Sound Voltex

Sound Voltex (stylized as SOUND VOLTEX, often shortened as SDVX) is a series of music games by KONAMI. It was tested on various cities in Japan starting on August 26, 2011 until September 19, 2011.[1] It was then released on January 18, 2012.

SOUND VOLTEX II - infinite infection - and SOUND VOLTEX III GRAVITY WARS are update versions for SOUND VOLTEX, with each released in June 5, 2013 and November 20, 2014.

SOUND VOLTEX in General

SOUND VOLTEX consists of two different parts that relate to each other; SOUND VOLTEX BOOTH and SOUND VOLTEX FLOOR. SOUND VOLTEX BOOTH is the main game, while SOUND VOLTEX FLOOR is a system where game content is created by Japanese artists and musicians. Content chosen from SOUND VOLTEX FLOOR will be inserted into SOUND VOLTEX BOOTH to be available in the game.

Unlike other rhythm arcades, SOUND VOLTEX does not require the players to "play the music correctly", but to "make various effects" on the existed music.

Gameplay

Control panel

Objects

Various objects come towards player on the course lane, which consists 6 columns of rails. The player is required to input corresponding commands when the object reaches the Critical Line at the bottom of the screen. The command required will differ, depending on the objects.

BT Object
White objects that come towards the player. Each BT object is one-column wide.
When the objects reach the Critical Line, hit the BT button corresponding to the rail where the object sits.
For chip objects, simply hit the buttons. For long objects, press and hold the buttons until the end of the object.
FX Object
Orange objects that come towards the player. Each FX object is two-column wide.
When the objects reach the Critical Line, hit the FX button corresponding to the rail where the object sits.
For chip objects, simply hit the buttons. For long objects, press and hold the buttons until the end of the object.
Analog Device
Blue and pink lines that flow from the inside to the outside of the course lane.
When the line reaches the Critical Line, turn the corresponding analog devices to make the Markers stay inside the Device line.
For oblique parts, turn the devices slowly. For right angle parts, turn the devices at a stretch.

Rate systems

As the players hit the objects, a judgment is received, from highest to lowest, CRITICAL, NEAR, and ERROR, depending on the timing of hitting the objects. (For long objects and Analog Devices, CRITICAL and ERROR only.) CRITICAL fills the rate gauge, while ERROR depletes it. (From II, NEAR also fills the gauge, but only 1/4 of the amount that CRITICAL fills.) The player is required to fill the rate gauge at the certain amount when the stage ends to clear it, otherwise fails it, and the play will be over. The amount required will differ, depending on the rate system the player is using.

Effective Rate
Default rate system. Initial value is 0%.
The player is required to fill 70% of the rate gauge when the stage ends to clear the stage.
When multiplayer matching, if at least one player clear the stage, then those who fail will instead be "SAVED", and they can continue the play.
The amount of the rate energy can affect the Clear Mark. Even the player is using other rate systems, this rate system will still work in background.
Excessive Rate
Rate system added from II. Initial value is 100%.
The player is required to finish the stage without letting the rate energy fall to 0%. If rate gauge is fully depleted before the stage ends, it's an instant TRACK CRASH.
The player receives a different clear medal when clearing a stage with this rate.
Since the player is instantly retired from the match when receiving TRACK CRASH, SAVED system is unavailable when using this rate.
Permissive Rate
Rate system used in Skill Analyzer mode. Initial value is 100%.
Blastive Rate
Rate system used for Blaster stages. Initial value is 100%.

Result Screen

After the stage ends, a result screen is shown, with following status included.

Clear Status
Track Complete
The player gets the status when clears a stage.
Track Crash
The player gets the status when fails a stage.
Saved
The player gets the status when fails a stage, but saved by other players in the match.
Ultimate Chain (UC)
The player gets the status when clears a stage without ERRORs.
Perfect Ultimate Chain (PUC, or simply Perfect)
The player gets the status when the player hit all objects with CRITICAL judgment, which will let the player gets the full score of 10,000,000.
Play Score
The score for the stage. The formula for score is Score = (Critical + Near/2) ÷ Total Chain × 10,000,000
Clear Mark
The grade for the stage, from highest to lowest, AAA, AA, A, B, C, and D, depending on the judgment value.
The formula for judgment value is Value = Score × 0.9 + Effective Rate % × 1,000,000
Grade Judgment Value
AAA Over 9,800,000
AA 9,400,000 ~ 9,799,999
A 8,900,000 ~ 9,399,999
B 8,000,000 ~ 8,899,999
C 7,000,000 ~ 7,999,999
D Under 6,999,999
If the player clears the stage with AAA for the first time, a special animation will be shown.
Clear Medal
The medal received will differ, depending on the clear status and rate systems.
Track Played (Dark Green C)
Usually received when the status is TRACK CRASH.
The stages played in Skill Analyzer mode will remain as this medal as well, unless UC or PUC status is received.
SAVED (Blue S)
Received when the status is SAVED, however the medal will remain as Track Played in Track Select screen.
Effective Complete (Green C)
Received when the player clears the stage with Effective Rate system.
Excessive Complete (Purple C)
Received when the player clears the stage with Excessive Rate system.
Ultimate Chain (Red U)
Received when the status is UC.
Perfect (Golden P)
Received when the status is Perfect.
Rate Energy
The amount of the energy left in the Rate gauge.
Judgment Counts
Number of CRITICAL, NEAR, and ERROR judgments.
For the NEAR counts, the system also show EARLY and LATE counts for the player, much similar to Beatmania IIDX.
Maximum Chain
Max Chain count acquired in the stage.
Achievement gauge
The achievement rate for 3 different objects. VOL for analog devices, LONG for FX objects, BTN for BT objects.
Stage Reward
The player is awarded with Packets and Blocks, according to the performance.

Skill Analyzer

Skill Analyzer mode is a mode added in SDVX II, which can let player test the Skill Level. The player first select the course to play, and the course will immediately begin after selection. The course is harder as the Skill Level is higher. Each Skill Level contains 3 different courses for the player to select.

The Skill Level (in SDVX III) is listed below:

When playing in Skill Analyzer mode, the rate system will be locked in Permissive Rate system. Started with the initial value of 100%, the player is required to finish the course without letting the rate energy fall to 0%. The rate energy left in previous stage will be brought to the next stage. If the rate gauge is fully deplted before the course ends, it's an instant TRACK CRASH.

The result screen for each stage will still be shown, and the player can still receive the reward. However, the clear medal will remain as Track Played, unless an UC or a PUC status is acquired.

After the course is over, the achievement rate and the course result will be shown.

Infinite Blaster (Since SDVX II)

Each track usually contains three types of effects, from easiest to hardest, NOVICE, ADVANCED and EXHAUST. However, there are also GRAVITY or INFINITE effect for some tracks. These effects are harder than EXHAUST and/or at the same level but completely different from EXHAUST. The player cannot simply unlock them in SOUND VOLTEX STATION, and instead they can only be unlocked by playing Blaster stages.

To unlock GRAVITY or INFINITE types for the track, the following is required:

  1. Charge the Infinite Blaster
    The player can charge the Infinite Blaster by simply playing the stages with Excessive Rate system.
    Once the Infinite Blaster gauge is full, Blaster stages are available.
  2. Select the Blaster stage
    The player then opens up the Blaster stage category, and select the effect they want to unlock.
    Each effect contains a Barrier Track, which is the stage the player will play.
    Full gauge of Blaster energy is consumed per Blaster stage played.
  3. Play the Blaster stage
    The rate system is locked in Blaster Rate system. Like the Excessive Rate, the player is required to complete the stage without letting the rate energy fall to 0%.
    Each Barrier Track contains Target Life, which will be damaged according to the performance. The better the performance, the higher the damage.

Repeat this cycle until the Target Life is reduced to 0, and the player can get the effect. The player can also play the Blaster stages by simply starts a play with Blaster Start, regardless of the Blaster energy.

Unlocks

Like all of the BEMANI games, SOUND VOLTEX BOOTH also have their own unlocks. SOUND VOLTEX STATION is the main unlocking system in the game. Each time players play SOUND VOLTEX BOOTH, they will receive a certain amount of Blocks and Packets. Blocks are required to unlock music and Packets are used to unlock Appeal Cards, which is basically an Avatar. One of the unlocking methods is the APPEND TRAVEL event, where players clear songs from jubeat, save the results and gameplays in an e-Amusement card and play other BEMANI games with the card inserted. APPEND TRAVEL has the song candii unlocked, as well as Appeal Cards.

Music

SOUND VOLTEX's music is mainly produced by independent artists; mostly VOCALOID producers. Song jackets are also created by independent artists, and some songs may have different jackets for different difficulties, like EZ2DJ.

Artist Song Tier
New Originals
Regular Songs
EZFG cloud
豚乙女 dilemma
baker good high school
SOUND HOLIC feat.Nana Takahashi Ha・lle・lu・jah
yanagi Iterator
ゆよゆっぺ feat.めらみぽっぷ It's over
8#Prince(八王子P) Love♡sicK
ヒゲドライバー PULSE LASER
Dios/シグナルP Rebellious stage
YM SurVALI
emon U&M
KEENO wound
daniwell バタフライキャット
(Butterfly Cat)
ピノキオP ごりらがいるんだ
(Gorilla ga Irunda)
蝶々P とある少年の一日
(Toaru Shounen no Ichinichi)
otetsu ナナイロ
(Nanairo)
家の裏でマンボウが死んでるP 西日暮里の踊り
(Nishinippori no Odori)
SDVX STATION Unlocks
幽閉カタルシス RPGシンドローム
(RPG Syndrome)
SOUND HOLIC feat.Nana Takahashi TYCOON
マチゲリータ 不思議玩具ガンガラディンドン
(Fushigi Omocha Gangaradindon)
ゆちゃP サイコパスコミュニケーション
(Psychopath Communication)
Nem 世界はネコのもの
(Sekai wa Neko no Moto)
azuma feat.ななひら ヤサイマシ☆ニンニクアブラオオメ
(Yasaimashi☆Ninniku Abura Oome)
EXIT TUNES Licensed songs
蝶々P Black Board
Mayumi Morinaga (moimoi) dreamin' feat. Ryu☆
daniwellP feat. 桃音モモ Nyan Cat
otetsu feat. 灯油 カーニバル
(Carnival)
ゆちゃP feat. GUMI チェックメイト
(Checkmate)
kemu feat. GUMI 地球最後の告白を
(Chikyū Saigo no Kokuhaku wo)
cosMo＠暴走P feat. GUMI ディストピア・ジパング
(Dystopia Jipangu)
cosMo@暴走P feat. MAYU エスケープ・フロム・ディストピア
(Escape from Dystopia)
40mP feat. GUMI ハートブレイク・ヘッドライン
(Heartbreak Headlines)
kemu feat. GUMI イカサマライフゲイム
(Ikasama Life Game)
kemu feat. GUMI 人生リセットボタン
(Jinsei Reset Button)
YM feat. GUMI 十面相
(Jūmensō)
kemu feat. GUMI カミサマネジマキ
(Kamisama Nejimaki)
ピノキオP 腐れ外道とチョコレゐト
Mayumi Morinaga 君にエールを…！ (DJ UTO REMIX)
(Kimi ni Ēru wo...!)
そらる キミノメヲ
(Kiminomewo)
Last Note. feat. GUMI ノイジーラバーソウル
(Noisy Rubber Soul)
赤飯 おにゃのこ きねんび
ゆちゃP feat. GUMI ポーカーフェイス
(Poker Face)
Last Note. feat. GUMI 恋愛勇者
(Ren'ai Yūsha)
kemu feat. IA 六兆年と一夜物語
(Roku Chōnen to Ichiya Monogatari)
iroha 炉心融解
(Roshin Yūkai)
Last Note. feat. GUMI ルートスフィア
(Route Sphere)
Neru 再教育
(Saikyōiku)
Last Note. feat. GUMI セツナトリップ
(Setsuna Trip)
しゃむおん 春色ポートレート
(Shunshoku Portrait)
ぐるたみん ソラヘドライブ

(Sora e Drive)
164 feat. GUMI 天ノ弱
(Ama no Jaku)
Touhou Project Arrange songs
Masayoshi Minoshima Bad Apple!! feat. nomico
SOUND HOLIC feat. Nana Takahashi Grip & Break down!! -SDVX Edit.-
FELT Runaway Drive
REDALiCE taboo tears you up 2008
岸田教団&THE明星ロケッツ 明星ロケット
(Akeboshi Rocket)
ARM(IOSYS) チルノのパーフェクトさんすう教室
(Cirno no Perfect Sansū Kyōshitsu)
豚乙女 幻想のサテライト
(Gensō no Satellite)
幽閉サテライト feat. senya 月に叢雲華に風
(Tsuki ni Murakumo Hana ni Kaze)
BEMANI Backstage Collaboration
ismK V.I.P. BEMANI Backstage Theme song
SOUND VOLTEX FLOOR Original songs
P*Light caramel ribbon
RoughSketch Distorted Floor
Junk Fire Strike
kamome sano freaky freak
Hommarju Onigo
源屋 Ray
kanone SOUL EXPLOSION
Hommarju Soundscape
黒魔 Space Diver Tama
void World Vertex
Daisuke Ohnuma 香港功夫大旋風
(Hong Kong Kung-Fu Daisenpū)
はるなば レトロスペクティビリー・メリーゴーランド

(Retrospectively Merry Go Round)
Konami Arcade Championship 2012 Original songs
siromaru Absurd Gaff
TeamGrimoire+あま猫 croiX
Yooh Dynasty
kamome sano éclair au chocolat
ginkiha EGG
Hommarju Gott
BlackY Max Burning!!
C-Show PANIC HOLIC
P*Light TRIGGER★HAPPY
nora2r VISION
黒魔 大宇宙ステージ
(Daiuchū Stage)
kamome sano 線香花火
(Senkō Hanabi)
Remixes
Regular Songs
無力P ALBIDA Powerless Mix Original song on jubeat ripples APPEND
iroha(sasaki) Broken 8cmix Original song on REFLEC BEAT
cosMo@暴走P Evans VolteX Pf Arrange Original song on jubeat
fu_mou gentle stress wobble remix Original song on beatmaniaIIDX SubStream
sasakure.UK feat.mirto jet coaster☆girl sasakure.UK tRickStAr Remix Original song on GuitarFreaks 7thMix / DrumMania 6thMix
ARM(IOSYS) feat.一ノ瀬月琉(monotone) LOVE♡SHINE わんだふるmix
(LOVE♡SHINE Wonderfulmix)		 Original song on Dance Dance Revolution Extreme
takamatt MAX 300 takamatt MIN remix Original song on DDRMAX Dance Dance Revolution 6thMix
KN smooooch・∀・ KNmix Original song on beatmaniaIIDX 16 EMPRESS
ゆうゆ ふしぎなくすり いっきのみっくす
(Fushigi na Kusuri Ikki no Mikkuru)		 Original song on pop'n music 17 THE MOVIE
ノボイスキ ガッテンだ！！ Novoiski Remix
(Gattenda!! Novoiski Remix)		 Original song on pop'n music 19 TUNE STREET
yuukiss [月風魔伝]龍骨鬼戦 yks Remix
("Getsufuma-den" Ryukotsuki-sen yks Remix)		 Original song on 月風魔伝
MUZIC SERVANT ヒマワリ MUZIK SERVANT Remix
(Himawari MUZIK SERVANT Remix)		 Original song on GuitarFreaks 10thMix / DrumMania 9thMix
マチゲリータ 凛として咲く花の如く スプーキィテルミィンミックス
(Rin Toshite Saku Hana no Gotoku Spooky theremin mix)		 Original song on pop'n music 15 ADVENTURE
SDVX STATION Unlocks
azuma Diamond Dust Black Diamond Dust Original song on REFLEC BEAT
REDALiCE FLOWER REDALiCE Remix Original song on jubeat knit APPEND / REFLEC BEAT
cosMo@暴走P neu BSP style Original song on pop'n music 15 ADVENTURE
幽閉カタルシス RED ZONE Neo Classical Party Mix Original song on beatmaniaIIDX 11 IIDXRED
ラマーズP Second Heaven Lamaze-REMIX Original song on beatmaniaIIDX 14 GOLD
fu-mou Vampire Killer scar-ed PF Mix Original song on GuitarFreaks / DrumMania V6 BLAZING!!!
デッドボールP Xepher Light and Darkness Dragon Mix Original song on beatmaniaIIDX 12 HAPPY SKY
ARM (IOSYS) 恋する☆宇宙戦争っ！！ あばばばみっくす
(Koisuru☆Uchū Sensō!! A Bababa Mix)		 Original song on beatmaniaIIDX 19 Lincle
164 冥 Rockin' SWING REMIX
(Mei Rockin SWING REMIX)		 Original song on beatmaniaIIDX 12 HAPPY SKY
Dixie Flatline feat.祭屋 遠く Dexholic Mix
(Tooku Dexholic Mix)		 Original song on pop'n music 14 FEVER! (PS2)
D.watt 突撃！ガラスのニーソ姫！ D.watt nu-denpa RMX
(Totsugeki! Glass no Kneesock Hime! D.watt nu-denpa RMX)		 Original song on beatmaniaIIDX 19 Lincle
SOUND VOLTEX FLOOR Remixes
IDEA+RHYTHM .59 -BOOTH BOOST REMIX- Original song on beatmaniaIIDX 2nd Style
BlackY AA BlackY mix Original song on beatmaniaIIDX 11 IIDXRED
borzy Abyss (sharp stepp remix) Original song on beatmaniaIIDX 5th Style
Dustboxxxx Blue Rain Dustboxxxx RMX Original song on beatmaniaIIDX 15 DJ TROOPERS
Hommarju Clione Hommarju Remix Original song on beatmaniaIIDX 4th Style
Yu_Asahina Freeway Shuffle -More2 HAPPY Re-Mix- Original song on Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova 2
kamome sano Ganymede kamome mix Original song on beatmaniaIIDX 13 DistorteD
D.F.K. Soundsystem GAMBOL (dfk SLC rmx) Original song on beatmaniaIIDX
N-Driver Ignited Night burst Original song on pop'n music 18 せんごく列伝
Maozon pandora (Maozon Remix) Original song on beatmaniaIIDX 10th Style
PHQUASE rainbow flyer -gratitude remix- Original song on beatmaniaIIDX 8th Style
DJ Noriken SEED (DJ Noriken Remix) Original song on REFLEC BEAT
C-Show Tomorrow Perfume (C-Show Remix) Original song on beatmaniaIIDX 7th Style
t+pazolite Tomorrow Perfume (tpz Despair Remix) Original song on beatmaniaIIDX 7th Style
かめりあ サヨナラ・ヘヴン (かめりあ's NEKOMATA electro RMX)
(Sayonara Heaven (Camelia's NEKOMATA electro RMX))		 Original song on pop'n music 11 (PS2)
APPEND TRAVEL
八王子P candii SOUND VOLTEX BOOTH x jubeat copious APPEND
Also appeared on 8#Prince's album, "xxxx the ripper"

Hardware

The specification[2] of SOUND VOLTEX BOOTH is listed below.

Sound Voltex floor

Sound VOLTEX FLOOR is a series of contests where players compete to make audio or visual content for inclusion in SOUND VOLTEX BOOTH[3] Contests being held range from making original songs, remixing a BEMANI song, or designing a CD jacket to designing an APPEAL CARD. The participants that are allowed to compete are Japanese residents. New contests will be announced periodically, each with its own theme.

References

  1. ↑ SOUND VOLTEX location test schedule (in Japanese). Konami.
  2. ↑ SOUND VOLTEX BOOTH sepcification (in Japanese) on BEMANISPEC Wiki.
  3. ↑ SOUND VOLTEX FLOOR Information on Bemanistyle.

External links