Though imitation is epidemic in the gaming industry, observers were still a bit taken aback in early 2008 when Konami announced it would release a music game to compete directly with established franchises Guitar Hero and Rock Band.

The new game, Rock Revolution, would try to take back the rhythm gaming crown Konami lost when loose-legged teens stopped playing Dance Dance Revolution and started picking up plastic guitars and wooden drumsticks.

Let’s take a peek behind the curtain, circa six months ago, and see what went into the planning of Rock Revolution, shall we?

PROJECT DIRECTOR SMITH: E3 is six months away, people! Where are we with the drum kit and the licensing?

DRUM SPECIALIST JONES: The drums sound good. I was banging on them last night and they sound very bangable.

SMITH: How were you playing them if there’s no build of the game yet?

JONES: You have to play them in the game?

SMITH: …

JONES: Shit.

SMITH: Licensing!

LICENSING COORDINATOR HASSELBECK: Present!

SMITH: What songs have we secured?

HASSELBECK: You know that “Da da da” song from the old Volkswagen commercials?

SMITH: “Da da da?”

HASSELBECK: Yes. It’s a definite maybe.

SMITH: There are no drums or guitar on that song.

HASSELBECK: That’s… not a problem… is it? Should we… should we add some?

SMITH: GUITARS! Who’s ready to talk about our guitars?

GUITAR DESIGNER MITMO: I can speak about guitars. I am qualified.

SMITH: What’s it look like?

MITMO: You know how a guitar is curvy and has strings in the middle?

SMITH: Yes.

MITMO: This is nothing like that. We’re making it square.

SMITH: SQUARE!? Why the fuck would you do that?

MITMO: Fits nicer in the box?

SMITH: Look, people. Everybody’s already going to think we’re late to the party, and we’re going to fail miserably if we come out with an inferior product. This has to be better than Rock Band, better than the next Guitar Hero, better than anything we’ve ever done before. It has to be better than any of the Dance Dance Revolution games.

JONES: Yeah, those games were great. Who made those, anyway?

SMITH: WE DID! WE FUCKING MADE THOSE!

JONES: Man, it’s been a while.

SMITH: That’s it! I quit! You fuckers can fail all over yourselves without me. I’m going to see if they’re hiring at Majesco. (Exits.)

MITMO: Wow.

JONES: Yeah. What now?

HASSELBECK: Well… I’ve got some good leads on some Ace of Bass songs!