MTV Drumscape

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MTV Drumscape is a drum simulation made by the Devecka company (president John Devecka). It resembles Karaoke for drums. Its game status is always in dispute, due to it lacks any scoring system or concept of 'success/failure'. It held the drum simulation game patent in the United States, thus barring the legal licensing of DrumMania, a competitive and similar product that is more in line of a traditional arcade game. (see: Bemani)

Players sit in front of an array of drum simulation pads, grab a pair of drumsticks, select from a large number of music tracks, and then play drums as they see fit while a time meter counts down. The manual recommends 2 minutes 15 seconds for US$1.

Drumscape machines usually have a large number of tracks on them, and the tracklist can be easily changed by the operator, in a manner similar to a jukebox.

While it was deemed more realistic by some drummers, its lack of entertainment value compared to DrumMania (with lack of scores, success/failure, and video) made it a relative failure in comparison. While DrumScape aims to be the only drum simulation games in North America (due to the U.S. patent, which extends into Canada), many arcades ended up importing DrumMania with much success, while those insisted on staying the legal path have their Drumscape machines gathering dust.

Theoretically, as it contains a Yamaha DTX electronic drum set (as stated in the manual), if operator is not using it to earn money (due to poor sales), they can upgrade the PC within and put in Drummania simulator software and associate song files, thereby giving a capacity that perhaps exceed Drummania itself. (This practice is similar to putting Stepmania equipped computer into Dance Dance Revolution cabinet) Of course this itself, if used for the purpose of earning money, is illegal.

[edit] Validity of its patent

First and foremost, its patent not only covers drumming games but also all music games (including but not limited to Guitar Freaks, Dance Dance Revolution, and others in the genre), its patent may or may not be valid, or even infringe other patents. Additionally, save for some arcade specific feature, it uses off the shelf components: A DTX drumset, amplifier, a standard computer (containing OS its menu software), a standard audio music player (such as CD system), a standard VCR (which is not utilized in the final product); and it does not provide any cues for the drum sims, as claimed by its patent. Also, its concept is very basic, as MIDI drumsets being used as a training tool and as an input have been made before but not patented, making its patent's validity often questionable. Outside of the United States, its patent has been challenged due to these claims. Also, perhaps due to its patent's possible invalidity, MTV did not challenge Konami or other companies that made music games (such as RedOctane, for its Guitar Hero, and Namco's Taiko no Tatsujin).

[edit] See also

• List of drumming games