no backup, but restore: part 2 (wsc 2025)

video games with motion capture

benefits in stroke recovery and Parkinson's disease

dance-based games

movement but lack precise rhythm training

rhythmic tapping games

lack precise timing

instrumental games

record responses but lack high temporal accuracy

singing games

involve rhythm but primarily target pitch and vocal control

Dance Aerobics (1987)

[Nintendo] designed around the Power Pad, the first video game to combine music and timing based gameplay

Parappa the Rapper (1966)

independently produced console game that was a refined version of Dance Aerobics, with goofy tracks and iconic designs

Bemani

subsidiary of Konami (created Beatmania)

Drummania

peripheral-based gameplay focused on drumming, first game to introduce co-op performing

FreQuency (2001), Amplitude (2003)

[Harmonix, unknown American company] slowly built dedicated followings, leading them to bring about the next phase of the rhythm game boom

Karaoke Revolution

Konami approached Harmonix, which showed them that their games had the potential for widespread commercial success, despite not getting amazing sales before

Rock Band

MTV acquired Harmonix just before; the game had a variety of gameplay styles and focused on original, licensed music, reaching $1 billion dollars in revenue in a short 15 months

mobile games

Cytus, Tap Tap Revenge, Groove Coaster

motion capture games

Just Dance

indie games

Thumper, Sayonara Wild Hearts

VR rhythm games

Beat Saber

idol-related rhythm games

practically their own subgenre

arcade games

Dance Rush Stardom

osu!

[Australian rhythm game] clicking notes using the mouse cursor to beatmaps of various difficulties and modes

Beat Saber

[virtual reality rhythm game] slicing approaching blocks using two sabers from controllers

Dance Dance Revolution

[Konami arcade/console rhythm dance game] hit colored arrows laid out in a cross on a dance stage using feet

Guitar Hero

[RedOctane, Harmonix Music Systems, Activision series of guitar rhythm games] playing the guitar to match notes scrolling on screen using a guitar-shaped game controller

maimai

[arcade rhythm game] press 8 buttons around a circled screen, or touch the screen directly, up to 4 players; originally meant to be a music player, promoted itself with washing machine jokes

Beatmania

[Konami arcade/console rhythm game] play as a club DJ using controls and buttons; contributed largely to the popularization of music games

Deemo

[Taiwanese vertical-scrolling rhythm game] play something like a piano to grow a sapling and help Alice and Deemo escape a trapdoor, Deeme is revealed to be Alice's brother who died saving her from a traffic accident

Just Dance

[series of rhythm game] mimic a dance routine shown on screen using motion controllers of camera devices, or an app downloaded on a smart device

Tap Tap Revenge

[rhythm game] classic game where you tap colored balls when they reach the line, or shake device; removed from App Store after being acquired by Disney