Sound Shapes

Sound Shapes is a 2012 video game designed by Jonathan Mak and Shaw-Han Liem and developed by Queasy Games for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita. The game 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).

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

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]

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.[8]

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.[9]

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. [10]

On 28 May 2013, five new Milkcrate albums were released as a free update.[11]

Online Server Shutdown

On 15 October 2018, The server for Sound Shapes was shut down, meaning that people who played past that point were no longer able to access any online-related info. This included Community-made levels and uploading levels to the Community. This accounted for every console the game was released on PS4, PS3, and PS Vita.

Reception

Sound Shapes was selected for Best Handheld Game in the 2012 Spike Video Game Awards.[14] Sound Shapes also won for Best Song in a Game for "Cities" by Beck.[15]

The game has also proven popular among Vita gamers due to its relatively simple and enjoyable Platinum Trophy. This is an award for attaining 100% of the trophies in a video game. The platinum is perceived as attainable and short, and has been featured on multiple websites because of this.[16]

References
  1. http://sms.dev.realpie.com/sound-shapes/
  2. "Gaming articles on Engadget". Engadget.
  3. "Sound Shapes' Level Editor And Trophies Take Centre Stage". 1 August 2012.
  4. "Jonathan Mak's Sound Shapes may be NGP's killer app".
  5. "PlayStation.Blog". PlayStation.Blog.
  6. Torontoist (9 June 2011). "Sound Shapes Scores at E3".
  7. "Best of PlayStation Vol. 1".
  8. "Sound Shapes DLC Launches Today - Sound Shapes". soundshapesgame.com.
  9. "New Milkcrate and Car Pack DLC - Sound Shapes". soundshapesgame.com.
  10. "PlayStation.Blog". PlayStation.Blog.
  11. "Special Guests in New Sound Shapes Milkcrate - Sound Shapes". soundshapesgame.com.
  12. "Sound Shapes". GameRankings. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  13. "Sound Shapes". Metacritic. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 March 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 December 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. "List: Top 5 easiest Platinum Trophies for Vita - PlayStation Nation - GameSpot". GameSpot. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
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