EA, Outspark get casual

Last December, Electronic Arts purchased J2M, the Seoul, South Korea-based developer of several casual online games. Today, EA announced it is bringing one of J2M's three games to the North American market via an alliance with free-to-play specialty house Outspark.

Though it also operates the online racer RayCity and "turn-based shooter" Taan, J2M's first game to come to the West will be Dance Groove Online, a localized version of the "multiplayer rhythm action" title Debut.

Dance Groove Online's gameplay will be familiar to players of other rhythm games like Dance Dance Revolution and EA's own Boogie, with an 8-key keyboard scheme replacing a dance pad or Wii Remote and Nunchuk. The game's official site indicates it will featured licensed tracks from real-world dance club and house artists like Colette and Kaskade. The game is currently in closed beta, with an open beta beginning this fall.

Besides localization duties, Outspark will also add social networking features and design interfaces tailor-made for US and Canadian players. In addition, it will operate the game, handling marketing, community, and customer service. It will also handle the game's monetization model, which features a variety of premium customization options. Dance Groove Online uses the same "Sparkcash" currency system in other games in Outspark's catalog, such as Windslayer and Secret of the Solstice.