And besides, if Konami wasn't so fucking terrible at their localization, they wouldn't have this problem in the first place. Every DDR and Beatmania game they've released here has had these absolutely god awful localized soundtracks. I don't want Moby, Nelly and Rhianna in my Bemani games. I want my classic tatsh, Smile.dk and TaQ.
So true. I love the import ones. I don't need pop music I hear everywhere else just to get into it.
Then, from a marketing standpoint, looking at Guitar Hero and Rock Band's success it could be that they had the right idea but just didn't take it far enough. Personally I'm happy with the original soundtracks though.
Ummm.... For all the comments about North America and whatnot...
DIdn't anyone read the article? The reason why the lawsuit was filed in Korea, was because DJ Max is a Korean game. There is a version called DJ Max Fever or something scheduled for a January 27th release in North America
And it still does not change my stance on position, in regards to my opinion on the matter.
Andimiro is also a Korean company. They released the Pump it Up series in multiple markets. They were sued. Andimiro won because despite the arguement that Konami's legal dept. gave, there were enough distinctively different facets of the game that varied it's gameplay enough to not be a blatant ripoff.
Besides, there is a more important issue at hand:
"Can a game company sue because of their belief that they came up with a gaming idea first?"
I would say no. Truthfully, within gaming, most games and gaming companies "borrow" ideas from each other, and to set a precedent that it is okay to sue because you don't like that someone else is making a game of a genre that you felt were invented by you is risking even more lawsuits to be made egregiously (Example: Dungeons & Dragons owner Wizards of The Coast sues all game companies for RPG game creation.) Estate of person who invented the remote control sues Nintendo, U.S. Gov't sues ALL video game companies existing for making video games in the first place!!!)
I'm being a little dramatic here, but you get the idea of how ridiculous I believe this is.
Soldier_CLE says DON'T STOP AT THE STAR! REVOKE THE WHOLE DAMN THING, OWEN!!! was starred
Soldier_CLE says DON'T STOP AT THE STAR! REVOKE THE WHOLE DAMN THING, OWEN!!! was unstarred
I'm usually a fan of Konami's (short of the time that they milked TMNT dry to the point of where they arguably killed interest for the line till a few years later.)
That said, this is getting ridiculous Konami execs and legal dept. While I can understand why Kojima would be pissed off at YOU (Ya know, the big wigs that thought they knew everything about what would sell.), the truth is that Konami dropped the ball in releasing previous generations' iterations for home release.
There was interest, and then there were a pussyfooting to eventually barely bringing DDR to the PlayStation console.
Nothing else.
Konami Corp. shot themselves in the foot. And ever since Andimiro (and others) have come up with rivals that offer the same platform, yet distinctively different feel and gameplay (I would know, I play doubles regularly on DDR, yet suck ass at even single play Pump it Up.), you go out of your way to sue, sue and sue some more.
I'm a believer in the "Human Capital" theory. What you failed to make in those days is gone forever. What you maximize on your capital was always there.
You lost that "human capital", Konami. And now your legal team (and your corporate officers) look like nothing but a bunch of "Sandy Ts" (T word - 4 Letters)
Soldier_CLE says DON'T STOP AT THE STAR! REVOKE THE WHOLE DAMN THING, OWEN!!! was starred
Soldier_CLE says DON'T STOP AT THE STAR! REVOKE THE WHOLE DAMN THING, OWEN!!! was unstarred
Konami missed the big music gravy boat. They should be the ones frolicking in obscene amounts of money now instead of EA and Activision. I distinctly remember 'em as the first ones to put rhythm games with peripherals in the arcades even way back then.
Soldier_CLE says DON'T STOP AT THE STAR! REVOKE THE WHOLE DAMN THING, OWEN!!! was starred
Soldier_CLE says DON'T STOP AT THE STAR! REVOKE THE WHOLE DAMN THING, OWEN!!! was unstarred
Soldier_CLE says DON'T STOP AT THE STAR! REVOKE THE WHOLE DAMN THING, OWEN!!! was starred
Soldier_CLE says DON'T STOP AT THE STAR! REVOKE THE WHOLE DAMN THING, OWEN!!! was unstarred
Pentavision has been making Beatmania clones for so long, I think Konami's just kinda missed their chance to defend their IP - at least assuming North American-like laws...
(But IMO even as a big beatmania fan, I'd say Pentavision does it better for music/gameplay innovation/video these days...)
Why do you people say that Konami doesn't make music games for the American market when DDR has been here for years and years? Guitar Hero would NOT exist if DDR hadn't been an American craze, folks, and that's partly due to imported cabinets, but also due to domestic console releases. RedOctane got its start selling playstation DDR pads, don't forget.
@tim333: *sigh* And the world wouldn't have platforming-games had it not been for Nintendo's valiant effort. But you don't see them stopping Insomniac and co. from making games, do you?
In a barely related topic, that pic is pretty sexual and maybe wouldnt be seen well in people's eyes since guitar hero kinda games are usually played by all ages.
So, Konami is the only one allowed to make music games? They missed their chance to make it big in america with guitar games, so they've turned into angry little boys.
@Jtn: Really. I'd never heard of a music game (besides that MTV Music Generator stuff) before Guitar Hero and Rez. Turns out Konami had series that they never tried to market outside of Japan. Now they're pissed because other companies said "Hey, why don't we try this stuff in other parts of the world?".
@Game_playa: Well, considering the fact that it took a couple of years to get a half-assed arcade version of DDR in the US (DDR USA, which was made of OLD DDR 1 and 2 cabinets when Konami upgraded), and then almost half a decade to get it to a home console in the US after MUCH begging and pleading from fans. Finally showing SOME dedication when DDR finally about died out in Japan...
12/24/08
Nothing like a lawsuit to improve sales! "This is the game they don't want you to play!"
The DJ Max games are awesome -- I have DJ Max Portable 2 that I imported, and I have DJ Max Fever pre-ordered.
12/24/08
12/24/08
So true. I love the import ones. I don't need pop music I hear everywhere else just to get into it.
Then, from a marketing standpoint, looking at Guitar Hero and Rock Band's success it could be that they had the right idea but just didn't take it far enough. Personally I'm happy with the original soundtracks though.
12/24/08
DIdn't anyone read the article? The reason why the lawsuit was filed in Korea, was because DJ Max is a Korean game. There is a version called DJ Max Fever or something scheduled for a January 27th release in North America
12/24/08
And it still does not change my stance on position, in regards to my opinion on the matter.
Andimiro is also a Korean company. They released the Pump it Up series in multiple markets. They were sued. Andimiro won because despite the arguement that Konami's legal dept. gave, there were enough distinctively different facets of the game that varied it's gameplay enough to not be a blatant ripoff.
Besides, there is a more important issue at hand:
"Can a game company sue because of their belief that they came up with a gaming idea first?"
I would say no. Truthfully, within gaming, most games and gaming companies "borrow" ideas from each other, and to set a precedent that it is okay to sue because you don't like that someone else is making a game of a genre that you felt were invented by you is risking even more lawsuits to be made egregiously (Example: Dungeons & Dragons owner Wizards of The Coast sues all game companies for RPG game creation.) Estate of person who invented the remote control sues Nintendo, U.S. Gov't sues ALL video game companies existing for making video games in the first place!!!)
I'm being a little dramatic here, but you get the idea of how ridiculous I believe this is.
12/24/08
That said, this is getting ridiculous Konami execs and legal dept. While I can understand why Kojima would be pissed off at YOU (Ya know, the big wigs that thought they knew everything about what would sell.), the truth is that Konami dropped the ball in releasing previous generations' iterations for home release.
There was interest, and then there were a pussyfooting to eventually barely bringing DDR to the PlayStation console.
Nothing else.
Konami Corp. shot themselves in the foot. And ever since Andimiro (and others) have come up with rivals that offer the same platform, yet distinctively different feel and gameplay (I would know, I play doubles regularly on DDR, yet suck ass at even single play Pump it Up.), you go out of your way to sue, sue and sue some more.
I'm a believer in the "Human Capital" theory. What you failed to make in those days is gone forever. What you maximize on your capital was always there.
You lost that "human capital", Konami. And now your legal team (and your corporate officers) look like nothing but a bunch of "Sandy Ts" (T word - 4 Letters)
12/24/08
Konami missed the big music gravy boat. They should be the ones frolicking in obscene amounts of money now instead of EA and Activision. I distinctly remember 'em as the first ones to put rhythm games with peripherals in the arcades even way back then.
12/24/08
Tits! Sandy Tits! No? T...Testes? Sandy Testes? Nope not 4 letters. Ah Twats! Sandy Twats! What do I win? =D
12/24/08
...anyday now... Erm...
...a hahhmm....yes... back to the show...
12/24/08
The legal department from Konami claims that you pressed a buzzer that infringed on their IP, and claim that you owe them 500 Kotaku Points.
12/26/08
Ha! I was dancing this Christmas Eve and thought that someone from Konami might sue me...Coz I learned all my dance moves from Dance Dance Revo...
12/24/08
(But IMO even as a big beatmania fan, I'd say Pentavision does it better for music/gameplay innovation/video these days...)
12/24/08
12/24/08
12/24/08
lol
Yours truly
PS. Share your tactics with Nintendo. They'd love to be the only name on the platforming-market.
12/24/08
12/24/08
12/24/08
12/24/08
12/24/08
12/24/08
By that reasoning, most FPS-games released after Doom should be sued.
12/24/08
12/24/08
Fuck you, Konami.
12/24/08
DDR? How the hell did you forget DDR?
SHAME ON YOU
12/24/08
I second that 'Fuck you, Konami'
12/24/08
12/25/08
Castlevania: Judgement
Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness
Castlevania: Curse of Darkness