Info
- Title:: In the Groove 2
- Platform:: Arcade
- Developer:: Roxor
- Publisher:: Andamiro
- Year:: 2005
- URL::
Notes
#5. (Post-) In the Groove 2 (2005)
it’s tough to say if itg could now be considered a game so much as the cultural interpretation of a game. nowadays “itg” refers more to a fan community that originated around custom songs created for a game that itself has roots in being (to put it coarsely) a ddr fangame. and custom songs is the key distinction to focus on here, since those have allowed this community to splinter off and flourish in far more ways than the original game’s fixed songlist could ever allow for. and more to the point, the game that started it all isn’t even directly played anymore, as its cabinets are increasingly rare and those which still exist often have their software replaced with newer engines which contain extra additions or alterations that benefit those who play specific types of custom songs.
and i find all this to be intoxicating.
it’s a scene that’s just a little gritty, with a cease and desist at its very core. it’s a scene that’s largely indifferent to commercialization, with songpacks freely distributed and diy instructions available for many mods and builds. it’s a scene with a history of references and in-jokes and legends that stretches back decades, and piecing it together is rewarding to the parasocial.so maybe it’s street skating, but without the risk of grievous injury.
Link to original