Not long ago we reported that Konami was taking a second stab at a North American jubeat Location test, this time under the name jukebeat. This version of the game is based on the jubeat ripples interface and features a long list comprised mostly of original English licensed tracks. It’s clear the second you see the attract mode on the machine that jukebeat was the selected name so they can market the machine as an interactive Jukebox. How this will tie into e-amusement and an overall release plan is yet to be seen, but one can bet that if this game does see an actual release the addition of updates with new songs is inevitable.
At this test, the game was set to 1 song for 4 tokens, which at roughly 1:30 per song seems like a lot of money. Especially when compared to the 3 minutes you get from a game of Guitar Hero AC. This may not be the final pricing structure and given the nature of the test itself and Konami’s apparent desire to keep it somewhat under wraps (we have no idea when it started, or when it will end) that they may be using it as another way to get accurate public play results. Whatever the case may be, the pricing structure as it stands is a little whacked.
It was clear that these were the same machines from the UBeat location test earlier in the year with new marquees and a new instruction card panel. The 2nd cabinet was non-functional due to a messed-up coin slot. Also of note is that the employees got on us after about 10 minutes about our cameras, limiting the amount of related media we could obtain. This was due to a policy at the location itself, not because Konami was mandating no photography (no one was tending to the machines while I was there, and the arcade was virtually empty.)
Many of the new songs were very fun to play, and the options, gameplay, and interface are exactly as you would expect from a US port of jubeat ripples. This version definitely seems to have a ton of potential, so here’s hoping that the true public perception is positive enough to merit a legitimate release. The game is as fun as it’s ever been, and the potential of a largely licensed Songlist is rather exciting, although not too surprising given the direction all of the US CS releases have taken as of late.
version number: I44:U:A:A:2009101300
| Song Name | Artist Name | B | A | E |
| New Songs | ||||
| School’s Out | Alice Cooper | 1 | 5 | 8 |
| Who Let The Dogs Out | Baha Men | 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Now You’re Gone | Basshunter | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| Do Your Thing | Bassment Jaxx | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) | C&C Music Factory | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Viva La Vida | Coldplay | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) | Dead Or Alive | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| September | Earth, Wind & Fire | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| I Do Not Hook Up | Kelly Clarkson | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Macarena | Los Del Rio | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Shake It | Metro Station | 1 | 5 | 8 |
| Here It Goes Again | OK Go | 3 | 6 | 7 |
| I Write Sins Not Tragedies | Panic At The Disco | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| 1901 | Phoenix | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) | Pitbull | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| I Wanna Be Sedated | The Ramones | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) | R.E.M. | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Pump Up The Jam | Technotronic | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Revival Songs | ||||
| Take On Me | A-Ha | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Sandstorm | Darude | 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Happy Happy | Ki*Ki | 2 | 6 | 9 |
| Orpheus In The Underworld | Mutsuhiko Izumi | 3 | 8 | 9 |
| Polaris | Mutsuhiko Izumi | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Snow Goose | Mutsuhiko Izumi | 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Informer | Snow | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| William Tell Overture | W.T. Orchestra | 3 | 7 | 9 |
Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me ‘Round (Like A Record) [ADVANCED]
Introduction & Attract Mode
note: Our report on this location test is for the sake of informing everyone and preserving this data under the circumstance that the title is not released. We are unsure on Konami’s stance on promoting the test and do not condone organized mobbing of the location, although we do encourage everyone that is able to go check it out for themselves and try a few songs. Out of respect for the companies involved, the community, and the potential release of this title let’s all cooperate to allow the results to be as accurate as possible.