Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix Live confirmed

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FYI, Konami has also announced they will be manufacturing pads for XBOX.

http://www.xboxgamers.com/index.php?...php&viewid=383

Leading videogame publisher, Konami of America, Inc., a subsidiary of Konami Corporation (NYSE: KNM), today announced that its ever-popular dancing game series, Dance Dance RevolutionTM will debut on the XboxTM video game system from Microsoft in October 2003 with Dance Dance Revolution UltramixTM. Offering a whole new gaming audience the opportunity to strut their stuff on the dance floor, the game features new content including hot licensed songs, online and downloadable content via the Xbox Live online service, exclusive music for the U.S. market as well as robust and never-before-seen game modes.

Xbox owners will get up off the couch, move to the hippest tunes in town and finally experience the dancing phenomenon that has taken the world by storm. Simply connecting a specially designed dance pad to the console allows players to track their dance moves and recreate the Dance Dance RevolutionTM arcade sensation, right in the comfort of their living room. Through the use of the Xbox Live online service, Dance Dance Revolution UltramixTM will be the first online and expandable version of the game ever. Unlike previous games in the series, an online community of Dance Dance RevolutionTM fans will now be able to download new songs and dance steps as well as compete with other players online and participate in Internet rankings.

Dance Dance Revolution UltramixTM includes signature modes such as the "Work Out" and "Edit" modes, and new game modes that have never appeared in previous editions of the game, such as the "Challenge Mode." In the "Work Out" mode, players can track burned calories during any dance session while the "Edit" mode lets them customize dance steps for every song, develop player-specific routines as well as trade dance patterns with friends. The all-new "Challenge Mode" gives players specific objectives that must be accomplished through various rounds of play and adds a whole new dimension to the interactive dancing experience. Appealing to gamers of all ages, this innovative game is the perfect combination of entertainment, competition and exercise!

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http://www.gamespy.com/e32003/preview/xbox/1002758/

Despite the fact that Dance Dance Revolution has appeared on a
number of console systems in Japan (PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Dreamcast, Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color) most US gamers know it as a PlayStation/PlayStation 2 exclusive. As a result it was something of a surprise when Konami announced a version of DDR for the Xbox -- and oh what a version it is.

Developed by Konami's Hawaii studio, DDR UltraMix has the potential to be the best version of DDR ever released on this side of the Pacific. At this point most hardcore DDR fans are probably cringing -- partly because Konami Hawaii was responsible for the horribly pathetic DDR PC and partly because the hardcore fans have already invested a fortune in PlayStation dance pad hardware. Not to worry. DDR UltraMix is light years ahead of DDR PC and there are plenty of third party PS2 to Xbox controller adapters. Konami will also be releasing an Xbox DDR dance pad.

At first glance, DDR UltraMix looks like a cross between DDR 5th Mix and DDRMax. The interface has been completely redesigned to give it a unique look. Animated characters, which were present up until the release of the original DDRMax have returned and they look mighty fine.

New to DDR UltraMix is battle mode. This two player competition is designed to test the skills of DDR veterans as they face off in a versus style competition. When you start battle mode each player is given 16 points. For every mistake one point is lost (much like the hardcore Oni mode). The first player to hit zero loses. It is possible for two players to choose different difficulty levels in battle mode so a beginner can play against an expert and still have a fair fight.


Also present are workout mode, nonstop mode, challenge mode, training mode, edit mode and the trade center. Workout mode counts the number of calories burned while playing. Nonstop mode allows for continuous playing. Challenge mode has appeared in Japanese versions of the game, but never in a US version. For challenge mode players have to complete a song with particular requirements such as getting all "greats" instead of all "perfects." Training mode teaches you how to play. Edit mode allows players to create their own steps and the trade center is the interface for Xbox Live. Yes, Xbox Live.

Easily the MOST request feature by US DDR fans is the ability to trade edits with each other. Unfortunately the majority of DDR arcade machines in the U.S. are bootleg Japanese versions which means the US PlayStation versions of the game are not compatible with the arcade versions (much to the dismay of the hardcore). For DDR UltraMix the developers knew that arcade compatibility was out so they did the next best thing -- Live support.

The trade center will allow players to download custom step files for DDR songs that have been created by other users and add them to UltraMix. Have a favorite song that you've already mastered? Go online and download a brand new set of steps. Konami's Danial Tyrrell said that Konami is currently working out the details on who will be allowed to upload, but it is something that will happen. One possibility is a ranking system, with the top players being able to send step files to the server.


Other confirmed Live features are the ability to buy new songs, download new characters and play against other players online. Currently no price has been set for the song downloads. Individual prices will likely vary based on the song because some will be licensed tracks while others will be Konami originals. Songs will be made available on a regular basis after the game's release.

Even though Konami plans on offering downloadable songs via Live, the game will still ship with a respectable song list. Tyrrell confirmed that DDR UltraMix would have 55 playable songs out of the box -- 10 licensed tracks and 45 Konami originals -- with the possibility for more hidden songs. While he would not say what the songs were, he did say that the songs in DDR UltraMix would not duplicate those seen in the US PlayStation versions of DDR. This is good news for players planning on buying both DDR UltraMix and DDRMax 2. There are plans to make older DDR songs available for purchase via Live so DDR UltraMix owners will eventually be able to play the classic DDR songs. Who knows, maybe Konami will finally bring out the old school DDR anthem "Butterfly."

Topping off the list of features for DDR UltraMix is Dolby Digital support. While not all the songs will support it, Tyrrell said that Konami is trying to remix as many as possible in full 5.1. With a packed feature list DDR UltraMix is almost assuredly a guaranteed hit. The only unknown, and it is a big unknown at this point, is the song list. If the song list is poor then no feature list will save the game, but if the song list rocks then DDR UltraMix will warm the hearts of fans everywhere.