[PsVita] - The PlayStation Store's Confirmed Closure

 

After a few days of waiting, last week's rumored closure of digital shop outlets for some of Sony's consoles has been integrally confirmed with an official remark on the official website, with the Vita-pertaining share also being reported under this lines being a Taiko-related topic with both V Version and the Idolm@ster Must Songs games.

Starting from August 27th, the PlayStation Vita's digital store will be closed for good and no other purchases can be ever performed. However, all the users' pre-existing digital content libraries across all regions will still be available to re-download for the time being, meaning that any buyers of the three games' digital version and V Version's DLC packs alike can still redownload all the owned content to their systems through each user's Download List catalog.

In short, if you're planning to complete your digital collection on Sony's last handheld effort, time is running out...

Source: Official PlayStation Website

The Idolm@ster Must Songs - Live Festival

The Must Songs titles' signature mode, Live Festival features a selection of custom song courses that the player has to face by playing them altogether in one sitting, much like with Taiko no Tatsujin Portable Deluxe's Medley Mode.

The festivals feature up to 5 songs per run -each following a certain theme and idol cast (a particular idol/unit/game's songs, for example)- and can be played on any of the four Taiko no Tatsujin difficulties. Each of the festivals has an admission fee to pay with the money earned by playing the titles' regular Play mode (Produce Mode), but once that a live is cleared, said price is halved for all the subsequent entries. At the end of each successful run, the player is given a grade between Clear Live (reach the regular clear condition by filling the Tamashii Gauge to the yellow zone), Perfect Live (end with the Tamashii Gauge full) and M@ster Live (Full Combo the whole festival).

At the beginning, only the Intro Live Festival is available to play; however, it's possible to unlock the remaining ones by rising up the profile's Idol Rank, which is raised by playing any Live Festival course and gaining set number of fans through both playing and using the colored light-sticks, purchasable at the in-game shop. Once that the Idol Rank S is achieved, all Live Festivals are available to play and the games' Credits will be available to see.

Much like for the game's other unlockables, the Idol Rank for one set profile is applicable in both Must Songs games, meaning that the promotion to the Idol Rank S in one game will also unlock all the Live Festivals (+ credits) of the other game from the very beginning.

The Idolm@ster Must Songs Red Album/Blue Album Unlock Guide

DISCLAIMER: The two games share the same save file on the same Playstation Vita system, meaning that the player's personal data progression for the profile is valid and carried over both games. In other words, the user profile's progress (Producer Rank, Idol Rank and Producer Notes goals/Idol Mail achieved) is the same one for both games, together with all the customization elements unlocked from both titles and usable in any of the two games (save for the song-related unlocks, which are linked to their respective game).

Idolm@ster Must Songs first week sales

Media Create figures for the week of Dicember 7-13, 2015. Please note that this data only refers to the physical versions of the games that are listed below.

01./01. [3DS] Monster Hunter X # (Capcom) {2015.11.28} (¥6.264) – 192.203 / 2.013.048 (-42%)
02./03. [3DS] Yo-Kai Watch Busters: Red Cat Team / White Dog Squad (Level 5) {2015.07.11} (¥4.968) – 52.878 / 1.851.500 (+38%)
03./04. [WIU] Splatoon # (Nintendo) {2015.05.28} (¥6.156) – 51.138 / 912.335 (+45%)
04./05. [WIU] Super Mario Maker # (Nintendo) {2015.09.10} (¥6.156) – 48.600 / 491.188 (+51%)
05./00. [PSV] Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni # (Marvelous) {2015.12.10} (¥7.538) – 39.013 / NEW
06./00. [PSV] Steins;Gate 0 (5pb.) {2015.12.10} (¥7.344) – 38.746 / NEW
07./00. [PS4] Steins;Gate 0 (5pb.) {2015.12.10} (¥8.424) – 38.156 / NEW
08./02. [3DS] Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (Nintendo) {2015.12.03} (¥5.076) – 32.580 / 81.847 (-34%)
09./08. [3DS] Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer # (Nintendo) {2015.07.30} (¥4.320) – 27.669 / 1.175.208 (+136%)
10./00. [PS4] Gravity Rush Remastered # (Sony Computer Entertainment) {2015.12.10} (¥6.372) – 25.004 / NEW
11./00. [PS4] Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege (Ubisoft) {2015.12.10} (¥9.072) – 23.402 / NEW
12./00. [PSV] The Idolm@ster: Must Songs – Red Album / Blue Album (Bandai Namco Games) {2015.12.10} (¥6.156) – 23.349 / NEW 
13./07. [3DS] Disney Magic World 2 # (Bandai Namco Games) {2015.11.05} (¥6.145) – 21.553 / 152.533 (+55%)
14./09. [PSV] Minecraft: PlayStation Vita Edition (Sony Computer Entertainment) {2015.03.19} (¥2.592) – 17.643 / 442.010 (+58%)
15./00. [PSV] The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC Evolution # (Kadokawa Games) {2015.12.10} (¥6.264) – 15.202 / NEW
16./16. [3DS] Rhythm Heaven: The Best+ (Nintendo) {2015.06.11} (¥5.076) – 14.232 / 524.053 (+148%)
17./12. [3DS] Sumikko Gurashi: Omise Hajimerundesu (Nippon Columbia) {2015.11.19} (¥5.184) – 12.506 / 41.953 (+63%)
18./10. [PS4] Call of Duty: Black Ops III # (Sony Computer Entertainment) {2015.11.06} (¥8.532) – 8.840 / 240.340 (-20%)
19./00. [PS3] Steins;Gate 0 (5pb.) {2015.12.10} (¥8.424) – 8.645 / NEW
20./11. [PS4] Star Wars: Battlefront # (Electronic Arts) {2015.11.19} (¥8.424) – 8.368 / 160.104 (-12%)
[...]
40./28. [WIU] Taiko no Tatsujin: Atsumete Tomodachi Daisakusen! # (Bandai Namco Games) {2015.11.26} (¥5.724) 
[...]

For the sake of Media Create's latest Top 50 games being sold, the Must Songs titles' sales are grouped together as a standalone title, managing to being ranked higher on launch than Taiko V Version (which debut at the 13th place), while overall selling together roughly half the number of copies moved by V Version at launch (roughly 46.000 units). It's still quite impressive for such selective song lists!

On another note, Atsumete Tomodachi Daisakusen still hangs on to the Top 50, but being in the lesser half of the podium we don't have then numbers of copies sold for this week.

Taiko White and the Seven Special Guests (9/12/15)

Bringing the year 2015 to a close (on the live appearances side of events), the Taiko Team is back for the yearly, all-night-long livestream marathon for the next big arcade firmware release, this time around being pleased by more console games talk and a big load of guest stars!

Quick Takeaways: December 9/10 Livestream

This post might be removed when the full coverage is ready. Meanwhile, feel free to contribute screenshots and information to help out!

Livestream

• All comment goals met
• 10K goal: Twitter icon and Smartphone wallpaper.
• 30K goal: Title part 17 Years Old (17歳).
• 50K goal: Taiko no Tatsujin Atsumete Tomodachi Daisakusen Papercraft, available in a later date.
• 76.5K goal: Limited revival of Variety Jingle Bell No.765, Game Music Dragon Spirit Medley and Namco Originals Hyakki Yakou/X-DAY 2000, from 12/10~31.

WCS2016

• Middle-school-and-up: Preliminary Phase 1 in March; Phase 2 in May.
• Elementary-and-under: Preliminary Phase 1 in April; Phase 2 in early Summer.
• Asian players to be able to join the tourney's Finals; more to be revealed later.
• Leftover Finals access methods to be told in the next Niconico Toukaigi.

AC0 Murasaki/White ver.

• White Version Title Parts Gacha Part 1 to launch at White Version's release day.
• First update to be scheduled on December 24th, adding the following songs:
• DREAMERS' PARADISE / DANCE EARTH PARTY feat.Mummy-D(RHYMESTER)
• Silent Jealousy / X-Japan
• Warera Omou, Yue ni Warera Ari (我ら思う、故に我ら在り) / Kamen Rider Ghost
• Doraemon no Uta
• January '16 DonChare rewards: Namco Original Kurofune Raikou and Kabuki outfit.
• Taiko no Tatsujin x Love Live! collaboration officially announced (more details here); 2 new songs added tomorrow, together with  Love Live! custom dancers.
• New Taiko arcade tourney to be held on February 2016; involves the Namco Original songs Dokidoki Mune Kyun Omatsuri Time, Toryu and Love Fantasy.
• New Namco Originals added during January for said tourney in selected stores (first two tracks unlock-able after the 1st play elsewhere):
• Tenbinza Kyuukou Yoru o Iku (from Jan 8th)
• Heaven's Rider (from Jan 15th).
• All In My Heart / Somei Yoshino (from Jan 28th)
• Up to 15 Petit Chara (including Taiko Wii 4's Fuuga and Mirai) unlock-able by watching the February '16 tournament sessions.
• Tatsu-Don Limited Banapassport during the tournament available to purchase.
• White Version official website online from. January 2016

Wii U3 Atsumete Tomotachi Daisakusen

• December DLC songs, available for free from December 24th:
• ANTI-HERO / SEKAI NO OWARI
• R. Y. U. S. E. I. / J Soul Brothers 
• Ultraman X
• Honnouji no Hen / Explosion
• Xa / Tatsh

Synchronica

• Second Taiko x Synchronica collaboration to run from Dec 24th, 2015 to January 31st, 2015. Namco Original Toryu comes to Synchronica, while Synchronica songs Synchronicity and New World can be unlocked on Taiko by playing Synchronica up to 3 times.
• Synchronica in Summer event's unlocks to be back from Jan 1st to 11th, 2016; new unlocks include Winter avatar pieces and Bandai Original Snow Light.

Miscellaneous

• Taiko mouse in the Studio Ghibli short to be called Mouchu (まうちゅー).
• Official MyBachi to be available from Dec 10th to Feb 14th.

White ver./Idolm@ster Must Songs Update Post

 

Dual releases asks for a dual update post!

Must Songs: Last update: Dec 24 | No of updates: 11 | No. of Songs: 40+40 | Song List
Key: Red = song in Red Album; Blue = song in Blue Album
White ver.: Last update: Dec 13 | No of updates: 10 | No. of Songs: 513 | Song List
Key: Orange = series debut; Green = arcade debut

Until the update post is open, other stories on this blog will also be documented here as "Breaking News", with links leading to the related page.

im@s Must Songs Update: The Answer to That Question

10 days until release, today our aggregate update for The Idolm@ster Must Songs will probably answer one of the most anticipated questions from our reader base. But first...

im@s Must Songs Update: Gotta Look Like a Taiko Game Somehow

Today's update to the Idolm@ster Must Songs Red/Blue main website is another good time to wrap up a few previous developments.

im@s Must Songs Red/Blue Update... Actually Nothing Much Taiko Really

Since the last time we check on The Idolm@ster Must Songs Red/Blue, the website did go through multiple updates, but there isn't too much Taiko no Tatsujin stuff... Let's check it out briefly nonetheless.

Interviews, Now Boasting Twenty
The interviews hosted on the Vita im@s site would be awesome insights for Idolm@ster producers, asking for precious memories from voice actresses, composers and more involved in the franchise. The October 13 update, though, has a little more towards the Taiko no Tatsujin audience: interviews with "the face of Taiko Team" Etou and notecharter/resident (im@s) producer/Must Songs director Kuboken.

 

Idolm@ster Fan Service Everywhere
What is a tribute album/game without some fan service, referencing to some of the series' significant marks? Here are some of them added on a October 19 update:

• Following our many SotW features here and there, you should at least know that 765 Production is not the only idol production company. Have idols from other production companies and even one of the most prominent non-idol NPC of the series making her idol debut... wait, that silouette... is that...!?

• The Live Festival feature may look like the typical set-list event/medley mode from the Taiko no Tatsujin viewpoint, but it can be the perfect stage to re-enact the best known scenes across the decade! Expect homages to your favourite game/TV Anime/anniversary moments!
• The Stamp Album feature carries from many recent console games, but other than Taiko goals like crown counts, Idolm@ster-centric goals like fan numbers will keep you busy. Similar to 3DS1/3DS2/Vita1, clear them goals to raise your Producer Rank for more fetaures!
• Ever imagined if your favourite idol(s) could send you a heartfelt message? Now you can receive them with the Messages feature!

The Idolm@ster Must Songs Red Album/Blue Album song list

Despite what the title suggests, this couple of games are played like Taiko games, rather than regular Im@s titles (as the rather inconspicuous 'Presented by Taiko no Tatsujin' on the bottom would suggest). Released in conjunction for The iDOLM@STER's 10th Anniversary, these are the first titles in a long time to mainly feature songs from a single music genre (Game Music), all of which...you guessed it, coming from the Idolm@ster series.

The two games play like any Taiko no Tatsujin title, featuring the usual Play mode and a signature mode called the Live Festival (ライブフェスティバル), in which players can try out sets of consecutive songs based on certain idol formations. One big aspect of the Must Songs games is the customization aspect, which deepens the player's interaction with the Idolm@ster universe's featured idols by both in-menu touch-based interactions and audio/visual customization elements with colored light-sticks for the spectators, alternative song versions for many group Idolm@ster tracks and even Taiko avatar suits to make the Taiko avatar sound like one of the 765 Pro studio idols! The main Taiko brother playable in the game changes in between games, with the usual Don-Chan appearing in Red Album and Kat-Chan starring in Blue Album.

While both games retain the same features and key aspects, the song selection in the two versions are different; more specifically, Red features songs from the first generation of games/media in the Im@s franchise (the original arcade/console game, Live For You!, SP and the Master Artist/Master Special soundtrack albums), while Blue has songs from the '2nd Vision' generation, featuring games and media from 2010 to this day (Im@s 2, SHINY FESTA, ONE FOR ALL, Dearly Stars, the Master Artist 2 soundtrack albums and tracks from the Anime series/movies). The games also feature extra songs that were either made for special events (such as the Taiko x Im@s 2015 arcade collaboration event) or were specifically made for those two games.

The Idolm@ster Must Songs Red/Blue

Breaking the status quo that there is at most one Taiko no Tatsujin handheld console game per year is the de facto The Idolm@ster best album/rhythm game The Idolm@ster Must Songs Red/Blue, releasing on December 10. Today, amidst the ramblings with Tokyo Game Show, the main site for the game is opened, together with the first full-size PV feat. Haruka and Chihaya, as embedded above.

Included Songs
The main difference with the Red and Blue versions is the songs: Red features mostly earlier songs (original AC/CS, Live For You, SP, and the Master Artist/Special albums), while Blue includes the more recent additions to the franchise (2, Shiny Festa, One For All, Dearly Stars, the TV and theater-length animes, and Master Artist 2 albums). And instead of all of them being Game Music, the "genre" in this game is sorted by the songs' first appearance in an Idolm@ster game.

(With 40 songs per game, not repeated between Red and Blue and most of them being new to Taiko, we are not going to list all them here, but ask you to wait for our full song list later. Thanks.)

Gameplay
First is the basic Play Production (演奏プロデュース) aspect, which is just your typical Taiko no Tatsujin gameplay... I don't suppose we need an explanation on that right? With excellent performance in production you will get money (マニー) for various other purposes in the game.

With adequate money you can venture into the other key mode that is the Live Festival (ライブフェスティバル), in which you select various live scenarios and consecutively play a set of song performances. During the show the idols will interact via one-liners, and you can set concert lightsticks by the audience that you can turn on or off.



Play these mode onwards to unlock elements via increasing Producer Rank and Idol Rank, and purchasing at the shop.

Pre-release Stuff
Now although the game is not until December, but preorders are starting already on the same day. If you are a big producer/produceress/Idolm@ster fan, you might be additionally interested in the first-printing pack-in bonus, of two designs of Idolm@ster-themed PlayStation Vita themes.

Meanwhile, you can check out interviews of voice actors for the various idols, starting with Haruka Amami/Eriko Nakamura, Chihaya Kisaragi/Asami Imai and Miki Hoshii/Akiko Hasegawa, hearing their memories with the franchise and what they anticipate and more.