The Time Harmonix Made a Non-Music Game

Eric MalafeewDirector of Engineering

“Our most challenging development experience”

Guitar Hero

Rock BandKaraoke Revolution

Dance Central

Frequency

The Beatles

Amplitude

Camera-only input!

Released in 2004

Big world physics

Avateered character

Race by land, air, or rail

(Dynamic orchestration)

NEW ENGINE TECH

Physics

Collision Detection

Level Builder

Background Loading

Instancing and Culling

AI

Dynamic Camera

Object Scripting

IMAGE PROCESSING

Interframe differencingBackground subtraction

Pattern RecognitionAdaptive search

Lighting Conditions

Camera FOV

Background noise

Wrist bands

PLAYER CONTROL

SteeringGas/Brake/Slide

Fly

Jump/Duck

Grab Targets

Tricks

No Visual Feedback

RecenteringHands off-screen

UI

LEVEL DESIGN

Slower than gamepad

Camera lag

Overlapped race modes

U cross-sections

Curvy not angled

Artists aren’t designers

PERFORMANCE

60 fps 300 Mhz

Camera OverheadUnconstrained Travel

Long Visuals

Dense Worlds

Other Racers

32 MB

TESTING

Lots of room

Difficult repros

Physical skill

Don’t use gamepad

Perfect lighting

Lulled by internal adeptness

SCHEDULING

One year of development18 people (5 coders)

First time we had other projects in parallel

LEGACY

First game to profit

Strengthened our approach to “alternate controllers”

Best seller before Guitar Hero

Deep foray into camera controlLasting engine buildout