Traxion

E3 2006 First Look Preview

At this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, LucasArts was eager to give attendees a look at their newest title: Traxion. The demo build on display was prepared in just three weeks and only featured two types of gameplay, both of which were rhythmic-oriented.

The first resembled Sony’s niche music game, Amplitude. Balls scrolled across the screen from top to bottom. The screen followed the path – which almost seemed circular – through to the end of the level. Your goal is to press the specific button as the ball passes by the designated area.

If that was all there was to it, Traxion might not gain much traction at retail. But it will, it most certainly will, thanks to LucasArts’s use of consumers’ music collection. Take an MP3 – any MP3. Hundreds even. Pull them into your PSP and start the game. Traxion will automatically take those songs and turn them into a different music pattern for you to master. Each song = one music pattern. Given how large the average gamer’s music collection is, thousands of patterns could end up appearing for many of the title’s players.

The second gameplay type shown revealed button icons (X, square, triangle, etc.) floating in the air while a guy stands in the middle of the screen and performs weird moves. It was a little strange and oddly intriguing, but unfortunately we only got to witness this demonstration for about 20 seconds.

LucasArts plans to release more information on Traxion’s gameplay types in the coming months. They explained that they didn’t want to talk about their plans too much until the game is further in development. A wise move by any developer – if you can’t say it with certainty, don’t say it. The fact that Traxion’s developers wouldn’t has boosted my faith in their ability to make this title an addictive success.

For All E3 2006 Previews