Recent Activision acquisition FreeStyleGames is hard at work on DJ Hero, a music rhythm game that will let gamers scratch to the beat of popular mash-ups with a laptop turntable peripheral, informed sources tell us today.
The game, which has been in development for nearly two years, is expected to hit shelves next summer and will likely include the ability to use Guitar Hero guitars for versus mode face-offs.
The controller, key to the game's success, has been through nearly a half-dozen iterations.
In the latest form, the device looks a lot like a simplified DJ Deck. There is a platter for scratching which will act like the strum toggle on a Guitar Hero guitar. Above the platter are three buttons for sampling. The controller also includes a cross fader and a sound effects dial which will act like the whammy bar in Guitar Hero.
Instead of flowing the musical notes down a guitar neck, DJ Hero will flow the music down and around a virtual record in a half arc. Either left top to middle bottom if you are left handed, or right top to middle bottom if you are right handed.
To play you will have to either hold a sample button and scratch, just hold a button or just scratch as the neon icons flow around the virtual vinyl.
Currently the wireless controller has grooves molded into the bottom so it will sit comfortably in a player's lap, though the team is also looking into legs for the deck so gamers can play while standing up.
The game in its current form features all mash-ups, think Beyonce Vs Jimi Hendrix, 50 cent Vs Beastie Boys. If they can nail the interface and get licensing for the music this could be a mammoth hit. Then again I love mash-ups.
Ughhh more peripherals, I wish Konami would just give Beatmania a second chance in America just look at DDR its basically dead in Japan but they are still supporting it somewhat heavily in America. And yet in Japan there are constantly new Beatmania machines in Japan.
Title: Re: DJ Hero
Post by: NWR_Lindy on September 13, 2008, 06:44:29 PM
As an erstwhile DJ (my pair of 1200s are sitting in the closet collecting dust), this interests me. However, I can honestly say that instead of buying this game I'd be tempted to bring out my equipment and start spinning again.
Having the real equipment and instead opting to invest in a video game version would make me feel like a chump.
Title: Re: DJ Hero
Post by: Ian Sane on September 15, 2008, 12:47:25 PM
You would think after watching a Guitar Freaks knock-off start a rhythm game phenomenon in North America, all while getting praise for being INNOVATIVE, that Konami would try to avoid having that happen again. Yet here's Activision working on a Beatmania knock-off. Does Konami plan to stand around with their thumb up their ass AGAIN? I kind of felt sorry for Konami about the whole Guitar Hero thing but if DJ Hero takes off then I have no sympathy. They're just total morons then sitting on two goldmines and wasting them.
Guitar Hero's concept was pretty much just "let's have music that North Americans actually know". It's a pretty easy concept that Konami should have thought of years ago and could have easily applied to Beatmania to provide an alternative to Guitar Hero and Rock Band.
Title: Re: DJ Hero
Post by: vudu on September 15, 2008, 02:44:48 PM
Out of sheer curiosity, was your handle DJ Diamond J?
Title: Re: DJ Hero
Post by: S-U-P-E-R on September 16, 2008, 04:55:42 AM
Regarding Konami, I wonder if it's a case of the Japanese boss crew not giving the American R&D/marketing/etc enough leeway. Being unable to respond to the market like that isn't an uncommon fuckup for Japanese-owned companies.
Especially Konami :|
Title: Re: DJ Hero
Post by: NWR_Lindy on September 16, 2008, 10:03:59 AM
Diamond J is a nickname my buddies back home gave me. My DJ handle was Silks, just because that was my other nickname given to me by my friends from where I live now.
My DJ handle nowadays would be DJ Troll.
Title: Re: DJ Hero
Post by: Smash_Brother on September 16, 2008, 01:42:58 PM
Regarding Konami, I wonder if it's a case of the Japanese boss crew not giving the American R&D/marketing/etc enough leeway. Being unable to respond to the market like that isn't an uncommon fuckup for Japanese-owned companies.
It's like how any American PR agent would've taken ONE look at the early RE5 footage and said "HOLY FUCKING **** CHRIST! NO!" but Capcom's Japanese reps didn't know or care about the kind of controversy it would stir.
