DDR EXTREME turns 10 years old(?)

Since DDR EXTREME came out in the Japanese markets in 2002, it was known by players to be the last DDR version until Dancing Stage Fusion had an arcade edition three years later. Now it is 2012, and DDR EXTREME cabinets still exist worldwide (and hopefully working); so this must mean EXTREME turns ten years old! How about that?

I had never seen a DDR machine with the 1998 firmwares back in 2008 since the area I lived at contains a lot of EXTREMEs. X was supposed to be the 10th anniversary edition that brought some 1st-2ndMIX licenses, arranged them, and put in more Bemani crossovers that were fan-favorited. But the Bay Area (and Central Valley) does not seem to have X-X3's, as if Konami no longer made upgrade kits for SN/EX machines. Sometimes in this new year, we will have to bare this situation and get along with those EXTREMEs nearby.

How I feel about EXTREME in 2012 is that I had enough of that game. I either want an older (but better) version or an X-X3 machine I can do. I only prefer to play on EX/SN for the Bemani songs that never saw the light of day in X (because some sound very cool than the current revivals). DDR EXTREME does not have Standard Mode rankings, but Nonstop, and Challenge course rankings. Internet passwords were offered when you beat the courses, but they were useless and obsolete when internet rankings for EXTREME were closed. Overall, I think DDR EXTREME needs a long break (i.e. the other arcade versions were not lasted long enough). At least it came to the ten-year peak!

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Extreme getting old is part of the reason I hardly play dancing games anymore. Extreme is all we have in my area, so if I want to play DDR, I have to play the same songs I've been playing since 2003. I'd take Max 2 over Extreme any day. Hell, I'd take Supernova and Supernova 2 over Extreme.

DDR EXTREME was released on Christmas Day, 2002. So 25, December it will be exactly 10 years old.

For me, EXTREME is definitely my most played arcade version, but honestly I still love it. Plus, EXTREME is part of the DDR generation that appeals to me most. And more importantly...it has 20,November on it.

Extreme is my favorite arcade mix. Sure it gets old every now and then but it's still a great arcade mix.

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I think I love you man.

Yeah, most long timers know Extreme came out on Christmas. So there really isn't need to talk about anniversary right now.




Also who cares.

EXTREME was so good because even Konami thought that was the end of the DDR series, so they fired every gun they had. Even so there was a number of things left out. I read a memo long ago that said MY FIRE and a number of other classic Dancemania tracks were suppose to be in EXTREME but Konami didn't get approval from Toshiba in time or something. And a lot of people have pointed out that GIVE IT UP by CAPTAIN JACK was originally slated to appear.

I don't think the touring machine for EXTREME had completed songs that ended up getting cut but there may have been more things left out during production.


We do.

Just cross your fingers; let's hope this thread lasts throughout 2012 to go over your biggest "MEMORIES" of DDR EXTREME.

Back when EXTREME used to be new, I used to play on and Challenge course modes to avoid that "shark" that appears on the danger zone. Later my body can take those creepy danger zones, even when the pads are awful. Cool thing about EXTREME is that the player on will never fail, whereas the player on will not fail the first stage, but fail the next stages. I was suprised when I watched a DDR newcomer pass "Remember You" and not see that "shark".

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Both DDR EXTREME and pop'n music 8 turn 10 years old this year! pop'n music 8 will be 10 this May, earlier than DDR EXTREME.

Both are some of my favorites games for their respective franchises. Both have many things very similar to one another.

Both DDR EXTREME and pop'n music 8 were the first games in their franchises to openly embrace crossovers from most, if not all BEMANI franchises of the time. The keyword is extensive coverage of songs from other franchises, not just beatmania and IIDX songs which often came with DDR games pre-EXTREME. pop'n music 8 debuted TËЯRA which also marked jun & NAOKI's first appearance on to pop'n music. CANDY♥ becomes the first DDR original song to be translated on to a pop'n music title.

Both games came home in 2003, both unable to bring all their new AC songs home due to licensing issues (Senorita for DDR EXTREME, THUNDER BIRDS and みなしごハッチ from pop'n 8).

Both games had Love2シュガ→ as a new song for their games (with DDR's version being one of the first four pop'n music songs crossovered).

Both home versions used the new KONAMI logo.

Both home versions embraced the 100+ songlist. A feature that should have been kept standard with today's music games from the same company.

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So don't forget:

beatmania 7th mix
beatmania THE FINAL
beatmania IIDX 7th Style
beatmania IIDX 8th Style
DDRMAX 2: 7th Mix
GF/DM 7/6
GF/DM 8/7

all turn 10 years old this year too.


Yeah there were a boat load of releases back then.

A moment of silence please, to the last of the 5key musical journeys.

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While we're making a list of non-DDR games in the DDR forum, DDRMAX2 7thMIX also turns 10... on the 27th of this month!

Happy Birthday, THUDERPUSS!


I really want to get my hands on a THE FINAL kit...

Can you get a video of the "shark"? I've been looking for one for a long time and haven't been able to find one (the closest DDR arcade machine near me is like 2 hours away).

Zowayix, there should be a StepMania theme for DDR EXTREME; unzip it and try to find the video clip (something like "Danger.avi").

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Try looking up BEWARE Extreme. It's an "arcade perfect" clone of Extreme, and from my use it seems pretty spot on.

It's really not that great, especially compared to BM III 7th Mix :{

True, but bm III THE FINAL is even better.

Whoa, I just played EXTREME yesterday. And the machine is still working fine too!

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DDR EXTREME was the last well constructed DDR machine ever built. Those things are Soviet-grade and will work forever if you actually take care of them.

They make perfect home arcade/StepMania cabinets for collecting fans, especially since so many of them are still hanging around the states and being let go for less than a grand if you keep your eyes open. Even machines that are missing parts and in disrepair are worth it (and a fun fix-er-up project).

I liked EXTREME also for the Generation II licenses. Too bad "FRECKLES (KCP Re-Edit)" never made it to SuperNOVA AC, but many people would prefer this license on EXTREME more than SuperNOVA anyways. EXTREME had one-mix-only licenses that were never brought over to SuperNOVA, such as "WE WILL ROCK YOU", "WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS (Factory Team Remix)", "BURNIN' THE FLOOR (MOMO MIX)", etc. Those were played so often since our current machines always get stuck at EXTREME. I remember doing "SO DEEP (PERFECT SPHERE REMIX)" -S and I can hardly FC due to the awful ending. That license, like, became the base for "Blue Rain", "Twilight Zone", "Electro Tuned (The SubS Mix)" in terms of skippy step charts.

"IT'S RAINING MEN (Almighty Mix)" and "THERE YOU'LL BE", two of the "Forbidden Four" licenses, were revived for EXTREME AC, later making their final appearances on PS2 (U/C) EXTREME and Dancing Stage Fusion AC.

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