BLueSS's Judging ---------------- I played everything on my MyMyBox moddified Metal pads (that work better than Cobalt Fluxes and Afterburners). I played basic for every file first, then standard for every file, then heavy, and any other charts added that I felt like playing. I do not judge like "this technically shouldn't be done that way." I judge for fun. Did the chart work? Did it flow well? Was there a theme or did you change patterns so many times that playing the song on shuffle might be an improvement? It might be a technically sound chart, but if it's boring, that's a problem. As I've always said, what file from the tournament did you enjoy? I give every file a chance, even if I do not enjoy the entry genre. Everything else should be fairly straightforward. One last thing: Even though I have all the access to the scores (since I compile them), I do not look at the other judging until I have done my own. I do not manipulate my scores later to see how I can change the scores I want to move on. That'd be really crappy if I did. I'm here to give the files as much of a fair chance as possible. So all of my judging was done separate from influence of the other scores, and were not manipulated in any way after I finished and put them together. :) --------------------------------- 24-7 (SQUAD-E REMIX) *Basic* I'm torn. The chart is good, but why didn't you use the song's elements more? I was stepping, and it almost seemed like the song playing should be a different song due to the step patterns. This odd out of place feeling never makes me want to play the chart again. 3.5/5 *Standard* When you tried mixing things up at the end of the song, it didn't appear as polished as the first half. I was having fun with the 1-2-3 / corner jump patterns. Those were enjoyable, but the switching at the end could have been the same and I feel like it would have been a more enjoyable chart. 4/5 *Heavy* Very fun, minus... the slow down. Freezes with arrows all on the same direction just doesn't scream "awesome chart" at that speed. I thought the entire rest was fun, but the middle slowdown kills the momentum. 8/10 *Presentation* Awesome looking graphics. 5/5 TOTAL: 20.5/25 --------------------------------- Addicted to Bass (Apollo 440 Mix) *Basic* Excellent use of crossovers to give the chart a definite theme. Soog use of the song's rhythms and patterns making this one of my favorite basic charts. 5/5 *Standard* When you have a good pattern that works well, you don't change ANYTHING; and that's exactly what you did here. You didn't try to introduce too many patterns because the ones you had worked GREAT and had you, it would have taken away from the way the current ones work together. Not a fan of the jackhammer, but it's not gonna kill you much. Good job. 4.75/5 *Heavy* The only complaint I have with this chart is the first step-jump by the first "I'm totally addicted to bass." Other than that, I'll be playing this chart for a LONG time. You seemed to use each unique part of the song well, with none of the parts feeling overplayed. 9.75/10 *Presentation* Awesome graphics. 5++ just on them alone. The video makes it awesome as well though. 5/5 TOTAL: 24.5/25 --------------------------------- Astrogation *Basic* Very good chart, however I never had a "this is fun" moment. It's very well made, but not unique, and doesn't quite use the song's patterns as much as it could. I don't see how a basic player would be upset though. 4.5/5 *Standard* Awesome use of the piano patterns for this chart. The first pair of left-right jumps seems a little off, even after two plays. The later jumps took a few plays to get used to, and at first I didn't like them; but I see that work well now. Definitely better after a play or two. 4.75/5 *Heavy* You went with following the piano lines, mixed in with other beats. Well, it's pretty hard to follow. Even after playing it three times, and it's not because I don't know how the song goes, it's because you switch what the steps are following. I got it after another play or two, but that "tricky" part doesn't make the song fun. This would be a quick fix because I liked the rest. :) 8/10 *Presentation* Not sure how the theme of the video fits with the theme of the graphics, but they both seem to fit well with the theme of the song. I think the graphics are really a good fit. 5/5 TOTAL: 22.25/25 --------------------------------- Birthday *Basic* You left out a right/down corner jump. You had the other three included. :P Anyway, the "happy birthday" freezes were probably the only thing you could have done with that part of the song, but less arrows makes a chart less fun (when there's a potential for something to do vs not doing anything). Unfortunately, the song doesn't give the chart much options for steps. It's not too exciting, but no real flaws (except the left out jump). 3.25/5 (and no, I didn't penalize for not including the last jump. lol) *Standard* The repeated two notes followed by a different note definitely is the theme of this chart. It makes for a unique chart, but it's a chart that makes the player step/stomp more instead of moving around. And since it's a dancing game, and less of a stomping game, I don't like it for that. It's unique and creative for it, so while it's good; it's still not great. 4/5 *Heavy* There is a definite imbalance between the hard parts and the easy parts of the chart. Additionally, once the happy birthday freezes come, there aren't any new patterns in the chart, or if there was I didn't notice them (and I was looking). You still play with the theme that the standard chart has, which works well, with some new additions, but again the flow of the chart just isn't there. You don't feel like dancing back and forth; but the song doesn't help in that area either. More than anything to me, the imbalance just screams "there are only a few interesting parts in the song, and in order to make a hard chart I have to use them as MUCH AS POSSIBLE because the rest of the song gives me nothing to work with. 6.5/10 *Presentation* I'm glad there hasn't been any AFI or Blaqk Audio in DDR. This group sounds similar to those bands (in my limited goth musical experience) and while this isn't going into the presentation score, I'm just gonna say WHYYYYYYY. The graphics both have a dark feeling, definitely matching the mood, but the font on the banner is MUCH different than the one on the background, leading me to think one was stock footage and the other wasn't... and if you did both, you didn't coordinate very well. The challenge chart just seemed like overkill. The song doesn't give you the beats to have those steps fit at all. It wasn't good enough to me to make up for the font mismatch. 3.5/5 TOTAL: 17.25/25 --------------------------------- Cold Noodles (NAENGMYUN) *Basic* I'm /5 *Standard* Giving /5 *Heavy* You /10 *Presentation* Up/5 TOTAL: 0/25 --------------------------------- Colorful Cookie *Basic* The use of 8th notes seems to vary a lot when they first come in, however the odd spacing works because that's how the song goes. (2 8th notes the first two times, then 1, then sets of 3) It's a unique challenge that works well with the song rythmically. However, there is no break at all with that last stream of steps near the end! I don't see the need for it, and some breaks would have fit the song well. 4.25/5 *Standard* You annoyingly tease the player at the beginning by having two long sets of just quarter notes; and they were pretty lame btw. But then, you get past that, and it's great. The freeze arrow part in the middle took me two plays to figure out, mainly because I stepped with the wrong foot to the first freeze the whole time and then was forced to turn. For a trick chart, it's a nice challenge that isn't too difficult; but still tricky enough that you have to be paying attention. Take out those beginning parts or spice them up a little more; because I expected a really lame chart when I was still playing those parts. 4.5/5 *Heavy* All stream. The standard chart is WAY BETTER and has much more variety. You can still have lots of stream with variety. It is possible, but this chart was just a bunch of long runs. yay? Not really. Even DDR songs with lots of stream runs mix it up a bit more than this had. 6.5/10 *Presentation* Nice graphics, although the background and banner seem to be a copy of each other. DDR video backgrounds bump the point off for super similar graphics back up to 4. The gradient on Colorful Cookie is a really cool touch though! 4/5 TOTAL: 19.25/25 --------------------------------- Discotheque *Basic* 4th notes in the Chorus worked well because they ended with the vocal line ending. Contrast this to the quarter note steps in the verse, where the steps don't match anything in the song. The verse steps felt like you needed something to place there, but couldn't get anything better. Even on a basic chart, there's plenty of song that you can match something up to instead of that stream. I didn't see anything else bad with the rest of it, except requiring the person to keep alternating feet; although the steps used would allow the player to recover quickly if they messed up their footing, so it's ok. 4/5 *Standard* The notes to her singing kill this chart. An uninspired, unbroken stream of quarter notes to her singing? That's all I get? :\ I'm not saying by any means to make it Karaoke; because that's not a good fix. However, it would probably be better than the auto-gen style notes currently in there. The rest of it was good; but there's two parts like that, making me like it twice as less as if there was only one super boring part. 3.75/5 *Heavy* YOU DID THE SAME THING AGAIN DURING THE VERSE! D: Not acceptable. The rest of the chart is FUN, the verse is NOT. Please never have the same annoying part in all three charts again. 7.75/10 *Presentation* Banner text is jagged and the shadows behind are kinda annoying. The background seems like stock picture for the show, but the opening video is nice. 4.25/5 TOTAL: 19.75/25 --------------------------------- Fly Me To The Moon (VC2's Club Mix) *Basic* Whoa, this beginning has the player moving often, nice BPM that gives the steps a good flow, but here come the vocals, and the steps disappeared. The flow disappeared, and we're left with arrows that are spaced out too far to keep them interesting. There's the one spin, which is good that you didn't do more at this level; but not sure if it was needed. Good use of up/down jumps. Then that fun flow came back up at the end! Why'd it disappear in the middle? It's like an Oreo cookie to me (because I don't like the filling). Unfortunately this felt like a double stuffed, because there was more filler than awesome cookie. 3.75/5 *Standard* Very solid, with the exception of the "in other words" parts, but thankfully those aren't too long. 4.75/5 *Heavy* Good, although some of the gallops during the beginning seemed very forced. The opening and close were good, and there were enough differences between this and the standard to show each chart got some alone time. 9/10 *Presentation* Wow, the text on your banner is crappy/super pixelated in SM. Must be due to resizing that little graphic. Colors and fonts for both work well, although the fingers with color ribbons at the end is kinda weird. Your score could have been higher with better sized graphics. 4.25/5 TOTAL: 21.75/25 --------------------------------- Gee *Basic* Besides for the "jackhammers" (the 5 note repeats) in the chorus, the rest seemed to lack much character. The BPM of the song makes it just the right speed for those jackhammers; and faster and they'd be evil for a player on basic. That's the only part of the chart that stands out to me, leaving me to wonder why the rest couldn't be memorable too, even though it was a solid chart. 4.5/5 *Standard* If that slowdown didn't have to exist, this chart would get the last .25 on its score. The slowdown just seemed like it was missing something; what that is, I don't know. but just some magical something. The rest is solid, and everyone who plays standard charts needs to play this. 4.75/5 *Heavy* Even in the slowdown, there was still enough to keep the energy of the song going. Very good variation of stepa and patterns, the jumps to the chorus felt like they belonged; as did the rest of the steps. There wasn't anything that stood out much in terms of "this was unique enough to play over another song" but still very solid. 9.5/10 *Presentation* Banner text is kinda faded a lot for the artist, and the face in the corner is creepy. :P The background and video are awesome though. The English text on Japanese clothes is always hilarious. 4.5/5 TOTAL: 23.25/25 --------------------------------- Konamized *Basic* The chart basically required the player to step perfectly the entire song or else the player would get turned and twisted in the longer runs. It seemed like you tried to make is a "burning heat" style chart for basic, but it was too difficult. I could see this with a few modifications as a good standard chart though. 2.5/5 *Standard* The first part had me feeling again, like it was trying to be Burning Heat or possibly even Xenon. However, as the chart progressed, this was IIDX on standard. The only time there was an arrow was when there was a beep in the song (with very minor exception). This was not a good chart because of that. It probably worked testing it on a keyboard, but not on feet. I don't want to step only when there's a beep. Give me a rhythm and a pattern to move to. 2/5 *Heavy* Take everything I said abotu the standard chart and apply it here. All this had were more notes following to additional beeps in the song. I feel that this song has a lot of untapped potential, but it doesn't get to come out because every note follows the song like a IIDX chart. Move basic to standard, add some other non-beep arrows to the heavy chart, take the notes on the graphics below, and you'll have a MUCH better file for this song. I really wish I could have liked it more. 5/10 *Presentation* With the right touch, the graphics could have given this chart a totally different feeling. With the DDR videos chosen for the background, it's very clear what songs (that also sound similar) were your influence. If the graphics for your entry could have matched those DDR files, I think you would have some more support for the file. However, good graphics never make up for steps that aren't up to par. And unfortunately the graphics don't meet par either. 3/5 TOTAL: 12.5/25 PLEASE DO NOT let this score discourage you. I know you may feel upset "wow, I just got that crappy low score" but I can tell from the arrows you use that there is potential. The arrow choices in the charts were fairly good; it's the rhythms and notes they matched that killed it. When the other songs in this bracket have arrows that don't match up exactly to the music, they're trying to give the dancer/player something to move to. Stomping to every note is a nasty thing that is reserved for horrible ITG charts. :P Maybe an ITG player would like your charts more, but maybe not as well. They definitely need notes and patterns not following every beep in the song though. :) --------------------------------- Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight *Basic* Good use of steps that force the player to move back and forth on the pad. Unlike some of the other basic charts here, you can't just stand in one place the whole time with this chart. The long run at the end seemed a little unneeded, and not having another like it makes it stand out in a bad way. Overall good though. 4/5 *Standard* The second repeat of the lyrics ("free as any daughter" area) was really repetative and just a bunch of quarter notes. This wasn't must better than basic, imo, and I'd rather play that chart instead. 3/5 *Heavy* With each increase in difficulty from basic, it seems like you were grasping for places to put your arrows. Lots of the patterns seemed forced (especially the freeze arrows after the "I'm free as any daughter" lyric section). Lots of odd placement and off patterns where you tried to place stuff makes it very hard to enjoy. 6.25/10 *Presentation* I don't think Furries existed when Tiny Tim was around, although if they did; it would not surprise me if Timmy was one. However, funny graphics don't match the song. The purple outline in the banner text isn't very attractive either. :\ Graphics get a 3, however you put a challenge chart in. After playing the challence chart, I wonder why you didn't scrap the heavy chart and use this instead. With the exception of the super fast notes at the end, this is a VERY good chart. Enough for me to want to give you the two other points you didn't get from graphics. But then that cd title, -.25 :\ This isn't MyungoDance (however it's spelled) 4.75/5 TOTAL: 18/25 --------------------------------- Revolution *Basic* Simple patterns, but lots of space between them to get bored in. Couple of the eights notes weren't very friendly for someone playing a 3-foot file. The song doesn't give much of a basic beat to allow a good basic chart. I see an attempt, but it's kinda boring. 2.5/5 *Standard* Did you play this on a pad? I stood in the middle of the pad the whole time. You rely a LOT on the left - right patterns, then just rotate it 45 degrees so that it's a up - down pattern. It's the same thing, and I'm still in the middle of the pad wobbling back and forth. Sorry, but it almost needs a total re-do. 1.75/5 *Heavy* Well, you've got some points back. This chart was pretty good, but I don't think it's enough to save you. The chart went very well with the song and had a good mix of interesting patterns. Unfortunately, it's too little too late for your file as a whole. The chart is pretty boring due to material the song gives you to work with, although it matches the song well. 9/10 *Presentation* This is a little more than just text on clouds, so a few more points than the other file in this bracket that did just text on clouds. 4/5 TOTAL: 17.25/25 --------------------------------- SONIC SPEED RIDERS *Basic* Awesome difficulty progression throughout the chart. Patterns were repeated with new variations once the old ones got old. Tricky footing in a spot or two, due to freezes and trying to prevent double-stepping but overall very nice. 4.75/5 *Standard* The "I'm gonna" jackhammers work great. Really great. I don't like jackhammers much, but that's because they're not done well like this. 5/5 *Heavy* The progression of charts is also the same as the progression of the sonic games. The first one was really fun, the next few were GREAT, and the ones made today... well, let's not go there. It's too painful. Anyway, this chart tragically had all of the inspiration sucked out of it that the other two charts had a TON of. I was excited to play this chart after the other previous two, but I've been betrayed. :'( This chart ignored all the I'm gonna jackhammer opportunities (maybe use them in the heavy chart instead of standard??), and it didn't offer variations of patterns like the basic did a REALLY good job with. All this chart had was crossover, L-D-L, R-D-R, crossover, repeat with a mix of those. And a few jumps, but they're not that exciting sandwiched between the lifeless steps. 6/10 *Presentation* All hope for the file is not lost. The presentation was great, and the graphics were all Sonic, without being a MS Paint copy job, some kid's drawing of sonic, or a super cheezy kid version. These graphics (even if provided due to promo of the game) are exactly what I'd expect. 5/5 TOTAL: 20.75/25 Next time, save all your big guns for the heavy chart if you only have a limited supply. Using them all in the beginning won't get you too far. :\ --------------------------------- The "Sugar Before Bedtime" Polka *Basic* Very good job handling the tempo changes and pauses with the steps. The steps allowed for not having to pay attention to all of the changes, definitely allowing a newer player the ability to get used to the song. The first half was full of energy and unique patterns, but the ending half seemed like it was "ok, lets just get this over with now." I'm curious to see if this will be repeated in the other difficulties. 3.75/5 *Standard* Good, no "let's get it over with" in this chart. :D Very good use of jumps makes this chart one I'd play often. 5/5 *Heavy* Not quite sure this qualifies for a 9, but no points taken off for that. It seemed a little hard in spots. When I first played this file, I wrote it off as a joke entry due to the song itself, the super-annoying animations, and the joke audio at the end of the song. Oh, and the seizure BPM changes... but Fortunately, I can't write it off. This chart is very well made, BPM pauses or not. Lots of variations in rhythms and patterns that get repeated just in all the right places to make you anticipate what's coming, but not in a "oh it's THAT part again" way. Tthere were some parts that were just a little bit harder than the rest, and while that's not a bad thing, it's not always a great, and it can't get a perfect score because of that. 9.5/10 *Presentation* The joke humor of the background and the "You Didn't Inappropriately Touch Me" at the end of the song did not help. Guys humping a pizza box and retarded pokemon mixed in with polka dancers is not... able to be taken seriously. If you were trying to make the file more annoying by doing so; congratulations, you succeeded. Unfortunately, that doesn't translate to a better score. In fact, I want to scrap them all together from my copy. You get a 4, because I liked part of the animation, and the graphics were ok. 4/5 TOTAL: 22.25/25 --------------------------------- Umineko no Naku Koro ni *Basic* There was one nasty set of freeze arrows in the middle where one ended and the other started right away, while the left was held down. This didn't fit with the chart as it's the only time you used this; and it doesn't work well anyway, so I'm glad you didn't repeat it. The steps are spaced out a lot due to the slow song, making it a very low energy affair, killing any energy the song gives. 2.5/5 *Standard* I really liked this chart. It matched various parts of the song, and it did it well. I didn't feel any sort of heme though, making it seem like the parts were sort of patched together; but that's also how the song feels. 4.5/5 *Heavy* Well, I bet you pretty much know what I'm gonna say about this chart. 1) Freezes - don't use the small ones that you don't actually have to hold down to register. 2) The difficulty was not a problem; the steps were. You tried to force a LOT of arrows where they just didn't work well. It's a IIDX chart, or a not so swell ITG chart. For ITG people to like it, it'd have to be lots of stupid runs, which in one way is a good thing that the chart actually has some legitimate patterns. Unfortunately, they are used in attempt to step EVERY SINGLE PART OF THE SONG THAT'S NOT THE BACKGROUND. :O Not fun. 5/10 *Presentation* Graphics are pretty bare, and the text doesn't look too good on that banner in SM. Additionally, that song cut is just... in need of improvement. A song length limit does not mean "try to fill every second" with steps. It means pick a good cut for the song within the length. The fade out at the end just again shows you didn't know how to cut it well for the length. WHAT IS IT WITH TEXT ON CLOUDS! :O Three files had graphics in this pack that were text on clouds. 3/5 TOTAL: 15/25 Your community pack file is a MUCH greater file than this one is. Perhaps it is best we quickly move on... ------------ LATE Entries ------------ --------------------------------- China Discotica *Basic* The jump pattern made this chart unique, however the rest of the song wasn't the most helpful - giving you spaced out arrows matching the vocals. Not bad, but not stand out either. It seems like the best you could have done with the chart, but that doesn't mean it's the best chart ever. 4.25/5 *Standard* Another very fun use of jackhammers and jumps. Slow in parts due to the song, but very solid and fun. 4.75/5 *Heavy* The beginning of the song needed more of the jumps and crossovers that the end of the song got. Share the love with the front, and I'd have no complaints about this chart. 9/10 *Presentation* Japanese music video makers have some nice crack. Banner and background match the video very well. Whether taken from it or stock artwork, I don't care. They fit perfectly. 5/5 TOTAL: 23/25 --------------------------------- Negai *Basic* A 1 foot?? ahhh :\ Well, it matches the song well. So well, that unlike the harder basic charts, it'd be fun to play if I was learning. The slow BPM does not hurt this chart, because it was made to match the speed of the song. Very well made chart. 5/5 *Standard* The first half was getting really repetative. step, step, 1-2-3. Then this awesome right-right-other step-right-right pattern comes up, and I see that you did have other ideas you could have used for the first half. The creative last half doesn't make up for the boring first half too much. 3.5/5 *Heavy* Well, this chart seems to have flipped ideas with standard. Better beginning, more boring end. Maybe it's because it's somewhat similar to standard, at least in rhythm. I don't know. There were lots of good parts, but still there lacked any special reason from the chart to play this again. I'd prefer the standard over this chart if I was personally choosing, even though there was less repetative parts in this chart. 8/10 *Presentation* Text slapped on some sky pictures. At least the sky pictures were soothing and nice; but still, it doesn't change the fact that it's just clouds with text. 3.5/5 TOTAL: 20/25