EZ2Dancer
Encyclopedia
EZ2Dancer is a series of dance video game
s developed by the Korean video game company Amuseworld. The gameplay of the series is similar to other dance simulation games, but unlike most games of their genre, EZ2Dancer incorporates both hand sensors and foot sensors into gameplay.
hand sensors directly in front of the player. Players receive a judgement on each command, and some versions incorporate notes that must be held for their duration. After the song is completed, a score and rank are generated.
The series uses 4 common difficulty levels; "Easy" mode, "Hard" mode, "Club" mode (which uses both pads and sensor sets), and "Real" mode (which adds the need to use the lower hand sensors for actions alongside just the top ones).
Released September 2000 in Korea
and early 2001 in England
. Notable songs include "Rule of Game" by Goofy
, "Wah" by Lee Jung Hyun, "First Love" by Clon
, "Pierrot" by Lee Hyun Do and D.Bace, "Make Love" by NRG
, "Vision" by Yoo Seung Jun
, "Precious Love" by Park Ji Yoon and "Southwest Cadillac", an in-house remixed track from EZ2DJ
.
and sometime during summer (May?) 2001 in England
.
Added new in-house songs "Appeal (Acid Pop)" from EZ2DJ
and various K-Pop tunes.
. Unlicensed songs included "Dancing Queen" by ABBA
, "Uncle John from Jamaica" by Vengaboys and "Reach" by S Club 7. The backgrounds from previous Korea
n mixes were kept.
. What is special about this mix is that after the backlash of complaints about the UK Move's debatably poor selection of songs from the dance game community, David Swei, the European marketing director of Amuseworld, stepped in. Vykkye Nye, who worked as a PR girl for Amuseworld in the UK, used an online poll asking the (now defunct) Dancegames.com's site members to submit their favourite songs for use on the New UK Move. K-Pop was suggested but David was adamant that they use only English
songs for the new mix. However, "Get Ready" By Perry & YG Family made it in as despite the song being in Korea
n, it uses an English chorus. The final songs were selected and the mix was released.
release [aside from EZ2Dancer UKMove, which China
also received]. It has the songs from EZ2Dancer 2ndMove plus new songs from Mandarin-pop artists including Jolin Tsai
, Leon Lai
, and Kelly Chen
. It also has a few new songs from Korea
n artists; namely, from Yoo Seung Jun
, S#arp, Jon Jun Hyon, and Clon
.
SuperChina's Real Mode is different from 2ndMove as 2ndMove uses courses. A set of songs is played and needs to be accomplished to complete the mission.
Real Mode in SuperChina is a normal mode where you need to finish the song to proceed with the next stage.
SuperChina is said to be much more difficult in Real Mode as it uses most of the sensors and the step arrows at the same time. Numerous jumps were also observed on RealMode.
A SuperChina machine, as of 2010, is still functional. Currently located at Ever Gotesco Manila Plaza Recto Avenue, Manila which was actually near where the first ez2Dancer SuperChina machine was seen. Confirmed as the third machine as both were released during 2007.
Two ez2Dance 2ndMove cabinets are still functional though. One currently located at PureGold Monumento, Caloocan City which was first situated to a nearby mall, Ever Gotesco Grand Central, then transferred to Robinsons Galleria
Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City before it was replaced by Pump It Up NX2: Next Xenesis. The other machine is currently at TriNoma
, EDSA, North Avenue, Quezon City as it was first located at Timezone Glorietta
2, Ayala Avenue, Makati City. The move was caused by the 2007 Glorietta explosion
forcing Timezone to transfer all of their arcade machines on to other sites.
Trocadero (Piccadilly Circus) between September 2005 to July 2007, after which it was replaced by Pump It Up
NX. The machine was sent back to the distributors and it's new location is unknown. This was the only known SuperChina cabinet in the UK.
An EZ2Dancer UK Move Special Edition is currently in Grants Cinema in East Croydon. (Last checked April 2011)
EZ2Dancer can be simulated by StepMania
although no EZ2Dancer-style controllers are available for the PC, its stepfiles can be downloaded free at http://www.ez2dance.com, Registration is needed to access their exclusive download area (The site language is in Chinese-Traditional). Site no longer active.
series, however on the 10th July 2007 Konami
won a patent infringement suit claiming that EZ2DJ
was too similar to Beatmania
. This has effectively made Amuseworld bankrupt. Although EZ2Dancer 3rd Mix was available to buy on channelbeat.com in late 2005, this turned out to be a spelling error.
Music video game
A music video game, also commonly known as a music game, is a video game where the gameplay is meaningfully and often almost entirely oriented around the player's interactions with a musical score or individual songs...
s developed by the Korean video game company Amuseworld. The gameplay of the series is similar to other dance simulation games, but unlike most games of their genre, EZ2Dancer incorporates both hand sensors and foot sensors into gameplay.
Gameplay
The core gameplay involves staying in sync to a dance routine presented to the selected song, these routines involve stepping on three directional panels arranged in a circle in up-left, up-right, and down positions, and breaking beams between a set of two infraredInfrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
hand sensors directly in front of the player. Players receive a judgement on each command, and some versions incorporate notes that must be held for their duration. After the song is completed, a score and rank are generated.
The series uses 4 common difficulty levels; "Easy" mode, "Hard" mode, "Club" mode (which uses both pads and sensor sets), and "Real" mode (which adds the need to use the lower hand sensors for actions alongside just the top ones).
EZ2Dancer 1st Move
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
and early 2001 in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Notable songs include "Rule of Game" by Goofy
Goofy (group)
Goofy is a K-pop group who achieved minor successes from their albums. One of their popular songs, Mr. DJ, featured the late Korean Pop singer, U;Nee in the video.- Albums :* 많이많이 * Goofy II * Goofy III * Goofy...
, "Wah" by Lee Jung Hyun, "First Love" by Clon
Clon
Clon is a South Korean dance music duo. Some of their songs, such as "Funky Tonight", "Cho Ryun" and "Come To Me" appear in Pump It Up, ez2Dancer and Korean versions of Dance Maniax.- Musical career :...
, "Pierrot" by Lee Hyun Do and D.Bace, "Make Love" by NRG
NRG (group)
NRG is a South Korean boyband. Their name is an acronym for New Radiancy Group. Originally a five-member group, they became a three-member group when the leader Lee Sungjin left to pursue a career in acting and as an announcer and Chun Myung Hoon left to produce music...
, "Vision" by Yoo Seung Jun
Yoo Seung Jun
Yoo Seungjun, also known as Steve Yoo, is a former Korean American pop star, whose career in South Korea ended in 2002 due to controversies around his mandatory military service. He was noted for his high-energy dancing style, rapping, and singing ability.- Early life :Yoo born on December 15,...
, "Precious Love" by Park Ji Yoon and "Southwest Cadillac", an in-house remixed track from EZ2DJ
EZ2DJ
EZ2DJ is a series of music video games created by the South Korean company Amuseworld. The basic manner of gameplay is similar as in the Konami's Beatmania series; however, as the franchise continues, it differs in style of music and gameplay...
.
Ez2Dancer 2nd Move
Released January 2001 in KoreaKorea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
and sometime during summer (May?) 2001 in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Added new in-house songs "Appeal (Acid Pop)" from EZ2DJ
EZ2DJ
EZ2DJ is a series of music video games created by the South Korean company Amuseworld. The basic manner of gameplay is similar as in the Konami's Beatmania series; however, as the franchise continues, it differs in style of music and gameplay...
and various K-Pop tunes.
EZ2Dancer UK Move
Released in May 2002 in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Unlicensed songs included "Dancing Queen" by ABBA
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
, "Uncle John from Jamaica" by Vengaboys and "Reach" by S Club 7. The backgrounds from previous Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n mixes were kept.
EZ2Dancer UK Move Special Edition
Released April 2003 in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. What is special about this mix is that after the backlash of complaints about the UK Move's debatably poor selection of songs from the dance game community, David Swei, the European marketing director of Amuseworld, stepped in. Vykkye Nye, who worked as a PR girl for Amuseworld in the UK, used an online poll asking the (now defunct) Dancegames.com's site members to submit their favourite songs for use on the New UK Move. K-Pop was suggested but David was adamant that they use only English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
songs for the new mix. However, "Get Ready" By Perry & YG Family made it in as despite the song being in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n, it uses an English chorus. The final songs were selected and the mix was released.
EZ2Dancer SuperChina
Amuseworld released EZ2Dancer SuperChina in 2004 as its ChineseChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
release [aside from EZ2Dancer UKMove, which China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
also received]. It has the songs from EZ2Dancer 2ndMove plus new songs from Mandarin-pop artists including Jolin Tsai
Jolin Tsai
Jolin Tsai was born on 15 September 1980. She is a Taiwanese Golden Melody Award-winning Mandopop singer, dancer and actor. She is managed by Mars Entertainment Ltd .-Career:...
, Leon Lai
Leon Lai
Leon Lai is a Hong Kong-based actor and Cantopop singer. The media refer to Aaron Kwok, Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau and Leon Lai as the Cantopop Four Heavenly Kings . He uses the stage name "Li Ming" or "Lai Ming" which literally means "dawn."-Biography:...
, and Kelly Chen
Kelly Chen
Kelly Chen is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress. Kelly has also been known as a diva in Asia. She has a great success in Asia Entertainment industry with nearly 20 million record sales of 38 albums...
. It also has a few new songs from Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n artists; namely, from Yoo Seung Jun
Yoo Seung Jun
Yoo Seungjun, also known as Steve Yoo, is a former Korean American pop star, whose career in South Korea ended in 2002 due to controversies around his mandatory military service. He was noted for his high-energy dancing style, rapping, and singing ability.- Early life :Yoo born on December 15,...
, S#arp, Jon Jun Hyon, and Clon
Clon
Clon is a South Korean dance music duo. Some of their songs, such as "Funky Tonight", "Cho Ryun" and "Come To Me" appear in Pump It Up, ez2Dancer and Korean versions of Dance Maniax.- Musical career :...
.
SuperChina Play modes
- Easy: Normal gameplay mode for beginners and performers. For each player, there are three directional arrows (top left, top right, bottom) and two sensors (left, right).
- Hard: The same as normal, except with a higher difficulty level.
- Club: The typical "double mode" - uses 6 step arrows and 4 sensors.
- Real: Uses three arrows like normal mode, but the sensor bar is separated into two areas: top and bottom; thus, the player has four sensors (top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right) to play with.
SuperChina's Real Mode is different from 2ndMove as 2ndMove uses courses. A set of songs is played and needs to be accomplished to complete the mission.
Real Mode in SuperChina is a normal mode where you need to finish the song to proceed with the next stage.
SuperChina is said to be much more difficult in Real Mode as it uses most of the sensors and the step arrows at the same time. Numerous jumps were also observed on RealMode.
SuperChina Unlock Modes
- All Songs: before choosing the difficulty, hover bottom left and bottom right sensors alternately until the unlock sound is deactivated
- Speed Change: before choosing the song, hover bottom left twice and select from normal speed (1x), 2x, and 4x
- Appearance: before choosing the song, hover bottom right twice and select from hidden, sudden, blink, and blind (stealth)
- Random: before choosing the song, alternately press the top left and top right twice until the random step command is activated
Philippines
Three ez2Dancer SuperChina were seen in the Philippines, first one was seen on Isetann Cinerama Recto Avenue, Manila but after a few months it shutoff its operation. Second SuperChina machine was confirmed on SM Supercenter Molino, Cavite under Tom's World Amusement. This was also found in Tom's world SM Southmall in Las Piñas. As of 2010, both machines were not transferred to any location in the country, therefore both might have been shelved elsewhere.A SuperChina machine, as of 2010, is still functional. Currently located at Ever Gotesco Manila Plaza Recto Avenue, Manila which was actually near where the first ez2Dancer SuperChina machine was seen. Confirmed as the third machine as both were released during 2007.
Two ez2Dance 2ndMove cabinets are still functional though. One currently located at PureGold Monumento, Caloocan City which was first situated to a nearby mall, Ever Gotesco Grand Central, then transferred to Robinsons Galleria
Robinsons Galleria
Robinsons Galleria is a large shopping mall located at EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City just near SM Megamall. It is Robinsons' flagship mall. The mall is owned by John Gokongwei, founder of JG Summit Holdings and Robinsons Land Corp. It was built in 1990 with a total gross floor area of...
Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City before it was replaced by Pump It Up NX2: Next Xenesis. The other machine is currently at TriNoma
TriNoma
TriNoma is a large shopping mall in Quezon City, Philippines, owned by property development firm Ayala Land Inc...
, EDSA, North Avenue, Quezon City as it was first located at Timezone Glorietta
Glorietta
Glorietta is a large shopping mall in the Ayala Center in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The mall is owned by the Zobel de Ayala family and its holding company, Ayala Corporation...
2, Ayala Avenue, Makati City. The move was caused by the 2007 Glorietta explosion
2007 Glorietta explosion
The 2007 Glorietta explosion occurred in the Glorietta 2 section of the Glorietta shopping complex at Ayala Center in Makati, Metropolitan Manila, in the Philippines on October 19, 2007 at around 1:25 PM PST. Initial reports indicated that the explosion originated from an LPG tank explosion in an...
forcing Timezone to transfer all of their arcade machines on to other sites.
London
Superchina was in Funland arcade, LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Trocadero (Piccadilly Circus) between September 2005 to July 2007, after which it was replaced by Pump It Up
Pump It Up
Pump It Up, commonly abbreviated as PIU or shortened to just Pump, is a music video game series currently developed by Nexcade and published by Andamiro, a Korean arcade game producer. The game is typically played on a dance pad with five arrow panels: up-left, up-right, bottom-left, bottom-right,...
NX. The machine was sent back to the distributors and it's new location is unknown. This was the only known SuperChina cabinet in the UK.
An EZ2Dancer UK Move Special Edition is currently in Grants Cinema in East Croydon. (Last checked April 2011)
EZ2Dancer can be simulated by StepMania
StepMania
StepMania is an open source and cross-platform rhythm video game and engine. It was originally developed as a simulator of Konami's arcade game series Dance Dance Revolution, and has since evolved into an extensible rhythm game engine capable of supporting a wide variety of rhythm-based game types...
although no EZ2Dancer-style controllers are available for the PC, its stepfiles can be downloaded free at http://www.ez2dance.com, Registration is needed to access their exclusive download area (The site language is in Chinese-Traditional). Site no longer active.
Amuseworld bankrupt
Followers of EZ2Dancer have long awaited the release of the next version, as UK Move Special Edition and SuperChina were the last known releases. AmuseWorld have been focused on their EZ2DJEZ2DJ
EZ2DJ is a series of music video games created by the South Korean company Amuseworld. The basic manner of gameplay is similar as in the Konami's Beatmania series; however, as the franchise continues, it differs in style of music and gameplay...
series, however on the 10th July 2007 Konami
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
won a patent infringement suit claiming that EZ2DJ
EZ2DJ
EZ2DJ is a series of music video games created by the South Korean company Amuseworld. The basic manner of gameplay is similar as in the Konami's Beatmania series; however, as the franchise continues, it differs in style of music and gameplay...
was too similar to Beatmania
Beatmania
is a rhythm video game developed and distributed by Japanese game developer Konami and first released in 1997. It contributed largely to the boom of music games in 1998, and the series expanded not only with arcade sequels, but also moved to home consoles and other portable devices, achieving a...
. This has effectively made Amuseworld bankrupt. Although EZ2Dancer 3rd Mix was available to buy on channelbeat.com in late 2005, this turned out to be a spelling error.