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Namco's Taiko Drumming Games To Debut In West

Posted by simoniker on from the the-mcconaughey-shuffle dept.

Thanks to 1UP for its news story noting that Namco's Japanese hit PlayStation 2 drumming title, Taiko No Tatsujin, is coming to the West. According to the article's translation of a Bloomberg News story: "Namco tentatively plans to localize two titles in the series (four have been released in Japan so far) with revised song selections better suited to an American audience. Its expectations of the title's success are relatively modest - Haraguchi said Namco expects to initially ship around 100,000 units - but given the success of Dance Dance Revolution in this country, it could balloon into a similar cult phenomenon." The Taiko No Tatsujin series "...has shipped two million units for PlayStation 2 in Japan so far", even with an (optional) expensive drum controller, and it seems Nintendo's previously mentioned Namco-developed conga-drum title Donkey Konga is also likely to head Stateside.

2 of 19 comments (clear)

  1. Darn by eamonman · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Now my neighbors will really hate me. I'll be tapping on the tatacon (or whatever they decide to call the Taiko controller out here,) all night until my wrists snap off.

    I love these 'rhythm' games. I wish thouh that there would be a bonus for creativity like in the original Parappa. You could actually make taps between the beats shown on the screen. So I would just tap along at anywhere from double time to octuple time between beats and end up getting crazy ratings. You can''t do that in freq and amplitude (you can do freestyle of course, but that's not the same), and in Gitaroo-man, it doesn't seem to matter.

    Of course, if the quick taping was included TnT, then my neigbbors would start kicking the walls of my apartment down.

    --
    0- Eamonman Proud member of DNRC
  2. Unfortunately, they're too difficult for US gamers by Blackwulf · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The main reason you don't see Beatmania IIDX (7 keys and turntable), Drummania (5 piece drumset), Guitar Freaks, Keyboard Mania (2 octave piano), and other games like that are because they are just too difficult for American audiences. I have imported IIDX, I love IIDX, and everyone who tries to play it can't do it - even if they have a percussion background. They can play two or three songs and that's it. By then, they get too frustrated and give up.

    Beatmania IIDX 7th Style just barely got enough preorders in Japan for them to make it...They almost cancelled the project, but fan interest is making them produce a limited amount of them for release in May.

    Believe me, nothing would make me happier than to be able to play IIDX without swapping discs (and without having to buy a JPS2) but I just don't see it happening.

    But Taiko no-Tatsujin is also a VERY FUN game. I imported it too, and I love it. I just wonder what type of songs they'll put in the US version.