Konami opens SuperNOVA gateway; ready to take on Guitar Hero

[Reenee]

Courtesy of that ever-loving puffball with his trademark hat sherl0k, the SuperNOVA gateway site is opened: http://www.konami.jp/bemani/ddr/sn/

And it looks like Konami is also ready to take back its rightful place with Guitar Revolution:

Perhaps hoping to capitalize on some of the success of Red Octane's breakout hit Guitar Hero, publisher Konami has made a filing with the US government to trademark the moniker "Guitar Revolution"--a title that shares the nomenclature found in the company's other music and rhythm games.

The trademark, filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office on June 29, is littered with selected keywords and phrases used to describe the company's new endeavor. Among the trademark's listed descriptions are "video game controller in the form of an electronic toy guitar, sold as a unit," "stand alone electronic game machines with electronic toy guitars," and "coin-operated video games."

If Konami does release a guitar-based rhythm game, it won't be unfamiliar territory for the Japanese company. In 1999 it released the arcade and PlayStation game Guitar Freaks, often seen as the inspiration for last year's Guitar Hero on the PlayStation 2. Red Octane's Guitar Hero has since spawned a sequel and scored critical praise, industry nods, and more than 400,000 copies sold, despite a hefty $70 price tag.

The name of Konami's trademark--"Guitar Revolution"--also fits snugly into Konami's current line of other Revolution music-based games, Dance Dance Revolution and Karaoke Revolution.

Konami had not responded to a request for comment as of press time.

[KKyuubi]

Oh yeah, in other news: the DDR Supernova gateway is finally open...

http://www.konami.jp/bemani/ddr/sn/

Be sure to notice the exceptionally funny Engrish in the US section...man why can't they hire PROPER translators?

[Flazh]

Originally Posted by KKyuubi

Be sure to notice the exceptionally funny Engrish in the US section...man why can't they hire PROPER translators?

Cause they got the Japanese staff to do it themselves. It IS on the Japanese website, so its no big suprise tbh. They won't have it on the US one because its a completely different web management team, and because they are using the Japanese one for world net rankings, it means it will ACTUALLY work and be on time... unlike the american and EU sites which are featureless at best

[maruchan_192000]

so there is or is not going to be a US guitar freaks(revolution) coming out. I think it would work. Konamis got the US music games on lock for sure, they can do it if they are smart on how to do it.

[cj iwakura]

I'm going to die laughing when the misinformed reviewers say it's a ripoff of Guitar Hero.

But I guess either way, the comparisons are inevitable. Even Beatmania got compared to GH, weird as that is.

I never have played GF, so this looks like a good chance.

[Ike Turner]

Originally Posted by maruchan_192000

so there is or is not going to be a US guitar freaks(revolution) coming out.

Short answer: We don't know.
Long answer: We don't know, but this isn't the first time a trademark filing (hello DDR SuperNOVA) has given us info on an upcoming title, so it looks like a good sign.

[maruchan_192000]

well lets hope because I would be all over this in a second, YAY for more US bemani titles other than DDR

[Sykosonik Goes Berzerk]

Not only would US fans call it a rip-off of Guitar Hero, but they would also complain about the lack of licensed songs. Guitar Hero did so well not just because of the fun game concept, but because every song on there(other than the bonus songs) is one that most rock fans have heard at one time or another.

As much as I like Bemani, I don't see Guitar Revolution selling as well as Guitar Hero and especially not as well as Guitar Hero II.

[TyTigeriku]

Plus Side: GF US, wewt.

Flip Side: As mentioned before, this WILL be compared to GH, and sadly like most Casual American Rhythm Gamers, they will be misinformed and blatantly say that GH came first and is the absolute best.

I can't wait for this, and I definately can't wait to write my first letters to the game magazines, explaining to them what REALLY came first.

[taboo]

Hey, I got Beatmania US and was led into it's imports, here's hoping Guitar Revolution will do the same (and, of course, sell and be reviewed well) for Guitar Freaks.

[sherl0k]

lol puffball what are you smoking reenee

[Arimasen]

Cant wait for G4 to review this potentially awesome game (Guitar Revolution) and call it a rip of Guitar Hero just like what they said with Beatmania US.

Yeah like everyone said, this will be the huge issue: Guitar Hero vs Guitar Revolution. People who actually know shit about the guitar rhythm game history will be okay (aka all of Bemanistyle or anyone who knows about how long GuitarFreaks existed), but for those people who think Guitar Hero is the one and only, they have another thing coming (pardon the pun).

[Rhythmellon]

Guitar Hero v.s. Guitar Revolution.

I smell a war is about to happen.

[dj HaQ]

Terrorists.

[Ike Turner]

I just imagined a suicide bomber getting a wailing bonus to trigger the explosives.

I'm so going to hell.