Beatmania US, DDR EX2, Ultramix 3, & KR party

[Sync]

so much news flying around, Bemani needs some love.

DDR Extreme 2 (PS2) -September
Online support added and even more eye-toy support. Unfortunately no songs are confirmed, hopefully a number of those left out of EX(1) will show up (eg. Sakura, stoic, Paranoia Survivor).

Ultramix 3 (Xbox) -November
Online play, songpacks, & other uploadable/downloadable content. Beginner, Quest & "Freestyle" mode.
Edit: Sakura and Butterfly (smile.dk) confirmed for UM3

Karaoka Revolution pary (PS2, Xbox, GCN) -Q4 2005
"Sing & Dance" mode, supports DDR pad and mic at same time (talk about distracting). Customize your character’s body shape, hair, clothes, and accessories.

Beatmania/IIDX US (PS2), best for last
5key and 7key support on the 9th Style console interface and redesigned Konami original IIDX controller (KOC), expect that to be cheaper and maybe a bit smaller. Here's hoping to a cheaper release of the Arcade Style Controller as well, they're normally $430 .
Over 50 "Club tracks" which so far include the Metal Gear Solid theme, Overblast!!, and The Shining Polaris. I would expect a few US licenses (maybe Sandstorm by Darude and some people theorize Daft Punk and possibly Paul Oakenfold showing up), but for the first release most of it should be Konami originals to test out the market.
Q4 2005 - Q2 2006 release.

thats great timing! because I just bought another KOC for $110.[/sarcasm]

now all they need to do is bring Pop'n Music over and make a new version of Guitar Freaks & Drum Mania for console.

[Debitt]

Mmmm, DDR Extreme 2. I'm really not a fan of all the Eye Toy stuff for it - it really doesn't detract from the game, I guess I just kinda get annoyed because the Eye Toy seems to be really...gimmicky. But as long as this one's got a solid song selection, I'm a happy camper. I wasn't too too fond of the songs on EX1 (a lot of them still remain unplayed on my PS2), so here's hoping that they'll have a lot of the classics on this one. (sakura, pink dinosaur, etc.)

[Sync]

even more of a gimmick, think of playing against someone else with an eyetoy when you have one yourself, if you could see eachother during play. no thank.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Mmmm, DDR Extreme 2. I'm really not a fan of all the Eye Toy stuff for it - it really doesn't detract from the game, I guess I just kinda get annoyed because the Eye Toy seems to be really...gimmicky. But as long as this one's got a solid song selection, I'm a happy camper. I wasn't too too fond of the songs on EX1 (a lot of them still remain unplayed on my PS2), so here's hoping that they'll have a lot of the classics on this one. (sakura, pink dinosaur, etc.)

EX1 sucked...

get the import I say! 8th mix pwns all

[Kkun]

As long as EX 2 brings the option to turn DANCE PLAY ON AND OFF, I might consider buying it. EX 1 with its lack of ability to turn Dance Play on and off completely made me not want to buy it.

But also, I hope you're right and it will have some better songs on it.

[ShiroiHikari]

EX2...man, I hope it has a better songlist.

[Debitt]

Well...*sighs* it's not looking good right now. They had a preview on Yahoo!Games and the only three songs mentioned were by Christina Aguilera, Britany Spears, and Sean Paul....

[Tommy]

well, I`m not getting it.

i have an eyetoy but not any games for it.

[Sync]

As long as EX 2 brings the option to turn DANCE PLAY ON AND OFF, I might consider buying it.

what exactly is that again? I think I know what you're talking about but it could be something different.

[Kkun]

what exactly is that again? I think I know what you're talking about but it could be something different.

Dance Play is something in the options menu on EVERY SINGLE HOME DDR GAME where you can turn the X, O, triangle, and square buttons off while the actual DDR game is in play. When they're on, they each correspond to an arrow and for people who move all over the pad like myself, it kills my scores when it's turned on.

[Sync]

Yeah, thats what I though. I should mess around with it a bit to see what people mean by messing them up, I dont remember ever having a problem with it.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

what exactly is that again? I think I know what you're talking about but it could be something different.

woah i think i just figured out your name and title... sync is a ddr song by outphase! is there where you got it?

[Sync]

heh, yeah. Though I actually heard it first on IIDX 5th style back in early 2002; but it's only been about a year since I started using it as an alias.

[Kkun]

You know, I completely missed that news about console Beatmania coming to the US.

...

That's hot. I want some of that action.