First Playable

This is a sub-page of Proto:Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix.

This prototype is documented on Hidden Palace.

An early prototype of Dancing Stage Unleashed dated July 1, 2003 (a little under 3 months prior to the final Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix build, the game's original release) was released by drx on November 26, 2020, as part of the Hidden Palace February 2020 Community Group Buy lot.

NOTE: To make the game load on Cxbx-R, 183h bytes must be added to default.xbe.

Development-Related Text#

Throughout default.xbe, a set of four mysterious strings can be found, starting from an Austin Powers reference at 0x16BAA8...

SHARKS WITH FRICKIN LASER BEAMS

...an insult at 0x16DCC0...

shithead

...another insult at 0x170B38...

YOU SUCK

...and another Austin Powers reference at 0x170B58.

I WANT CHICKEN. I WANT LIVER. MEOW MIX MEOW MIX PLEASE DELIVER

General Differences#

• All of the game is watermarked with a rainbow border, which presumably indicates the possible cutoff areas of the screen.
• The game does not have a proper icon yet.

Attract/Title#

• When the game boots, an "Updating song list" message briefly appears. This does not happen in the final release.

• The warning screens originally had several spelling errors, which were fixed upon release.

Proto	Final

• The title screen still refers to the game as Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix, with copyright information also being absent. The prototype data also reveals a different logo design for Dancing Stage Unleashed:

Proto	Final

• The track that plays in the title screen uses a different line for the announcer. The prototype track can still be found unused in the final game.

Main Menu#

• The menus don't have a proper background.
• There is an additional function in the prototype called "TRADE CENTER", though it does not work anymore. Another function is referenced in the main executable, titled DEMO PLAY.

Proto	Final

• Challenge Mode does not seem to have been implemented yet, as its function does not work and no graphics can be found for it.
• The main menu BGM was slightly extended in the final release.

Style Select#

• The text string for Double Mode in the Style Select menu was slightly altered:

Single play with two dance controllers

Single play with two dance mats

Battle Mode#

• In the prototype, Battle Mode is divided between two options, Local Battle and Live Battle. This latter option would be moved to a separate mode in the final release.
• The player setting screen was also redesigned:

Proto	Final

• Several strings were modified. It's important to note that, in the prototype, the Point Battle mode did not have an explanatory string.

In Score Battle the end score is the basis for winning or losing.

In Score Battle, the highest total score determines who wins.

Point battle.#####

In Point Battle, step accuracy of each arrow determines who wins.

Workout Mode#

• Several strings were modified, mostly fixing grammar issues:

Enter the number of calries to burn.

Enter the number of calories to burn.

Set workout targets by goal: calories burned, play time or no settings.

Set the goal of your workout. Choose from Calories Burned, Play Time, or No Setting.

Options#

• The Credits function does not work.
• The prototype's audio settings match those of the PlayStation/PlayStation 2 games, while those of the final version are more diversified.

Proto	Final

• The "VOICE" setting does not have separate announcer options in the prototype.
• The helper string for the "VOICE" setting was modified:

Turn booing heard during dance, on/off.

Select voice type.

• The control settings are also different:

Proto	Final

• It is not possible to turn off dancing characters in the prototype.

Proto	Final

Training Mode#

• At some point, the Help Arrow modifier would display arrows with hearts on them, much like its icon. While they were already altered to gold arrows by the prototype's date, the helper string was not.

Arrows with hearts on them will appear during the sequence that will increase your dance gauge more than a normal arrow.

Gold arrows will appear during the sequence that will increase your dance gauge more than a normal arrow.

Edit Mode#

• The prototype's Edit Mode strings still have many references to the PlayStation 2, such as its memory cards and buttons.

Gameplay#

• None of the licensed songs from the final Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix or Dancing Stage Unleashed were implemented yet. Curiously, some of the playable songs in this build were repurposed as DLC content in the final product, such as Abyss, BURNIN' THE FLOOR, Burning Heat 3 OPtiON MIX, In My Eyes, Mind Parasite, and What is Love?, and some others don't appear in the final game at all.
• Scores don't seem to save.
• After a song is selected, its tags are not displayed in the loading screen.
• The Freeze Arrow helper graphic that appears when starting a song was slightly modified, with the "How To Play" text originally being "Dance Dance Revolution":

Proto	Final

• The character LADY has not been implemented yet.
• The coloring of the 8th and 16th arrows is swapped. This is mostly noticeable when using the TYPE 2 color setting, as the colors are more defined (8th arrows are normally blue, 16th arrows are normally yellow).
• All the songs use the same background animation set, referenced as performance data test.csv.

Results Screen#

• The grading graphics were redesigned:

Proto	Final

• The results screen BGM was completely different:

Song Differences#

Common#

Internal Data (.sif)
None of the songs have difficulty ratings in the prototype data; their slots are blank in each of the .sif files.

A-H#

ABSOLUTE Cuff -N- Stuff It Mix
Charts
All 6 charts in the prototype differ when compared to the final data, though the BPM breakdown remained the same.

Download ABSOLUTE Cuff -N- Stuff It Mix (prototype chart data) File: DDRultramix-abs2PROTO.zip (6,08 MB) (info)

Internal Data

Abyss
Charts
The BPM breakdown for the song is slightly different, as seen below. The steps remained the same, however.

Graphics
The banner in the prototype lacks the [SP1] tag, suggesting the song was not meant to be DLC at first. The title tag is differently colored as well.

Proto	Final

Internal Data

AFTER THE GAME OF LOVE
Charts
The BPM breakdown for the song is slightly different, as seen below. The steps remained the same, however.

Internal Data

BALLAD FOR YOU
Charts
All 6 charts in the prototype differ when compared to the final data; the Single charts being much harder and the Double charts much easier. The BPM breakdown is also different:

Download BALLAD FOR YOU (prototype chart data) File: DDRultramix-baldPROTO.zip (5,59 MB) (info)

Internal Data

BURNIN' THE FLOOR
Graphics
The banner in the prototype lacks the [SP1] tag, suggesting the song was not meant to be DLC at first. The title tag is differently colored as well.

Proto	Final

Internal Data
{|class="wikitable" style="border: none; background: none; text-align: center;" |- !style="border: none; background: none;"| !width=250px|Proto !width=250px|Final |- !Tags |Burnin' The Floor
3 Option Mix
Mr. T with Motoaki F |BURNIN' THE FLOOR
NAOKI |- !BPM Display |152-155 |154 |}

Burning Heat 3 OPtiON MIX
Charts
The BPM breakdown for the song is slightly different, as seen below. The steps remained the same, however.

Graphics
The banner in the prototype lacks the [SP1] tag, suggesting the song was not meant to be DLC at first. The title tag is differently colored as well.

Proto	Final

Internal Data

CANDY
Charts
None of the charts have freeze arrows, though there are extra arrows located where the end of those freezes should be. The BPM breakdown had no changes.

Download CANDY (prototype chart data) File: DDRultramix-candPROTO.zip (5,72 MB) (info)

Internal Data

CAN'T STOP FALLIN' IN LOVE SPEED MIX
Internal Data

Colors for EXTREME
Graphics
The prototype uses a slightly different title tag.

Proto	Final

Internal Data

DIVE
Charts
The prototype charts have several additional BPM changes during the end of the song:

Internal Data

DROP THE BOMB SySF Mix
Charts
None of the charts have freeze arrows, though there are extra arrows located where the end of those freezes should be. The BPM breakdown had no changes.

Download DROP THE BOMB SySF Mix (prototype chart data) File: DDRultramix-bom2PROTO.zip (5,41 MB) (info)

Graphics
In the prototype, the song's subtitle was still listed as System S.F. Mix.

Proto	Final

Internal Data

DXY!
Charts
The BPM breakdown for the song is slightly different, as seen below. The steps remained the same, however.

Internal Data

Electro Tuned the SubS Mix
Internal Data

exotic ethnic
Charts
The BPM breakdown for the song is slightly different, as seen below. The steps remained the same, however.

Internal Data

GRADIUSIC CYBER
Graphics
The prototype uses different coloring for the title tag graphic:

Proto	Final

Internal Data

Healing Vision
Charts
The prototype uses a different value for the very last BPM change:

Internal Data

Healing Vision Angelic Mix
Charts
The prototype charts did not have a slowdown in the beginning of the song. There was also a minor change done to the Single LIGHT chart, where the very first Up+Right jump was originally Up+Left.

Graphics
The prototype uses different coloring for the title tag graphic:

Proto	Final

Internal Data

HYPNOTIC CRISIS
Charts
While most of HYPNOTIC CRISIS' charts were modified when Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix came out, the prototype has the original step data from the song's previous appearances.

Internal Data

HYSTERIA
Internal Data

I-O#

INFINITE PRAYER
Charts
All 6 charts in the prototype differ when compared to the final data, though the BPM breakdown remained the same.

Download INFINITE PRAYER (prototype chart data) File: DDRultramix-infiPROTO.zip (6,64 MB) (info)

Internal Data

INSERTiON Machine Gun Kelly Mix
Charts
All 6 charts in the prototype differ when compared to the final data. The BPM breakdown is also different:

Download INSERTiON Machine Gun Kelly Mix (prototype chart data) File: DDRultramix-ins2PROTO.zip (6,08 MB) (info)

Graphics
The prototype does not have an artist credit on the banner.

Proto	Final

Internal Data

KEEP ON MOVIN' DMX Mix
Charts
All 6 charts in the prototype differ when compared to the final data. Additionally, the steps also start one measure earlier.

Download KEEP ON MOVIN' DMX Mix (prototype chart data) File: DDRultramix-kee2PROTO.zip (5,42 MB) (info)

Graphics
In the prototype, the banner's resolution was 192x55, whereas the final version uses 256x80. This original banner might have been a leftover from very early stages of Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix's development.

Proto	Final

Internal Data

Keep Ya Body Movin'
Charts
All 6 charts in the prototype differ when compared to the final data, in addition to starting one measure earlier. The BPM breakdown is also slightly different:

Download Keep Ya Body Movin' (prototype chart data) File: DDRultramix-kybmPROTO.zip (5,60 MB) (info)

Internal Data

Kind Lady
Charts
All 6 charts in the prototype differ when compared to the final data, though they are a perfect match to kind_org_all.ssq, a file found unused in the retail release.

Internal Data

La Señorita Virtual
Charts
While none of the charts changed in comparison to the original, the BPM breakdown is different. The file here is also a perfect match to virt_all_old.ssq, a file found unused in the retail release.

Internal Data

Let the beat hit em! ~CLASSIC R&B STYLE~
Internal Data

Let's talk it over
Graphics
The prototype incorrectly uses the subtitle "the SubS mix".

Proto	Final

Internal Data

Look To The Sky True Color Mix
Charts
None of the charts have freeze arrows in the prototype. Curiously, the metadata was not altered in the final release, keeping all "Freeze" values at 0.

Graphics
In the prototype, the artist for this song was still listed as System SF feat. Anna, whereas this was changed to SySF. feat. Anna in the final.

Proto	Final

Internal Data

LUV TO ME *disco mix*
Internal Data

MAX 300
Charts
The prototype data, strangely, contains the Single BEGINNER chart introduced in Dance Dance Revolution Extreme. The BPM breakdown is also different:

Graphics
The prototype uses different coloring for the title tag graphic:

Proto	Final

Internal Data
Strangely, MAX 300 does not have a .sif file in the prototype.

MGS2 mission R
Charts
All 6 charts in the prototype differ when compared to the final data, though the BPM breakdown remained the same.

Download MGS2 mission R (prototype chart data) File: DDRultramix-mgs2PROTO.zip (6,02 MB) (info)

Graphics
The prototype uses different coloring and spacing for the title tag graphic:

Proto	Final

Internal Data

Mind Parasite
Charts
All 6 charts in the prototype differ when compared to the final data, though the BPM breakdown remained the same.

Download Mind Parasite (prototype chart data) File: DDRultramix-mindPROTO.zip (4,79 MB) (info)

Graphics
The banner in the prototype lacks the [SP1] tag, suggesting the song was not meant to be DLC at first. The title tag is differently colored as well.

Proto	Final

Internal Data

ON THE JAZZ
Internal Data

ORION.78 civilization mix
Graphics
The prototype uses a slightly different title tag.

Proto	Final

Internal Data

OVERBLAST!!
Internal Data

P-Z#

PARANOiA ETERNAL
Internal Data

PARANOiA Rebirth
Graphics
The prototype uses different coloring for the title tag graphic:

Proto	Final

Internal Data

PUT YOUR FAITH IN ME SATURDAY NIGHT MIX
Charts
All 6 charts in the prototype differ when compared to the final data, in addition to starting a measure earlier.

Download PUT YOUR FAITH IN ME SATURDAY NIGHT MIX (prototype chart data) File: DDRultramix-put3PROTO.zip (5,39 MB) (info)

Graphics
The prototype uses different coloring for the title tag graphic:

Proto	Final

Internal Data

Quickening
Charts
All 6 charts in the prototype differ when compared to the final data, though the BPM breakdown remained the same.

Download Quickening (prototype chart data) File: DDRultramix-quicPROTO.zip (5,64 MB) (info)

Internal Data

Sana Mollete Ne Ente
Charts
While Sana Mollete Ne Ente's Single and Double STANDARD charts were modified when Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix came out, the prototype has the original step data from the song's previous appearances.

Internal Data

Sana Mollete Ne Ente BLT STYLE
Charts
All 6 charts in the prototype differ when compared to the final data, being much easier overall.

Download Sana Mollete Ne Ente BLT STYLE (prototype chart data) File: DDRultramix-san2PROTO.zip (5,81 MB) (info)

Graphics
The prototype uses different coloring for the title tag graphic:

Proto	Final

Internal Data

Secret Rendez-vous
Charts
The BPM breakdown for the song is different, as seen below. The steps remained the same, however.

Internal Data

SEXY PLANET
Charts
The BPM breakdown for the song is different, as seen below. The steps remained the same, however.

Internal Data

SO IN LOVE
Charts
None of the charts have freeze arrows. The BPM breakdown did not change.

Download SO IN LOVE (prototype chart data) File: DDRultramix-soinPROTO.zip (5,12 MB) (info)

Internal Data
{|class="wikitable" style="border: none; background: none; text-align: center;" |- !style="border: none; background: none;"| !Proto !Final |- !Tags |So In Love
Caramel.S |SO IN LOVE
Caramel.S |- !Radar Values |

 70 /   4 /    0 /  4 / 113
101 / 105 /    0 / 19 / 226
131 / 355 /    0 / 17 / 226
 59 /   0 /    0 /  0 / 113
 95 / 135 /    0 /  9 / 226
128 / 266 /    0 / 16 / 226

|

 70 /   4 / 2317 /  4 / 113
101 / 105 / 2439 / 18 / 226
131 / 355 / 1890 / 17 / 226
 59 /   0 /  792 /  0 / 113
 95 / 135 / 1585 /  9 / 226
128 / 266 / 1646 / 15 / 226

|- !BPM Display |111-112 |112 |}

SUPERSTAR
Internal Data

Sweet Sweet Love Magic
Internal Data

.59
Charts
The prototype has an additional BPM change right at the end of the song:

Internal Data

THE EARTH LIGHT
Charts
Though the Single charts and the BPM breakdown did not go through changes, the Double charts were slightly altered.

Download THE EARTH LIGHT (prototype chart data) File: DDRultramix-nazoPROTO.zip (5,75 MB) (info)

Internal Data

There 4 You
Charts
All 6 charts in the prototype differ when compared to the final data. The BPM breakdown is also different:

Download There 4 You (prototype chart data) File: DDRultramix-bt4uPROTO.zip (5,63 MB) (info)

Internal Data

TRIP MACHINE luv mix
Charts
The prototype charts start 4 measures earlier compared to final. The BPM structure is also different:

Graphics
The prototype uses a slightly different title tag.

Proto	Final

Internal Data

TSUGARU
Charts
All 6 charts in the prototype differ when compared to the final data, though the BPM breakdown remained the same.

Download TSUGARU (prototype chart data) File: DDRultramix-tsugPROTO.zip (5,52 MB) (info)

Graphics
The prototype uses a slightly different title tag.

Proto	Final

Internal Data

What is Love?
Charts
All 6 charts in the prototype differ when compared to the final data, though the BPM breakdown remained the same.

Download What is Love? (prototype chart data) File: DDRultramix-whatPROTO.zip (4,82 MB) (info)

Graphics
The banner in the prototype lacks the [SP4] tag, suggesting the song was not meant to be DLC at first. The title tag is differently colored as well.

Proto	Final

Internal Data

Prototype-Exclusive Songs#

These five songs have practically complete data in the prototype, though they are not in the final game by any means.

Do It Right#

Graphics
itri_th.bmp

itri_tb.bmp

itri_bk.bmp

Music
itri_main.xst

itri_select.xst

Internal Data

Steps
{| style="border-radius: 10px; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding:.5em 1.5em; margin:1em 0; box-shadow: 0px 1px 10px 0px rgba(0,0,0,.25);" |- |align="left" width="50px"| |Download Do It Right (stepfile)

|}

ECSTASY#

Graphics
ecst_th.bmp

ecst_tb.bmp

ecst_bk.bmp

Music
ecst_main.xst

ecst_select.xst

Internal Data

Steps
{| style="border-radius: 10px; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding:.5em 1.5em; margin:1em 0; box-shadow: 0px 1px 10px 0px rgba(0,0,0,.25);" |- |align="left" width="50px"| |Download ECSTASY (stepfile)

|}

GENOM SCREAMS#

Graphics
geno_th.bmp

geno_tb.bmp

geno_bk.bmp

Music
geno_main.xst

geno_select.xst

Internal Data

Steps
{| style="border-radius: 10px; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding:.5em 1.5em; margin:1em 0; box-shadow: 0px 1px 10px 0px rgba(0,0,0,.25);" |- |align="left" width="50px"| |Download GENOM SCREAMS (stepfile)

|}

groove 2001#

Graphics
groo_th.bmp

groo_tb.bmp

groo_bk.bmp

Music
groo_main.xst

groo_select.xst

Internal Data

Steps
Unlike the other songs exclusive to this prototype, groove 2001 has unique steps.

Download groove 2001 (stepfile) File: DDRultramix-groo_all.zip (2,25 KB) (info)

Tribal Dance Almighty Mix#

Graphics
trib_th.bmp

trib_tb.bmp

trib_bk.bmp

Music
trib_main.xst

trib_select.xst

Internal Data
Strangely, Tribal Dance Almighty Mix does not have an associated .sif file.

Steps
{| style="border-radius: 10px; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding:.5em 1.5em; margin:1em 0; box-shadow: 0px 1px 10px 0px rgba(0,0,0,.25);" |- |align="left" width="50px"| |Download Tribal Dance Almighty Mix (stepfile)

|}

Bugs#

Training/Edit Mode#

• The songs Colors for EXTREME, Electro Tuned the SubS mix and OVERBLAST!! display no measure data in Training Mode. They also crash the game when edit data is attempted to be created for them.

Gameplay#

• Due to Tribal Dance Almighty Mix and MAX 300 not having .sif data, these songs are not playable by normal means, instead being replaced by clones of La Señorita Virtual.