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the idolmaster

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maximum risky

Suggestive Rodeo Riding Machine Shame!!

A little background: Panasonic released "Joba" in 2005, a horseback riding machine. The machine mimics, well, horseback riding and provides riders with an ab workout. Aimed at seniors and those not keen on doing actual exercise, the key feature of Joba is that you really don't have to do more than simply sit on it to get a workout. (Though, arm movements are encouraged.) What's more, unlike, say, a treadmill, Joba does not take up much space in cramped Japanese dwellings. Panasonic has launched this product outside Japan to varying degrees of success.

Some shameful individuals have noticed how the machine is quite suggestive. And those shameful individuals have created embarrassing fan-made clips of video game characters riding the rodeo machines. Sadly, we have posted a few of the more game related ones after the jump — THE iDOLM@STER and Haruhi. Remember: These poor characters are supposed to be on the horseback riding machines. So! If you find that offensive, do not click over. The clips are possibly NSFW.

More »

4:00 AM on Fri Sep 12 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
20,481 views, 74 comments

Latest by RyderJ: *Wipes drool* Only because I so very much want a horseback riding simulator so very much, of course. more »

only in japan

iDOLMASTER Tickets Are Crazy Expensive

Fans of Namco's Xbox 360-exclusive, J-pop idol sim THE iDOLM@STER are rich, it seems. Tickets for the iDOLM@STER event "THE iDOLM@STER 3rd Anniversary Live later this month have been going bananas. Auction prices have hit as high as ¥138,000 or US$1,292 (starting at ¥6,500 or $61) and fetching about $470 on average. The event will have the full iDOLM@STER voice cast in attendance, so perhaps these prices are understandable.

No, no they are not.

アイドルマスターライブ [my game news flash via Sankaku Complex]

4:00 AM on Mon Jul 7 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
3,372 views, 28 comments

Latest by klyea: This isn't Namco's auction, it's user-to-user auction in Yahoo Japan.You can imagine there are tons of scams as you could more »

japan

Namco's Dancing Wii Game With Added iDOLM@STER

In the upcoming issue of Famitsu, Namco Bandai announced Wii music rhythm game Happy Dance Collection. The game has players rhythmically match Wii-mote motions. Yes, it's cutesy and it's got Mii crowd integration, but the real kicker here is the music. As expected, the game features popular J-Pop like "http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=2CHH8PDJqoI">Popstar" and "Choo Choo TRAIN", but also "Go My Way" from Namco's idol singer simulation Xbox 360 game THE iDOLM@STER. The female dancers also look iDOLM@STEResque. How's that for fan service!
The game is slated for sometime this year.

Wiiでアイドルマスターみたいなゲームを製作中 [Hatimaki]

7:00 AM on Wed Jul 2 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
1,095 views, 15 comments

Latest by M15ant470p3: @ Tetelestia You're just jealous that you can't bring yourself to fawn over cute anime chicks with impossible measurements and flawless more »

business

THE iDOLM@STER Singing Its Way onto Windows Live

Microsoft isn't sorta behind Xbox 360 exclusive THE iDOLM@STER: Live For You! Microsoft is totally behind it. So much so that the company is using the virtual pop star sim idols for MS messenger. Windows Live now has an official iDOLM@STER theme pack, complete with cutesy icons. A second theme pack has been announced! Word has it that apparently Microsoft will even be releasing "voice packs" for Windows Live using the game's voice talent. Not sure if this will help, but okay!
THE iDOLM@STER [Windows Live Thanks, Muu!]

10:00 PM on Wed Mar 12 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
1,968 views, 20 comments

Latest by kevinay: @fuchikoma: i'd really spend any amount on that if it was released (no kidding) :P more »

oddities

Which Xbox.com Is Japan's?

We've got America, the UK, France, Brazil, India, Australia, Korea, Taiwan and, yep, Japan. Okay, to be fair, Lost Odyssey has already been released in Japan and the Japanese site isn't always that color. But, still.
Xbox.coms [Byonabi]
Site Byonabi Sourced [Neko Are Blog]

10:00 PM on Wed Feb 20 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
13,131 views, 60 comments

Latest by Demaar: @NitrousO: Really? Guess I'm not that well versed in the genre. Still, the fact that a girl raising game (that's more »

clip

Sing Along to New iDOLM@STER: L4U Trailer

Excited about THE iDOLM@STER: Live for You's impending release later this month? We certainly are! Here's the latest trailer and color pallet. The newest song even features man-chanting. Yes, MAN-CHANTING. There are two words for this, and they are "bone chilling."

[Thanks, Muu!]

10:00 PM on Fri Feb 15 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
3,598 views, 61 comments

Latest by lupohki: Please Namco, if you aren't planning to do a US release, at least don't let this one be region locked more »

only in japan

Red Ring of Death, Naughty Faceplate

Red Ring of Death sucks. Those who've seen the mark know the feeling of having to send their console back in hopes of getting it fixed — or better yet, a new one. But some people don't want a new one. Perhaps they are attached to their console and have fond memories of it. They want their machine fixed. One Japanese Xbox 360 owner (and iDOLM@STER fan) sent his off to repairs and made this short clip when it got back. He writes:
My bride came back.！ My Xbox 360 is back from Repairs and I couldn't be any happier. I was so happy... I decided to make a very simple very short video showing my wonderful Xbox and how it is after getting back from the repair
And how does he know its his? The serial number and, well, his topless teen faceplate. Yep.

Oh, sorry about the clip size. You're going to have to squint. But, really, perhaps that's for the best. Thanks, Muu for the tip!
sm2127319 [NicoNico]

11:00 PM on Wed Feb 13 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
8,518 views, 151 comments

Latest by Lyner: @Witzbold: Yeah, most probably. Still would be pretty cool to know what materials he used. x3 more »

xbox 360

Japan Downloads iDOLM@STER Content Big Time

Wallets open! At a recent Namco press conference, it was announced that music idol managing sim THE iDOLM@STER has sold over 100,000 copies since going on sale last January in Japan. That's not so impressive (it is an Xbox 360 game, though). Here is what's impressive: It's number 3 in the world for downloadable content, selling US $3 million worth. That means the DLC per copy rate is VERY HIGH. What's more, this is only Japan. Free downloadable demos also clock in at 1.2 downloads. The entire iDOLM@STER market size for arcades, merchandise (CDs, etc) and whatnot is supposedly around US $56 million dollars. What's THE iDOLM@STER? It's nerd heroin.
Press Conference [IT Media Thanks, muu!]

11:00 PM on Fri Jan 18 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
3,750 views, 46 comments

Latest by DBCDude01: @Nick The Newbie: I care about it. more »

clip

The Singing Idolmaster Girls Return

Miki Hoshii and the girls are back for more singing, dancing and idol mastering. Next February will see the release of THE iDOLM@STER: Live for You. We're slightly excited about the game (and the in-concert button pressing). But know: There are people in Japan who are more excited. Way more.

6:00 AM on Wed Nov 28 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
3,090 views, 47 comments

Latest by Soriya: That is so very cute but not one I'd ever... ever play. ... Ever. more »

clip

Cute Virtual Idol Sings Game Tunes

What's all the rage in nerdland? This. That is a clip of "Cute Pop Idol" Miku Hatsune (ミク初音), who's name means "Future" (ミク=未来=Miku) "First Sound" (初=hatsu=first 音＝ne＝sound). She is a hugely popular character in Yamaha's singing synthesizer application Vocaloid2. Here's the interesting bit: The vocal software is tweaked especially for J-pop anime-type songs. The software is apparently way easier to learn than stuff pros use, so otaku are easily able to create things like the this melody from THE iDOLM@STER, Super Mario RPG, Megaman, Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, Haruhi and Lucky Star. Epic. Thanks, Miki for the tip!

11:00 PM on Thu Oct 25 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
7,330 views, 48 comments

Latest by theharmfulspork: This is terrible... more »