When did this new generation of DDR start?

We're obviously in a new generation of DDR but when was the exact moment that it began? The obvious answer would be DDR X but I think the change started in HP1.. what do you think?

I think it all started with Supernova since all the songs seem so diverse from the past songs. With songs like Star Gate Heaven: Future Love Mix and a New aura of Boss songs *Excluding Max 300 SMMM* it was showing what the future of DDR will be.

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SuperNOVA. Different style of licenses, more futuristic themes and interfaces, more modern music etc.

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The way I see it, there are multiple generations of DDR.

First Generation: 1st to 5thMIX
Second Generation: MAX to EXTREME
Third Generation: SuperNOVA through SuperNOVA2 ("through" refers to most console games, like the Xbox/360 releases)
Fourth Generation: X to present

Some may not agree with me, but I think it makes sense.

I agree with you there, There definitely were many changes between 5thMix > MAX and EXTREME > SuperNOVA, however i see third generation ending at DDR X. I mean, new songs, revivals, and inclusion of Xmixes and Shock Arrows, but the interface didn't really quite "change" until X2. I say X2 was the start of the Fourth Generation of DDR because it changed EVERYTHING that we knew before X came along. If you think about it: New modes for beginners, Replicant-D-ACTION system, new interface, crossovers from IIDX and jubeat, and just a lot more things really made X2 look like the start of the next generation of DDR. This is IMO anyways....

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This. Each generation has a different style of charting too. For instance:

1st-5th Mix: No freezes, charts didn't follow the rhythms to a tee (and had a lot of rhythm errors as well), lots of jumps, spins, crossovers, doublesteps, etc
MAX-EXTREME: Charts are much more rhythmically challenging, following background rhythms to a tee. Charts are cleaner and more streamlined. Freezes are added in. First generation of good boss songs
Supernova-Supernova 2: Huge spike in difficulty. Many charts (especially in Supernova) feel "karaoke-stepped", some in a good way, others in a bad way. The first "gimmick" boss songs appear.
X-present: A blend of all three. Gimmick charts are more prevalent. Shock arrows are included. Charting quality becomes inconsistent, with the good being spot-on and the bad being...well, awful. Charts again get harder.

EDIT: The song styles have also evolved, reflecting the tastes of the era.

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Here's how I divide them:
1-3: series was just beginning, lots of licenses, interface stayed fairly consistent
4-5: interface was experimented with, we saw more KOs, etc
Max-Extreme: Major interface overhaul, 60 FPS, freeze arrows, more challenging charts
SuperNOVA/SuperNOVA2: Again with the interface, many more Konami originals, the departure of Dancemania and e-amuse
X-X2: New cabinet design, interface changes especially in X2, changing of the ranking system, revival of some Dancemania songs, and a new announcer.

I'd generally agree with this, except to me, X and X2 are different generations.

Generation I 1st, 2nd, 3rd, USA- This was the beginning of DDR with introductions to series staples.

Generation II Solo Bass, Solo 2000, 4th, 4th+, Extra Mix (US CS) - A lot of licenses were rotated in and out of several series of games. A lot of experimentation with interfaces and features, such as edit data, linking, nonstop courses, etc. Also solo charts.

Generation III 5th mix: An end of Generation II and introduction to Generation IV. Brand new interface and graphics engine, but the song styles were similar to previous mixes.

Generation IV Max-Extreme (AC): Generation of revivals and introduction of background videos and freeze arrows. A lot of entries from other bemani series began.

Generation IV - i Max-Extreme (US CS): Generation of catch up mixes that include a lot of Dancemania and Western licenses. None of these would ever be truly AC perfect.

Generation V Extreme 2, Strike, Festival, Party Collection, Ultramix 1 and 2: Generation of a lot of home releases Ultramix 1 and 2 are included as CS releases borrowed songs heavily from the Xbox series of games. Many features and songs would become staples in the AC releases that came from these releases, such as the interface with all difficulties displayed at once and the note skin arrows.

Generation VI SuperNOVA 1, 2 - This series began a repopularizing of DDR in the arcades with the foundation of eAmuse being implemented.

Generation VI - i Hottest Party 1, 2, Universe 1, 2- A series of home releases that are largely unrelated to the AC versions of the game.

Generation VII DDR X - An end to the Generation VI series and starting of Generation VII. Major changes are introduced in this series, but larger changes would begin in the next generation. This game is musically distinct with it's emphasis on styles that normally appeared on the Xbox series of games, such as Or-If-Is, Xmixes, etc.

Generation VII X2, Hottest Party 3, DDR 2010 - The AC series and CS series begin to realign with the X2 borrowing even more heavily from the Wii versions of the game and Universe 3. More emphasis on bemani artists and the reintroduction of Eurobeat licenses.

This is how I divide up the series in my mind.

1: 1998-2001 (AC 1st - AC/CS 5th)
2: 2001-2005 (AC 6th Mix - Extreme 2)
3: 2006 - present (AC SuperNOVA - present)

I agree as well, though I'd say that X was a transition period between the SuperNOVAs and X2.

Gen I(1998,1999): 1st mix, 2nd mix, Club Mix: Introduction to the series, 1-8 difficulty. Easy charts, very few 16th notes, no triplets, Basic Trick and Maniac difficulties only. Bemani crossovers in Club Mix.

Gen II(1999-2001): 3rd-5th mix. Introduction of 9's. Solo Charts(Solo Mixes). Many Dancemania licenses. S-maniac charts. DDR introduced to US(DDR US, Konamix). More 16th notes, speed changes/stops.

Gen III(2001-2003): Max(Arcade), Max2, Extreme(when it's new). US Max. Freeze Arrows, more difficult charts, first real "boss songs"
Speed modifiers and the mods menu. More Bemani crossovers. Beginner and Challenge difficulties introduced. Oni Courses.

Gen IV(2003-2006): No new arcade releases. US Max2, Extreme, Extreme2. DDR Festival, Strike, Ultramix 1, Ultramix 2. People lose interest in DDR Extreme. ITG is released. Characters brought back.

Gen V(2006-2008): Supernova, Supernova 2, Ultramix 3, Ultramix 4, Universe. Boss songs get very hard. Hottest Party introduced on the Wii.

Gen VI(2009-2011+): DDR X-X3, New rating scale, Shock Arrows. Universe 2-3, DDR 2010 with new features, More speed modifiers,

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I had to type this out of an Excel file :{

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Generation 1 - Dance Dance Revolution
DDR AC / DDR CS / Internet Ranking Version

Generation 1.5 - DDR 1.5
Dancing Stage / DS Internet Ranking Version / DDR (NA)

Generation 2 - DDR 2nd Mix
DDR 2nd Mix AC / DDR 2nd Mix CS / DDR 2nd ReMix / Link Version / Club Versions

Generation 2.5 - Spin-offs
Dam DDR / DS feat. True Kiss Destination / DS feat. Dreams Come True / Solo Bass Mix

Generation 3 - DDR 3rd Mix
DDR 3rd Mix AC / DDR 3rd Mix CS / Korean Versions / 3rd Mix Plus / EuroMIX AC / EuroMIX CS / DDR USA AC / DS feat. Disney's Rave

Generation 4 - DDR 4th Mix
DDR 4th Mix AC / DDR 4th Mix CS / DDR Solo 4th Mix / DDR Extra Mix CS / DDR Konamix / Dancing Stage Party Edition / DDR Best Hits / DDR Kids / DDR (USA CS)

Generation 5 - DDR 5th Mix
DDR 5th Mix AC / DDR 5th Mix CS

Generation 6 - DDRMAX
DDRMAX AC / DDRMAX CS / DDRMAX USA / Aerobic Revolution

Generation 7 - DDRMAX 2
DDRMAX 2 AC / DDRMAX 2 CS / Dancing Stage EuroMIX 2 AC / DDRMAX USA 2 / Dancing Stage MegaMIX

Generation 8 -DDR Extreme
DDR Extreme / DDR Extreme CS

Generation 9 - DDR Generation NEXT
Party Collection CS / DS Fever / DDR Ultramix / DDR Unleashed / Diet Channel

Generation 10 - Dancing Stage Fusion
Dancing Stage Fusion AC / DDR Festival CS / Dancing Stage Fusion CS / DDR USA Extreme CS / Ultramix 2

Generation 11 - DDR Strike
DDR Strike CS / Dancing Stage MAX CS / DDR Extreme USA 2 / Ultramix 3 / DDR With Mario

Generation 12 - Dancing Stage SuperNOVA
Dancing Stage SuperNOVA AC / DDR SuperNOVA CS / DDR SuperNOVA USA CS / Ultramix 4 / DDR Universe

Generation 13 - SuperNOVA 2
DDR SuperNOVA 2 AC / DDR SuperNOVA 2 CS / DDR SuperNOVA USA 2 CS / Universe 2 / Hottest Party

Generation 14 - DDR X
DDR X AC / DDR X CS / DDR X USA CS / Full Full Party / Hottest Party 2 USA / WinX Club / DDR S

Generation 15 - DDR X2
DDR X2 / DDR Musicfit CS / Hottest Party 3 / DDR X2 USA CS / DDR Universe 3

Generation 16 - DDR X3 vs ???
DDR X3 / DDR Hottest Party 4 / DDR New Moves

Generation 17 - 2011-2012
Hottest Party 5 (Dance Dance Revolution II)

No offence, but why so many generations? I know there are disagreements in where the generations lie, but there are some that seem like obvious choices (max-extreme), (supernova-supernova2) If we're ranking CS games, I wouldn't mix them in with the arcade/ps2 arcade ports either, they are one in their own.

I think a new generation is created with the game's introduction to a new console, and therefore a new audience of people that hadn't tried or even heard of the game before. It may not be the same scene generation of players who frequent the arcades but it's a new generation no less.

For instance, I've had no less than three different groups of players walk up to an EXTREME machine and ask me where all the songs from ULTRAMIX are. Cause, 'This came out after ULTRAMIX... didn't it?'

No hay Simfiles De Dancing Stage MegaMIX????

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Wouldn't Megamix and Fever be together? They were released only about 10 months apart from each other.

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I don't know what was up with MegaMIX. It was delayed for half a year, and at one point seemed like it has been cancelled. Right after DDRMAX USA came out, there was a beta version of MegaMIX being passed around the community, which had a handful of glaring errors, and missing features. The final version was the exact same build, stll using placeholder difficulties for all of the new songs.

I think Fever was rushed out early in the next development cycle, to get a PSX DDR game onto the market?

So the wankery that went on with DS SN2 isn't a new thing! Wowzers.

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I think EuroMIX on the PSOne still holds the Dancing Stage Wankery Title.