

On 28 May 2013, five new Milkcrate albums were released as a free update.[12]

Online server shutdown

On 15 October 2018, the server for Sound Shapes was shut down, meaning that players were no longer able to access any online-related information. This included Community-made levels and uploading levels to the Community. This accounted for every console the game was released on.

Reception

Sound Shapes was selected for Best Handheld Game in the 2012 Spike Video Game Awards.[15] Sound Shapes also won for Best Song in a Game for "Cities" by Beck.[16] During the 16th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Sound Shapes for "Handheld Game of the Year", "Outstanding Innovation in Gaming", and "Casual Game of the Year".[17]

Notes

  1. ^ Santa Monica Studio assisted on development.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Sound Shapes' Level Editor And Trophies Take Centre Stage". 1 August 2012. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Gaming articles on Engadget". Engadget. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  3. ^ "Santa Monica Studios (SMS) - Sound Shapes Game | PS3, PS Vita, PS4 Game". Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Jonathan Mak's Sound Shapes may be NGP's killer app". 2 June 2011. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  5. ^ "PlayStation.Blog". PlayStation.Blog. 2 June 2011. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  6. ^ Torontoist (9 June 2011). "Sound Shapes Scores at E3". Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  7. ^ "Best of PlayStation Vol. 1". 22 May 2013. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  8. ^ Rai, Sandeep (2019). PlayStation Vita: Year One. pp. 51–53.
  9. ^ "Sound Shapes DLC Launches Today - Sound Shapes". soundshapesgame.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  10. ^ "New Milkcrate and Car Pack DLC - Sound Shapes". soundshapesgame.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  11. ^ "PlayStation.Blog". PlayStation.Blog. 14 May 2013. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  12. ^ "Special Guests in New Sound Shapes Milkcrate - Sound Shapes". soundshapesgame.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  13. ^ "Sound Shapes". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  14. ^ "Sound Shapes". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 27 December 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  15. ^ "Best Handheld/ Mobile Game | Gravity Rush, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita, New Super Mario Bros. 2, Sound Shapes | Video Game Awards 2012". Archived from the original on 12 March 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  16. ^ "Best Song in a Game | "Castle of Glass" by Linkin Park, "Cities" by Beck, "I Was Born for This" by Austin Wintory, "Tears" by Health | Video Game Awards 2012". Archived from the original on 26 December 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  17. ^ "D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details Sound Shapes". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
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