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What You Didn't Know About DJ Hero

Game development often lasts for years. In that stretch of time, studios have their fair share of ups and downs. From humorous game bugs to stress-relieving antics, Game Informer peers behind the curtain of game development. In this entry of Tidbits, developer FreeStyle Games shares secrets behind the development of DJ Hero.

  • One of the remixer's girlfriends is featured on the sample stream of the Rihanna “Disturbia” vs. Kid Sister “Control” mix.  (“That’s good!”)
  • The ‘vinyl figure’ on the shelf in the tutorial level is actually the first ever version of The Jugglernort.
  • We went through two subwoofers mixing the game..... whoops, “11” was clearly too high.
  • The toilet flushing sound in the Dizzee Rascal “Fix Up, Look Sharp” vs. Justice “Genesis” mix (Flushing MCs down the loo...) isn’t from a sample library, it’s a bespoke recording of Surya’s toilet.
  • There are over 150 cameras in each environment.
  • One of the earlier versions of the DJ Hero turntable controller that we had in the office was nicknamed “The bride of Frankenstein,” as it consisted of various parts stuck on with glue and tape. It was made in the garage of the creative director on a cold windy day.
  • Great lost items from DJ Hero venue development include a giant neon cat, an aircraft carrier, the hip hop duck, the Afro Cow, the ‘naked’ mansion dancer, the creepy guy from the Krunk House, the Mariachi band, the Stormtrooper-like helmet, Candy Nova’s underwear, the building demolition scene and the rocket launch from Logic...
  • The record labels have names of the environment and animation development team on them.
  • A company wide snowball fight was arranged to sort out dev team disputes at Christmas. We lost five good men.
  • FreeStyle Games cultivates its own chilies in house and a chili tasting session every Wednesday to increase the team's level of tolerance.
  • 90 bacon and sausage sandwiches were bought to reanimate the team after a heavy Christmas night party.
  • The lunchtime FreeStyle runners ran 1,248 miles over the dev cycle since we joined Activision (averaging four runners running twice per week).
  • The record for the highest note streak within the company is 919 on Common - “Universal Mind Control (U.M.C.)” vs. Masta Ace - “Jeep A** Gutter (Aaron LaCrate & Debonair Samir RMX)” (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts).
  • FreeStyle babies totaled 15 (2 sets of twins).
  • Five marriages happened.
  • We spent £6,000 on Friday night beer tabs to celebrate the weeks in crunch.
  • FreeStyle consumed 52,000 tea bags, 4,500 cans on Red Bull (Thanks, John!!!), 5,600 cans of sugar free Red Bull – you see, we are healthy. ;)

 

For other Tidbits entries, click the desired game name: LEGO Indiana Jones 2, Prototype, Fallout 3, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, Ghostbusters, Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes, Overlord II, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Red Faction: Guerrilla, Scribblenauts

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Comments
  • I did know the game is too expensive for my taste.

    I'd like to play it, but not for that price.

  • 5 marriages? 15 babies? 52000 TEA BAGS AND 10000 CANS OF RED BULL.  Holy crap.  And I didn't think this was possible...wait..*estimates cans of red bull drank at work*.  Nevermind.  This is quite possible.

  • here's something i do know:  i'll never feel the need to play this game.  completely retarded.

  • Staff

    It's an awesome game. Give it a shot.

  • @reiner-no thanks.  i was recently fired a few weeks ago from my job so paying 120 bucks to listen to songs that would make me hurl small children into the sun would not be in anyone's best interest.

  • very intersting to bad i have yet to play the game

  • lol those are some funny things.  Five marriages? rofl

  • I might give it a shot after my post-Modern Warfare 2, Left 4 Dead 2, and Assassin's Creed II sequel bonanza wears out.

    It might be a while.

  • i will buy... once i find $200 lying around (i want the Renegade Edition).

  • Sugar free  red bull just means you're consuming all that "unhealthy" stuff, only this time it tastes like it too! XD

  • I've never been a "Hero" guy, but this game looks creative and interesting. I wouldn't mind owning it if not for the price tag and limitations I see in it. Great stuff though

  • Seem like they did everything but make a good game.

  • i just wanna say this.in the 4 years that the HERO franchise has been around, there have been 16 releases and guitar hero 6 has already been announced

  • Freestyle babies. Enough said.

  • I would love to play this game but it just costs too much

    Too many good sequels are coming out & I cant afford a $120 IP

  • May those 5 good men never be forgotten.

    Hey GI, how about a Borderlands Tidbits?

  • Thats alot of Red Bull

  • random facts... some people just can get enough

  • DJ Hero isn't my kind of game. It's not worth buying in my opinion.    =(

  • I would like to try this game. I'm sure GS will get them in soon enough.

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