Bemani (ビーマニ, biimani) is Konami's rhythm video game division. Originally named the Games & Music Division, or simply g.m.d, it soon changed its name in honor of its first and most successful game, Beatmania, and hence the name and expanded into other music-based games.
Bemani video games
Since 1997, Konami has continuously released new versions of several different games. Different mixes from the same series of games include different songs, settings, playmodes, and graphics. The naming system for a new game tends to follow the pattern of <game> Nth <version>, such as "Beatmania IIDX 3rd Style" or "Dance Dance Revolution 5th Mix"; exceptions such as "Pop'n Music 1" exist. Bemani video games feature unique hardware in comparison to traditional arcade games. Each game has its own form of control.
Arcade Game Listing
Beatmania series:
Controlled by a large rubber spinner "turntable" and 5 keys, the Beatmania series of games started with the release of Beatmania/Beatstage/Hip Hop Mania in 1997 and ended with the release of Beatmania: The Final in 2002.
Beatmania is known as Hip Hop Mania in the US and Beatstage in the UK
- 1997 - Beatmania/Beatstage/Hip Hop Mania
- 1998 - Beatmania 2nd Mix
- 1998 - Beatmania 3rd Mix
- 1999 - Beatmania 4th Mix
- 1999 - Beatmania 5th Mix
- 1999 - Beatmania/Beatstage/Hip Hop Mania Complete Mix
- 2000 - Beatmania/Beatstage/Hip Hop Mania Complete Mix 2
- 2000 - Beatmania feat. Dreams Come True
- 2000 - Beatmania Club Mix
- 2000 - Beatmania Core Remix
- 2001 - Beatmania 6th Mix: The UK Underground Music
- 2002 - Beatmania 7th Mix: Keepin' Evolution
- 2002 - Beatmania: The Final
Beatmania IIDX series:
Controlled by a large rubber spinner "turntable" and 7 keys, the Beatmania IIDX series of games started with the release of Beatmania IIDX in 1999 and continues to the present; the latest release being Beatmania IIDX 12: HAPPY SKY in 2005.
Beatmania IIDX is often shortened to just IIDX, which is pronounced 2DX (too dee ecks)
- 1999 - Beatmania IIDX
- 1999 - Beatmania IIDX Substream
- 1999 - Beatmania IIDX Club Version
- 1999 - Beatmania IIDX 2nd Style
- 2000 - Beatmania IIDX 3rd Style
- 2000 - Beatmania IIDX 4th Style
- 2001 - Beatmania IIDX 5th Style
- 2001 - Beatmania IIDX 6th Style
- 2002 - Beatmania IIDX 7th Style
- 2002 - Beatmania IIDX 8th Style
- 2003 - Beatmania IIDX 9th Style
- 2004 - Beatmania IIDX 10th Style
- 2004 - Beatmania IIDX 11: IIDX RED
- 2005 - Beatmania IIDX 12: HAPPY SKY
Beatmania III series:
Controlled by a large rubber spinner "turntable", 5 keys, and a bass "effector" pedal, the Beatmania III series of games started with the release of Beatmania III in 2000 and ended with the release of Beatmania III: The Final in 2003.
Beatmania III is pronounced Beatmania 3.
- 2000 - Beatmania III
- 2000 - Beatmania III Append 6th Mix
- 2000 - Beatmania III Append 7th Mix
- 2000 - Beatmania III Append Core Remix
- 2003 - Beatmania III: The Final
Dance Dance Revolution series:
Controlled by stepping on sensor panels on the "floor" of the machine, the Dance Dance Revolution series of games started with the release of Dance Dance Revolution in 1998, and continues to the present; the latest release being Dance Dance Revolution 8th Mix in 2003. There have been no new plans for Bemani to continue the series.
Dance Dance Revolution is often shortened to just DDR. DDR is known as Dancing Stage, or DS, in Europe. A full list of DDR games can be found at List of Dance Dance Revolution games.
Pop'n Music series:
Controlled by 9 large buttons arranged much like Beatmania or IIDX keys, the Pop'n Music series of games started with the release of Pop'n Music in 1998 and continues to the present; the latest release being Pop'n Music 12 Iroha in 2004.
Pop'n Music is usually shortened to just Pop'n. Pop'n Music's progression foregoes the "Nth Mix" arrangement scheme in favor of a more conventional arabic number.
- 1998 - Pop'n Music
- 1999 - Pop'n Music 2
- 1999 - Pop'n Music 3
- 2000 - Pop'n Music 4
- 2000 - Pop'n Music 5
- 2001 - Pop'n Music 6
- 2001 - Pop'n Music 7
- 2002 - Pop'n Music 8
- 2003 - Pop'n Music 9
- 2003 - Pop'n Music 10
- 2003 - Pop'n Music 11
- 2004 - Pop'n Music 12 Iroha
- Unknown (199?) - Pop'n Music Animelo
- Unknown (199?) - Pop'n Music Animelo 2
- Unknown (199?) - Pop'n Music Mickey Tunes
Bemani artists
Depending on the game, the playlist for a Bemani release may have a large number of licensed, well-known tracks or consist largely of in-house music. Most Dance Dance Revolution games, for example, have Konami original music and licensed music in nearly equal proportions. The abundance of licensed tracks was due to a lucrative deal between the record label Toshiba EMI and Konami; in exchange for free advertisement for Toshiba EMI's Dancemania series of dance music albums, Konami was free to use any Dancemania-featured song they wished free of charge.
(It is worth noting that, likely as homage, Konami named one of its Dance Dance Revolution characters "Toshiba Emi". Emi remains one of the most popular DDR characters.)
Several different Konami artists are involved in the process of song creation for Bemani. They often use pseudonyms when signing their creations. Remixes and reuse of songs from other games are common in the Bemani scenario.
See also
External link
