DJ Hero from Activison ?

[dvdmike]

http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2008/02/15/activision-applies-for-dj-hero-trademark

Someone at Konami just got re-hired and re-fired over this ...

[Profit]

he he - Konami had more than their fair share of chances to make a success of Beatmania in the West. They didn't capitalise on it while dancemat games were popular, and the two (?) english releases were poor.

[dvdmike]

Thats what I mean they needed to get on this after the cabs hit the Freeks series on PS2 would have sold like gangbusters

[EvilBoris]

If they hadn't of hit all the games with 3rd rate nasty remixes of old songs, then perhaps they'd of stood more of a chance with the beatmania games.

[elaniel]

Can I please please say it now?!

Seriously, Konami need to kick some ass on the blatant rip offs that Activision seem to be doing (and Red Octane). They're smart, trying to milk a franchise/s that didn't take off in the west due to Konami not pushing them enough, but it grinds me that they do this.

I'm sorry to moan, but what's next? They'll announce Pop'n Hero?!

This needless to say will not be purchased by me as theere's NO WAY it can top the amazing Beatmania, even before I play it or see it.

The later Beatmania games (7 and on) have amazing songs. A few past songs and remixes, but the sheer originality of their songs they create for the game are wonderful. Sure, they use licenses sometimes, but most are created just for Bemani games and are amazing songs in their own right.

[bignige]

Can I please please say it now?!

I think you said it already in another thread when you were whinging about Guitar Hero or something....

[elaniel]

Sorry dude, but it does just grate at me. I'm a huge Bemani fan and it just bugs me. Guitar Hero is good, I'll admit that, taking one game idea is fine, but to then move onto another and use that, it's kinda taking the cake there that they are using someone else's idea/bases for not just one, but two games.

I know Red Octane got in trouble for doing it with a previous game with Konami, and this will obviously be brought to Konami's attention and I don't see them just letting it happen, but hey, what do I know.

And it wasn't a whinge, it was a rant :P
Sorry for coming off as a bitch, not meaning to.

[EvilBoris]

Well you stick to your Bemani games and everyone who doesn't own a japanese Machine (I.e. 99% of the gaming population) can walk into the supermarket and buy guitar hero.

[bignige]

Sorry for coming off as a bitch, not meaning to.

You weren't, I'm just on the wind up!

[elaniel]

Oh okay .

Who am I kidding anyway? I will probably look into this game anyway to see how it develops. Won't buy it but interesting to see what they do with it.

[Silvergun X]

What the...

NO!

NO NO NO NO.

I have a very strong feeling Konami might step in and sue with this one if there's any reason at all for them to.

Beatmania is a huge, huge franchise for them and just like they dealt with Roxor Games for ITG, if this is anything like Beatmania then I can't see Konami just sitting around letting them rip them off.

[Profit]

Bit like Namco with their Taiko and Bongos; when they release it in the West they have a small, poor selection of songs and 1 min cover versions. And if Konami were to release Beatmania in the west even with the original songs, it would probably still do poorly.

Credit is due to Activision/Harmonix where they have managed to license songs that appeal to the Western market. Also, a company like Activision(Vivendi) has better contacts with music studios than Namco or Konami.

[Silvergun X]

I'll admit, if they make a decent version of it then i'll probably buy it anyway, but I am a *very* avid Beatmania fan and it really, really winds me up to see their ideas get completely ripped off.

Yes, fair enough they could've released IIDX in the west and they haven't, and Activision are taking advantage of that, but... damn!

[Nisa]

Yes, fair enough they could've released IIDX in the west and they haven't,

They did & it flopped due to being a pale version of what was already out in Japan at the time and having little in the way of music tailored for a mainstream western audience. Seeing other companies ripping off Konami used to annoy me but it's a bit silly tbh, it's like getting pissed at SNK for "ripping off" Street Fighter when Fatal Fury came out.

If the end result turns out decent I'd be happy to pick up a DJ game by Activision but I doubt it'll even see the light of day much like other games patented by Activision lately i.e. Guitar Villain etc and as long as there's a new IIDX every year then who cares tbh

[MikeRox]

Guitar Hero was more an evolution of Frequency and Amplitude tbh. I think it was clear from the offset the reason Harmonix came as close to Guitar Freaks as they did with Guitar Hero (seeing the fruits of Rock Band now) it really does work, but I have to say I'm rapidly going off "Guitar Hero" with the milking Activision are doing with the poor thing since they got a hold of it.