Beginner-friendly charts

[dtinth]

• Based on the messages I received, a lot of people asked for 4-keys mode.

• Asked on Twitter, resulted in some more discussion.

• BMS already has 5-keys mode and Bemuse already supports it.

• However, default music server doesn’t have many songs with 5-key charts.

Plan

• Still only two modes: BMS mode and keyboard mode.

  • However, in both of these modes, some lanes may be unused.

• Note layout will remain unchanged in both Keyboard Mode and BMS mode. However, some kind of cover will appear on the unused lanes. Like this:

  

• Charts with only 12345 will be identified as 5keys. (Bemuse already does this.)

  • When played in keyboard mode, it becomes 23456. Columns 1 and 7 are covered.

  • BMS mode with scratch on the left, columns 6 and 7 are covered.

  • BMS mode with scratch on the right, it becomes 34567. Columns 1 and 2 are covered.

• Add more 5k charts to the official server first.

• Allow user to see which song has 5-keys mode and/or allow user to only show 5-keys/7-keys charts.

• Charts with only 1357 will be identified as 4keys.

  • In keyboard mode, it becomes 2356. Columns 1, 4 and 7 are covered.

  • BMS mode, columns 2, 4, and 6 are covered.

• Consider adding 4k charts if there are still demand for 4k mode.

Rationale for 5-keys first instead of 4-keys

• 5-keys is somewhat more common in BMS already but could be adopted more widely to make it beginner friendly… So this choice is more familiar + more approachable at the same time.

• The first rhythm game I played (DJ MAX) is also 5-keys.

• By going from 7 to 5, maybe it’s more smooth transition than going straight from 7 to 4.

Non-plan

• Judgerank is going to be as hard as before I guess.