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Taiko stylus giveaway reveals control method
As total music game freaks, we've been pretty interested in the DS version of Taiko Drum Master. The graphics made the transition to a handheld system just fine, and we know from the Ouendans and other music games that it'll be able to handle the sounds-- and it should easily handle the Super Mario Bros. theme (yay!). Really, we thought, as long as it didn't ask players to bang on their touch screens like a drum, everything would be cool.Yeah, that's what it does. This ad, small as it is, is still clear enough to show a drum on the touch screen, with two special styli used as drumsticks. We know that's the most logical way to control a drum game on the DS, but ... a lot of screens are going to get pounded. Try to employ some self-control when playing Taiko![Via GoNintendo]
Friday Video: Wii play drums the easy way
People really seem to want to play drums with the Wiimote, and who can blame them? Everyone likes to rock out from time to time ... after, of course, double-checking to make sure no one can see you. Or maybe that part's just us being paranoid about our air-drumming skills. This week's featured video allows you to live the dream in a simple fashion: download some software, pick up your Wii remote, and start building up your chops. It's all explained (and demonstrated) in the video after the jump.
Wii Warm Up: Rock Band to empty Wii owners' wallets?
A Gamespot reader participated in a focus group about Harmonix's Rock Band, and then, being a civic-minded individual, did the Right Thing and blabbed about it to the Internet. Apparently, he was told by the test administrators that the rhythm game would be coming to the Wii. Don't hyperventilate-- we know the idea of an EA game going multiplatform shatters your worldview, but we will get through this together.Harmonix (developer of the wonderful Frequency and Amplitude, as well as Genuine Cultural Phenomenon Guitar Hero) is considering selling the game, a wireless controller, a microphone, and a drum kit (with a kick pedal) as a bundle. They tested price points of $150, $175, and $200 on the focus group, looking for reactions. Guess which one they preferred?We don't want to know if you aren't planning on buying this (Harmonix music game = insta-buy for us), but we would like to know which configuration interests you the most. Are you interested in any one instrument in particular? Plan to go in with some friends and form a band? Or are you just going to buy the whole thing yourself?[Via NeoGAF]
Keep up the neighbours with four player Drum Master
Namco Bandai have announced that Taiko: Drum Master will feature a four player mode in its forthcoming DS incarnation. Previously popular in the arcades and on PS2, the rhythm action title is based on Taiko, the Japanese drum. The game will support download play from one cart, so maybe you'll want to start persuading a friend to head down to your local import shop. Players can drum along to a variety of musical styles, ranging from Jpop to classical via the theme from Super Mario Brothers. You'll also be able to customise your drum with a selection of cute costumes. With this due out in summer, and Ouendan 2 on its way soon, it looks like rhythm action fans are in for a treat over the coming weeks.Screens after the break.
Friday Video: Masters of drums
Since Taiko Drum Master was announced this week for the DS, and we also happen to be a little fond of rhythm games, we thought we'd bring you another pair of videos dedicated to getting your drum on. The first makes us yearn for arcades, because there's nothing like huge drums or motorcycles and steering wheels to really get you in the game. We also want that guy's skill, because he really knows how to rock out. The video was originally posted to Chris Kohler's Game|Life blog, so you've probably seen it before, but we felt it was a good finisher for the week. The second shows off a Taiko Drum Master mini-game featured in Nodame Cantabile, which was recently released in Japan.
Taiko Drum Master headed to DS
Poor Sony. First we stole Crash Bandicoot, and now it's Taiko Drum Master, which previously appeared (outside of the arcade) on the PS2. But the move only makes sense, for a number of reasons; in 2004, the PS2 was on top. Now it's the DS, and publishers can't fit their popular properties on the dual-screened handheld quickly enough. Second of all ... it's a rhythm game, and as we've seen, there's really no better platform for rhythm games. Namco Bandai is trying to be all secretive about the controls, but let's see ... rhythm game ... DS ... anyone out there have any idea how this might work? If you said "touch screen," you're probably correct. If you said something else, like "donkey face" or "mudpie," you might want to check for, uh, insanity. Or something.Game|Life's Chris Kohler has a translation of the partial songlist from the Japanese version (including the Mario theme!), which is set for this summer. There are also a couple of scans, and you can check those out after the jump.
Finger Beats increase desktop groove options
These aren't the first Finger Beats to compete for your finger's attention and your co-workers' patience, but this latest round will give you a bit more variety than standard drum kit introduced a few months ago, adding bongos, a mixer, and the sure-to-be-popular alien choir to the line-up of "instruments." Each will let you tap out a tune and record it onto the unit itself, with a headphone jack thankfully provided for those that have yet to hone their skills. Those looking for a little inspiration can also plug a CD or MP3 player into the device and play along with the music and, when you get tired of it, the device can also double as a mousepad. Look for the whole lot to be available later this month for £20.00 apiece, or just under $40.[Via Uber Review]
Air drumming with the Wii remote
Based solely on internet videos, you might think Wii owners were more interested in hacking their remote for PC use than actually using it to play Wii games. First the guys at WiiLi.org demonstrated the remote's use as a PC mouse. Then someone rigged up the remote to play a half-assed game of Half-Life 2. And now we get video of a totally awesome air drumming simulator using the remote.The drumming setup uses a program to convert Wii remote motions into keyboard presses, which are then converted into drum sounds by a separate program. We're impressed by how intuitive and responsive the setup seems to be, even though we think the whole thing would get old after about five minutes. What this needs is some sort of structure -- a set of rules and goals to guide the user's experience and make it more fun. Almost like a drum machine game. Are you listening, Nintendo/hacking community?[Thanks Brian, Via digg]
Import music games montage
The DS's Ouendan may get a lot of attention for the dual-screened portable, but the real hardcore gamers know that the best music games are on the PSP. This video montage features Taiko No Tatsujin Portable 2, DJ Max Portable & Gitaroo Man Lives! With PaRappa the Rapper and Lumines II coming in the coming months, the PSP will become one of the best systems for music games.
Blue Man Group's crazy musical instrument toys
We're no fans of over-enthusiastic men in face paint, but there's something very appealing about this, the first of the Blue Man Group's new toy range. They all rocking the same PVC tubing meets Apple G5 meets Fisher Price styling, and feature "new proximity sensor technology, pre-programmed songs [and] interchangeable instrument sounds" to "enable kids to mix and layer music with a simple wave of their hands." This is the 'Percussion Tubes' model; the little green drawer on the right is for your iPod, which can play out of the speakers so you can "jam along with your favourite tracks." There's also a keyboard version, and a more interesting sounding Drum Suit and Air Pole. Can't wait until the circuit benders get their hands on these, which they surely will, the Percussion Tubes being $69, and the Keyboard being $79 -- available in July.
Konami: Here's our Rev game
Shingo Mukaitouge, the driving force behind the Guitar Freaks and Drum Mania games, is producing Konami's first Revolution game Elebits. The focus of the game, according to Japanese mag Famitsu where the information appears, is for the player to acquire Elebits, small creatures that are the game world's energy source. Finding these creatures will apparently be no simple matter as the player will have to meticulously hunt for each Elebit, causing the game world to evolve with each captured creature. Not much else can be gleamed from the piece at this time, but the game is expected to be at E3.
RedOctane CEO: More music games coming
In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, RedOctane CEO Kelly Sumner revealed that the company's "got other products in development" in the music genre.The former Take Two Interactive Europe CEO's statement that he "can't tell you what [these other products] are and when they're coming" would lead us to believe he's not talking about the Guitar Hero sequels (sorta like song expansion packs) already announced.A rhythm line-up to rival Konami's Bemani brand, perhaps? This blogger would love something to take advantage of the RedOctane drum peripherals created for Namco's Taiko Drum Master, and it wouldn't be too hard for Harmonix to work up a karaoke game considering their work on Karaoke Revolution (unless licensing prevents it). Whatever the case, fans of music gaming would love to see what Sumner's got up his sleeve.[Thanks, murph]See also: Guitar Hero readies for European tour A whole range of Guitar Heroes to be available A postmortem on Accordion Hero (with a little info on Guitar Hero, too) RedOctane Guitar Hero Specialty Store [where'd the cherry SG go?!]
