Konami had one of the more active booth setups at E3 this year, thanks in large part to Def Jam Rapstar. The Rapstar stage overshadowed Konami’s area, and it was always filled with life, as people would sing their favorite rap songs.
Def Jam Rapstar is similar to other sing along games out there with the exception that this one is completely focused on hip-hop music. We’ve covered the core concept already, so this time we’re going to talk a bit about the social aspect that will want to keep you coming back for more.
Developer 4mm Games and Terminal Reality wants to keep the community lively through the game’s social features. Players will be able to record their raps via the EyeToy or Vision Camera and send off 30 second clips of their performance to the official Def Jam Rapstar website. Clips can be customized by adding in stickers, different effects and all sorts of other blinging items to help their stuff stand out.
Once the clip is online, it’ll be available for the entire world to judge. People can challenge others in rap battles which puts clip directly against their opponents. The score is shown off but it’s up to fans to vote on their favorite performance in order to establish a true winner. The website will also provide players with stats on their reputation within the community, how many matches they’ve won or lost and more.
Social media is becoming a larger part of our gaming culture. We’ve seen some games include minimal social networking features before, but Def Jam Rapstar looks to be going all out with everything it’s providing. Rapstar will also include Facebook, Twitter and MySpace integration which will let players jump right in with ease.
Really, it’s a no-brainer including stuff like this since it’ll keep the gamer wanting to come back for more. Imagine, you’re at work messing around with the Rapstar site and you see some homie get all up in your grill about your score. The first thing you’re going to want to do when you get home is hop on the game and show your challenger what’s up.
I, for one, welcome more social media stuff like this in games. Then again, I may be a little biased, as I’m also the Community Manger of this here website.
It should also be noted that all the songs that will be appearing on Def Jam Rapstar will be radio-edited versions. It’s not all bad news, however, as DLC will not be censored. Def Jam Rapstar will be out this October for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
