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= Games =
= General Information =
* [[SOUND VOLTEX BOOTH]] (released January 18th, 2012)
* [[SOUND VOLTEX II -infinite infection-]] (released June 5th, 2013)
* [[SOUND VOLTEX III GRAVITY WARS]] (released November 20th, 2014)
* [[SOUND VOLTEX IV HEAVENLY HAVEN]] (released December 21st, 2016, '''current version''')


= Summary =
# [[What is SOUND VOLTEX|What is SOUND VOLTEX?]]
SOUND VOLTEX is one of the more recent additions to BEMANI's series of music games. The game series combines traditional button gameplay with the use of analog dials and sound effects, creating a unique sound and game experience.<br>
# [[SOUND VOLTEX History|What is the history of SOUND VOLTEX?]]
[[Hidenori Kotera|Cody]] sounds directs the series, while [[Yoshitaka Nishimura|DJ YOSHITAKA]] serves as the head producer.<br>
# [[SOUND VOLTEX Glossary|Glossary of SOUND VOLTEX Terms]]
[[Sota Fujimori]] provides all of the games' background musics.


What makes SOUND VOLTEX different from the other game series is that regular BEMANI artists (either KONAMI in-house or commissioned ones) aren't prominent in the song list. Instead, artists renowned in the doujin and beatmania simulation scene are more common here, plus licensed [[EXIT TUNES]] songs and ''Touhou Project'' arrangements. There are also remixes of original KONAMI songs.<br>
= Arcade Version Information =
While at first the song list mostly consisted of original songs or licenses involving VOCALOID, later in the life-cycle of the first game the artist selection greatly expanded thanks to what it is supposed to be the most important pillar of the series - the FLOOR section.
* [[AC SDVX|SOUND VOLTEX BOOTH]]
* [[AC SDVX II|SOUND VOLTEX II -infinite infection-]]
* [[AC SDVX III|SOUND VOLTEX III GRAVITY WARS]]
* [[AC SDVX IV|SOUND VOLTEX IV HEAVENLY HAVEN]]
* [[AC SDVX VW|SOUND VOLTEX VIVID WAVE]]
* [[AC SDVX EG|SOUND VOLTEX EXCEED GEAR]] ('''Current Version''')


''SOUND VOLTEX FLOOR'' refers to the group of competitions posted in its website where Japan-based artists can participate in, with a chance of their songs or remixes appearing in the games. Music contests have their own themes and rules, such as remixing a selection of an artist's songs or using synthesized vocals. There are also contests related to designing jackets for brand-new songs or to replace pre-existing ones in the game.<br>
= Home Version Information =
Thanks to the FLOOR contests (and also to the presence of Touhou arrangements), the game quickly gained a lot of success, prompting the production team to focus as much as possible on these in the future. Contest winners may also be invited to provide original songs in SOUND VOLTEX itself or in other BEMANI games (most notably, 5 of the 7 [[beatnation Records|beatnation RHYZE]] members debuted in BEMANI via SOUND VOLTEX FLOOR).
* [[CS SDVX III|SOUND VOLTEX III GRAVITY WARS コナステ]]
* [[CS SDVX EG|SOUND VOLTEX EXCEED GEAR コナステ]]


From April 16th, 2015 to May 15th, 2015, the first SOUND VOLTEX FLOOR contests (for original songs and appeal cards) exclusive to the rest of Asia were held. However, delays in communication between KONAMI, Korean distributor UNIANA and participating artists have resulted in the songs not being added to the game more than a year after it ended. Only as of May 30th, 2016, were all winning artists have been notified. Since then, no news has appeared about the contest.
= Song Information =


As seen in SOUND VOLTEX II -infinite infection-, new games of the series are released as huge online updates.
Song information is compiled under [[:Category:SOUND VOLTEX Songs]].


Unlike other BEMANI games, regular soundtracks are not released for the SOUND VOLTEX series. Instead, soundtracks tend to focus on one or a few FLOOR contests. Listed below are soundtracks currently available:
= Artist Information =
* ''SOUND VOLTEX ULTIMATE TRACKS - 東方紅魔郷REMIX -'', released on July 30th, 2014, and released early on May 11th, 2014 at the ''Reitaisai 11'' doujin event. It contains all the songs from the [http://p.eagate.573.jp/game/sdvx/sv/p/floor/remix/04/index.html Touhou Project Embodiment of Scarlet Devil Remix Contest], plus 2 new arrangements.
* ''SOUND VOLTEX ULTIMATE TRACKS -LEGEND OF KAC-'', released on March 4th, 2015. It contains songs from the first two [[KONAMI Arcade Championship]] contests.
* ''SOUND VOLTEX ULTIMATE TRACKS -FLOOR ANTHEM- EP.01'', released on February 24th, 2016. It contains several FLOOR songs from SOUND VOLTEX BOOTH and SOUND VOLTEX II -infinite infection- voted by the community, plus 5 new original songs.
* ''SOUND VOLTEX ULTIMATE TRACKS -東方妖々夢&輝針城REMIX-'', released on November 23rd, 2016 (also released early on October 16th, 2016, at the ''Autumn Reitaisai 2016'' doujin event). It contains all the songs from the Touhou Project [http://p.eagate.573.jp/game/sdvx/sv/p/floor/remix/05/index.html Double Dealing Character] and [http://p.eagate.573.jp/game/sdvx/sv/p/floor/remix/07/index.html Perfect Cherry Blossom] remix contests.
Original SOUND VOLTEX songs do not have soundtracks of their own, but may appear in soundtracks for multi-game BEMANI events.


Recently, SOUND VOLTEX's sound direction has been increasingly focusing on KONAMI original songs made by the most popular FLOOR winners. SOUND VOLTEX also became the first BEMANI game series to have licensed BMS songs (BEMANI Simulation files), and with SOUND VOLTEX IV HEAVENLY HAVEN, it will also be getting songs from major doujin labels such as [[HARDCORE TANO*C]], [[S2TB Recording]], and ''C.H.S''.
All artists and vocalists can be found under [[:Category:SOUND VOLTEX Artists]], [[:Category:Contest Artists]], and [[:Category:Vocalists]].


= Gameplay =
= Staff Information =
''For simplicity, the games will be referred to by their subtitle (BOOTH, infinite infection, GRAVITY WARS, HEAVENLY HAVEN).''


SOUND VOLTEX's gameplay is similar to other rhythm games like beatmania IIDX and GuitarFreaks & DrumMania. When a note reaches the judgment line in time with the beat, you press the corresponding button or turn the corresponding dial.<br>
* [[:Category:SOUND VOLTEX Staff|Staff]]
The game interface has 4 CHIP BT note lanes, and 2 LONG FX note lanes that each occupy 2 BT note lanes. BT notes are white and FX notes are yellow/orange.<br>
* [[:Category:Sound Directors|Sound Directors]]
In addition to the standard SHORT and LONG buttons, SOUND VOLTEX also has 2 analog dials, one on each side. By default, when a blue trail (left side) and/or a pink trail (right side) appears, you have to turn the respective dial(s) to "follow" the trail(s). These are known as ANALOG CHAINS.<br>
* [[:Category:Graphic Designers|Graphic Designers]]
The effects in the songs are game-related and are caused by LONG FX notes (distortion effects), ANALOG CHAINS (woosh effects), and special CHIP FX notes (added FX effects).


infinite infection introduced the following gameplay mechanics:
= Other Information =
* SHORT note lanes can now have hold notes, known as LONG BT notes.
For information on BLASTER GATE and a complete list of all unlockable songs/charts, please see [[BLASTER GATE]].<br>
* LONG note lanes can now have short notes, known as CHIP FX notes.
For information on SKILL ANALYZER and a complete list of all its courses, please see [[SKILL ANALYZER]].<br>
* The HARD-gauge style EXCESSIVE RATE is added. Drop to 0% and the stage fails immediately.
For information on GENERATOR and a complete list of all GENESIS CARDs and NAVIGATORs, please see [[SOUND VOLTEX GENERATOR -REAL MODEL-]].<br>
* The INFINITE BLASTER unlock system/folder is added (since HEAVENLY HAVEN known as '''BLASTER GATE'''). This folder is only available if the BLASTER ENERGY gauge is at 100%. It unlocks most INFINITE and GRAVITY charts. Using the EXCESSIVE RATE gauge charges the BLASTER GAUGE by 6.67% a stage (15 plays will fill it).
For information on the characters featured in the SOUND VOLTEX series, please see [[SOUND VOLTEX Characters]].


GRAVITY WARS added even more mechanics:
= External Resources =
* Any combination of the BT and FX notes is now possible.
* [http://p.eagate.573.jp/game/sdvx/sv/p/floor/index.html SOUND VOLTEX FLOOR Portal]
* ANALOG CHAINS may start from anywhere and go in any direction, and also extend beyond the chart lane.
* [https://twitter.com/SOUNDVOLTEX573 SOUND VOLTEX official Twitter account]
* New charts may include zooming and moving of the chart lane.
* [http://bemaniwiki.com/index.php BEMANIWiki 2nd]
* Colors of the ANALOG CHAINS can now be changed. Two new colors are also available: yellow and green.
* [http://www.sdvx.in/ SDVX.in]
* Hi-SPEED values can be tuned to an exact BPM value. They can also be stored for easy Hi-SPEED changing.
* [https://www18.atwiki.jp/sdvx/ SOUND VOLTEX @ wiki]
* EARLY/LATE indicators for NEARs can be shown in-game. They have 4 possible positions: LOWER, STANDARD (default), UPPER, and UPPER+.
* Timing can be adjusted to be earlier or later by holding START and then pressing 3 or 9 on the keypad, respectively. Values range from -8 to +8. Increase this value if you are getting many EARLYs and decrese it if you are getting LATEs.
* The ALTERNATIVE RATE SYSTEM (ARS) is added. This gauge starts with and EXCEESSIVE RATE gauge, but when depleted (a TRACK CRASH normally), it will be switched to a EFFECTIVE RATE, at a level as if it were active. It is only available in GENERATOR START.
 
HEAVENLY HAVEN introduced the following mechanics:
* Special CHIP FX notes (colored white in the center) produces a added sound effect when hit.
 
In order to clear a song, your EFFECTIVE RATE must be 70% or higher (for all other gauges, never let the rate drop to zero). This does not affect charts rated Level 7 or below, however, as you will automatically be saved.
 
= Modes =
Initially, BOOTH only had two modes: ONLINE and FRIEND.<br>
infinite infection added SKILL ANALYZER mode, that offers various 3-stage courses, most of which determines a player's Skill Level, and the rest being special commemerative courses. It also split all its modes to credit and [[PASELI]]/premium sub-modes when KONAMI further integrated PASELI into all its eAUMSEMENT games.<br>
GRAVITY WARS, upon the launch of its SOUND VOLTEX GENERATOR -REAL MODEL-, added new GENERATOR-exclusive modes.<br>
HEAVENLY HAVEN merged the SKILL ANALYZER mode into its main modes; now it can be selected while on your first stage. It also added GENERATOR BLASTER, a GENERATOR-exclusive BLASTER START mode.
 
The game currently has the following modes:
; ONLINE (single player mode)
* Normal modes
** LIGHT START
::- Up to 3 stages. Normal gameplay; the game is over when a song is failed. Song level selection is limited by the player's current Skill Level in SKILL ANALYZER.
** STANDARD START
::- At least 2 stages, up to 3. Same as LIGHT START, but offers a save for one stage, and has no level limit. The BLASTER ENERGY gauge also increases by an additional 1.33% per stage.
** BLASTER START
::- 2 stages guaranteed. Accesses only the BLASTER GATE folder without having to fill the BLASTER ENERGY gauge.
* GENRATOR modes (Only on machines with a GENERATOR)
** GENERATOR LIGHT START
::- Up to 3 stages. Same as LIGHT START, and prints one Genesis Card.
** GENERATOR START
::- 3 stages guaranteed. Same as STANDARD START. ARS is available, and prints 1-5 Genesis card(s).
** GENERATOR BLASTER
::- 2 stages guanranteed. Same as BLASTER START, and prints 1-5 Genesis card(s).
; FRIEND (local matching, 2-4 players)
* Normal modes
** LIGHT START
** STANDARD START
* GENERATOR modes
** GENERATOR LIGHT START
** GENERATOR START
 
= Difficulty =
SOUND VOLTEX has four main difficulties: <span style="color: #800080;">'''NOVICE'''</span>, <span style="color: #cccc00;">'''ADVANCED'''</span>, <span style="color: #ff0000;">'''EXHAUST'''</span>, and '''MAXIMUM''' (the latter introduced in HEAVENLY HAVEN).<br>
Since infinite infection, the new games have added a "special" difficulty, named after their subtitles:
* infinite infection added the <span style="color: #cc22aa;">'''INFINTE'''</span> difficulty, with a light purple hue (previously rainbow).
* GRAVITY WARS added <span style="color: #ffa500;">'''GRAVITY'''</span>, with an orange hue.
* HEAVENLY HAVEN added <span style="color: #00cfcf;">'''HEAVENLY'''</span>, with a cyan hue.
Charts on these difficulties are almost always more difficult than EXHAUST, and usually added to songs from previous versions. These charts add the respective games' new gimmicks to otherwise old and outdated songs.
 
Difficulty ranges from 1 (the easiest) to 20 (the hardest), since SOUND VOLTEX IV HEAVENLY HAVEN. Previously, it was 1 to 15 in BOOTH, and 1 to 16 in infinite infection and GRAVITY WARS.
 
As a major note, newly added songs (except for original songs) have the NOVICE chart always available by default. The other difficulty charts, most of the time, must be bought from the SDVX Station, unlocked via BLASTER GATE, or unlocked through MISSIONs.
 
= Scoring =
All notes are judged as CRITICAL (perfect), NEAR (good; only for BT notes), or ERROR (miss; breaks combo/chain). The maximum score of a TRACK is 10,000,000 (10 million).<br>
Each note, when hit with CRITICAL timing, is worth (10,000,000 / total chain) points. Each NEAR note is worth half of a CRITICAL note.
 
== Chain ==
Every BT note is counted as 1 combo chain. Every analog right-angle turn or "slam" also counts as 1 combo chain.<br>
For LONG notes and analog chains, the combo chain starts counting after one beat from the start of the note/chain. Each LONG note and analog chain counts as 4 combo chain per beat (2 per beat if the song's BPM is more than or equal to 256 throughout).
 
== Grade ==
From BOOTH to GRAVITY WARS, a chart can be rated from D (lowest) to AAA (highest). It was variable, so it depended on both score and EFFECTIVE RATE level (or its equivalent level). The calculation of the "grade score" was:<br>
<center>'''(TRACK score × 0.9) + (EFFECTIVE RATE level[%] × 1,000,000)'''</center><br>
The final grade then can be determined from this table:
{|class="wikitable" border="1px" style="background:#ccccee; font-size:90%; text-align: center; margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|-
!style="background:#aaaaee; text-align: center;" width="60px"|Grade
!style="background:#aaaaee; text-align: center;" width="150px"|"Grade Score" Range
|-
| AAA || > 9,800,000
|-
| AA || 9,400,000 - 9,799,999
|-
| A || 8,900,000 - 9,399,999
|-
| B || 8,000,000 - 8,899,999
|-
| C || 7,000,000 - 7,999,999
|-
| D || < 7,000,000
|}
 
In HEAVENLY HAVEN, the grade range is expanded, adding the A+, AA+, AAA+, and S ranks. The rank requirements are also revamped, now basing it on score alone. See the following table:
{|class="wikitable" border="1px" style="background:#ccccee; font-size:90%; text-align: center; margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|-
!style="background:#aaaaee; text-align: center;" width="60px"|Grade
!style="background:#aaaaee; text-align: center;" width="150px"|Score Range
|-
| S || > 9,900,000
|-
| AAA+ || 9,800,000 - 9,899,999
|-
| AAA || 9,700,000 - 9,799,999
|-
| AA+ || 9,500,000 - 9,699,999
|-
| AA || 9,300,000 - 9,499,999
|-
| A+ || 9,000,000 - 9,299,999
|-
| A || 8,700,000 - 8,999,999
|-
| B || 8,000,000 - 8,699,999
|-
| C || 7,000,000 - 7,999,999
|-
| D || < 7,000,000
|}
 
In addition, if a player hits all notes (i.e. a full combo), it is an ULTIMATE CHAIN (UC); and if they hit all notes with a CRITICAL rating, it is a PERFECT (formerly PERFECT ULTIMATE CHAIN, or PUC).
 
Fulfiling specific play conditions, like achieving an ULTIMATE CHAIN or a AA rank, can be requirements for buying certain charts for songs.
 
= SDVX Station =
SDVX Station is the section of the game where you can buy in-game items using Blocks or Packets. You gain Blocks and Packets by playing the game. Blocks (Blc) are used to purchase song charts, while Packets (Pc) are used to purchase Appeal Cards.
 
Since NOVICE charts are always unlocked, you will only buy ADVANCED, EXHAUST and INFINITE ones. In SOUND VOLTEX BOOTH, you could buy single charts; in the sequel, you can choose to buy only the ADVANCED chart for a song, or all of them (except INFINITE) at once. Another difference between the two games is the absence of RANK requirements in SOUND VOLTEX II -infinite infection-.
 
Besides purchase costs, often there will be conditions that need to be fulfilled. These can range from clearing a certain number of songs to getting ULTIMATE CHAINS.
 
Since HEAVENLY HAVEN, you can buy charts direct from the track select screen. As such, the SDVX Station will only have the Appeal Card generator and [[POLICY BREAK]] sections.
 
A list of purchasable charts can be found here:
* [http://bemaniwiki.com/index.php?SOUND%20VOLTEX%20BOOTH%2F%B1%A3%A4%B7%CD%D7%C1%C7 SOUND VOLTEX BOOTH Station Item List]
* [http://bemaniwiki.com/index.php?SOUND%20VOLTEX%20II%20-infinite%20infection-%2FSDVX%A5%B9%A5%C6%A1%BC%A5%B7%A5%E7%A5%F3 SOUND VOLTEX II -infinite infection- Station Item List]
* [http://bemaniwiki.com/index.php?SOUND%20VOLTEX%20III%20GRAVITY%20WARS%2FSDVX%A5%B9%A5%C6%A1%BC%A5%B7%A5%E7%A5%F3 SOUND VOLTEX III GRAVITY WARS Station Item List]
 
Note that when playing new game versions, older charts must still be bought if you haven't done so before, similar to how locked songs in jubeat and REFLEC BEAT remain locked.
 
= RANK System =
'''IMPORTANT NOTE: The following section is obsolete due to the RANK system being removed in SOUND VOLTEX II -infinite infection-.'''
 
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">SOUND VOLTEX BOOTH Ranks
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The purpose of the RANK System in SOUND VOLTEX BOOTH is to limit what song charts players can buy from the SDVX Station. There are 20 ranks in total, and you can raise them by accumulating Rank Points (RP). To accumulate RP you need to play songs and clear songs (getting ULTIMATE CHAINS or PERFECT ULTIMATE CHAINS makes the process faster). Once you gain a new Rank, you need to accumulate a new amount of RP for the next one.
 
The RANKS are:
# Nameless Grass (0 RP)
# Young Bud (30 RP)
# Tree Leaf (70 RP)
# Verdure (80 RP)
# Cherry-blossom (80 RP)
# Water Lily (150 RP)
# Chinese Bellflower (250 RP)
# Setsugekka (250 RP)
# Small Drizzle (250 RP)
# Fog Drizzle (400 RP)
# Murasame (500 RP)
# Drizzle (600 RP)
# Iridescent Clouds (550 RP)
# Purple Clouds (550 RP)
# Gyoun (550 RP)
# Kong Cloud (550 RP)
# Blue Sky (350 RP)
# Sky (350 RP)
# Absolute Sky (400 RP)
# Void (500 RP)
</div>
</div>
 
= Trivia =
* The SOUND VOLTEX series is the first to utilize the [[eAMUSEMENT]] Participation system, which requires game cabinets to always be connected to the eAMUSEMENT network.
** It is also the second game overall (after TAITO's MUSIC GUNGUN series) to officially license Touhou Project arrangements from Team Shanghai Alice, developer and publisher of the Touhou Project series of games.
* Game size re-arrangements of the system BGMs of the SOUND VOLTEX games have always appeared as a playable song:
** BOOTH's BGM, titled [[VOLTEXES]], first appeared in [[REFLEC BEAT limelight]].
** infinite infection's BGM, titled [[VOLTEXES II]], first appeared in [[REFLEC BEAT groovin'!!]].
** GRAVITY WARS's BGM, titled [[VOLTEXES III]], appears in SOUND VOLTEX III GRAVITY WARS.
*** Initially titled ''VOLTEX III'', it was played at the ''EXIT TUNES DANCE PARTY ~beatnation RHYZE music council~'' concert by Sota Fujimori during his Expander act. During the ''EXIT TUNES DANCE PARTY beatnation summit 2015'' concert, however, it was corrected to VOLTEXES III and credited to Sota Fujimori.
* infinite infection is the first full BEMANI game to be released as an online update.
* infinite infection is the first BEMANI game to have a location test in a doujin-related event (Reitaisai 10).
* The SOUND VOLTEX series had no removals until GRAVITY WARS, with [[Cyber thunder cider|サイバーサンダーサイダー]] being removed on June 1st, 2016, due to its expired license.
 
= External Links =
* [http://p.eagate.573.jp/game/sdvx/sv/p/index.html SOUND VOLTEX BOOTH Website]
* [http://p.eagate.573.jp/game/sdvx/ii/p/index.html SOUND VOLTEX II -infinite infection- Website]
* [http://p.eagate.573.jp/game/sdvx/iii/p/index.html SOUND VOLTEX III GRAVITY WARS Website]
* [http://p.eagate.573.jp/game/sdvx/iv/p/index.html SOUND VOLTEX IV HEAVENLY HAVEN Website]
* [http://p.eagate.573.jp/game/sdvx/sv/p/floor/index.html SOUND VOLTEX FLOOR Website]
* [http://thegemsbok.com/art-reviews-and-articles/mid-week-mission-sound-voltex-konami/ SOUND VOLTEX Beginner's Guide (article)]
* [http://thegemsbok.com/art-reviews-and-articles/mid-week-mission-sound-voltex-konami/ SOUND VOLTEX Beginner's Guide (article)]
* [http://bemaniwiki.com/index.php?SOUND%20VOLTEX%20IV%20HEAVENLY%20HAVEN BEMANIWiki 2nd page for SOUND VOLTEX IIV HEAVENLY HAVEN]
{{stub}}


[[Category:SOUND VOLTEX]]
[[Category:SOUND VOLTEX]]
[[Category:Terminology]]

Latest revision as of 09:00, 2 January 2022

General Information

  1. What is SOUND VOLTEX?
  2. What is the history of SOUND VOLTEX?
  3. Glossary of SOUND VOLTEX Terms

Arcade Version Information

Home Version Information

Song Information

Song information is compiled under Category:SOUND VOLTEX Songs.

Artist Information

All artists and vocalists can be found under Category:SOUND VOLTEX Artists, Category:Contest Artists, and Category:Vocalists.

Staff Information

Other Information

For information on BLASTER GATE and a complete list of all unlockable songs/charts, please see BLASTER GATE.
For information on SKILL ANALYZER and a complete list of all its courses, please see SKILL ANALYZER.
For information on GENERATOR and a complete list of all GENESIS CARDs and NAVIGATORs, please see SOUND VOLTEX GENERATOR -REAL MODEL-.
For information on the characters featured in the SOUND VOLTEX series, please see SOUND VOLTEX Characters.

External Resources