ITG Things

In The Groove:

Konami Corporation, developer of the Dance Dance Revolution(R) video dance game, and Roxor Games, Inc., developer of In The Groove(R) dance games, today announced the mutual settlement of the litigation between the parties in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas. Under the terms of the settlement, Konami has acquired the intellectual property rights to the In The Groove(R) dance game franchise. It was further agreed as a part of the settlement that Roxor would respect Konami’s intellectual property rights.

You want to know what the future of dancing games is? Imagine a boot stamped in the face of games -- forever.
I have had nothing but disappointment with the Bemani (music games) division of Konami since DDR Extreme. Extreme 2 is the crappiest rhythm game ever released, with a retarted and frustrating game experience all around. In The Groove was a good addition to any library, with mostly techno music and challenging, interesting steps (instead of rehashing the same 3 patterns for every song for all eternity). It even had easier songs / difficulties to get beginners into the game. Graphically, it was a million times more polished than any Konami game, with the lack of annoying dancing robots, and subtler, dimmed backgrounds and actually nice-looking arrows. If Konami continues the franchise (which they most likely will not) there is no question that they will fuck it up completely.

I rented SuperNOVA through GameFly today. I didn't buy it when it came out because I figured the trend has been from decent -> crap -> the most horrible thing invented since feces. I guess if I want to continue playing console dance games, I'm going to have to get used to it. KeeL, Andy, Plaguefox, and all the awesome dudes who made ITG, I thank you deeply. Your line will be much missed.

Then again, there's always StepmaniaX.

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