We spotlighted Red Rocket Games back in December, and have quietly following the development of this Bellevue, WA/Shanghai, China studio.  Jung Suh, Gamefly co-founder and Scott Yu, former EA technical art director seem to have been cooking up some good stuff, and announced their first title today: Mevo and the Grooveriders.

Mevo and the Grooveriders sets out to be the first downloadable music/rhythm platform game for the casual PC market.  The goal of this casual game is for Mevo, the main protagonist to get his band, the Grooveriders back together and put the ‘fun’ back in the ‘funk’.  Moving Mevo around his world requires players to tap 2 keys (enter and space bar) simultaneously with the game’s music (think guitar hero) to re-energize Mevo and move him forward.  Players must work their way through five unique worlds (Ocean Jungle, Desert, Space, and Wormhole); all the while finding avatars along their path that will help Mevo unlock other levels.   As Mevo moves along in his quest, beat sequences become more and more complex, moving from basic single beat patterns to rapid beats, combos, sequences, and long-hold sustained passages.  By successfully completing challenges, players can then access new areas and songs, or be rewarded with in-game items including avatar parts that are needed to activate power-ups.

All of Mevo and the Grooverider’s tracks are original, produced in house with live musicians, and provide unique and groovalicious retro-funk that varies from organic jams right on through to electro-funk.

“Parents and kids, hardcore or casual – all players will be drawn to MEVO & THE GROOVERIDER’s great music, fun gameplay mechanic, beautiful art and very accessible yet challenging gameplay,” said Jung Suh, CEO of Red Rocket Games. “The game can also be customized to the player’s abilities and styles and, unlike other casual games, Red Rocket will be making updates to the game directly through patches to keep the action fresh and the gameplay fun and replayable.”

The game can also be customized to suit player’s own preferences and unique playing styles.  Regardless of level, players will be rewarded with avatars, dance packs and badges to help them make their way through the game or wear with pride on the game’s online portal and community.

Red Rocket plans on making updates to the game directly through patches in order to keep the action fresh, and players coming back for more.

Other key Mevo features include:

• Personalization – Players can personalize their MEVO with 17 body sets, 23 headsets and 6 dance sets, including customized avatars and costumes, such as Ninjas, British Dandy, Reindeers, Pumpkins, and more. Some avatar pieces/sets even have additional power-ups associated with them, such as score multipliers or invincibility.
• Community – MEVOWORLD.com offers players a place to create and showcase profiles of MEVO characters and customized avatars. Badges can also be proudly displayed within the community, and the site will feature leader boards and high scores. When users share their own levels, the community will also be able to vote on their favorites.
• Great replayability – Players can replay the game with many variables, including trying to acquire different badges, achieving perfect play through, experiencing all of the alternate endings, or finding all the power-ups, avatars and dance packs throughout the levels. The game will also be updated directly through patches, unlike other casual games.

Mevo and the Grooveriders from Red Rocket Games is scheduled for a March 2009 release.