Odd Beatmania controller

Tayaya · 07-23-2008, 06:50 PM

On a trip to Japan, way back in 2004, I stumbled across an interesting find in a Book-Off store in Narita. Being a game collector and general Bemani fan (been playing Beatmania since 97) I couldn't just let it sit there on the shelf. Oddly enough I've never seen another one like it before or after that fateful day.

I was doing some google searches for rare and lmited Beatmania controllers and sawa thread here about a "TGB Beatmania controller" but the old auction page for it is long since gone as it was a thread from last year.

Might this be the TGB controller? Sorry for the bad picture quality... used the phone to take the pic.

ΩOMEGAΩ · 07-23-2008, 09:28 PM

I do know that was made in limited quantities, so way to go on snagging a rare item.

I dont know what its called. There were a few rare versions made besides that one, and one was being sold in the marketplace on here.

afex.racer_X · 07-23-2008, 09:35 PM

I THINK that is the TGB controller. I remember seeing that a ways back in YAJ. I totally would've bought it, but at the time I didn't know anyone that could help out with it. If you did buy it from the book store (which from the looks you did) then congrats on the find.

Tetris · 07-23-2008, 10:48 PM

Yes it is.

tgb design. ichifuru: BEATMANIA Limited Controller

Tayaya · 07-23-2008, 10:59 PM

Nice! I thought that it was! Those are nice official pics. Thanks for that link.

The box lists it as a "Famitsu model F-004"

It's actually pretty nice, and the buttons light up more nicely than the DJ Station Pro. Blue for the black keys and orange for the white ones.

It's been in my collection for a while now (2004 as I said), but I don't use it much as I knew it was kind of rare. Looks like only 1500 made.

Book-off is a chain of used book stores in Japan, but they sell movies and music games too. If you are lucky you can find GREAT deals there... even moreso than in Akihabara. California and New York have a few too.

ΩOMEGAΩ · 07-24-2008, 01:13 AM

it was given out in Famitsu magazine, and I think you had to enter their sweepstakes to win one of the 1500 or whatever made.

word · 07-24-2008, 04:53 AM

The buttons light up?!

It's a lot different to the plain black version then...

AceJay · 07-24-2008, 11:06 AM

Man that looks sick.

Deca · 07-24-2008, 12:22 PM

Hah when I saw the thread title I KNEW it was going to be one of these. You're a pretty lucky guy.

If I remember right, wasn't this designed by the FLCL artist or something? I've always wanted one of those, they look so awesome.

ronji · 07-24-2008, 12:42 PM

that is such a sexy controller. the buttons appear to be a slightly darker shade of white compared to the rest of the controller, are they soft rubber/silicon?

word · 07-24-2008, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronji

that is such a sexy controller. the buttons appear to be a slightly darker shade of white compared to the rest of the controller, are they soft rubber/silicon?

I guess they're a bit translucent for the light to shine through

Fred 00 · 07-24-2008, 05:41 PM

someone needs to play Mei [a] on one of those

with 5 key on, of course

Tayaya · 07-25-2008, 04:31 PM

I'll try to get some pics or video of the buttons in action.

For the most part it's your run of the mill ASCII original Beatmania controller, just in white with some awesome artwork on it (reminds me a log of Virtual On, personally).

The buttons are softer to press and less clicky than the black ASCII controllers, but personally I don't play very well on this one for some reason. Plus I try not to use it too much as I bought it mainly for its collectability, and because I have an ASC.

I'll keep an eye out for another one or one of the other Famitsu models next time I'm overseas... but it sounds like this was a pretty lucky find!