Chunithm sighted in QPS Rockwell!

 Last November 1, 2022, a national holiday in the Philippines, QPS Rockwell installed the first Chunithm in Metro Manila. This is the latest addition to the SEGA rhythm game arcade in the Philippines. Prior, Maimai is the only SEGA rhythm game available in the country.

Chunithm arcade machine

After its installation, an influx of avid gamers went to Rockwell Power Mall. After its boot, the version inside is NEW PLUS! The game costs 50.00PhP for three songs. As of writing, Chunithm is also available in Quantum SM Baguio according to the Chunithm international ver. page. 

QPS technicians doing their last checks

Hoping there will be more Chunithm locations nationwide. As one location with 2 machines will not suffice with a vast number of gamers. By the way, QPS Rockwell is now selling AiME cards again with amusement IC for only 300PhP!

Chunithm NEW PLUS!

Chunithm locations as of 13 November 2022.

Muji's first Cafe in the Philippines!

Facade of Muji BGC

A few weeks ago, I went to the Muji's first Cafe in the Philippines. The Cafe was located in BGC. Months prior, the Muji BGC was relocated to a bigger place, infront of the old Muji store. When Muji opened last June, the place was packed. Many Mujirers flocked to the store and experience the Cafe which Muji Japan was a stapled offering.

The Cafe section

When I visited the Cafe, the line was long and slow moving, it was a weekend by the way! It took me approximately 30 minutes to order and only one cashier was opened. The Cafe has very few seats and the seats are fully occupied. some people opted to take their orders out and some tried their luck waiting for someone to end their visit. 

onboard menu

Pastries almost gone!

Unfortunately, most of the pastries are sold out, so I ordered a Peach tea and Cinnamon Roll. Luckily, I was able to snagged a seat who left, when I was to take my order out. I finished my merienda in 20 minutes, so that customers will be able to use the seat after me. 

Peach tea and Cinnamon Roll

Muji should add seats as the available seating is very limited, around 20 guests can be accommodated. I would advise who wants to the Cafe must be early especially on weekends, as customers starts to pile up during after lunch. They should stock more food items especially on weekends. Lastly, an additional staff to take orders, one staff means long waiting time.

I am optimistic that Muji would bring their Cafe in other branches, most favorable if the Meal&Cafe.

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.