Some noob questions about Technika

[DJMAX Tekkenika]

First let me say yes I know how to use search and no I can't find a good FAQ beyond Spiritsnare's near-uber snareblog.

1) I bought a card and screwed up my name entry on the machine. Is the messed up name tied to that machine or tied to the card? More specifically, if I use the card in another Technika machine, is the name entry and DJ points 0?

2) Is there a site, guide, or FAQ that discusses strategies for getting better at Technika? I'd like to give and receive more input than the generic 'Play more', 'shadow someone else', 'memorize the song' and 'Use both hands'.

A personal strategy I wanna share that may or may not have been discussed is to use the judgment "Right Swipe" and "Left Swipe" modifiers. It's personal because I grew up playing DDR and to a lesser extent Beatmania with notes moving downward. I find that if I tilt my head in the direction similar to the swipe modifier (i.e. head tilted left with "Left Swipe" modifier on), I can emulate DDR's "Reverse" and BeatMania falling note pattern. Playing like this helps me because my arms or fingers aren't blocking any notes. Conceptually, one can be good enough to not obscure any notes through normal play with "proper" technique but Left/Right Swipe elicits a 800p bonus so I'd like to ask any experts here what the flaws might be in my technique?

[DJMAX Tekkenika]

Modifiers will give more Max Points than usual on a song, but usually are not enough to make up for the cost.

Oops, just caught this now from the snareblog. I was under the impression that 800p was a bonus for finishing it with the modifier, not a penalty for using it.

[m-robo]

Originally Posted by Lunar Aura

Oops, just caught this now from the snareblog. I was under the impression that 800p was a bonus for finishing it with the modifier, not a penalty for using it.

I made the same mistake during the location test. I suddenly realized I had like 20k less Max points than everyone else, heh.


Anyway, as far as tips for getting better, you could try finding the lineout videos of the charts on youtube, and if you have an LCD monitor/laptop, run it on fullscreen and try to play along in the air.

[fusean]

Originally Posted by Lunar Aura

First let me say yes I know how to use search and no I can't find a good FAQ beyond Spiritsnare's near-uber snareblog.

Do you need anything other than this, such a great guide by Spiritsnare

Originally Posted by Lunar Aura

1) I bought a card and screwed up my name entry on the machine. Is the messed up name tied to that machine or tied to the card? More specifically, if I use the card in another Technika machine, is the name entry and DJ points 0?

2) Is there a site, guide, or FAQ that discusses strategies for getting better at Technika? I'd like to give and receive more input than the generic 'Play more', 'shadow someone else', 'memorize the song' and 'Use both hands'.

1) I don't have first hand experience with this, but I believe your name and max points stay with your card. But like I said I don't have first hand experience, once I make a trip up to Camelot I'll know for sure. Can probably visit Irvine Boomers too...

2) I don't know any other sites other than here, spiritsnare's blog, and ruliweb

Originally Posted by Lunar Aura

I'd like to ask any experts here what the flaws might be in my technique?

There is nothing wrong with your technique, everyone has their own style of play, and if that works best for you then continue to do so. That totally makes sense, playing reverse in DDR because someone is used to BM and things like that.

As for me I'm no expert but the 'Play more', 'shadow someone else', 'memorize the song' and 'Use both hands' generic things on getting better apply.

Play more - Given

Shadow Someone Else - You can expand this to watching YouTube vids.

Memorize the Song - Like with any other music interactive game, knowing the song will help tons, and not only that, make it so much more fun playing your favorites.

Use both hands - Hrm, I personally wouldn't give this advice out as a one handed player, even more extreme, I use mainly my pointing finger... But I can see why playing with 2 hands would be easier, almost like GH where if you only down strum instead of up and down strum...

If truly just beginning, I would suggest finding songs that you find catchy, something you really like and just mastering those songs. I don't recommend playing those same songs forever though, unless you really want to get that perfect play.

I highly suggest not hanging around Lite too long, because Lite is good for an introduction, but doesn't give the game justice on how complex it can be and jumping from Lite to Popular might discourage new players, so theywould jump back down to Lite when they should just continue to plow through Popular until they've mastered it.

Once you get the hang of the songs you like and can past Popular, start exploring more of the songs and pay attention to what gives you hard times and what songs. For example, chain notes in Coastal Tempo, for the life of me I always get blasted by them, so to practice for them I've noticed Miles in the first stage of Popular has a lot of them.

Having a hard time on faster swiping songs, Blythe, Sin, Son of Sun, etc., Stop on stage one would be good to start with, Jupiter Driving is one of the easiest if not the easiest fast swipe song.

How bout long strings of notes, almost like chains but they are not "Chain" notes, like in SSSS. I would recommend Remember on stage two as it's a nice pace but there's a good amount of chains in it.

Repeat notes, hrm the super duper crazy fast repeats like in Come to Me TP. Or a bunch of repeat taps like in PDM, Electronics, Your Own Miracle. Flea has a nice part to get used to beat/snare/high hat taps. Area 7 has a funky set of repeat notes that match the melody of the song, so it gets you used to the weird repeats that appear in the game. As for the crazy fast ones, just do those crazy fast ones. I still stay away from Come to Me TP, I prolly won't go back to it until I can get Electronics TP...

SSL, hope some of this is helpful. Lunar give us a report on how you do on your next trip to Technika...

[Spiritsnare]

I used to think that Right Wipe was the best thing ever until I realized that missions won't let you use it, so I think that it's best if you can get in at least some practice with regular and reverse wipes, respectively.

I don't have too much to add to what Fusean's posted, that's a pretty good breakdown of tips and guidance. I do want to chime in a bit, though:

Using both hands: It depends on the song; it's definitely better to use two hands on, say, PDM PP, for example, because you're not rushing to jump from one swipe to the next, which is what happens early on in the chart. It's also definitely better for getting better timing on faster songs, more on that later when I can get video footage.

Using both hands also applies to repeat notes -- if they're rapid, it's feasible to "drum" your fingers on them almost like a poor man's Taiko no Tatsujin DS (hi, Electronics).

A good guideline, IMO, for jumping from Lite to Popular is clearing The Clear Blue Sky, if you'd rather stick around; otherwise, I'd suggest playing Pop and hitting the ground running.

Originally Posted by Lunar Aura

1) I bought a card and screwed up my name entry on the machine. Is the messed up name tied to that machine or tied to the card? More specifically, if I use the card in another Technika machine, is the name entry and DJ points 0?

The card is not tied to the machine; as far as offline play goes, you can take it with you and retain your scores, DJ point count, and name.

edit I've updated my guide slightly to clarify the max point usage and the thing about carrying your stats and whatnot in your card, and I'll try to work on a strategy page before Platinum Crew hits.

[DJMAX Tekkenika]

I'm in Irvine Boomers right now and will take both your tips into account. Will report back when I get home from playing!

[DJMAX Tekkenika]

Just got back and I'm beat. Met a couple cool cats from these forums ultracarl and his friend eldevine. They both schooled me on Technical but I tried to hold my own every now and then. Now onto my play summary...

• Of my 25 plays, I visited Lite mode only once.
• Sightreading is hard but I get lucky. On Popular, I sightread failed A.I., Enemy Storm, Your Own Miracle, Remember, PDM, Coastal Tempo, WhiteBlue, SwShShSt, Blythe, Sin, and Son of Sun. I sightread passed Here in the Moment, Flea, Play the Future, SuperSonic, and Melody.
• On Technical Mode, I got First Kiss, PFW, and Honeymoon sightread but failed Come To Me. I watched the other guys do other Technical charts so I passed Access TP, Miles TP, and nearly passed Your Own Miracle TP (sightread, I was on the last screen swipe!). I might've gotten Electronics if I didnt' royally screw up YOM but anyway.
• Just for fun I did Clear Blue Sky TP. Failed royally first time but second time before I left it would've been a pass had it been my second stage (over half life bar left!).
• My best accomplishments on the trip were 2 cools on Access PP and 3 cools on Clear Blue Sky PP. Even after seeing eldevine get an S on Access TP, I'm pretty proud of my stuff. One day I'll S Clear Blue Sky PP.

Thanks fusean for the song suggestions. I still can't pass SSSS or even Remember for that matter but then again I only tried each once. Spiritsnare, I'll remember the drumming thing when I'm good enough to reach Electronics (and believe me I will soon). I'll definitely shadow YouTube videos off my laptop LCD per robojosh's suggestion.

I want this machine so badly.

[Spiritsnare]

If you want to try the drumming strat, in lieu of Electronics, you can try Color PP/TP.

Also, if you haven't grabbed the link off of the thread or my guide yet, MaestroX has downloadable LQ videos of any chart you'd like to see, formatted for your PSP if you've got one, so that you can take it on the go and study charts while waiting for your turn

[DJMAX Tekkenika]

That is most helpful! DJMP is all I use the PSP for and it looks like that isn't gonna change much in a way haha. I kinda like the element of surprise when I play the actual machine so I vowed not to look at videos of songs I haven't played at least once. I did just cheat with Fermion and EotM MX because I'll be just as elementally surprised getting to play them no matter how many times I saw it!

[もも]

Originally Posted by Spiritsnare

If you want to try the drumming strat, in lieu of Electronics, you can try Color PP/TP.

God COLORS is a doucheand can go screw itself.

Wasted like 6 credits trying to beat that stupid song

[adonis_minus_20]

Originally Posted by Spiritsnare

If you want to try the drumming strat, in lieu of Electronics, you can try Color PP/TP.

Also, if you haven't grabbed the link off of the thread or my guide yet, MaestroX has downloadable LQ videos of any chart you'd like to see, formatted for your PSP if you've got one, so that you can take it on the go and study charts while waiting for your turn

Thanks so much! This will be very helpful and at $1/game, I don't have any issue with looking at some charts ahead of time, as I'm not rich.

[fusean]

Originally Posted by Spiritsnare

If you want to try the drumming strat, in lieu of Electronics, you can try Color PP/TP.

Also, if you haven't grabbed the link off of the thread or my guide yet, MaestroX has downloadable LQ videos of any chart you'd like to see, formatted for your PSP if you've got one, so that you can take it on the go and study charts while waiting for your turn

I totally forgot about those videos, I'm so glad someone went and did this, I've been converting youtubes to mp4s, and I still feel funny watching Technika Videos while waiting to play Technika, heh...

Awesome work though Lunar, sounds like you'll be pro in no time..

[Three_Leaf_Ivy]

Originally Posted by Spiritsnare

A good guideline, IMO, for jumping from Lite to Popular is clearing The Clear Blue Sky, if you'd rather stick around; otherwise, I'd suggest playing Pop and hitting the ground running.

This is the most personally useful advice I've seen in the whole thread. (Sorry, fusean.) I haven't even touched Pop yet and I've played some 10-15 sets (would've played more but the machine is so crowded by people playing Tech already ;_; ) But for clearing Clear Blue Sky, is it simply passing it with a grade higher than F, or comfortably passing it, or what?

[m-robo]

Originally Posted by Three_Leaf_Ivy

This is the most personally useful advice I've seen in the whole thread. (Sorry, fusean.) I haven't even touched Pop yet and I've played some 10-15 sets (would've played more but the machine is so crowded by people playing Tech already ;_; ) But for clearing Clear Blue Sky, is it simply passing it with a grade higher than F, or comfortably passing it, or what?

I'd say the CBS lite chart is harder then some Pop charts so if you can pass it without your life hitting 0 you are probably ready for Pop mode.

[Spiritsnare]

Originally Posted by Three_Leaf_Ivy

This is the most personally useful advice I've seen in the whole thread. (Sorry, fusean.) I haven't even touched Pop yet and I've played some 10-15 sets (would've played more but the machine is so crowded by people playing Tech already ;_; ) But for clearing Clear Blue Sky, is it simply passing it with a grade higher than F, or comfortably passing it, or what?

You're ready for Pop if you can pass it.
You're really ready for Pop if you can comfortably pass it.