Non-spoiler Producer Talk

[satty]

I'm not sure if you're a huge m@d viewer, but there are actual awesome crossover m@ds! You should make one of your playthrough.

That would be a cool idea, but I don't know how to do that kind of stuff.

Anyway, got my group started.
Unit Name: Cygnus (Yay, Northern Cross...man, probably gonna name all my units after stars and constellations.)
Members: Chihaya as leader, Takane and Makoto as support.

Song #1: READY!!

Finished THE DEBUT at this point.

Edit 2: Eh, won't do little diary entries; just realize I'll put spoilers on them.

[JNiles]

Just finished my second run with Hibiki, Haruka, and Yayoi.  I was intending to do a cash run and get a Normal (not Good) end, but I overdid it and wound up satisfying the criteria for the IA award.  I shouldn't have put on my best gear- it was instinctive.  So I made a mad dash to win the regional awards but only got 3, with a week short of getting a 4th.     I need to learn to stop changing my mind mid-run and be consistent.  I don't want to make a serious charge at getting a True End and then blow it.

[blake307]

Did my third playthough yesterday with Yukiho(leader) Takane, and Makoto. I tried to get the true ending on this run but I made a mistake on focusing on too many regions at once and CD sales that by the time I started going for region awards, it was too late to be able to get them all. So I only ended up getting the good ending out of this. But I think I learned from my mistake and I decided to do another run with Yukiho as leader again because I want to get the true ending with her since she is my favorite idol.

[satty]

1st playthrough finished!

Edit: Used the Perfect Commu guide at atwiki.jp/idolmasterim2 and The Idolm@ster Gameplay Wiki.

Unit Name: Cygnus
Members: Chihaya (Leader), Takane, Makoto
Songs:
1st: READY!! (Out of ranking)
2nd: The World Is All One! (83rd place)
3rd: Meisou Mind (50th place)
4th: i (49th place)
5th: Me Au Ga Toki (3rd Place)

Result: Good End



"You know, it was a crazy year back in Japan. I went in as a rookie producer, not knowing, well, anything. I made a unit comprised of these three girls: Chihaya Kisaragi, Takane Shijou, and Makoto Kikuchi. And so we went, achieving the dream of Top Idol. Promotions were taxing, but they all seemed to go well. Lessons also went pretty well, although I screwed up a bit. And all the events were both fun and frustration, helped by these amulets I grabbed. In the end, my unit achieved the IA Grand Prix award, as well as the Ocean Blue, Forest Green, and Snow White area awards. If it hadn't been for the fact that I neglected fan count and focused too much on the Capitol Region, I might have grabbed at least one more. Oh well. Also, I somehow fell for Chihaya, saved the world, and showed that I could pilot a fighter even after not being in the controls for about a year or so. Not bad for a former jet ace.

It's nearly been a year since then. Been busy with production here in Hollywood and instructing future pilots....it's funny how the world works. When I came to the doorsteps of 765 Pro, I just thought it was another job to do, and nothing special would happen. And now, I'm back here, pursuing something that I wouldn't have thought I enjoyed.

I still wonder how they're doing...it's been nearly a year since I came back, huh? Well, wonder what's gonna happen at work. This is John Winters, former leader of Martinez Security's M42 "Antares" Squadron and ace pilot, and current Producer, signing off.

As for me, I might take a breather from this, maybe do the Ryuuguu Komachi extra. A second playthough will occur soon, but I dunno who to pick now. Someday, though, I'll get a true end with Chihaya. And maybe, I'll actually write this whole crossover out. That may take a while, though. I have to start translating everything and have to think about the general flow of events.

[JNiles]

Finally got a True End, on my third playthrough (fifth if you count that horrendous bug that destroyed my data).  I had Miki as leader, with Chihaya and Yukiho as support.  I didn't win the 5th regional festival until week 50.  Apparently I chose a bad ordering for building up fans (did northermost and southermost regions last), and I started building up a fanbase before I had the image level to back it up, so I struggled near the end of the game.  I also would've had an easier time if I used a commu guide, but then I would've missed out on the sight of Yukiho falling on her back in a dead faint.

The upgrade from Good End to True End didn't change much, though I swear everyone cried a bit more than normal (Yukiho was still crying in her final scene).  I'm just happy that I finally managed to make enough money to fill out most of the equipment grid.  I also upgraded to a new building, and will get the final upgrade next time- I miss the "765" taped over the glass already.

Already plotting on getting another True End, though I'm not sure I can get it with the idols I'll be picking next.  I'm also torn on whether to pick gear sets or maximize individual gear stats, and whether I'll be able to tolerate the inevitable fashion mishap.

[AweOfShe]

(fifth if you count that horrendous bug that destroyed my data)

So the PS3 version ate your file too!? That happened to me after doing an Extra Episode run. Pushed me to do an extra play-through, for my Platinum Trophy. From that point on, I always kept a back up on my external HDD, and updated it after every run I finished. >_<

Anywho, now that school is over, I'm starting play-through #22 (Between both versions together). This play-through is more of a mop-up of stuff I haven't completed yet, like amulets, and stages, and what-not.
Unit: 竜宮COUNTER!!
Members: Yayoi (Leader), Takane, Mami
1st Song: Nanairo Botan

[blake307]

That is why I have been constantly backing up my save files via flash drive. Just in case my PS3 happens to get a YLOD or if a save file ends up corrupting I won't end up losing the save files I have.

Anyway, I finished my 4th playthrough with Yukiho(Leader again), Haruka, and Makoto. I was finally able to get the true end this time. But I will admit I did have a little trouble with a couple of regional festivals. But I was able to pass them somehow using some of the amulets I have like the secret crescent amulet and I was able to finish off a clean sweep by beating all the regional festivals including the capital region one. So I was able to listen to First Step on my TV while watching Yukiho's true end. XD

I'm going to start my next playthrough with the full Project fairy trio with Takane as the leader. So i'm gonna see if I can get the true ending with her as well.

[JNiles]

I did have a backup... just not recent enough to have a good Idolmaster save.  Also, my external hard drive is using a different format than the PS3, so I've had to use a clumsy flash drive that's barely big enough for full backups.  I usually just back up the Idolmaster save.

[satty]

Started my 2nd playthough yesterday. I'm currently 2 weeks before FUJISAN ROCK.

Unit name: Rigel
Members: Makoto (Leader), Yukiho, Miki

1st song:The iDOLM@STER 2nd Mix
2nd: Honey Heartbeat
3rd: Do-dai

Tried to break top 20 with the 1st song, but I fell short at 24th place. I'm now training my unit to level 16, something I haven't done yet.

Edit: Finished up with 2nd playthrough,

4th: relations
5th: Kosmos, Cosmos

Well, managed to make #1 on the charts due to a late break, and I just was shy of getting the true end for Makoto (although I didn't understand much anyway).

[Funkies]

Haven't had much of a chance to play anything lately, due entirely to a problematic foster kid here.  She is a domestic terrorist, pure and simple.  Two more days... just two more days... and she'll be moved to a residential facility.  As sad as it sounds, I can't wait.

Difficulty: Normal
Unit Name: WinterNYAN
Members: Mami (Leader), Takane, Yukiho
Song #1: Kosmos, Cosmos
Song #2: My Best Friend
Song #3: Do-Dai
Song #4: Ai LIKE Hamburger
Song #5: Jibun REST@RT

I liked this trio from the Takane game I played, though I'm a bit more amused with Mami.  I forget what week the crew is up to, but I wanted to work up a bit more than ~100k for a Hyper run.  Standard fare, not pushing releases as hard this time.  The 4th squeaked up to #1 somehow, the reactions are always amusing.  I started this run two weeks ago, and I'm still not past the nomination week.

Anyway... two more days... well... one and a half... close enough.  Then finally I can get back to playin' vidjya games... among other lovely things.

I miss sleep, I miss it lots.

EDIT: Indeed was Jibun REST@RT as the fifth song.  Revivals are silly things, and they elude me completely sometimes for no reason.  First time I've had five full Memory Appeals, and they helped to take down VESPERIA earlier than I normally would have.  Everything's bought from the stores, though now I can no longer see the reactions when going shopping.  It is sad.  Mami's story was entertaining, so I can dig it.  A bit over 400k, so I think it'll be a Makoto Hyper deal next!

The foster kid situation is handled, and sleep has been rediscovered!  Thanks satty for the encouragement!  I just hope Play-Asia restocks their 10k cards soon.  I was attempting to get a jump on the DLC, and ordered a day before the PV became available.  Which was sooner than I expected the DLC to pop up, but was still under the impression a few days would be plenty of time for them to restock.

Nope, but I did have some hangover from earlier this month... so Marionette no Kokoro and Ai are amusing!

[satty]

@Funkies: Good luck with what's happening.

Started 3rd playthrough:

Unit: Cassiopeia
Members: Miki (Leader), Takane, Hibiki (yes, Project Fairy time)

1st song: shiny smile

Right now, I'm trying to get the reporter that helps you with lessons. That's sorta of a pain, though. I'm aiming to get top 20 by week 8, though, with shiny smile in the top 50.

[DancingMari]

Alright, I finished my fourth playthrough a while ago, but due to finals and stuff, I'm just posting the info now...
 Unit Name: RedVELVET
Members: Takane (leader), Haruka, Makoto

Singles:

1: My Song
2: i
3: Smoky Thrill
4: The World is All One
5: READY! (Reached #1 on DoTop TV right after the Fireball FES)

Awards Won: Ocean Blue, Snow White, Idol Academy Grand Prix
Rank: B

Finished my fifth playthrough two days ago (best one so far, aiming for better, yay!)

Unit Name: CHOCOLAT
Members: Mami (leader), Makoto, Hibiki

Singles:

1: Kosmos Kosmos
2: Honey Heartbeat
3: Do-Dai
4: Kiramekirari
5: Go My Way (Reached #1 at week 46 or 47...I think...?)

Awards Won: Forest Green, Black Pearl, Phoenix Red, Idol Academy Grand Prix
Rank: B (even though I got all A's for all categories...)

Now currently working on my sixth playthrough:

Unit Name: HABANERO
Members: Haruka (leader), Mami, Yayoi

Singles:
1: The Idolm@ster 2nd-Mix
and I'm planning on doing:
Little Match Girl
Relations
Go My Way
Kiramekirari (or Do-Dai).

I really need to get Rinkamo and Niku-wan...
because I've been using Dance songs a lot recently... D:

[Setsuna]

Well, since I've been trying to take a few days off (I worked on Christmas day, and I like shutting down between the 24th and the 2nd normally) I thought I'd play a little catchup.

Hyper Run 5 - Chihaya destroys Tokyo.

As Hibiki and Takane spend time arguing about who is better, Chihaya orders some tea, then shows her report card in the simulation.

http://www.mediafire.com/?q8hdbrphjwwwyrn

The other two are promptly shocked, and head out to find Miki, because they need to scheme a plan to get at the producer, except of course, they're not going to find her, since she's part of Chihaya's utter destruction of Japan.

The quick details:

- Nearly 11 million sales.
- First time that Marionette Heart was used - It sold 3 million, and held off Nanairo Button.
- For some odd reason, she danced better than she could sing, even though, uh, she isn't a very good dancer, in comparison to her singing. Oops?

[AkinaSumora]

Ok, it took a while, but I just finished my first (experimental) playthrough of Idolmaster 2! Also my first game ever, this being the first im@s game I've owned. And... for a newbie, I think I did pretty well. Here are my final stats.

Group name: StarBlaze (Hibiki as leader, Makoto, Miki)
Group Image Level: 16
Memory Appeals: 4
High Score: 38731 pts. (this was the first place I sucked)
CD sale total: 2,377,834
If the last 2 grades are Number of Rewinds and Total Awards Won, then I got 2 and 0. My Japanese isn't all that good. Could have sworn I only did hell training once though...
Producer Rank: C

Anyway, the songs we produced in order were: Honey Heartbeat, Meisou Mind, Me ga Au Toki, relations, and shiny smile. SS was used against Jupiter at Fireball, and while I was thinking I would have to retry many times before I found a costume combo/amulet/strategy to beat them, I got it on the first try! It ended up coming in at number 5 in the last week of the game (helped by a break) with 953,337 in sales. The group itself, I raised as Dance/Visual, and they were equipped with the Waranappee the 10th amulet when at Fireball.

No awards won, so I got the bad ending. But I aim to do better with my real group on the next run! Kinda want to do the RK extra first though...

[BadBoy25]

Well, it's a bit since my last report. The 2nd playthrough (Haruka, Yukiho, Yayoi) was a complete disaster, I was aiming at the true end but I just achieved the bad ending; my 5th song was stuck at #15. -_-
Unit: Haruka (leader), Yukiho, Yayoi
Songs: Little match girl; Kiramekirari; Kosmos, Cosmos; Go my way; The world is all one
Rank: D (or was it E!? -_-')
The 3rd playthrough (Hibiki, Chihaya, Mami) is going really smooth: I obtained the AI qualification with the 3rd song (Do-Dai), the 4th song (Shiny Smile) is at #5 and I'm going to release the 5th soon. I'm pretty sure I'll win the AI GP and some regional special festival.
I think I'll end this run tomorrow, stay tuned for latest updates. XD