Zivix, Music Gear Maker Peavey Team Up On Music Games, Hardware

Developer Zivix and musical instrument and equipment manufacturer Peavey are partnering to release a new casual, downloadable console and PC music game and guitar controller this fall. The game, JamParty: Be the Music will be compatible with existing Rock Band and Guitar Hero guitars as well as the HeroMaker controller developed in collaboration with Peavey. Unlike most music game controllers, the HeroMaker is an actual full-size six-stringed electric that can be used to play the game and "build basic guitar-playing fundamentals while playing your favorite music video game" -- implying it is cross-compatible with rhythm games other than JamParty. According to Minneapolis-based Zivix, JamParty "enables burgeoning musicians to become instant producers, mix-masters, and lead guitarist," allowing players to compose tracks by arranging musical loops and outputting their creations to MP3 files. More information on the product will be revealed at next week's E3 Expo in Los Angeles, where it will be demonstrated in public for the first time.