Space Channel 5

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For the Canadian television network, see Space (TV channel).
"Ulala" redirects here. For the capital of the Altai Republic, see Gorno-Altaisk.
Space Channel 5
European Dreamcast box art
Developer(s)United Game Artists
Art Co., Ltd (GBA version)
Publisher(s)Sega, Agetec
THQ (GBA version)
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
ReleaseDreamcast
PlayStation 2
Game Boy Advance
Genre(s)Music
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Space Channel 5 (スペースチャンネル5, Supēsu Chaneru Faibu) is a music video game developed by United Game Artists under the direction of Tetsuya Mizuguchi and published by Sega. The gameplay features a system where the player must copy sequences of dance steps performed by the computer, as synchronized to the rhythm of the music. The game's theme song, Mexican Flyer, was composed by Ken Woodman[1] in the 1960's. Space Channel 5 was first released in Japan in 1999 and North America and Europe in 2000 for the Dreamcast and was later released for the PlayStation 2 in Japan and Europe in 2002 and ported by THQ to the Game Boy Advance in 2003. A sequel, Space Channel 5: Part 2, was released for Dreamcast (Japan only), PlayStation 2 (Japan and Europe) in 2002 and on Steam on March 4, 2011.

Gameplay

The games revolve around players controlling the funky space reporter, Ulala, as she grooves to rescue hostages and stop the enemy. Each level is split up into several parts, revolving around dance-offs or shoot-outs, during which the player must repeat commands spoken by the opponent (Up, Down, Left, Right and Chu) in time to the rhythm. Dance-offs involve dancing against an opponent, with some routines differing depending on the player's performance, while shoot-outs require players to shoot attacking enemies and rescue hostages. Successful moves increase ratings while making mistakes will lower ratings and cause the player to lose hearts, possibly causing them to lose hostages. If the player loses all their hearts during certain battles, or if the ratings drop too low, the player will have to restart the level. Clearing the game unlocks an alternate story mode with some differences.

Plot and characters

Set 500 years in the future where space travel is now the norm, it’s apparently still difficult to maintain ratings for a television station. Channel 5, after years of broadcasting, has plummeted in the ratings, and if something isn’t done soon it will be canceled FOREVER! Enter Ulala, who helps station director Fuse (ヒューズ-Hyūzu) revive the nearly dead Channel 5. He sends her out as the final resort to report on the invasion of an alien race called the Morolians (モロ星人-Moro Seijin). This games constist of four fallowing levels, or reports:

Report 1: Introducing...Ulala!: Ulala (うらら-Urara) arrives on scene at Spaceport 9, the first area the Morolians invade, where chaos has broken out. She struts and dances her way through the main lobby, then the Flight Control Tower where the Space Rescue Police's mission to save the workers of the spaceport has gone awry. Things seem to be going well until the rival reporter of Channel 42, Pudding (プリン-Purin), strides in front of Channel 5's camera. She and Ulala quickly have a dance-off to see who is better. Ulala proves to be a formidable opponent, making Pudding and her Henchmen to retreat. With that taken care if, Ulala and the people she rescued head off for the Launch Pad. There, the hypnotized robot Coco Tapioca confronts them in a dancing duel. It isn't long before the mecha is defeated and Ulala's report show wraps up successfully.

Report 2: Spaceship S.O.S.!: Onboard the Luxury Spacecraft G is where Ulala finds herself next doing her Swingin' Report Show. She heads from the cockpit to teh dining hall with the crew of teh vessel right behind her. It's after she saves the Space Diva that a shadow looms over her and her posse. It's the Rogueship-A-Go-Go and the Space Pirates! Some technical difficulties are brought to the broadcast of the report show, and when the static clears the camera focuses on the infamous Space Pirate Reporter In black, Jaguar (ジャガー-Jagā), He challenges Ulala to a dance-off, though the pink-haired woman proves she can get down. She perks Jaguar's interest before he zooms away with his jetpack. Ulala has no choice but to continue onto the Observation Platform. As Jaguar and the other Space Pirate Broadcasters get away, following after the mothership of the Morolian fleet, Ulala and the rescued victims of awful dancing fce off against Morolina, yet another dancing robot. She uses space children and Morolians alike as shields before using her tongue to attack. Even against such dishonorable tactics, Ulala prevails, shooting up the ratings for Channel 5 even more as she and her posse march away.

Report 3: Catch the Scoop!: Somehow it happened, but no one questions it: the secret base of the Morolians has been discovered within the Asteroid Belt. Ulala rides the Astrobeat Jr. as she races reporters from other channels to get the scoop. Pudding, her bodyguards, Shinichiro Tachibana, and 88MAN are among those whom Ulala shoots at in order to clear the way to the secret base. Jaguar shows up, his ship blasting a large asteroid in front of Ulala soon after he confronts ulala with her space Pirates. He's able to hold her off long enough, incidentally, for Pudding to make it inside of a humongous, modified asteroid. Although, her luck quickly changes as she's hypnotized by the Morolians and in need of saving.

Freeing the former teen idol, Ulala delves deeper into the far-out twists and turns of the base until she reaches the Head Office. A wide-screen television (like as new television example: LCD television) is setup there, with Morolian Monroe, the strongest dancebot of them all, lurking within. It attacks safely from inside the monitor, but soon emerges from it, revealing that it’s a two-in-one robot. Morolian Monroe changes tactics quickly, forcing Ulala to trace the trail it leaves from one side of the bot to the other. Although when it splits up into two robots, one green and one pink, Ulala hops off the Astrobeat Jr., the battle becoming even harder. The bots gang up on Ulala, making it impossible to get a single shot in.

Both Ulala and Fuse are startled when Jaguar finally catches up with them. Instead of taunting or challenging Ulala, however, he extends his help to the Channel 5 reporter and together they are able to defeat Morolian Monroe. Victory doesn't last long as strange images begin appearing on the giant TV. Morolians crowd around Ulala, and she questions if the aliens were brainwashed too. Fuse tells her to "Shoot at the TV", and once she does the screen blows out. The Morolians immediately revert to normal, being free at last.

The secret base shakes and everyone is forced to jet as the place begins to explode. As Ulala is riding out of the large tubing leading outside and pulling double duty in saving the Morolians, Jaguar comes over the comlink between Ulala and Fuse, saying that he "found where the brainwash signal's coming from" then add the frequency "is the same as Channel 5's." In an unbelievable turn of events, the Channel 5 team (now stunned) knows where to head to next.

Report 4: Evil in the Galaxy Revealed!: Ulala, Pudding, and Jaguar strut into Channel 5 Headquarters to find the source of the mastermind at work behind the invasion. It turns out to be none other than Channel 5 CEO Chief Blank. He runs - more like teleports - away from the trio and the chase continues. Space Michael is encountered in the connecting hallway and he's saved from the Morolians, joining Ulala as she heads for the Control Room. Inside of the elevator there, Mr. Blank is seen sitting on a chair. Taunting the pink-haired reporter, he zooms up to the roof while Ulala is left with a mass of Morolians to take care of. Saving Hoorg, the Morolian Leader, completes the group following Ulala up to the final confrontation.

Emerging from the elevator, Ulala and her companions learn a surprising fact about Chief Blank. He doesn't care about truth. In fact, he wants every reporter to share his vision. The "Ultimate Reporter" Evila (イビラ-Ibira) is sent to outdance Ulala, but the robot fails against the groovy moves of the spunky reporter. The puppet is taken care of, it seems that Ulala has won. At least until the roof of the dome opens up and Fuse yelps for help. A humongous robot, Giant Evila, has taken the broadcasting ship and the director inside hostage, leaving it up to Ulala aboard the Astrobeat Jr. along with Jaguar and Pudding on their own crafts to dance-off against the new threat. Ulala must move in the opposite direction of what she hears to keep Fuse safe.

Giant Evila gets bold, knocking away both Pudding and Jaguar before the sound system fails and Ulala loses her rhythm. Ulala is knocked away, let to float in space. An A Capella beat picks up and Jaguar reaches out to grab Ulala, twirling her slightly back onto the Astrobeat Junior. Ulala now has a chant support, giving her a rhythm to groove to. She retaliates and finally Giant Evila's head disconnects from the rest of its body, hovering above everyone. It shifts to the image of Chief Blank, who reveals that ratings are everything to him. If television was all for ratings, then what was the problem with brainwashing the masses?

Chief Blank, now called Blank TV, activates the "Blank Dimension" sucking him and Ulala into a separate space to do battle, yet the chant support is still clearly heard. Through a somewhat confusing game of TV laser tag wherein Ulala must shoot the screens with the correct beam (either "shoot" or "rescue"), the strength of her support increases. People start singing along with Ulala even when Blank's screens act as feet and hands in a way one could only see to believe. The Blank Dimension shatters and Ulala is free. When the energy of the crowd is pumped up, Fuse says for everyone to focus all of their energy on the station's antenna. Ulala, Jaguar, Pudding, and some Morolians each get a line in as the energy builds, becoming tendrils of a brilliant blue against the dark, specled canvas of space. Those tendrils work their way up the antenna just as Blank says his last three commands: "Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!" Everyone shouts the same right back, fully charging the antenna and blasting Blank, claiming he'll be back, into deep space.

Ulala wraps up her final report and marches off with friends and former foes alike along a glittering trail left by Fuse's ship. They make their way to the end of the galaxy.

Although the report isn't truly over until the results screen pops up.

Characters

Ulala (うらら, Urara)
Space Channel 5's top reporter. When she was young, a reporter from Space Channel 5 saved her life, which inspired her to become a reporter for the channel. She carries with her trusty microphone and two guns. The Chu Beam is used for shooting aliens, robots and other attackers while the Rescue Beam is used to rescue hostages being forced to dance. When ratings are high, she emits a pink aura, signifying she is full of groove energy.
Fuse (ヒューズ, Hyūzu)
The broadcaster of Space Channel 5. He remains in the broadcasting ship all the time, and his face is never seen. He relays instructions to Ulala to help her through her missions, although he often gets fascinated by Ulala's moves.
Pudding (プリン, Purin)
A former teen idol that has become the reporter for Channel 42. She dislikes Ulala stealing her remaining popularity, and usually shows up early on in the games. With her bodyguards, groupies and her catchphrase "It's me, Pudding!" ("Pudding desu!" in the Japanese version), she challenges Ulala but usually finds herself beaten. In Part 2, she challenges Ulala to a guitar battle. In both games, she teams up with Ulala on later levels.
Jaguar (ジャガー, Jagā)
A reporter from a Pirate broadcasting station dedicated to giving viewers the truth. In the first game, he tends to act snubby against Ulala's affiliation with Space Channel 5. He was a former member of Space Channel 5, and was indeed the reporter who saved Ulala's life 10 years ago, but he sensed corruption from the station's head chief, Blank. He does, however, rescue Ulala once again from Blank, and uses his back up group to get Ulala back in the groove. In Part 2, he mysteriously disappears while investigating something. Later, it was revealed that he was brainwashed by Purge, becoming "The Shadow" (シャドー, Shadō). He is saved by Ulala near the end of Part 2.
Space Michael (スペースマイケル, Supēsu Maikeru)
A member of Space Channel 5, based on and voiced by Michael Jackson. First appearing as a cameo in Part 1, he has a more involved role in Part 2. After being rescued by Ulala from the Rhythm Rogues, Michael uses his singing skills against a singing robot and joins her to fight against Purge.
Noize (part 2 only) (ノイズくん, Noizu-kun)
Ulala's partner who provides transportation for Ulala using a platform ship powered by dance energy and jiggy power. In Space Channel 5: Part 2, he helps Ulala in a drum battle against Pine. When Fuse is supposedly dead, risking himself to save Ulala, Noize takes over as Ulala's guide until Fuse Returns.
Pine (パイン, Pain)
A member of the Eastern Venus Space Police. In Part 2, when dozens of reporters are heading for a scoop, Pine lays down the law to clear the area, opening fire on Ulala who refuses to leave. She then challenges Ulala and Noize to a drum battle. Later on, she calls on Ulala's help to stop Purge. She also has a younger twin sister named Texas in Extra Mode.
Morolians (モロ星人, Moro Seijin)
Alien creatures from the planet Morodia. They invaded Earth, forcing people to dance in the first game. They have very high voices. It was later revealed that Space Channel 5 Chief, Mr. Blank, was brainwashing them so Space Channel 5 would get higher ratings. In Part 2, the leader of the Morolians, Hoorg, is a news reporter on Morolian News, which airs in between reports but constantly gets hijacked by Purge. In Report 5, he joins Ulala in stopping Purge.
President Peace (part 2 only) (ピース, Pīsu)
As the galactic president, Peace loves nothing more than to sing, but unfortunately whenever he gets the chance, he gets kidnapped by the Rhythm Rogues. His amazing voice provides a massive source of groove energy that Purge uses for evil.
Chief Blank (ブランク, Buranku)
The head Chief of Space Channel 5 in the first game, Blank became corrupt and brainwashed the Morolians to stage an alien invasion, so that Space Channel 5 would get higher ratings. He despises reporters who he calls "peons" and that 'spread truth like disease'. He even goes as far as to create a robot clone of Ulala called Evila, "The Perfect Reporter" to replace her. He is soon defeated using the dance energy of the crowd and sent flying into space.
Evila (イビラ, Ibira)
The robotic doppleganger (also referred to as "the puppet") of Ulala. Evila was created by Chief Blank, who, of course, is the head of Space Channel 5. Evila was designed to show Chief Blank's vision. Evila looks just like Ulala, only at the ends of her pigtails are antennas and Evila wears black and green dress. In the first game, she was designed to be "the Ultimate Reporter", but easily gets defeated by Ulala. In Part 2, Evila was upgraded and recolored by Noize to be on Ulala's side, helping to defeat Purge. An Evila (Ally) Costume can be worn in Part 2
Purge (part 2 only) (パージ, Pāji)
The main antagonist of Part 2, Purge is a sly dancer and leader of the Rhythm Rogues. Using his henchman Shadow who is actually Jaguar and his army of robots, Purge kidnaps President Peace and steals satellites from several TV stations in order to complete his Ballistic Groove Gun in order to make the galaxy dance for him.

Games

Space Channel 5

Space Channel 5 was first released in Japan for the Dreamcast on December 16, 1999. It was later released in the United States on June 6, 2000 and in Europe on October 8, 2000. The game was given a budget DriKore release in Japan on December 21, 2000 in simpler packaging. In 2002, Space Channel 5 was ported to the PlayStation 2. It was released in Europe on March 15, 2002 and in Japan on December 12, 2002. It was released in North America on November 18, 2003 as part of a sole package called Space Channel 5 Special Edition that contained both Space Channel 5 and Space Channel 5: Part 2. A port of the game for the Game Boy Advance, titled Space Channel 5: Ulala's Cosmic Attack, was developed by ART.co and released by THQ in June 2003 as part of a deal to make GBA games based on Sega properties.

Space Channel 5: Part 2

Main article: Space Channel 5: Part 2

Space Channel 5: Part 2 was released in Japan on February 14, 2002 both for the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2. The PlayStation 2 version was released in Europe (except for the UK) on February 12, 2003, and in North America as part of special edition package with the first game on November 18, 2003. Space Channel 5 Part 2 (Limited Edition) was released in Japan featuring a carrying case and a set of large headphones. Improvements include real-time backgrounds as opposed to Part 1's rendered videos and stills. An HD version will be released in 2011[needs update] for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network and included in Sega Dreamcast Collection, released on Xbox 360 in February 2011.[2]

Ulala's Channel J

Ulala's Channel J was released for the Vodafone.[3]

Appearances in other games

Ulala, along with other Space Channel 5 elements, have appeared in several other video games:

  • Sonic Riders (PS2, GameCube, PC) - Ulala appears as a playable character.
  • Sega Superstars (PS2) - There is a minigame based on Space Channel 5.
  • Sega Superstars Tennis (PS2, PS3, Wii, DS, Xbox 360) - Ulala and Pudding appear as playable characters. A Space Channel 5 tennis court is selectable.
  • Feel the Magic: XY/XX (DS) - There is a minigame based on Space Channel 5.
  • Sega Splash Golf (PC) - Ulala appears as a caddy.
  • Beach Spikers (Gamecube) - Ulala appears as a playable character.
  • Samba de Amigo (Wii) - Ulala makes a guest appearance, and Mexican Flyer is featured as song.[4]
  • Rez (Dreamcast, PS2, XBLA) - There is an unlockable Morolian evolution.
  • Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA (PSP) - There is an unlockable Ulala outfit, and Mexican Flyer is featured as a song.
  • Puyo Puyo! 15th Anniversary (DS, PSP, PS2, Wii) - Morolians are featured as an alternate set of blocks, along with Space Channel 5 themed garbage indicators.
  • Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (DS, Wii, PC, PS3, 360) - Ulala appears as a playable character. She rides a space pod and her All-Star move is dancing on her pod while zapping her foes with her space laser.
  • Virtua Fighter 5 (Arcade) - The 'R Revision B' update version of the game features several customize items from SEGA characters, among them is Ulala's full wardrobe, even including her guns.
  • Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure (3DS) - The game features a Space Channel 5 stage, where Raphael dances against his female impersonator.
  • Project X Zone (3DS) - Ulala appears as an assist character.

Ulala has also made a cameo in the 2001 film Josie and the Pussycats, where she is popular in the merchandising in a store that Wyatt visits to try out a demo CD.

Development

See also: Michael Jackson-related games

In discussing the study of target demographics, Mizuguchi related the story of designing Space Channel 5, which was at first a vague assignment from Sega that asked only that Mizuguchi design a game with a broad enough appeal to draw in even casual female gamers. "This was the first I'd heard of casual female gamers", he said, "so I didn't really know what to do. I personally interviewed a lot of young girls, trying to find out what they like." Women, he says, tend to enjoy puzzle games, while male gamers "want to be on top, they want to accomplish something and be the champion." It's difficult, he insists, to create a game that appeals to both males and females on an equal level.[5]

Mizuguchi has also stated that Space Channel 5 was inspired by the dance troupe Stomp. He highly enjoyed the performance, and began thinking why musicals were so much fun, but more importantly "How can we get this feeling into an interactive process?". It was then that Space Channel 5 was born.

Michael Jackson makes a cameo appearance as Space Michael in Space Channel 5,[6] near the end of the game.

The May 2007 issue of EGM contains a quote from series creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi concerning what it was like to work with Michael:

"We were in the middle of production of Space Channel 5, in 1998 or 1999. I got a call from the U.S. from my partner - the executive producer of Space Channel 5 - and he said, 'Oh, Michael wants to act in Space Channel 5.' I said, 'Who's Michael?' 'Who is Michael Jackson?' he said, 'The Michael Jackson - the real Michael Jackson'
My partner had shown him the 60-to-70 percent complete version, when it was almost at the end of the game. We had one month to finalize. But Michael wanted to do something, so we suggested that if he was OK with it, we could program the people in the game to do the Michael Jackson dance when taken over by aliens. he said 'yeah.' We initially had five aliens who danced. One of them became Michael Jackson."

He had a more prominent role in Space Channel 5: Part 2 where he became the new head of Space Channel 5. While Ulala is distracted by a fake scoop, the headquarters are attacked and Space Michael is kidnapped by Purge and the Rhythm Rogues and has to be rescued by Ulala in a level featuring several of Michael's trademark dance moves. He then joins Ulala in facing up against Purge.

In both versions of the game, Michael speaks in English, which is subtitled into Japanese in the Japanese version.

Lawsuit

In early 2003, Lady Miss Kier, formerly of the band Deee-Lite, initiated a lawsuit against Sega corporation for allegedly stealing her former persona and using it as the basis of a video game character. The lawsuit was based on accusations of copying her look of knee-high boots, short skirts and a pink ponytail, for Sega's Ulala character design.

Lady Miss Kier (real name is Kierin Kirby) claimed that Sega offered to pay her $16,000 to license her name, image and songs for the game, though she rejected their offer. Kirby later learned that the videogame maker went ahead and used her resemblance anyway, and she decided to initiate the lawsuit. She ultimately lost the suit and a later appeal and was liable to pay Sega's legal fees of $608,000 (reduced from $763,000 requested).[7] In 2008, her single "Groove Is in the Heart" was licensed for use in the Sega video game Samba de Amigo for the Wii, ironically appearing in a stage featuring Ulala.

Similar titles

References

  1. ^ "Northern Lights - Retro/Active: Rez and Space Channel 5". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
  2. ^ Wesley Yin-Poole, "SEGA confirms HD Dreamcast ports," Eurogamer (October 20, 2010)
  3. ^ GAMEs developed with help of iMageStudio
  4. ^ Chris Greenhough, "GC 2008: Left! Right! Chu! Chu! Ulala in Samba," Joystiq (Aug 20th 2008).
  5. ^ Clifaldi, Frank (2005-05-20). "E3 Report: The Path to Creating AAA Games". Retrieved 2007-05-26.
  6. ^ Michael Donahue, "Forced Guests: Cameos that make us sceam 'Yessss!'" in Electronic Gaming Monthly 226 (March 2008): 34.
  7. ^ ""Lady Miss Kier" Hammered With Opponent's Attorney's Fees". legalreader.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-11.

External links

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