Written & Reviewed By Maury “All” Bright courtesy of CrossPhazer.com & Bigg Team Media

I got a chance to play around with Rockstar Games’ Beaterator, which allows anyone with a PSP to button mash mixesof music loops developed by superstar producer Timbaland and even compose your own musical creations.

First off, I’d like to start off with a little history on why I was assigned this story by CrossPhazer. I am an MC, music producer, electronics/web development enthusiast & aspiring audio engineer. Yea, I know… but I’ve learned that having many angles of connected interests can enhance your view on all things related. When I was just a “rapper”, I start making beats on the 1st installment of the now classic series of Jester Interactive/Codemasters MTV Music Generator “games”. They weren’t really games, more like software to create your own beat mixes or compose completely new music. This was great for me.. because I couldn’t afford all the equipment needed to truly make beats at quality where others what take it serious.

After about 2 months, people would be like.. “So what do you use?!?” I’d say, “I have a little set-up, nothing major” instead of saying I have a PlayStation, Music Generator and a CD Recorder. Well I didn’t lie! I followed the series to PlayStation 2 until the 3rd installment, which I didn’t like at all. So for about a year my PS2, MTV Music Generator 2, the obscure FunkMaster Flex’s Digital Hitz Factory, and a JVC CD Recorder was my “beat making studio” until my PS2 broke down… but that motivated me to step it up to professional gear. So hearing about The Beaterator in 2006 had me feeling nostalgic… until I later found out it was going to be available for the PSP, whoa. I imagined if I had MTV Music Generator 2 or FMF Digital Hitz Factory on a portable device… I would’ve been dangerous!!! (in a great way).

There are two modes, but the studio mode is where it’s really a winner. Now, for someone who is already familiar with these type of “games” I didn’t need much instruction, but I still went through the in-game tutorials, which were detailed to clearly explain how to do anything!! The samples and presets are fully customizable with many ways to “tweak” and add you own sounds with the PSP mic or import from a Memory Stick. I was also impressed with the way you can play different chords with any instrument sample. Having the option to scroll and place note or real-time record by tapping notes into a loop make a big difference in really getting a nice work-flow groove. Once your done you can export your music as a wave file to use anywhere from your Sony Memory Stick Duo chip.

In my opinion, Beaterator is not really made for the casual gamer, however If the casual gamer wants to see if they have the patience, skill and talent to produce music and you already have a PSP, then what the heck, try it. If your looking to start producing music ANYWHERE you go and don’t have an iPhone or iTouch, get a PSP and Beaterator before they both disappear off the shelves!!! If you already create music familiar with the FL Studio (newer version of Fruity Loops) Series, then this may be very easy for your to adapt to for mobile production use.

So I give Rockstar Games’ and Timbaland Presents Beaterator for PSP a 5 out of 5 for functionality and setting a new standard for software developers catering to music production hobbyists and professionals.

Here is some video & screenshots of Beaterator

For More Info:

http://www.rockstargames.com/beaterator/