iDOLM@STER 2!!

[BT2]

*coughleakinganonsoftenpostblurryphotoscough*

[TweenDoriru]

Most of the scans such as those are uploaded all blurry and stuff. To be honest, I've always wondered about the inconsistent blurriness, but it -always- looks like certain parts are blurred on purpose.

Also, Haruka isn't dead last in that quintet box? Hibiki is. They could've put RK members first due to the many fans hating the fact they aren't/weren't useable (though why Mami is up there, I have no idea).

All in all, we'll have to wait until we can get clear scans and info to prove for sure. If it's from a Famitsu magazine, it should be soon, right?

[hamuzou961]

Has it occurred to anyone that the scan might be fake? The inconsistent level of blurriness is really weird - it's like someone purposefully masked the text and certain pictures.

And just in general it looks quite fake, no?

In any case I think it's best to take the scan with a pinch of salt until a clearer version shows up.

****

Some points of suspicion to think about:

-Would the developers really call a mode S4U/Stage 4 U mode? Does it even make sense? What was the naming convention used for iMAS DS? Isn't it something simpler like Performance Mode or something like that.

-Observe the screenshot on the second page that has the word "Quintet" on it. All 13 idol portraits can be seen on that screenshot... but isn't the order they're listed really weird? Why would they have Mami and Ami along with the RK members in the top row, followed by the rest (with Haruka, the supposed "main heroine" of the game being listed dead last).

please be a joke post...

[KIRBYSIM]

I'm highly suspicious of the scan. In the first place, if you're going to leak a scan, why would you want to purposely obscure specific parts of the scan by adding blur filters? And if you notice, whoever uploaded the scan only blurred IN-DEPTH specifics. Most of the sub-headers are not blurred out.

Also, patterns on all the costumes are blurred out. Which would totally make sense if someone where to photoshop a bunch of costumes over pre-existing iMAS2 screenshots. Look at that Ritsuko screenshot on page 1. It's so fake.

C'mon, guys. Does it make sense to you that developers would make you select the performers you want from character portraits? Recall, in all previous screenshots when you select your idols it's always been through this photo of the 13 idols standing in the 765 office. So why character portraits for this supposed S4U mode?

I'll eat my words if someone produces a clearer version of the scan. But I'm pretty damn sure it's a fake scan someone created as a joke.

[Maka]

The Hula Girl image's stage background looks really badly photoshopped [the Match Girl one is bad too] but they'd have to be really skilled in order to create a realistic-looking Starry costume, right?

So I guess it's a waiting game until someone gets a hold of the magazine.

[Elixir]

It's a lot of effort if it's a fake.

[KIRBYSIM]

If this is real we'll know when Famitsu posts it on their website in a couple of days' time.

But really the more I scrutinise the scan, the more I feel it can't be real. The only screenshots depicting quintet performances are the ones on the upper right and lower right corners of the second page - which are so devoid of details that they look like cartoon paintings someone made up.

All the other screenshots look like L4U screencaps with some editing work done.

[Elixir]

http://www.amiami.jp/shop/?set=english&vgForm=ProductInfo&sku=TVG-X36-0800&template=default/product/e_display.html

iM@S2 console bundle.

So, does the DLC card allow you to download the Games on Demand version of L4U? I don't think that would work outside of Japan.

Mediocre bundle, honestly. I was expecting something like a themed console or faceplate.

[KIRBYSIM]

http://www.amiami.jp/shop/?set=english&vgForm=ProductInfo&sku=TVG-X36-0800&template=default/product/e_display.html

iM@S2 console bundle.

So, does the DLC card allow you to download the Games on Demand version of L4U? I don't think that would work outside of Japan.

Mediocre bundle, honestly. I was expecting something like a themed console or faceplate.

Yeah it's not terribly appealing.

But I think the Games on Demand thing should work if your XBL account belongs to a territory that has it up for sale. Worse case scenario, you can always create a Japanese account to redeem the game with.

************

Okay, I think I may have found a smoking gun to prove that the scan is fake (it's not conclusive but... oh, just bear with me here).

Refer to the screenshot of Dotop TV rankings on the second page of the scan. It looks completely different from the official screenshot as seen here: http://www.bandainamcogames.co.jp/cs/list/idolmaster/im2/system/index.html

1) Note the design of the leaderboards. It looks similar to the one in L4U (fits 10 on one page), and completely different from the official screenshot (only fits 5 on one page, slanted alignment).
2) The Dotop character face is made up of many smaller squares, and has a chip on his top-left corner. Comparatively, in the fake scan... well, it just looks like something someone conjured up in MS Paint.
3) Most tellingly, in all of the official Dotop TV screenshots and videos (from trailers 1, 2, and 6) if you look at the bottom of the screen it says press B to exit, and if you look in Dotop's speech bubble it tells you to press Y to access the replay (if there's a replay available; in trailer 6 the listing given had no replay). In the fake scan, however, at the bottom it lists commands for X, Y, and B buttons. And in the speech bubble it tells you to press A to select.

[TweenDoriru]

************

Okay, I think I may have found a smoking gun to prove that the scan is fake (it's not conclusive but... oh, just bear with me here).

Refer to the screenshot of Dotop TV rankings on the second page of the scan. It looks completely different from the official screenshot as seen here: http://www.bandainamcogames.co.jp/cs/list/idolmaster/im2/system/index.html

1) Note the design of the leaderboards. It looks similar to the one in L4U (fits 10 on one page), and completely different from the official screenshot (only fits 5 on one page, slanted alignment).
2) The Dotop character face is made up of many smaller squares, and has a chip on his top-left corner. Comparatively, in the fake scan... well, it just looks like something someone conjured up in MS Paint.
3) Most tellingly, in all of the official Dotop TV screenshots and videos (from trailers 1, 2, and 6) if you look at the bottom of the screen it says press B to exit, and if you look in Dotop's speech bubble it tells you to press Y to access the replay (if there's a replay available; in trailer 6 the listing given had no replay). In the fake scan, however, at the bottom it lists commands for X, Y, and B buttons. And in the speech bubble it tells you to press A to select.

Well, there's also this to mind; the story-mode leaderboard could just have a different appearance/etc. than the leaderboard among players for that stage-mode.

(also, image quality can't have a huge factor in this one; the scan is blurry all over. Maybe the person who gets the magazines early only has a super poor webcam or something?)

All the more exciting to see what update will come soon, hopefully with clear screenshots, text, etc. etc.

[BT2]

Pick one:

-Japan has wonky copyright laws
-Scanner's a shopkeeper/ employee of famitsu and wants to promote the sale of the magazine, it's not a good idea to give everything away for free
-the image was taken in a bad resolution and was blown up, blur filters were used to make the image look more pleasant
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/4204/imas76030s.jpg


also
We've gotten blurry images before and they turned out to be legit.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk147/dbscatson/20100214.jpg

[KIRBYSIM]

Okay, those are really good points. I wasn't aware that there were scans in the past that had details blurred out. :-0

*gets hyped*

[hamuzou961]

most times people just take quick snaps using their cellphones, which is why quality is normally blurry. the magazine issue contains new info as well as new screens. why anyone would go so far as to make up fake information and fake pictures for something like idolmaster is beyond me. and why anyone would be suspicious of this is even further beyond me.

[Cael K.]

The only things that stand out to me are the QR code, Ranking (both top of page 1), and the text on the bottom of page 2 (blue). The first two could just be blurring pen atop a legit photo, or just really crappy magnification. Still wondering why that text is so sharp, though.

Also, Promo Ranking screen =/= Performance Ranking screen? Everything else just looks like standard magnification blur.

And 14 songs? How many of them are old? I'm hoping for unlocks.

S4U = planned from start. No surprise.

EDIT: 3rd song is Me ga Au Toki? 4th, Kirame Kirari?

EDIT 2: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
http://www.famitsu.com/news/201102/10040222.html
Haruka runs faster than Chihaya. Chihaya is also as weak as a kitten.

[TweenDoriru]

The only things that stand out to me are the QR code, Ranking (both top of page 1), and the text on the bottom of page 2 (blue). The first two could just be blurring pen atop a legit photo, or just really crappy magnification. Still wondering why that text is so sharp, though.

Also, Promo Ranking screen =/= Performance Ranking screen? Everything else just looks like standard magnification blur.

And 14 songs? How many of them are old? I'm hoping for unlocks.

S4U = planned from start. No surprise.

EDIT: 3rd song is Me ga Au Toki? 4th, Kirame Kirari?

EDIT 2: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
http://www.famitsu.com/news/201102/10040222.html
Haruka runs faster than Chihaya. Chihaya is also as weak as a kitten.

All of them are "old" except for The world is all one!! and MEGARE!, really (unless you count 2nd Mix as new)

Maybe the last 2 hidden songs are like...new and unrevealed. Either that or it's Smoky Thrill and Alice or Guilty? XDDD

Also, what's up with the baseball game...?