b-boy posts (Subscribe to this feed)

Activision buys studio to make GH tracks, work on new rhythm IP

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 12th 2008 at 4:30PM }

Activision Publishing has purchased UK-based FreeStyleGames, developers of B-Boy, to support its Guitar Hero franchise and work on a new IP. The studio is currently working on localized DLC for Guitar Hero games, with no word yet on what the new rhythm game will be.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed and the company will remain in Leamington Spa. We would too -- that sounds like such a relaxing place.

The dancing in B-Boy is worthy of this trailer

by Nick Doerr { Jun 27th 2008 at 7:00PM }

Rhythm games are pretty popular nowadays, but one genre that hasn't seen quite enough implementation is rhythm-based gameplay that results in some fantastic break-dancing moves. You can play your faux-guitars if you like, but you're just staring at a bunch of colored lines and buttons in the end -- here you can enjoy watching your characters bust some pretty wild moves. Enjoy.

B-Boy soundtrack to feature Black Eyed Peas, James Brown, more

by Andrew Yoon { May 6th 2008 at 10:45AM }

The upcoming PS2/PSP breakdancing game, B-Boy will feature a pretty great licensed soundtrack when it comes to America later this summer. Touted as the first-ever competitive breakdancing game, B-Boy promises to offer over 800 motion-captured moves. B-boy legends Crazy Legs and the Rock Steady Crew helped contribute to the production, and 22 venues can be found on the disc, including Red Bull: King of the Ring, Freestyle Sessions, UK B-Boy Championships and IBE.

The soundtrack will feature 35 hip-hop and funk tracks, including The Black Eyed Peas' "Bringing It Back", James Brown's "Get On The Good Foot", Cypress Hill's "The Phuncky Feel One" and Eric B and Rakim's "Don't Sweat The Technique." It certainly looks like they're definitely trying to impress the breakdancing audience with this one -- will they succeed?

Gallery: B-Boy

B-Boys dance for B-Boy announcement

by Andrew Yoon { Apr 28th 2008 at 3:15PM }

At New York Comic Con, Southpeak Games announced the US release of B-Boy for PSP and PS2. Majed got some hands-on time with the game, noting that "while the game has been around for at least two years, time hasn't really affected it much. The game still feels fresh."

A US release is coming in the next few months, and to celebrate, Southpeak got a few dancers to perform at the show. Here they are, for your watching enjoyment.

PSP Fanboy hands-on: B-Boy

by Majed Athab { Apr 25th 2008 at 10:30AM }

Another game from New York Comic Con was B-Boy, a game based on break dancing. It's also a title that came out for PAL regions two years ago; however, it will be, for the first time, coming out this June in North America. The game is set for both the PS2 and the PSP. PSP Fanboy went hands-on with the PS2 version, which should be nearly identical to the PSP one. Both games use the exact same controls since the game does not utilize the L2 and R2 buttons missing on the PSP. In fact, the controls are rather simple and only really use the D-pad and face buttons.

Now, when you start kicking those fly moves, you'll notice that there are dots circling around at your character's feet. These dots serve as an indicator for when you need to hit your next move and keep your dance in rhythm. To do different moves, you need to input a combination such as "right-right-triangle." Keeping in step may prove kind of difficult as you'll be trying to constantly make combo strings one right after another. Things can get quite hectic.

Gallery: B-Boy

Continued →

PSP break dancing game may be heading to the States

by Andrew Yoon { Nov 19th 2007 at 3:30PM }

B-Boy, Sony Europe's break dancing game, disappeared from the face of the earth. But, now it's back. It looks like Sony won't be publishing the game in America. According to a new GameFly listing, it appears that the relatively unknown publisher South Peak Interactive will be bringing the PSP/PS2 game to the US around February of next year.

Check out our previous coverage of the game to see some footage of it in action.

[Via Siliconera]

Movin' with the B-Boys

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 19th 2006 at 4:30PM }

Man, I feel like it's 1990 all over again. Sony's upcoming B-Boy looks like it'll be a blast. You control a break dancer trying to prove his worth on the street. We've covered this game pretty extensively so far, so read up and then enjoy this lengthy gameplay video.

Hands-on with B-Boy

by Andrew Yoon { Aug 16th 2006 at 1:15PM }

Marco, regular PSP Fanboy reader, wrote in our comments section: "It is something nobody has done before (as far as I know)... I think people are jaded about any game being about Hip Hop... but at least I do know that there are people who do make the genre respectable."

Very true, Marco. It's pretty easy to get jaded over games that don't seem authentic, but B-Boy seems to be the real deal. It's a game that deserves a bit more attention than it's getting, if only for its unique premise: you play as a rising star of break-dancing, and you battle other b-boys to try and become the best. It looks pretty new and different, and according to IGN, it "doesn't play quite like anything that's come before." The D-Pad controls movement, and the face buttons are used as the building blocks of moves. You string things together, and maintain balance using the L and R buttons a la Tony Hawk. There are transition moves, and increasingly complicated moves which require greater button combinations, and that's where a surprising amount of depth can come into play. Like extreme sports games, you can build up some impressive combos.

B-Boy promises to mix music rhythm and sports gameplay into an innovative combination. The game is currently UK-exclusive, but hopefully we'll see it branching out soon.

B-Boy's bustin' website

by Andrew Yoon { Aug 4th 2006 at 10:30AM }

The last time PSP Fanboy covered B-Boy, Rafael was a bit cynical about the game, thinking it was driven solely by marketing towards the street crowd. This break dancing battle game has you stringing together combinations of acrobatic moves, and (as a New Yorker) I'm really excited about this game. I don't think I really remember seeing a game ever embrace this culture like this one. SCEE has started up a new website outlining the inspiration for the game and gives you a bit of insight into the culture that the game is trying to represent. You'll get some downloads, listen to some good music, and find game footage. What's not to like? Hopefully, SCEA will pick up this game for release outside of Europe as well.

[Via PSPro]

B-Boy to P-Play on the P-PSP

by Rafael Espiritu { Mar 29th 2006 at 11:20PM }

One surefire way, according to popular marketing belief, to make your product look edgy is to grab content from the vastly colorful underground culture. Granted, it doesn't always work, so while news about SCEE creating a new battle game patterned after b-boys made us go “Watchu talkin’ about, bra?” (yes, we talk like this all the time), we still had to give the game a chance, mostly out of genuine curiosity, but also because we like the thought of getting in on the opening moments of a potential train wreck.

Here’s a clip from the press release: “B-Boy uses a dynamically controlled fighting system to help you battle the best b-boys on the planet. Over the course of an in-depth ‘B-Boy Life’ mode, players build up a crew and battle against real-life superstar b-boys including in-game host Crazy Legs, the legendary and original b-boy, who worked closely with the development team to ensure the game's authenticity.”

While we may sound glib about the probable worth of this game (somehow it just reminded of the travesty that is Lowrider), we really can’t rule out the chance that B-Boy just may turn out to be one of the most original titles ever seen on the PSP. I’m sure many were skeptical about games like Gitaroo Man, Mr. Mosquito, and Katamari Damacy before they came out and entranced the market, so we’ll have presuppose that Sony could very well deliver a pulsating, magically-enhanced B-Boy to a waiting crowd of enthusiastic PSP gamers.

B-Boy poppin-n-locking on your PSP

by James Ransom-Wiley { Mar 29th 2006 at 4:55PM }

http://www.artshole.co.uk/shofiquluddin.htm

Sony Europe has announced B-Boy, the urban breakdancing sim on the go. Is this freedom, you ask? Indeed. No longer must your feeble attempts to pull off air flares, jackhammers, and elbow spins be confined to the privacy of your home. Now, you can execute over 800 motion captured moves anywhere — and all in the palm of your hand. Powerful stuff.

B-Boy, due in September, features dynamically controlled face offs, as you vie for respect in the streets and on stage. To help keep it real, Sony has enlisted legendary b-boy Crazy Legs, who will be working closely with developer FreeStyleGames and will also be featured in the game alongside a slew of other real world b-boy all-stars.