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beatmania 3rdMIX

Release Information

• Release date:
  • Japan: September 28th, 1998
  • Europe: January 1999
  • South Korea: 1999 (as beatstage 3rdMIX)

General Information / Changes

• First beatmania game to keep track of your combo count.
  • GOODs break your combo.
  • GREATs flash if you have more than 10 combo, but this gives no bonuses.
    • These so-called "Flashing GREATs" were later repurposed in completeMIX as a separate, more accurate judgment.
• The score calculation in beatmania 3rdMIX is unique:
  • GOOD = 70,000 ÷ TotalNotes ÷ 5
  • GREAT (1-10) = 70,000 ÷ TotalNotes + 30,000 ÷ (45 + 10 × (TotalNotes - 10)) × (Combo - 1)
  • GREAT (11-more) = 70,000 ÷ TotalNotes + 30,000 ÷ (45 + 10 × (TotalNotes - 10)) × 10
• First beatmania game to feature the EXPERT mode groove gauge, which differs in several ways from the standard groove gauge of NORMAL and EASY mode.
  • EXPERT gauge starts out full, and decreases with BADs/POORs.
  • Neither GREATs/GOODs, nor the start of the next stage, increase the gauge.
  • If the gauge runs out before the final stage ends, the stage ends immediately.
  • The only way to increase the gauge is to continue after failing a stage.
    • However, doing so will nullify all scores and judgment counts earned up to that point; only subsequent scores and judgment counts will be accounted for on the total results screen.
• One of two games in the series (the other being beatmania) where EXPERT is accessed via a button command or modifier on the PRESS START screen, instead of by selecting it on a mode selection screen.
• A grade screen identical to the EXPERT screen is now displayed after completing any mode.
• EASY mode is now available. It differs from NORMAL mode in regards to the lifebar increase/decrease, songs that can be chosen and when, and most song's judgment windows (except for PRACTICE and DJ BATTLE).
• Returning songs' genres are displayed with "[classic]".
• HIDDEN and DOUBLE, introduced in the previous game, are now implemented as regular modifiers that are activated by holding down a button (instead of as button commands).
• Three new modifiers were introduced:
  • BATTLE, which allows two players to play the same exact chart, instead of a split chart as in regular versus mode.
    • However, some charts do not allow BATTLE to be used; if such a chart is selected, a message saying "BATTLE PLAY NOT AVAILABLE" will appear and a DOUBLE chart will be played instead.
    • In this game and subsequent games before completeMIX 2, there is no indication on the song select screen that a chart does not allow BATTLE to be used.
  • MIRROR, which inverts the notechart (besides the scratches).
  • RANDOM, which randomizes the notechart of the song you're playing (besides the scratches).
• The FREE ZONE mechanic from the first game and 2ndMIX was removed. As such, charts that previously had the FREE ZONE mechanic now have higher notecounts than they did in beatmania or 2ndMIX.
• The empty WORST/POOR mechanic previously used in the first game and 2ndMIX has been modified to be less strict.
  • Previously, pressing a key or scratching the turntable at any time other than when hitting an active note would cause an empty POOR.
  • Now, an empty POOR will only appear when a key is pressed or turntable is scratched while a note is within a certain range.
• First BEMANI game worked on by Gyo Eguchi (VJ GYO), who became the chief movie designer of beatmania IIDX a few months later, a position he still holds to this very day.
• First BEMANI game released with the 1998-2003 KONAMI logo on the start-up screen (in version JA-B and all versions released afterward).
  • However, the oldest revision of the game (version JA-A) still shows the 1986-1998 italicized KONAMI logo, along with the cabinet itself.
• First BEMANI game with CS crossovers. As such, the songs that originated from the CS release of BEMANI games are carried over to future arcade releases.
• beatmania 3rdMIX was released the same day as pop'n music, marking the first time two BEMANI games were released the same day in the arcades.

Staff Information

• Game credits: beatmania 3rdMIX credits
• Soundtrack credits: beatmania 3rd MIX complete Booklet Credits

Full Song List

• beatmania 3rdMIX full song list

New Songs

Since ANOTHER charts do not have separate ratings, they will be denoted with a check mark (✓).

Genre	Song	Artist	BPM	SP Difficulty			DP Difficulty
				NORMAL	HARD	ANOTHER	NORMAL	HARD	ANOTHER
Default Songs
AMBIENT	life goes on	Quadra	124	1	1	-	1	1	-
SOUL	find out	nouvo nude	100	1	1	-	1	1	-
J-DANCE POP	Believe again HYPER MEGA MIX	dj nagureo featuring miryam	130	-	2	-	-	2	-
HIPHOP	s.d.z	DJ mazinger featuring Muhammad	100	2	2	-	2	2	-
HOUSE	wild I/O	nouvo nude	130	3	3	-	3	3	-
BOSSA GROOVE	La Bossanova de Fabienne from beatmania APPEND YebisuMIX	staccato two-F	143	3	3	-	3	3	-
FUNKY JAZZ GROOVE	Stop Violence! from beatmania APPEND YebisuMIX	Herbie Hammock & His Band	113	-	3	-	-	3	-
REGGAE	Queen's Jamaica	Crunky Boy featuring Muhammad	94	4	4	-	4	4	-
BIGBEAT MIX	METALGEAR SOLID ～Main Theme from beatmania APPEND YebisuMIX	ESPACIO BROTHERS	140	4	4	-	4	4	-
WORLD GROOVE	tribe groove	nite system	126	-	6	-	-	6	-
EURO BEAT	LUV TO ME THIRD-MIX	miryam reo yoshinori	154	6	6	-	6	6	-
HARD TECHNO	Attack the music	DJ FX	140	6	6	✓	6	6	-
DRUM'N BASS	super highway	nouvo nude	160	-	6	-	-	6	-
Hidden Songs
80'S J-POP	Believe again	Emotion of Sound featuring miryam	130	-	4	-	-	4	-
DIGITAL FUNK	nine seconds	nouvo nude	97	-	5	-	-	5	-
DIGI ROCK	area code	nouvo nude	112	-	5	-	-	5	-

EXPERT Courses

If the courses are played with two players, the alternate songs or versions are used instead of the originals.

Course	STAGE
	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	FINAL
CLASSIC	Do you love me?	LOVE SO GROOVY / LOVE SO GROOVY (12inch version)	20,november (single mix) / 20,november (radio edit)	Deep Clear Eyes	SKA a go go
VOCAL	find out	Believe again (HYPER MEGA MIX)	Queen's Jamaica	LUV TO ME	La Bossanova de Fabienne
TECHNO	life goes on	METALGEAR SOLID ～Main Theme	tribe groove	Attack the music	super highway
SPECIAL	Stop Violence!	nine seconds	LUV TO ME	area code	super highway

Codes & Unlock Information

Play Hidden Songs

• To unlock the hidden songs (Believe again; nine seconds; area code) for play in the regular modes (NORMAL and EASY), follow the steps below on the title screen while it says to press either START button.

1. Turn the 1P turntable clockwise two times, then press and release 5.
2. Turn the 1P turntable counterclockwise two times, then press and hold 5.
3. Select any desired options and modes except EXPERT (see Select Options), then press START.

• This unlocks the songs for play in the regular modes (NORMAL and EASY).
  • The stages that each song can be selected on will depend on the DIP switch settings for the number of playable stages.
    • Default settings (4 playable stages): Believe again appears on Stage 2; nine seconds appears on Stage 3; area code appears on Final Stage.
• If performing the code still does not unlock the hidden songs and secret course, the turntable wiring is reversed and should be corrected.
  • When the turntable wiring is correct, rotating the turntable clockwise increases the turntable value in the I/O TEST menu, and moves right on the song select screen.
• The unlocked state will not save between games, and the code must be entered each time before the game is started.

Play Secret EXPERT Course

• To unlock the secret EXPERT course (SPECIAL) for play in EXPERT mode, follow the steps below on the title screen while it says to press either START button.

1. Turn the 1P turntable clockwise twice, then press and release 5.
2. Turn the 1P turntable counterclockwise twice, then press and hold 5.
3. Select EXPERT by pressing and holding 1, then after selecting any other desired options and modes (see Select Options), press START.

• If successful, SPECIAL will appear in the list on the course select screen.
• The unlocked state will not save between games, and the code must be entered each time before the game is started.

Select Options

• To select options, do so on the title screen while it says to press either START button, via one or both of the methods below.
  • Note that neither method is available while Event Mode is enabled.

Options Menu

• Press and hold the following key button(s) for each option.
  • 1 (left white key on 1P side): EXPERT
  • 2 (left black key on 1P side): DOUBLE
  • 3 (middle white key on 1P side): BATTLE
  • 4 (right black key on 1P side): HIDDEN

Key Buttons

• Press the key buttons as specified below to select one of the following options (only one can be selected).
  • MIRROR: Press 8-10-8-7-6, 8-10-8-7-6, 8-10-8-7-6 (this pattern is from measure 19 of Do you love me?)
  • RANDOM: Press 8-10-8-7-6, 8-10-8-7-6, 8-10-8-7 (this pattern is from measure 21 of Do you love me?)
• When one of these options is selected, after START is pressed the text "MIRROR PLAY" or "RANDOM PLAY" will appear on screen, before the mode select screen appears.

Play ANOTHER Difficulty Charts

• On the song select screen in NORMAL mode (does not work in EASY mode), follow the steps below to play the ANOTHER chart of a song that has one.
  • Note that this method is not available while Event Mode is enabled.

1. Highlight a compatible song that has an ANOTHER chart.
   1. 20,november (single mix) / 20,november (radio edit)
   2. Attack the music (SINGLE only)
2. When the timer is at 11 seconds, simultaneously press and hold 1+6.

• Follow these steps if you are having trouble simultaneously pressing 1+6.

1. Use the turntable to scroll the song selection screen.
2. While the records are moving on screen, press and hold one of the two buttons (e.g. 6).
3. Continue to hold the button, then use the turntable to highlight the song you want to play.
4. With the button still held down, press the second button (e.g. 1) to select that song when the timer is at 11 seconds.

Play Any Song (or Ending)

• In beatmania through 3rdMIX, there is a hidden feature that allows the player(s) to select any song (or the ending) regardless of stage, via a combination of the test switch and specific key button(s).
  • In 3rdMIX, there are three methods for activating this feature on the song select screen.
    • 1. Simultaneously press the specific key(s) and the test switch at the exact same time.
    • 2. While holding the specific key(s), press the test switch.
    • 3. While holding the test switch, press the specific key(s).
    • However, for all three methods, if all of the specific keys are on a side that is not currently active, the only way to subsequently select the song will be to wait for the timer to run out.
    • If only the test switch is being held down when the timer runs out, the song select screen will fade out, then fade back in (with the timer having been reset).
      • The same fade-out/fade-in will happen in the following scenarios.
        • The test switch and specific key(s) are pressed, or held while time runs out, while the EFFECT button is also being held down.
        • The test switch and an unassigned key combination (e.g. 1+2+4+5) are used.
      • This fade-out/fade-in can be utilized to make selection easier: while the song select screen fades out, press and hold the specific key(s) before it fades in, then press the test button again after it fades in.
• The specific keys to press for selecting each song (or the ending) are as follows.
  • 20,november (radio edit): 4+5 (two-player or DOUBLE only)
  • 20,november (single mix): 4+5 (one-player or BATTLE only)
  • area code: 7+8+9
  • Attack the music: 1+2+3
  • Beginning of Life: 3
  • Believe again: 3+4+5
  • Believe again HYPER MEGA MIX: 6
  • Deep Clear Eyes: 6+7
  • DJ BATTLE: 1+2+3+4
  • Do you love me?: 5
  • ENDING: 2+3+4+5
    • Note that the game will end immediately after the ending, regardless of which stage it was played on.
  • find out: 2
  • jam jam reggae (Funky jam Cookie mix): 4
  • La Bossanova de Fabienne: 9
  • life goes on: 1
  • LOVE SO GROOVY: 2+3 (one-player or BATTLE only)
  • LOVE SO GROOVY (12inch version): 2+3 (two-player or DOUBLE only)
  • LUV TO ME THIRD-MIX: 9+10
  • METALGEAR SOLID ～Main Theme: 3+4
  • nine seconds: 6+7+8
  • PRACTICE STAGE: 8+9+10
    • When selected via this method, the loading screen will show the information for s.d.z, but PRACTICE STAGE will be played.
    • The normal groove gauge(s) will appear (while occasionally being blocked by DJ KONAMI's dialogue text), and it will be possible to fail the stage (unlike in beatmania).
    • When this method is used to play PRACTICE STAGE on any stage, a genre of PRACTICE will appear for it on the DJ LEVEL screen when it scrolls down.
  • Queen's Jamaica: 1+2
  • s.d.z: 7
  • SKA a go go: 8+9 (redirects to DOUBLE chart if selected while BATTLE is enabled)
  • Stop Violence!: 10
  • super highway: 2+3+4
  • tribe groove: 7+8 (redirects to DOUBLE chart if selected while BATTLE is enabled)
  • wild I/O: 8
• Note that this feature is the only way to play the following songs while in EASY mode.
  • area code; Believe again; nine seconds; PRACTICE STAGE; Stop Violence!; super highway; tribe groove;

Event Mode

Selecting Mode During Event Mode

• When Event Mode is enabled, there are several differences in making selections, which are as follows.
  • The options menu is not shown on the title screen, preventing selection of options from there.
    • As noted in Select Options, the "Key Buttons" options are also unavailable.
    • As such, there is no known way to select options during Event Mode.
  • The mode select menu is skipped, preventing selection of game mode.
  • Song selection is generally performed with the START button(s), instead of a white or black key button (1/2/3/4/5 or 6/7/8/9/10).
    • However, when using the method described in Play Any Song (or Ending), the test switch combined with the specific key(s) can be used for selection instead.
  • To make each selection, follow the procedures below on the song select screen.
• Select Mode
  • Press the following button(s).
    • 1P START: SINGLE
    • 2P START: DOUBLE
    • 1P+2P START: BATTLE
      • Two-player non-BATTLE mode (DOUBLE chart with two lifebars) cannot be specifically selected while in Event Mode.
        • However, if a chart says that BATTLE cannot be played and BATTLE is selected anyway, it will play two-player non-BATTLE mode (DOUBLE chart with two lifebars).

Test Switch Differences

• While Event Mode is enabled, the operations that the test switch performs will differ as follows.
  • Pressing the test switch and letting go immediately: Selects the currently highlighted song, regardless of whether any keys or the EFFECT button are being held down.
  • Pressing and holding the test switch for slightly longer, or until the song select screen fades out, while holding the specific key(s) down: Selects the specified song.
  • Pressing and holding the test switch for slightly longer while not holding any keys down: Fades out of the song select screen, then fades back in.
• In addition, using the test switch and specific key(s) to select a song will only allow SINGLE mode to be played.

New Charts

The following songs from previous releases have received new charts in beatmania 3rdMIX.

Since ANOTHER charts do not have separate ratings, they will be denoted with a check mark (✓).

Genre	Song	Artist	BPM	SP Difficulty			DP Difficulty
				NORMAL	HARD	ANOTHER	NORMAL	HARD	ANOTHER
HOUSE	20,november (single mix)	DJ nagureo	130	-	-	✓	-	-	-
HOUSE	20,november (radio edit)	DJ nagureo	130	-	-	-	-	-	✓
SOUL	LOVE SO GROOVY	LOVEMINTS	141	4	-	-	-	-	-
SOUL	LOVE SO GROOVY (12inch version)	LOVEMINTS	141	-	-	-	4	-	-
AMBIENT	Beginning of life	QUADRA	110	1	-	-	1	-	-
SKA	SKA a go go	THE BALD HEADS	144-160	6	-	-	6	-	-
DRUM'N BASS MIX	Deep Clear Eyes	QUADRA	155	5	-	-	5	-	-

Removed Songs

The following songs from previous beatmania releases have been removed from beatmania 3rdMIX.

Song Title	Artist	Game
2 gorgeous 4U	prophet-31	beatmania
e-motion	e.o.s	beatmania
greed eater	The Dust Fathers	beatmania
jam jam reggae	jam master '73	beatmania
OVERDOSER (romo mix)	MIRAK	beatmania
OVERDOSER (ambient mix)	MIRAK	beatmania
u gotta groove	DJ nagreo	beatmania
Acid Bomb	DJ FX	beatmania 2ndMIX
e-motion (2nd MIX)	e.o.s	beatmania 2ndMIX
LOVE SO GROOVY (Nite's After Luv mix)	NITE SYSTEM	beatmania 2ndMIX
OVERDOSER (Driving Dub mix)	QUADRA	beatmania 2ndMIX
Salamander Beat Crush mix	NITE SYSTEM	beatmania 2ndMIX
tokai	perfomed by co-key DJ Mazinger	beatmania 2ndMIX
u gotta groove (Triple Mazin Dub)	DJ Mazinger	beatmania 2ndMIX

Related Link

• beatmania 3rdMIX Official Site (archived)
• beatmania 3rdMIX Official Site (UK) (archived)