THE iDOLM@STER SP
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THE iDOLM@STER SP (アイドルマスター SP Aidorumasutaa ESU PI) is a series of three games released for the PlayStation Portable on February 19, 2009 in Japan. It comprises of three different games, named Perfect Sun (パーフェクトサン Paafekuto San), Missing Moon (ミッシングムーン Misshingu Muun), and Wandering Star (ワンダリングスター Wandaringu Sutaa). This game also introduces a rival faction, 961 Production and their unit Project Fairy, comprising of three idols (Miki Hoshii, Hibiki Ganaha and Takane Shijou), and their boss, Takao Kuroi.
Gameplay
With the exception of a new storyline, most of the gameplay remains unchanged from the Xbox 360 version of the game. Unlike the previous game, however, only one idol may be produced at a time and no duo or trio groups may be formed. If the player wishes to avoid the Story mode, they may select the Free mode, which plays like a traditional game of THE iDOLM@STER based on the original arcade game where the player has 52 weeks to build up their idol of choice.
Another addition is Office mode, where the player can play around with an idol of their choosing, regardless of game version or production company. Here, they can sound test dialogue lines or dress up the idol in stage clothes and perform on of the 16 standard in-game songs.
In the game, clothes and accessories are obtained when the Producer makes an appointment with a stylist, instead of receiving them at the end of a single session in the original game.
Downloadable Content was roughly released in 1 month intervals. The beta screen showed expiration dates for items, but this has since disappeared in the official release. The items can be found here: THE iDOLM@STER SP DLC. The music listed below had several songs that debuted in SP only weeks before becoming THE iDOLM@STER Live for You! DLC.
Storyline relations
In Perfect Sun and Wandering Star, Miki is still a rookie idol at 765 Production waiting for her production. Thus Missing Moon is not related to either one. The events involving both Takane and Hibiki are different in both Perfect Sun and Wandering Star, so they, too, may not be related.
English Manual
Production Flow
The Producer's Job
As a producer, your job is to train a girl to become a top idol in a limited period of time. The producer's main job is to manage the idol's schedule and to decide her actions. Organize her weekly schedules by selecting lessons, auditions, and whatever else is necessary.
- Balanced Action
The most effective way to win the most fans is by passing auditions and performing on TV. However, simply entering auditions without improving abilities will make it hard to pass them. In addition, working without any time off may prevent your idol from living up to her potential. Strike the right balance between work, lessons, and rest to win as many fans as possible.
- Watch out for the time limit for ranking up!
In Story Produce mode, you must win a certain number of fans and survive the Ultimate Idol elimination round in a limited period of time to raise Idol Rank. You must try again if you are not able to enter Ultimate Idol elimination round before time runs out or you are eliminated.
Note: There is no time limit in Free Produce mode.
Weekly Flow
Idol Production proceeds in one week at a time. Decide a week's worth of actions on the morning of the first day and check the results for that week on the evening of the last day.
1. Morning (Prepare): Check your progress so far and then select actions.
2. Execute Actions: Execute the selected actions. (Lesson, Audition, Promotion, Desk, Vacation)
3. Night (Check Results): Check the results for the past week.
End of Idol Production and Producer Rank
In Story Produce mode, production work ends after winning the Ultimate Idol contest. In Free Produce mode, production work ends after the activity period is over and the farewell concert is held. When production work ends, your ability (Producer Rank) will be evaluated based on your results during the activity period. The number of things you can do in the game increases as your Producer Rank goes up.
Auditions
Audition Rules
Give your idol instructions so that she will win points by appealing to the judges. Rankings will be determined for three rounds (Vocal, Dance, and Visual), and your idol will get one or more stars for coming in at least third place. The final ranking will be decided based on the final number of stars acquired.
Note: The number of idols that pass depends on the type of audition.
- Appealing
When "APPEAL" is displayed, press the button for the type of appeal you want the idol to make in time with the music. The number of points gained will vary depending on the button press timing and the idol's abilities. An idol can make up to nine appeals during a round.
| Appeal Controls | |
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| Circle Button | Vocal Appeal |
| X Button | Dance Appeal |
| Square Button | Visual Appeal |
- Judges and Interest Gauge
When an idol makes an appeal to a judge, the interest gauge of the judge for the type appeal made will go down. When a judge's interest gauge goes all the way down, that judge will leave and the stars for that type of appeal will be reduced to zero. Keep an eye on the interest gauge of each judge and keep a good balance in mind with the points you want to score while making appeals.
- Memory Appeal
Pressing the triangle button while the Memory panel is displayed starts Memory Roulette. Pressing the triangle button again stops the Memory Roulette. When your idol makes a Memory appeal, the remaining number of times she can do so as well as the number of memories decreases.
| Memory Roulette Results | |
|---|---|
| good | All points go up and the judge's interest recovers. |
| bad | All points and the judge's interest go down. |
- Rounds
Rankings will be determined based on the points earned in a round. An idol can earn stars by coming in at least third place, but she will lose one star if she places in sixth.
| Stars | |
|---|---|
| Most popular | Five stars |
| Second most popular | Three stars |
| Third most popular | Two stars |
End of Audition
Idols that earn enough stars will pass the audition and be qualified to appear on TV. If this happens, your idol's tension will go up. If your idol fails the audition, the game will proceed to evening of the end of the week and her tension will go down.
TV Appearances
Your idol can appear on TV once she passes an audition.
Note: You can set whether or not to tell your idol when to make appeals or leave it up to her during TV performance by selecting TV Appeals under the Game Settings option.
- TV Appearance Screen
During a TV appearance, press the circle button to have your idol make an appeal and press the square button to snap a photo. Note that the number of times your idol can make appeals is determined by her Image Level. Photos: Up to five photos can be saved. If you take any more, they will be overwritten, starting with the oldest. Photo frame: The photo will be the image within the frame. Press the triangle button to switch between portrait and landscape.
| TV Performance Controls | |
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| Move photo frame | directional buttons/analog stick |
| Appeal | Circle button |
| Switch screen display on/off | X button |
| Switch photo frame | Triangle button |
| Snap photo | Square Button |
| Vertical mode | L button |
| Horizontal mode | R button |
| End TV appearance | START button |
- End of TV Appearance
When your idol's TV appearance ends, select the photos you want to keep and then choose whether to save a video of this appearance. You can view these photos and videos by selecting Album on the main menu.
English Bonus DLC Insert
An insert leaflet was made available with limited edition versions of the game. Each paper contained a Product Code that allowed the 765 Production idols usage of the School Wear costume. However, the codes were only available through December of 2009 and could not be worn by the members of Project Fairy. The costume was later possible to purchase as a part of DLC catalogs, but still could not be worn by members of 961 Production. The leaflet reads as follows:
- Special Costume "School Wear"
Download the special add-on costume "School Wear" for free with the product code below now! The design of this costume is based on the memorable first music CD jacket of IDOL MASTER, don't miss it!
- "School Wear" is a costume for the idols of 765 Production in each version.
- This costume is for all the three "Perfect Sun", "Wandering Star" and "Missing Moon" versions, and is valid until the end of Dec, 2009
Characters
All three games introduce a rival idol to oppose the three main idols of that game. New content includes a song for each of the 765 idols from their MASTER ARTIST albums and new costumes and accessories, which can be used across all three games.
| Game | 765 Production Idols | 961 Production Project Fairy |
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Songs
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Development
THE iDOLM@STER SP was developed by Namco Bandai and directed by Akihiro Ishihara. When developing the ports, the staff wanted to reach out to players outside of those who had already played the original arcade game or its Xbox 360 port. Ishihara himself not only wanted there to be a line to buy the games in Akihabara, but also wanted there to be those who would see the games being sold in a shop and spontaneously buy them. For this reason, it was decided that limited editions of SP would not be sold. Ishihara felt the need to get closer to the end users in part because of the players who had helped spread the word about THE iDOLM@STER, so SP was divided into three versions to allow players to buy the version which features their favorite idols.
In addressing the PSP's graphic capabilities compared to previous games in the series being developed for the Xbox 360, Ishihara points out that despite what people may think, once the idols start moving, they actually look much better than when viewed as a still image. Ishihara also notes that many of the idols' facial expressions in SP were changed from previous games. He goes on to say that for a game intended for a portable game console, there was a considerable amount of tinkering, and that the development team had to completely rebuild the game.
Ishihara likens the story produce mode first introduced in SP to a strategic simulation game where a large development in the story will occur after one part of the story is cleared. The development team included a large amount of story within each idol rank, as well as smaller scenarios between the ranks, resulting in a substantial amount of detail. The team had wanted to include a mode that would be similar to the original arcade game's gameplay, but Ishihara thought that simply adding in the functionality of the arcade game would not work. So while the story produce mode in SP can be thought as similar to how the arcade game operated, Ishihara points out that there is an added sense of tension surrounding an increase in idol rank, which in turn causes the story in general to be tense. While Ishihara goes on to say the story produce mode was developed to be relatively severe, he notes that as long as players put in the effort, anyone can clear the game.
The introduction of rivals into SP had to do with Ishihara's view that rivals are essential for THE iDOLM@STER. In the arcade game version, players compete against other players online during the idol auditions, but because this feature was not going to be included in SP, the staff thought to create rivals that the player would compete against in the story produce mode. Ishihara describes the main theme of THE iDOLM@STER as having to do with the entertainment industry, and according to him, there needs to occasionally be elements that "shake up" the industry, such as rival characters. Namco Bandai producer Youzou Sakagami notes that the development team focused on how to further deepen the bonds between the player and idols, and according to him, rivals are an essential part of that. Along with this, it was suggested that one of the idols leave 765 Production and go to rival studio 961 Production, and Miki Hoshii was chosen based on her "free and uncontrolled" personality.
Secrets/Hints
If you produce all 9 idols and then complete another idols story while reaching a 100% score, you will unlock a secret ending.
Ways to unlock clothes can be found here.
Debug Mode - Allows you to create custom poses, practice lessons and etc.
Gallery
Weiβ Schwarz card.
WonderGoo Pre-order bonus tapestry.
Promotional poster.
Links
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