Harmonix Chooses Quazal Online Tech For Rock Band

Author: by Staff

Multiplayer middleware creators Quazal have announced that its Spark!, Rendez-Vous, and Net-Z middleware has been used by Harmonix for the forthcoming release of rhythm game Rock Band for online play, leaderboards, and online bands. Spark! is the company's 'lobby-in-a-box' solution, with leaderboard and ranking systems that allow developers to have multiple leaderboards with multiple ranking types within their game. Spark! was officially released for the Xbox 360 platform in May, which lets it run solely on Xbox Live, but share an integration profile with all other Spark! platforms, allowing for rapid cross-platform lobby development. Quazal says Rock Band use Rendez-Vous technology for lobby and matchmaking services on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and will use its Net-Z technology for enhanced connectivity. Said Harmonix producer Mike Verrette, “When working with any game of this scale online, there are a million and one different challenges to overcome, on both design and pure technology fronts. Working with Quazal to address and solve these challenges lets us know that we’ll be delivering an incredible experience to our users this fall, and that we’re ready to bear the brunt of the onslaught of online gamers come launch day.”