Bemani fans, lend me your ears. And fingers. The latest iteration of Korean-developed rythm gameDJMAX, which found some stateside popularity with itsPSP Ports, is now being tested at two locations in the Los Angeles area. This beta version ofDJMAX Technikacan be played at UCLA’s Ackerman Union arcade, Coinz, or at Game Play in Long Beach.
The game still features its trademark synth-tek soundtrack and beautifully animated Korean art background videos, but gone is the furious, rapid-fire button assault we’ve grown used to. Instead,DJMAX Technikauses a touch screen, (which is reportedly more sensitive than that of an iPhone), and has players poking at dots and tracing their fingers over lines to keep the groove going.
Some Bemani purists might groan at the idea of this new interface, but it looks pretty awesome if you ask me. PM Studios producer Michael Yum will be hanging around at the UCLA test looking for feedback, so if you’re in the LA area, go check it out and see what you think. At worst, it might mean that the few remaining arcades in this country would have something more interesting to play thanDDRandGolden Tee.
