Yeah i'm no expert on the series but it seems that only the 360/ps3 version of the game (So the iDOLM@STER 2) has the band management.
Well hope everyone who is getting the game a good time, i'm just not that big of a fan to dish out $165 for a music game.
Keep in mind that it's not 23 minutes of 3D animation or cutscenes but 23 minutes of anime (Like an OAV)
Also keep in mind that said 23 minutes will probably feature moe girls doing moe things you have probably seen a trillion times in anime.
Ludicrous, ridiculous nonsense! Takes greed to an entirely unashamedly new level. Even greed would take offense with this price. I hope this isn't begin a trend.
The intro animation, close to half an hour, has VERY high production values (as in high budget tv animé) and sets up the story for a few members (of the version you want to buy) to get to the island to start the game. I am currently downloading my ass off because after downloading a whopping 2GB from the App Store in Japan (English language: yes!!) there needs to be a lot of downloading IN the game (all music/level downloads I see are free downloads in the DLC Store at the moment of launch) but I have a sh*tload of songs to download before I can really get into the game. The game looks VERY good though. This IS console quality from what I can see. I am happy they did this. I am not happy they split it in three parts with different animations and stories. That said, they did that before with an Idolm@ster series (I think it was PSP version that came in three segmented flavors to max out profit). They should have just made one intro of half an hour and included all the girls and all the songs for an iOS game. But no. I do not regret getting this for one second. Idolm@sters on my iPad is a dream come true for me. So cute and funny! ps: download games are looooooong.
Wow! Another download! Could you tell us how big the game is when everything is downloaded? Thanks! (And yes the psp version was split in three). I'm a huge huge fan of rhythm games but I can't afford one at that price!
PS: KillerCow: Set up a Japan iTunes Account (Google it: it's easy). Then download FREE Taiko No Tatsujin+ (it comes with 6 songs to try). Song packs are 600 Yen for four songs, They are good. The game is the best rhythm game ever, and you can decide when to buy Japan Gift Cards and Redeem them to buy song packs at your own pace. I took a few years to buy them all. That way you can spread it. (Now at 148 playable songs I think). I get my cards at Japan Codes. He is fast and reliable.
I already have Taiko No Tatsujin+ and I've loved the series since the one on ds! But for me the best rhythm game is still Rhythm Heaven (Though Taiko No Tatsujin or Donkey Konga are also very good!)
You can download in the DLC store per song. At the moment. No extra charges. The numbering is weird though. 3,5,7, etc. Some are not there. I suspect they are in the other versions, perhaps they will be added later: nobody knows. I am downloading (numbers with English Titles when titled in English): 3 5 7 (Next Life) 9 11 (Do-Dai) 12 13 Honey Heartbeat (for a second my concussion made me read Horny Heartbeat) 14 Smoky Thrill Those are all the songs currently in my version of the game. All free. I have the Rhythmic Record version. Each download takes about 5-8 minutes.
