Flash Flash Revolution
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Flash Flash Revolution is a web-based simulation of Dance Dance Revolution, a video game made by Konami. FFR runs on a website driven by a custom content management system written by the FFR coding team. Flash Flash Revolution allows those who cannot afford the large pads of Dance Dance Revolution or other rhythm games like Guitar Hero to enjoy a rhythm game. Because it runs on Flash, it can be quickly picked up and played, as it does not need to be installed.
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[edit] Flash Flash Revolution R1
Flash Flash Revolution (or FFR) is similar to Dance Dance Revolution (or DDR) in its basic gameplay mechanics, yet there are many differences in functionality and control, most notably the fact that DDR is played with a large, stage-like dance pad, while FFR is played with a keyboard.
FFR derives its name from the fact that it is coded entirely in Adobe Flash. It is coded almost entirely by a man who calls himself Synthlight.
The goal of FFR is to attain the highest score possible by tapping out a rhythm using the arrow keys on the keyboard. The player begins by selecting a song - each song has its own unique pattern of arrows. There are five ways that you can have the arrows set to move in (from left to right, as seen in game):
- From right to left (arrows arranged vertically on the left side in the order Up, Left, Right Down)
- From left to right (arrows arranged vertically on the right side in the order Up, Left, Right Down)
- From top to bottom (arrows arranged horizontally on the bottom side in the order Left, Down, Up, Right)
- From bottom to top (arrows arranged horizontally on the top side in the order Left, Down, Up, Right)
- From top to bottom diagonally (in an X pattern, with Down and Up arrows on the bottom left, and Left and Right arrows on the bottom right)
When a moving arrow aligns with one of the static arrows, the player is to hit the corresponding arrow on the keyboard.
Usually, the moving arrows reach the top of the screen with the beat of the song being played. However, older songs in the game often do not have synchronized arrows and music. This is a flaw that will eventually be corrected. Some sim artists choose to incorporate off-beats as well as patterns representing a faster tempo than the music plays; for example 16th 'notes' while 4th 'notes' are being played.
The player receives a rating on each arrow they hit, based on how close to the beat they hit it: PERFECT!, GOOD, or AVERAGE. Each arrow they hit increases a combo count by one. If the player hits an arrow on the keyboard when they do not need to, they receive a BOO! and a score penalty. If they fail to hit an arrow that they should, they receives a MISS and their combo is reset to zero. Maintaining a high combo is essential to receiving a high score.
New music is constantly being added to the game. As FFR is a completely free and non-profit game, it is difficult for the staff to attain royalties for copyrighted and commercial music - meaning much of FFR's music is created by independent musicians, or FFR's in-house artists. However, the game has secured some song rights from commercial artists, such as hip-hop artist Azim and techno-punk band Mindless Self Indulgence. FFR also has the rights for the song Delirium by Smiley (Kyle Ward, also known as KaW, Inspector K, Banzai, K-Bit) which was made popular by its inclusion in the game In The Groove.
R1 has been through many versions, and is currently in its beta .693 state. Because FFR is extremely full-featured for a Flash game, it has attracted a large Internet community on its chat room and forums. Currently, there are over 1,000,000 registered users in FFR, and it continues to expand. [1]
[edit] R1 Features
FFR R1 has some unique features that off-line DDR simulators such as Dance With Intensity and StepMania do not. For example, R1 allows users to win credits by scoring very well in the game. As a user accumulates credits, more levels in the "Secret" section are unlocked. R1 also allows users to challenge each other to win opponents' credits. The newest build (.69) allows users to complete their challenges in realtime, via a newly-instated in-game chat. In addition, FFR has an online high score list, making it a very competitive game in the community. R1 also features a shop, where users may exchange credits in exchange for new, more difficult songs. R1 has 199 songs and nine genres, with almost 7 million gameplays each month. There is also a fullscreen version. While Stepmania and Dance With Intensity may have a more complex layout, FFR is entirely online, requiring only a flash enabled browser.
[edit] Multiplayer
FFR R1 features a Multiplayer mode (Version 2.25), where players from all over the world can face each other head to head, for experience points. More experience points are gained from beating a player with a higher level. A player's level is based on the amount of experience points. Since its creation, FFR Multiplayer has had over three million games played, with several thousand matches per day.
[edit] 3rd Style
On August 28, 2005, Synthlight announced the upcoming release of a new version of Flash Flash Revolution R1, called "FFR R1 3rd Style." The name is likely a reference to the beatmania IIDX series of games.
A brief list of 3rd Style planned features: [2]
- New interface
- Speed Mods
- Skin Changes
- BPM change support
Unlike R2, the game is an update to the current version of FFR R1, and thus will completely replace it once released. Despite a previous plan to be released on April 31, 2006 (whether it was an intentional joke or a typographical error is not known for sure), the current release date is unknown.[3]
On July 16th 2006, it was released that 3rd style has at least 21 songs set in stone for the release.[4] It was also stated that there will be less electronica music and more of a mix of other genres.
[edit] Flash Flash Revolution R2
FFR's new version, entitled R2, was released on November 25th, 2004, and brought an entirely new engine to FFR gameplay. R2 simulates Dance Dance Revolution much better than the older version (now known as R1) did. R2 is a completely non-profit project concept created by Synthetic Light Studios. Soccr743 was chosen to lead the coding on this particular version. All of the songs are synchronized to the beat correctly and have backgrounds, and the overall quality of steps is much better. Due to the fact it is only in Beta 1 (as of this writing), there are some glitches.
The game is very resource-intensive, especially for a Flash game, and requires quite a bit of processing power to run correctly. At least 1.5 GHz is needed to run it effectively, and 2 GHz is optimal. However, the game engine will be revised for Beta 2, and the revised engine will feature improved performance.
The current version of FFR R2 is .12
[edit] R2 Features
- Online highscore list
- 4 difficulty levels for almost every song
- 20 songs
- Accurately synchronized steps
- DDR simulation
- Customizable controls
- New versus mode for two players
- Frame rate display on all songs
[edit] R2 Mechanics and Gameplay
Visually and stylistically, R2 is very similar to DDR. The main difference is that DDR is played on a pad and R2 is played on a keyboard. Due to this fact, the average song on R2 is much more difficult than the average song on DDR. Other than these factors, R2 is played in the same manner as DDR.
[edit] R2 vs. R1
R2 lacks many of the features of R1, such as challenges, online multiplayer support, and unlocking new songs. R2 is and never was intended to be a replacement for R1, and both are in concurrent development. However, as of this writing, after a spurt of development for R2, R1 has become more active.
[edit] Flash Flash Revolution Resonance
Recently implemented in August 2006, the beta version (.20) of Resonance allows players to play simfiles that users have uploaded to the site. Resonance plays similarly to FFR R2. Currently, the simulator can only load simfiles with an SM file, and does not support stops or BPM (tempo) changes. Stepfile artists can also integrate up to five different levels of difficulty that resonance can read. As of October 19th, 2006, two interfaces are available for Resonance; the first being the original where users simply found songs in a list on the website - the second, implemented on this date, is a flash application with direct similarities (interface and graphics) to FFR R2. The application's songs are categorized into two sections: the top 100 most played songs and all songs a user has personally uploaded.
Resonance also allows users to download the hosted set of files (packaged in a compressed file such as a .zip, .rar, or .smzip) for use in offline simulators such as Stepmania, Dance With Intensity and pydance. A normal set of files includes a song (.mp3 or .ogg), a stepfile (.sm), and a background (.jpg), although only a song and stepfile are necessary.
[edit] Spin It Up
Spin it up is another flash based music game coded by Synthlight and hosted on Flashflashrevolution.com. Play involves using the mouse to move a receptor paddle around a circle, as arcs move from the center of a circle to the outer edge in beat to music. Depending on the accuracy of the receptor paddle, the user is scored ranging from 100% all the way into negatives. Getting a percent less than 80 will break the combo. When the song is completed, the final score is an average of the player's accuracy through the entire song, and the player's max combo is also displayed. Adding to the difficulty is double mode. Double mode is when there are two arcs at the same time. The player must hit Z, X, or C on the keyboard, which activates a second receptor, making hitting two arcs at once possible.
There is an option menu in which a speed modifier can be chosen. The speed choices include: .25, .5, .75, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The speed mods are intended to be used to space the arcs out more or push them together, depending on if the player wants the game to be easier or to be more of a challenge.
Top scores are recorded and the top 10 of any song is displayed in the score evaluation screen. The top 10 list also includes any speed mods used.
Spin it up is currently in beta version .86, with 21 available songs.
[edit] MeTrivia
On October 3rd, 2006, Synthlight studios released the beta version of their flash game titled MeTrivia. Players create rooms where an unlimited amount of players can join. The game enables single and multiplayer, combining the two so that contestants can play against each other while playing by themselves at the same time. A record is kept of all games, within it data on the number of correct and incorrect answers, that a player plays.
[edit] Psychopath
In addition to hosting FFR the game, FlashFlashRevolution.com also hosts a game by Psychopath, a puzzle game created by Danny Miller of k2xl.com - see K2xl_Games. Psychopath 2 has been announced and is in development. An open beta of the game is also currently available. Multiple different versions of this game, such as for cell phones and TI calculators, are in production or have been released.
[edit] External links
[edit] FFR
- Flash Flash Revolution Game Site
- FFR Chat
- FFR Forums
- FFR R1 V .69
- FFR R2 V .12
- FFR Resonance
- MeTrivia Homepage
- Psychopath V.995
- Spin It Up V .86
[edit] k2xl
[edit] References
- ^ Member List. Retrieved on 2006-07-31.
- ^ Synthlight (2006-02-14). Synthlight on the Move. Retrieved on 2006-07-31.
- ^ Synthlight (2006-05-03). Status of 3rd Style. Retrieved on 2006-07-31.
- ^ Chardish (2006-07-16). 3rd Style Update!. Retrieved on 2006-07-31.
