Scratch offers Numark-controlled Guitar Hero for hip-hop heads

Are the blatant rockist tendencies of Guitar Hero and Rock Band ruining your enjoyment of those otherwise brilliant titles? Of course they are -- we noted your b-boy flava from two blocks away. But don't sweat it because Genius Products, 7 Studios and Quincy Jones III have your niche in their sights and will happily sell you Scratch: The Ultimate DJ when it hits the stores sometime in Spring 2009. With a game controller designed by Numark (known worldwide for its DJ controllers -- there's an example for you after the break), the game will be available for the Xbox 360 and PS3 and feature tracks by "many" (as yet unnamed) hip-hop artists. Trevor Drinkwater, President and CEO of Genius Products promises all and sundry "a cutting-edge game that captures the vital energy of hip-hop culture." And here we thought they were cynically jumping on the Guitar Hero bandwagon! We stand corrected.

[auger @ Oct 9th 2008 4:36PM]

You guys may want to look at a game called Beatmania and IIDX made by Konami..

this has been done before.. fire the lawsuit cannons

[scott storch @ Oct 9th 2008 4:39PM]

well, didn't they produce guitar freaks and drumania, where were the lawsuits for that?

I like the idea, bringing mainstream hip hop/rap to a game that probably won't suck (pass da mic was horrible).

But, Numark is a terrible DJing company, they make some of the crappiest products, crappy mixers and turntables to say the least. My "top of the line" Numark TTX-1s died on me, motor was beat to shit and I didn't even use them that much.

Vestax should be doing this stuff instead.

[pekosROB @ Oct 9th 2008 5:28PM]

Beatmania - yes! Thank God someone has heard of that before. I remember when you could buy it on the PS2 for about $60 or $70 I think. It was out at Game Stop around the time of Guitar Hero 1.

When I was in Korea 8 years ago they had the arcade version of Beatmania, or maybe it was like DJ Beat or something. It was pretty hard, but definitely fun. About time these games got over here... sheesh!

[Jason @ Oct 9th 2008 5:36PM]

Beatmainia sucks tho... and the controller looks nothing like a real dj mixer/effects/tables I know no one with hands big enough to play those "keyboard" like keys actually like a keyboard.... personally I played it a few times and now it lives under the bed....

[Magallanes @ Oct 9th 2008 5:56PM]

Or Pop'n Music.

[Jon Nelson @ Oct 9th 2008 8:20PM]

@ Jason

Yeah, the PS2 version of Beatmania completely blows. I bought it when it came out, and my friend Lisa actually got CRAZY pissed at me for buying it before she did, even though when I lent it to her, she realized that the game completely sucked.

@ Magallanes

Pop'n Music ftw! I had a friend make a Pop'n Music controller by hand; it was sweet, and a total blast.

[kamron_1 @ Oct 10th 2008 12:27PM]

Agreed, especially since international versions of IIDX have been shipping to arcades like Tokyo Game Action.

@scott storch
Konami did sue
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/11/konami-sues-harmonix-viacom-and-mtv-over-rock-band/

[AP @ Oct 9th 2008 4:41PM]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, Auger. This'll be scrapped soon.

[KeegdnaB @ Oct 9th 2008 4:42PM]

Konami will sue

/obligatory

[infinityvoid @ Oct 9th 2008 4:44PM]

I was thinking the same thing, Konami really needs to get moving on all these ripoffs and win some green.

By the way, here is the lawsuit Konami filed with Harmonix over Rockband.
http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2008/07/11/konami-sues-%2526quot%3Brock-band%2526quot%3B-maker-harmonix-over-game-patents

[Mike Street @ Oct 9th 2008 4:56PM]

That's not the real controller right?

[samurai1200 @ Oct 9th 2008 5:16PM]

Yeah, dude!


Sigh... now I know how guitarists felt when Guitar Hero came out...

[neodorian @ Oct 9th 2008 5:00PM]

If they give a real DJ controller like that it will be cool. I bought a basic one a while back just to play with and it is one of the more fun things I ever bought. I never claimed to be a pro dj but being able to cue and mix your mp3's with a physical controller like that is really fun for parties and just messing around.

[Mike Street @ Oct 9th 2008 10:42PM]

Guitar Hero is fun because anyone can pick it up and play it. 5-6 buttons tops. If they are asking people to use that as the controller then they are asking for people to be intimidated by it's looks and pass on the game.

Keep it simple!

[neodorian @ Oct 9th 2008 10:50PM]

This will probably be something like hitting sample and loop buttons at certain points and hitting the scratch pad at others. I don't believe this picture is of the actual controller.

[Josh @ Oct 9th 2008 5:19PM]

I hope Konami sues, I love Beatmania. There is this wicked awesome place in Winchendon, MA that imports Japanese arcade cabs and they always have the newest versions of Beatmania, Guitar Freaks and Drum Mania. If you're ever in the area check out Tokyo Game Action www.tokyogameaction.com

[domce @ Oct 9th 2008 5:20PM]

That DJ's hand looks a lot like a flacid phallus.
.

[Jason @ Oct 9th 2008 6:16PM]

you must have an awesome phallus then....

[neodorian @ Oct 9th 2008 6:20PM]

I guess his condoms fit like a glove.

[Ab4dd0n @ Oct 9th 2008 5:34PM]

Am I the only one that thought this was going to be more techno oriented?
Of course their direction is equally bad.

[DiGiC @ Oct 9th 2008 5:36PM]

GOD no not Numark! ANYTHING BUT!

If they want a real winner go with Pioneer or atleast Stanton but Numark? ffs

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Oct 9th 2008 9:34PM]

I completely agree.

[RyanTV @ Oct 10th 2008 1:28PM]

why did they use numark? because they went to Pioneer and they laughed at them. and since actual DJ's buy Pioneer products, numark could really use some extra coin right now.

[lowdef @ Oct 9th 2008 5:53PM]

TREVOR DRINKWATER??? hhahahahahahah ok im done

[Orpheus @ Oct 9th 2008 7:43PM]

Haha that amused me too. We're so mature...

[lowdef @ Oct 9th 2008 9:43PM]

lol quick dammit make up a fake name for the ceo of our fake company....think dammit think uhh tom, no too common, trev- trevor?? ok now a last name. drinkwater? sure what the hell

[Alex @ Oct 9th 2008 6:47PM]

So. Stupid.

[lolli @ Oct 9th 2008 8:43PM]

omg, i am a psychic! i knew they were gonna go in a more hip hop route, which would be cool, i dont know how thata gonna work but still kool, lol

[CrazeFatman @ Oct 9th 2008 10:35PM]

http://www.numark.com/totaldjbox#

[Ange @ Oct 10th 2008 2:03AM]

that controller is a Total Control.
its used for Digital DJ-ing.

I was thinking of getting one of those.
it'd be sweet if they modded one for the game.
even sweeter if it connects to computer still. :D

[Eloy Garcia @ Oct 10th 2008 4:12AM]

This is cool and all but I am a dj and I hope I don't every see people trying to do my job in a club with a PS3 or Xbox 360 cause I will LMFAO at them if I see some on do this I am going to hit them with it! Rane SSL for every!

[Ian Thompson @ Oct 10th 2008 5:13AM]

Does ayone still listens to hip-hop these days?!?! lol

[b @ Oct 10th 2008 6:32AM]

have you followed the media at all lately? seen any commercials? almost everything is oriented with rap.
now if they can actually use some decent music (not the shit you hear on the radio) for this game I will be impressed.
some DJ JS1 affiliates and such - rhymesayers, QN5 Music, ninjatune, etc ...
great production, great lyrics - and an actual drive for the artform. not the disposable shit that you see/hear all over the place.

[konshuss @ Oct 10th 2008 10:24AM]

more like Trevor Drunkoffhisass for approving of this.

[clark @ Oct 10th 2008 12:44PM]

won't ever be as cool as this. good luck finding one, though. my buddy had one for awhile, but he bought it at a special arcade show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDz7LBMCrL0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skc0eiDZ4mo&feature=related

[donkey @ Oct 10th 2008 3:59PM]

doubt they would ever give away a "total control" lol that thing is like 3 bills! Hope they can some how keep the cost under that!

[antiHero @ Oct 13th 2008 5:44AM]

Would be nice if the build something simple to control the game. I saw a guy build a "turntable" to control GH and it worked pretty good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo9XULxdiUQ