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With the recent release of the Suikoden I & II HD Remaster collection, it is now time to look ahead. Konami has an incredible catalogue of games and series. Unfortunately, not all of them are seeing the limelight as they deserve at this time. The Siliconera staff has come together to give our thoughts on the next Konami games that deserve a remake or remaster.

Siliconera Speaks Up: Next Konami Remake or Remaster 4k5v1p

Honestly, I'm just happy to see Suikoden 1 and 2 getting remakes. Otherwise you'd have either emulate or drop a few hundred on a dodgy ebay listing. Though, if they do well I'd love to see remasters of Suikoden 3 or maybe Tactics, or even just something new for the series. -- Elliot

I hope Suikoden I & II remakes will pave the way for a Suikoden V remake, as it’s a criminally underrated JRPG that deserves way more attention. I would even go as far as to say that Suikoden V is my favourite entry from the franchise. If I can be greedy and request another, I want to see Yu-Gi-Oh! True Duel Monsters: Sealed Memories get the remaster treatment. The title was created when the original card game had no established rules. As you can imagine, the game went in a very bonkers direction with some bizarre story plots. The game will probably never receive a remaster, especially as it’s been left out of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection, but it feels like an important (although unspoken) part of the franchise’s history, like the dramatic crossroads meme. Now, thinking about it, Yu-Gi-Oh has a weird lore, right? -- Yasmine

It is time for Dance Dance Revolution to come back in the West. It would work so well with the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons (similar to Just Dance), but with music that is more appealing to me. Plus, it’d be a great way for me to lose a little bit of weight. Besides DDR, I’d love to see a Yu-Gi-Oh Early Days Collection 2 with a heavy focus on the DS titles. My favorite Yu-Gi-Oh games, still to this day, are the trio of World Championship games from 2009-2011 since they largely focused on my favorite series — 5D’s — and had excellent singleplayer story modes. -- Cody

Suikoden I & II HD Remaster is available right now for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

The post Which Konami Game Needs a Remaster or Remake Next? appeared first on Siliconera.

Game Source Entertainment announced that it will set up a booth at Gamescom 2024. Five games will appear at the booth, including Dance Dance Revolution Classic Mini. That means Gamescom 2024 visitors will be able to check the DDR Classic Mini first-hand ahead of its release in late September 2024.

Dance Dance Revolution Classic Mini was originally revealed to mark the series' 25th anniversary in 2023. It will contain tracks from the first three major releases of the long-running arcade rhythm game series.

Zuiki has also opened public pre-orders for the mini console in April 2024, and the company will formally release it on September 27, 2024. While Zuiki's own store can only ship items domestically, the product is also available to order on web stores outside Japan, such as Playasia, PNP Games, and VideoGamesPlus.

DDR Classic Mini will not be the only title Game Source Entertainment will bring to Gamescom 2024. The company will also feature demos of Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade, the rogue-lite deckbuilding battle game Lost in Fantaland, the boys-love romance game Voice Love on Air, and the horror survival game Suffocate.

Gamescom 2024 will take place at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, , on August 21-25, 2024.

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Konami Amusement announced the release date for Dance Dance Revolution World. Roughly a month after it first revealed the title, the company confirmed that the newest version of the long-running rhythm arcade game will be available on June 12, 2024.

The company also revealed several additional features that this new version will have. One of them will be the First Step folder containing easy track sheets to help newcomers get into the game. It will also add more settings, such as a filtered song search and a more detailed High-Speed setting where players can adjust the notes' appearance speed by 0.05 points.

Konami also revealed several licensed songs that it will add to Dance Dance Revolution World's lineup. The tracks will range from Vocaloid songs, such as Hatsune Miku's "The Vampire" by DECO*27 and Kasane Teto's "HITO Mania" by Sasuke Haraguchi, to the Vtuber Shigure Ui's song "Shukusei!! Loli Kami Requiem." An arranged version of "Sign wa B" from the Oshi no Ko anime will also appear in the lineup.

In addition, the company will also implement new Flare Skill Ranks that show the players' skill levels. The game will calculate the rank based on the player's scores from their top 90 tracks—combined from the top 30 tracks from three different eras. The above new songs will count as tracks for the Gold Era which goes between A20 and World. The other two eras will be Classic (from the first release to X3 VS 2ndMIX) and White (from the 2013 release to DDR A).

Dance Dance Revolution World will be gradually available in arcades, with its release date set for June 12, 2024.

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Konami Amusement announced that it will release Dance Dance Revolution World, a brand-new entry to the arcade dancing rhythm game series, though the company has yet to reveal the new entry's launch window and new features. However, it did reveal Emi and Rage as the cover characters in World's new visual.

Konami will gradually replace the existing Dance Dance Revolution A3 cabinets with World once it has released the new version. The subtitle will also mark a new departure from the Dance Dance Revolution A subseries, which began in 2016. Konami subsequently released Dance Dance Revolution A20 in 2019, A20 Plus in 2020, and A3 in 2022. Dance Dance Revolution A3 was also noted for its addition of "Megalovania" from Toby Fox's Undertale.

The Dance Dance Revolution series has seen a recent upsurge in activity ever since Konami celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023. The company is also working with Zuiki to produce Dance Dance Revolution Classic Mini. Initially available to crowdfunding backers, the companies will release the miniature emulator console to the public in late September 2024.

Dance Dance Revolution World will be available for arcades. Konami has yet to provide a launch window for the new entry as of this announcement.

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Konami and Zuiki have announced that Dance Dance Revolution Classic Mini will be available for public sale on September 27, 2024. Pre-orders for the mini emulator console are immediately available on Zuiki Store. It will have a price tag of 49,500 yen (~$315.60).

The Classic Mini console will contain a number of songs from the first Dance Dance Revolution entry, as well as the 2nd Mix and 3rd Mix sequels. It will also come with a pair of miniature controllers that are only suitable to operate with hands. However, players can also connect regular DDR controllers via USB to play the game with their feet as usual.

The console will also have more connectivity features. The owner will be able to connect the device to a larger PC monitor or television via HDMI. The mini controllers will also be compatible with Konami's PC game, Dance Dance Revolution Grand Prix.

The mini console's design will also be customizable. Zuiki will include a set of swappable stickers in the set, and the owner will be able to mix and match the pop s from among the featured titles.

Zuiki first revealed the mini console in October 2023 to celebrate the Dance Dance Revolution series' 25th anniversary. The company held a crowdfunding session from October 10, 2023, to January 26, 2024, and it gathered over 81 million yen, or around $516,500 with the exchange rates in late April 2024.

Dance Dance Revolution Classic Mini will be released on September 27, 2024.

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In September 2023, the classic arcade rhythm game Dance Dance Revolution turned 25 years old. To celebrate the game’s 25th anniversary, Zuiki has started a project to bring the arcade dance machine and the games to people's homes on a much smaller scale. The Dance Dance Revolution Classic Mini, a miniature version of the cabinet, appeared on the company’s website through a new promotional video. Zuiki plans to begin crowdfunding for the project on October 10, 2023. The product has an official website and was announced on the Zuiki social media .

The Dance Dance Revolution Classic Mini is a replica of the classic DDR dance machines, but it is one fifth of the original size. Players can play either on the five inch long built-in screen or through another screen via HDMI. The resolution is set at 720p. A two player mode is also ed. The first three generations of DDR can be played. So far, 19 songs have been announced, with more to be added in the future.

You can watch the promotional video for the DDR Classic Mini below:

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ODbC913LMI[/embed]

There is a Boardwalk Arcade DDR toy that was released outside Japan. However, it is far more limited in scale and only plays three songs.

Zuiki’s Dance Dance Revolution Classic Mini project will begin crowdfunding in Japan on October 10, 2023. It is unknown if it could appear worldwide.

The post This Mini DDR Cabinet Can be Played With Your Hands appeared first on Siliconera.

"Megalovania," one of the more well-known tracks from Undertale, is now available in Dance Dance Revolution A3. Those with access to the arcade machine will be able to give this song a spin. Konami shared information through the official Dance Dance Revolution A3 website, announcing the inclusion of "Megalovania" in the game. [Thanks, Famitsu!]

Throughout the course of its lifespan, Konami has updated the tracklist for Dance Dance Revolution A3 several times. In April 2022, it updated the tracklist to include popular songs from Touhou Project titles. However, Dance Dance Revolution A3 is only available in arcades. This means s will need to go to a physical machine in order to play these songs.

In 2019, Konami announced plans to bring Dance Dance Revolution and Beatmania to mobile devices. This included plans for the releases, such as being able to project the game from your mobile device to a monitor or TV. However, a project known as Dance Dance Revolution Ultimate, which would see the popular dance title appear on mobile devices, has had little to no updates concerning a potential release. Konami has not made any additional announcements about potentially bringing the series to mobile devices or if it has any intentions of releasing a new title outside of arcades.

Dance Dance Revolution A3 is available on arcade machines.

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With the World’s Smallest line of toys, it isn’t just items from the 1970s-1990s getting shrunk. The line also includes an array of video game inspired items. Two of the most recent additions in 2021 are the Boardwalk Arcade DDR cabinet and Tiny Arcade Arcade Atari 2600. Both are designed to look like the cabinet and console with retro TV. They’re playable, but also likely decorations. The thing is while the Tiny Arcade Atari 2600 honestly works pretty well for what it is, the DDR cabinet is disappointing.

To the tiny Boardwalk Arcade Dance Dance Revolution machine’s credit, it does call back to the DDR 1stMix days.There are the fake speakers on the front. The dance pad buttons light up as they are pressed. There’s the bad at the back people might cling to for complicated moves. The sounds are authentic, as are the lights. It features the same difficulty levels as the original. (These are Basic, Another, and Maniac.) So from the outset, the look and vibe are accurate. You also get three songs pulled from that cabinet. They are N.M.R.’s “Keep on Movin’,” mitsuu-O!’s “Make it Better,” and 180’s “Paranoia.”

In execution, however, there are flaws. For starters, the buttons on the dance pad are difficult to press. They stick a bit, which can result in missed beats. I also noticed issues when attempting to press two buttons at once. The lights would flash for both at the same time. I’d hear the click that came with a push. However, I’d get a “miss” because one wouldn’t . Basic is doable, but I wouldn’t trust it for Another or Maniac. It is also difficult to read the UI. Not because of the size of the screen. Rather because the highlight when you select a song makes it impossible to see its title. The scoreboard function is useless as well. If you turn the machine off, it resets your high scores for the three tracks.

What I did find is that it is a perfect size for figures. Specifically, it is the right dimensions for a Nendoroid or Nendoroid Doll. (The Nendoroid Doll seems a bit better fit.) For posing purposes, getting a photo with the game in motion would be a bit too challenging.But it could be fun prop for scenes at the right price.

As for the Tiny Arcade Atari 2600, it is also a perfect sort of figure prop. While I’d also recommend Nendoroid-sized figures, the size of the system and joystick mean a figma-size figure could also be an appropriate partner. It’s also more forgiving for posing purposes. You could fairly easily snap a picture while one of the games appears on the small television screen. Which could lead to some interesting scenes if you have the right sort of set up.

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But in this case, and this suggestion might be wild, I’d honestly recommend playing it? It is small, but the nature of the nine included games and quality of the screen make it surprisingly easy to use. Even a game like Missile Command, where you have the small indicator letting you see where you’re firing, is playable. The ability to angle the screen makes it easier to get it into a proper position. And while it isn’t as comfortable as playing on a real Atari 2600, the fact that the joystick is a bit bigger helps. However, it does list "Breakout" as "Breakouts" in the game list.

The included games in this collection are as follows:

• Asteroids
• Breakout
• Centipede
• Combat
• Millipede
• Missile Command
• Pac-Man
• Pong
• Tempest
• Warlords

I’d say I had the most issues playing Centipede, Millipede, and Tempest. Keep in mind this was due to its size, rather than technical issues. Asteroids, Breakout, and Pong were the most enjoyable renditions. Pac-Man is fine, but this isn’t an ideal way to play it. It is clear enough, but you need the precision that comes from a better controller to really clear those boards. Still, it’s nifty.

As long as you treat both the Boardwalk Arcade Dance Dance Revolution and Tiny Arcade Atari 2600 as novelties or potential figure photo op props, you’ll be satisfied. They’re the sort of thing you get to display, primarily. Maybe you miss around and play one or both to be silly. But keep in mind that the Tiny Arcade Atari 2600 is the better executed of the two. It’s genuinely playable. While the DDR cabinet looks cool enough, it isn’t as much fun.

The Boardwalk Arcade Dance Dance Revolution and World’s Smallest Tiny Arcade Atari 2600 are $19.99 each. Both are available now at Target.

The post Boardwalk Arcade DDR and Tiny Arcade Atari 2600 are Novel appeared first on Siliconera.

Yasuhiro Taguchi announced on his Twitter that he left Konami. The composer has been known for the stage name TAG and his contributions to Konami's Bemani rhythm games.

Taguchi began showing an interest in the game industry after playing Dance Dance Revolution during his middle school years. After graduating from high school, he attended the Konami School, where he studied game and music production. He eventually ed Konami through an internship and officially worked in the company for 15 years since 2006.

During his tenure in Konami, Taguchi provided songs and play sheets for Bemani titles like beatmania IIDX and jubeat. He became popularly known with the stage name TAG, although he also contributed songs with other aliases, such as SUPER STAR 満-MITSURU-. He was also appointed as the sound director for the Dance Dance Revolution and Sound Voltex series.

Some of TAG's well-known songs in the rhythm game scene are "POSSESSION," "GERBERA," and "Alstroemeria." Some were also brought over to games made by other companies, such as Bandai Namco's Taiko no Tatsujin and Sega's Chunithm. "She is my wife," a song performed under the Mitsuru alias, is also famous for its unique dance performance.

After leaving Konami, Yasuhiro Taguchi now works as a freelance musician and DJ. He is accepting work offers with specified schedules and budgets through email.

The post Bemani Composer TAG Left Konami and Went Freelance appeared first on Siliconera.

Konami is now directly selling merchandise inspired by many of its new and old series. The Official Konami Shop is now open. Multiple series are represented, ranging from current ones like PES to ones we haven’t seen in a while like Suikoden. There’s also a Grand Opening Sale until February 26, 2021 that drops the prices on 14 items.

There are eight series represented in the store so far. People can shop in the Castlevania, Dance Dance Revolution, Goemon, Metal Gear, PES, Suikoden, Sunset Riders, and Track & Field categories. While many of the available items are clothing, in particular things like hats, hoodies, and shirts, there are other pieces of merchandise available too. For example, you can buy a $39.99 Suikoden map poster, there will eventually be $39.99 Castlevania pillows, and there’s a $25.99 Track & Field water bottle.

Here’s a quick peek at some of the items that are now available in the store.

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As for the Official Konami Shop sale items, they come from a number of different series. There’s a $26.39 Castlevania Pixel Weapons Beanie that has subweapons on it. You could also get a color-changing Akumajou Dracula mug for $15.99. A number of $28.79 Metal Gear Solid shirts are available, as is a Psycho Mantis $23.99 color-change mug.

The post Official Konami Shop Opens With Suikoden, Castlevania, and MGS Items appeared first on Siliconera.

It appears Konami is. The Dance Dance Revolution publisher filed a trademark for Dance Dance Evolution in Europe.

Dance Dance Evolution is good for video game software and online computer games, which narrows down speculation quite a bit. In addition to this trademark, we spotted Cross Board 7 also ed by Konami.

Update: Cross Board 7 and Dance Dance Evolution are the European names for Adrenaline Misfits and Dance Masters, respectively. Thanks for the sleuthing liamscanlan and James!

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Konami was once the leader in the music game market when the genre was a niche. Now Guitar Hero and Rock Band are household names while GuitarFreaks is distant memory.

But, hey, Konami isn’t giving up on beat tapping rhythm games. In fact, the publisher is focusing on genre between now and March 31, 2011. Their latest financial results report reads, “we will focus our efforts on the music game Dance Dance Revolution series – which remains a perennial favorite – and other music games, which is a genre that Konami exhibits particular strength in.”

Konami picked up the publishing rights for Def Jam Rapstar, a karaoke style game with rap songs and video sharing features for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii. There’s also that 8- Dance Dance Revolution game, called Dance Dance Revolution, that Konami brought to E3 last year. Not much has been said about it since, but it’s probably on deck for release this year.

Def Jam Rapstar alone would be “another music game” and not “other music games.” Sounds like Konami has some other music games in their pocket.

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Before fitness games were all the rage, Konami released almost a dozen Dance Dance Revolution games with workout modes. The latest iteration for Wii, simply called Dance Dance Revolution, takes this in a new direction.

Playing Dance Dance Revolution with the balance board isn't like dancing at all. It's all about leaning. When you see a left arrow you shift your weight to the left. An up arrow means tilt forward and a right arrow means lean right. The balance board mode also has players punch with the remote and nunchuck while the game tracks how many kilogram calories you burn.

Hip rotating replaces freeze arrows. When you see one of these sections you have to rotate your hips as if you were gyrating an invisible hula hoop.

I appreciate that Konami is evolving the Dance Dance Revolution series, but won't players lose more pounds by stepping instead of leaning?

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The cryptic Metal Gear Solid game is Metal Gear Solid Touch and it's based on MGS 4. Players move Solid Snake with the touch screen and judging from these screenshots Metal Gear Solid Touch looks like a light gun game without a gun. Metal Gear Solid Touch comes out this spring and has eight stages. Beating stages unlocks bonus content like Metal Gear Solid wallpapers which is pretty clever. After the initial goes live Konami plans to release additional stages for Metal Gear Solid Touch.

Before Metal Gear Solid Touch arrives Konami will release three other iPhone games in "late December".

Dance Dance Revolution S Lite is DDR with touch screen arrow tapping.

Frogger is just like the arcade classic. Help a frog cross the street. Don't get run over in the process.

Silent Hill: The Escape is a 3D Silent Hill game where players gun down familiar Silent Hill creatures like faceless nurses.

Frogger looks like a quick cash in, but Slient Hill: The Escape and Metal Gear Solid Touch don't look half bad. While it might be surprising to see Konami jump on the iPhone bandwagon, Sega made a pretty penny with Super Monkey Ball and next year Square Enix is testing the waters with Crystal Defenders.

Images courtesy of Konami.

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Seriously, Konami? To be fair this version of DDR isn't targeting the core Dance Dance Revolution market. This game is using a license to expand the series like Dance Dance Revolution: Disney Rave and it's predecessor Dance Dance Revolution: Disney Grooves. Dance Dance Revolution: Winx Club popped up on the the USK, 's ESRB, which means this DDR mix is currently only planned for Europe at the moment. However, Konami used the Dance Dance Revolution brand instead of Dancing Stage, the name for DDR in Europe, so Dance Dance Revolution: Winx Club is probably coming to North America too.

We know you're holding in your excitement for Dance Dance Revolution: Winx Club, but what other license would you want to see merged with DDR?

Images courtesy of Konami and 4Kids TV.

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