Can there be another 4-panel dancing game without Konami suing?

As we all (should) know, Roxor got their asses sued by Konami about 8 years ago. They settled that case, and Konami acquired all of Roxor's property related to ITG.

Now that it's been a few years since then, and Konami has stopped making DDR games altogether (aside from Classroom/Pocket Editions I suppose, but those aren't even games to be honest), I feel like it's time to ask this question: can someone make another 4-panel dancing game, or will they just be sued by Konami again?

Honestly, I think it's possible. Konami doesn't seem to care anymore, as shown by their lack of actual games since DDRII and arguably Dance Wars. If they were still releasing home versions, it would be different. The GP might call this new game DDR, but they also call PIU that, and also call the character Mario "Super Mario," Link "Zelda," and every amusement park "Six Flags." The GP never gets things right. One of the biggest things that caused the lawsuit was the fact that DDR cabinets were upgraded to ITG. This hopefully wouldn't happen again; it was a terrible decision on Roxor's part even though Konami hadn't released an AC DDR in the US for 4 years (DDR USA had been the last release, even though Extremes were everywhere).

What do you think? Would Konami sue, or would they let it slide? If they did sue, would they have a case? Are panel-based dance games, or even all dance games, dead?

I know this thread is random, but I thought it would generate some sort of discussion. Didn't know where to put this so I just put it in ITG.

also i'm probably very wrong because i'm me

The thing is, it's not konami that would be the problem to a new supposed 4 panel game. The problem would be of the fact that this game has pretty much died and any hope of even reviving interest would be next to impossible.


Last I checked the only thing they got was the 4 panel copyright thing. The songs and stuff all went back to the artists and stepcharts went back to whoever wrote stepcharts, coding back to sm devs and blah blah blah you get the point.

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There were some small productions. For example this series that you didn't heard before probably - Dance Party. From what I heard from the developers Konami gave green light to this game. IQ Publishing is also Polish supplier of Konami's Rock Revolution and DDR series - you can check that in their web shop - exerion. Other series with 4 panel game play that I can name? There was Street Feet, iDance and iStep ...

The funny thing is that in Poland at least machine dancing is pretty popular. Even thought there aren't any "communities" at the moment people are playing on machines a lot. Funny thing is that probably the most recent machine in Poland from Konami is single Dancing Stage Euromix (the second "newest one" is probably 4th mix solo ...). When summer vacation comes I try to find as much as possible arcades that have dancing games in Poland. And you know what? This year we had MORE Pump it Up machines than in any year previously. Arcades are getting more and more machines because it's growing to be popular. Oh and for casuals it doesn't matter if the machine has 3, 4, 5 or even 6 panels - for them it's same game - a one in which you click the arrows with legs.

So anyway, what I am thinking? Konami gives a crap about market in Europe. Developers here can easily get rights to make new four or insert whatever panel games. I'm not even sure if Konami holds patent rights in Europe for four panel dancing machines. To be honest only patents that I could find are here. Be sure to look for machines and games with European origin

There will be new music games, Konami doesn't have monopoly for them. For example the latest crossbreed between Guitar Hero, Pump it Up and Pop'n Music will probably release somewhere in 2014 - 2015?

Yeah, there's also Pulsen, but I think people would prefer it if we didn't go into that.

I was thinking that Konami may give you permission if you ask them, but... I don't know.

Maybe if we wait a few years for #only2000skids to happen, we'll have some sort of revival of panel-based dance games.

Oh btw. something I just found out -> http://www.positivegaming.com/pg-magazine-machine-dance-and-exergaming-news/positive-gaming-company-news/events-news/itg-european-cup-2013

There has been ITG European Cup last year organised by... Positive Gaming. So another thing to backup my statement that this actually isn't over in Europe.

This [fitness] is the only way I see this game ever becoming popular again. If fitness centers started buying machines, maybe a comeback could happen...
It's a shame that there's a pretty hefty learning curve to becoming good enough to where it becomes a cardiovascular workout.

#pipedreams

What about in America? It's become pretty clear to me that it's dying over here, as much as I hate to admit it.

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Patents.

Well that's just perfect. May as well wait to get my own house, a Windows laptop, a set of Cobalt Flux pads, and download OpenITG, right? *sarcasm*

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There's always Pump It Up.

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"4 panel."

however, I would play pump it up if all the PIU cabinet's around me weren't PIU PRO cabs. i'd much prefer fiesta/fiesta 2 without a long drive

It depends on when the patents were filed; its usually a 20-year term.

I know, but it's the only panel dancing game alternative to DDR that still gets updates, as far as I can tell.

If that's the case, the patent used against ITG expires in either 2021 or 2022. I'm not a lawyer, so don't quote me on that.

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if arcade owners can afford a PIU dedicab, they're more or less likely able to afford a decent DDR/ITG dedicab. (if i don't recall, a PIU dedicab is around the average price of an ITG cabinet)

Isn't In The Groove a rip-off of DDR?

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No, DDR is a rip-off of ITG (and that's In The Groove, just in case you were wondering).

Then why does wikipedia say that ITG came years after DDR came?

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ITG was in the works long before the development of DDR began. Konami found an early copy of the HDD and built DDR around it. ITG was released much later due to the entire development team contracting a severe case of malaria after they all took a trip to Uganda.

I can back this up. I was on the Uganda trip and was fortunate enough to be spared of malaria.

Just so you know: In the Groove was in fact developed after DDR and based off the open source StepMania, which was originally designed to simulate DDR. This is a relatively well-known fact in the dance community. Since you came and asked this question, the users who are getting tired of your easy-to-answer questions have now resorted to a laugh at your expense by going into sarcasm and hyperbole. For your own sake, learn a couple things:

-how to do research on your own before asking around

-not to bump a 5 month old thread for a question before doing that research

-how to catch sarcasm