KEYBOARDMANIA on keyboards.

I have been playing any available Bemani-related simulation like DanceDanceRevolution, beatmaniaIIDX, pop'n music and GuitarFreaks and DrumMania in our local arcade shops. However, how about the defunct bemani games like DanceManiaX, ParaParaPradise, DDR SOLO and the original beatmania? I know that some of them are still roaming around the arcade shops in different parts of the Philippines, but how about the most rare Bemani game like KEYBOARDMANIA?

KEYBOARDMANIA is a Keyboard simulation game from Konami using a Yamaha supported keyboards with 2 screens on each keyboards with wheel effectors on each side. KEYBOARDMANIA 3rdMIX is capable of Multisession link with other Bemani games like GuitarFreaks and DrumMania with a dozen of playable songs in Multisession mode. Click here for the Youtube link of KEYBOARDMANIA's Multisession

During my college years, I used to play a KEYBOARDMANIA 3rdMIX Arcade in Timezone Market! Market!. During those times the machine was in pristine condition. I play so almost everyday just to practice the game and my most played music is "DEAR MY FRIEND" by Every Little Thing . As months went by the arcade machine is starts to deteriorate, keys are sticky and sometimes chipped off keys, blurry screens, unresponsive effector wheels and the worse of all being smashed by High school punks. It's very unfortunate that my friend wasn't able to play the game due to that issues. Arcade management tries to fix the problems, until they finally decided to return it back to their warehouse for further repairs and never seen it again.

Months after, I decided to search for an another KEYBOARDMANIA alive, but the other KEYBOARDMANIA is also broken, located in Festival Mall Alabang, Muntinlupa. I decided to look for another options, until I found a PlayStation 2 version of the game.

(KEYBOARDMANIA CS with controller)

 

KEYBOARDMANIA has 2 consumer versions, the 1st and the 2ndMIX & 3rdMIX in one disc. The first CS version have the same interface with the 1st KEYBOARDMANIA unlike the second version uses the 3rdMIX interface. The PS2 version is not capable of multisession link but songs in multisession is playable.

 

I was able to practice more at home and manages to SS some songs on Light and Light + modes. Playing this game is like fulfilling my dream to play piano and most songs are classical.

 

Makes me wonder, Why Konami decided to end the game after 3rdMIX? and Why our local arcade operator didn't return the game to the Arcade parlor?  Nevertheless, this game is great and I will always play this game.

 

Photo: © 2013 Happy Fiesta Productions

Let's enjoy the e-AMUSEMENT world!

In the late 90's is the time that the internet starts to bloom. There are a few devices are internet capable unlike in todays' time. It is also the time that Arcade machines are beginning to use internet to post rankings, but Arcade machine give codes to players at the end of the credit and players must encode it to the game website in a period of time.

In 2003, Konami release the e-AMUSEMENT in Japan. This service use the internet is directly plugged into the arcade machine. This service aims to save scores, unlock game features and Internet ranking. The e-AMUSEMENT service is also available in some countries outside Japan depending if the Arcade operator has a subscription with Konami. The player must have an e-AMUSEMENT card that can be bought to the Arcade store cashier or a Card dispenser and the machine they will use is connected to the service.

(Earlier e-AMUSEMENT Cards)

The first e-AMUSEMENT cards are made of magnetic cards and easily bent if the owner mishandles the card. The bad thing is these cards is only usable in one arcade game and you are required to buy another card to a different game.

In 2006, Konami upgrades the service by centralizing all data in one card and using contactless smartcard.

(The current standard design)

In 2010, they launched "PASELI" a service where players can store virtual credits into their cards and use as a payment to the game, without inserting coins or tokens into the machine.

I got my first and last e-AMUSEMENT entry way back in 2007, when my family had a vacation in Hong Kong. I inserted my card in a DanceDanceRevolution SuperNOVA game. At first, I had no idea how will I use the card because the instructions appeared in the screen are in Japanese. Fortunately, an Arcade attendant helped me to use it.

Though, the Philippines is one of the deprived countries that don't support e-AMUSEMENT service, many of us were able to obtain the cards thru ebay, brokerage or  they previously visited a country where this service is available . These cards are not only available in Arcade shops but also bundled in other Konami merchandises such as Video games and Game Soundtracks. However, those cards bundled are limited because these cards have a special design artwork, Like I have a Concertino in Blue design card that was bundled with GuitarFreaks and DrumMania MASTERPIECE GOLD video game for PlayStation 2 and other one is the QMA card bundled with the Quiz Magic Academy for Nintendo DS.

 

Some of my acquaintances were able to find ways to use their cards by means of emulation into an offline machine. The emulating software is called "eamumu" that could emulate the features of an online machine.

This service is vital to very arcade gamers, other Game publishers like Namco and Pentavision have their internet service here in the Philippines. If this service becomes available, I'm very sure it will be a huge success!

Photos: © 2013 Happy Fiesta Productions

Zone of the Enders

Over a decade ago, Hideo Kojima, a video game producer created the Zone of the Enders. A robot oriented game. One of the best selling game of Mr. Kojima aside from his Metal Gear series.  It was released in the PlayStation 2 and in the Gameboy Advance consoles. Main the character is Leon Stenbuck in the first installment and Dingo Edgret in it's sequel in which they shared a common Orbital Frame called "Jehuty". Jehuty has an A.I called "ADA". Unlike the PlayStation 2 installment, the Gameboy Advance version have a different story, It's was during the production of Orbital frames on Earth.

The first print of the first Zone of the enders includes a Demo disc of the Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty while the ANUBIS: Zone Of the Enders was released in different special packages. Both installment was re-released many times until the release of the HD edition for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 that includes both series in one disc.

My experience on this game was fascinating and I was able to finish both games except on the Gameboy Advance. The reason why I bought and finish this game was because a remix of Beyond the Bounds was playable in the Consumer software of pop'n music 8, a music simulation game from Konami.

Konami/Kojima Productions already released the HD edition of the both games in one disc for PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles last year. Though, I haven't play the game, some reviews online said that the game improved it's graphics and re-living the gaming experience for the first time since PS2.

Nowadays, both games are rare and expensive, selling those games for around $50 or more in ebay and a must haves for a game collector like me.

PocketStation,PlayStation on your pocket.

The PocketStation is a PlayStation peripheral released in January 23, 1999 exclusively for Japanese markets. Sony had plans to release it to other regions however, it never happened. This cute little gadget is also a PlayStation 1 memory card (15 blocks/128Kb) and an alarm clock. PocketStation can play mini-games from selected PlayStation 1 games by transferring via PlayStation 1 memory card slot or via Infrared transfer located at the top of the LCD.

I'm using my 2 PocketStations as an Arcade Link to save scores or play edit data in Dance Dance Revolution games.  7 years ago, I saw a PocketStation in an electronic shop in Quiapo, Manila selling it for 1,700.00Php. The Store attendant had no idea if the PocketStation they are selling is new or used. Unfortunately, when I'm about to buy it, the store was already gone. I got my first PocketStation from a local ebay seller for only 300.00Php. A good buy for a used item.

 

Interestingly, PocketStations are made somewhere in the Philippines. (shown above)