Before there was Rez, there was K-Project. That was the early code name for Tetsuya Mizuguchi and United Game Artists' musical shooter, a project that evolved over time to be very different from its original concept. While the early versions of the game may only exist on someone's hard drive, a pre-release version, then known also as Project Eden and Vibes, has been released by an anonymous source as a bootable Dreamcast disc image.

The Dreamcast version of K-Project features a different soundtrack and a slew of other differences from the retail version. Collectors and Rez enthusiasts should put the Dreamcast back on the shelf and take a look.

K-Project (Rez Beta) Dumped [Lost Levels via Siliconera]

I think most dramatic and thematic games exist, and it's really hard. This is for an example: it's really hard to cry if you play a game. You can cry when you watch movies. I have, and everyone has that kind of experience. This is an emotional movement, very strong. But we can't cry when we play a game. This is a different catharsis. This is a physical reason. This is like a basic instinct. I think the game is designed as an experience. It's designed as a catharsis experience.

You have some accomplishments all the time, but accomplishment is a very strong keyword. It's a very strong factor of the game. I think in our 40 year history, we may [continually] redesign this, maybe. But in the last five years, you can get the resolution. This kind of resolution makes you have a very effective emotional possibility, with music, effects, hi-def movie effects. I think there can be growing, growing, and growing. There's some games coming in that class.

Well worth a read through, though be prepared for more talk from the interviewer than usually shows up in interviews.

Expressing The Future: Tetsuya Mizuguchi [Gamasutra]

Mizuguchi explained he was inspired by games at a young age, fascinated by Atari's dedicated Pong platform. He says he also discovered the music of The Beatles at the same time, combining the two experiences in a visual and emotional way.

He says he later was motivated to join Sega when he saw the Sega R-360 arcade cabinet for the first time. The enclosed, fully rotating cabinet gave developer AM2's G LOC a more realistic flight simulator experience (and surely induced plenty of nausea). When Mizuguchi saw the R-360 for the first time, he thought "Wow, who did this?"

His first project at Sega, arcade racer Sega Rally, got its own answer to the R-360 later, with a full-sized rally car chassis that sold a total of four units.

Moving on to the console division, the producer went to work on Space Channel 5. It was the result of his fascination with MTV culture as a child and his first foray into merging the emotional response from music with interactive entertainment.

His next was Rez.

The game, once known as K-Project was not just inspired by the paintings of Wassily Kandinsky, a Russian painter who had experience with the condition known as synesthesia. It was also partially inspired by Mizuguchi's early fascination with the Sensorama, a multi-modal device that promised an experience combining wide vision, motion color, stereo sounds, aromas, wind, and vibrations. "Wow," Mizuguchi said, questioning "What is this? What's happening inside?"

Combining those two motivators with Mizuguchi's interest in understanding why people, regardless of region, reacted to music at clubs and festivals physically—and vocally, as Mizuguchi said "Waaaaagggh!", arms stretched high.

These combinations continued, with games like Lumines, which recreated the "play with music" gameplay design and Ninety Nine Nights, Q Entertainment's attempt to combine action games and movies. NNN, Mizuguchi explained, was heavily influenced by Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon. Lumines II, which felt to many like a retread, was an attempt to more heavily incorporate music videos into the gameplay.

All of these marriages of medium are just portions of what Mizuguchi feels will bring to game development, now, according to him, still in its infancy. The "Big Bang" he says will be a hybrid product for a mass audience that combines online connectivity, video games, music, movies, community and advertising.

Since moving to Q and partnering with friend and now CEO, Shuji Utsumi, Miz says he's begun to come to terms with balancing art and commerce. Utsumi, he says, has been a good influence, especially when Mizuguchi becomes "too artistic." "Games," he says "are entertainment, not just art."

What about you? Pick up Rez HD? If not, what else are you playing this weekend?

Because while Chessmaster LIVE looks good and everything, it's no Battle Chess.

A brand new recreation of the cult-classic shooter created by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, "Rez HD" launches on Xbox LIVE Arcade this week. In addition to "Rez HD," chess fans and newcomers alike will enjoy checkmating friends with "Chessmaster Live" on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Both games will be available on Wednesday, January 30 at 9:00 a.m. GMT (1:00 a.m. PST).

"Rez HD" is a frenetic, wire-frame adventure set to industrial beats and rhythms that match the action. The story of "Rez HD" takes players deep into the world's computer network where they must hack the system, alter the visual output and take over the music, creating unique rhythms and eye candy as they dig deeper into the cyberworld.

Developed by Q Entertainment ("Lumines Live!" and "Every Extend Extra Extreme"), "Rez HD" for Xbox LIVE Arcade is a high definition update of the original game with brand new elements such as new visuals and sound effects. The game features five levels, each with its own unique visual theme, style and musical track, as well as three modes, including Easy, Main and Score Attack. "Rez HD" will be available worldwide for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

A downloadable version of Ubisoft's hit "Chessmaster" series, "Chessmaster Live" allows players to test and tune their chess skills against the AI or opponents of all aptitudes around the globe via Xbox LIVE. "Chessmaster Live" features five original chess variants, including a Message Chess option, which allows gamers to engage in matches over the span of several days, weeks or even months. The title boasts both beautifully crafted 3D chess sets inspired by luxury chess board designer House of Staunton. "Chessmaster Live" will be available worldwide (with the exception of Japan and Korea) for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

They fired up the game, I chose my level and as soon as it started I could feel the first pulses of vibration at the small of my back, at my feet and in my hands. As the level progressed the vibration became more intense and the controllers did not always vibrate in tandem, sometimes they ping-ponged back and forth creating a unique sensation. Having only played the Dreamcast version and not being among the small number of people to have actually gotten a hold of a trance vibrator, I had no idea how immersive having all that extra vibration could be. If you have played Rez before and were on the fence about getting Rez HD, the multiple controller vibration (it can support up to four) should be enough to push you over the side.

When we saw the game demoed in Tokyo last year, they were still undecided on how they would incorporate the vibration into the game. One thing they didn't want to have to do was design a new peripheral, so they needed to come up with something else as Mizuguchi explains..

In this game, the vibration is really important. The mix of sound, music and vibration is like a chemistry. I didn't just want to have controller vibration, I wanted to do the Trance Vibration again and that kind of thing is difficult to reproduce. So one day, one of the game designers came up with the idea of the multiple controller vibration since most people have more than one 360 controller. We all thought it was a really fantastic idea.

Since the announcement that the PS3 controllers would once again feature rumble, I asked is they had considered bringing Rez HD to the PSN Store as well and Mizuguchi said that yes, it is definitley something they would like to do and have considered. So if all goes well, PS3 owners could well see Rez HD arriving on their consoles in the near future. For 360 owners just a few more days and you'll be playing Rez HD in all its vibrating glory. Remember, one controller at the small of your back, one at your feet and one in your hands, that's the Miz way. As to where you put that fourth, that is entirely up to you, just remember to wipe it off when your done.

Oh, must remember to invest in PixelJunk Monsters, too. And No More Heroes. Damn this economic slowdown! What are you playing this weekend, ladies and gentlemen?

We started on Xbox 360, but we have no reason not to provide this game to other platforms.

If I had a reason to remake Space Channel 5 on the new platforms, I will do that.

Rez HD Official Site

Thanks, Aokaze!

As some of you may well remember, the Kotaku Team got a chance to pay a visit to the Q Entertainment Studios whilst we were in Tokyo for TGS. After meeting the amazing Miziguchi we were treated to a glimpse of some of their upcoming games including Every Extend Extra Extreme and Rez HD. I had the good fortune to be the first person to check out Rez HD and it was awesome. If you never picked up this title on Dreamcast or PS2 and are curious what it's all about, GameTrailers has been kind enough to upload four gameplay videos for your perusal. Ok course, you can't see the full HD effect in these videos (unless you go to GameTrailers where they have HD versions), but it should be enough to whet your appetite until the game shows up on Xbox LIVE sometime in the coming weeks.

Make the jump for the other three videos.

Sure Flynn got his grubby paws on the game while we were in Tokyo, so I've seen chunks of this, but this video still leaves me in a bit of a sweat. As much as I wish Mircosoft would put a little more effort into finding original idie games to get on the 360 Arcade, they sure know how to pick the classics.

Going to meet Yoko Ono was inspiring for me.

Not unlike Q?'s Gunpey and Every Extend Extra, Space Invaders Extreme adds layers of trippy effects, filling the screen with an excessive amount of visual noise. Even more suspect, your shots will trigger sound effects that I could swear were ripped straight from Rez.

Gameplay-wise though, it does add a handful of fresh elements to make the constant shooting a bit more exciting. You'll get bonuses for destroying invaders by column, by color, by shape, or by row and be rewarded for doing so with points and alternate stages. There's a Fever Mode that's essentially a point grabbing free for all and a Roulette Shot that awards you with extra lives.

With the slight sketchiness of latching on to the Q? schtick of success, it may seem like Space Invaders Extreme is a me-too gimmick filled attempt at bringing relevance to a 30 year old arcade game. It was enjoyable for the first fifteen minutes, but it's unclear whether this simple enjoyment will last beyond that. We'll know more when the game hits early 2008.

I've heard from many who want to play the original Rez, but couldn't buy it in stores anymore. I feel that's the big reason why we're releasing Rez now. I can't say we're doing Rez 2. I am ready to go to the next level. Sequels are a good approach, and Rez is a life theme for me.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh... (grabs heart) Give me water... The Wii is special. It's not such a high def direction, but it's a fun direction as a future toy. That kind of idea always stimulates us in our ideas. This [the Wii] is another direction.

No, I wasn't nervous. He was nervous. During the filming, I had to give him direction like "relax."

We would like to.

We haven't decided yet.

The small room in the front of the Q Entertainment offices was packed with people, but the only sound came from the television.

A steady beat filled the room, vector graphics filled the screen, Tetsuya Mizuguchi sat slumped in his chair, playing his game.

A person, made up of crisp lines, swam through the screen, drifting above and then into a canyon of red and orange lights, the beat steadily climbing. Miz shifted the thumbstick of the controller resting in his hands around, highlighting targets, steadily tapping a button with a finger, effortlessly slipping though the code he wrote.

By the second level Sawako Yamamoto, who sits quietly across the table from Mizuguchi, is bopping her head to the beat as she sits entranced, watching him play the game.

A city scape of linear buildings drift by, the music continues to pulse. Five minutes into the game and half the people in the room are silently rocking out to the music, there feet tapping, heads bobbing.

Mizuguchi tells us reluctantly that Q had to license his game back from Sega to make this port.

"I have to respect Sega because I created this for them five or six years ago," he says.

This new high def versions is, he says, what he always imagined the game would be in his mind, no jaggies, not lag.

"It is very smooth," he says. "I play it, I play it."

He calls the game a pure port of the Dreamcast game. One that will consist of only what's in the original game.

"We wanted t port purely, make it 100 percent the same game," he said. "When I made Rez five or six years ago I always dreamed of a high-def wide screen and very good sound. Now the future has come."

The game we're shown is still in alpha he says, it still needs to have some controller tweaks, and they're working on smoothing out the loads.

As for the infamously misused Rez Trance controller, Mizuguchi says they have no plans, at least not now, to release one for the 360 version of the game.

"I think this is the new form of the digital entertainment."

When Rez first came out for the Dreamcast, I played it extensively and still even plug the old girl in every once in a while for the sole purpose of playing Rez. I've beaten the game quite a number of times so when Mr. Mizuguchi fired up the game for us to watch I got a great rush of nostalgia as I heard the familiar music start to play. He played through the first level of the game with predictable ease and as he got to the boss he turned to me and gestured towards the controller. I was instantly filled with a mixture of elation and terror. Here I was in a room with one of my idols playing his own game in front of him, surrounded by co-workers and being tasked with a boss level. But, I rose to the occasion and took the chair offered me by Mr. Mizuguchi and went in for the kill.

I was immediately impressed at how sharp everything looked. With the relatively simple graphic style of a game like Rez, you might think that HD wouldn't do much for it, but the difference was obvious from the very beginning. The controls, while still in the early stages of development, were very smooth and I actually found them to be much easier to deal with than the Dreamcast's. Having the rumble built right in to the controls without the purchase of the Trance Vibrator was a great addition as it was something I hadn't been able to try before. The music also sounded great, and I was told that all the tracks were being remastered for the full 5.1 Dolby experience. I managed to make it through the whole boss level like a pro, only devolving once and when it was all over I was rewarded with a clap on the back and a handshake from Mr. Mizuguchi.

Rez HD is going to be a great addition to the XBL lineup and will give players who formally couldn't get their hands on it a chance to play for the first time. It will also be terrific for old fans who will be able to experience the crisp new graphics, widescreen and remastered music creating a new way to enjoy an old game.

My work all these years has been to entertain people through video games, but this virtual Tokyo concept could be the next step and path... The Tokyo we are trying to create is based on the image of city. How do people in Tokyo perceive the city? How about foreigners? That's what we want to express.

Not only does it look way more fun with the wii-mote, but it's also nice to see a game that was way ahead of it's time still being enjoyed today by some one who took the time out to revive it .

This is what is most exciting about the Nintendo Wii - that it has the ability to go past the novelty of the of its own console's games. For some users, it lets them revisit the way that people look at old games, or the ways in which music is made. I get a way bigger kick out of seeing what people are doing with it rather than playing it myself. Kim Phu

Rez Being Played with the Wii Remote [Arcade Resistance]

The shoot-em-up from Tetsuya "The Milkman" Mizuguchi will feature the requisite HD graphical upgrade as well as 5.1 surround sound treatment that will provide a "clubbing experience right in the living room". However, the XBLA version will also feature a mode called "S4, Wiz ur Muzik" and will allow players to use custom tracks in-game. Wicked cool.

Leaderboards, acheivements, online play, it's all there. Let's just pray that Q will find some way to get the entire game, not a crippled, money-grubbing piecemeal version up on day one. *prays* Amen. Michael McWhertor

Adding more fuel to the fire that Miz and Q? Entertainment will be bringing a version of the previously-for-PSP game Every Extend Extra is today's report from CVG that reveal this week's GDC will be the time and place for a new XBLA announcement from Q. Could it be Gunpey? Meteos? What will it be?!

We'll let you know if we corner Miz! Michael McWhertor

GDC: Mizuguchi's new XBLA game [CVG]

Geist Force. Mario 128. Frame City Killer. Nico. Project Berkley. Too Human. Thrill Kill. Donkey Kong's Fun With Music.

If you've been following gaming for a while, you'll recognize many of those names, knowing that many of them never saw the light of day or were in development for so long, console generations came and went without a release. If you're looking to wax nostalgiac on dozens of games that never made it past the alpha stage, you may want to spend some time over at Unseen 64.

In addition to a slew of unfinished, unrealized sequels and fresh franchises are games that underwent massive design changes. Sneak a peek at Okami's photorealistic style, House of the Dead III's cel shaded look, Rez's half-dozen art direction attempts, or the abandoned Resident Evil 1.5. Wonder to yourself "Whatever happened to that game?" Michael McWhertor

Unseen 64 - Videogames Unseen, Unreleased & Beta Archive!

Friday night. I was just wrapping up a handful of posts, ready to head to the Spike TV Video Game Awards. Despite my personal feelings for the VGAs, I was excited to attend. I'd get to talk to some famous and semi-famous folks on the red carpet, slip Rachel Leigh Cook my card, then watch Tenacious D rock out and bask in the insanity of the show. As I put away the laptop, my stomach warned me something was wrong.

I hadn't eaten but a handful of random snacks all day, so I assumed it was just hunger. Better eat a proper meal, I though. After heading down to the Galen Center at USC, I decided "I should get a Fatburger and put something in my stomach." One third of a Fatburger later, I threw in the napkin. Or towel. Back to the VGAs!

That's when, to my surprise, I saw Tetsuya Mizuguchi (of Rez and Lumines fame) walking out of the VIP area with two lovely ladies, one decked out in an Every Extend Extra t-shirt by Beams. I yell "Mizuguchi! Can I get a pic?" He complied, giving me his best goblin face. I thanked him, we shook hands and Miz sped off to catch up with CliffyB. They hugged! So sweet.

As I approached the two, ready to grab a shot, my stomach gave me the signal: this Fatburger is scheduled to launch within the hour. Shit. I grew more delirious as fever took over, but had the common sense to stay away. If I approached the two, I was sure someone would wind up with vomit splash on their red carpet walking shoes. And I wanted to prevent being blacklisted from press access at all future events.

That was it. I knew my night at the VGAs was over. I handed my tickets to Freeloadin' Scott Andrews, sped home, car window down just in case, waiting for my digestive system to go in reverse.

Didn't take long, but I took comfort in the fact that I'd met one of the few game designers I've always admired. It's a shame I didn't have the strength to stay, as I'd have like to chat him and Cliff up a bit. Plus, if I got Mizuguchi sick, I'm going to feel awful. I was also bummed that I didn't get to retell a full night of adventure to the Kotaku readership.

Hopefully, I'll be back next year in full health to absorb the full impact of the VGAs and give Miz a big old mancrush-style hug. Michael McWhertor

Searching through some of the titles in my personal library, I noticed some comforting things. For instance, Rez? "No major problems for this title." Cool. How about something like, say, Okami?

The following conditions have been confirmed on PS3 System Software Version 1.00.: At random points throughout the title, when an FMA plays, the audio stutters at a random point during playback, and continues to stutter throughout the duration of the FMA. All conditions have been resolved on PS3 System Software Version 1.10.

Okay, we're cool there, too. Nice to know the updates will take care of some issues.

Unfortunately, a few things are wonky. The entries for both Guitar Hero games also indicate there are "No major problems for this title." Personally, the lack of guitar controller support is a major problem for me. And where's Gitaroo Man? No entry?

Go on, Kotakuites! Check out your library. And let us know if you see anything strange in the comments. Michael McWhertor

PlayStation and PlayStation 2 Format Software Compatibility Status for PLAYSTATION 3 Hardware

In a speech given at the Montr al International Games Summit, Q Entertainment co-founder Tetsuya Mizuguchi spoke his mind on the future of the gaming industry, calling for integration of other media types in games, and bringing in fresh new talent. In my opinion there is no better person than the creator of Rez and Space Channel 5 to discuss innovation.

This industry is a kind of sponge," Mizuguchi continued. "If you want to make something, if you need some kind of technology, the games industry is always kind of sucking many things. So if you want to connect to people, technology is coming - [and there is] no form and no limit.

You've really got to love the language barrier. Wouldn't life be so boring if we all understood each other? Michael Fahey

Mizuguchi calls on games industry to embrace new talent [GamesIndustry.biz]

'm in Rotterdam right now, well looking forward to a weekend of establishing calluses on my ass and gaming. At the risk of painting my friend Sven in an unfavorable light, I expect I will be doing a monstrous amount of gaming this weekend: he has one of those modded XBoxes with a wide library of games just sitting on the hard drive. His PS2 has an HD Loader. All these games exist in ISO form on his network. Does he own them all? To be honest, I'm afraid to ask, because then I might be tempted to either take or break a moral position... and Rez is calling, after all.

Regardless, with Leipzig next week and having spent most of this week in Dutch "coffee bars", insanely rambling while space-eyed, flaxen-haired tell me how deep I am, I need some chill time this weekend. And, like I said, Rez seems to fit the trance-inducing bill. What will you be playing? Let us know in the comments/ Florian Eckhardt

To mark the sale of Tetsuya Mizuguchi's techno shooter Every Extend Extra, Japanese clothes retailer Beams is selling this shirt. Beams is known for its high quality, hipster duds and has done game shirts in the past for the Xbox 360 and even Rez! The US $45 tee was designed by in-house shirt maker Tsuyoshi Kusano, who also whipped up the game's logo. Trippy! Brian Ashcraft

Order Here [Beams] Thanks, Steven!

What? You don't know Q Entertainment?! They're the ones responsible for games like Lumines, Meteos, and Ninety-Nine Nights, founded by heterosexual man crush, Tetsuya Mizuguchi. What?! You don't know Tetsuya Mizuguchi?! He's the producer responsible for gaming mana like Rez, Space Channel 5 and Sega Rally. C'mon, guys. Pay attention!

1UP's article is a great primer on the company and their philosophy, which is to exploit the best aspects of the platform for which they are developing. A preview look at their remake of Gunpey for both the PSP and DS, each with different interfaces and visual styles is a perfect example. Taking puzzle hit Lumines to virtually every viable platform is an indicator that the company knows how to capitalize on a hit.

Don't miss Mielke's interview with Mizuguchi and Q CEO Shuji Utsumi for thinly veiled hints at reviving Rez, developing for the Wii, and so much more.

Northern Lights - A Week With Q Entertainment

The question isn't what inspires Lumines creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi, but what doesn't inspire him? Giving a speech at the Develop Conference in England, Mizuguchi stated:

You can use influences from anywhere and create anything you like. There does not have to be any shape or format, all you need is inspiration.

Case in point. Ninty-Nine Nights was inspired by the television coverage of the Iraq war and the Kurosawa film Rashoman. His puzzle game Lumines was inspired by the PSP, while Meteos was influenced by multi-tasking and the Fox drama 24. MTV music videos, surreal art, jazz and stomp all influenced Rez and Space Channel 5.

So what influences his upcoming Lumines 2? Why, the mega-selling prequel of course. Now that's inspiration. Brian Ashcraft

Mizuguchi Talks [Next-Gen]

Legendary game creator Testuya Mizuguchi (Lumines, Meteos) tells news site Eurogamer he's considering making sequels to two of his most famous games. When asked if he's up for Rez 2, he said:

I'm currently seriously considering it. It's always there. I'm always thinking about it. [Grinning] Also Space Channel 5.

I'd take one Rez or a Space Channel sequel over any of the four Lumines games Mizuguchi was promoting at E3. Talk about misdirected time and energy. —Brian Ashcraft

Full Interview Here [Eurogamer]

One of my favorite games of all time is Rez for the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2. If you have good taste and like Rez, too, please watch these YouTube videos (courtesy of Matt H.) from the game's early stages of development when it was still known as "K Project".

K Project Work In Progress Video #2
K Project Work In Progress Video #3

It looks like Rez may be headed to the Playstation Portable. Shack News reports that the trancey 3D space shooter by the creator of Lumines and Meteos is a "pretty sure thing." I wonder if it will come with that cool little vibrating peripheral for co-ed play?

Sega Rumor-O-Rama: Sonic Revolution, Rez PSP [Shack News]

Tetsuya Mizuguchi's arty shooter Rez gets superplayed with a 100% shoot down in Area 5 on the Dreamcast version. Even on low-rez Google video, damn, Rez stills look finger-lickin' good.

Watch It Here [Google Video] via GameSetWatch

Cult classic and long out of print, hard-to-find, ebay-for-too-much friggin' money Rez reissues might be surfacing. Blog Dugged reports that renting the title through Gamefly nets users a brand new copy of Rez - which you can purchase from Gamefly for forty-four bucks. Way friggin cheaper than eBay. It's just hearsay until we see proof, but we like what we're listening to.

Thanks Brian (enjoy your new copy of Rez)

Rez Rereleased? [Dugged]