Announced at E3 this week... DJ Hero, from RedOctane.. granted this ISNT the first time they tried to make a DJ simulation game.. actually from what I recall there have been at least 4 attempts to making a DJ game:
The original (even before Dance Dance Revolution) Beatmania.. 5 Key / Turntable combo
Back when Boomers! was Family Fun Center, and Steph and I worked at Anime Comics, there was 10-Buck Tuesdays, Stephen and I both played this game endlessly, songs like November 21, the Metal Gear Solid remix, dynamite rave... it was fresh, it was new.. music and video games combining..
Then the Evolution of it Beatmania IIDX.. 7 Key / Turntable or 14 Key Double Turntable.. which by far was a great music game on its own, but still not quite an actual "DJ" simulation game..
This improvement to the game was amaaaazing.. This is when I got fully addicted to the music genre, we even had our Mecca of music gaming.. Arcade Infinity.. Beatmania IIDX, Dance Mania X, DDR, Drummania, KeyboardMania, Guitar Freaks, Pop'n Music... it was a music gamers paradise.. The challenge and complexity of this game was far beyond any music game that was released then.. and even now..
There was also this game I think it was called DJ-X or DJ-Battle-X I remember it from Arcade Infinity, but it was a cheese ball game with a cross fader, and 2 tables, you would move the fader to the left or right and following the scratch either forward or backward.. it was pure cheese but actually had some DJ-like qualities to it..
Recently I saw this arcade game at Tilt in Mission Valley, forgot the name, but you basically follow a string of dots, and when the highlighted line gets to the dot, you press it... LLLLLAAAAAME.
You also can't forget the failed, Japanese to Domestic version of Beatmania, which only hardcore fans like myself and a few others actually bought.. They kept alot of decent song from the series, added a few "unplayable" remixes of pop songs from the states, and you pretty much have a greatest hits of the japanese versions..
One of my favorite Sims to come out was released in Korea for the PSP (and since PSP are region free) we picked them up.. DJ Max Portable, i actually own the first 2, DJ Max Portable 3 game out earlier this year, but I have yet to pick up my copy..
I love this game.. it had all the beatmania feel and challenge, and you can take it where ever you want on your PSP.. I believe its what helped us pass the time at comic con a few years ago, waiting in line for some panels. If you are a fan of the Beatmania series, this is pretty much a must have for the PSP.
Which brings us to this new attempt at a DJ simulation game..
A three button built into the table, what looks like a cross fader and one knob.. controller.. from the gameplay I found on youtube.. this looks like brainless, tap tap wiggle wiggle.. no real skill or actual fun could come from this..
There hasnt been much exposed about how the game is played, or what features this will have, we will just have to wait, but judging from the gameplay footage and the look of the controller, i'm pre-judging this game with two thumbs down.
Although, I am a HUGE music game genre fan.. and would probably end up getting this piece of shit.. I'm hoping there will be more to offer, especially from a franchise as well known as the Guitar Hero series..
Who knows, maybe they allow dual turntable setups like the Beatmania controllers do..
Speaking of which.. I think I might go home tonight and play some 11th Style LOL..
More info as it's available...
Now I say this for "failed" attempts of DJ Sims.. Rockband/Guitar Hero is a whole other beast, back when Guitar Hero was Guitar Freaks in Japan, it had it's social aspects in the arcade because the two machines Drumania and Guitar Freaks could be linked together.. the rockband/gh series actutally took advantage of that and came up with the ultimate party game.. DJ Sims, just seem like they're trying to reach an audience but it doesnt seem to appeal to anyone but DJ's or fans of the music genre like myself.. and if there isnt anything special the game has to offer, it will get shunned away from the people who would actually play their game.. i guess we'll see what this game has when they give more info..
