360 Visualization Guide

[Kamalot]

Jeff Minter creator of the music visualizations available in the Xbox 360, has a guide up on his Llamasoft site (http://www.llamasoft.co.uk/x360manual.php) that explains how to make the most of the visualization program. Did you know that each of the 4 controllers on the 360 affects the effects of the music visualizations differently?

The guide is also full of tips and tricks to give great visualization performances.

Be gentle! Sometimes lovely, slow transitions can be very effective. Don't waggle the sticks like a madman unless you really think the music needs it.
The guide also explains each controller’s options in detail, exploring not only what happens, but also providing tutorials on how to best experience the deep options available in the visualizations.

The next controller deals with certain elements that are placed in the scene to add to the overall dynamic of the scene - specifically, two elements that I call "Boingy" and "Psychedelia". Normally these elements are purely audio-driven, but with controller 3 you can take them over and control their motion, shape and colour yourself.

[bapenguin]

Wow...I had no idea there we so many options in this.

[absolut taco]

I didn't know he created them, but seeing how trippy they are, I guess I should have known!

[agentgray]

What an interesting way to get people to buy more controllers. :rolleyes:

[GigaFuzz]

Wow. I didn't realise it was so interactive.

I just thought it was pretty. It certainly puts the (IMO pathetic) visualisations in Windows Media Player to shame.

[Worldcrafter]

I didn't even know the 360 had a music vis program, much less one that is perfectly designed for stoners. That's just a cool feature. I'll have to play around with it when I get home.

[TrackZero]

Awesome, awesome guide. Thanks for posting this!

[Lon Lon Rabbit]

...I listen to music on my 360 several times a week, but I had no idea there was any interactive functionality at all, let alone anything this extensive.

Now I'm not gonna get any work done, I usually use it when I want background sound and now I'm going to be fiddling with it instead.

[torrefaction]

I actually discovered all this on accident. I love music visualization stuff, and I'm forever playing with it. I think it's one of the coolest parts of the 360.

*EDIT* Well, not all of it, but a lot of it :)

[Demo_Boy]

plus it doesnt cost you any *** points.
to bad theres no achievements.

[01010]

Neon was the Visualiser Jeff Minter always dreamt of making, I think it's pretty badass. Remember reading about his 8 hour jamming sessions with his friends and wanting a 360 just for it.

He's a total stoner, in the OXM interview you could see his bong in the background. I don't doubt the guy has done more than just pot too. It would explain a lot of things.

[fahrvergnugen]

All hail the Yak.

edit: ^^ The guy's done more acid than you'll ever see in your life.

[01010]

All hail the Yak.

edit: ^^ The guy's done more acid than you'll ever see in your life.


Well I've done my fair share, that's how I could guess really, I'm totally suspicous of people heavily into psychedelia. :)

[fahrvergnugen]

I stand by my original statement, if only b/c he's been making light toys since the Commodore.

[Pretzel]

I actually don't like the visualizations. I don't find them as interesting as the ones in Windows Media Player, but that's kind of a small complaint. The thing I *hate* about them is the rotation in the background. He projects the visualizations onto the interior of a cube with a wierd FOV and then spins it around. It really makes me nauseous.

If he allowed me to turn off that rotation, I wouldn't mind them. As it stands, I won't use the visualizations when listening to music on my 360.

[Fernie417]

I would love to see what Jeff Minter would do with a port of Tempest 2000 for Live Arcade. @_@