Secret Character
Member
DJ Max is getting a PS4 game soon.
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Is Rhythm Gaming Still Relevant?
- Thread starter Hedgey
- Start date
Did you type this while wearing your #fuckkonami shirt
There are actually a lot of rhythm games now.
-Bemani still exists and if you have a Round 1 Arcade in your area you can play the newest games they release.
-Rock Band is getting DLC regularly again, Harmonix also released a new Amplitude, and Guitar Hero is still a thing.
-Hatsune Miku: Project Diva is still getting regular releases.
-The DJ Max team released Superbeat XoNIC last year which is supposedly really good (I didn't have time to get into it myself, I couldn't just pick up and play it due to depth perception problems but it seemed fantastic).
-There's also stuff like Theatrhythm, Rhythm Heaven/Tengoku, P4 DAN, IA/VT Colorful, the Taiko series, and maybe some other things that I'm forgetting, though the last Theatrhythm game doesn't look like it's getting a US release and it's on region-locked hardware (I can still play it since I have a j3DS and it's not as good as Curtain Call though).
-The clone rhythm game community on PC is alive and well, I know simfile packs still get released regularly. There are also mods for official rhythm games like In the Groove 2 and Rock Band 3 that add tons of songs.
-Bemani still exists and if you have a Round 1 Arcade in your area you can play the newest games they release.
-Rock Band is getting DLC regularly again, Harmonix also released a new Amplitude, and Guitar Hero is still a thing.
-Hatsune Miku: Project Diva is still getting regular releases.
-The DJ Max team released Superbeat XoNIC last year which is supposedly really good (I didn't have time to get into it myself, I couldn't just pick up and play it due to depth perception problems but it seemed fantastic).
-There's also stuff like Theatrhythm, Rhythm Heaven/Tengoku, P4 DAN, IA/VT Colorful, the Taiko series, and maybe some other things that I'm forgetting, though the last Theatrhythm game doesn't look like it's getting a US release and it's on region-locked hardware (I can still play it since I have a j3DS and it's not as good as Curtain Call though).
-The clone rhythm game community on PC is alive and well, I know simfile packs still get released regularly. There are also mods for official rhythm games like In the Groove 2 and Rock Band 3 that add tons of songs.
I don't play em regularly anymore but if Konami put out an official IIDX PC controller and made it easy for my western ass to subscribe to the IIDX PC game, I'd probably sign up. IIDX is the king and I love that it still sees regular releases.
I'd also pick up a home version of Sound Voltex if that became convenient enough. Game seems awesome.
One of the big things I've noticed over the years is that I greatly prefer the Bemani standard of short songs over other games using songs of all lengths.
I'd also pick up a home version of Sound Voltex if that became convenient enough. Game seems awesome.
One of the big things I've noticed over the years is that I greatly prefer the Bemani standard of short songs over other games using songs of all lengths.
Demoskinos
Member
Yeah, there are a lot of different scenes around different games. Its not at the forefront like it might have been for awhile especially with the rise of Guitar Hero and Rockband but its still alive and has very active communities around games.
A new Hatsune Miku game is actually coming out in August.
A new Hatsune Miku game is actually coming out in August.
Azure Phoenix
Member
It's still relevant in Japan, there are tons of rhythm games being released (I'm currently juggling Project Diva Future Tone, Imas CG Starlight Stage and Imas Must Songs). The problem is that where, in the past, we'd get rhythm games (DDR, EBA etc.) localised with song lists aimed at the West, Guitar Hero and Rock Band saturated and destroyed that market. It pains me to say it but, with the exception of Miku, Western publishers probably aren't ever going to consider it viable to release rhythm games with song lists in a language most people can't understand.
The Bankslammer
Member
just released this month, actually!
as for making infinitas more accessible in the west, er... maybe someday?
Cindi Mayweather
Member
No. It's become a niche again like pre-Guitar Hero.
IceDoesntHelp
Banned
Only Rhythm Heaven
Remembrance
Member
I downloaded Voez but never got around to making an account.
How does the unlock system actually work? It seems hard to get clear information on this without actually logging in.
cj_iwakura
Member
It'll always be around in some form. The US bubble has more or less burst, but the scene is still active, just back in the underground.
Andamiro still make yearly Pump It Up mixes, the DJ MAX guys are still in the game, Bemani, Rhythm Heaven, Miku, etc etc etc.
Mizuguchi needs to return, though. The god will make his second coming one day.
I sure saw signs of that in Akihabara. Damn near every new rhythm game had some variation of that song selection.
My favorite new rhythm game in Tokyo was easily (let's) Groove Coaster.
The new DDRs are god-awful. If it wasn't for the IIDX music, there'd be no reason to play them. Uninspired charts, bad UI, bad taste in music. Supernova 2 was the last decent one.
Andamiro still make yearly Pump It Up mixes, the DJ MAX guys are still in the game, Bemani, Rhythm Heaven, Miku, etc etc etc.
Mizuguchi needs to return, though. The god will make his second coming one day.
I sure saw signs of that in Akihabara. Damn near every new rhythm game had some variation of that song selection.
My favorite new rhythm game in Tokyo was easily (let's) Groove Coaster.
The new DDRs are god-awful. If it wasn't for the IIDX music, there'd be no reason to play them. Uninspired charts, bad UI, bad taste in music. Supernova 2 was the last decent one.
Well I'll be damned! Apparently it's coming out January 2017 in Korea, with a western release to follow soon after.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIz1qS5eU-I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3o65Lv7oHc
Day 1!
Seraph_Nicholas
Member
A succession of in-game missions (Beat X score on Y difficulty, complete Z different songs, etc.) reward you with keys and what passes for a plot in the game. Each key permanently unlocks one song. 45 keys (About $40 if you buy them at once in a pack) is a blanket 'unlock all' that also covers new songs as they're released. Keys can also buy a 3-pack of ingame avatars. Every few days, a song or two from the current 'free' list is locked, and replaced by different songs.
I used one of my mission reward keys, but otherwise I'm pretty satisfied to just play the current free songs. A friend of mine, on the other hand, tried it on her iPad and instantly fell in love, rung up the full unlock, and has had instant access to the dozen or so songs they've added to the game since then. The game is absolutely worth the $40, I just don't have it atm. It's really nice to be able to enjoy the game nearly fully anyway.
The whole arcade thing really goes back to distribution/reach being a problem though. Yeah, you have your niche crowd who will -always- be there to ensure it's profitable, but only in select areas of the world.
Music cabs in arcades (or, well, even arcades in general) are struggling to be self-sufficient pretty much over 80% of the world. It doesn't matter how much a core group of maybe a dozen regulars pour into a machine - the maths simply does not work out.
Peripheral games also suffer a higher barrier of entry in terms of distribution.
If a game is to break out of its niche status, it absolutely has to be accessible, making use of an existing control scheme to its fullest (see: Superbeat Xonic for Dualshock4/PSVita layouts or simply QWERTY keyboards, or... well... a single touchscreen because smart devices) to combat a low population density of a target market.
Either that, or rely on a supernova of a fad, like the original GH/RB explosion. Like I mentioned though, that's a very, very different target market.
I don't know about Eastern rhythm games, but the Western rhythm game resurgance has failed big time. Guitar Hero Live was praised on release, but very quickly forgotten by pretty much everyone and Harmonix seems to be killing off Rock Band themselves by constantly making bad decisions and not informing their fanbase enough about certain issues. For instance, I'm still waiting for some songs I have bought and should be available to redownload, even after Harmonix promised a month ago that the problems with those tracks would be resolved within a week or two.
TriAceJP
Member
I play IIDX and DDR daily, so they ain't dead to me.
I think I was one of the maybe 5 people who liked Museca
RIP
I do gotta say, I really miss the old original content Konami used to bust out. The last good odd years have brought updates that replaced their great artists with touhou/high pitched obnoxious anime crap. Where are you now, DJ Taka? ;-;
I think I was one of the maybe 5 people who liked Museca
RIPI do gotta say, I really miss the old original content Konami used to bust out. The last good odd years have brought updates that replaced their great artists with touhou/high pitched obnoxious anime crap. Where are you now, DJ Taka? ;-;
StarCreator
Member
Museca isn't dead yet; it just had the 1 1/2 update which seems to be fairly well received so far. I don't live near a Round1 so I haven't had an opportunity to try for myself yet.I play IIDX and DDR daily, so they ain't dead to me.
I think I was one of the maybe 5 people who liked Museca
I do gotta say, I really miss the old original content Konami used to bust out. The last good odd years have brought updates that replaced their great artists with touhou/high pitched obnoxious anime crap. Where are you now, DJ Taka? ;-;
Taka is still around: https://remywiki.com/Takayuki_Ishikawa
twentytwo22
Member
Opinions and all that but IMO this couldn't be further from the truth. X was somewhat mediocre and X2 was good, but X3, 2013 and 2014 have been fantastic releases with some wonderful tracks, excellent charts, and UI and usability improvements. The UI in Ace is great and they finally fixed the polling issues that DDR has always had.
Valkyrie Dimension, 888, Nephilim Delta, Monkey Business, Over the Period, Egoism 440, Paranoia Revolution, Plan 8, Poochie are just a few of the songs from these mixes that I love and are damn fun to play.
TriAceJP
Member
He isn't nearly as prominent as he was. None of them are. Yamaoka/Kubota/Tatsh/good-cool/Yoshitaka left, a lot of others put out maybe a song or two. The only two old school artists I can think of who still put in a good amount of content are Y&Co and Kors K.
From what I have heard, they don't plan on releasing a follow up game to Museca.
Wonko_C
Member
It pains me to this day we won't ever see a new one. Platinumed that thing to hell and back. It's easily my favorite Vita game.
Kickbeat is available on PS Vita but I don't know if it supports custom music like the PC version.
Kwansu Dudes
Member
Does DDR Ace have the classic UI or is it back to the scrolling list?
The UI of 2013 had issues, but otherwise this couldn't be further from the truth.
It's a grid ala sdvx now.
Kwansu Dudes
Member
Interesting. I forgot which was the last mix I played (maybe X2?), but hated that they went back to the 2nd mix Disc UI. Now that they've changed the difficulty ratings, I have no idea what would constitute a classic 7, 8, or 9 block difficulty.
blame space
Banned
buy rhythm heaven megamix you fucking heathens
PotionBleue
Member
Just Dance on Wii was crazy popular.
Now that it moved to mobile it still is quite popular (10+ million downloads on the Play Store https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ubisoft.dance.JustDance ).
It's also Ubisoft's second biggest franchise in sales (56 million as of February 2016), only behind Assassin's Creed (96 million).
omgwtfbentime
Member
We actually just got our first official US DDR arcade mix released in the states in the last month... many Dave and Busters and all US round 1 locations have it. It's also the first time ever a US DDR arcade mix has been 1:1 feature perfect with the Japanese version which is pretty great (full e-amuse and online functionality, identical song lists).
Pump It Up is getting a new installment this year as well and were getting a big expansion for Rock Band 4. While music games will never be as big as they were during the peak of Guilt Hero and Rock Band, I think they serve a decent sized niche. Heck if you like Bemani and other Japanese rhythm games I could argue there's never been a better time to be into that thanks to round 1. Again, it's extremely niche, but man it's still there and I'm happy about it.
Pump It Up is getting a new installment this year as well and were getting a big expansion for Rock Band 4. While music games will never be as big as they were during the peak of Guilt Hero and Rock Band, I think they serve a decent sized niche. Heck if you like Bemani and other Japanese rhythm games I could argue there's never been a better time to be into that thanks to round 1. Again, it's extremely niche, but man it's still there and I'm happy about it.
tauroxd
Member
Basically this,
SDVX, JUBEAT, REFLEC BEAT are the games i love these days. when i first saw DDRin 99 in UK, I thought this is the latest shit. over the years i tried all of them. went to japan to get the full blast.
IIDX is so cool, but i cant get past level 5+no more cs releases.
these days i only play the ipad versions of the above mentioned games. love them, but thwy have bad support these days. i really hope, there will be a cheaper and easier way some day to play original arcades in germany. but arcades have been dead for so long. maybe there will be a revival with VR.
IIDX is so cool, but i cant get past level 5+no more cs releases.
these days i only play the ipad versions of the above mentioned games. love them, but thwy have bad support these days. i really hope, there will be a cheaper and easier way some day to play original arcades in germany. but arcades have been dead for so long. maybe there will be a revival with VR.
Were you not around in 2007-2010? Everyone seemed to at least own Guitar Hero or Rock Band.
Nintendo should introduce a franchise like Theatrhythm that features music from classic 1st party titles spanning every generation. Here are some examples:
HarmoKnight - Pokemon Bonus Levels
Kirby: Triple Deluxe - All Dedede's Drum Dash Levels (Platinum Rank)
I recommend both titles btw.
HarmoKnight - Pokemon Bonus Levels
Kirby: Triple Deluxe - All Dedede's Drum Dash Levels (Platinum Rank)
I recommend both titles btw.
I mean, you could try playing the game on phones/tablets, couldn't you? There are versions for various mobile/tablet OS. Dunno how well that stuff works though.
StarCreator
Member
Not to downplay how great the DDR A rollout here is, but it's not the first ever DDR released internationally (DDR USA and SuperNOVA through X2 exist, and e-Amusement was tested but not completely rolled out for SN2) nor is the song list completely identical (the international version is missing about 20 songs).
cj_iwakura
Member
Hilariously enough, the last mix that South Florida got was X2... in one place, and it was a beat up GameWorks cabinet. South Florida used to have a massive DDR scene, and it's pretty much dead. Pump It Up easily dominates Broward county now; there's at least 10 cabinets in the tri-county area alone. I know of three DDRs. (An Extreme and a Supernova at Swap Shop, and an Extreme at Arcade Odyssey... not counting hacked ITGs, which are a little more common.)
I haven't had much time with the the post-X2 mixes, but at a glance, the new songs were walls of noise, and the stepcharts were incomprehensibly messy, difficult for the sake of being difficult, and slapping you with a fail if you miss so much as five steps.
When I was in Tokyo, I didn't see much DDR either. I think I saw two cabinets. Whatever that new mix was, none of the new songs piqued my interest. It was a wall of generic Jpop and Touhou stuff. IIDX Copula was way more interesting, and even its songlist didn't seem that great overall.
Groove Coaster and Museca, however, are a blast. Groove Coaster has phenomenal taste in music, as did Museca.
jetsetnickradio
Member
Rhythm games may not be in the healthiest position they've ever been right now, but I have been playing Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Future Tone for the past month and it's been glorious.
There's also quite a few good rhythm games on the Vita, some of which have been released in the West (Miku, DJ Max) but many more that haven't (Miracale Girls Festival, IA/VT Colorful, Utagumi 575, Taiko)
There's also quite a few good rhythm games on the Vita, some of which have been released in the West (Miku, DJ Max) but many more that haven't (Miracale Girls Festival, IA/VT Colorful, Utagumi 575, Taiko)
sensui-tomo
Member
I think they're healthy enough if Yako Taro still puts an element of them in the two drakengard games he made.
cj_iwakura
Member
"What's the genre someone who plays RPGs is least likely to be good at?"
"[shows video of Go Beyond from IIDX]"
"Excellent."
Wowfunhappy
Member
Y'know, I've never actually played this one, what is the gameplay like? Is it (mostly) okay on a modern TV?
Well, with the franchise declining as it has, that's hard to say.
cj_iwakura
Member
It's somewhat comparable to Space Channel 5, I guess? You really have to play attention, the game will prompt you with choices, and you have to hit them on beat without any real cues.
It's a NIGHTMARE on modern TV. I had to deliberately hit the buttons a split second afterward when playing mine on the PS3.
I havnt played it in roughly 15 years! So I may be looking at it through rose tinted glasses. From what I remember the gameplay was solid, the better you do, the more access you get to special moves that put your opponent off their groove!!
But I do remember me and my friends having so much fun with the local vs mode back in the day, I remember some of the music being cheesy good too!!
Still relevant? Not in the West, no.
The nature of Japanese rhythm games makes it relatively inaccessible to most people who play video games.
- Little to no avatar creation or character customization, much less character development; most people can't form an emotional attachment to the game by this factor alone.
- The easier a game is, the less it is played by hardcore fans, and it is very easy to fail at playing rhythm games when learning them.
- Most of the songs featured in the games require a liberal mindset to appreciate or at least not outright hate.
In other words, most video game players want to use their characters and in respect of a music game want to only play their music, and don't want to play a game which will cut a song off midway due to failure or otherwise impose "excessive" difficulty. Moreover, the lack of character development and direct focus on the play mechanics makes many people feel like the games are a type of work, and it's from here that several people make the "this is stupid bullshit, you should just play a real instrument if you want to do this" argument.
ps: I'm rather surprised by the lack of talk about Sinobuz from 2ch and the like. Seems like much more was seen of Copula after the tests.
Nah.
Yes.
The nature of Japanese rhythm games makes it relatively inaccessible to most people who play video games.
- Little to no avatar creation or character customization, much less character development; most people can't form an emotional attachment to the game by this factor alone.
- The easier a game is, the less it is played by hardcore fans, and it is very easy to fail at playing rhythm games when learning them.
- Most of the songs featured in the games require a liberal mindset to appreciate or at least not outright hate.
In other words, most video game players want to use their characters and in respect of a music game want to only play their music, and don't want to play a game which will cut a song off midway due to failure or otherwise impose "excessive" difficulty. Moreover, the lack of character development and direct focus on the play mechanics makes many people feel like the games are a type of work, and it's from here that several people make the "this is stupid bullshit, you should just play a real instrument if you want to do this" argument.
ps: I'm rather surprised by the lack of talk about Sinobuz from 2ch and the like. Seems like much more was seen of Copula after the tests.