DJ Max Technika, the arcade iteration of the successful Korean music game franchise, after successful location tests of the US version at two arcades in Southern California, has come up to Northern California as part of their second round, at Sunnyvale Golfland.

And damn is it fun.

The machine arrived on Monday, December 22, 2008, through the negotiation magic of Corey Prasek (Ver2), who arranged the location test with both Pentavision/PM Studios and SVGL. I arrived at SVGL at 1. Rushing into the arcade with Rome in tow, I found myself immediately stopped by Corey – “Not yet.” I resigned myself to several games of BlazBlue and beatmaniaIIDX.

Corey had some people help him tug the hefty machine into the arcade. It was more beautiful in person. After setting it up, I called my friend Mark to relay the message to the masses at Bemanistyle – it’s finally here!

By the end of the night, over 30 people had come to line up to play (or spectate) the game. The queue ranged anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours, depending on whether or not newcomers to the game underestimated the game’s difficulty (and failed on their first or second stage as a result). I had a chance to play about four games, not counting the attempt I made at the Customizer course (the hardest expert course in the game; I ‘passed’ Y as my first song, but failed the meet the quota – see below).

I originally planned for this post to be an introduction to Technika, but the post grew so big I sectioned it off into its own page! Take a look at the page here, and expect constant updates as I collect more info about the game.

So, in Japan, pop’n music 17 THE MOVIE commenced its location test. Here are the details, having been updated updating live from 2ch‘s music game board after the break.

Songs

• [Adolescence] Pink / Parquets
  13/27/36/ Chinatsu
• [Russia 2] Retro Danshaku no Nageki (Retro Baron’s Grief) / Troupe Record
  19/31/39 / Pirozhki
• [Cinema 2] Movie “Under The Emptiness of Jenova” Theme (?) / Q-Mex
  18/27/37 / Kevin (17)
• [Capsule Princess] Fushiginakusuri (Miraculous Medicine) / Ueno Keiichi feat. Satoe
  14/29/34 / Monimoni
• [Cutie Techno Pop] We Can Change / Sota Fujimori feat. Kemy
  16/26/32 / Sora Hoshino
• [Folktronica] Ringo Logic (Apple Logic) / Dormir
  15/26/35 / Rosalie (2P)
• [Star Hero] Boku Mo, Watashi Mo, Movie Star☆ (I’m Also, I Am Also A Movie Star) / Ucchies Z
  21/28/38 / Star☆Nyan
• [Hard Action] Commando / 96
  23/33/40 / Wild
• [Wasan Techno] ZIN-DEN-GO / V.C.O.
  17/30/38 / DJ Raijin (2P)
• [Girls Alternative Core] make my way / Yasuhiro Abe feat. Moria Motoko
  22/33/40 / Erika
• [Ninja Metal] Seisui no Jin (Camp of Seisui?) / Hideo Suwa
  N/37/41 / Yoshio (Old ver.)

Features

• Skin feels “10-ish”; lots of purple everywhere
• Rapidly double-tapping the left yellow button allows players to switch between genre and song titles

Additional Notes

• Licenses seem to be missing except for Konayuki and Sousei no Aquarion?
• Hawaiian Punk (and its character) are now gone
• Combos are now identical to IIDX (start from first note, not second); whether or not mash poors drop combo has yet to be confirmed
• ee’MALL song [K-Classics] Akumajo Dracula Medley has had its character changed from Yuli to Simon Belmondo 2P.
• Two-hour wait time reported
• according to PMDream, “approximately 40 people were waiting in line at opening”
• Songs from pop’n 1~15 are bundled up into one category for the location test; within the category, white buttons may be used for navigation from game to game a la level/title sort
• 16′s icon is Tent-Kant (Toy Contemporary), 17′s is, as per usual, Mimi and Nyami
• CS icon is Ratte and Lotte
• Artist Sort is now implemented
• Enjoy Mode now uses the same songwheel as Challenge Mode
• They’re using Party’s sound as a placeholder