Stand The Night
Steps/Editing: PlatinumHawke
Song: Kasahara Hiroko
Lenght: 2:15
BPM: 128
Diff: 1/5/7/8
BG/Banner: dj OmniCrash
Kanji Tile: Kamek
Lyric File: TheBaldOneMpls & zinc
DWI#: 1

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Not many people know about this talented singer/seiyuu, as she has only appeared in a few anime series, namely Magic Knight Rayearth and Armitage III. A bit of a change from the high-energy dance music that appears frequently in DDR, "Stand The Night" is laid-back, and I made the steps to reflect that, using as few jumps and 16ths as possible. I used CoolEdit to determine the BPM/GAP values, as well as to do the editting of the song. Steps were encoded with notepad and DWI Test Stage. On all difficulties, "Stand The Night", is both pad and beginner-friendly, giving players an opportunity to practice skills needed pass more complex songs on the respective levels. And a quick comment on the background/banner combo. The source pic, entitled "In search of lost wings - Kimiko," is from one of MegaTokyo's DPD Art days, and was coloured by one of the forum goers, Draegos. Debuted in DDRei's forth TournaMix.

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Re-release Notes:

...And it seems I just can't leave this file alone. I've offically decided to release this DWI from the version released with TournaMix 4. Well... this is actually more like version 1.4 or something, given the few tweaks and adjustments I've done on the file since TM4. What's changed from that version? A few of the maniac steps were tidied up, ending freeze arrows extended and cut back a measure. Oh, and the inclusion of Smaniac steps. Yes, I added them. Why do you ask? When I first made the file, I thought the steps were a work of art, and they still are. It's just that playing them now, makes me realize that I can take the steps in a much more built up and structural way. That and breathe a breath of fresh air into the song that I love so dearly.

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Can I say that this is now the most OBSCURE anime song I've ever done? It actually turns out that Stand the Night has it's origins from a series of drama CDs released for a series called Lensman. These were a follow up on the movie/tv series released in the mid-80s, based off an old american sci-fi serial from the 40s and 50s. And Kasahara did provide a role in the drama CD series; a nurse. No less to be expected of her voice and tone.

Goddamn, I love Wiki and Google sometimes.

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Basic: Max Combo = 109/112, 26 Freezes
Style more like a 4th Mix one footer as opposed to a Max/EX one footer. Easy for the beginners, but not too easy that they won't play it a few times before moving on.
Trick: Max Combo = 196/208, 20 Freezes
More of a built up stream of arrows, consisting of mostly 4ths with a few 8ths placed in. Perfect for players who want to play Trick, but can't go through Paranoia yet. Also good for freestylers.
Maniac: Max Combo = 288/295, 25 Freezes
Over all, a fairly easy to do seven footer, with a few skippy gallops placed around. Good practice for semi-lenght chains and moderate turning. Cleaned up that one section, halfway through the song, that drove me nuts though out the entire TournaMix (known as the steps that were overtweeked).
SManiac: Max Combo = 389/393, 7 Freezes
More arrows, same fun stuff that you've all played before. Lots of nice streaming chains, and a few 16th clusters tossed around for rhythmic up kick. Plus a few treats from the original set of Maniac steps add to the more refined, and nostalgic feeling of the song. It's truly something for everyone.

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Thanks go out to:
dj OmniCrash for the background and banner. (Go 1337 photoshopper!)
Kamek for the kanji tile. (A DWI has to be good if it makes me start liking Destiny's Child...)
Sivus and the guys at DDR-ei for holding the TournaMixes. (j00 guys r0x0r!)
Matt for getting me the Rayearth subs. (Anime in english? Whatchu talkin' about?)
AG for being the software I used to get the song with. (Why did you have to die off?)
Fred Gallahger (@ www.megatokyo.com) for the awesome artwork. (Bow to him, f00, 4 he is teh 1337 manga-ka)
TheBaldOneMpls and zinc, for doing the impossible and making the lyric file for this song (Just awesomeness)
If I missed anyone, stick your name in here. (Hey, I forget things.)

Contact Info:
Email: platinumhawke@gmail.com
MSN: platinumhawkeV3@hotmail.com
AIM: platinumhawke