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'Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' and 'Ms. Pac-Man' join the Video Game Hall of Fame
This year's other inductees are 'Dance Dance Revolution' and 'Sid Meier's Civilization.'
Flameseeker Chronicles: Why I love Guild Wars 2's Super Adventure Box
Back in April, ArenaNet played what was arguably the greatest MMO-related April Fool's Day prank of all time when it released level designer and jumping puzzle maestro Josh Foreman's labor of love, Super Adventure Box, in Guild Wars 2. I was but a wee Massively commenter then, and I recall that my comment on the news post about that particular revelation was something to the effect of "I'm not leaving this place until they kick me out. See you all next month!" I remember this because I was only half joking, and I really did spend most of April inside Moto's palace of 8-bit wonders. I love Super Adventure Box. I don't just love it because it's retro or because I get the references or because my first foray into it left me laughing fit to kill (OK, maybe the last one). I love it because, entirely independent of GW2, it's a game I can spend a whole month playing and not get tired of it. Jump with me past the cut, and I'll tell you why.
48-player DDR coming to classrooms
Konami is making it easier for schools to use Dance Dance Revolution for fitness programs, with a new version designed specifically for schools. Dance Dance Revolution Classroom Edition, being unveiled Feb. 24 at the CAHPERD Conference, is a PC game that allows up to 48 mats to be connected to a single game.We can only hope that the following presentation at that conference will be about reinforcing classroom floors.
Tetris played on 6-foot LED matrix, controlled by DDR mat
Watching two people play Tetris against each other is only slightly more entertaining than watching your stoner friends duke it in marathon Tekken sessions (read: not entertaining at all). But, we guarantee the video after the break is more interesting than it sounds. A trio of MIT students recreated the classic falling block game with six-foot tall arrays of LEDs (no cutesy Russia-inspired graphics here) and passed control duties off to a pair of Dance Dance Revolution mats. Look, just check out the video below and, if you're the ambitious type, you can get the code to create your own Tetris installation at the more source link. [Thanks, Russell]
DDR-playing robot can't be a good sign
If zombies don't devour our lumpy noggins, then surely the robot uprising will take care of "the human threat." . Based on this video from an undergrad at Purdue University, we know that robots are in the lead. First they learn how to play DDR, then they learn how to peel the skin from our bones.
DARwin-OP does the up, down, left, right DDR shuffle (video)
Some robots like to help around the house, others fulfill your Pixar fantasies, but this one's just training to boogie. Part of a summer long research project, DARwin-OP is taking a master class in Dance Dance Revolution from its amateur roboticist Geppetto. Perched atop a homestyle-DDR pad, the batman-like doppleganger bot does more of a slow shuffle step than full-on Running Man thanks to a slight bout of vertigo -- hence the balance bar. Once that minor kink gets straightened out, expect to see this dancefloor maniac add visual input to its repertoire -- letting televised arrows be its coordinated dance-off guide. Jump past the break for a video demo of the open platform automaton in action.
Konami to host Childhood Obesity Summit and DDR tournament in West Virginia
Konami, along with the West Virginia University Extension Service and West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency, is hosting a Childhood Obesity Summit at the Embassy Suites in Charleston, West Virginia on July 27. Speakers will include The Biggest Loser's Dr. Michael Dansinger, as well as some very important-sounding people from U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. But why should you care? Because the summit will also play host to the state's second annual Dance Dance Revolution tournament for students, of course, where scholarships and other prizes will be awarded to the victors. DDR has been a part of West Virginia's physical education program since 2006, and Governor Earl Ray Tomblin believes the game is "is reshaping our youths' mindset regarding what constitutes physical activity." Konami agrees, telling Gamasutra that they intend to "help encourage today's youth to lead more active and healthier lifestyles in a way that works best for them." As always, we suggest a strict diet of Cooler Ranch Doritos and Throwback Mountain Dew for peak health performance.
MeeGo Conference 2011 sights and sounds (video)
So the MeeGo Conference is winding down here in San Francisco and we have prowled the exhibitor area over the past couple of days to bring you a taste of what's stimulated our eyes and ears at the event so far. We got to play with the Indamixx 2 music tablet -- basically an iiView M1Touch Pine Trail tablet running an audio-optimized build of MeeGoo 1.2 Tablet UX, which features a customized kernel for more real-time control and better audio scheduling. It's expected to ship for $700 in "June or July" complete with DAW and DJ apps. Next we came across a MeeGo-based in-vehicle entertainment system that's currently available in cars from Chinese manufacturer Hawtai Motor. The device is Atom-powered, includes 3G connectivity, and provides navigation, communication, audio / video playback (for both stored and streamed content), along with Internet access. We saw a MeeGo app that gathers contact information on a form, sends it to an NFC-equipped Nokia C7, and writes it to a blank RFID tag. The tag can then be read by any NFC-capable phone, such as Google's Nexus S. A fun conference isn't complete without some games, and we were treated to a homebrew, QML-based Dance Dance Revolution clone running on MeeGo, written using just a few hundred lines of code. Speaking of QML, we got a demo of another in-vehicle entertainment system with built-in instrumentation. This MeeGo app was designed to interface with a MegaSquirt open source ECU and display engine and other car data on a set of virtual gauges -- this in addition to performing the usual audio and navigation tasks. Check out our gallery below, then grab a snack and hit the break for our 15-minute hands-on video. %Gallery-124363%
Dance Dance Revolution stepping to PS3
Konami recently elected to make an announcement about one of its oldest franchises in a fairly unconventional way -- by adding the teaser image seen above to its Facebook fan page. As you've probably sussed out, the publisher announced alongside the image, "we're bringing DDR to the PS3." We're wondering how long they've been holding onto this announcement, considering the relative age of the box art and straight chubby PS3 seen in the teaser. Almost no details surfaced about which iteration of the series would hit the console, or when we can expect it -- however, the announcement does mention the title will have a "launch party" on August 12. We're not sure if it means "launch party" in the traditional sense, or if they're only planning on "launching" the game's heretofore absent details. We've contacted Konami to figure out which kind of party we're dealing with, and whether or not we should bring snacks.
DanceMasters, a new dance game from the Dance Dance Revolution team, has dancing
DanceMasters is a new dancing game from the team responsible for the DanceDanceRevolution series. Unsurprisingly, it features dancing. The game places your face on dancers, and is able to follow your body. Although the Konami repeated that phrase multiple times, there's no mention of Kinect, or any other platform. Stay tuned for more.
Navy Surgeon General eyes Wii Fit, Dance Dance Revolution for boot camp
We understand that Wii Fit has dubious health benefits at best (whatever CTA Digital might say top the contrary), but apparently word hasn't reached the Navy's top brass. According to the Navy Times, recruits need more work than ever before to get into fighting shape, "given that many young people prefer computers and video games" to sports and physical activity. The solution, says Navy Surgeon General Vice Adm. Adam Robinson, is to use break in would-be sailers slowly, introducing "the equivalents of Nintendo's Wii Fit or Konami's Dance Dance Revolution" in basic training. This sounds rather silly to us, but what do we know? We're lovers, not fighters.
US Navy considering fitness video games for boot camp
Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket effectively scared an entire generation away from boot camp. However, a new tactic being considered by the US Navy may completely change our perception of boot camp: video games. In the latest issue of Navy Times, Navy Surgeon General Vice Admiral Adam Robinson (he does sound important) suggested that games like Wii Fit and Dance Dance Revolution could help "newcomers to the military service build up the endurance they need to get in shape safely." According to the report, today's recruit requires much more work to get into "fighting shape" than in the past. With America's youth becoming increasingly sedentary, the US Navy has observed an increasing number of injuries suffered during boot camp. Recruits are "not used to the amount of standing and running that comes in recruit training," the report indicates. Games would theoretically provide a more approachable, familiar solution for physical activity. However, don't expect games to completely replace current recruit training techniques. The US Navy is simply looking into the possibility of augmenting its current regimen with fitness games. Additionally, there's no timetable in place for when games would be introduced into the military. Still, we're eager to see if the boot camps of the future will look less like the one in Kubrick's war movie and more like ... this. [Thanks Joseph!]
DDR Universe 3 is latest addition to Games on Demand
Looking to cram your Xbox 360's side saddle (that's what the cool kids call the hard drive) with more precious e-games? Major Nelson reports US gamers can now check out DDR Universe 3 for $30. Of course, we don't have to tell you that you should own a dance mat before downloading, unless you're one of those freaks who plays DDR games with a controller. If you're outside of these states united, then you can check availability of a new Game on Demand: Medal of Honor: Airborne. If that's not enough to satiate your carnal lust for new gameplay experiences, a new demo for Superstars V8 Next Challenge may also be available to you. Shortcut: Add DDR Universe 3 to your queue [Xbox.com]
DDR purse is actually kind of neat
Printing a description on something doesn't necessarily make it so, as the hundreds of XXL T-shirts emblazoned with the words "Way 2 Sexy" all over our nation's Wal-Mart's will attest. But there's truth in advertising for this purse made out of a Dance Dance Revolution dance pad, which is, in fact, pretty cool. As a bonus with this handy how-to, you get to see several lurid close-ups of a dance pad's guts. Sure, it's not the internet's biggest fetish group, but it's nice to see them being thrown a bone. [Thanks, Liz]
Guitar Hero, Rock Band sales slide reminiscent of DDR
Before Guitar Hero and Rock Band was another phenomenon of the music gaming genre: Dance Dance Revolution. Konami's "dancing" game bundled a peripheral and captured the media's attention with its kinetic "exergaming" play. Over the years, the franchise has dwindled in relevance, as gamers got tired of stomping their feet to moving arrows. Each iteration of the series brought new songs, but the gameplay turned stale, and gamers eventually put their peripherals in the closet.The same might be happening to the current slate of music games. NPD reports (via Gamasutra) that revenue for the Guitar Hero franchise have dropped 34% year over year. Even worse, the Rock Band franchise has dropped 67%. (Although, it should be noted that the Rock Band series has not had a major console release this year.)Jesse Divnich of EEDAR argues that "the music and rhythm genre is being monetized more closely in terms of a pop-culture fad," which explains the increasing number of releases we see from the Guitar Hero franchise. He argues that the window of opportunity for making money is limited and that both Activision and MTV Games are "[striking] when the iron is hot." The upcoming The Beatles: Rock Band and Guitar Hero 5 may make a big splash this holiday season, but it might not be long until gamers put away the plastic instruments and look for the next big thing.Source - Analysis: Guitar Hero / Rock Band retail sales down by halfSource - The Divnich Debrief: Roadblocks in the Music Genre
Behold the brilliant terror of the DDR alarm clock
The standard "snooze button" is for the lazy. You're not lazy, are you? You want to work for those extra seven minutes of rest in the morning. Well, with the DDR Alarm Clock Finger Dance Alarm Clock you can honorably earn the extra sleep: just turn on your brain when the alarm chimes, key in the lit panels in order and you may go back to sleep.Though it highlights the £9.99 ($16) cost, the product description doesn't detail if the pattern is randomly generated every morning. If it's a set pattern, your hand's muscle memory will eventually key it in faster than the frantic feet of that little boy playing DDR on ludicrous difficulty down at the cineplex.[Via Engadget]
Video: Dance Dance Immolation melts faces at industrial art festival
We covered the hilarious (and terrifying) DDR mod known as Dance Dance Immolation all the way back in 2005 -- for those who may have missed it, here's the basic premise: You play Dance Dance Revolution, and if you do poorly, you get shot in the face with flamethrowers. Fortunately, you're equipped with a flame retardant suit -- though if you weren't, we imagine DDI would make for an awesome Saw trap. (You must dance ... TO SAVE YOUR LIFE!)Anywho, the game/art installation has only made about eight public appearances since its 2005 inception, and it recently showed up at "How To Destroy the Universe," an industrial art festival in the San Francisco Bay area. BoingBoing recently got a chance to talk to DDI's pyrophilic progenitors (the folks from art group Interpretive Arson), and even summoned the bravery to step aboard the dance mat/convection oven. A video account of their combustible misadventures are posted after the jump!
Dance Dance Remote Control adds a few steps to your TV experience
Crazy us, we thought that a remote control was meant to keep you on the couch -- it does seem rather counter-intuitive to build one that makes you leave your seat and jump around within arm's reach of the TV set. But when this guy saw an over-sized novelty remote at Brookstone, he knew that he had to have it. Not only that, but he had to best it -- by fashioning a controller for Windows Media Center so large that one would need an entire appendage to get any use out of the thing. Our intrepid modder achieved his goal by stitching together two PS2 Dance Dance Revolution mats, a PS2-to-PC controller converter box, and some homebrew source code. What can we say about this one? Well, it certainly does seem to work... but we'll be sticking to the tried and true, thank you very much. Video after the break. [Via Hacked Gadgets]
Konami announces four big titles for iPhone
Unfortunately, not one of them is Contra. But the iPhone is going to get some pretty big name titles from Konami -- the company announced yesterday that Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill, Dance Dance Revolution, and Frogger were all coming to our favorite mobile gaming platform from the company's vaults.Frogger you know, and Dance Dance Revolution and Silent Hill look like fairly faithful (if a little tweaked) recreations of the dancing and horror games that both series are known for. Metal Gear Solid Touch seems the most interesting title -- that series seems to reinvent itself almost every time it reaches a new platform. There have been strategy versions, card-based versions, squad-based versions, and even the old 2D games, so though all we know is that MGS Touch has eight levels and will use the touchscreen, from there Konami could do anything they can think of.Great to see that a historic publisher is investing heavily in the App Store, though. If these games turn out to do well, we could see some other big-time developers follow suit.
Shipping this week: indecision edition
Oh boy. Not only are there eight new games hitting the Xbox 360 this weeks (and Portal on XBLA, lest we forget), but several of them look to be good games. Heavy hitters like Far Cry 2 and Fable II undoubtedly top the list, but there are some other big names in there as well. Check 'em out: Fable 2 Midnight Club: Los Angeles Far Cry 2 Disney Sing It Spider-Man: Web of Shadows The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon Dance Dance Revolution: Universe 3 Legendary Now, the question is are there any "must have" games on this list for you, or are you strategically withholding your funds for something else?[Via Joystiq]
