On the topic of the male idols, I mean, what are any valids reasons for getting rid of them? i hear alot are worried about the guys tkaing our idols, but lets remember, IM@S is not a dating sim, we wont have rivals for our idols affection! Dating sims are what IM@S is called by those losers who think they know the game. ARE WE FANS WAVERING TO THAT? I frigin' hope not ._.
Also, I feel namco might even make a IM@S game with nothing but males, directed towards the female fanbase of course.
Oh, and doujinshi games can be extremly popular. Look at Higurashi, or Umineko, or Touhou, etc. Sure, alot do pirate the games, but many buy a hell of alot of the murchandise that goes with it. Like it or not, 876 does have a fanbase, a considerable one (I being part of it), and even though it's not as popular as the other IM@S games, imagine a redesiged alternate universe version of those three. With where IM@S 2 is going, it's not impossible.