iDOLM@STER 2!!

[TweenDoriru]

It's hard to say, but I don't think there will be a particular downside. In iM@S 360 when your idol had low tension, you'd get those bonus lessons, or she'd ask for more. Those didn't have any negative effect, but gave you that extra stat-bonus.

Though, one could consider the negative effect being the low tension itself. Don't the idols tend to skip work if their tension is low?

[Clear Blue]

It's hard to say, but I don't think there will be a particular downside. In iM@S 360 when your idol had low tension, you'd get those bonus lessons, or she'd ask for more. Those didn't have any negative effect, but gave you that extra stat-bonus.

Though, one could consider the negative effect being the low tension itself. Don't the idols tend to skip work if their tension is low?

I guessing if their tension is low, they would just take a day-off.

I wouldn't expect there to be one, since you get it if your idol fails a lot or has really low energy. Decreasing your group's tension when it's already really low and your groups' career is a flop just sounds mean. It's like... Chihaya Spiral times 3.

Although there probably is some sort of penalty. Maybe it increases the stats quickly but makes it harder to raise them in ordinary lessons. Or maybe it just takes a lot of time [assuming that IM@S2 has some sort of "time limit" like the 360 version].

Idolm@ster 2 has a time limit. The top left part of the magazine talks about players can take the idols out to go shopping, buying costumes and accessories for them. Not only you're going to waste money on shopping, you're also wasting time, if you go to the boutique and then you find out that you don't have enough money, you're just wasting time, so you have to give it a second thought.

[Ghift]

I don't know the ins and outs (read: anything) about how tension and the like works in the first game, but there must be some kind of penalty for the hell training (other than any relationship with the idol(s) plummeting I assume) otherwise it becomes a valid choice for quick-stat raising rather than a punishment for letting things go too far in the wrong direction.

[Clear Blue]

Well...It didn't say anything about what would happen if the idols failed their training or what kind of penalty they would get...(Maybe it's confidential just like what the magazine says.)

[TweenDoriru]

I don't know the ins and outs (read: anything) about how tension and the like works in the first game, but there must be some kind of penalty for the hell training (other than any relationship with the idol(s) plummeting I assume) otherwise it becomes a valid choice for quick-stat raising rather than a punishment for letting things go too far in the wrong direction.

True, but like I said, there wasn't a penalty for getting the extra lessons in iM@S360. The "penalty" for letting things go too far in the wrong direction is the risk of having your idol not  show up. (I'm not sure if there were other low-tension disadvantages...more "bad" slots in a memory appeal, maybe)

That being said, the extended lessons and "bonus" lessons weren't called Hell Training, either...

[KIRBYSIM]

True, but like I said, there wasn't a penalty for getting the extra lessons in iM@S360. The "penalty" for letting things go too far in the wrong direction is the risk of having your idol not  show up. (I'm not sure if there were other low-tension disadvantages...more "bad" slots in a memory appeal, maybe)

That being said, the extended lessons and "bonus" lessons weren't called Hell Training, either...

Speaking of no-shows, I just read a bunch of iMAS2 stories from Dengeki Online, and in one of them it's mentioned that your guests for the quintet live may or may not show up depending on your level of trust/relationship with the characters you invite.

Another thing I found interesting is that on top of managing money and number of fans, there's also a "fans' attention level" that you have to keep in check by having your idol unit appear in TV performances and stuff. If your unit hasn't performed for a while in a certain area of Japan, the attention level drops and your fans will decrease for that area.

Also, it looks like your unit's ranking in the charts depends on the number of Perfect appeals you score during live performances. Stars appear during Perfect appeals, and they're tabulated to improve your position on the charts - if the song your unit performs is one that's been tailored for one of your idols (like Go My Way for Haruka), you get more stars for Perfect appeals, resulting in a better chance at ranking higher.

Wow. There's just so much more depth in iMAS2 than before.

[TweenDoriru]

o.o wow. Maybe since they're using timed lessons (which are wayyyy easier), they thought they'd give our brains something else to strategize on...

But, I wonder how they sort out the amount of trust/relationship with your guests. Can you have commus with everyone in the company, and not just the idols you're in charge of?

I think all of the depth would be a fun addition...though, now that I think about it...while iM@S2 is still new, there won't be icomu-master for it, and then I'll be in trouble XDD

[KIRBYSIM]

o.o wow. Maybe since they're using timed lessons (which are wayyyy easier), they thought they'd give our brains something else to strategize on...

But, I wonder how they sort out the amount of trust/relationship with your guests. Can you have commus with everyone in the company, and not just the idols you're in charge of?

I think all of the depth would be a fun addition...though, now that I think about it...while iM@S2 is still new, there won't be icomu-master for it, and then I'll be in trouble XDD

Perhaps. This bit of info came from a caption that accompanied screenshots of a cutscene depicting your guests showing up. They didn't go into detail into how you might cultivate that level of trust.

[animagic4u]

..though, now that I think about it...while iM@S2 is still new, there won't be icomu-master for it, and then I'll be in trouble XDD

Well that happened to me during my first play through of SP, I literally guessed on every single commu.
But during that play through I got my highest idol level and rank because since I had no memories all the time I really had to focus hard on stats.
Once I got 360 I really focused on tension through lessons and through commus.

Did someone say promotions would have to be paid for? or is that only lessons and audtions?

[Sev]

Wow. There's just so much more depth in iMAS2 than before.

Kinda makes you think if you can beat this you could be a real Producer XD

[hamuzou961]

The world is all one !!（M@STER VERSION）released

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2mpWbw4ZKQ&feature=player_embedded

[Clear Blue]

It's nice that they released a full version of "The World is All One!".

[blake307]

The world is all one !!（M@STER VERSION）released

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2mpWbw4ZKQ&feature=player_embedded

The full version of the world is all one is pretty good.

Can't wait for the full version of Smoky Thrill to come out!

[TweenDoriru]

Kinda makes you think if you can beat this you could be a real Producer XD

With this game, we practically will be. Though, at least, in iM@S we don't have to keep our idols from saying blasphemous things that will ruin their fanbase (not talking about Hirano Aya or anything *cough*). No smoking or pregnancy scandals. Etc. XDD

It's nice to have the preview of The world is all one!!. Sounds really good so far. Now they just need to give us a preview of Smoky Thrill...soon, I hope XD

[Clear Blue]

OMG! Check this out!

http://ameblo.jp/project-imas/entry-10744484271.html

They're holding a New Year party on Jan 10th!