Summarizing today's (September 4) online product presentation that we let you know of yesterday in one sentence: Greater Asia will be getting the 4th-generation arcade version coming Spring 2021!
The presentation is hosted through two unlisted YouTube livestreams respectively for English and traditional-Chinese audience. While the (likely pre-recorded) proceedings are conducted in Japanese only, the videos have English or traditional Chinese subtitles, as well as presentation slides in the respective language. In addition to the normal business-focused spiel, the presentation also invites ani-song singer Hiroshi Kitadani (きただにひろし) to appear for a short interview and play the One Piece opening OVER THE TOP (Muzukashii), which he vocalized for the original version.
The two videos are still available to view even now, but since they are uploaded as unlisted and has materials marked confidential, we are not going to embed them directly in our post and ask you to check the full presentation from the official page.
Taiko no Tatsujin New Asian Version page: https://bandainamco-am.co.jp/am/vg/taiko_asia/
The above-embedded PV was soon uploaded (publicly) to the Bandai Namco Amusement official YouTube channel, narrated in English and has three versions with English, traditional Chinese and Korean text.
As to what entails this announcement for the general Donder community, here is a list of the updates that come with New Asian Version:
- Same glamorous hardware upgrades as the Japan generational shift: new system board, new full-HD 120fps monitor, diffuser-film POPs, added LED lights, QR code reader
- Multilingual support: English, traditional Chinese and Korean language support on most interface elements (but not all, like song names and background graphical elements), finally making use of the horizontal text orientation. More languages might be considered as situation allows
- Donder Hiroba service for greater Asia: FINALLY! In addition to the quality-of-life features, Donder profiles from Japan and Asia will soon be able to interact and make features like worldwide rankings possible. Note that the Donder Hiroba will only be available in the Japanese language in order to speed up its release, and profiles from the Asian Green ver. or earlier still CANNOT access the Hiroba
- Asia-focused track additions: about 10 songs popular to the greater-Asian audience will be added at launch (not specified whether this is exclusive to outside Japan), and more might be considered depending on the performance
- Same gameplay additions for Banapassport holders as the Japan generational shift: Donderful Combo crown, score ranks, overall result panel, modifiers (speed modifiers, performance skip, note position nudge)
The presentation also teased the grand return of the upgraded AI Battle Performance+ (not yet returned in Japan as well), featuring newer rewards and ways to actually help you improve Donder skills. This and the Asian Donder Hiroba will not make it to the Spring 2021 launch, but later somewhere in Summer 2021.
As for continued feature updates, the seasonal Rewards Shop and Ranking Dojo are also expected to resume in the Asian Version, with the latter expecting a two-part release across Summer and Fall 2021.
