Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[DS Daily: Instant import]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/ds-daily-instant-import/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/ds-daily-instant-import/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/ds-daily-instant-import/#commentsFiled under:


Some games just have to be imported. For us, it was Ouendan and its sequel. We were even considering Taiko Drum Master, but ended up holding out for a localization. What about you all, though? Was there a Japanese game you just had to have? What was it?

JoystiqDS Daily: Instant import originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>musicouendanrhythmtaikotaiko-drum-masterTue, 12 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Let's all chip in and buy Karthik Bala a copy of Ouendan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/lets-all-chip-in-and-buy-karthik-bala-a-copy-of-ouendan/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/lets-all-chip-in-and-buy-karthik-bala-a-copy-of-ouendan/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/lets-all-chip-in-and-buy-karthik-bala-a-copy-of-ouendan/#commentsFiled under: ,



Earlier today, we pointed you in the direction of Joystiq's hands-on impressions of Guitar Hero: On Tour, itself on tour as various websites tried the game out for themselves.

One of those sites was ShackNews, which also got to speak to Vicarious Visions CEO Karthik Bala. And we had only just started reading when one of Bala's opening statements got our blood boiling: apparently, Guitar Hero: On Tour was developed to "see if it was even possible to do a really good music rhythm game on a handheld."

Altogether now: "WHAAAAAT?!"

We can only assume that Bala is totally unaware of the vast treasure trove of rhythm-based awesomeness already available on the DS -- never mind what is still to come, or even on other handhelds.

JoystiqLet's all chip in and buy Karthik Bala a copy of Ouendan originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 May 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionebaelite-beat-agentsguitar-herokarthik-balamusicon-tourouendanredoctanerhythmtaiko-drum-mastervicarious-visionsFri, 30 May 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Japanese homebrew games that will blow your mind]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/japanese-homebrew-games-that-will-blow-your-mind/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/japanese-homebrew-games-that-will-blow-your-mind/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/japanese-homebrew-games-that-will-blow-your-mind/#commentsFiled under: ,


Whenever the topic of internationally developed homebrew DS games comes up, as it often does among hip and attractive people, most people in "the scene" immediately think of France, whose homebrew community rivals North America's in both size and production. You'll see an occasional release from other countries, such as Spain or Korea, but you'll rarely see much activity elsewhere.

But what about Japan's scene? For a country with so many DSes and a strong independent game development community, outside of Infantile Paralysiser's MoonShell media player, we've hardly seen any DS homebrew projects cross the Pacific. Where are all the doujin developers?

At least one programmer in Japan has been working on creating games for the DS, and we're bringing him out of the shadows to highlight three of his projects, likely games that you've never even heard of, let alone seen. If you're interested in homebrew development at all, you definitely need to pay attention to MeRAMAN!

Continue reading Japanese homebrew games that will blow your mind

JoystiqJapanese homebrew games that will blow your mind originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 May 2008 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arikahb08joystiqfeatureskotokoMeRAMANnds-tgmokamaidouendanprincess-briderhythmrinlentetristhe-grand-mastervocaloidyamahaWed, 21 May 2008 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[We're not cheering for We Cheer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/23/were-not-cheering-for-we-cheer/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/23/were-not-cheering-for-we-cheer/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/23/were-not-cheering-for-we-cheer/#commentsFiled under:

It turns out another cheerleading game that's not Ouendan is coming to the Wii. Can we get a facepalm, please?

Not that we have anything against cheerleading. We're just curious why there's a sudden revival of the sport, which has inspired two companies to bring it to the Wii. Seriously, people, it's been years since the Spartans SNL sketches or Bring it On made the general public view cheerleading as anything other than an excuse to ogle cute girls.

Nevertheless, joining THQ in the pep parade is Namco Bandai with a game called We Cheer. There's no word yet on whether Namco's game will involve the balance board, too, but we think it's a safe bet (think We Ski).

We hope this is the last cheerleading game we'll ever have to write about; unless, of course, iNiS feels inspired to bring an Ouendan adaptation to the Wii. We'd be totally fine with that. Seriously, iNiS, make it happen.

*Note: Looking up "cheerleader" in Google Image Search is absolutely scandalous.

JoystiqWe're not cheering for We Cheer originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 23 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bandai-namcocheerleadinginisnamco-bandaiouendansportswe-cheerSun, 23 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Daily: taking a stand]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/27/ds-daily-taking-a-stand/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/27/ds-daily-taking-a-stand/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/27/ds-daily-taking-a-stand/#commentsFiled under:

You know, we've never really felt the need to actually purchase one of the many stands available for the DS. We don't own Cooking Navi and playing Elite Beat Agents (or Ouendan) can be accomplished fairly easily by holding the DS with one of our hands and playing with the other. Then, we get an eye full of Hori's Taiko no Tatsujin stand and immediately felt the need to get one.

We can't imagine what we'd use it for, so we figured we'd ask you! Who better to let us know the many uses of a DS stand than the fine folks who've been using one for awhile now. So, tell us how your DS rocks its stand.

JoystiqDS Daily: taking a stand originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cooking-nabiebahoriouendanstandtaiko-drum-mastertaiko-no-tatsujinWed, 27 Feb 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rock your DS's sound through the car stereo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/rock-your-dss-sound-through-the-car-stereo/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/rock-your-dss-sound-through-the-car-stereo/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/rock-your-dss-sound-through-the-car-stereo/#commentsFiled under:

We actually enjoy playing our DS in the car quite a bit. In fact, one of us even went so far as to enjoy playing Puzzle Quest at red lights while behind the wheel. It's a dangerous obsession that not only threatens our own lives, but those of everyone else in the world. It's the nature of the beast, we suppose.

So imagine our surprise when we read this little piece and totally realized we could output our DS's sound to our car speakers, almost providing a surround sound experience. Sure, we have headphones for when we're trying to get our dual-screen on out in the wild, but sometimes they're uncomfortable. This just seems like an incredibly obvious thing we never thought of ourselves. We can totally picture playing Ouendan or Elite Beat Agents in this manner.

JoystiqRock your DS's sound through the car stereo originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carebaouendanpuzzle-questpuzzlequestred-lightsurround-soundFri, 22 Feb 2008 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Daily: EBA or Ouendan?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/17/ds-daily-eba-or-ouendan/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/17/ds-daily-eba-or-ouendan/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/17/ds-daily-eba-or-ouendan/#commentsFiled under:


We know this is a loaded question, and has been debated many times by many gamers. We want to know where our readers stand on the issue, though. So, what do you think is better -- Elite Beat Agents or the Ouendan games? And why? Normally, it just comes down to the music (American pop/classics vs. J-pop). But, is there another reason? Perhaps you enjoy the stories more when you can read them? Or maybe you like a set of characters better?

If you haven't played both titles, which do you think you'd like better? And if you haven't played either, why not? Do these rhythm games just not interest you, or have you not gotten around to it yet for some other reason?

JoystiqDS Daily: EBA or Ouendan? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 17 Feb 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ebaelite-beat-agentsouendanouendan-2rhythmvsSun, 17 Feb 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Huge discounts and prizes at Play Asia's Year of the Rat Lucky Sale]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/huge-discounts-and-prizes-at-play-asias-year-of-the-rat-lucky-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/huge-discounts-and-prizes-at-play-asias-year-of-the-rat-lucky-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/huge-discounts-and-prizes-at-play-asias-year-of-the-rat-lucky-s/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Bringing in the Chinese New Year, import shop Play Asia has slashed the prices on over five thousand of its in-stock games and accessories. What's more, each order you put in between today and February 29th will count towards an entry for you to win a variety of Japanese consoles, games, and store credits. There's just too many items on sale to list, so we've picked out a few from the DS and GBA sections that might pique your interest.

DS game sales:
  • Ryuusei no RockMan: Dragon, Leo, and Pegasus - $48.90 $9.90
  • Nodame Cantabile - $48.90 $14.90
  • Operation: Vietnam (US) - $24.90 $16.90
  • Slide Adventure: Mag Kid - $58.90 $19.90
  • Oshare Majo Love and Berry (DS Collection) - $58.90 $19.90
  • K-1 World GP - $48.90 $24.90
  • Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 - $48.90 $29.90
Jump past the break for the accessory and GBA bargains!

Continue reading Huge discounts and prizes at Play Asia's Year of the Rat Lucky Sale

JoystiqHuge discounts and prizes at Play Asia's Year of the Rat Lucky Sale originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>densetsu-no-stafigame-boy-microhorik-1-world-gpleashlegend-of-zeldalove-and-berrymetroidnodamecantabileoperation-vietnamouendanplay-asiarockmanslide-adventuresmart-pouch-litespecial-editionstafistar-soldiertouch-pean-leashxeviousyear-of-the-ratWed, 13 Feb 2008 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Ouendan 2 sale redux]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/ouendan-2-sale-redux/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/ouendan-2-sale-redux/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/ouendan-2-sale-redux/#commentsFiled under:


Did you miss out on Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 (that's a mouthful) when it was on sale around the holidays at Play-Asia? Never fear, dear readers, because the game is selling for cheap once again. This time, importer YesAsia is the site responsible for giving joy to rhythm game loving DS owners who don't live in Japan.

The price was slashed from its original import cost of $50.99, and now will only set you back $31.99. Making the deal even better, YesAsia offers free shipping with the item. The total may still sound costly, but trust our Ouendan-loving hearts when we say that it's well worth it.

The only thing to be wary of is YesAsia's claim that the game "usually ships within 21 days." We hope that doesn't mean you have to wait too long for it, and that Ouendan 2 will ship sooner rather than later. Buying the title at a reduced price might make the possible wait a little easier to swallow, though.

[Thanks, Brian!]

JoystiqOuendan 2 sale redux originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dealsinisosu-tatakae-ouendan-2ouendanouendan-2rhythmsalesyesasiaFri, 08 Feb 2008 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Everybody was touchscreen fighting]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/04/everybody-was-touchscreen-fighting/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/04/everybody-was-touchscreen-fighting/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/04/everybody-was-touchscreen-fighting/#commentsFiled under: ,

The DS's touchscreen technology has allowed us to indulge in some truly unique activities, from painting tanks to DJing to slapping women. Seriously, who would have guessed this kind of thing was the future in 2003?

Not wishing to be left out, Capcom's Rosario + Vampire (which, Capcom has confirmed, won't be appearing in the west) also uses the touchscreen in a novel way. Rather than the traditional method of pressing buttons, the game's combat sequences are carried out with directional stylus swipes, with different Ouendan-esque strokes producing certain moves.

It's definitely an interesting approach, and it makes us wonder whether we'll be seeing more fighting games embracing this method in the future. If Rosario + Vampire pulls it off well, we wouldn't bet against another developer picking up this idea and running with it.

JoystiqEverybody was touchscreen fighting originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventurecapcomdatingfightingmangaouendanrosariotouchscreenvampireFri, 04 Jan 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Daily: Year's best imports]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/27/ds-daily-years-best-imports/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/27/ds-daily-years-best-imports/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/27/ds-daily-years-best-imports/#commentsFiled under: ,

We talk a little about imports around here, but there are just so many that we can't possibly cover 'em all. Mostly, we hit the biggies -- the games that will generally head this way -- or things that are completely awesome, like the Ouendan titles. Beyond that, of course, we look at quirky, silly games, because we are quirky, silly people and we like to laugh. But how about you? If you're importing, or even surfing sites and thinking about it, what piques your interest? What did you buy, or even consider buying, this year? Games that you just couldn't wait for, or things that had little to no chance of a release outside Japan?

JoystiqDS Daily: Year's best imports originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>OuendanThu, 27 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Need help spending thirty bucks? OUENDAAAAAAN!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/26/need-help-spending-thirty-bucks-ouendaaaaaan/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/26/need-help-spending-thirty-bucks-ouendaaaaaan/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/26/need-help-spending-thirty-bucks-ouendaaaaaan/#commentsFiled under: ,


Import retailer Play-Asia's weekly specials are generally nice ways to get import games at good prices. This week's sale is extra-special, because the game is one close to our collective DS Fanboy heart. For the next six days or so, Play-Asia is selling Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 for a mere $29.90. We ordered a copy (as research for this post, of course) and shipping came out to just two dollars.

Normally, there's a period of intense waffling when we come across one of these sales. Do we go for the impulse purchase? Is an awesome deal worth disrupting our careful game budgeting? That is not how it went this time. This time we instinctively threw our wallets at the screen as soon as we saw the price.

JoystiqNeed help spending thirty bucks? OUENDAAAAAAN! originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Dec 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dealsinisouendanplay-asiarhythmsalesWed, 26 Dec 2007 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Critics' top 10: 2007 vs. kittens]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/23/critics-top-10-2007-vs-kittens/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/23/critics-top-10-2007-vs-kittens/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/23/critics-top-10-2007-vs-kittens/#commentsFiled under:

2007 is almost over, and the end of the year brings joyous tidings of List Season. It's the time for taking stock of the last 12 months of gaming, and trying to make sense of it by putting things in numerical order. Join DS Fanboy for our best-ofs, worst-ofs, and other categories-ofs.

When determining the best games of the year, it's a good idea to go at it from different angles: by referencing our own history of reviews, obviously, but we must also look to the wider journalism community. Our reviews, while insightful and entertaining, were not comprehensive. We just didn't play everything. In addition, one reviewer's opinion is simply not sufficient data to make definitive conclusions, even if that one reviewer is me.

So we turned to everyone else in aggregate to see what they thought of this year's releases. We've gathered the top 10 DS games of 2007 according to their Metacritic ranking. Keep in mind that many of these games tied in Metascore, meaning that if we were to rank the games, there would be fewer than ten positions. It's still sequential, but with a lot of tie scores.

We then carefully applied science to these games in order to convert the Metacritic numbers into a rubric we feel more accurately conveys the quality of these games. Head past the post break for Metacritic's top ten DS games of 2007, graded on a scale from adorable kitten video to unbelievably adorable kitten video.

Continue reading Critics' top 10: 2007 vs. kittens

JoystiqCritics' top 10: 2007 vs. kittens originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 23 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Actionbest-of-2007bleachContraContra-4criticseoyFinal-Fantasy-Xii-Revenant-WingsjoystiqfeatureskittensKonamiLunar-KnightsmetacriticouendanPicross-DSplanet-puzzle-leaguepuzzle-questrevenant-wingsRun-and-GunThe-Legend-of-Zelda-Phantom-HourglassWayForward-TechnologiesSun, 23 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ouendan cosplay skit is unashamedly insane, and all the better for it]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/21/ouendan-cosplay-skit-is-unashamedly-insane-and-all-the-better-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/21/ouendan-cosplay-skit-is-unashamedly-insane-and-all-the-better-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/21/ouendan-cosplay-skit-is-unashamedly-insane-and-all-the-better-f/#commentsFiled under: ,



With its outlandish (yet easily portrayable) cast and one of the most compelling soundtracks in gaming, we're not surprised that cosplayers are so drawn to Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan. In the video above, a highly enthusiastic crowd is treated to a performance by the Singapore-based "Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan Cosplay Group" at the annual EOY '07 Event at Singapore Expo. If only the same amount of effort was ploughed into all cosplay performances.

A warning before you hit play, however: as this is the last song from the second Ouendan game, consider this to be spoileriffic.

[Thanks, varumin!]

JoystiqOuendan cosplay skit is unashamedly insane, and all the better for it originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cosplayiNiSouendansingaporeFri, 21 Dec 2007 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Daily: LOL!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/16/ds-daily-lol/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/16/ds-daily-lol/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/16/ds-daily-lol/#commentsFiled under:

Being the jovial types that we are, there's nothing we enjoy more than a good, hearty belly laugh, and sometimes we struggle to contain our mirth while getting our DS on.

WarioWare: Touched! was perhaps the first title to really make us laugh out loud, and more recently Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan and the Ace Attorney games have coaxed a titter or two from us. It's also worth noting that Kaboom Kaboom and Insecticide both look like they could contain a good few chuckles.

We can't be alone in this respect, so which DS games crack you up?

JoystiqDS Daily: LOL! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 16 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ace-attorneycomedydsdhumorinsecticidekaboom-kaboomouendanwariowareSun, 16 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[What we're thankful for: DS edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/22/what-were-thankful-for-ds-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/22/what-were-thankful-for-ds-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/22/what-were-thankful-for-ds-edition/#commentsFiled under:



We asked you to tell us what you were thankful for yesterday for our three-pack giveaway, so it's only right that we commemorate this turkey holiday with our own shout-outs!
  • Eric: I am thankful for those blue shells that helped me win so many races against people who're much better at Mario Kart than me.
  • Alisha: I am thankful for whips ... I mean, awesome, portable dual-screen Castlevania games. With whips. Because whips are awesome.
  • David: I'm thankful for having a portable device I can turn on to ignore people in front of me I don't want to talk to. Tetris music drowns out all.
  • JC: I'm thankful for Brain Age, because photoshopped Brain Age screenshots are a well that will never run dry.
  • Candace: I'm thankful for the crew of Ouendan, without whom we would have long ago succumbed to a giant rat, meteor collision, and alien attack. I'm NOT thankful, however, for the habit it's given me of yelling out "Ouendan!!!" during job interviews when they don't go well.
  • Chris: I'm thankful for every last one of those life-saving straight tetraminoes that got me out of a pickle. And for Animal Crossing, and its ability to drag me away from the gray, depressing mundanities of my real life on a daily basis. *Sniff* Also, it teaches me about dinosaurs and stuff.
Last, but never least, we have to thank you, kind reader. Coming here everyday to see what we're rambling on about, you've been a pal and a confidante. What we're trying to say is, thank you for being a friend.

JoystiqWhat we're thankful for: DS edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Nov 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brain-agecastlevaniamario-kartouendanthanksgivingturkeyThu, 22 Nov 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free PC Ouendan/EBA emulator hits public beta]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/18/free-pc-ouendan-eba-emulator-hits-public-beta/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/18/free-pc-ouendan-eba-emulator-hits-public-beta/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/18/free-pc-ouendan-eba-emulator-hits-public-beta/#commentsFiled under: , ,


One thing you can count on for any decently successful rhythm game: someone will figure out a way to make a free PC clone. First there was Stepmania for DDR players, then there was Frets on Fire for Guitar Hero shredders and now there's Osu! for Ouendan/Elite Beat Agents fans.

The public beta, available since yesterday, does a remarkable job of capturing the tap-out-the-rhythm gameplay of the DS games, though the dancing cheerleaders have been replaced with static videos for each song. You can build your own levels or download over 100 "beatmaps" of primarily J-Pop songs that were made by testers.

Casual fans beware -- a lot of these fan-designed levels are killer, though there is an easy mode that makes things a little more manageable. Even if you're a master at the DS games, using the mouse takes a little getting used to. Then again, if you have a tablet PC, it's probably just like the DS games. Except, er, bigger.

JoystiqFree PC Ouendan/EBA emulator hits public beta originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSElite-Beat-AgentsiNiSMusicNintendoosuouendanPCRhythmThu, 18 Oct 2007 20:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Elite Beat Agents dev working on Xbox 360 project]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/14/elite-beat-agents-dev-working-on-xbox-360-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/14/elite-beat-agents-dev-working-on-xbox-360-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/14/elite-beat-agents-dev-working-on-xbox-360-project/#commentsFiled under: ,

No doubt communicating to Gamasutra via boisterous cartoon speech bubbles, Keiichi Yano of the annoyingly capitalized iNiS confirmed that his team is currently working on an unnamed Xbox 360 project. "Yeah. We are currently working on a title," he said when prodded about Microsoft's console during Seattle's GameFest event. "I can't really get into it more than, 'Yes, we're working on something!'"

With iNiS' past creations consisting of feel-good rhythm games such as Gitarooman, the Ouendan series and Elite Beat Agents, said something could easily involve catchy tunes, rhythmic button presses and unintentional gyration. We're certain the iNiS co-founder isn't pressed for ideas, but even if he was, he'd only need to holler for help. The strange men leaping out of his closet in response would probably share some sort of song about putting Gitarooman on Xbox Live Arcade ("it was the best decision ever made!").

JoystiqElite Beat Agents dev working on Xbox 360 project originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSElite-Beat-AgentsGitaroomanInisMusicNintendoOuendanRhythmXbox-360Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Siliconera checks out Ontamarama]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/16/siliconera-checks-out-ontamarama/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/16/siliconera-checks-out-ontamarama/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/16/siliconera-checks-out-ontamarama/#commentsFiled under:

We were piqued by the puzzlish multitasking rhythm gameplay in Noise Factory's Ontamarama before its Japanese release as Ontama. But now that it's being localized and we may actually have a shot at playing the thing, we've graduated from piqued to some degree of interest that is a little greater than 'piqued.'

Siliconera's Spencer Yip played Ontamarama at E3 and wrote up a description of the game, which sounds as complicated as ever: it involves first touching a little creature of the correct color, then tapping the D-pad in the direction of a scrolling arrow. We knew that those two components were involved, but didn't know the chronology. We're glad somebody got to play it and tell us!

80Pan fans take note: this game, for once, will be keeping the original Japanese music. Is that a good thing? No idea! If it helps, we're pretty sure there was no Avril Lavigne in the Japanese version.

JoystiqSiliconera checks out Ontamarama originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Jul 2007 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atlusmusicnoise factoryNoiseFactoryontamaontamaramaouendanrhythmMon, 16 Jul 2007 09:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Play-Asia's summer smoothie sale]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/05/play-asias-summer-smoothie-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/05/play-asias-summer-smoothie-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/05/play-asias-summer-smoothie-sale/#commentsFiled under: , ,

For the next week, online shop Play-Asia will be selling all of its in-stock items at a 20% discount, excluding weekly specials or anything released in the past 30 days -- cross Jump Ultimate Stars and Doki Doki Majo Shinpan off of your to-buy list. All of the import retailer's eligible products have been marked with the smoothie icon shown on the right, so it's easy to spot which games are on sale. We've picked out several noteworthy bargains that you might want to consider:
Though the sale doesn't end until next Friday, a lot of these items won't stay in-stock for long. Don't be that guy who has to leave a comment about missing out on a particular deal!

[Via CAG]

JoystiqPlay-Asia's summer smoothie sale originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Jul 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bargainbargainsbit generationsBitGenerationsboundishcapdasecasecasesdealdealsdialhexdigidrivediscountdiscountsheadphonesheadsetheadsetsjumpjump ultimate starsJumpUltimateStarsorbitalouendanouendan 2Ouendan2play asiaPlayAsiasalesalessoundvoyagerurban life style caseUrbanLifeStyleCaseThu, 05 Jul 2007 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Japanese gamers get EBA characters in Ouendan 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/21/japanese-gamers-get-eba-characters-in-ouendan-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/21/japanese-gamers-get-eba-characters-in-ouendan-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/21/japanese-gamers-get-eba-characters-in-ouendan-2/#commentsFiled under: ,

The Japanese always luck out when it comes to games! From June 28th to July 11th, Japanese gamers with a copy of (deep breath) Moeru! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 will be able to head to the nearest DS Download Station and download the Elite Beat Agents characters, as well as Neko, for use in Ouendan 2. If we said we weren't jealous, we'd be bold-faced liars.

[Via NeoGAF]

JoystiqJapanese gamers get EBA characters in Ouendan 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Jun 2007 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Elite-Beat-AgentsiNiSMusicNintendoouendanRhythmThu, 21 Jun 2007 13:55:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Daily: Phoenix Wright or Ouendan?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/07/ds-daily-phoenix-wright-or-ouendan/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/07/ds-daily-phoenix-wright-or-ouendan/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/07/ds-daily-phoenix-wright-or-ouendan/#commentsFiled under:


The time has come, faithful readers, for us to settle something once and for all. It's bound to be a heated issue, but it's a question worth answering. If you had to choose (and we grow faint just trying to imagine the horror of such a situation) between the Ace Attorney series and the Ouendan/Elite Beat Agents set, which side would you pick? Hot rhythm action or shouts of "Objection!" and an endless cast of wacky characters? It's a tough choice. Let's fight it out.

JoystiqDS Daily: Phoenix Wright or Ouendan? originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jun 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ds-dailyElite-Beat-AgentsiNiSMusicNintendoouendanRhythmThu, 07 Jun 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Elite Beat Agents rocks up in Europe July 13th]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/06/elite-beat-agents-rocks-up-in-europe-july-13th/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/06/elite-beat-agents-rocks-up-in-europe-july-13th/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/06/elite-beat-agents-rocks-up-in-europe-july-13th/#commentsFiled under: ,

Apparently, not everyone believes the language of music to be universal. Pro-G reports that Nintendo of Europe has rolled out of bed (which is the size of Manchester), grabbed a nearby megaphone and proclaimed July 13th as National Elite Beat Agents is Out In Europe Its About Time Seriously What Took So Long...Day. The streets would normally explode in a jovial mass of gyrating gamers at that time, but it's likely that most of them would have imported the rhythm game when it came out in the US eight months earlier.

Though some waiting period is to be expected for a continent home to as many languages as Europe, eight months seems an awful stretch for a game which primarily communicates through catchy tunes and brightly colored icons. As importers of Japan's recent Osu Tatakae Ouendan! sequel will attest, the game doesn't quite fall within the realms of text adventure or incomprehensible RPG. With cartridge space limitations working against the possibility of Nintendo recording different language versions of all the songs, it leads to the conclusion that the eight months were spent redrawing the game's many instances of "HEEEEEELLPPP!!"

Don't think this is the only case of a suspiciously long delay -- Metroid Prime Pinball also took eight months to make it across the ocean, and the Wii's Super Paper Mario is still without a release date. An instantaneous localization would be obviously be an absurd request, but perhaps it's time for Nintendo of Europe to take a few pointers from Square Enix, Mistwalker and Atlus. Starting the translation process during the game's development might just reduce eight months to something a bit more palatable to the impatient.

JoystiqElite Beat Agents rocks up in Europe July 13th originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jun 2007 12:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSElite-Beat-AgentsiNiSMusicNintendoOuendanRhythmWed, 06 Jun 2007 12:41:00 EST<![CDATA[English guide to Ouendan 2 menus]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/18/english-guide-to-ouendan-2-menus/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/18/english-guide-to-ouendan-2-menus/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/18/english-guide-to-ouendan-2-menus/#commentsFiled under: ,

Among its other many virtues, Ouendan owed a lot of its overseas hype and success to its undaunting language barrier. Despite the menus and manga panels being filled with Japanese text, importers were able to follow the rhythm title's illustrated screwball plots and quickly pick up its self-explanatory controls. Ouendan's recently-released sequel, Moeru! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2, likewise requires little-to-no familiarity with the Japanese language in order to enjoy the game.

Even with these assurances though, there are still many import-shy gamers who hide behind their mothers' skirts at the sight of kanji characters. Fortunately for them, the Platformers has translated Ouendan 2's menu selections, providing a visual guide with an overlay of English text. Most of the buttons and icons are obvious, but having a quick reference like this would be useful for first-time importers. Now there's no excuse for avoiding the cheer squad!

JoystiqEnglish guide to Ouendan 2 menus originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 May 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsenglishimportimportsinisjapanesekanjilanguagenintendonintendodsouendanouendan2rhythmtranslatetranslationFri, 18 May 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Daily: OUENDAAAAAAN]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/17/ds-daily-ouendaaaaaan/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/17/ds-daily-ouendaaaaaan/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/17/ds-daily-ouendaaaaaan/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's out, and we don't have it. It kinda hurts. Some bloggers seem to have gotten their hands on a copy, so we know it's possible that one of our faithful readers has Moeru! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2! We need to live vicariously through you, hypothetical reader! We need your impressions!

Those of you who don't have it or just don't have it yet: do you have one on the way? Do you consider this the biggest game release of the year? Or are you holding out for a US release? Or an Elite Beat Agents 2: Beat Harder? Personally, we'll take any and all iNiS music releases and will be importing Ouendan 2 as soon as finances allow.

JoystiqDS Daily: OUENDAAAAAAN originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 May 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsds liteDsLiteimportimportslitemusicnintendonintendo dsNintendoDsosuouendanrhythmtatakaeThu, 17 May 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some new Ouendan 2 tracks revealed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/some-new-ouendan-2-tracks-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/some-new-ouendan-2-tracks-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/some-new-ouendan-2-tracks-revealed/#commentsFiled under:


Cheeraholics will be glad to hear that four more songs for Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 have been discovered by a savvy individual snooping around Nintendo's Japanese website. Of course, if you're anything like us, you don't want any of this sure-to-be amazing game spoiled for you, so we placed the track list past the break. Check it out if you wish.

Continue reading Some new Ouendan 2 tracks revealed

JoystiqSome new Ouendan 2 tracks revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 May 2007 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsdslitelitenintendonintendodsnintendodsliteosutatakaeouendanouendanTue, 15 May 2007 17:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Eat! Hot Noodles Tasting Spirit: Ouendan-esque ramen commercial!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/14/eat-hot-noodles-tasting-spirit-ouendan-esque-ramen-commercial/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/14/eat-hot-noodles-tasting-spirit-ouendan-esque-ramen-commercial/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/14/eat-hot-noodles-tasting-spirit-ouendan-esque-ramen-commercial/#commentsFiled under:


This commercial may or may not be a direct parody of Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! but it is certainly evocative of our favorite male-cheerleader-based rhythm game. And it performs a public service!

If you watch this ad for Nissin's UFO ramen bowls, you'll learn an important life lesson about without having to pay the no-doubt exorbitant tuition required to attend the "UFO man school." The lesson is as follows: finish your freaking noodle bowl if you value your life.

True story time! When we were in college (not that long ago!) you couldn't get these things in American grocery stores like you can now. We ordered a bunch of Japanese food online, and had a horrible allergic reaction to one of these noodle bowls. Delicious noodles, though!

The video is posted after the break, with no further embarrassing personal anecdotes.

Continue reading Eat! Hot Noodles Tasting Spirit: Ouendan-esque ramen commercial!

JoystiqEat! Hot Noodles Tasting Spirit: Ouendan-esque ramen commercial! originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 May 2007 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsds liteDsLitenintendonintendo dsNintendoDsnoodlesouendanrhythmufoMon, 14 May 2007 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DS releases for the week of May 14th]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/14/ds-releases-for-the-week-of-may-14th/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/14/ds-releases-for-the-week-of-may-14th/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/14/ds-releases-for-the-week-of-may-14th/#commentsFiled under:

This week, gamers in the U.S. have some options again, but the big news is in import titles, with the release of the Ouendan sequel. How many of you will be shelling out the extra cash required to bring this one across the ocean? Probably more than a few, considering this is one of the most hotly anticipated sequels ever.

DS releases in the U.S.
  • Code Lyoko
  • Etrian Odyssey
  • Touch the Dead
For the rest of the globe, check after the jump.

Continue reading DS releases for the week of May 14th

JoystiqDS releases for the week of May 14th originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 May 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>code lyokoCodeLyokodsetrian odysseyEtrianOdysseymaynintendoouendanreleasestouch the deadTouchTheDeadMon, 14 May 2007 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Ouendan experience]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/10/the-ouendan-experience/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/10/the-ouendan-experience/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/10/the-ouendan-experience/#commentsFiled under: ,

With only a week to go before its release in Japan, Nintendo has put up a suite of videos for Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2. In addition to the traditional commercial spot and gameplay trailer, there are five "experience" clips showing people tapping and singing along with the rhythm title's songs.

We would post videos of our own experiences with Ouendan, but they'd consist of us sobbing in a corner as we played through "Over the Distance," a heart-rending ghost love story that calls for you to reunite a restless spirit with his grieving girlfriend for one last goodbye. We haven't cried that much since the last time we saw Grave of the Fireflies. Oh the humanity! Bring a tissue when you saunter past the post break for the melancholic scene from the original Ouendan game.

Continue reading The Ouendan experience

JoystiqThe Ouendan experience originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 May 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commercialcommercialsdepressingdsdsexperiencedsliteexperiencenintendonintendodsouendanouendan2rhythmsadtrailertrailersvideovideosThu, 10 May 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ouendan 2's epic boxart]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/18/ouendan-2s-epic-boxart/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/18/ouendan-2s-epic-boxart/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/18/ouendan-2s-epic-boxart/#commentsFiled under: ,



Due for release in Japan this May 17th, Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2's packaging art has two-stepped its way onto the internet. The cover features the sequel's two rival cheer squad team leaders with their arms outstretched, magnificent rays of light bursting behind them. Their eyes and expressions are brimming with determination, as if to say, "If you don't dance, well you're no friends of mine."

With a partial songlist, screenshots, and boxart now out on the internet, unchained, all that's left to cast loose is the actual cartridge. We've already put in our pre-orders for the rhythm game. Have you decided whether or not you'll be importing Ouendan 2 yet?

JoystiqOuendan 2's epic boxart originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artworkboxartcoverdsimportjapannintendonintendodsouendanouendan2packagingpackagingartrhythmWed, 18 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Follow the bouncing ball with Ontama]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/14/ontama-get-ready-to-hear-about-this-a-lot-from-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/14/ontama-get-ready-to-hear-about-this-a-lot-from-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/14/ontama-get-ready-to-hear-about-this-a-lot-from-us/#commentsFiled under:


Ontama is a new rhythm game for the DS. Which is, really, all we needed to know for our hype-generating machine to go into full power. In case you hadn't noticed, we tend to get worked up about the music games.

Rather than telling little mini-stories like Elite Beat Agents, Noise Factory's new game seems to be a somewhat more stripped-down, arcade experience, with characters that seem to be limited to describing gameplay. We don't exactly know how the game works, but we can tell that you touch little round creatures (probably the Ontama themselves, since that translates to "sound balls" or "music balls") to send them into icons on the top of the screen; you then hit directions and buttons that correspond to those icons at the right moment, like Parappa the Rapper.

Enjoy the trailer after the break, and see if you can figure out a little bit more of what's going on.

Continue reading Follow the bouncing ball with Ontama

JoystiqFollow the bouncing ball with Ontama originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ballsdsds liteDsLiteebalitemusicmusicgamemusicgamesnintendonintendo dsNintendoDsnoisefactoryontamaouendanpuzzlerhythmrhythmgamerhythmgamessoundtamaSat, 14 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Ouendan 2 screens: versus mode CONFIRMED, excitement UNCONTROLLABLE]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/11/new-ouendan-2-screens-versus-mode-confirmed-excitement-uncontr/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/11/new-ouendan-2-screens-versus-mode-confirmed-excitement-uncontr/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/11/new-ouendan-2-screens-versus-mode-confirmed-excitement-uncontr/#commentsFiled under: ,


Some incredible new screens of Ouendan 2 have exploded onto the web and filled us with hot-blooded rhythm spirit. Two new scenarios are featured: the first involving a girls' choir who need HEEEAALP performing harmoniously, and the second involving a soccer player who requires the power of your dancing to succeed. Wait, cheering for a sport? Preposterous.

One especially notable feature evident in the screens is a new multiplayer mode, where one member of both the Ouendan squad and the new rival squad face off. Judging from the little antenna icon on the screen, it's definitely wireless play. Our case of rhythm spirit will be incurable if the game turns out to be online.

Continue reading New Ouendan 2 screens: versus mode CONFIRMED, excitement UNCONTROLLABLE

JoystiqNew Ouendan 2 screens: versus mode CONFIRMED, excitement UNCONTROLLABLE originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>damashiidsds liteDsLiteinislitemusicnekketsunintendonintendo dsNintendoDsosuouendanouendan2rhythmtatakaeWed, 11 Apr 2007 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Partial songlist for Ouendan sequel revealed [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/11/partial-songlist-for-ouendan-sequel-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/11/partial-songlist-for-ouendan-sequel-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/11/partial-songlist-for-ouendan-sequel-revealed/#commentsFiled under: ,

A partial songlist for Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 can be found in this week's Japanese gaming magazines, and we can't help but get giddy over some of the choices. The Platformers reveals the following songs:
  • Mihimaru GT - "Kibun Joujou"
  • Homemade Kazoku - "Shounen Heart"
  • smap - "Bang! Bang!!"
  • Ayaka - "I Believe"
  • Kimura Kaela - "Real Life Real Heart"
  • Flow - "Okuru Kotoba"
  • Sukima-Switch - "Zenryoku Shonen"
  • Checkers - "Oh, My Julia"
  • Yaida Hitomi - "Go My Way"
  • Hirai Ken - "POP STAR"
The Platformers website provides samples for each song, for those interested in getting a small taste of what's to come. The game's release is not too far away: May 17th, so importers will want to get their pre-orders in ASAP, before the other cheerleading-obsessed gamers do.

[Thanks, Imran!]
[Update 1: Minor stylistic corrections.]

JoystiqPartial songlist for Ouendan sequel revealed [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ayakacheckersflowhirai kenHiraiKenhomemade kazokuHomemadeKazokukimura kaelaKimuraKaelamihimaru gtMihimaruGtouendansmapsukima-switchthe platformersThePlatformersyaida hitomiYaidaHitomiWed, 11 Apr 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Osu! Tatakae! Nodame Cantabile!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/27/osu-tatakae-nodame-cantabile/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/27/osu-tatakae-nodame-cantabile/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/27/osu-tatakae-nodame-cantabile/#commentsFiled under: ,

We've already helped a student pass his exams in Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan, and then we reunited a little girl with her dead father in Elite Beat Agents, so what's the next challenge on our rhythm-gaming plate? Turning our eyes towards Namco Bandai Games' Nodame Cantabile, it looks like we'll be conducting music with a ragtag class of students.

The Nintendo DS has been home to many manga/anime licenses, so it's no surprise seeing the shoujo series appear on the handheld. Judging by what we've seen so far, the game plays like a simplified version of Ouendan. Players tap a series of floating notes in time with the music, filling up a "life" gauge with each successful hit. Missing a beat depletes the gauge, ending the level when the gauge is emptied.

A flash demo of the game has been put up to promote Nodame Cantabile DS, and you don't even need to know any Japanese to play! Check it out after the post break.

[Via NeoGAF]

Continue reading Osu! Tatakae! Nodame Cantabile!

JoystiqOsu! Tatakae! Nodame Cantabile! originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Mar 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animebandaiebamangamusicnamconamcobandainodamecantabileorchestraosutattakeouendanouendanrhythmTue, 27 Mar 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Everlasting Love is worth the effort]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/26/everlasting-love-is-worth-the-effort/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/26/everlasting-love-is-worth-the-effort/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/26/everlasting-love-is-worth-the-effort/#commentsFiled under:

Why haven't we seen more rhythm platformers since Donkey Kong Jungle Beat? And while we're at it, how come there aren't more games that feature primates? We were on the verge of sending out subpoenas and demanding answers from the video game industry's "top people," but then we stumbled upon Everlasting Love, a charming, monochrome game from homebrew developer Mia (Ninja & Zarbi, Oil Panic DS).

Following the single-song soundtrack (from We Love Katamari) and the monkey protagonist's head movements, players tap the A button to the beat. Just hitting the A button at all makes the simian character bounce around, but he jumps higher depending on how rhythmically accurate you are. You can use the directional pad to face which direction you want to pounce, but all movement is limited to hopping around.

While there's a lot of emphasis on staying with the rhythm, jumping as high as possible isn't the goal of the game -- you're actually meant to complete the levels with as few measured hops as possible. Some of the portions actually require you to jump off-beat, keeping your head down to avoid low-hanging spikes.

Everlasting Love can get pretty frustrating at times, but we're not sure if it's the fault of the game's or our own lacking abilities. Clearing the first pit took us a few tries before we could put it behind us, and the obstacles get exponentially harder after that. At version 0.1 though, Everlasting Love has a lot of potential to be the rhythm platformer we've been waiting for all these years.

[Via DCEmu]

JoystiqEverlasting Love is worth the effort originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Mar 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apechimpdsdsliteeverlastinglovehomebrewkatamarimiamonkeymusicnintendodsouendanplatformerrhythmrhythmtengokuMon, 26 Mar 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cheer up! More Ouendan 2 scans are here!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/26/cheer-up-more-ouendan-2-scans-are-here/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/26/cheer-up-more-ouendan-2-scans-are-here/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/26/cheer-up-more-ouendan-2-scans-are-here/#commentsFiled under:

Every day we get to see even one more frame of Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 is a good day. Just getting an excuse to type the awesomely overblown title out makes us smile. And today we have two nice, big magazine scans to stare at.

The scans show two of the new levels, and we have descriptions of the objectives thanks to the language wizards at NeoGAF, who can instantly make small amounts of Japanese become English. The first level involves Tsuyoshi Hanada, the student from the first level of the first Ouendan, and his job search. The second involves a salesman who wants to peddle sneakers in space. The screenshots from this level indicate that the rival Ouendan team will be playable!

The full scans are available after the post break. Click them (rhythmically, of course) for larger versions.

[Via NeoGAF]

Continue reading Cheer up! More Ouendan 2 scans are here!

JoystiqCheer up! More Ouendan 2 scans are here! originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Mar 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agentsbeatdamashiidsds liteDsLiteebaeliteinislitemoerumusicgamesnekketsunintendonintendo dsNintendoDsosuouendanouendan2rhythmtatakaeMon, 26 Mar 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ouendan scans of new and returning characters]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/18/ouendan-scans-of-new-and-returning-characters/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/18/ouendan-scans-of-new-and-returning-characters/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/18/ouendan-scans-of-new-and-returning-characters/#commentsFiled under: ,

Cheerleading won't come easy in the upcoming sequel to everyone's favorite portable music game. The troupe of opposing ouendan are designed to be prettier and more charming than the gang you control. Of course, you won't let their beautiful heads of hair get in your way: you're going to out-cheer them, and put them in their place. Jeux-France has new scans of Ouendan's long-titled sequel, and not only do you get to see the new rival group you'll have to cheer against, you'll see a familiar, returning character go through yet another ordeal. (Japanese people sure have it rough, don't they?)

Careful examination of the scans reveals that one of the levels seems to take place in space (pictured). Zero gravity cheerleading? Sign me up!

See also:
The making of Ouendan & Elite Beat Agents

JoystiqOuendan scans of new and returning characters originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 18 Mar 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ouendanSun, 18 Mar 2007 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Creating Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan and its recreation as Elite Beat Agents]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/creating-osu-tatakae-ouendan-and-its-recreation-as-elite-beat/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/creating-osu-tatakae-ouendan-and-its-recreation-as-elite-beat/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/creating-osu-tatakae-ouendan-and-its-recreation-as-elite-beat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Keiichi Yano, VP of development for iNiS Corporation created Gitaroo-man and Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan. Americans know him most recently for the conversion of the latter title to Elite Beat Agents. But since the original Japanese rhythm game centered on the rousing Ouendan, at his GDC seminar, Yano explained the process of rebuilding the title for a more American approach with "The Agents."

With two Ouendan helpers occasionally chiming in, but mostly standing at attention during the presentation, Yano described the history of his company's titles. He was the game designer and also lead programmer for the company's first game, Gitaroo-man -- "[my ambitious role] was the stupidest thing ever." He hadn't created a game before, saying, "[I] studied pretty hard, read all the books, [and] came to GDC. At the end of the development cycle, we thought we had a really good game. ... We gained a fair amount of confidence."

But Gitaroo-man was a retail disappointment. "It sold, like, nothing," Yano continued. "Any confidence that we had built was completely crushed like a fly. At this point, we had kind of lost all confidence in the music genre. ... We really did a lot of soul-searching back then."

iNiS went on to prototype a new game and show it off to Nintendo. Yano said, "To make a long story short, they thought our idea sucked. ... We went on and we kept pitching this game [elsewhere]."

Gallery: Elite Beat Agents concept art

Continue reading Creating Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan and its recreation as Elite Beat Agents

JoystiqCreating Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan and its recreation as Elite Beat Agents originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 06:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSElite-Beat-AgentsGDCgdc07gitaroo-maniNiSKeichi-YanolocalizationlocalizeMusicNintendoOuendanPS2PSPRhythmThu, 08 Mar 2007 06:58:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 07: The making of Ouendan & Elite Beat Agents]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/gdc-07-the-making-of-ouendan-and-elite-beat-agents/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/gdc-07-the-making-of-ouendan-and-elite-beat-agents/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/gdc-07-the-making-of-ouendan-and-elite-beat-agents/#commentsFiled under:


The gaming community has embraced iNiS' incredible DS music games, Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! and Elite Beat Agents, much to the surprise of game designer Keiichi Yano. His panel at the Game Developer's Conference in San Francisco featured an incredible large audience that filled the presentation room. All kinds of people, from gamers, to developers, to prominent members of the gaming press, all attended the session to show their support of this small development team.

Yano-san went into incredible detail about the inspirations behind the game, the process of working with Nintendo, and gave us some delicious images from the upcoming sequel.

Continue reading GDC 07: The making of Ouendan & Elite Beat Agents

JoystiqGDC 07: The making of Ouendan & Elite Beat Agents originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 00:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Elite-Beat-Agentsgdcgdc07iNiSMusicNintendoouendanRhythmThu, 08 Mar 2007 00:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Elite Beat Agents sequel is on (oh yes)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/21/elite-beat-agents-sequel-is-on-oh-yes/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/21/elite-beat-agents-sequel-is-on-oh-yes/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/21/elite-beat-agents-sequel-is-on-oh-yes/#commentsFiled under: ,

Dengeki Online has today posted Nintendo of Japan's latest release schedule, which includes mention of the long-awaited sequel to -- drum-roll for nervous anticipation -- Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan (which was rejigged for the West as Elite Beat Agents). There's no release date mentioned other than a non-specific "during 2007." Four-player action is confirmed, though, as is the new sensation's snappy title: Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Tamashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan. Got all that? Quick translation: Burn! Hot-Blooded Rhythm Spirit, Yo! Fight! Cheerleading. Need we say more?

JoystiqElite Beat Agents sequel is on (oh yes) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Feb 2007 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSElite-Beat-AgentsiNiSMusicNintendoOuendanRhythmWed, 21 Feb 2007 05:00:00 EST