E3: Just Dance shifts to smartphone

A huge success on consoles, most notably the Nintendo Wii, Just Dance is migrating to smartphones via a free app called Just Dance Now.

But this is no small screen smartphone experience — Just Dance Now will connect smartphones to Smart TVs, tablets and computer monitors, to maintain its status as a viable party game for families and friends.

Just Dance 2015 remains the console edition, whose tracklist includes contributions from Pharrell Williams, Ellie Goulding and Calvin Harris, with on-screen graphics retouched and players able to upload and share their own performances.

That’s destined for Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and 4, and the Nintendo Wii U this October, making use of each machine’s optional motion control setups.

On mobile devices, Just Dance Now steps away from console dependency and liberates the series for those on the move.

“All you need is a smartphone and an internet-connected big screen, like a tablet, a PC, or a Smart TV,” said executive producer Jason Altman at Ubisoft’s E3 media briefing.

“This is a breakthrough in latency-free, multi-device online gaming,” he said, making the technological connection between family-friendly mainstream success story Just Dance and previous second screen projects that have been tied to the likes of serious titles like Watch Dogs and Battlefield 4.

“Just Dance has always been about a small group of players having fun together in a living room or at a party,” Altman continued. “The magic of Just Dance Now is that there’s no limit to the number of people who can play,” suggesting that headcounts could range from four up to a stadium-sized 20,000.

The Just Dance Now song selection will be taken from the series’ back catalogue, while the app is compatible with devices toting 2G, 3G, 4G or wifi data connections, with Facebook integration, stat tracking and session sharing also available.

Though distinct from Just Dance 2015, the app is expected to launch alongside it this October. — Relaxnews 2014