Some questions/issues

**Drakken** · Joined: 09 Feb 2006 Posts: 183 Location: South Jersey

So, I finally got Beatmania (yay!). I've never played Beatmania before, so I started on 5-key. I played for a good hour and a half or so and got up to the 6s. At first, I wasn't able to pass them, but after playing one in Practice mode and playing the other regularly a few times, I got them both.

Now, I have some issues.

Very often, I will play notes right on beat yet get Goods. Other times I'll play the pattern the same way I just played it and get Greats or Perfects. The grades I get when I feel like I'm playing everything right on beat are very erratic. I'm a drummer, and I know when I'm on beat. This is kind of annoying.

Sometimes when I Spin the Disc, it will count one spin as two. It's especially tough to stop that from happening when there are a lot of spins in close succession. What's the best way to spin it? I use my left hand on the left side of it and go back and forth. While I'm on the subject of optimal technique, what's the best way to go about hitting the keys? Right now I have one finger on each of the 5 buttons, though the middle finger on the middle white key is kind of awkward, so I'll move around a bit when able.

Matt, I checked out your site. I take it the 7 means 7 keys, but what's 14? And what are Hyper and Another?
_________________

Drakken's modest Expert drums goals (updated 2/16/08):
Top 10 on SH (9th!)
5* all songs (58/58!)
10 million (currently 10.53 million!)
FC Epic

Cyberscore - Great high scores site for other games

**Matt** · Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Posts: 3780 Location: Bethel, Vermont

To answer your questions:

As for good when hitting right on beat: a lot of the 5 key songs aren't timed properly. This is one of the reasons I haven't put them on the site yet. So it's not you, its the game. 7 key is much better timed overall (save for e-motion hyper and another). Also, the timing in the game is amazingly tight (tighter then any rhythm game I have ever played before). Even the best players rarely beat a song without getting some goods (and ALWAYS get some greats on anything beyond the easiest of songs).

Double scratches: is your turntable really stiff? if it is, take the screws out of the back of the controller, remove the back, and loosen the screw in the center of the turntable. Wehn you have to spin multiple times in rapid succession, make sure you spin back and forth alternating.

As for finger placement: There are a lot of playstyles up there. There are people who can AAA everysong on BMUS with only one hand on the keys. However, it is far easier to use both hands on the keys, and "pinky scratch", which is where you turn the turn table with your pinky on the far right edge (you might need to use more if there is a lot of scratches at once). Other then that, finger placement that works best for you will be trial and error. Be prepared to have to change your playstyle in a few months to progress further (I'm already changing mine for the 3rd time).

Hyper, Another, and 14key: If you play Beatmania IIDX mode, all 7 keys are used. If you have 2 controllers, you can play double mode and use all 14 keys between the 2 controllers (and both turntables). 10key mode is available in Beatmania mode. As for hyper and another, in IIDX mode, you have multiple difficulty levels: Beginner, Normal, Hyper, and Another. Press the select button to change difficulty. Another difficulty must be unlocked by playing (but not neccesarily beating) every song in arcade mode on both Beatmania and Beatmania IIDX mode, so that every song in the game is available in free mode.

Hope that answers your questions, feel free to post any more you might have.

**Drakken** · Joined: 09 Feb 2006 Posts: 183 Location: South Jersey

**Matt** · Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Posts: 3780 Location: Bethel, Vermont

**Drakken** · Joined: 09 Feb 2006 Posts: 183 Location: South Jersey

**blah** · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 129 Location: Chaska, MN

Yeah, it works best if you know how that works from the start and can plan ahead for unlocking all songs in free mode. Also, why is there no speed unlock? Damn you, Konami.
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**Matt** · Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Posts: 3780 Location: Bethel, Vermont

on the plus side, the game can be unlocked in about 2 hours if you know what you're doing and can get to the third stage consistently.

**Drakken** · Joined: 09 Feb 2006 Posts: 183 Location: South Jersey

Well, I managed to pass Genom Screams and 321 Stars today. The end of that Ska song kills me though; I haven't been able to pass that.

I tried 3 songs on IIDX mode today. There seem to be a good amount of songs I recognize from DDR in there, which is nice. I passed Mobo*Moga (2) and The Cube (2), but failed Shining Polaris (3). It's definitely harder when you have to think about two hands as opposed to just one.

Right now, I'm using the thumb and pointer finger on my left hand for the first white and black keys, and my right hand for the other five keys. Does that sound like a good technique, or should I try something else?
_________________

Drakken's modest Expert drums goals (updated 2/16/08):
Top 10 on SH (9th!)
5* all songs (58/58!)
10 million (currently 10.53 million!)
FC Epic

Cyberscore - Great high scores site for other games

**Matt** · Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Posts: 3780 Location: Bethel, Vermont

That sounds like a good starting point. Just dont be afraid of moving your hands, and try not to get into too much of a habit of designating 1 finger for 1 key, or vice versa.

**blah** · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 129 Location: Chaska, MN

That technique is, I think, the ideal way to start. Over time, you'll adapt to new positions as the need arises.
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**deathtongue** · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 6:08 pm Post subject:

So Drakken, now that you have had a chance to play Beatmania... do you recommend it for someone like me, whose first exposure to rhythm games was Guitar Hero? I've been eyeing Beatmania in the stores now that I have almost finished all the songs in Guitar Hero and I'm curious if it is something I will enjoy.
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Goal: 5* Hard
FOP [X]
PP(LL) [X]
OFTR [X]
6 [3.6]
TH [4.0]

**trofl** · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 1297 Location: Ames, IA

I have another question about technique. I just got the game two days ago, and one issue I'm finding is doing scales... hitting adjacent white-black-white-black keys going up or down. Any tips for this?
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"Science. It works, bitches."
And what's the harm in ignoring it?

**Matt** · Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Posts: 3780 Location: Bethel, Vermont

What song are you having difficulties with scales with?
Scales take a while to get used to. Being 2 days in, I wouldn't expect you to be a master at scales. As for help, the way I do scales is:
Left hand- ring finger on 1st white, middle finger on left black, thumb on 2nd white.
Right hand- index finger on middle black, thumb on 3rd white, middle finger on right black, and ring finger on 4th white.