060412 -- On Rhythm Buster 200X
Jun. 4th, 2012 11:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
memorialrainbowSo before I decide to call it an early night, I'd like to give a bit of insight into the world I am writing about in my Camp NaNoWriMo novel.
I mentioned before that it is inspired by Dance Dance Revolution, but because I respect copyright and intellectual trademarks, I didn't want to write a story on DDR itself. To do so would be infringement. But because I do respect intellectual property like this is how I have so many of SOSI/Cap-Sid's own "brand names." LaPostale, Karuko, Burger Fender, Middleford, names like those enable me to tell the story and have the character seem natural without infringing.
Rhythm Buster 200X is part of this; I have actually used RB200X for background information before (OFF/Track fans: Toby and Subway are particularly good at the game!). I knew from the beginning that RB would be based off of color instead of arrows like PIU and DDR/ITG are. I also didn't want it to be super confusing, because there are eight colors to step on.
Actually, what I can do is this: I will give you a *quick* snippet of the novel. It's from a faux-Wikipedia article that the main character is reading, so it gives away no plot. Basically, it's not even part of the novel.
"Rhythm Buster 200X is an arcade rhythm game created by LaPostale Industries in 2000. The game has enjoyed considerable success in the United States, with some success abroad. The game is available both in arcade and at home format for many platforms, including LaPostale's own Z-Machine. LaPostale also licensed the game's music and sold the soundtrack; the game's first soundtrack went platinum in 2001. While other rhythm games have become popular, RB200X has enjoyed a continuous fan awe thanks to LaPostale's control over the system.
"The game itself is a dancing game; the screen features eight colors that scroll, officially: pink, red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, blue, and purple (violet in international versions). These eight colors match the eight corresponding colors on the platform (arcade version) or the dance pad (home version). As the colors scroll, the player steps on the correct color. Critics have praised RB200X for its simplicity; although many criticized it for being dependent on time-based scoring, the Platinum release in 2009 included support for doubles freestyle, a popular event at tournaments for years.
"LaPostale has control over many of the game's tournaments; although small, local tournaments are held without sponsorship, national RB200X events must be sponsored by LaPostale. The most recent Nationals tournament was played in Dallas in 2009; in 2010 it will be traveling to Newark, New Jersey, in the NYC metropolitan area.
"LaPostale encourages team play. Teams can be made up of as many or as little people as needed. However, each member must play a set in each of LaPostale's events - single, double, freestyle, and doubles freestyle; therefore, the maximum members are six. Each member has a three letter handle that they use for machine scores but also has an individual LaPostale number that they use for online scores and tournament play. Often, team members will have their own individual name handles that they use as well, game names that are accepted by most, if not all, RB200X players. Some of the most popular teams include Angel Fall, Beauty Max, and Blue Impulse."
That's all you get, ya'll. For the rest of the actual story, you'll have to wait for the actual book to come out. I hope to have some images eventually. :D
I mentioned before that it is inspired by Dance Dance Revolution, but because I respect copyright and intellectual trademarks, I didn't want to write a story on DDR itself. To do so would be infringement. But because I do respect intellectual property like this is how I have so many of SOSI/Cap-Sid's own "brand names." LaPostale, Karuko, Burger Fender, Middleford, names like those enable me to tell the story and have the character seem natural without infringing.
Rhythm Buster 200X is part of this; I have actually used RB200X for background information before (OFF/Track fans: Toby and Subway are particularly good at the game!). I knew from the beginning that RB would be based off of color instead of arrows like PIU and DDR/ITG are. I also didn't want it to be super confusing, because there are eight colors to step on.
Actually, what I can do is this: I will give you a *quick* snippet of the novel. It's from a faux-Wikipedia article that the main character is reading, so it gives away no plot. Basically, it's not even part of the novel.
"Rhythm Buster 200X is an arcade rhythm game created by LaPostale Industries in 2000. The game has enjoyed considerable success in the United States, with some success abroad. The game is available both in arcade and at home format for many platforms, including LaPostale's own Z-Machine. LaPostale also licensed the game's music and sold the soundtrack; the game's first soundtrack went platinum in 2001. While other rhythm games have become popular, RB200X has enjoyed a continuous fan awe thanks to LaPostale's control over the system.
"The game itself is a dancing game; the screen features eight colors that scroll, officially: pink, red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, blue, and purple (violet in international versions). These eight colors match the eight corresponding colors on the platform (arcade version) or the dance pad (home version). As the colors scroll, the player steps on the correct color. Critics have praised RB200X for its simplicity; although many criticized it for being dependent on time-based scoring, the Platinum release in 2009 included support for doubles freestyle, a popular event at tournaments for years.
"LaPostale has control over many of the game's tournaments; although small, local tournaments are held without sponsorship, national RB200X events must be sponsored by LaPostale. The most recent Nationals tournament was played in Dallas in 2009; in 2010 it will be traveling to Newark, New Jersey, in the NYC metropolitan area.
"LaPostale encourages team play. Teams can be made up of as many or as little people as needed. However, each member must play a set in each of LaPostale's events - single, double, freestyle, and doubles freestyle; therefore, the maximum members are six. Each member has a three letter handle that they use for machine scores but also has an individual LaPostale number that they use for online scores and tournament play. Often, team members will have their own individual name handles that they use as well, game names that are accepted by most, if not all, RB200X players. Some of the most popular teams include Angel Fall, Beauty Max, and Blue Impulse."
That's all you get, ya'll. For the rest of the actual story, you'll have to wait for the actual book to come out. I hope to have some images eventually. :D
no subject
Date: 2012-06-11 04:46 pm (UTC)Oh! And I think a great game mechanic for 200X would be to have the color circles on the screen change order or maybe ever for the placement of the colors on the pad change. This'd only be for hardcore players of course.
Btw, how do colorblind players play? Is there an option for colorblind players? Do they use letters instead or is there a filter that converts the colors inter darker and lighter shades of gray perhaps?