Headlines

Not long ago we reported that Konami was taking a second stab at a North American jubeat Location test, this time under the name "jukebeat". This version of the game is based on the jubeat ripples interface and features a songlist comprised mostly of original English licensed tracks. It's clear the second you see the attract mode on the machine that jukebeat was the selected name so they can market the machine as an interactive Jukebox. How this will tie into e-amusement and an overall release plan is yet to be seen, but one can bet that if this game does see an actual release the addition of updates with new songs is inevitable.

At this test the game was set to 1 song for 4 tokens, which at roughly 1:30 per song seems like a lot of money. Especially when compared to the 3 minutes you get from a game of Guitar Hero AC. This may not be the final pricing structure, and given the nature of the test itself and Konami's apparent desire to keep it somewhat under wraps (we have no idea when it started, or when it will end) that they may be using it as another way to get accurate public play results. Whatever the case may be, the pricing structure as it stands is a little whacked.

It was clear that these were the same machines from the UBeat location test earlier in the year with new marquees and a new instruction card panel. The 2nd cabinet was non-functional due to a messed up coin slot. Also of note is that the employees got on us after about 10 minutes about our cameras, limiting the amount of related media we could obtain. This was due to a policy at the location itself, not because Konami was mandating no photography (no one was tending to the machines while I was there, and the arcade was virtually empty.)

Many of the new songs were very fun to play, and the options, gameplay and interface are exactly as you would expect from a US port of jubeat ripples. This version definitely seems to have a ton of potential, so here's hoping that the true public perception is positive enough to merit a legitimate release. The game is as fun as it's ever been, and the potential of a largely licensed songlist is rather exciting, although not too surprising given the direction all of the US CS releases have taken as of late.

version number: I44:U:A:A:2009101300

New Songs

Alice Cooper - School's Out [1/5/8]
Baha Men - Who Let The Dogs Out [3/6/8]
Basshunter - Now You're Gone [2/4/7]
Basement Jaxx - Do Your Thing [3/6/9]
C&C Music Factory - Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) [3/5/7]
Coldplay - Viva La Vida [1/5/7]
Dead Or Alive - You Spin Me 'Round (Like A Record) [2/5/8]
Earth, Wind & Fire - September [3/5/8]
Kelly Clarkson - I Do Not Hook Up [2/5/7]
Los Del Rio - Macarena [1/5/7]
Metro Station - Shake It [1/5/8]
OK Go - Here It Goes Again [3/6/7]
Panic At The Disco - I Write Sins Not Tragedies [2/6/8]
Phoenix - 1901 [2/5/8]
Pitbull - I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) [3/5/6]
The Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated [2/6/8]
R.E.M. - It's The End Of The World As We Know it (And I Feel Fine) [2/6/8]
Technotronic - Pump Up The Jam [2/6/8]

Revival Songs

A-Ha - Take On Me [2/5/6]
Darude - Sandstorm [3/6/7]
Ki*Ki - Happy Happy [2/6/9]
Mutsuhiko Izumi - Orpheus In The Underworld [3/8/9]
Mutsuhiko Izumi - Polaris [2/5/8]
Mutsuhiko Izumi - Snow Goose [5/7/8]
Snow - Informer [2/5/8]
W.T. Orchestra - William Tell Overture [3/7/9]