BeForU albums from 2003 ~ 2006. (Photos)

BeForU, KI-SE-KI, and BeForU

BeForU tracklists.

KI-SE-KI's tracklist and new members.

Part of the KI-SE-KI is a DVD disc.

BeForU II has a protective cover art.

BeForU II tracklists.

Inside the BeForU II album is a sticker sheet.

A BEMANI soundtrack with a game!

In November 27, 1998, is when Konami released the game soundtrack of the third installment of beatmania, the beatmania 3rdMIX complete. 

beatmania 3rdMIX complete front cover

This one disc soundtrack is not an ordinary because aside from the soundtrack, it includes a preview disc PlayStation version of beatmania 3rdMIX. The game only has 4 playable songs. Because it's an append game, users have to boot the key disc first. The game can be also used for DISC CHANGE to boot other APPEND beatmania games. The actual home version was released a month later. 

beatmania APPEND 3rd mini disc

Soundtrack songlist and playable songs.

beatmania 3rdMIX complete x beatmania APPEND 3rdMIX

DDR Japanese versions for Wii! (Photos)

Box art (HOTTEST PARTY ~ MUSIC FIT). For me, HOTTEST PARTY has good box design

Game front cover art (HOTTEST PARTY ~ MUSIC FIT)

Konami Official Controller dance pad for Nintendo Wii

DanceDanceRevolution titles written in katakana. BEMANI games are rated CERO A. On top of the FURUFURU PARTY box.

Wii LOVE  DANCE! Back box art from DDR HOTTEST PARTY

Music licenses featured in DDR MUSIC FIT

DDR HOTTEST PARTY coincides with BEMANI 10th Anniversary

Sharp's 20 inch LCD TV from 2009!

A few weeks ago, looking around from the stores, south of Manila. I stumbled a used TV surplus. They are selling unwanted TV from Japan. 

A Sharp Aquos LC-20D50 Television

While looking inside, I was enticed by this small monitor. I thought it was a monitor, but its a 20 inch Television produced by Sharp for the Japanese market. It's an Aquos product line produced back in 2009. As every Japanese knows, the Aquos line of TV's was designed by renowned Japanese designer, Toshiyuki Kita. Aside from the 20 inch the store also sells a 32' and 40' inch Aquos TV and CRT's from other brands.

Inputs at the back

Inputs at the side

By the checking the TV, I was shocked that it has a lot of inputs, 3 HDMI ports, an S-Video, D-Video,  a LAN port, an RCA, and VGA for PC. It also has a B-CAS card slot for Digital TV for Japanese broadcast.

Produced in 2009

I know it's an old TV and scuffs are very prominent all over the body, but still works! I chose this TV because its minimalist design and size and variety of inputs. Right now,  I am using it for gaming and as a second screen for my laptop. By the way, I bought it for only 2,000PhP without the remote!

B-CAS slot with B-CAS card

For more information about the product I bought (in Japanese), please click the link.

An Old collaboration in BEMANI: Dreams Come True and True Kiss Destination

During the early years of BEMANI, Konami had a collaboration with J-POP bands DREAMS COME TRUE and True Kiss Destination. Konami made a spin off beatmania and Dancing Stage to showcase their songs in the arcades. A commercial of Dancing Stage feat. TKD for PlayStation here. Sadly, I haven't seen these in our local game centers years ago, but able to get the PlayStation port. 

PlayStation port games

Interestingly, the Dancing Stage brand is originally for European market of DanceDanceRevolution, but they used it just for this collaboration, another is the Dancing Stage DISNEY'S RAVE.

Another interesting feature in the PlayStation port of Dancing Stage feat. DREAMS COME TRUE, The Greatest Hits Mode, where you able to swap disc using the DREAMS COME TRUE GREATEST HITS "THE SOUL" album and play some songs available by swapping discs. 

Greatest Hits mode for Dancing Stage feat. DCT

Since then, they never had a collaboration with them or with other J-POP bands. Instead, they had a collaboration with Nintendo, DDR MARIOMIX for Nintendo's GameCube. Disney has started 

Sukiya's first Philippine store

Sukiya's first store in the Philippines. Opened last November 2021 in Glorietta 2 Mall in Makati City. It offers Gyudon as its main dish. Price range is affordable and the ambiance is somewhat similar to stores in Japan. Unfortunately, I wasn't able take photos inside as many customers are coming in for Lunch. It seems that Yoshinoya will have a new challenger for Gyudon rice bowl in the Philippines.

Please check their Facebook page for more information.

Sukiya's facade

Store menu

A high table in Sukiya. Good thing that they adopted the call button.

I ordered a Large Yakiniku bowl with fries and Miso soup with drink.

Wallet damage: minimal

Take Out menu

Finally! e-amusement service is back!

As of yesterday, Konami's e-amusement service is now available in Quantum's Q Power Station in Rockwell Power Plant Mall and Club Synergy in SM Megamall. This is one of the first game centers in the capital where connection has been established since the start of the quarantine last year. 

Finally!

All e-amusement dependent games are outdated, it needs to be updated. As of this writing, although outdated, Power Station's beatmaniaIIDX, GITADORA, SOUND VOLTEX, and DDR are now playable. IIn the coming days, jubeat and DANCE RUSH will be available soon. 

Because today is a Saturday, there is an influx of mall goers going to the game center for entertainment, both adult and children, and of course, minimum health standard is strictly observed! 

jubeat needs to be updated

Good to see that the entertainment industry is finally attracting customers again!  Hoping that all Quantum stores will also restore e-amusement, Banapassport, and Aime connections. Let's hope that our country can maintain low cases, so that this kind of industry will keep running even though we are still in pandemic.

Claiming your Subject to Customs parcels at CMEC!

 Last week, I received a text message from PhilPost that my parcel that I bought from Japan was hold from Bureau of Customs in Port of NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport). I am in rage that my parcel I chose the EMS delivery to eliminate the hassle of going to Makati Post Office and expedite delivery. Out of my rage, I have no option but to go there. 

CMEC at Port of NAIA in Pasay City

This is my third time to go CMEC or the Central Mailing Exchange Center, located in Domestic Road in Pasay City. I know how to go there by city bus, but unfortunately, due to the pandemic, public transport in the nearby area will be an added burden. So I decided to go there as early as possible to avoid lines and crowds. Because of the heavy rain in early mornings, I took a taxi from my house to CMEC. 

Waiting

Before heading to CMEC, make sure to print out a copy of your invoices to prove the purchase and valid identification. When I got there forty minutes before it opens, a lady from PhilPost assisted me in facilitating the release. I gave all the infos she needs, gave me a card, and asked me to wait until Customs counter opens at 8am. BOC opens past 8am by the way. BOC officers opens the parcel and finds the video games I bought and immediately instructed me to pay the representative fee of 112.00PhP! I asked the officer who opened it why did they subject my parcel for examination, and said that electronic items are subjected for inspection (the pop'n music controller)! Good thing I always consider the de mini mis limit of 10,000.00PhP or equivalent foreign currency value.

While waiting for the BOC to open

Because the hassle it caused, I took a day of leave in my office and taxi took away my 200.00Php! It seems that it would be better to choose the DHL (for me) because aside from less than 10 dollars difference, their office is very near from work. Kudos to the PhilPost lady who facilitated me earlier than expected.  By the way, photo and videography inside the premises is not allowed, so i discreetly took photos on what they are giving. 

Released!

On my way home, I have to walk half a kilometer crossing the Domestic terminal until I reached Airport Road. From there, I took a jeepney going to MRT Taft. Luckily, the EDSA Carousel bus I rode is giving free rides to the public. Well, the good things in life are FREE!

When DDR went to consoles for four years: filling the gap in the arcades

After the release of DDR EXTREME back in Christmas of 2002, there were no DDR arcade releases back then. There were no press releases on why they halted the series. In 2006, Konami shocked the gaming community when they announced that DDR will have a comeback, ending the absence in the arcades.

DDR Party Collection ~ STR!KE! for PS2

It took them four years for the ninth installment. Many gamers would have thought that DDR EXTREME is the last arcade game and DDR will be more of a video game console. Because one of the pop-outs found on top the screen, "WE ARE STARTING OVER!" assumes the end of the series. In the same year, the original beatmania and beatmaniaIII made its last hurrah of the series. 

A "WE ARE STARTING OVER" pop-out on top the screen.
screenshot: Konami website

During hiatus, Konami continues to release console versions of the franchise in different regions. In Japan, for example, they have released DDR Party Collection (2003), FESTIVAL (2004), and STR!KE (2005) for the PlayStation 2. The difference between Japanese and North America and Europe releases is that American and Europe released console DDR in different consoles at the time, whereas Japan focused mostly on PS2. During DDR's absence, RoXor Games, an American game developer, released In The Groove (ITG) for the arcades and later for PS2. ITG was the answer for gamers who are longing to play the freshest songs and step charts at the time. In The Groove uses DDR's gameplay and cabinet, but resulted in a lawsuit by Konami. The lawsuit resulted in favor of Konami and acquiring intellectual property of the game.

BeForU members; Riyu and Noria at the back cover art of DDR FESTIVAL

The last DDR console game produced was released in 2011 as DDR II (North America) /DDR hottest party5 (Europe) for Nintendo Wii . Right now, Konami is in the works for the DanceDanceRevolution game for PC, similar to other BEMANI games such as IIDX, pop'n, and SOUND VOLTEX.

 

Timeless fighting game: Rival School!

 If you are going to ask, what is my favorite fighting game, my only answer is Rival School or Justice Gakuen/ 私立ジャスティス学園. When my first time to play the game around 1999 using a pirated disc. Since then, I never stop playing the game. Rival School is a fighting game that the characters are students from different schools. Originally, an arcade game with three iteration, due to its success, the first two was ported to the PlayStaton 1 and 3rd for Sega Dreamcast. Some of its characters were later ported to Capcom fighting game, StreetFighter.

The first Rival School game for the PlayStation (circa 2012)

I was able to try the PlayStation port of the first two games. My siblings and cousins play the game all day long. Never tried the Dreamcast version, but I was able to play it at the arcades wayback in 2002. I used to have the physical discs, but later sold in a bazaar 6 years ago. Fret not, as I bought a digital version of the game through PSN Store. 

Digital version of Rival School 2 

A few months ago, Sony announced that they will pull the plug the PSN for PS3, PS Vita, and PSP. However, due to public outcry, Sony reversed its decision except for PSP. Good thing that Sony realized that digital games are important in gaming community.

Konamistyle editions

 When PlayStation 2 console was launched back in 2000, Game developers started to develop new marketing strategies in gaining profit of their published games, aside from selling only the game itself. One of the marketing strategies is adding special merchandise bundled to the game. Special editions is still in practice in the console gaming industry up to this day. Well, Konami also have their fair share of these special edition. 

One of the Konamistyle edition I have

Konami's special editions are called Konamistyle, because most of the bundled products are usually sold online with the same name. The Konamistyle website sold different kinds of editions such as Metal Gear Solid, Zone Of The Enders, BEMANI line of the games and Arcade-Style Controllers (ASC). 

beatmaniaIIDX10th style Konamistyle edition (incomplete)

In BEMANI's Konamistyle editions, the stapled bundled in the game are V-RARE Soundtracks and/or exclusive mini-albums, Visual Emotions (for beatmaniaIIDX), and game posters. Normally, special editions are house in a special box with all goodies but bundles differ from game to game. From other Konami games such as Metal Gear, they bundled the game with a console on top of the goodies included.

Some beatmaniaIIDX Konamistyle edition in special canisters

As Konami is moving away from console (I think?) and the physical store in Midtown Roppongi was closed years ago. Right now, these old special edition from Konami is rare and expensive depending on the condition and completeness. Even in second market stores in Japan, special editions are placed in glass cabinet which defines as expensive and rare. 

DDR Hand Controller for PlayStation

A few months, I received the Dance Dance Revolution Hand Controller without a box that I ordered online. This controller was released around 2000 in Japan. 

DanceDanceRevolution Hand Controller for PlayStation 1 / 2

The controller design is like an arcade dance pad with SOLO buttons. The controller can be used as an alternative DualShock controller without the L and R buttons on the side. The controller is lightweight, because it doesn't have vibration. When I tried the controller for the first time, I felt an awkward feel, maybe because of the design but after a few songs, my palm and hand started to feel pain.

A few days after I bought the controller, posted it online. I realized that the design of the hand controller doesn't fit to my hand. Maybe if I will buy again, I would rather put it in display. Right now, it's a hard to find. I searched Ebay some listings and found seller that sells it for $85.00 without the box.