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FT editor Roula Khalaf has chosen her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.
arcade fire
When Japan’s Konami invented this groundbreaking game in 1998, it may have been an act of hubris to name it Dance Dance Revolution. However, it turned out to have a huge impact on gaming culture. “When I was a kid, I used to play fighting games at arcades,” says veteran gamer Toby Na Nakorn. “That game was very male-oriented and had a very aggressive vibe. I dropped out in the 1990s, but Dance Dance Revolution brought me back and kept me alive in the 2000s and 2010s. It brought in a whole new community, more inclusive, open and friendly, with a mix of men and women, and different ethnicities. And I lost a lot of weight playing it!
The game has been improved many times (including a console version bundled with a plastic dance pad) and has spawned many imitators over the years (though it has been closely monitored by Konami’s lawyers). ), but nothing quite matches the original two-player game. It features a patented and instantly recognizable four-arrow dance platform. The latest version of the A20 Plus took some time to arrive in the UK and Europe, but a preview machine has been installed at Funland Arcade in London’s Brunswick Center ahead of its official launch next month. It features a glossy 42-inch screen, a licensed catalog of 800 songs (including, in some cases, official music video footage to accompany the arcade action), and a ridiculously powerful sound system.
While DDR enthusiasts will quickly delve into advanced options, the A20 Plus also features a new, simpler user interface designed for beginners. If that’s you, the basic idea is simple. Each dance step is designated by an arrow that scrolls up the screen, and you must synchronize your steps at the moment that arrow reaches the top. When a few experts face off, it can create a spectacular spectacle. It was refreshing to watch two teenagers launch into a fun and very fast piece of jazz fusion (“Kronos” by DDR in-house composer Yasuhiro Taguchi). To be honest, I missed the opportunity to challenge them because my knee wasn’t feeling well. Konami Dance Dance Revolution A20 Plus, £24,995; electrocoin.com
loudly and proudly
The weight of this powerful Bluetooth/WiFi speaker (just under 40kg) is evident from the fact that I foolishly stuck my shoulder out walking down a few flights of stairs. It’s not JBL’s fault at all. Two tweeters, two midrange drivers and two 23cm woofers that output 1100W always mean a lot of weight. In terms of power, it’s overkill for a house party, but consider it sufficient for a small venue that can accommodate around 100 people. If your room is large, you can link multiple PartyBoxes together.
Quite neatly, that startup sound doubles as an acoustic test of the space and adjusts the internal EQ accordingly. Further party atmosphere is provided by a multi-color/effect light show that is adjustable in the JBL One app. JBL PartyBox Ultimate, £1,300
instant cooling
Drinks ranging from champagne to soda are too unpleasant to drink at room temperature, and no one enjoys waiting for them to cool down. V-Tex solves this problem with a chest freezer-sized unit that completely cools cans in 3 to 5 minutes and wine bottles in 5 to 7 minutes. No chemicals are used. The secret lies in a clever convection system that stirs the drink within the cooling chamber without disturbing the CO₂, so there’s no exploding lager or foaming prosecco. Just pop in your can or bottle, choose your size and shape from the menu, press Go and wait (but it won’t take long). Companies that waste energy by keeping drinks chilled until they actually drink them will appreciate the potential environmental benefits.
Vtex Drink chiller, £4,299 + VAT
Better not kill the groove, DJ.
AlphaTheta, Pioneer DJ’s sibling brand, has taken on a deserved role as a pioneer. This battery-powered, portable DJ system has a layout that might raise some eyebrows among seasoned DJs, and even the fact that it’s blue (rather than black) might elicit sneers, but it doesn’t look amateurish at all. The 7-inch touchscreen allows you to search, cue up, and find the perfect match for your songs, and it has a wealth of connectivity features including SD card, USB, WiFi, and most importantly, Bluetooth. So if you’re in the middle of a party and your friend wants you to play a song they have on their phone, you can play that song (silently) to the unit via Bluetooth, and the unit will analyze it, save it, and retrieve it. can do. It has a battery life of up to 5 hours and fits in a (large) backpack. alpha theta Omnis Duo, £1,369
Please shine a light on it
If you’re like me, who admires lighting effects but can’t get enough of gobos, Chauvet’s ILS system offers a way to set up your event in just 10 minutes while ensuring high quality. . (ILS, of course, stands for “Instant Light Show.”) This unit is perfect for solo DJs, with a moving head, derby, wash, laser, and strobe all on the same bar and automatically following the music. More importantly, they follow each other. . Programs can be changed using a remote control or footswitch, but a skilled lighting technician can also adjust them manually. Considering Chauvet’s high-end LED engines are used in stadium venues, you can definitely rely on them for landmark birthday parties. Chauvet GigBAR Move+ ILS, £975
@Rhodri