Scratch: The Ultimate DJ deck ain't no half-steppin'
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Nov 3rd 2009 at 11:50AM } 
"These aren't some made up tricks," scoffs our friendly narrator. "They're authentic scratches heard every night in the hottest clubs in the world." But authenticity -- the act of keeping it real -- doesn't end there for Scratch: The Ultimate DJ's Numark-designed peripheral, the Scratch Deck. Check these street credentials:
Update: So what's up with the game? "The game is coming along quite nicely under the direction of the Commotion Interactive team, and we will be releasing some new assets in a few weeks," a Scratch spokesperson tells Joystiq. And adds, "As of now, the release date is still spring 2010."
- "the first legitimate DJ controller for video gamers" (oh snap!)
- "Numark have been at the forefront of turntable production since the 1970s" (before you were even born, son!)
- "utilizes technology that locks your scratches in the sweet spot of any sample" (bust that scientifical)
- "build skills that will transfer over to any DJ setup" (who said anything about mad skillz?)
- "you need beats" (just sayin')
- "Dr. Dre, Just Blaze and Pete Rock" ( ... just sayin')
Update: So what's up with the game? "The game is coming along quite nicely under the direction of the Commotion Interactive team, and we will be releasing some new assets in a few weeks," a Scratch spokesperson tells Joystiq. And adds, "As of now, the release date is still spring 2010."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
KeegdnaB @ Nov 3rd 2009 11:59AM
"the first legitimate DJ controller for video gamers"
I never thought I would make a "Konami Will Sue" joke and feel it's actually justified.
Welcome to 1998 folks.
KeegdnaB @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:00PM
I'm sorry, I was mistaken
Welcome to 1997 folks.
kenny goo @ Nov 3rd 2009 1:07PM
Yea, cause the Beatmania controller was *totally* legitimate. >_>
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Nov 3rd 2009 1:20PM
Beatmania comparisons are ONLY valid if the turntable didn't have resistance built in and the buttons weren't more akin to keyboard clacking as opposed to soft hits of an Akai pad or an M-Audio trigger Finger.
But that's neither here nor there. What IS here is the fact that, as you mentioned, Beatmania came out in 1997. This is 2009. That means Konami had 12 fucking years to beat this game to the market. 12 years to make the Beatmania franchise more than a niche arcade title because only arcades which imported machines would know about this. 12 years to do anything but fuck up at EVERY POSSIBLE TURN to take Beatmania outside of Japan.
I love Beatmania, and Bemani in general, but you're defending by far the most incompetant goddam franchise on the planet. Beatmania had it's chance. If we're going to hold off on these games until Konami finally gets it right, Beatmania would be making it's first legitimate US and Europe debut as a PS4/Xbox 720 third generation title.
12 years waiting for Konami to bring this franchise to the US outside of test locations and a REALLY REALLY shitty PS2 mix.... 12 years of waiting for this to happen. Any claim Bemani fanboys have about how Konami invented this shit is lost in the simplest of questions... where is it? If it's so great AND first, where is it? Why am I still paying $90 to import the latest PS2 mix for my Japanese PS2 if Konami was so good at handling this brand and franchise?
Sweetjohnnycage @ Nov 3rd 2009 8:00PM
@Sheppy
when are you going to shop elsewhere for your import games? $90 is idiocy. I used to get my bemani for 65 shipped from hong kong.
fundando @ Nov 3rd 2009 2:37PM
I don't know about you guys but I'm still importing IIdx games. There is something special about the music in those games.
yyr @ Nov 3rd 2009 3:19PM
@sweetjohnnycage
The latest version, beatmaniaIIDX16 EMPRESS, is more expensive than usual due to the fact that it's a 2-disc set with almost 200 playable songs. The second disc is a compilation of older version songs, spanning all 16 previous versions (counting substream. No that isn't a typo). It's the last PS2 version they're releasing, and as such, they went all out.
Ridgecity @ Nov 3rd 2009 3:38PM
Konami? idiots, could have made a few billion dollars on guitars and dj sets but decided Dance Dance Revolution was enough outside of Japan...
BPMOmega [XBL, PSN, Steam] @ Nov 3rd 2009 5:57PM
Beatmania, Drummania, Guitar Freaks, Dance Freaks/Maniax, Keyboardmania, Pop 'n Music... these are all music games Konami created in 2000 or newer... but just sat on them. Even though they pump it out constantly now, they sat on DDR for a long time, too. Aside from a brief release of the original (and DDR USA), we hadn't had an official arcade release until SuperNOVA in 2006. Though, there were several home releases prior to that...
Even so, for all that Konami has done for the music genre, they really did jack squat outside of Asia. Which is a real shame, too.
S. Tiger @ Nov 3rd 2009 5:58PM
@fundando: 70 new, original tracks per game since about IIDX 5th? Most (As in 80% or so) of them being good?
Jason @ Nov 3rd 2009 10:57PM
Maybe Konami will release "DJ Revolution" globally after at least two other franchises dominate, they can make all of the original mixes from terrible sounding covers, then leave out half of the features.
GiggMan @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:02PM
When are we going to see more than two seconds of game play and people talking.
fundando @ Nov 3rd 2009 2:39PM
I was literally trying to turn my head to try to watch the gameplay while that DJ was talking.
VaultBoy @ Nov 3rd 2009 3:49PM
I've seen some. It plays just like beatmania with some crossfading thrown in on the scratches. Doesn't seem as complicated as DJ Hero. Speaking of which, why the hell couldn't they make the crossfader snap to its neutral position on the DJ hero turntable? That thing is confusing as all hell. Scratch seems more hip-hop oriented than DJ Hero though where DJ hero is all over the place. Still don't know what the track list is on Scratch though.
deaftly (PSN,LIVE,STEAM) @ Nov 3rd 2009 3:53PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4svdh9PNIeI&NR=1
Looks pretty damn meh
deaftly (PSN,LIVE,STEAM) @ Nov 3rd 2009 4:05PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2s_UdXY_1c&feature=related
GiggMan @ Nov 3rd 2009 4:16PM
Deaftly,
That didn't look like DJ'ing or fun....
Omega2k3 @ Nov 3rd 2009 10:34PM
Looks WAY better in the second one. The first video, I had seen a while back, and lost my interest for scratch. Glad I was able to see a better demonstration.
Bubzilla @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:03PM
Is it just me or does that thing look like the retards from Rock Revolution designed it?
http://blogs.pcworld.co.nz/pcworld/WCG/148637-Rock-Revolution.jpg
Lets see... lots of buttons --- Check!
Confusing interface ----- Check!
Looks like it was built in the 80's ---- Check!
Yep don't see how this can fail
HeXeN @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:04PM
Looks really cheap and gimmicky.
sam @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:13PM
You're kidding, right? It looks a whole hell of a lot better than the DJ Hero controller. Only thing is, maybe it will also cost a whole hell of a lot more... ?
So this wins the 'DJ controller wars' by a mile - but, um, they don't seem to have an actual game for it yet. Maybe their game will also be more like DJing than Activision's... and if so, maybe it'll be less fun.
HeXeN @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:30PM
The DJ Hero controller looks more Authentic, In terms of size.
Jose [Steam & PSN: Assmar] @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:33PM
Think Korg DS-10. This thing looks very nice. it's an effing rhythm game, so how compelling do you want it's colored dots on tracks to be? You're blind, sir.
Player1 @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:41PM
All I can say about the DJ Hero controller is: buttons on the records.
Jose [Steam & PSN: Assmar] @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:48PM
LOLWUT?
I mean, exactly.
Indefinite Implosion @ Nov 3rd 2009 8:37PM
Yeah, this looks like it could be used as a proper audio tool when plugged into a computer.
For example those beat pads look exactly the same as pads on actual sample decks, albeit with less buttons...
(If I called some things by the wrong names, feel free to correct me, I'm no musician)
ChuckBartowski @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:06PM
"awww yeah, and did we forget to mention, that our scratch table is so off the hizy, were gonna charge one fidy for it!"
ChuckBartowski @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:17PM
oh yeah and theres no daft punk, so.... no way.
Jose [Steam & PSN: Assmar] @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:35PM
It's called "Hip-Hop".
Troy Powers (PSN: TroyPowers) @ Nov 3rd 2009 1:16PM
I'm preeeeeeetty sure hip-hop isn't the only music that employ's DJs.
GiggMan @ Nov 3rd 2009 1:22PM
@Jose, that's what I'm screaming.
Jose [Steam & PSN: Assmar] @ Nov 3rd 2009 1:42PM
@Troy
*pretty
Precisely why someone shouldn't cry foul when one band isn't included in the trailers for a game of which we've all admittedly seen so little. On the other hand, hip-hop is a movement that was started by the turntable: it's the first of the elements, so you cannot separate them from one another.
ChuckBartowski @ Nov 3rd 2009 2:04PM
yeah i no, just saying thats why i like DJHero over this.
Jose [Steam & PSN: Assmar] @ Nov 3rd 2009 4:29PM
Fuck, haven't you people played enough rhythm games with shitty bands like Metallica and No Doubt? Apparently not. Let's please see something new here.
Cheezeman3000 @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:07PM
Man, at first I was all for this game, but now that Activision has shown some GOOD innovation in the DJ music genre, it's really hard to get excited. Plus, I'm almost positive this will be the only Scratch game we see... it's late to the market, it's not coming to the Wii, it looks like a children's toy compared to DJ Hero's device... I hate to say it but Activision has pretty much already won this round. Let's just hope Harmonix creates a competing product stat, and includes it in their next music game!
Traceur_Ryuk [Founder of The Anti-EMCB(tm) Brigade] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:12PM
" it looks like a children's toy compared to DJ Hero's device"
Actually, this looks much more like a real turntable than DJ Hero.
context @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:23PM
Doesn't every instrument from a rhythm game look like a kids toy?
Cheezeman3000 @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:42PM
Well, I don't know what DJ equipment you're talking about, but to me DJ Hero looks much more like the record-based setup we've had for years and years. Modern CD-based and computer-based DJ setups might look a bit more like Scratch, but they don't really have a standard 'look' to them, so it's hard to compare.
oolz @ Nov 3rd 2009 1:42PM
you call hitting pointers that plays chunks of mixes that someone else made, giving you ZERO control over the thing that DJ's actually do, innovation? You're a retard.
I'm not saying this game will give you that either, but you need to take the Acticock out of your mouth until you actually know what you're talking about.
Jason @ Nov 3rd 2009 11:07PM
I know, right? DJ Hero looks more like the old school turn tables we used to use. With buttons on the records.
Traceur_Ryuk [Founder of The Anti-EMCB(tm) Brigade] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:07PM
Even if this game is good, they don't stand a chance in hell against DJ Hero.
oolz @ Nov 3rd 2009 1:44PM
blah blah blah, people said the same think about Rock Band and still do, but you won't hear Harmonix complaining with their few million in sales (vs 10+mil for GH) and countless reviews praising their products. Point: Quality will sell. If this game has it, it will do just fine.
sam @ Nov 3rd 2009 5:21PM
Rock Band didn't sell only because of quality, but for two other factors before the actual game even came out:
- massive marketing
- existing known developer => fan hype
This game will have neither. Particularly marketing - I mean, look at this promo video. Not exactly trailer of the year.
Even if it's a great game I really doubt it will sell 1/10 as much as DJ Hero. Hope I'm wrong though!
creyes4182 @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:15PM
2 seconds of actual game footage. It looks horrible. Say all you want about DJ hero but at least that game's fun.
Diskoboy7 @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:16PM
"Numark have been at the forefront of turntable production since the 1970s" (before you were even born, son!)
Really? I was born in 1974...
And I believe I'll stick to Technics, thanks..
Taiko Drum Grandmaster @ Nov 3rd 2009 2:01PM
Too bad Technics stopped supporting their digital tables. The DZ1200s were great tables, I have a pair. But there's no more production, and no more firmware updates. Makes me very sad.
Well, back to Pioneer.
Rhemelious @ Nov 3rd 2009 8:58PM
"the publihers of Scratch: The Ultimate DJ, Genius Products and Numark, sued against Scratch's developer, 7 Studios and Activision. The lawsuit contends that Activision purchased 7 Studios to both gain access to proprietary technology and to delay publication of the game so DJ Hero could come out first"
Hmmm intresting
deaftly (PSN,LIVE,STEAM) @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:20PM
Consider this vaporware. Dj Hero is friggin awesome though.
PumaBoy @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:28PM
this does look more realistic, I am just hoping they can create a good game for it. Played DJ Hero at Bestbuy and was really turned off since it is premixed tracks and allows no creativity to mixing two tracks. Why not just overlay two tracks that can be swapped on beat. Also it is kinda dumb to have to push a button while scratching.
SourceJR @ Nov 3rd 2009 12:35PM
dosn't look more realistic to me it looks like beatmania. i know my turntables dont come with mpc pads and the cross fader is way to small. if you want 2 track and the ability to pix them your self you want to be a real dj. there would be no way to regulate score and keep it simple enough to be fun if they let you do everything your self. i mean when u play guitar hero the guitar parts are pre played arn't they.