bearzooka

Early concept art for Pop'n Music from 1998. The pictures above were used to pitch the idea of a new arcade rhythm game to Konami, with there being many notable differences from the final release. The concept version featured an 11 button layout, instead of the standard 9 seen in the final. Additionally the single player mode interface carries score gauges for both the 1 player and cpu rival character.

2 Player mode would have involved crossing over into the opposing player's area, while Pop-kuns, (or notes) switched onto other lanes as they descended vertically. Interestingly it seems three of the five original characters pitched to Konami during the initial proposal were rejected, and can be seen in Pop'n Music's 1~2 ぼつ (botsu or rejected character) roster sheet. Mary and Dino were the only characters who remained in the arcade's final release. Curiously the official mascots of Pop'n Music, Mimi and Nyami, are nowhere to be seen in this proposal; suggesting the two were drafted sometime after the initial proposal pitch.