Namco Taiko Blog (4 August 2016) - WCS2016 Song Selection Commentary

Just as promised a few weeks back, today Etou is talking about the song selection criteria that has occurred for the now-concluded World Championships 2016 tourney.

Quick Takeaways: July 13 Livestream

This post might be removed when the full coverage is ready. Meanwhile, feel free to contribute screenshots and information to help out!

World Championship 2016

• Finals grouping drawn: Image source
• Finals Exhibition Song: 天照 Amaterasu Tatsh a.k.a 世阿弥 Tatsh a.k.a Zeami

AC0 Red ver.

• crossbeats REV. Collab Campaign
• Macross Delta Collab Campaign
• Next update: designed title background, Summer Title Parts Gacha
• 3DS3 Collab Campaign: 5 songs from the game including Utsukushiku Sewashiki Danube Arcade debut, Tia & Popokaka and LindaAI-CUE Petit-chara by tickets

Synchronica

• New version update on July 21
• Otherwise no immediate news in relation to Taiko no Tatsujin

Namco Taiko Blog (June 23 2016): Double the Updates Double the Streams: July 13 Taiko/Synchronica Livestream

We already knew of an upcoming livestream featuring WCS2016 and AC0R version change content. But what we didn't know is that Synchronica is joining in the fun with their own large-scale version update!

Taiko Team Official Livestream #14 (feat. Synchronica)
When: July 13 2016 18:00~ (test) / 19:00~ (actual) / 21:00~ (Synchronica)
URL: http://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv265918769
Who: Etou, Takemoto, Daifuku, Anne... and more!? / KimizuP, Inoue, Daifuku (Synchronica)

Namco Taiko Blog (June 9 2016): WCS2016 Quickfire Updates

Daifuku brings you up to speed with all that happens with the World Championship 2016 today:

• Live Audience Recruitment is happening online now, letting Donders witness in person and snatch a limited edition WCS2016/AC0R fan to prove it (above)
• M+ Area Tournaments have completed with 21 finalists emerged
• E- Finals coming June 25-26 on Next Gen World Hobby Fair floors
• Open Category Tournament has started on June 7 and the Phoenix Frames will commence on the 17th. Both results coming June 26 07:00
• Pre-WCS2016 Livestream coming July 13 18:00~, introducing finalists and deciding grouping at the finals, plus AC0 news (I mean what else other than Red ver.)

For our own previous coverage, check the wcs2016 tag from the link in the dooblydoo... wait Blogger is not YouTube and does not have a dooblydoo... You should know where to click, so whatever.

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Twitter Snippets (June 6 2016): WCS2016 Update: Of Audience and Songs

【告知】7/17開催「ドンだー！世界一決定戦2016 決勝大会」一般観覧募集が始まったドーン！専用サイトから受付中！凄腕ドンだーの激戦を会場で一緒に応援&観戦だドン！！応募はこちらから→https://t.co/2oKXLZQBr7 pic.twitter.com/SOtqETNXZc

— 太鼓チーム (@taiko_team) June 6, 2016

The live audience for the World Championship 2016 Finals is now open for registration! Enter through the form linked in the tweet above by June 20, and applicants will be contacted of success or failure on June 24 by e-mail. But the exercise is limited to Japanese residents only, bummer. :(

At least that Ghost Mask, Shounin YokkQ and Princess of Donder are now generally unlock starting today (June 6) for the Finals Frame Battle starting tomorrow, after the first-hand unlock campaign in the last two months.

【告知】先日終了した「遊んでごほうび！キャンペーン」での先行解禁楽曲「ゴーストマスク」「承認欲Ｑ」「Ｐｒｉｎｃｅｓｓ ｏｆ Ｄｏｎｄｅｒ」の３曲が本日6/6より一般解禁！太鼓の達人世界大会への最後の出場枠を賭けた「出場枠争奪戦」の課題曲です！レッツ挑戦だドン！

— 太鼓チーム (@taiko_team) June 6, 2016

WCS2016 Update: Repechage, Open Category and Finals Demystified

We're still in the progress of coming up with the livestream recap, but let's cover the World Championship 2016 parts that was announced, which was swiftly put into the official WCS2016 website the next day. We have information on the after-area-match antics and the final showdown.

Quick Takeaways: May 19 Livestream

This post might be removed when the full coverage is ready. Meanwhile, feel free to contribute screenshots and information to help out!

3DS3 Dokodon! Mystery Adventure

• Full PV exclusive viewing
• New guest characters: Kirby and King Dedede (members) / Phoenix Wright (member) / Cocotama (member) / Goro-sensei (Taiko Magic)
• Song list additions: Gunslinger Cinderella / Yamatai Night Party / Yami no Mahou Shoujo / Mahoujin -Summon Delta- / Sou'ryuu no Ran Console debut
• Early Purchase Bonus 3rd Song: Sekai Fushigi Hakken! Opening Theme NEW!
• DLC Namco Original Pack 1: Densetsu no Matsuri / Yuugen no Ran / Shikou no Ran / Fuunshishi / Tabaneito Harunaba feat. Chihiro Ishiguro NEW!
• Super Early Purchase Bonus: Namco Original Pack 1 available for free within one week of launch (until June 23)
• Shop-exclusive Bonus: Namcot Medley from Lawson, and story mode alt battle members from other outlets

AC0 Taiko no Tatsujin White ver./Red ver.

• June at White ver.: DonChare unlock Yomi no Izanami NEW! / Vacation Parasol (body) / Vacation Sunglasses (head)
• Tokkun Mode go through and live play
• Red ver. key visual reveal:
  

World Championship 2016

• Rules and song choices of online brackets and finals announced (we'll do the full coverage when the website updates, coming today)
• Live audience and potential NicoNico livestream of finals

Miscellaneous

• 5th generation Taiko Sister Anne (now in training) introduced
• Audio Deka episode, special Audio de Ka! PV version
  

Namco Taiko Blog (March 10 2016): Namco Original Bonanza! White ver. Update (V6.09)

It's a Namco Original bonanza with the upcoming V6.09 version update to Taiko no Tatsujin White ver., when the WCS2016 Area Elimination picks and more add in multiple juicy bunches! Oh and a minor update to the Search by Difficulty too.

Across Japan: The W That Makes WCS2016

Again, although it's not "World" World, but that's the most international an event has ever been for Taiko no Tatsujin. As such, each of the seven regions currently graced with AC0 White ver. will each be holding a run of local tournaments. The champion of each country/region will be given a spot at the final showdown at Japan on July 17 (Sunday). Because this might involve you going abroad, remember to present a copy your passport to show that it expires no earlier than July 2016!

The song choices are a mix of this and the last tournament-focused Creofuga contest spawns. And if you look carefully, you might see a less familiar name, as 凛 Rin a_hisa will be released to Asian White ver. before Japan starting March 1. Finally something exclusive for us, huzzah!

Oh we are supposed to talk about other swag too? Okay, so all participants will receive a small sticker sheet gift, while the top 4 for each region will win a Taiko no Tatsujin-branded towel to wipe your sweat (among other uses).

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Namco Taiko Blog (February 10 2016): Official Livestream #12 WCS2016 Special and White ver. Update (V5.07)

The first of the two Namco Taiko Blog is about official release of Google Play's Plus STH, which we already did a lot of reportage before this, so we'll skip a lot here.

And so the remainder of our post will be dedicated to the other things that is actually new: a WCS2016-centric official Taiko Team livestream (#12), and the upcoming version update with some serious new stuff coming February 25!

Quick Takeaways: Tokaigi/Game Party Japan 2016

Source: eSports Runner Taiko no Tatsujin Club (@eSR_taikobu) and wikihouse/taiko talk page comments

Elementary-and-below

• Prefecture Match across April 1~30
• First place emerges
• Song choices:
• Preliminary: Geragerapo no Uta / Yokai Taisou Dai'ichi / Tonari no Totoro / XY&Z / Let It Go ~Ari no Mama de~ (all Futsuu), 
• Finals: Detective Conan Main Theme (Muzu, 1st matches) / Guren no Yumiya (Muzu, runner-up match) / Hard Knock Days (Oni, champion match)

Middle-school-and-up

• Shop Preliminary across March 19~April 24, Area Match across May 21~June 5 (tentative)
• One champion emerges from each of 21 areas
• Song choices:
• Shop Preliminary: Kagayaki o Motomete / Choco Chiptune. / Toori Yo
• Area Match: Onigiri wa Doko Kashira / Rin / SstTAaR* / Kokorobo* / Climb! Mount Parfait / Chouzetsu-gikoukei Shoujo

Other WCS2016

• Play tournament song choices during tournament periods to get Petit-charas
• Consolation Frame (敗者復活枠): Online tournament for qualified preliminary players only
• Qualification Battle (出場枠争奪戦): Online tournament for all other Donders not getting a chance to qualify. No age limit. Cannot double-enter with Consolation Frame.
• Etou is responsible for notecharting Rin, and has finished a prototype on 1/30 night which is shown on 1/31. Has a slowdown like Yozakura Braiders towards the end and ends with five kats with the last piano strum.

Official MyBachis

• Official MyBachis Trial-play at selected shops across February 6~29
• SORA-I Earthrise and SORA-II Gliese 581 added to those shops' AC0 cabinets
• Both songs released to all AC0 cabinets on March 1

Namco Taiko Blog (January 21 2016): Wii U3 January DLC and Taiko at Tokaigi

 

In today's two official Namco Taiko Blog posts, we look at these two pictured things, and I can't think of a good opening.

Namco Taiko Blog (December 18 2015): Official MyBachis, More of Your Questions Answered

Daifuku drops in with this bonus official blog post answering Donders' further questions with the Official MyBachis. Take a look in the five categories!

Official MyBachi Specs

• Q1-1: How long and thick will the sticks be?
  A1-1: Length approx. 350mm and thickness approx. 20.5mm in diameter is the current expectation.
  
• Q1-2: Will there be places for Donders to put on stickers or write my own name on the sticks?
  A1-2: Technically there will be: it is okay to do so on the grip tape but in particular please do not do so on the wooden part. In official tournaments, if organizers deem the additions dangers the tournament proceedings from pre-match checks, the sticks will not be allowed to be used.
  
• Q1-3: Is it okay to double- or even multiple-wrap the sticks in grip tape?
  A1-3: There is no particular guidelines to how you wrap grip tape so long as it is wrapped in grip tape, and that the Taiko no Tatsujin branding is not covered. But if you decided to replace the grip tape, and in official tournaments if organizers deem the additions dangers the tournament proceedings from pre-match checks, the sticks will not be allowed to be used.

Here, it is hard to say what actually constitutes what is okay and what is "being deemed dangers the tournament proceedings", because everyone wraps grip tape/put on stickers/write names in different ways. Judgement have to be made only when the real thing is inspected to determine whether it is allowed on the match. The most suggested is to still use the sticks completely unaltered from its state at sale.

Pre-order and Retrieval

• Q2-1: I am busy in early March, and I can't get the pre-ordered sticks on time. Is it okay to leave it to say until April?
  A2-1: Pre-ordered sticks can still be obtained up to within half a year after ordering.
  
• Q2-2: Can I order on behalf of other people/order multiple pairs?
  A2-2: Yes. The production of the sticks is built to order, and so there are no limits to how many one person can buy.

Selling at Next Gen WHF

• Q3-1: Are the stock quotas separate by day for the pre-sale at the convention?
  A3-1: Yes, the stock are limited by day. The Tokyo show (Jan 23 and 24) has separate stocks for both days. Stayed tuned for more detailed selling arrangements as they come out.

Future Selling

• Q4-1: Will there be selling points outside Namco stores?
  A4-1: Currently only Namco store pre-orders and Next Gen WHF are slated to sell the sticks. In the future, the Team will consider additional outlets like other stores and on the internet. Stayed tuned for more detailed schedules and lists of locations as they come out.
  
• Q4-2: About when will the general selling happen?
  A4-2: Not yet decided at the moment, with further adjustments in the works. Stay tuned for more details as they come out.

Use in Official Tournaments
Here is a comprehensive chart to show which events allow the Official MyBachis and which don't! (English translation and overlay by us)

Note: M+ = middle School and up, E- = elementary School and below

In the tournaments where Official MyBachis are allowed, any finalist who wants to use the Official MyBachis but does not have a pair can loan from the organizers. And sticks attached with cabinets are always allowed.

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Namco Taiko Blog (December 10 2015): Taiko no Tatsujin Official MyBachi Talk

 

This is basically a full recap for the Official MyBachi corner from the December 9th livestream, but everything in written helps us put everything in English. Let's see if these officially recognized sticks to own make you interested!

Quick Takeaways: November 2 Livestream

This post might be removed when the full coverage is ready. Meanwhile, feel free to contribute screenshots and information to help out!

Livestream

• All comment goals met
• 10K goal: Twitter icon and Smartphone wallpaper.
• 30K goal: Title part Ching-ching (カチカチ).
• 50K goal: Petit-chara Request Corner for Twitter later.
• 76.5K goal: Limited revival of Namco Original X-DAY 2000, from 11/3~8. Asia ver. too.

WCS2016 / Song Contest

• Donders' Choice:
• Onigiri wa Doko Kashira (おにぎりはどこかしら♪) / Yomii (よみぃ)
• Rin (凛) / a_hisa
• Judges' Choice:
• Choco Chiptune. / Ancraft
• Reitouko CJ ~Amen Taiko Brothers~ (冷凍庫CJ ～アーメン太鼓ブラザーズ～) / DJKurara
• Starrrrrrr / M-O-T-U
• Kokorobo (ココロボ) / Ujico*
• Hiyoko Fantasy (ひよっこファンタジー) / Tsuyomi (つよみー)
• Climb! Mount Parfait (食らいむ！まうんとぱふぇ) / unatra
• Netemo Netemo (ネテモネテモ) / Shoji (☆しょーじ☆)
• Gloria / K.key
• Chouzetsu-gikoukei Shoujo (超絶技巧系少女) / Nekomirin (ねこみりん)
• Kagayaki o Motomete (輝きを求めてーー) / Versus
• Tooriyo (トオリヨ) / Tezuka (テヅカ)
• Asagao (アサガオ) / BTB
• Middle-school-and-up: Preliminary in Spring 2016, area elimination in Summer 2016, song candidates to be added beforehand
• Elementary-and-under: Preliminary in Spring 2016, free choice among all songs
• Tenkaichi Otogesai winner enters WCS2016 finals directly

Synchronica

• Second Taiko no Tatsujin collaboration in Winter 2015
• Touhou marker from Twitter campaign

V Version

• Nippon Falcom 10 Sound Gems: (pick 3 for V Version DLC, 1 limited free)
• FIRST STEP TOWARDS WARS / Ys I; Falcom Field Zanmai Version
• Tsubasa o Motta Shounen (翼を持った少年) / Ys The Oath of Felghana
• INNOCENT PRIMEVAL BREAKER GAME VERSION / Ys VII
• Gin no Ishi (銀の意志) Super Arrange Ver. / Sora no Kiseki SC
• Overdosing Heavenly Bliss / Sora no Kiseki the 3rd
• Inevitable Struggle / Zero no Kiseki
• Seize the day / Tokyo Xanadu
• Koi no Shooting Star (恋のシューティングスター) / Tokyo Xanadu
• Kanashiki Soukyuu o Kakeru (悲しき蒼穹を翔ける) / Gurumin
• Sorcerian Medley (ソーサリアンメドレー) / Ys vs. Sora no Kiseki Alternative Saga Version
• December: Sequel notechart to Kurenai's original 999-note

Wii U3 Atsumete Tomotachi Daisakusen

• New songs:
• START DASH SENSATION / Aikatsu!
• Maou (まおぅ)
• Maigo no UFO (迷子のUFO)
• Free DLC:
• Kimi ga Kureta Natsu 君がくれた夏 / (Leo Ieiri)
• Warera Omou, Yue ni Warera Ari (我ら思う、故に我ら在り) / Kamen Rider Ghost
• Ignis Danse
• Natsumono (ナツモノ☆) / Tanqun Democracy
• amiibo support:
• Pacman → EAT'EM UP! (+outfit+frame)
• Animal Crossing series/card → Animal Crossing: New Leaf Medley (とびだせ どうぶつの森 メドレー) (+outfit+frame)

AC0 Murasaki/White ver.

• !!!Chaos Time!!! (!!!カオスタイム!!!) / t+pazolite: adds November 15
• Kagutsuchi (カグツチ) / Massive New Krew: adds to White ver., God Collection
• KUSANAGI / aran: adds to White ver., God Collection

Miscellaneous

• Shiny Kung-fu Revival long version in t+pazolite new album

Namco Taiko Blog (October 22 2015) - wow much X so tenth: Taiko Team Official Livestream #10

*insert comment about lack of fancy header image, despite this is the nice rounded 10th installment of the Official Livestream*

Time: November 2, 17:00~18:30 (test) / 19:00~22:00 (main)

People: Etou + Masubuchi + Kawagen Collagen + guests (see below)

URL: (to be confirmed)

Voting at WCS2016 Song Contest II - The Hiroba Wars

Thanks for everyone who voted in the first part of the public vote! Now to determine the one and only Donders' Choice we move our battlefield (?) to Donder Hiroba, where you vote with your credits from today to October 25!

Every registered Donder Hiroba user can have at most five (5) votes, the first of which is given for free to all. To get the other four, play on Murasaki ver. with your Banapassport-connected account and you will get one ticket per credit.

Now with your ticket(s), you can check out the list of songs up for choosing. Clicking the title will take you to its Creofuga page where you can listen and read the artist comments. When you are sure which song the vote should go to, click the corresponding Vote (投票する) button. If you have a Twitter profile linked to the Donder Hiroba account, you can have it tweet out your vote on the way too!

 

Donder Hiroba campaign page

Taiko Time's Guide to Voting at WCS2016 Song Contest

Here is a pictoral guide on how to support your favourite songs at the first round of voting for the World Championship 2016 Song Contest! The voting started last Saturday on October 3 and will end on October 12.

Before you start, make sure you have a Twitter account, which is what Creofuga use to connect to you and track the votes. Each person may put in one vote for each song each day, so you on your own can give a song at most 10 votes of support!

Namco Taiko Blog (October 1 2015) - WCS2016 Inside Thoughts (2)

It is time for another of these, talking about the inner works of preparing for the World Championship 2016 event. Today's theme is "Smooth Tournament".

But first, did you know that there is a built-in options menu for all Taiko no Tatsujin arcade cabinets? Via this menu you can set many things, like the sound volume, the brightness of the screen, text flowing speed and more, just like how you can set up your own monitor and room conditions at your own home, and with the console games!

The only difference is that these options are limited to staff members of the arcade center, because these settings are operator-focused functionalities. But if you ever need something set, approach a staff of the arcade room for help. The more you know.

And that wasn't the main point, now it is. Remember when Etou asked for general opinions and thoughts for tournaments in general way back in March? A lot of people has responded, including participating Donders, staff of hosting arcade rooms, and tournament organizers, giving a lot of precious feedback. With that, the Taiko Team has come up a number of new ideas. Let's talk about some of them, within the aspect of smoothening the procession of tournaments (in general, not limiting to WCS2016).

Now hands up if you ever faced such situations:

• Choosing my song for the match, but where is that song again, argh I can't find it... oh no time is running out, and I can't go back and choose again... orz
• This tournament ask for Detarame and Detarame only, but I have set Double Speed to be always on. I am disqualified for not setting back and now I can't try once again... orz
• Nooooooo, I forgot to set Shin-uchi back there... orz
• Wait wait wait I haven't noted down the scores for both side and the numbers are already gone... orz

These and many more of the similarly embarrassing accidents just sucks so much, right? Having to deal with these accidents also sucks for taking up much time. So as another new operator-focused functionality, the Team present to you "Smooth Tournament Mode" which, as the name says, can smoothens proceedings of tournaments. ...oops, more like "presented" because it is already added for the October 1st update just happened today!

The exact details won't be spoken too much here, because again it is very much operator-focused, but given the chance at the next update news they would! Now just anticipate this mode at your next local tournament or WCS2016, and remember to vote for songs you like at the Song Contest starting right now, to determine the Donder's Choice winner!

Finally a preliminary notice that next week's Namco Taiko Blog will be off for one day, moved to Friday, October 9th instead of the 8th. Do have fun then anyway.

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TaikOp-ed: WCS2016 Song Contest, Taiko Time Readers' Choice

Thanks for checking out the format pilot for TaikOp-ed, basically a revival of the "pikaby asks" section we haven't seen for a year now but not restricting to pikaby asking. Hit us with anything you think of this!

Remember that we are only a little more than one week away from submissions ending (September 30). If you have been wanting to make a song or two for the occasion but haven't finished, this post will serve as the penultimate reminder from us. Get to it!

Meanwhile, for a little filler action, let's open up the comments for you guys to share your favourite entries from the 550+ submissions currently up! Do you like the works from returning victors like Noriyuki? Big-hand creators from other rhythm games say 3R2? Our humble composer/contributor Packer? Or some new awesome find deserving more eyes than they got? Let us and everyone else know!

Japanese entries: https://creofuga.net/contests/taiko2016/entry_list/song
Overseas entries: https://creofuga.net/contests/taiko2016/entry_list/overseas