New Game Pits Classical Musicians with Gamers

By: Umair Yousuf  |   January 15th, 2013   |   Games, News

Game developer Joost Van Dongen, the co-founder of Ronimo Games and lead programmer, has developed a new unique video game that pits four players against one musician.

 

The game is currently in the development phase with rough graphics and is being showcased at videogame events throughout the Netherlands. A unique development the game pits a single cello player controlling cannons and artillery in a fortress against four players using Xbox controllers to move tanks that need to destroy the cannons.

 

Through the notes from the cello the cannons fire shots, with fast notes resulting in cannon fire and low notes blowing up mines to stop the tanks.  Unlike other games such as Guitar Hero you will not get to play with a plastic guitar but will require a real cello and a professional player to truly enjoy the game.

 

It’s not expected to be up for sale anytime soon but the concept has received great attention during the live demonstrations. The graphics are currently still in prototype phase and nothing good to look at although the game’s concept is actually a brilliant idea.

 

Such experimentation with new video game concepts is nothing new for Van Dongen who also created Proun which is now in display at a number of European museums as a true work of art. In a statement about his latest project Cello Fortress, he said:

 

“Cello Fortress is a really weird and unique game, but for me, it makes a lot of sense: playing cello has been a hobby of mine for ages, and I am a professional game developer. I like to make weird, unique things. How could these ingredients not combine into a game?”

 

Van Dongen’s creations continue to make waves in the gaming world and it remains to be seen whether classical musicians jump at the concept taking it as an opportunity to bring their music to a younger audience.

 

Source: Venture Beat

 

Photo: Venture Beat