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Today's most flailing game video: Boogie
We're a little confused by Boogie. Is it a singing game? A dancing game with a lip-syncing character? Both? Where are the DDR-style arrows? While we soon anticipate getting some hands-on time with the title for our own opinion and overview, GameTrailers shows the game in action with a developer interview.The possibly-not-Wii-exclusive title is different at the very least. We hope the risk pays off. See the video after the break.%Gallery-2230%
Laser dance matrix lets you rock out right on the floor
Dragging dance pad tech out of the PowerPad age, Applied Sciences' Laser Dance Matrix eliminates all the moving parts (except yours). The "pad" features four laser diodes interfaced with the guts of a Logitech Gamepad, triggering a buttonpress when your foot breaks a beam. The designers say that gameplay is similar to any other dancepad, with the notable difference of dancing on directly on the floor, which seems like a huge improvement to us. We just hope they take the next logical step and combine this with one of those LED dance floors that keep popping up -- talk about an instant party. The unit is just a prototype for now, but Applied Sciences is gauging interest to see if they should build them -- hit the read link to demand your laser dance upgrade.[Via Hack A Day]
Friday video: Get down, Boogie oogie oogie
Finally, we can see one of the most important aspects of EA's Boogie: the dancing. Our Featured Friday Video for this week shows off the new rhythm title in motion, and the best description we can think of is "spastic, but in a good way." Also on display: the characters, called Boogs, who can be customized (another EA game that uses cutesy customizable avatars, but not Miis?), and who don't all look like Earl. The factsheet for the game mentions minigames (wouldn't be a Wii game without 'em) and a music video mode that lets players save their performances with added voice and custom camera angles and effects. Unfortunately, you have to check the site for the video, since we can't embed the Vooks player. We do have screens, though, after the break.
DANCE! Online being racist? Nah, just using workaround
As explained exclaimed by an Acclaim forum moderator, DANCE! Online's character customization process, which currently charges game points for character skins other than the default "white" ones, certainly sounds racist: "Black is an EXTRA feature. It makes your person look unique, so that is an EXTRA feature. Therefore, you having [sic] to PAY for it." Not quite the articulate explanation Acclaim needs to avoid an ugly situation. Here's what we've gathered: Just launched in open beta (like, 3 days ago), Dance is operating without a fully-realized character creation feature. While it might have been an oversight to launch the beta with only white avatars, the developers are working to offer a diverse range of character looks, distinguished by categories like hairstyle and faces. One of the first, described by an Acclaim site administrator as "the African-American heads," was dropped into the game's store (pictured above) as if it were just another outfit. The new skins are purchasable for one game point (you start with 2,000 points), which can be earned through gameplay -- and not by credit card. As we understand it, placing new skins in the store is a workaround; the simplest way for the dev team to get players the content during beta. Despite Josh the moderator declaring that changing your character's white face "makes you STAND OUT," it doesn't seem that Acclaim intends to make the racist assumption that "white" is the normal way to look.Let's wait until after the final version of Dance is released to raise our RED FLAGS.[Via Broken Toys]
Morpho Towers: ferrofluid sculptures that groove to the music
There's just something irresistible about random objects that get down to surrounding beats, and the Morpho Towers: Two Standing Spirals installation is quite the eye-catcher indeed. The pair of ferrofluid sculptures were deigned to stand in a platter of ferrofluid and move "synthetically to music," which translates into a magnetic field being generated by sound and creating autonomous art. Subsequently, the towers react by attracting "spikes of ferrofluid" from the bottom-up, which can mold itself and transform into a variety of stunning shapes. The spikes themselves are designed to "rotate around the edge of the spiral cone, becoming large or small depending on the strength of the magnetic field," and by utilizing time series metadata ingrained in the music, the designers can create (and control) more dramatic scenes on the towers' sides. So if you're interested in what a magnetic Christmas tree might look like, be sure to take a peek after the jump for the artwork in motion.[Via SciFiTech]
Boogie gameplay impressions: this is not DDR
MTV's Stephen Totilo got a chance to test EA's Boogie at an SSX Blur launch party, and has only now had an NDA lifted, so he can talk about it. The most shocking thing from his impressions is that it sounds really innovative. Rather than going down the Bemani/DDR "push buttons in time with the music" route, EA Montreal has created an improvisation-based game where you use controller gestures to try to satisfy the audience with your dance moves. The Nunchuk moves the alien guy's body while the Wiimote controls where his head is pointed. Success in the game is a matter of using a variety of dance moves and somehow being "stylish." There are no onscreen indicators of what to push when.Our first instinct is to rail against the game for being too dumbed-down and lacking any of the precision of pretty much any other music game, but that doesn't seem to be the right way to think about it. This may be a game about dancing in time to music, but it is a different kind of music game. And until we have conclusive proof that it's not good, we're going to be excited about the prospect of EA of all people expanding our favorite genre.Note: you may have to scroll down to find this article: individual MTV multiplayer stories can't be linked.
WoW Moviewatch: Dancing Fel Reaver
I'm sure we're all familiar with the Fel Reavers who wander around Hellfire Penninsula. You know, the massive mechanical beasts who stomp around the zone smashing anything in their path? (How could you forget those deaths, after all?) However, apparently smashing innocent players is not their only talent...Previously on Moviewatch...
EA reveals Wii-exclusive game: Boogie
After several weeks of hushed rumors about Electronic Arts' rhythm-based game for the Wii, the video game giant finally pulled the curtains back on its gossiped project, Boogie. The new IP will take advantage of the Wii's unique controls, encouraging gamers to sing and sway along with the karaoke/dance game. The reports of a microphone peripheral for the Wii remote seem indisputable now, but we're puzzled as to how it will work since the nunchuck will already be attached to the controller's bottom port. Players will be able to customize their characters and even "[star] in their own music videos." We're not sure if that means Boogie will allow us to import our Miis, but it would be a criminal oversight if the game didn't. Judging by the screenshots released so far, it would pain us to hear that our character selection would be limited to SpongeBob rejects with chest hair.EA Montreal (SSX Blur) is handling development for this Wii-exclusive game, and they expect to release the title worldwide later this year. Check out the first screenshots for Boogie after the post break!
Japanese hardware sales, Mar. 5 - Mar. 11: March Madness edition [update 1]
[Update 1: Fixed official host of March Madness to DS Fanboy. Hellz yeah!]Can you feel it? The millions of dollars of productivity just slipping away in a bracket-induced frenzy? This month, eight of the biggest contenders will go toe to toe in a winner-take-all bloodbath of pain and glory.The DS, by virtue of winning the last nineteen straight tournaments, has been officially eliminated from the competition. Vegas is giving 3:2 odds on the Wii, but inconsistent supply performance puts them on shaky ground. The PSP, which charged back late in the season to earn the number 1 seed, is playing its best right now, but the in-state rival PS3 is still a force to be reckoned with. The Xbox 360 has also shown marked improvement, with wonderful individual performances by Blue Dragon and Trusty Bell.We're totally picking the Gamecube, though. It's the cinderella story of the season! (Seeds were determined using this week's numbers. Next week's sales charts shall determine the winner!)(And go Gators!) - DS Lite: 108,512 3,302 (2.95%) - PSP: 56,175 9,981 (15.09%) - Wii: 44,495 13,477 (23.25%) - PS3: 32,115 11,885 (27.01%) - PS2: 14,585 779 (5.07%) - Xbox 360: 3,333 46 (1.36%) - Game Boy Micro: 812 7 (0.87%) - GBA SP: 679 59 (7.99%) - Gamecube: 240 63 (20.79%) - DS Phat: 119 7 (6.25%) - GBA: 13 12 (48%)[Source: Media Create]
Japanese hardware sales, Mar. 5 - Mar. 11: March Madness edition
Can you feel it? The millions of dollars of productivity just slipping away in a bracket-induced frenzy? This month, eight of the biggest contenders will go toe to toe in a winner-take-all bloodbath of pain and glory.The DS, by virtue of winning the last nineteen straight tournaments, has been officially eliminated from the competition. Vegas is giving 3:2 odds on the Wii, but inconsistent supply performance puts them on shaky ground. The PSP, which charged back late in the season to earn the number 1 seed, is playing its best right now, but the in-state rival PS3 is still a force to be reckoned with. The Xbox 360 has also shown marked improvement, with wonderful individual performances by Blue Dragon and Trusty Bell.We're totally picking the Gamecube, though. It's the cinderella story of the season! (Seeds were determined using this week's numbers. Next week's sales charts shall determine the winner!)(And go Gators!) - DS Lite: 108,512 3,302 (2.95%) - PSP: 56,175 9,981 (15.09%) - Wii: 44,495 13,477 (23.25%) - PS3: 32,115 11,885 (27.01%) - PS2: 14,585 779 (5.07%) - Xbox 360: 3,333 46 (1.36%) - Game Boy Micro: 812 7 (0.87%) - GBA SP: 679 59 (7.99%) - Gamecube: 240 63 (20.79%) - DS Phat: 119 7 (6.25%) - GBA: 13 12 (48%)[Source: Media Create]
Quartet Project showcases robotic dance partner
Why bother Dancing with the Stars when you can bust a move with your very own trained robot? Sure, we've seen robots teaching humans and even robotic ballroom partners before, but the Quartet Project seeks to integrate robots into dance by using sensors to create a fairly intelligent and dynamic counterpart. Dubbed an "investigation into the kineasthetics of music," the live stage show melds dance, music, and a load of sensors into a new form of entertainment where the human dancer grooves to the music, only to be followed and "danced with" by a robot that senses its surroundings. Finally assembled after years of collaboration from experts in art, music, biomedicine, computational science, 3D animation, and motion control, the "mechanical and live elements" came together for a series of recent shows in the Great Hall at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Unfortunately, we weren't there to witness the next metallic superstar showing its stuff, but we're fairly confident seeing a man-made terpsichorean breakin' a leg was a tad more exciting than listening to the Bacterial Orchestra.[Via MAKE]
Groove down with Steve: "No Stylus"
I know that mileage will vary among listeners, but I found this Macworld Keynote-inspired dance track hilarious. Simon Bachofen has put together a techno-inspired riff on Steve Jobs' new "Internet Communicator" aka the stylus-free iPhone. He combines keynote snippets with a driving rhythm. Workplace warning: you may find yourself tapping your foot and/or grooving down to the beat while listening. I've been dancing to this thing for the last quarter hour. It's...hypnotizing on a Hypnotoad scale of 10. You can download a copy here. It's mirrored so we don't kill the servers over at the original link. Thanks Geezer
Today's danciest game video - Five year old kid pwns in DDR
Do they start 'em all this young on video games across Asia? This little kid is either extremely gifted and will grow up to be the next Mikhail Baryshnikov, or else he's a midget posing as a little kid. One way or the other, these smooth dance moves could put plenty of adults to shame. Someone sign this kid to an endorsement deal, stat!Check out the two-steppin' tot after the jump, and start training your kids now. We don't care what you get them started on, just be sure to upload adorable videos of your kids pushing buttons, slinging controllers, and fragging foes on the internet somewhere. It's bounds to get million of hits.
Acclaim & IGA link up for six-game ad deal
Acclaim and in-game advertising firm IGA Worldwide have agreed to terms on a deal that will place advertisements in six of the publisher's MMOs. According to Acclaim CEO Howard Marks, the IGA partnership will allow the company to continue to offer its online games for free.Under the terms, ads are set to appear in 2Moons, 9Dragons, DANCE, BOTS, and two additional titles yet to be announced.See also: In-game ads put devs in control
Viva Pinata invasion results in Mario Lopez dancing
How on earth did this guy not win? Check out the moves. Joystiq attended a Microsoft Viva Piñata event on the California coast yesterday, held at the world famous Santa Monica Pier. There must have been about a billion piñatas everywhere, but none of them were harmed during the event. Not a single one. How can you possibly set a bunch of kids loose on a bunch of papier måché animals and not expect them to a) want to whack the crap out of them, and b) grab all the candy that comes spilling out? Well, Microsoft is changing one mind at a time. This was an event for kids, and there was the requisite face painting, picture taking, game playing, and ... Mario López? We're still not sure what he was doing there, other than the fact that yes, he's Mexican ... and was on Dancing with the Stars. Okay, so in stretch maybe we cou ... no, we still don't buy it. In addition to the tons of piñatas, the Spanish-language L.A. radio station La Raza 97.9 was also there to kick up the Latino factor with some jams and prizes. Unfortunately, there was no spicy food served at this event, much to our chagrin. However, they did have this commercial for the game playing on some sweet HDTVs. We could laugh at that all day. Well, through at least three viewings. Check out our photocomic spread of the event after the jump. Just don't say we didn't warn you.
Pump It Up heading to PSP (in Korea, at least)
PSP continues to prove itself as one of the best platforms for music games out there. Pump It Up is a game very much like Dance Dance Revolution, and it's insanely popular in Korea. PSP Vault discovered a new listing for a PSP version of the popular dancing game on Sony's official Korean website.The homebrew community embraced dance-style games through projects like PSP Revolution. However, DDR and its clones require you to input buttons that correspond to up, down, left and right. Pump It Up uses diagonals and a center button: how will these be mapped on the PSP? Puzzling, no?See also:DJ Max Portable, for non-Korean speakers
Xbox 360 HD DVD ad: 6x the resolution = 6x the...breakdancers?
Microsoft thinks it has figured out how to sell gamers on the benefits of HD movies. DVD = 1 breakdancer, HD DVD = 6 breakdancers. This idea is communicated through the universal language of dance and is meant to show why spending $199 this November for an add-on makes sense. Of course most people won't be getting 1080p output (6x the resolution of DVD) from their 360 due to its lack of an HDMI connection but you get the point. The general public is still very confused about HD and why or if its worth the investment, and we're pretty sure this does a better job of telling them than the rather confusing Sony Blu-ray ad. Check out the ad after the break.
TGS: Daito's dance marathon
On the way back to the press lounge from Sony's mammoth booth, we happened to catch the last 15 minutes of Daito's mind-bending dance show. Performers pulled quick costume changes and gave live interpretations of the games shown on the projector screen behind them, stepping to the rhythm of a pulsating playlist of J-pop songs. A plethora of pictures await you after the break.
Dance and cringe your way to a Pink concert
While dance games don't lend themselves well to online competition, this latest gem from Codemasters UK -- promoting upcoming game Dance Factory -- is enough to make anyone bust a move. Almost. By filming yourself dancing, then uploading the video, you could be voted to the top and find yourself at a Pink concert before long -- if you can survive the site's lurid colour scheme long enough to send in your video, that is. Armed with a terrible cameraphone and a drunken mate called Dave, we'll be shielding our eyes and entering; after all, lightweight fun is what dance mat games are all about.[via Eurogamer]
Draenei Female Dance Leaked
If you haven't seen it yet, here you go. Shake that thing, girl, but watch the hooves! Is it just me, or does this one look... boring? Anyone have a source on where it's from yet? The male comes from that crazy Mehndi video, so I assume the female is equally Indian in origin.
