A solution to all the legal problems...

adamthole · Trick Member Joined: 15 Jan 2005

Many of the DDR sites that host the step/song files for DWI and stepmania are being shut down. Many of the people who download from there are:

1. Going to miss the new steps to play too
2. Possibly have to worry about fighting a legal battle.

I got to thinking about it, and this is what I thought of.

What about making a site called "Legal Beats" (or something similar, the name needs work) and having it be a network of DDR players who submit steps to songs. The steps could be to any song, and of course would be designed by the submitter. However, the song file would NOT be included in the package. The developer could provide a link to a legal place to download the song (iTunes, etc.). This way we get our steps, songwriters get their money, and everyone is happy. Plus, if you already have the track, from a CD or whatever, that could work too.

What do you think? Do you think a site like this would be worth the development time? Any feedback would be appreciated.

(If this has already been done, I apologize, but please give me a link to the site.)

Also, I don't know if their are any legal people out there, but if so, is this idea totally legal? Or did I overlook something?

kmoyGTI · Trick Member Joined: 03 Dec 2004

Pretty nice suggestion...

My suggestion is for Bemani to create a game called DDR Unlimited. You can download your own songs for a price or something using the In-Game internet network adapter (so less chance of illegal copying). And Bemani could charge people for downloading them.

But of course, they would never do my suggestion since they don't want us downloading all the good songs like Max 300, Maxx Unlimited, Legend of Max, Sakura, etc.

Rockstar · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 8:22 am Post subject:

These are nice ideas. Although I can see why the idea of SM/DWI packs without the song wouldn't work. Since most songs in DDR are edits (shortened versions of originals), it would be quite hard for someone to come by the right version.

If Bemani/Konami were to actually create a REAL PC version of DDR where songs are downloadable for a certain fee, and users can upload their own songs/steps and share with the world, they could make a lot of us happy, and make a poopy of money in the process.
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AsiNisiMasa · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 11:17 am Post subject:

I'm pretty sure people would opt for the free DWI/SM files with the music attached because it's both convinient and free. Legality isn't an issue for most players - they'll just download whatever they want and shrug it off.

Not me, of course....
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Rockstar · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 2:02 pm Post subject:

Legality may not be an issue to many internet users, but quality is. Having official files (with the real backgrounds and all) for your favorite DDR tunes would be a great added value. Plus, even if a lot of people download illegally for free, Konami would still be making good revenue out of the people who don't, whereas right now they're making nada.

The problem is they'd have to set up a deal with record companies for liscensed music, and that isn't the easiest thing in the world...
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CNLohr · Trick Member Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Problem 1: Even MINOR differences in the MP3 files that the people would download would throw the songs out of sync.

Problem 2: The legal net to do this legally is even worse than to do it kinda in the gray area as it is now.

I wouldn't be so paranoid. Give this whole thing a few weeks to blow over.

!!!! · Trick Member Joined: 28 Sep 2003 Location: in a haus lolo!

BemaniFever.com has all the 1st-EX simfiles with just their banners, BG's, and .dwi's.

Also, it would near impossible for a "Legal Beats" system like you suggested to work. The amount of data+the number of users that you would have to keep track of would be extremely difficult to handle. Plus, how would you be able to tell if someone had ripped a song from a CD, or not (aside from its playback rate)?
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