Jeff Minter / Llamasoft / 2006 / United Kingdom Embedded Software in Microsoft Xbox360 Console Systems.

Jeff Minter / Llamasoft / 2006 / United Kingdom Embedded Software in Microsoft Xbox360 Console Systems. Shown in custom Personal Computer version

Jeff Minter is well known in the video game industry for his light synthesizers and his psychedelic space shooter video games such as Tempest 3000 and the upcoming Space Giraffe. Microsoft hired Minter and his company, Llamasoft, to create Neon, interactive audio visualization software that is embedded in every Xbox 360 game console.

Audio visualization is a common feature of personal-computer-based music and media player software such as iTunes and Windows Media Player. Data derived from audio factors such as pitch, density, volume, and tempo are used to generate abstract animations in real time.

Neon differs from other visualizers in that it is also a performance instrument. Because it is part of a device intended for living room use, Neon brings the hypnotic eye candy of light synthesizers to new terrain—high-definition television screens—with ambient moving imagery determined by whatever music you happen to be listening to.