Reviewed by: Funkadelic
Rated: 
Posted on: 05/02/00
*Sigh* If only I could give a PlayStation and a copy of MTV Music Generator to every teenage girl in the US... Maybe then this vile boy-band craze would finally die down a bit. I am fairly confident Music Generator would consume every minute of these young girls' waking lives and fill them with false hopes of becoming the next lady-DJ extraordinare. Perhaps this is wishful thinking on my part, but the musician in me is still addicted to Jester Interactive's highly innovative music-creation title more than a year after its release.
I won't kid you: MTV Music Generator (known as Music 2000 in Europe) will not replace a good ol' synthesizer, drum machine, turntable, sampler, or sequencer — and it certainly will not teach you how to play or program any of those things. It also would not be very healthy, mentally speaking, to expect this PlayStation CD-ROM to transform you into the next Moby or Fatboy Slim overnight. However, whether or not you are a musician, this piece of software — and I refer to it as "software" because it is not a game — is a great way to get those creative juices flowing. Heck, you can even make some cash in the process, since the publisher, Codemasters, grants you a worldwide, royalty-free license to sell your Music Generator–created songs!
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| Don't let the strange icons intimidate you; Music Generator is a breeze to use. |
Although Music Generator is not a rhythm-action game like PaRappa the Rapper or Space Channel 5, having a sense of rhythm does not hurt, but it is not mandatory. The fact that each sample, loop, and riff was composed and prerecorded to fit perfectly within each bar of music has much to do with this. Yet, it is possible to create a song that does not, as funkmaster George Clinton would say, "stay on the one." In fact, you can deliberately create a rhythmically challenged song and still manage to get away with it. This is what makes Music Generator so user friendly and accessible to beginners and those who lack musical abilities. Once you learn the control structure and memorize some important button shortcuts on the control pad, you can create a basic song within minutes.
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| Tired of playing with yourself? Try the multiplayer mode. |
With 1,500 riffs, 3,000 instrument sounds, dozens of effects, and several musical styles (trance, house, drum & bass, rock, and techno), there are many ways to string a song together, using a simple cut-and-paste/drag-and-drop interface. Furthermore, a handy riff editor is available for those who want more control and customization over individual riffs, beats, and samples. An included sampler even lets users record a short or lengthy sample from an audio CD, adding an infinite number of possibilities to the mix. These features will require some practice and experimentation, especially the riff editor, which almost requires a bit of musical background to get the most out of it.
And if you plan to get the most out of the software, learning the intricacies of the riff editor is essential. Luckily, the manual does a great job explaining everything, and there are plenty of FAQs on the Internet to help guide you on your quest to musical greatness. Also, you will find plenty of sample songs on the disc that can be further edited and remixed. Who knows, they might even give you a little inspiration.
So what else does Music Generator have to offer besides music? Well, there is a neat video editor that allows you to create your very own video with the same easy-to-use interface as the music creator; a fun multi-player mode that lets up to four players jam together; and a nifty video generator that generates videos that match the speed and pace of the songs on an audio CD.
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| You can even make your own trippy videos! |
Apart from the grueling load time, my only major complaint about Music Generator's "gameplay" is that the PlayStation's lack of RAM places a limit on how many samples, riffs, and loops you can include in songs. While there is more than enough space to compose a long, complex song, those with huge creative appetites may feel a little limited. Some may also discover that Music Generator sucks the money right out of their wallet by forcing them to stock up on memory cards, since the user-created songs and videos can be tremendous space eaters. Moreover, those who have a true love for music, or lots of creative energy, can expect many sleepless nights while trying to create the perfect song!
Graphically, Music Generator's interface is not very attractive, with dull, repetitive colors and unexciting icons making up the exterior. Fortunately, it does not need a fancy interface, as the simple look makes interaction and menu navigation a breeze. On the other hand, the video elements are quite pleasing and full of graphical variety. Still, if you are purely looking for visual stimulation, you should look elsewhere. After all, this is a music-based game, and it is in the audio department where the game shines.
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| Music Generator comes with several pre-made songs that you can download onto a memory card. |
Most of the prestored riffs, beats, and samples are of high quality and sound great. However, the quality does vary, and some samples, riffs, etc. are rather generic. The low-end bass in Music Generator is tight and perhaps the deepest of any PlayStation game. Unfortunately minor distortion is present in some riffs and samples. Also, additional musical styles — such as industrial, metal, funk, and punk — would have given Music Generator a stronger, more diverse musical palette. Overall, though, I was impressed with the sound quality and I expect even better sound quality from the forthcoming PS2 sequel, MTV Music Generator 2.0!
Overall, MTV Music Generator is a great purchase for musicians, as well as open-minded gamers who are looking for something different. After several months of playing time, I have yet to grow tired of it, which is a true testament to the quality of this unique PlayStation title.
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