San Francisco, Calif. —
, our friends at
Activision
and
Step-3
invited us to San Francisco to attend an exclusive preview for their brand new
DJ Hero
video game. A year later, with the release of the game’s sequel on the horizon, DJBooth.net was invited back (we didn’t spill any red wine on their carpet) and we are happy to report that our readers will have plenty to be excited about come October 19.
Unlike the original version of
DJ Hero
, which had a very distinct and pronounced hip hop feel,
DJ Hero 2
incorporates a heaping amount of pop, electronic and house music. The change is subtle, as rap music still populates most of the soundtrack, but the overall musical experience of the game has improved as a result.
According to the Director of Music at
DJ Hero 2
co-creator
FreeStyleGames
,
Dan Neil
, the decision to expand the soundtrack beyond its hip hop foundation and incorporate a wider variety of genres stemmed from the feedback the company received after the release of the original. “We wanted the game to represent where the DJ is headed, which naturally includes a more eclectic mix of material,” said Neil.
Among the newer, more mainstream artists to find their work in
DJH2
are
(“
“),
(“
“),
(“
“),
(“
“), and
(“Don’t Cha”). These selections are an accurate representation of today’s indistinguishable crossover sound and demonstrate the need to appeal to an ever-widening fan base.
Other highlights include
DJ Jazzy Jeff
and
“Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See” mash-up with former Jock Jams classic “Pump Up The Volume” by M|A|R|R|S and
‘s inventive mix featuring
Damian Marley
‘s “Welcome to Jamrock” and Walter Murphy’s “A Fifth of Beethoven” from the
Saturday Night Fever
soundtrack.
In their pursuit of DJ gaming happiness the team at FreeStyleGames reached out to a who’s who list of DJs and producers for guidance, wisdom, experience, and, of course, their incredible musical skills. This talented group of individuals includes (but is certainly not limited to)
A-Trak
,
Deadmau5
,
,
DJ Qbert
, RZA, and
Tiësto
. In order to be the best you need to feature the best, and that is certainly the case with
DJH2
.
DJ Blakey Interview at DJ Hero 2 Event
by