JAM Live Music Arcade: Interview with the Developers at ZIVIX

Currently we are playing the new music-themed video game JAM Live Music Arcade and planning to write a review based on our experiences. I’m a huge fan of Rock Band and Guitar Hero games and when Nerd Caliber had the opportunity to interview the masterminds behind this game I jumped at the chance. A review of the game will be up in a few days.

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As a huge fan of Rock Band and Guitar Hero, I’m very excited to see that another music-themed game is coming out. Where did the idea for this game come from originally?

Zivix: We are also huge fans of RB and GH so we can’t wait for you to create your first tune in Jam.

Zivix was founded on the premise of making music more accessible for everyone, and we are pursuing several ways to make that happen.  Currently Zivix has multiple patents on a finger sensing technology that is soon to be announced as a peripheral device (for any mobile device, computer, smart TV and maybe a console in the future) to teach and have fun with music. Jam was a by-product of our R&D on this technology when we created a simple piece of software that let you activate music loops via our peripheral.  It became clear that we had something special when we saw focus groups jump out of their seats when they could fire off guitar riffs, drum beats and be in control of the music in such a simple and intuitive manner.  We saw the success of other music games feeling it’s time for a new experience, so we moved to evolve our platform to this new experiential format and bring accessible music creation to the living room on the Playstation and Xbox.

What will fans of other music-themed games see differently about JAM Live Music Arcade?

Zivix: Right away we are doing more with the controller by strumming up for certain actions and down for others along with the whammy bar playing an important role on the more advanced songs. We have captured all of these actions through a unique user interface which after a short amount of practice and getting used to more functions on the controller, the player will be rocking the house in no time. Everything about Jam is different than any other product on the market. The player immediately can make music, or maybe just fire off power guitar riffs, kick in a back and forth drum beat to just get lost in the moment. Go a step further and get serious to recreate a full blown song, save it and even export it in to an Arcade Challenge. Yep, I said arcade challenge which is a second game mode that resembles a more traditional follow the leader style but also allows the player to learn how to play better in the live Jam mode.

How “difficult-friendly” is the game for newbies and those that have never played a music-themed game before?

Zivix: This game is for everyone who even remotely likes music. Since there is a user interface with meters, buttons and at first blush seemingly a lot going on it could feel intimidating. Once the player understands the controller and the basics, the barriers really disappear. We put extra effort into the progression including challenges for each section that almost 100% guide the player through every nuance. One of the most important tips we give to any player is to plug in to the big speakers and turn it up. When you feel the music it’s hard to put Jam down.

What aspects about the game are you the most excited about personally?

Zivix: We feel that most of the planet wants to play an instrument and be part of music in a more intimate way but the majority don’t take that leap. This product provides a gateway to experience music in a new way which in a perfect world may help lead them to that next step. Seeing someone get in to the zone creating their own tune and watching the smile that fills the room makes us most excited. Then, to have access to 32 diverse songs, the ability to save it, replay it and show off performances in front of your buddies is a pretty close second.

How did people react to the game when you first brought it to SXSW and PAX East? 

Zivix: It kind of depended on how someone feels about seeing a guitar controller, like oh….another follow the leader game but then quickly that all changed when they saw something totally new. After running through a how to and turning up the speakers we saw eyes light up conveying a refreshing sense of, “finally we have something new and invigorating.” The overall consensus once everyone got the hang of it was definitely thumbs up and kudos to a solid set list full of variety.

What plans for JAM Live Music Arcade will we be seeing in the months ahead?

Based on the success we envision new versions including a lot of features that are waiting in the wings. In the short term our music team is still putting in the late nights prepping for some amazing DLC, continuing to offer a variety of styles and artists. We appreciate you taking the time to hear more about Jam Live Music Arcade and we are excited to see what you think.