Wednesday, June 03, 2009

E3 09: First look at Genius’ Scratch

on Destructoid
By Nick Chester
Submitted: June 2, 2009

Earlier this week, Genius Products invited us out to their offices to get an exclusive, early hands-on of their upcoming turntable-based music game, Scratch: The Ultimate DJ.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

THREE REASONS SCRATCH WILL BE BETTER THAN DJ HERO

on PS3 Informer
By Kris Erickson
Submitted: May 27, 2009
Scratch: The Ultimate DJ(Xbox 360)

“Three Reasons Scratch will be Better than DJ Hero”… Kris Erickson had fantastic things to say about Scratch when compared to DJ Hero claiming that “While both games will allow pasty white nerds everywhere the chance to vicariously live out their fantasies of laying down ill beats, only one is deserving of their time and money. That game is Scratch: The Ultimate DJ.”  He breaks down three reasons why Scratch will do better than DJ Hero -

“Any music-rhythm game purporting to represent DJ culture is going to need a lot of street cred, and Scratch seems to Activision beat here as well.”

“the designers of Scratch have really done their homework and secured deals with artists who really define the DJ culture.”

“While the DJ Hero controller is certainly functional, the Numark-inspired deck included with Scratch: The Ultimate DJ is the bomb.”

ONE TURNTABLE TO RULE THEM ALL DJ HERO VS SCRATCH: THE ULTIMATE DJ

on Joystiq
by David Hinkle
Submitted: May 27, 2009
Scratch: The Ultimate DJ(Xbox 360)

With two high profile DJ-‘em-up games coming out in DJ Hero and Scratch: The Ultimate DJ, many are likely scratching their heads at which turntable and promised experience is going to be superior. Well, we can’t comment on the latter (until E3, anyway), but we can take a look at the two competing controllers. We stacked them side-by-side for your viewing pleasure and compared all the known details in our gallery below. Enjoy!.

A FIRST-LOOK PREVIEW OF SCRATCH: THE ULTIMATE DJ WAS FEATURED IN THE MAY ISSUE OF PLAY MAGAZINE

PLAY Magazine May 2009 By Heather Anne Campbell first-look preview of Scratch: The Ultimate DJ was featured in the May issue of Play Magazine Heather Campbell details Scratch for readers by pointing out many of the game’s unique features, including the various gameplay modes, sampling, USB microphone feature, voice recording, customization, mixing and the turntable-style controller. Note the key differentiators from competitive titles in that Scratch actually allows for players to create their own music and record their best jam sessions. “Sure, you can always pick up a copy of Dance Dance Revolution, but hopping on arrows isn’t the same as pressing them with your thumbs. Some people want to feel like they’re responsible for the music, not just dancing along with it.” “In fact, unlike Band or Hero, Scratch: The Ultimate DJ lets you record your best sessions…because a great play through is going to sound unique, tailored to your own sensibilities.”  “Scratching the table doesn’t just load up a pre-existing set of scratch samples; instead, the feedback is actually based on the action of the record.”

SCRATCH: THE ULTIMATE DJ, RHYTHM GENRE SOON TO BECOME A HIP-HOPCARCY

Playstation: The Official Magazine May 2009 By Scott Butterworth Scratch: The Ultimate DJ’s preview is featured in the May issues of Playstation: The Official Magazine (c. 301,151).  As an added bonus, a screenshot is also featured on the Playstation magazine’s poly bag.  From Playstation: The Official Magazine, Scott Butterworth, goes in-depth on Scratch’s peripheral, gameplay manipulation, improvisation and scratching, bonus points and tutorials.  A “Rap Sheet” is also featured in the sidebar listing Scratch’s setlist.  Here are some highlights: “Sticking to the scrolling pattern will produce an unaltered version of the original song, but adding extra notes introduces new sound and rhythmic variations that essentially let you create a unique real-time remix.” “Thanks to some click pattern recognition, the game will recognize any of the hundreds of standard scratching tricks that you happen to perform, and aware you accordingly.”

SCRATCH: THE ULTIMATE DJ, A NEW SPIN ON THE RHYTHM GENRE

XBOX, Official XBOX Magazine May 2009 By Ryan McCaffrey From Official Xbox Magazine (c. 403,869), Ryan McCaffrey (a fan of Counting Crows) begins the preview by saying he’s “probably the last person that should be excited about a DJ videogame!” However, after sitting in on the demo of the game, Ryan quickly changed his tone and refers to himself as “converted.” The preview details the peripheral, improvisation, turntable tricks, bonus points and setlist.  Here are additional highlights: “Lehrich accurately likened it to the trick system in a snowboarding game, and with around 60 tracks to groove to, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to flex your budding deejay muscles.” “After seeing it in action, I can’t wait to get my hands on Scratch: The Ultimate DJ, a fascinating addition to the rhythm/music genre.”  “Scratch’s open-ended, freestyle nature has me itching to see what I can create, even if I likely won’t be scratching over “Mr. Jones” anytime soon.”