DJ Hero 2
Developer(s)	FreeStyleGames
Publisher(s)	Activision
Release date	October 19, 2010 (NA) October 22, 2010 (EU) October 19, 2010 (AUS)
Genre	Music video game, Rhythm game
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer
Age rating(s)
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
Media	Blu-ray (PS3), DVD (Xbox 360), Wii Optical Disc (Wii)
Input	Turntable controller, microphone
Credits | Soundtrack | Codes | Walkthrough

DJ Hero 2 is a rhythm video game and a sequel to DJ Hero. DJ Hero 2 uses a special turntable-controller to simulate turntablism, the act of creating a new musical work from one or more previously-recorded songs using record players and sound effect generators. The game will continue to be developed by FreeStyleGames and published by Activision, and is expected to be released worldwide in October 2010.^[1]

GameplayEdit

See also: Gameplay in DJ Hero

DJ Hero 2 follows from its prequel in simulating the performance of a disc jockey mixing one or two songs using a special turntable controller. The controller includes a rotatable turntable to use for recording scratching, three "stream" buttons to match notes from the two music tracks and an effects track, and a knob to control the crossfade between tracks. These actions are presented to the players through on-screen notation that scrolls in time with the music, and players score points by performing the actions correctly, with a scoring multiplier gains through a string of successful actions. Certain marked sections, when played correctly, fill a "Euphoria" meter which can be unleashed using another button on the controller and will temporarily double the scoring. The player can also earn the ability to rewind a song by a few second by playing a long string of consecutive notes and then spinning the turntable in reverse; the rewind effect can be used to either correct a mistake or further boost one's scoring. Small changes have been made in the turntable playback: freestyle effects samples, previous based on game-wide preselected sets, are mix-specific in DJ Hero 2, and the game will not penalize the player for small variations in fast scratching sections as long as it follows the general beat of the song.^[2] Freestyle sections, previously limited to only added sample effects over the track, will now allow the player to mix and scratch freely between the two tracks.^[2]

In addition to using a turntable, players have the option to sing or rap to the mixes' lyrics, similar to vocal parts in current Guitar Hero or Rock Band games using a compatible microphone controller from most previous rhythm games. The game will score vocals based on the matching of pitch, beat and rhythm.^[2] The mode from the first installment in which players could use a Guitar Hero controller on certain mixes has been removed.^[3]

DJ Hero 2 will add a more detailed single player career mode, called "Empire", that provides more structure than the previous game. The primary focus of DJ Hero 2 has been the social aspects, according to FreeStyleGames' creative director Jamie Jackson;^[4] as such, many of the games' new modes feature multiplayer considerations. The game will support the "Party Play" mode introduced in Guitar Hero 5, allowing players to jump into a song, alter the difficulty during gameplay, change between turntable and vocals, and leave at any time, while the game continues to run in a jukebox mode.^[5] Several new competitive modes vie two DJ players against each other; some modes have both DJs performing alongside each other but with competitive edges such as a "Checkpoint" race where each DJ attempts to earn the best score within a section of a song. DJ Battles will see two DJ's performing call-and-response style along with open freestyle sections.^[2]

DevelopmentEdit

DJ Hero 2 was officially announced in June 2010 for release in the last quarter of 2010, featuring more than 70 mashups from over 85 artists.^[6] Prior to the game's announcement, Activision revealed a month before the game's release that it is actively seeking artists for downloadable content and a sequel to the game.^[7] One DJ in speculation to appear is DJ BJ, including mixer DJ Qbert.^[8] David Guetta has stated that he is set to work on the game's sequel to arrive late in 2010.^[9] Activision CEO Bobby Kotick stated that despite low sales of DJ Hero, they are committed to continuing the series, with the sequel due in 2010.^[10] The sequel, DJ Hero 2, was further confirmed during an Activision investors report for 2009, citing it as one of only 2 major Guitar Hero titles to be expected from Activision in 2010, with an expected late-2010 release date.^[11]

FreeStyleGames' creative director Jamie Jackson noted that they were able to work better with artists and publishers for DJ Hero 2, after the successful launch of the first game; with artists and publishers now knowing what to expect, "there is more understanding, so it has opened the doors to us in terms of getting more popular music", according to Jackson.^[4] Many of the game's new features are a result of feedback from players, including the game's social modes and improvements in the game's interface to provide a cleaner look and instantaneous visual feedback to the player.^[4] While DJ Hero 2 will not use Kinect or PlayStation Move motion-sensing technology, Jackson has not ruled them out for a future iteration of the game.^[4]

Mixes for DJ Hero 2 are made first through computer-aided mixing of the two song tracks combined with effects noises, with simultaneous authoring of the gameplay markers. Noise for the scratching sections are filled in by recording the sounds of the tracks actually being scratched on a DJ deck.^[12]

Usher will be contributing his song "OMG" featuring will.i.am for DJ Hero 2, which he and will.i.am performed live at the 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo. Usher had previously been approached by Kotick before the release of DJ Hero for future projects for Activision. Usher found, after following the success of DJ Hero, that the game was "very interesting" as a means of connecting younger gamers to music such as his that they would not be able to experience live at a club, leading to his desire to be a part of the sequel.^[13]

The Dutch DJ, Tiësto, will be used as Activision's "ambassador" for the game to Europe. Furthermore, the game's soundtrack has been selected to include more dance and pop tracks taken from European artists to make the game more Euro-friendly.^[14]

A demo for DJ Hero 2 was released to Xbox Live on September 7, 2010. The demo contains four mixes: Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes - "Don’t Cha" vs. Pitbull - "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)", Lady Gaga featuring Colby O'Donis - "Just Dance" vs. Deadmau5 - "Ghosts N Stuff", MSTRKRFT featuring N.O.R.E. - "Bounce" (Beat Juggle), and Estelle featuring Kanye West - “American Boy” vs. Chic - "Good Times".^[15]

SoundtrackEdit

DJ Hero 2's setlist will include over 70 mashups from songs of over 85 artists.^[6] Game Informer stated that the game's soundtrack still strongly represents the genre of hip-hop, but adds more elements from electronica, pop, and dance.^[5] David Guetta, Deadmau5, DJ Qbert, Tiësto and RZA will be playable avatars within the game and they will help create mixes for the game.^{[6][16][17][18]} Z-Trip and DJ Shadow will provide mixes for the game.^[3]

In addition to those songs included in confirmed mixes for the game, the following songs have been confirmed to be included.^[19]

The following mixes have been confirmed to be included with the game.

ReferencesEdit

External linksEdit

• Official DJ Hero website