The early 2000s are known for their list of iconic things. Overly colorful tracksuits, Britney Spears, so many boy bands, the tragic ending of Sitcom’s “Friends”, a phone that can be slammed into the ground without scratching. The list continues.
What really symbolized at the time was the rise of rhythm games that challenged people through music. Many of them aren’t as widely available as they were in the glorious era, but entertainment centers like Zao Island are fighting to keep them alive in arcades.
One of the most iconic rhythm games was “Guitar Hero”. “Guitar Hero” was co-produced by Red Octane and Harmonix in 2005 and sold to Activision in 2006. It is modeled after Konami’s rhythm arcade game “Guitar Freaks,” which was popular in Japan at the time.
Instead of making arcade games, Harmonix originally developed “Guitar Hero” for consoles. The first console it was developed on was the PlayStation 2. However, due to its incredible popularity, an arcade version of the game was launched in 2009. There are 50 arcade versions of Guitar Hero, modeled after “Guitar Hero 3: Legends”. Of rock. ”
“Guitar Hero” was so successful that knockoffs and sequels began to be produced at impeccable speed. “DJ Hero” and “Band Hero” were popular sequels, and the “Rock Band” series was a valuable competitor.
The “Guitar Hero” franchise has sold over 25 million units worldwide and earned over $ 2 billion. As if that weren’t enough, Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock is said to be the first video game to sell over $ 1 billion.
Sadly, “Guitar Hero” came to an end prematurely in 2011, when Activision stopped franchising. The market was saturated and the profitability of the game declined as everyone was enthusiastic about the popularity of “Guitar Hero” and the desire to launch a new game similar to it. Also, after the recession, many gamers were hesitant to spend money on games that required specific controllers that couldn’t be used in other games.
Don’t get me wrong. The franchise may have ended, but “Guitar Hero” is one of the most popular rhythm games to date. In fact, when Guitar Hero was first released, a game bundle containing the game and its iconic guitar-type controller sold for about $ 70. Today, the “Guitar Hero” game bundle can cost over $ 300 per person, and it’s just for using it.
So the best way for gamers to enjoy the nostalgia of Guitar Hero’s glorious era is to find a local arcade that still has the system. Fortunately, there is a Valparaiso community on Zao Island.
If “Guitar Hero” doesn’t really belong to you, don’t worry. Zao Island has many iconic rhythm games that are no longer widely sold, such as “Dance Dance Revolution” (DDR).
“Dance Dance Revolution” started as an arcade game in Japan and was created in 1998 by the Japanese entertainment group Konami. It was not released in the United States until 1999.
The “DDR” franchise is huge — there are at least 16 versions of the game. The version I found on Zao Island is “Dance Dance Revolution Super Nova”, which has more than 300 songs.
“Dance Dance Revolution” also takes various forms. Upon arriving in the United States, it rapidly evolved from arcade games to console games and became available on many platforms such as the PlayStation 2, Nintendo Wii, and Xbox 360. However, many people say that the arcade version of the game is because it’s the way the game is played.
There is a large “Dance Dance Revolution” community. People from all over the world will come together to participate in the “DDR” tournament. Some aim to win just by getting the perfect score, while others become more creative and come up with their own dance along the steps of the game. The game has been around for 20 years, but the tournament is still open and people are fighting for world records.
“Dance Dance Revolution” is also used in many school fitness programs, as if huge competitions weren’t enough. This game requires people to move around, so being active is also a great way to show your kids that it’s fun. Some universities also offer “Dance Dance Revolution” classes that you can take to contribute to your student’s credit hours.
Unfortunately, like “Guitar Hero”, “DanceDanceRevolution” has become rare. Currently, due to Konami’s production restrictions, there are only about 50 “DDR” machines in the United States. Most of these machines are on the East and West Coasts, and few in the Midwest. Again, the Valparaiso community is fortunate to turn their backs on Zao Island.
So if you’re looking for a place to enjoy and recall some of the beloved games of the past, Zao Island is the place for you. And if you find these iconic rhythm games of the 2000s exciting, wait until you see some of Zaojima’s new rhythm games like “Piano Keys”. They will surely entertain you.
For more information on Zao Island and its popular rhythm games, visit https://zaoisland.net/ or enjoy Zao directly at Valparaiso’s 1050 Hos Prairie Avenue.
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