Namco's Taiko Drumming Games To Debut In West

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.

Darn

[eamonman]

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.

Re:Darn

[TimeTrip]

You should look into importing Drum mania / Percussion freaks for PS2. There are quite a few versions of the game available. In addition, it uses 3 "drums", 2 "cymbals" and a bass pedal, instead of just a round drum with 4 sensors in it. The music is also much more challenging. You can find the imported arcade versions at some arcades in the US.

Re:Darn

[bugbread]

THe original Bemani series also allowed embellishments (you didn't get extra points, but you didn't lose them either, and your songs sounded much better). I think they were gotten rid of around Bemani 3rd mix.

Any chance of the other musical games?

[MMaestro]

I know in Japan they also have musical games similar to this which uses keyboards (musical keyboards) and guitars. Do you think they'd have any chance of reaching the U.S., assuming Namco's Taiko drumming games do well?

Unfortunately, they're too difficult for US gamers

[Blackwulf]

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 preor

A long shot, and probably not a good idea...

[Cutriss]

Taiko drumming is a rather traditional thing in Japan, and it's something completely different from jam sessions in a rock band or anything like that. It'd be like trying to bring a Noh drama to the US - It's just too foreign to Americans. Donkey Konga likely stands a better chance simply because it'll be easier to identify with - Americans have seen conga drumming before.

The reason I say that it's probably not a good idea is that the probable failure of a product like this could lead to less likely chance

Re:A long shot, and probably not a good idea...

[Alita]

Seriously, have you played this game? The only thing "traditional" about it is the drums.

The music in the game is from anime, J-Pop, even classical music (William Tell Overture). There's even some disco!

It's a game that's very easy to pick up and play. The important thing for Namco is they need to pick the right songs for the American market. If they do that well, I don't see why this won't be successful for them.

Re:Hmmm...

[generic-man]

The drum game played in "Lost in Translation" is, in fact, Taiko no Tatsujin. The guitar game is Guitar Freaks, and the "rhythm style scrolling shooter" is Pop'n Music.

DDR

[Tuxinatorium]

I think dance dance revolution is a regional fad. In St. Louis, I had never even heard of it, but when I came to UIUC, (that's champaign, illinois), I heard about it within 2 days and almost everyone here has played it. Anyway, it takes a totally different kind of muscle coordination than a FPS shooter. I've seen people who are ridiculously, impossibly good at DDR. I makes me wish there was a DDR equivalent of an aimbot so I could pwn them!

What about Europe?

[neonstz]

Will Taiko No Tatsujin ever be released in Europe, or do I have to go on with my plans to chip my PS2 and get the game from Japan?

This brings up a question.

[FortissimoWily]

I wonder how many people who'd said Nintendo and Namco's Donkey Konga was a "cash-in", or "retarded", and suchlike will now be changing their views purely because this will be appearing on Sony's console?

Americanisation! Butchering your games since 1985!

[IntergalacticWalrus]

"with revised song selections better suited to an American audience"

I can already hear the cries of agony from fanboys.

No wait that was me.

Re:Americanisation! Butchering your games since 19

[Leynos]

Well, since I already have two of the Japanese releases, I'm actually looking forwards to the American releases, because it'll mean more songs to hammer away to. :)

Later.

So much fun

[offpath3]

This game was so much fun when it came out in Japan. Me and my friends saw it in the very front of Round One arcade by Sanjo-eki in Kyoto and we had to play it. There's very little in this world as satisfying as being able to whack a drum to the tune of the opening theme for Neon Genesis Evangelion. =)