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Today's most patriotic dancing video: Stephen Colbert meets DDR
Or: Colbert + DDR + video - the pulse pounding techno = hilarityYou have a problem. You've got some downtime, need a quick break from the routine, but aren't sure where to turn. Do you browse your RSS feeds for a distraction? Head to the water cooler and try to join in on the insane banter about what reality show contestant was the biz-omb last night? Well, we've got the answer. Just keep yourself parked here and check out Stephen Colbert in a DDR-style dance game, with slightly less than Tron quality graphics. It's amusing, brief, and worth a watch. Then you can return to your previously put-on-pause lifestyle.
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.
EA announces Wii rhythm and karaoke game, Boogie
With Rayman's musical mini-games and the multi-peripheral DDR franchise already making passes at the Wii, it would seem that Nintendo's system gets along famously with the rhythm genre. The two are like a pair of dazed lovers skipping blissfully through a park, unaware that their uncontrolled flailing and unexpected gyration is leaving everyone in the nearby vicinity with bloody noses and swollen eyeballs. That certainly sounds like the ideal Wii experience, at least according to EA -- they've just announced Boogie, a Wii-exclusive rhythm game that wants you to dance, pose and sing your way to living room stardom.On the heels of XBLA's Boom Boom Rocket and EA's announced intention to bust into music games "sooner than you think" comes a game which, at first glance, appears to be the result of Tim Burton drunkenly colliding with a Singstar demo kiosk. Boogie will see gamers producing the moves and vocals for a music video, presumably making use of that super secret Wii microphone. The nunchuck is also incorporated here, giving rise to the possibility that the microphone peripheral itself may also harbor motion-sensing abilities akin to that of the Wiimote. What's the use of a microphone if you can't twirl it about like a buffoon?%Gallery-2230%
The ultimate dance pad gets an upgrade
Want the arcade DDR experience at home. You can go the wimpy route and buy a decent metal pad for a couple of hundred dollars. Or you can geek it up and build your own custom DDR pad for a little over 400 smackers and over 16 hours of heavy duty construction time.We covered the original version of this pad back in June, but the updated version 2.0 comes complete with a sturdier frame of one inch thick steel beams, adjustable spring-loaded sensitivity and an even cooler LED lighting system than before. Hey Jared, how much to get a version for casa de Joystiq?[Thanks Jason]
Today's most freakin' sweet video: Family Guy, Clinton and DDR
"Hey, do you remember the time I went to Chuck E. Cheese with former president William Jefferson Clinton?"Bill Clinton, Chuck E Cheese and Dance Dance Revolution. O, those manatees doth weave a clever tale. Game site 1P Start proves how fast the internet works by already having this clip from last night's Family Guy uploaded and blogged.We laugh, but only because we can see the actual former U.S. President Bill Clinton playing DDR. Maybe not to an Aqua song, but perhaps .59 or Afronova. Video embedded after the break.
Disney's High School Musical for Wii, PS2 and DS
If you have a pre-teen or know anybody into musicals, than by this point you are well versed in High School Musical, the Disney channel made-for-TV stealth phenomenon. In August, Disney will unleash the game as a Karaoke Revolution-style title on the Wii and PS2. For the DS version the release says, "Fans will dance and play along with the movie's songs and create their own dance videos in order to win the national title." We have no idea what that means and Disney Interactive isn't returning our calls to explain -- is there some DS camera we don't know about?The launch of the games is expected to coincide with the release of High School Musical 2. There will also be bonus tracks from other popular Disney Channel artists -- that's so Raven! We apologize for the interruption and now return you to our regularly scheduled chest-beating and macho programming.[Via GoNintendo]
Playing StepMania with the Wiimote
Using a GlovePIE script designed exclusively with StepMania in mind, we get a good idea for how one might enjoy dancing games (or rhythm-based games period) with the Wiimote. Not only would it cause us severe pains in our wrist (keep your mind out of the gutter), but we think, when combined with a dance mat as proposed by the upcoming Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Mix, it could very well create one of the most difficult gaming experiences ever seen. A rewarding experience? We'll leave that determination up to after you check out the video, which has been embedded past the post break.[via Siliconera]
EA busting into rhythm games 'sooner than you think'
Much like its title implies, Guitar Hero arrived as a sort of savior for a rhythm genre that had grown a little too obsessed with hypnotic arrows for its own good. The rocking success of Red Octane's franchise thrust the genre back into the console limelight, with its financial gyrations quickly drawing the fixation of several publishers. According to a recent interview conducted by Stephen Totilo of MTV News, EA is one such a publisher.Upon being asked about EA's plans in response to the success enjoyed by titles such as Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution, EA's Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing indicates that the gigantic publisher is already positioning itself on the diving board. "I've been pushing for a long time to be honest with you," says Steve Schnur. "I think you'll see us breaking into the genre sooner than you think."Of course, one could argue that EA is already doing so with the upcoming Boom Boom Rocket, an Xbox Live Arcade title which sees (and hears) players detonating fireworks in rhythm to music. Is the Bizarre-developed title merely the first step in an increasingly complex dance maneuver? And more importantly, will there be an insane peripheral? If anybody's going to exploit the untapped Glockenspiel-breakdancing market, it'll be EA.See also: Electronic Arts mixes on iTunes
Rumor: EA developing rhythm-based game for Wii
Rumor has it that EA's Montreal studio is developing a whole new IP with a "1970's vibe." This new IP is to be a rhythm-based game for the Nintendo Wii that asks players to use the Wiimote and nunchuk in rhythm with the gameplay. Whether this rumor turns out to be true or not is still anyone's guess, but we think if it turns out to be true that EA needs to take a long, hard look at Konami's upcoming DDR game and figure out the appeal there before diving into the deep end of rhythm-based games.May we suggest the name Dance Dance EA: 70s Mix?[via Cubed3]
AOU 2007: Bemani sequels unleashed
It's the 10 year anniversary for Konami's legendary Bemani series of rhythm titles and you know what that means! More sequels! Okay, so they're not doing much out of the ordinary aside from some choice merchandising opportunities, but if you're a Bemani fan, sequels to your favorite series are about all could ask for at this point.Bemanistyle attended AOU this weekend to check out the latest batch of assembly line titles in Beatmania IIDX 14: Gold (featuring Ghostbusters), GitaDora V4 and the all-star of the bunch, Pop'n Music 15: Adventure. Yes, it took fifteen sequels but we finally get character previews in Pop'n Music. Whose to say they don't work hard for the money now?A few of the artists were on-hand, conducting interviews and generally fawning to their audience. Also making an appearance was Dance Dance Revolution Supernova 2, albeit in poster-form only.
DDR Universe track list revealed
Orange Lounge Radio has uncovered the gigantic track list for Dance Dance Revolution Universe, which arrives on the 360 later this month. While Guitar Hero II may have a rabid fan base, there is no denying that DDR paved the way for rhythm games in the mainstream. The track list is huge, and contains plenty of names with which we are almost completely unfamiliar. We do have to note with some excitement that the game features both Jamiroquai and the Sugar Hill Gang, though. If there's one song that might actually make you look cool while playing DDR, it just might be "Rapper's Delight." See the full track list after the break.
Wii Warm Up: On franchises
Yesterday's news of a DDR game headed Wii-ward got us in the mood to speculate about what other established franchises would work well with the Wiimote. We don't mean ports that "make use" of the Wii controls, though that can be fun, too. We're talking about games that would be really, really perfect. Additionally, the news that DDR will require a dance mat as well as both the Wiimote and nunchuk opens up a world of peripheral possibilities. So what inventive ways can you think of to implement beloved franchises on our beloved console?
West Virginia expands Dance Dance Revolution program
Although Snowshoe, Winterplace, and Canaan Valley (to name a few) are just getting cranked for the winter ski rush, it seems like the locals are the last ones hitting the slopes and burnin' through the calories, but there's just no escaping the workouts if you attend a West Virginia public school. Following the first round of Dance Dance Revolution implementations in the school systems, the state has now announced intentions to stick with the program for awhile longer. Apparently, children who participated in the trials were able to maintain their weight and "saw a reduction in some risk factors for heart disease and diabetes," and now plans are to put DDR in every single public school statewide. Furthermore, children who hopped on the mats for a frenzied round or two ended up feeling "more comfortable" participating in other extracurricular activities, somewhat proving that video games don't breed killers. Nah, there's no word on whether the principal / teachers will be fiercely competing with the kiddos, but we're not holding our collective breath.
Konami reveals new DDR for Wii
As if playing the original Dance Dance Revolution wasn't difficult enough (we have no rhythm), the latest title for the Wii revealed by Konami is sure to be impossible. Called Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party, the game will demand players use three peripherals at once: a dance mat, Wiimote and nunchuk attachment. The game is set to release sometime this year.Check out the video, which has been embedded past the post break.[Via Joystiq]
Konami announces Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party for Wii
Perhaps Seizure Party would have been a more appropriate subtitle, as Konami's latest Dance Dance Revolution game will require the simultaneous use of three peripherals: a dance mat, a Wii remote and a Wii nunchuck. The Bemani developer has announced that their decidedly groovy franchise will pay a visit to the Wii, with Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party releasing sometime before 2007 keels over from pure exhaustion.The game will feature all the modes series fans are familiar with, though we expect they really mean it with Workout Mode this time. Konami also encourages players to invite up to three friends for fantastic and potentially dangerous multiplayer stomping, flailing and gyrating. Remember, it's not embarassing if you enjoy it.[Via press release]
Dancerific videos of DDR: Universe
GameTrailers released a couple of new videos from the upcoming Xbox 360 iteration of Dance Dance Revolution. The first video (embedded above) is a live action video overlain with the typical DDR interface. The video itself is pretty bizarre, and frankly a little disturbing. The second video is more standard DDR fare, although the digital vixen in the video benefits from a higher polygon count. Seriously, sexy dancing girls and freaky live action videos, it's like Konami is trying to distract the player. Watch the second video after the break.
Got a disagreement? A dance-off will settle it!
Forget for a moment that libraries are supposedly places where one can go for some quiet reading. Forget too that librarians are typically known for being shushers and squelchers of anything resembling fun. Finally, forget that there's an inverse relationship between time spent exercising and time spent sitting in a library. Now you're ready to accept the wackiness of a situation in which a teenaged librarian uses DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) to settle disputes between patrons and to determine whether an overdue fine should be waived. Totally awesome, if completely inappropriate in a library environment. [Via BoingBoing] [Image via flickr user Librarian Avenger]
Active gaming burns more calories, coordination still a concern
A recent Mayo Clinic study may indicate that kids burn significantly more calories while playing active games (e.g., Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 2, Wii Sports) than while engaged in sit-down games. That this conclusion seems obvious is part of the problem.Parents may now be more content than ever to plop their kids in front of the TV if they perceive that a few hours of active gaming will substitute for necessary exercise. Even if kids, on average, burn twice as many calories while on the dancepad than while button-smashing a gamepad, they're still simply engaged in virtual activity. Wii Sports might be all the rage but "touching a virtual ball is not the same thing as catching a real ball," warns Active Healthy Kids Canada director of development Jennifer Cowie Bonne, "You need those types of [real life] fundamental skills to build a foundation for a lifelong involvement in other types of physical activity." You wouldn't want Junior to grow up throwing baseballs like a pansy, would you?
Konami wants your music for the next DDR
Are you secretly producing some sort of euro-trash-cum-bubbly-pop wonder song that could whip the whole world into a certain state of stomping in place? Konami sure hopes so, as they're once again teaming up with Broadjam to find the next big thing in Dance Dance Revolution -- you! Konami is looking for songs that are at least a minute and a half long, above 120 beats per minute and include "strong and/or catchy melodies." Any chosen songwriters will get $1,000 and have their music featured in a future game, but, as the contest site oddly notes, "There is no guarantee there will be any winners." Considering you have to pay up to $20 just to enter, it sounds like someone could be making out like a bandit here.Last year's contest produced four winning entries, all of which debuted (and coincidentally, died) on DDR Ultramix 4 for the original Xbox. With Konami pouring less and less original effort into songs for their Bemani series, contests like these are increasingly valuable to them. It's either this or they dig through the dusty Beatmania library for one more go of "20, November."
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.
