Type:   DJ Simulation Release:   1999 Home Status:   active Arcade Status:   active

Beatmania IIDX is a DJ simulation game by Konami, and is currently at the forefront of the BEMANI series in Japan. Originally derived as sequel to the original Beatmania, Beatmania IIDX started out life as Beatmania II. Housed in a cabinet similar to the Beatmania cabinet, Konami soon introduced a deluxe version dubbed Beatmania IIDX. The simple cabinet quickly died off, and by the time the game was picking up speed it had been all but forgotten.

Beatmania IIDX (also called simply IIDX) features a number of features both similar and dissimilar to the original Beatmania. Like its predecessor, IIDX features a number of black and white keys and a turntable, though the number of keys has been increased to 7, with 4 keys being white and 3 keys being black. Also prominently featured in the arcade machines was an effector button, letting you select and turn on a number of effects such as echoes. The game was designed to use a 16:9 widescreen display, and features full-motion video in the center. To each side of the video are the 8 play lanes, one for each key and a final one for the turntable. Unlike Beatmania, the two turntables are on opposite sides, with 1st Player's turntable being on the left side and 2nd Player's on the right. This also creates an unusual situation where certain players will only play on certain sides of the game. This was replicated in the home controller, as the keys can be removed and turned 180 degrees. Another improvement from the original Beatmania is that each key has its own lane to travel down; previously the white keys had their own lanes and the black keys straddled the lanes of the keys below it. This both widens the play area and helps make each note's button more easily spotted.

Like nearly all BEMANI games, IIDX offers a number of sequels, this time known as Styles (with the exception of the arcade-only Beatmania IIDX Substream games, released in-between Beatmania IIDX and Beatmania IIDX 2nd Style). Lasting from 2nd Style until 10th Style, this moniker was dropped in October of 2004, when BeatmaniaIIDX.11: IIDX RED appeared in the arcades. Later releases have kept to a number-only (with subtitle) format.

Beatmania IIDX first appeared on home systems when Beatmania IIDX 3rd Style was released for the PlayStation 2 on November 2, 2000. As usual, an official controller accompanied it, though support for the original Beatmania 5-key controllers was kept. The PlayStation 2 has continued to be the game's home platform of choice, as all subsequent releases have been exclusive to Sony's console.