idolmaster-dearly-stars
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DSi-enhanced Idolm@ster is region-locked
Since the DSi was first announced, it's been difficult to precisely determine its regional limitations. Rumor spread that everything would be region-locked -- that all Japanese games would be incompatible with an American DSi. That's not true. So far, only DSiWare has been proven region-locked, as a function of region-specific DSi Shops. In addition, Nintendo has said that DSi-exclusive games would be region-locked. But you can still play any normal DS game on any DS system, including the DSi.NeoGAFfer t3nmilez provides an account that helps clarify the DSi region-locking situation. He imported The Idolm@ster Dearly Stars, which has extra camera features when used in a DSi, and it didn't register in his American DSi; though it worked in an American DS Lite and a Japanese DSi. From this, we can infer that (if his DSi isn't busted) DSi-enhanced games are regionally encoded just like DSi-only games. So if you want to play The Idolm@ster, make sure you have either a Japanese DSi or a DS Lite.[Via GoNintendo]
One of the Idolmaster idols is a boy
The Idolm@ster: Dearly Stars is interesting for more than just being the first entry in Namco Bandai's rhythm game/management series on Japan's favorite console. It's notable in that it deals with some surprisingly complex topics for a bubbly anime-style game -- though, of course, they seem to be handled in the bubbliest, most anime-style way possible.A few days ago, it was revealed that idol Hidaka Ai is the daughter of a former idol who had to leave the business after becoming pregnant with Ai at age 16. Now, a new video reveals that another of the idols, Akizuki Ryo, is a boy disguised as a girl. Who knew these fictional idols had such complicated lives? The news has actually increased interest among users of Japan's Nicovideo site.The video, from Namco Bandai's own Idolm@ster channel on Nicovideo, is embedded after the break.
Idolmaster: Dearly Stars coming to DS
As you may or may not know, the Idolmaster rhythm game series is so popular in Japan that the most commonly selected name for newborns there last year was [insert some name from Idolmaster's Wikipedia entry here]. Now that it's -- according to some Famitsu scans -- apparently coming to DS in Idolmaster: Dearly Stars, we expect the Land of the Rising Sun to love it even harder. Look for it to be elected "King of Forever" by the fall.Also, congrats to Team Idolm@ster for coming up with the most awkward DS backronym yet.
