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Keiichi Yano wants to make a music game with heart
"Now let me welcome everybody to the wild, wild West. A state that's untouchable like Eliot Ness." It's rare for a video-game developer to rap during an interview. It's rarer still for him to recite a Tupac track with perfect pitch and cadence. But that's Keiichi Yano, the Tokyo-based game designer behind cult classics Gitaroo Man and Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan, better known as Elite Beat Agents in the West. He loves music and will happily talk for hours about jazz, electronica or the intricacies of mumble rap. His latest game, Project Rap Rabbit, fell woefully short of its Kickstarter goal this week. I met Yano a few days prior, during the chaos of E3, when it already seemed inevitable the campaign would fail. We talked about the title, its development and how he might proceed without public funding. To my surprise, Yano was unfazed by the Kickstarter's fate and hinted that there might be another way to bring the game to market. "I can't comment on anything we're doing right now or anybody that we're talking to. But yeah, I hope we can get this out one way or another."
Demons' Score in-app purchases create regional pricing disparity
Demons' Score, Square Enix's iOS rhythm-combat game, charges North American and European players far more than Japanese players for its total content. Pocket Gamer reports nearly all the Western versions' purchasable unlocks are included upfront in the Japanese version, minus consumable potions. When added together, these in-app purchases come to around $40, bringing the total cost of the iNiS-developed game up to $47. That's more than double the Japanese version, which costs around $19 (¥1500) with those IAPs already included.The IAPs are tied to boss fights; each defeated boss unlocks a costume, voice, and song - the first boss unlock costs $2.99. As songs are tied to in-app purchases, those paying only the initial $6.99 have far less music to hand compared to those willing to spend - kind of important with a rhythm action game. The IAPs also upscale quickly, with the unlock for the 'SATAN' difficulty mode priced at $9.99, nearly 50% more than the game itself costs.What this means is that many players are being priced out of content provided by many renowned Japanese composers. Not only is the pricing structure so hostile, but it compares very unfavorably to the all-inclusive, far cheaper Japanese model. Either way, reviewers on the App Store are clearly unimpressed with Square Enix's approach, as Demons' Score is currently sitting on a rating of 2 and half stars.
Demons' Score, Square Enix's new rhythm game, now available on iOS
Demons' Score, the Square Enix rhythm game littered with all-star Japanese composers, is now available on the App Store for $6.99. Developed by iNiS, the game combines Ouendan-style rhythm action with on-rails combat. Also, it features a talking teddy bear and an array of outlandish costumes that would make Final Fantasy X-2 proud.Square Enix also trevealed the other composers who contributed to Demons' Score. They are Hiroki Kikuta (Secret of Mana), Kenji Ito (SaGA series), Takamichi Yashiki (The Black Eyed Peas Experience), Hidenori Iwasaki (Front Mission 4 & 5), and Kenichi Maeyamada (Momokurotei Ichimon). The composers previously announced include Keiichi Okabe (Nier and Tekken series), Yoko Shimomura (Kingdom Hearts), and Zuntata (Groove Coaster).You can purchase and download the iOS version here. Android users eager for some rhythmic costumed carnage must hold steady until sometime this Autumn.%Gallery-165945%
Square Enix's Demons' Score features all-star composers
Square Enix is showing off Demons' Score, from Ouendan developer iNiS, on a brand new site. We now know the rhythm action game, coming to iOS and Android, features music from an illustrious group of Japanese game composers. Those confirmed so far include Naoshi Mizuta (Final Fantasy XI), Keiichi Okabe (Nier), Yoko Shimomura (Kingdom Hearts series), and two members of Taito's 'house band' Zuntata.There's also more background on Demons' Score's story and mechanics. The protagonist, Serenity, is "your average college girl" who suddenly finds herself attacked by demons after meeting a talking bear. As your average college girl often does. Luckily, Serenity is able to let demons possess her and then control them to her advantage, all thanks to the Demon's Score smartphone app given to her by her missing father (we're not making this up).All that nonsense aside, the story explains what we saw at E3. Not only does each demon transform Serenity's look, but each one also has its own rocking music track from one of the composers. Astaroth, for example, transforms Serenity into a blue-haired knight, and comes with music composed by Kohei Tanaka (Sakura Wars series). The other demons apparently don't come with as much outerwear.While the action is on-rails, the game plays like iNiS' Ouendan and Elite Beat Agents (as the above video shows). In short, players must tap, hold, and slide to the song's beat. Mistakes make Serenity take some damage, while tap well enough and she'll 'level up.' If you're a bit lost at this point, think of Elite Beat Agents mixed with a demonic version of Final Fantasy X-2's 'dresspheres', and you're there.As the English dialogue in the above video suggests, the game is coming to our shores at some point. Square's Japanese site proclaims an Autumn window for Android and a 'coming soon' for iOS. In the meantime, you can hop over there to check out some of the game's upcoming music.
The Hip Hop Dance Experience 'keeping it real' Nov. 13
Ubisoft's next excursion into the world of Wii/Kinect dancing games, The Hip Hop Dance Experience, has been given a new trailer, a gallery of screenshots and – more importantly – a release date of November 13.Rather than focusing on one musical act in particular, as it did with its last "Experience" games, Ubisoft seeks to encompass the whole of a genre with fresh kicks and sweet beats. Obviously, there's more to hip hop than just dancing (rapping, DJing and graffiti art, specifically) but One-Fourth The Hip Hop Experience doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. %Gallery-162914%
Ubisoft dropping 'Hip Hop Dance Experience' like it's hot
The latest celebrity to be featured in a Ubisoft dance "Experience" game is ... nobody in particular. The Hip Hop Dance Experience, rather than focusing on the work of a single artist, is a dancing game built around a collection of hip hop tracks, representing everything from the "Rapper's Delight" to Flo Rida.The Hip Hop Dance Experience will be out on Kinect and Wii in November. It'll debut at this weekend's Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival, which is attended by plenty of people who have experienced hip hop dance already.Like last year's Black Eyed Peas Experience, Ubisoft has placed development in the hands of Elite Beat Agents creator iNiS. Unlike last year, however, we know iNiS is also working on an original music game, so this isn't as much of a crisis for iNiS fans.%Gallery-160278%
Black Eyed Peas Experience trailer gets real (and virtually) groovy
(Boom, boom, boom!) Gotta get that! (Boom, boom, boom!) Gotta get that! (Boom, boom, boom!) Gotta get that! (Boom, boom, boom!) Gotta get that (Kinect gameplay trailer for The Black Eyed Peas Experience, which is posted above)! (Boom, boom, boom!)
Andrew Lloyd Webber classics coming to Lips
Finally, a video game will give you the opportunity to stand on your couch and sing "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" to your proletariat television below. Yes, Andrew Lloyd Webber songs are making their way to Lips. The tracks will cost 160 MS Points ($2) apiece and include some of the Broadway and West End master's greatest hits. Available August 13: "Memory" from Cats "All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera "Love Changes Everything" from Aspects of Love Available September 10: "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" from Evita "The Phantom of the Opera" from Phantom of the Opera "Any Dream Will Do" from Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat Considering the resurgence in musicals the last couple years, it's still surprising that the closest game to involve them is the Ubisoft hit Dance on Broadway.
ESRB outs 'Lips: I (Heart) the 80s'
For those of you looking to put your '80s singing chops to the test, it would appear that iNiS will be offering you just that chance if a recent ESRB listing for a fourth installment in the Lips series is to be believed. "Lips: I (Heart) the 80s" was recently spotted by IGN over on the ratings website, sporting a description that reveals at least two tracks from the 1980s-centric title -- The Police's "Roxanne" and Rick James' "Super Freak." The game is also said to feature "depictions of men and women in revealing outfits performing provocative choreography -- for example, women in negligees, black bras, panties dancing inside a classroom; large amounts of exposed cleavage, some grinding dance moves; and background images of storefronts/signs reading '25 cent Peepshows,' 'Live Sex Theatre,' and 'Topless Girls Dancing.'" Gosh golly! Regardless, with the recent release of Lips: Party Classics and today's ESRB listing, we have to imagine the official announce of Lips: I (Heart) the 80s is just around the corner. We'll be prepping our boom boxes with plenty of Public Enemy until then. [Via IGN]
Lips Party Classics dated Feb. 26, Jan. DLC revealed [update: March 2 in US]
Update: February 26 is the European release date for Lips Party Classics. The game will release in the US on March 2. Microsoft has announced that Lips Party Classics, the next installment in the fledgling karaoke series, will land on the Xbox 360 on February 26. For those that missed the initial announcement, Party Classics contains some, ahem, classic party tunes from the likes of KISS, Chumbawamba and the Spice Girls. Microsoft has also revealed that Party Classics will support USB microphones in addition to the official wireless mics. In other Lips news, Microsoft has announced the song DLC for January. Perhaps not the best timing, given that January is nearly half over, but what are you gonna do? Check out a list of all of January's DLC after the break. All individual songs are 160 ($2) apiece. The Cardigans and Miracles song packs are 440 ($5.50) each.
Lips December DLC dated and detailed
After promising to reveal the December Lips DLC last week, we finally manged to wrangle a list from Microsoft. As is usually the case with Lips, the collection is runs everywhere from pop to Motown to ... wait, They Might Be Giants? And Violent Femmes? Truly, the Lips programming schedule is a mysterious thing. The entire list is located after the break, though we'll save you some suspense: Paula Abdul and The Temptations fans have a lot to be excited about. In fact, the Temptations tracks, as well as Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer's "Baby It's Cold Outside" are available now.
Microsoft announces Lips: Party Classics, terrifying Facebook app
With Lips: Number One Hits just hitting retail shelves in October, Microsoft has now announced yet another edition of the game, this time themed around party songs. Entitled Lips: Party Classics, it features catchy tunes by the likes of Chumbawamba, Kiss, Spice Girls and, yes, the Village People. Party Classics will contain a total of 40 songs and launch in spring 2010. In other Lips news, Microsoft has released a Facebook app that allows users to plaster lips onto their pictures. The lips will then proceed to sing one of a number of tracks from Lips. Look at the image above and imagine that the lips are singing "Barbie Girl." That should give you a decent approximation of what to expect. See a sampling of the Party Classics track list after the break.
Queen, Elite Beat Agents and Phoenix Wright make for a great combo
It's not often we're at a loss for words, but the potent combo of Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now," Elite Beat Agents and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is too much for our feeble little brain to handle. The gameplay looks incredibly punishing and, quite frankly, we wouldn't mind a few of Wright's cases going down like this. Instead of failing to describe this fan-made mash-up any better, we're just going to direct you past the break, then into the comments section where you can heap on some praise of your own. [Thanks LuigiHann!] Source - osu! - Queen - Don't Stop Me Now [Cruisin'] (Storyboard showoff) Source - osu! (Queen - Don't Stop Me Now [Hard ROCK!])
Smack your Lips for new Achievements
Have people been clamoring for more Achievements in Lips? Is this something people want? We're asking an honest question here, because we really don't know. Regardless of the demand, it appears to be true, with Xbox360Achievements.org spotting nine new Achievements for the game, adding another 250 points. It's unclear if these Achievements are available now, or will be made available as part of future DLC. It's also curious that these Achievements would be added so close to the launch of Lips: Number One Hits. Whatever the truth is behind this mystery, we're sure exuberant box art models everywhere will be thrilled! [Thanks, NBA Kirkland]
Lips mic compatible with The Beatles: Rock Band, RB2 'soon'
Harmonix has confirmed to Joystiq that the Lips (or Microsoft Wireless) Microphone will be compatible with The Beatles: Rock Band at launch, but that a patch for the peripheral to work with Rock Band 2 will be "coming soon." We sought clarification after a post on GameFaqs, allegedly quoting EA warranty support, implied that the patch for Rock Band would occur this week.The Lips mic patch for Rock Band has been in the pipe since last year, with a release window announced a couple months back for this summer, which we now know will occur after (not with) the release of The Beatles: Rock Band this Wednesday.[Via Aeropause]
September brings The Postal Service, Rihanna DLC to Lips
Fall is coming and Microsoft has revealed September's list of Lips DLC to keep gamers away from the upcoming cold front. This month brings new tracks from Rihanna, The Postal Service, The Bravery and Panic At the Disco, among others. If September's list of DLC isn't enough, October brings the release of the new retail title, Lips: Number One Hits. If you're looking for a new tune to belt out during those cold nights, the Lips franchise has you covered. Wait ... that sounds weird. Available on now: "We Will Become Silhouettes" by The Postal Service "Shut Up and Drive" by Rihanna September 11: "Everything About You" by Ugly Kid Joe "Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service September 18: "Sometime Around Midnight" by The Airborne Toxic Event "Nine In The Afternoon" by Panic! At The Disco September 25: "An Honest Mistake" by The Bravery "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" by Bachman Turner Overdrive
MS details Lips DLC for the rest of August
Attention, karaoke buffs, Microsoft has unveiled the Lips DLC for the remainder of August, and there's quite a variety to be had. From Coldplay to Creedence, from Robyn to Robbie Williams, there's something for everyone. There's also Timbuk3's "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades," which should should be enough for anyone. The upcoming August releases are each priced at 160 ($2). Starting today, they are as follows:August 14:"With Every Heartbeat" – Robyn"Love Is Gone" – David Guetta and Chris WillisAugust 21:"The Road to Mandalay" – Robbie Williams"Talk" – ColdplayAugust 27:"Angel" – Shaggy"Proud Mary" – Creedence Clearwater Revival*"Song for Whoever" is not available in U.K., Ireland and the Netherlands.
Gitaroo Man Lives, other titles added to Japanese PlayStation Store
The Japanese PlayStation Store recently received a massive booster shot from Sony and a number of third-party developers who've made a few of their PSP titles downloadable. Coded Arms, Dynasty Warriors and Valhalla Knights are among the notable downloadable games -- but the inclusion of Koei's cult classic rhythm title, Gitaroo Man Lives, is what really sets our hearts a-flutter. Available for just ¥1,200 (about $14), we'd be hard pressed to not buy this hard-to-find gem five or six times should it come stateside. Speaking of which, we've contacted Koei to see if they plan on bringing U-1's epic journey to the North American PlayStation Store. We'll let you know whether or not the developer plans on breaking our hearts.
New Addition: Lips DLC for May 2009
Patience. We'll have to wait until May 15 to bump with Bobby Brown and company, but there's a wide variety of other new additions coming to the Lips catalog this month. From Good Charlotte to Billy Ray Cyrus to Snow Patrol, surely there's something your little sis will see fit to use your Microsoft Points on while your back is turned.The complete Lips DLC release schedule for May is posted after the break.
Guitar Hero: Metallica supports Lips mic, Rock Band 2 patch 'this summer'
Microsoft has issued a plea to new and future purchasers of Guitar Hero: Metallica for Xbox 360 to also please, please, PLEASE buy its Lips karaoke game -- for the microphones. Didn't you know? The metal music game features built-in support for those uh-huh-they-do-sparkle mics. Neversoft, the current Guitar Hero developer, initially confirmed this compatibility -- which isn't coming to World Tour -- on its Twitter feed last month, but the posting has since been removed. Nevertheless, Guitar Hero: Metallica is the first music game to support the much praised, wireless Lips peripheral, which has been unsuccessfully bundled with a mediocre singing game.Additionally, Microsoft has tentatively dated that long-ago-promised Rock Band 2 patch for "this summer" and suggested that additional titles supporting its mic will be available later this year. When, surely, we'll be able to purchase a standalone Lips mic. Pretty please?
