Michael Jackson Experience $19.99 this weekend in Canada
PostPosted:Sat May 21, 2011 6:07 pm
At Walmart. Just Dance 1 and 2 have also dropped down to $29.99.
Believe it or not, these games are a lot more fun than you'd probably think they are. They are probably the best party games ever made... DDR was too focussed on stepping, and didn't really lend itself well to alcohol. Guitar Hero and Rock Band were a little irritating with the clanking plastic and the music tracks were not always party music. Other games, you could play party music while they were being played, but usually only involved 4 players, so a lot of people could get left out. Warioware could involve most people, but was limited. The Just Dance games are 4 player, but they entertain everyone, and all of the songs are party songs.
Really, there is nothing quite like having 4 guys doing Step by Step by New Kids, followed by 4 girls doing Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cindy Lauper =P
The series also has one of the most interesting histories as well.
Just Dance 1
* Slammed by gaming critics for being a game with no bells or whistles (Score tracking, etc...) you essentially play a song, the players are scored for that song, and that is all there is; 30 available songs. Not something critics generally like.
* Launched in 2009, sold only 7447 copies in its first week of availability and not much more in the second week. Price dropped quickly and it ended up in the bargain bin for 10 bucks.
* People started drinking, taking out this game, partying, guys find it fun, girls love it. When girls are dancing, having a silly-fun time, everyone's happy.
* Sales rose sharply afterwards, and it went from selling a few thousand, to hundreds of thousands, and then millions
* My thoughts - simple dance game, pull off moves on the screen, remember the dances, scored based on missing the move, doing it OK, and nailing the move (so three possible outcomes for each move). Drinking, loosening up, tends to actually enhance the player's ability to play and this remains true for all games =) Overall a very fun game. Songs like Kids in America,
Just Dance 2
* Launched to much better critical reception, added in the bells and whistles (naming players, score tracking, downloads both free/pay)
* More tracks, dances were more in the spirit of the songs than the first game, dances were also more challenging, but they allowed some score for a wider range of error.
* Sales were particularly high and very quickly, it launched fall of last year and has already sold 7.5 million at a regular price of $40.00, but every now and then sales drop the price of this game to $30, but usually it goes back up quickly.
* My opinion, better disco era tracks then Just Dance 1, better new tracks, but 80's stuff is not as fun as the first game. They had Blondie return with Call Me, which is better than Heart of Glass's dance from the first game (which was awkward and not really in the spirit of the song). The game usually gets more playtime, and I wish the first game's soundtrack was downloadable to this game since I like the mechanics better. Also it adds some new modes like Duets which have two different dance types going (2 or more players).
Michael Jackson Experience
* Capitalizing on Michael Jackson's resurgence in popularity, this one holds back NO punches. These dances are HARD and the based on the ones in the videos. Gameplaywise, it allows for people to play at different difficulties at the same time by having multiple dancers on the screen.
* The Michael Jackson Experience launched at a retail price of $50, and this is the first time I have seen it drop; a temporary drop, so if you are even remotely interested, now is the time. I am not sure if this deal applies, but in Canada it does for Walmart. I think these strategic temporary pricedrops on these somewhat "evergreen" type titles really works to boost sales to high levels.
Collectively
* The series started out with what looked to be a flop in 2009
* After a couple of months of somewhat slow sales it began to catch on as a fairly decent selling series. Selling hundreds of thousands of units, warranting a sequel.
* By mid-2010, the first game had sold a few million
* Late 2010 saw its first two sequels, being Just Dance 2 and the Michael Jackson Experience
* Overall, the franchise in a year and a half has sold 17 million units. Just Dance 2 remained top 10 most of the first half of the year. Being pushed out recently due to many new releases. But still raking in 50,000 units sold last week.
Oh, and these games are not just great party games, but also good couples games. Also somewhat healthy as there is no way you can avoid burning lots of calories =P
For a party, get a punch bowl, fill it full of vodka and crystal light, it both hydrates and gets people "loosened up" as recommended in the instruction booklet. Have some wings afterwards.
Believe it or not, these games are a lot more fun than you'd probably think they are. They are probably the best party games ever made... DDR was too focussed on stepping, and didn't really lend itself well to alcohol. Guitar Hero and Rock Band were a little irritating with the clanking plastic and the music tracks were not always party music. Other games, you could play party music while they were being played, but usually only involved 4 players, so a lot of people could get left out. Warioware could involve most people, but was limited. The Just Dance games are 4 player, but they entertain everyone, and all of the songs are party songs.
Really, there is nothing quite like having 4 guys doing Step by Step by New Kids, followed by 4 girls doing Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cindy Lauper =P
The series also has one of the most interesting histories as well.
Just Dance 1
* Slammed by gaming critics for being a game with no bells or whistles (Score tracking, etc...) you essentially play a song, the players are scored for that song, and that is all there is; 30 available songs. Not something critics generally like.
* Launched in 2009, sold only 7447 copies in its first week of availability and not much more in the second week. Price dropped quickly and it ended up in the bargain bin for 10 bucks.
* People started drinking, taking out this game, partying, guys find it fun, girls love it. When girls are dancing, having a silly-fun time, everyone's happy.
* Sales rose sharply afterwards, and it went from selling a few thousand, to hundreds of thousands, and then millions
* My thoughts - simple dance game, pull off moves on the screen, remember the dances, scored based on missing the move, doing it OK, and nailing the move (so three possible outcomes for each move). Drinking, loosening up, tends to actually enhance the player's ability to play and this remains true for all games =) Overall a very fun game. Songs like Kids in America,
Just Dance 2
* Launched to much better critical reception, added in the bells and whistles (naming players, score tracking, downloads both free/pay)
* More tracks, dances were more in the spirit of the songs than the first game, dances were also more challenging, but they allowed some score for a wider range of error.
* Sales were particularly high and very quickly, it launched fall of last year and has already sold 7.5 million at a regular price of $40.00, but every now and then sales drop the price of this game to $30, but usually it goes back up quickly.
* My opinion, better disco era tracks then Just Dance 1, better new tracks, but 80's stuff is not as fun as the first game. They had Blondie return with Call Me, which is better than Heart of Glass's dance from the first game (which was awkward and not really in the spirit of the song). The game usually gets more playtime, and I wish the first game's soundtrack was downloadable to this game since I like the mechanics better. Also it adds some new modes like Duets which have two different dance types going (2 or more players).
Michael Jackson Experience
* Capitalizing on Michael Jackson's resurgence in popularity, this one holds back NO punches. These dances are HARD and the based on the ones in the videos. Gameplaywise, it allows for people to play at different difficulties at the same time by having multiple dancers on the screen.
* The Michael Jackson Experience launched at a retail price of $50, and this is the first time I have seen it drop; a temporary drop, so if you are even remotely interested, now is the time. I am not sure if this deal applies, but in Canada it does for Walmart. I think these strategic temporary pricedrops on these somewhat "evergreen" type titles really works to boost sales to high levels.
Collectively
* The series started out with what looked to be a flop in 2009
* After a couple of months of somewhat slow sales it began to catch on as a fairly decent selling series. Selling hundreds of thousands of units, warranting a sequel.
* By mid-2010, the first game had sold a few million
* Late 2010 saw its first two sequels, being Just Dance 2 and the Michael Jackson Experience
* Overall, the franchise in a year and a half has sold 17 million units. Just Dance 2 remained top 10 most of the first half of the year. Being pushed out recently due to many new releases. But still raking in 50,000 units sold last week.
Oh, and these games are not just great party games, but also good couples games. Also somewhat healthy as there is no way you can avoid burning lots of calories =P
For a party, get a punch bowl, fill it full of vodka and crystal light, it both hydrates and gets people "loosened up" as recommended in the instruction booklet. Have some wings afterwards.