2008: Difference between revisions

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= 2008 =
= 2008 =


After the success of the original group of BEMANI titles, KONAMI attempted to introduce more new entries throughout the 2000s. Most of them never truly caught on, but in 2008, a new game would begin its path to success.  
After the success of the original group of BEMANI titles in the late 1990's, KONAMI attempted to introduce more new entries throughout the 2000's. None of these new games passed more than a few entries, but in 2008, a new game would begin its path to success.  


[[AC jb|jubeat]] introduced a different style of gameplay to arcade music games. Based on the concept of "touch", jubeat's gameplay consists of 16 buttons arranged in a 4x4 grid, hitting buttons in time with the music as they light up. It doesn't actually use touch screens, but it was the first arcade rhythm game to emulate touch-based gameplay. The cabinet itself doesn't take up much space in arcades and it's often paired up with other cabinets for local multiplayer. Another thing that sets jubeat apart from its BEMANI siblings was the bigger focus on licensed music. The number of licenses ended up overtaking the number of KONAMI originals in a 2-to-1 ratio. The game was released in Japan in the mid-summer and an American location test under a different title was held shortly after, though never released. Despite the oddball appearance and nature of the game, it managed to obtain a crowd with its unique style of gameplay.
[[AC jb|jubeat]] introduced a different style of gameplay to arcade music games. Based on the concept of "touch", jubeat's gameplay consists of 16 buttons arranged in a 4x4 grid, hitting buttons in time with the music as they light up. It doesn't actually use touch screens, but it was the first arcade rhythm game to emulate touch-based gameplay. The cabinet itself doesn't take up much space in arcades and it's often paired up with other cabinets for local multiplayer. Another thing that sets jubeat apart from its BEMANI siblings was the bigger focus on licensed music. The number of licenses ended up overtaking the number of KONAMI originals in a 2-to-1 ratio. The game was released in Japan in the mid-summer; an American location test under a different title (Ubeat) was held shortly after, though never released. Despite the oddball appearance and nature of the game, it managed to obtain a crowd with its unique style of gameplay. The series is still going strong to this very day.


KONAMI continued to throw the dice and take risks on newer entries in established series. One of these risks was [[AC DDR X|DanceDanceRevolution X]], one of the more peculiar entries in the series. For one, it's the first (and only) arcade title in all of BEMANI headed by an American sound director, [[Jason Borenstein]]. Another thing is that it actually ''debuted'' on North American consoles three months before it was released in the arcades of Japan. As such, the entry is more Western-focused in its sound, visuals, and artist selection. X expanded the difficulty scale to the current "20-footer" model and also introduced the Shock Arrows mechanic.
KONAMI continued to throw the dice and take risks on newer entries in established series. One of these risks was [[AC DDR X|DanceDanceRevolution X]], one of the more peculiar entries in the series. For one, it's the first (and only) arcade title in all of BEMANI headed by an American sound director, the late [[Jason Borenstein]]. Another thing is that it actually ''debuted'' on North American consoles three months before it was released in the arcades of Japan. As such, the entry is more Western-focused in its sound, visuals, and artist selection. X expanded the difficulty scale to the current 20-level model and also introduced the Shock Arrow mechanic.


While 2008 saw many celebratory releases, it also signaled a change from the old to the new. [[Mutsuhiko Izumi]] stepped down from his position as sound director of the GuitarFreaks & DrumMania series, and [[Asaki]] would take up his place for [[AC GFDM V5|GuitarFreaks V5 & DrumMania V5 Rock to Infinity]]. Likewise, [[AC EMPRESS|beatmania IIDX 16 EMPRESS]] would be [[Takayuki Ishikawa]]'s last title as sound director of beatmania IIDX. [[AC pnm 16|pop'n music 16 PARTY♪]] is the last BEMANI title that [[Reo Nagumo]] would be involved in, and many of his songs would be removed later that year in other BEMANI titles.
While 2008 saw many celebratory releases, it also signaled a change from the old to the new. [[Mutsuhiko Izumi]] stepped down from his position as sound director of the GuitarFreaks & DrumMania series, and [[Asaki]] would take up his place for [[AC GFDM V5|GuitarFreaks V5 & DrumMania V5 Rock to Infinity]]. Likewise, [[AC EMPRESS|beatmania IIDX 16 EMPRESS]] would be [[Takayuki Ishikawa|dj TAKA]]'s last title as sound director of beatmania IIDX. [[AC pnm 16|pop'n music 16 PARTY♪]] is the last BEMANI title that [[Reo Nagumo]] would be involved in, and many of his songs would be removed later that year (and the next) in other BEMANI titles.


== January ==
== January ==
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== March ==
== March ==
* March 24th: [[AC pnm 16|pop'n music 16 PARTY♪]] is released to Japanese arcades. Final appearance of [[Reo Nagumo]] in BEMANI. Several of his songs would be removed in the following BEMANI titles.
* March 24th: [[AC pnm 16|pop'n music 16 PARTY♪]] is released to Japanese arcades. Final appearance of [[Reo Nagumo]] in BEMANI. Several of his songs would be removed in upcoming BEMANI titles.
* March 28th: [[CS DDR HOTTEST PARTY|DanceDanceRevolution HOTTEST PARTY]] is released in Europe for the Wii.
* March 28th: [[CS DDR HOTTEST PARTY|DanceDanceRevolution HOTTEST PARTY]] is released in Europe for the Wii.


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== May ==
== May ==
* May 29th:
* May 29th:
** [[Toshiyuki Kakuta]]'s first album, [[Denjin K|電人K]], is released.
** [[Toshiyuki Kakuta|L.E.D.]]'s first album, [[Denjin K|電人K]], is released.
** [[CS GOLD|beatmania IIDX 14 GOLD CS]] is released in Japan for the PlayStation 2.
** [[CS GOLD|beatmania IIDX 14 GOLD CS]] is released in Japan for the PlayStation 2.
** Maya Takamura's first art book, ''puzzle / MAYA TAKAMURA'S PIECES'', is released.
** [[Maya Takamura|MAYA]]'s first art book, ''puzzle / MAYA TAKAMURA'S PIECES'', is released.
* Unknown date: [[Handsome JET]], a frequent vocalist for the GuitarFreaks & DrumMania series for the past seven years, dies in a traffic accident.
* Unknown date: [[Handsome JET]], a frequent vocalist for the GuitarFreaks & DrumMania series for the past seven years, dies in a traffic accident.


== June ==
== June ==
* June 18th: [[AC GFDM V5|GuitarFreaks V5 & DrumMania V5 Rock to Infinity]] are released to Japanese arcades.
* June 18th: [[AC GFDM V5|GuitarFreaks V5 & DrumMania V5 Rock to Infinity]] are released to Japanese arcades.
** Mutsuhiko Izumi steps down as sound director to work on jubeat, and his position is given to Asaki.


== July ==
== July ==
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== November ==
== November ==
* November 18th: [[CS DS UNIVERSE2|Dancing Stage UNIVERSE2]] is released in Europe for the Xbox 360.
* November 18th: [[CS DS UNIVERSE2|Dancing Stage UNIVERSE2]] is released in Europe for the Xbox 360.
* November 19th: [[AC EMPRESS|beatmania IIDX 16 EMPRESS]] is released to Japanese arcades. It is the last beatmania IIDX title to feature [[Takayuki Ishikawa]] as a sound director. First credited appearances of [[Nagisa Nakamoto]] and [[Hidenori Kotera]].
* November 19th: [[AC EMPRESS|beatmania IIDX 16 EMPRESS]] is released to Japanese arcades.
** BEMANI debut of designers [[Nagisa Nakamoto|NAGI]] and [[Hidenori Kotera|Cody]].


== December ==
== December ==
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** [[Keiichi Ueno]]'s first album, [[Rewind!]], is released.
** [[Keiichi Ueno]]'s first album, [[Rewind!]], is released.
** [[CS DJ TROOPERS|beatmania IIDX 15 DJ TROOPERS CS]] is released in Japan for the PlayStation 2.
** [[CS DJ TROOPERS|beatmania IIDX 15 DJ TROOPERS CS]] is released in Japan for the PlayStation 2.
*** This is the final beatmania IIDX title to feature dj TAKA as a sound director.
** [[CS DDR FuruFuruParty|ダンスダンスレボリューション フルフル♪パーティー]] is released in Japan for the Wii.
** [[CS DDR FuruFuruParty|ダンスダンスレボリューション フルフル♪パーティー]] is released in Japan for the Wii.
* December 24th:
* December 24th:
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== Unknown date ==
== Unknown date ==
* December?: [[Maya Takamura]] leaves KONAMI, though would continue to contribute to BEMANI as a freelancer. Her last credited work as a staff member was beatmania IIDX 16 EMPRESS.
* December?: MAYA leaves KONAMI, though would continue to contribute to BEMANI as a freelancer. Her last credited work as a staff member was beatmania IIDX 16 EMPRESS.


[[Category:History]]
[[Category:History]]

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