Audition Online

Audition Online
Developer(s) T3 Entertainment
Publisher(s)

YD Online (2004 - 2015)

Hanbitsoft (2015 - present)
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)
  • NA April 2, 2007
  • UK May 31, 2007
  • EU June 25, 2007
Genre(s) Music video game and MMOG
Mode(s) Multiplayer

Audition Online (Korean: 오디션 온라인), also known as X-BEAT in Japan and popularly called AyoDance in Indonesia, is a free-to-play multiplayer online casual rhythm game produced by T3 Entertainment. It was originally released in South Korea in 2004 and has been localized by various publishers around the world. Audition Online is free to play, but earns revenue by selling virtual items such as clothes for the player's avatar.

History

Audition Online was first released for the South Korean region in 2004. It was then expanded to other regions, such as the South Eastern Asian region,[1] the Vietnamese region[2] and the Indonesian region[3] in 2006.

Audition Portable was released for the PlayStation Portable in 2007 in the South Korean and Japanese region. Audition Online then expanded to other regions such as the North American under Nexon, whilst the European and United Kingdom regions had joint servers under different companies and were released in the same year. Audition Online expanded into the Latino region in 2008.

In the same year, Audition Online had a major revamp also known as Season 2.[4] This revamp was the last official revamp with a UI revamp, a new mode called 'Beat Rush', new motions, new tutorial, the availability to turn on Window Mode and also a screen resolution update from 800x600 to 1024x768 released to the South Korean region.

In 2009, Season 2 was released in the South Eastern Asian region,[5] Vietnam region and the North American region.[6] In the same year, North American Audition Online's publisher changed from Nexon to the Redbana Corporation. In 2010, Season 2 was released in the Latino region. In 2015, the North American region of Audition Online was made available on the Steam platform. In the same year, Audition Online in Korea transferred ownership to HanbitSoft.

Audition 2, the sequel to Audition published by YD Online, was released on 2010 in the South Korean region, then expanded towards the Russian and Vietnamese regions the year after. In 2012, Audition 2 moved from YD Online to HanbitSoft, and then closed in that same year in South Korea.

World In Audition, the third sequel to Audition published by Hanbiton, had a Closed Beta Test and Open Beta Test in 2013[7] and was released on the South Korean region in 2014. World In Audition expanded towards the South East Asian region (Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand), published by AsiaSoft; Indonesia, published by Megaxus Infotech; and the Latino region, published by axeso5.

Gameplay

A player is allowed to create a room or join a room. The "DJ" (the player who creates the room) is given power to choose the settings for the room: song, "chance," and game mode. The song's BPM (beats per minute) usually will determine the song's difficulty and speed (with certain exceptions e.g. beat up mode). While the "DJ" has the power to kick people out of the room and close the dance floor off, he or she will generally not benefit from doing so. After all, the most appealing part of the game is its social aspect: playing alongside others whether for fun or competition.

The basic game is played by pressing the arrows displayed on the screen (with the exception of red "chance" arrows) and pressing the spacebar or the control key on every 4th beat of the song. The more accurately the spacebar or control key is pressed, the higher the score. A grade of "PERFECT" will provide players with the greatest score, a grade of "GREAT" and "COOL" will provide players with decent scores, a grade of "BAD" will provide players with very little score, and for "MISS" will provide players with no score for the turn. If a player receives a "MISS," he will not get the chance to play for the next move.

The "Finish Move," a special move during most gameplay modes, can be said the hardest move. If a person does not miss the move before the "Finish Move," he has the option to do it. Finish moves issue a lot of points and can often be the key to success.

When a player does 2 or more PERFECTs consecutively, he will get bonus points for doing so. These PERFECT combos (or "Perfect chains") enable players to interfere with the opposition. A blue circle indicates that you made a PERFECT in your move and acts as a shield. When a player performs a PERFECT X1 (or perfect X2 in some cases) they will make either the player ahead or behind them receive a yellow circle. While under the yellow circle, a person will not receive points if he does not achieve a PERFECT (in a finish move it reduces a percentage rather than the whole move).

Players can increase their score by playing "chance." "Chance" can be activated by pressing the delete key or the "." key on the number pad whereby red keys appear and players have to press in the opposite direction of the red keys.

At the end of the dance battle, the person with the most points is the winner. The player will have his character presented at the front of the stage. Each player will receive experience points and Den/BEATS according to what position they finished in.

If a single/group game (not including NPC, One-Two Party and Beat Up modes) is full, a random event (also called a mission) may occur. Bonuses are given if you accomplish these challenges. Some of the challenges are, but are not limited to: getting a specific beat judgment (e.g. no COOLs or no BADs), getting perfect combos (e.g. PERFECT X3), or getting a standing (e.g. getting number 1). The music can be random, random(new), or random from any range of tempos.[8]

There are also different game modes such as

Beat Rush - where there are four ovals around the bottom of the screen with different keys. The user must press all of the keys at the precise beat in order to gain a "Perfect." Pressing all the keys at the correct beat will gain a Great, whilst pressing all keys at a bad beat or pressing a moderate amount of keys at the correct beat will gain a Cool. Bads and Misses can be earned be pressing the least amount of keys with either at the correct beat or at the incorrect beat.[9]

Beat Up - where individual keys come in six keys divided two different sides. Players must press each individual key at the correct beat to get a higher score. At 100 Combos and 300 Combos, a bonus score multiplier will be given.

Block Beat - where you team up with a partner and hit the three individual keys at the correct beat.[10]

Boy's & Girl's - where boys and girls team up 2v2 or 3v3 in their respective genders and play the normal key mode in order to battle.

Couple Mode - where a boy and a girl must team up. Both characters will have the same move; however, their normal mode blue keys will be separated by random grey keys.

Club Dance I/II/III - where boys and girls team up to be couples for the game. I, II, and III each have their own unique quirks where players will generally provide each other with hearts, flowers, or gifts while switching between couple mode and normal mode.

Guitar Mode - where players use the Z, X, C, V and the M, <, >, ? keys to play. The individual (Z/X/C/V) notes come down and you have to hit the notes with the respective keys.[11] A user can also use the respective Audition Guitar Controller in order to play.[12] The Guitar Controller can be bought from the Korean version or earned from events in the North American regions. However, the Guitar can be used throughout all servers. The Guitar Controller gives players an extra 20% EXP.

Exclusive Content/Features

Amongst all Audition versions, some versions have had a few content updates, exclusive to their version.

Real Time Song Download (Korean Audition)

In order to make the file size smaller when the client was downloaded, the Real Time Song Download feature was added on January 8, 2009. Songs are now downloaded within game, instead of outside. Most songs that are downloaded are stored within a .amp file, which are stored forever, and don't need re-downloading. However, songs that use the .tbm/.abm file prefix are to be re-downloaded again. This is a big problem to people living either where there is a slow connection, or living outside of Korea, as slow download speeds can cause corruption or the game timing out and not allowing the user to play the game.

Auto Repair Function (Korean Audition)

To prevent users finding corrupting data files or users tampering with the data files, Korean Audition has implemented a system that scans the whole Audition folder and finds missing, corrupted or tampered with data files and downloads the files straight from the server. It used to be a button on the Patcher but now is automated.

Lafesta Event (Korean Audition)

The Lafesta Event usually happened every year during the start of Summer (August) and provides limited clothing purchasable for a limited amount of time. The Lafesta event also has a 'Guinness Record' type of event, where missions are handed out. The mission must be successfully completed in order to get in towards the Lafesta Guinness Records, this might mean that you'll have to complete the mission multiple times in order to get to the top. After the Lafesta Event, the latest Guinness Record scores will go up and stay throughout this year (with the exception of 2015 as of a server reset).[13]

Lafesta this year is held during the winter season ever since the Hanbiton reset.

Playing Time Limitation System (Vietnam Audition)

In order to limit the time minors play, Vietnam Audition implemented the Playing Time Limitation System system, where anyone plays for more than 2 hours, the amount of EXP and DEN received will be half the amount of the usual. When anyone plays for more than 4 hours, the player will not receiving any amount of EXP and DEN, thus deterring the player from playing the game any longer.

Lyrics

Lyrics are available in a vast amount of servers, such as Korean Audition, Chinese Audition, Ayodance and New Audition. Not all songs contain lyrics, and a lyrics item must be bought using in game currency (DEN/BEATS) in order to utilize the lyrics system in-game.

Clothing

There has been an amount of exclusive clothing and accessories throughout different versions. X-Beat (the Japanese version) seems to be the most distinguishable, with Hanbit Ubiquitous designing most of their clothing, limited to their server. However, the clothing obtained from this server is locked behind either Fashion Boxes (boxes that earn random fashion items, from a random duration) and Re-Make Up boxes (step above Fashion boxes). Fashion Boxes often earn you two items per box, whilst Re-Make Up boxes earn one.

Redbana (the American version), has had it share with exclusive clothing/accessories, examples are during anniversaries, where clothing was exclusively made for Redbana[14] and events when users were allowed to draw an accessory, where the winner will have its accessory in game.[15]

Korean Audition initially had branded clothing from Sanrio, but in 2015, Vietnam Audition and Ayodance followed suit. Items that are branded can only be purchased for a maximum of 30 days (not the usual indefinite time period).

Fashion Mall

The Fashion Mall section is where users can purchase clothing, accessories or items that can boost their in-game experience.

In-Game Currency

The Fashion Mall has two currencies,

CASH can be topped up in a number of ways, such ways including

Couple Mall

Items exclusive to Couples are found here. These include clothing, pets, love licenses and rings (when you get married) and items such as the Date Planner. You can also gift items here to your couple. If you break with your couple, items will be locked and will not be allowed to be worn until you couple another person.

Make-Up

Make Up accessories can be "maked-up" here, the user has to purchase a make-up accessory and a make-up item such as colours, sparkles, or colours + sparkles costing CASH. The user can then make up their item. You can also level up your accessory by using MakeUp points, learnt in game.[16] Leveling up your accessory can give you different designs of the wings. In X-Beat, the Re-Make Up boxes can be used to earn exclusive X-Beat clothing.

Regions

Country Name Publisher Estimated Release Date Website Open/Closed Registration Requirements
South Korea 한빛온 오디션

(Audition Hanbiton)

 YD Online (2004 - 2015)[17]

HanbitSoft (2007–present)

 2004 audition.hanbiton.com Open (under revamps) Must have a Korean Mobile Number or I-PIN in order to register.
China 劲舞团 (Audition) 9You[18] 2005 au.9you.com Open Must have a Chinese Social Security Number to register.
Malaysia/Singapore AuditionSEA Asiasoft 2006 audition.playpark.net Open No registration requirements.
Philippines Club Audition Philippines or Dance Battle Audition Philippines Level Up by Playpark (Asiasoft) Unknown clubaudition.e-games.com.ph Open No registration requirements.
Vietnam New Audition VTCGame 2006 au.vtcgame.vn Open Must have a Vietnamese Social Security Number to register.
Thailand Audition Season 4 Asiasoft 2006 audition.playpark.com Open No registration requirements.
Indonesia Ayodance Megaxus 2006 ayodance.megaxus.com Open No registration requirements.
Japan X-Beat Nexon

(2006 - 2008)

HanbitSoft

(2008–present)

Hangame

(2010–present)

 September 6, 2006 xb.hanbitstation.jp

x-beat.hangame.co.jp

 Open Must reside in Japan or have a Japanese VPN in order to access the website and register.
United States + other regions

that aren't localised

 Audition Nexon (2007 - 2009)

Redbana

(2009–present)

 April 27, 2007 audition.redbana.com Open No registration requirements.
Mexico/Brazil Audition Season 4 axeso5 2010 audition.axeso5.com Open No registration requirements.
Hong Kong 勁舞團 Season 7.5(Audition Season 7.5) Joint between 9You and GameOne Hong Kong Unknown au.hk.9you.com Open Must have a Hong Kong Identity Card Number.
Taiwan 勁舞團 GGC Online Unknown www.17t58.com.tw Open Must have a Taiwanese Identity Card Number.
United Kingdom GoAudition G10 2007 www.goaudition.co.uk Closed No registration requirements.
Europe Audition Europe Alaplaya 2007 audition.en.alaplaya.net Closed No registration requirements.

Controversy

There have been some controversies server-wide on Audition.

For example, the axeso5 version of Audition Online has to name all their new songs - Month Year - Song no. (e.g. Febrero 2015 - Tema 04) while listing on their website the actual music title and artist it is by.[19] Users can then find the title song by Tema 01, Tema 02, etc. While particular people in the game have pointed out that this method is used by axeso5 probably trying to avoid copyright claims whilst still adding more popular songs, their claim still remains a speculation and has not been proven.

The North American/Global version of Audition Online recently had a Vote Up event,[20] asking users to write reviews during their launch on the Steam platform in exchange for 40000 BanaCash (equivalent to $40USD). Even though Redbana did not break any of Steam's regulations and did not intend to force users to vote up on Steam (as it was running for a limited time and Redbana claims that they just asked for the reviews of the game, not positive reviews), it caused player conflict including in the reviews and other forums.[21] The event was closed down and every entry given before June 9 was given 40,000 BanaCash.

Even though the North American/Global version is also known as the Fashion Capital of Audition's, receiving new and updated Fashion Mall items before any other server and also receiving some X-BEAT (Japan's Audition) exclusive items, the North American region has had misfortune with patches. There has been a drought with the amount of songs the server has received, with waiting for at least 2 to 3 months in order to get 3 new songs. In order to help restore the game, the community has been helping getting songs with three of Redbana's new songs received in August's update being requested in the Community Choice's thread.[22]

The South East Asian version of Audition used to provide an unban system for hackers by paying real money towards the Asiasoft team. However, the page seems to have been removed and the service is no longer there.

The Vietnamese version of Audition almost underwent a publisher change back in 2009 due to a mistake from VTC Online, who failed to renew the contract with T3 Entertainment as of Sep 26 2009. Four days later, VinaGame (A competitor of VTC Online and publisher of Hot Step), announced that they have acquired the right to publish Audition in Vietnam, and will soon open a portal to allow players to transfer their accounts to VinaGame Service. Even though VTC kept denying the claim, they eventually announced that it was indeed their fault and the three companies have worked behind the scene to solve this issue together. In the end, VinaGame agreed to back out of their contract and allowed VTC Online to retain publisher right for Audition and T3 Entertainment agreed to keep on their contract with VTC Online.[23]

The Chinese and Hong Kong version of Audition has had trouble a lot as well, some controversies including using the game and the game's forum board as a prostitution/sex service,[24] using the forum board to sell drugs, having a child murder another child over 'virtual love'[25] and a 15-year-old girl getting pregnant meeting up a 20 year old guy on Audition. The game has also been criticized by the Ministry of Culture in China.

Because of a disagreement between YD Online and T3 Entertainment, the Korean version of Audition has suffered. YD Online had signed up for a 10-year contract to Audition Online (thus named as Club 오디션) from 2005 and was looking to renew their service. However, midway, T3 Entertainment acquired HanbitSoft and owned Hanbiton. Now, T3 Entertainment is hesitating to renew YD Online's contract or even make YD Online one of the portals toward Audition (Portals are owned by different companies allowing users to register or login to which company they want, and then connecting to the one Audition server). YD Online also owns the databases to the current Audition. Because of T3 Entertainment's negligence towards the Korean version of Audition, the game will undergo a full server wipe with UI changes, new fashion items and much more. To compensate, Hanbiton is offering 100000CASH (equivalent to 100000WON) to players who pre-register their IGN (In-Game Name) before the 30th of September.[26] T3 and Hanbiton have done a very aggressive marketing strategy which was successful and has received a big percentage of their users back.

References

  1. ↑ "Audition Birthday". audition.playpark.net. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  2. ↑ VietNamNet. "Game thủ "quẩy" hết nấc trong sinh nhật Audition lần thứ 8 | GameSao". Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  3. ↑ Infotech, Megaxus. "Ayodance 8th Birthday Gallery". Portal Web Audition AyoDance. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZC8IGJ2mTs, retrieved 2015-09-25 Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ "Toy's Audition Life~: AuditionSEA Season 2!~". Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  6. ↑ "September 1, 2009 Patch Info". Audifan.net. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po5xJ_3FK6A, retrieved 2015-09-25 Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ↑ "Comprehensive Audition Guide - Redbana Forums". forums.redbana.com. Retrieved 2015-09-25. horizontal tab character in |title= at position 33 (help)
  9. ↑ "Made in a few minutes Beat Rush Guide. - Redbana Forums". forums.redbana.com. Retrieved 2015-09-26. horizontal tab character in |title= at position 43 (help)
  10. ↑ "♫ Block Beat Guide ♫ - Redbana Forums". forums.redbana.com. Retrieved 2015-09-26. horizontal tab character in |title= at position 25 (help)
  11. ↑ "Basic Guitar Mode Tutorial - Redbana Forums". forums.redbana.com. Retrieved 2015-09-26. horizontal tab character in |title= at position 31 (help)
  12. ↑ "Audition Guitar Controller infos - Redbana Forums". forums.redbana.com. Retrieved 2015-09-26. horizontal tab character in |title= at position 37 (help)
  13. ↑ Praison, Kraisorn. "Club Audition Korea&Thai: (Audition Korea Update) เทศกาลฤดูร้อน lafesta". Club Audition Korea&Thai. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  14. ↑ "[April 2014] 5th Anniversary Attendance Giveaway! - Redbana Forums". forums.redbana.com. Retrieved 2015-10-21. horizontal tab character in |title= at position 54 (help)
  15. ↑ "[September–October] Designer Accessories Contest! - Redbana Forums". forums.redbana.com. Retrieved 2015-10-21. horizontal tab character in |title= at position 54 (help)
  16. ↑ "Tgforums • View topic - Make Up System". forums.jordantrudgett.com. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  17. ↑ "클럽오디션 - 대한민국 No.1 스테이지". clubaudition.ncucu.com. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  18. ↑ "劲舞团 突破78万同时在线 休闲网络游戏的王者". au.9you.com. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  19. ↑ axeso5. "Juega gratis Audition Season 4 en español". audition.axeso5.com. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
  20. ↑ "[June 2015] Vote Up - Redbana Forums". forums.redbana.com. Retrieved 2015-09-26. horizontal tab character in |title= at position 24 (help)
  21. ↑ "Tgforums • View topic - Steam release...". forums.jordantrudgett.com. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
  22. ↑ "COMMUNITY'S CHOICE! [SUBMISSIONS] - Redbana Forums". forums.redbana.com. Retrieved 2015-09-26. horizontal tab character in |title= at position 38 (help)
  23. ↑ http://ictnews.vn/game/tgd-vinagame-xac-nhan-da-gianh-duoc-audition-20869.ict
  24. ↑ "看看劲舞某"官方"公会的裸聊表演".
  25. ↑ "虚拟爱情酿悲剧_新闻中心_新浪网". news.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  26. ↑ "http://audition.hanbiton.com/". audition.hanbiton.com. Retrieved 2015-09-30. External link in |title= (help)

External links

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