ZIv's Summer Contest 2012

DDR Winx Club represent (!?)...now on to the beautiful brain matter

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Yea I was missing two little arrows, nothing big. It just really irked my nerves so I fixed it and changed the slowdown a bit.

Gonna participate. Simfile in the work.

Can anybody here please help me out with the GFX? I'm not a good graphic artist. PM me if you are interested and I'll PM you with the song name.
nvm, I got someone doing them.

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Ignited Night



The rubber disqualification bullets still hurt like HELL when fired at 2600-3400ft/sec.
She'll be out for a while.

Future Tel told me that this file was disqualified next week,
so now it seems like I have to count all the steps in ALL the charts

Kioku [unconnected]
260 / 455 = Red (fail)
256 / 626 = Red
Clever crossovers, but a couple of doublesteps kinda break the flow/immersion.
Also it's offsync.

Shining Wizard
214 / 500+
Not much to say other than pretty much all of it was very well made, haha.
Felt a bit harder than Konoko.

Todestrieb - didn't expect to see some Suigintou up in the hizzouse
253 / 520+
302 / 700+
I like what you did with the steps, it felt like a good real boss song, very formulaic.
Same as with the challenge, good flow and good use of rhythmic repetition, and symmetrical patterning made this file good.

Salt Skin
205 / 500+ (lot of steps for an 8, no?)
Clever crossovers, felt a bit hard for an 8 though.
I like it when people try something new. This file was good.
As annoying as the speed changes were, they kind of worked.

Twelfth Style - the actual FUCK is going on in that video!?
225 / 464
225 / 570+
This is the most not a 9 thing I have ever played since Trip Machine Evolution heavy.
The song lends itself very well to the (very) energetic steps you gave it, though. Awesome pivots an crosses an shiet mang.
I don't even know maaan, I was too distracted by the AMAZING video.
Jk it was good. No doublesteps, good and symmetrical patterns etc, but it wasn't as interesting as the

Castle on the Moon
240 / 489 (huh, close)
Fun file with some very good patterns but some of the spats of extreme difficulty felt a little uncalled for.

Alive
102 / 418 (wow!)
This felt really well thought out and good. Must've been hard to put steps to.

Chasing the Sun
141 / 338
Jumps led to a few flowbreaking ambiguous steps but overall it was pretty good.
(When you have a jump with an up or down arrow just after it.
Obviously there will be people who argue this is an integral part of the game, and I guess it is, but the point of
these reviews is to point out things I like.

Wenkamui
154 / 313 (also close!)
The file was pretty good, yeah. Didn't stand out too far, but still the usual good stuff from Silverhawke

Hmm, judging this theme could was rather flawed, because all you had to do was make a file with a long 16th stream,
and the ratio of reds to others would be 1:3... And Blinded's file was more offbeat than other files submitted this week, and still had to be disqualified...

You've all improved so much since your first entries (except those who were already this good, haha) I didn't have anything bad to say this week. That's normally where the bulk of the review size comes from, haha.

+5 Twelfth Style
+4 Todestrieb
+3 Shining Wizard
+2 alive
+1 Salt Skin
+0 Wenkamui
+0 Castle on the Moon
+0 Chasing the sun - really, the song choice wrecked this one for me, I just wasn't interested by it haha.

Twelfth Style [Silverhawke] - 18
Shining Wizard [Oni-91] - 11
Todestrieb [Scarz] - 9
alive [Meseki] - 7
Castle on the Moon [Scarz] - 5
Wenkamui [Silverhawke] - 4
kioku (unconnected) [Dreamland200] - 3
Ignited Night [Blinded_No_More] - 2
Salt Skin [ddrstepper] - 1

Scarz reserves the right to give two points to a different file.

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Oh well then,
+2 Salt Skin
-Speed changes are an easy way to please me, actually keeps me interested.

Twelfth Style [Silverhawke] - 18
Shining Wizard [Oni-91] - 11
Todestrieb [Scarz] - 9
alive [Meseki] - 7
Castle on the Moon [Scarz] - 5
Wenkamui [Silverhawke] - 4
kioku (unconnected) [Dreamland200] - 3
Salt Skin [ddrstepper] - 3

Three weeks of participation for the third Summer Contest (in a row):

The Disappearance of Hatsune Miku -Theatrical version- / cosMo@BousouP feat. Hatsune Miku
SP: 3/5/8/10/-

This version is quite different from the original; I think even the lyrics are significantly different. It's also a bit more balanced and saner than the original, espcially in terms of song intensity and resulting chart difficulty.

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Original post: http://pastebin.com/4CUByMKE tel you ass

---VOTES---
+5 Shining Wizard
+4 alive
+3 kioku [unconnected]
+2 Todestrieb
+1 Chasing The Sun

---totes da votes---
Twelfth Style [Silverhawke] - 18
Shining Wizard [Oni-91] - 16
alive [Meseki] - 11
Todestrieb [Scarz] - 11
kioku (unconnected) [Dreamland200] - 6
Castle on the Moon [Scarz] - 5
Wenkamui [Silverhawke] - 4
Salt Skin [ddrstepper] - 3
Chasing The Sun [ddrstepper] - 1

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I have a better file I wanted to submit, but I have no graphics for it (and no access to photoshop atm).... so yeah...

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Castle on the Moon
Decent charts overall. The 16th streams in the make the chart somewhat unbalanced, though; making those streams easier/simpler or making other parts harder may have helped. Also, the longer 8th streams in the are a little heavy on the crossovers compared to the movement of the rest of the chart.

Chasing the Sun
A rather nice chart. The jumps keep this from being too uninteresting.

Ignited Night
A quite fun chart. The arrow patters are good, though it probably would have helped to make the end section a little harder than the beginning, especially for this week.

kioku (unconnected)
Somewhat awkward, but excellent song choice for this week. The chart felt a little off-sync, especially in the 280 BPM section (that I'm not sure why you put there), and even moreso on the chart. Some of the patterns seemed a little weird as well, like the 4th freezes on the and the jumps on 8ths in the . Also, there is a doublestep toward the beginning of the 280BPM section of the chart, on the 5th repeat of the arrow rhythm (an up, left then down, right with 8ths).

Salt Skin
Great chart. Good job on avoiding doublesteps with the amount of time spent not facing forward, and the BPM changes were nice as well; not overly predictable, but still fitting and nothing really requiring memorization.

Shining Wizard
Really good chart, and a good idea to use one of the strange time signature GFDM songs; I was thinking of possibly using one as well, but it was easier for me to get the song I submitted. Reasonably difficult for the song, and the patterns are quite fun as well.

Todestrieb
Good charts. The patters are okay, but some of them could possibly be improved, especially the part at the beginning of the with the freezes and 16th streams similar to ZETA's ending. Some of the 16th gallops could also use a little more movement.

Twelth Style
Great file, even if the and are under-rated. Pretty good song selection for this week as well. The 16th usage in the and was nice, and it was good to not have too much movement during the 16ths near the end of the . The gallops toward the beginning half of the seem awkward, but I can see why you had it like that for the first time around. Also, for some reason, I kept trying to start the up-down-left-right in the with my right finger (I'm indexing these charts).

Wenkamui
Nice chart. The gallops and crossovers help keep this from being too easy, but aren't out of place. The beginning almost made me think there may have been blue arrow syndrome, but it didn't take long to realize that's just how the song was.


+5 Twelth Style
+4 Salt Skin
+3 Shining Wizard
Ignited Night
+2 Todestrieb
+1 Chasing the Sun
Castle on the Moon
Wenkamui
kioku (unconnected)

Twelfth Style [Silverhawke] - 23
Shining Wizard [Oni-91] - 19
Todestrieb [Scarz] - 13
alive [Meseki] - 11
Salt Skin [ddrstepper] - 7
kioku (unconnected) [Dreamland200] - 6
Castle on the Moon [Scarz] - 5
Wenkamui [Silverhawke] - 4
Chasing The Sun [ddrstepper] - 2

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I'm gonna be very busy this week and won't have time to vote or enter.... also LMFAO that comic

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The thing that popped into my head when seeing this? "Farewell."

2/4/6/8/11

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oh yeah, oni didn't vote

It's late, comic tomorrow

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Well I guess I'll be the one to break the ice

+5 Goof Troop Boop
+4 東京テディベア
+3 CANDY CANDY
+2 Goodnight
+1 THANK YOU FOR PLAYING

TOTAL VOTES :
Goof Troop Boop [TaroNuke] - 5
東京テディベア [Azn_punk_07] - 4
CANDY CANDY [Chewi☆] - 3
Goodnight [Pandemonium X] - 2
THANK YOU FOR PLAYING [Silverhawke] - 1

THANK YOU FOR PLAYING [Silverhawke] - +5
東京テディベア [Azn_punk_07] - +4
Goof Troop Boop [TaroNuke] - +3
New Magical Definition electro mix [Telperion] - +2
Goodnight [Pandemonium X] - +1

Totals:
Goof Troop Boop [TaroNuke] - 8
東京テディベア [Azn_punk_07] - 8
THANK YOU FOR PLAYING [Silverhawke] - 6
CANDY CANDY [Chewi☆] - 3
Goodnight [Pandemonium X] - 3
New Magical Definition electro mix [Telperion] - 2

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+5// New Magical Definition (Unique. Really nice graphics)
+4// CANDY CANDY (There's one strange doublestep at the beginning. I like how there are empty spaces.)
+3// Goof Troop Boop (Couldn't actually play; Rating based on video.)
+2// Too Young (Some parts seem overstepped, or don't go with any sounds)
+1// THANK YOU FOR PLAYING (normal)
EXTACY (The hold spins didn't feel like they went with the music. Although i messed up a lot of the times because of them, the speed changes were nice. Bg is nice.)
Sweet Rain (Feels overstepped in some places. Chart follows the vocals too much)
Goodnight (It's a nice file, but it's a little boring)
KIMONO PRINCESS (I usually don't like edits when they're not better than the original)
The Disappearance of Miku (starts off alright, but gets wonky at the end)
Why not (Same as KIMONO PRINCESS. Also, there's some strangeness with the skips/gallops/-whatever you call 'em.)
Flutter ( feels a bit messy, and I don't like the song.)

Goof Troop Boop [TaroNuke] - 11
東京テディベア [Azn_punk_07] - 8
THANK YOU FOR PLAYING [Silverhawke] - 7
CANDY CANDY [Chewi☆] - 7
New Magical Definition electro mix [Telperion] - 7
Goodnight [Pandemonium X] - 3
Too Young [ddrstepper] - 2

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Tokyo Teddy Bear - +5
Goof Troop Boop - +4
THANK YOU FOR PLAYING - +3
Goodnight - +2
Sweet Rain - +1

Goof Troop Boop [TaroNuke] - 15
東京テディベア [Azn_punk_07] - 13
THANK YOU FOR PLAYING [Silverhawke] - 10
CANDY CANDY [Chewi☆] - 7
New Magical Definition electro mix [Telperion] - 7
Goodnight [Pandemonium X] - 5
Too Young [ddrstepper] - 2
Sweet Rain [DDR Addict] - 1

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+5 Candy Candy
+4 New Magical Definition electro Mix
+3 Ecstasy
+2 Goodnight
+1 Too Young



biased reviews...comments...asskissing...cows.....things...gramatical failings...

Candy Candy
Reminds me of a classic DDR chart which I would like. There is some nice variety to the steps (especially when involving gallops) despite often times not following the music to a perfect tee. I liked the breakdown-esque foot switches towards the end. My only complaint is there is one seemingly out of place half spin, but I guess that gives it that classic imperfect natural classic ddr chart feel. Also that face in the banner.

Ecstasy
I liked some parts, others not so much. I wasn't too crazy about the begining (way to much spinning for my taste). The good, well there is quite a bit. First really nice sample, it makes me want to play the song even thought the majority of the song is slightly above average (songwise). The slow downs where some of the best used slowdowns I've seen in my personal opinion funwise. It went to the rhythm and it was pretty easy to spot when they where going to occur, but actually added to the chart rathert than being a pointless gimmick which I see used way too often. The freeze 4th crossovers where also a really nice touch to the chart

Flutter
Its Flower with a bunch of pony soundbits cute. The steps feel like thye borrow way too much from flower in x3.
I personally think you could have picked up something better from Trotmania.

Goodnight
Another year, another Duck Tales Moon remix. Anyone else here old enough to have played that game when you where young? Scrooge bounced on his cain throughout stages and had to figure out levels, the game had a bitchin' boss theme now that I mention it, back in the day when licensed games where actually fun like Chip n'Dale, but that Darkwing Duck game sucked...anyways on to the file. The chart is pretty straight forward but works with your tech-run style of charts. Some nice twists though occur with the 4th step jump patterns towards the middle which where actually fun despite how "simple" they were. The freeze at that 8-bit synth train wreck was also a charming touch.

Goof Troop Boop
Usually I'm not too fond of really robotic steps but considering the how the song is pretty much pure rhtyhm based on sound clips from JonTron and EgoRaptor (my fiend got me into this show, still wish we had more sequelitis but oh well) these kind of steps feel appropriate. 16th runs where fun and gave it a fun ITG feel to them without really having a flow (which in this case is good). The jumps where also really interesting, sometimes forcing a mid-air foot switch and sometimes requiring a side jump onto them.

Kimono Princess
Another year, another Kimono Princess edit. People really arn't happy with the Jun boss songs are they. 3/5 of those charts have seen edits in this contest, as the same amount where also done, with Unvelievable and KIMONO PRINCESS both being done each year. No one has done Super Samurai for the record (for those who like the Jun boss songs, whell feel free to tell me I should like those foot switches or whatever you like about this). Chart was ok. it kind of reminded me of the original just more spinny and the patterns of 16ths replaced with 8ths.

New Magical Definition
MOAR SLAKE YUS! Steps felt weird like the song. The chart flowed pretty well and you picked some nice moments to use gallops or 16th triplets. The defining element of this chart is following those synths followed by the freeze and odd notes hit.

Sweet Rain
The 16ths made this feel like a 9 from EXTREME for some reason. The 16ths where nice but I kind of felt this was a lil' over stepped. Lots of 16ths and streams with jumps in them. Maybe if this was moved up to and (which is pretty good with some nice pivoting, although I suppose could use a bit more oomph to become an 8 because it feels a lil' understepped for a god :hea was moved to I might feel a bit more comfortable in this for some reason. The 16ths sometimes felt a lil' confusing to follow towards the end.

Thank You For playing
Chart flowed well enough. 16ths at the end were a nice touch and the slowdown was well done

The disapearance of Hatsune Miku (theatrical version)
Nice Bg and this version feels much more twisted than the original for sure. The 12ths where pretty fun in relation to the glitchy-destructive nature of the song, although I sometimes found 8ths used and awkwardly transitioned into from the 12ths (although going from odd to even timing is always a little awkward).

Tokyo Teddy Bear
kind of easy and i feel this doesn't;t really capture the energy of the song as well as but some of the simple arrow streams and the foot switches involving the 8th gallops and triplets kept things interesting. Goes with the nergy of the song really well with some added spice to the mix with jumps int he stream toeards the end. I might have addded simple streams to follow the begining of the bass-line, not that it would bring the difficulty up by an aborant amount, I just feel it would allow you to squeeze as much as you could out of the chart, and considering that this chart does seem to push the boundaries of the song as it is.

Too Young
This is perhaps your best chart you've created and has shown how far you have come as a step artist. The begining freezes, although functionally pointless had a nice asthetic too them which went with the hopeful starry-eyed sound of the song. Some of the 8th streams went on for a bit aaaaand I liked how they interpreted the song. The gallops and 16ths where excelent additions to the chart. My only complaint is that I wish the 12th gallop section followed the lyrics slightly more strongly to break up the monotony of a plain galop section (seriously I think everyone has seen these before, it would be nice to see someone do something interesting with these). The ending 16th run, under any normal circumstance I would have been like "OMG THIS IS OVERSTEPPED YOU MONSTER" but considering the theme of this week and being the last week and all I think it is an excellent send off for an excellent summer contest. If this was any other weak I could see this very likely becoming a 2nd place pick for me, but this has been overal a very competetive and good week. I hope to see your charts in more contests.

Why Not
This feels like Konami made this. Kind of reminds me of Daikenkai , while the sections involving the gallops flowed pretty well.
It takes a a brave person to make a spin edit chart, but I wouldn't recommend them if your trying to win votes

Thank You To Everyone who Participated in the 2012 ZIV Summer Contest
Especially those who consistently submited files

I enjoyed playing and reviewing your enjoyable files. I feel I've learned to become much more observant, open minded and less biased towards stepping styles over the past few weeks and although I didn't compete in the contest I sent a request but it must have been too late, or maybe I never sent one in at all. Besides my AX chart kind of sucked for [LAST Word] week I still had lots of fun hearing new music and enjoying great charts.

Some things I want to see next year

-Arch Enemy Week
-Some way for weekly winners to win to choose a theme for a week within the ongoing contest. I think this would be a more direct incentive to keep people interested in participating.
-Less repeats of songs from past and ongoing contests on ZIV, similar to how tournamix handle things after awile.
-Remove the requirement to vote or be disqualified. I know this is meant to keep people voting but I think it disincentives step artists to enter songs week after week AND have to play and review every song. I think the people who do vote genuinly enjoy rating the songs.
-A ZIV Summer Contest 2013?
-Anyone else interesting in one final voting week were the 1st place winners of each week compete with each other?
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Goof Troop Boop [TaroNuke] - 15
東京テディベア [Azn_punk_07] - 13
CANDY CANDY [Chewi☆] - 12
New Magical Definition electro mix [Telperion] - 11
THANK YOU FOR PLAYING [Silverhawke] - 10
Goodnight [Pandemonium X] - 7
Ecstasy [xRGTMx] -3
Too Young [ddrstepper] - 3
Sweet Rain [DDR Addict] - 1