Namco Bandai’s Idolm@ster series has been exclusive to Japan since it first debuted in 2005, so you’ve probably never heard of it, despite their popularity. But Namco has translated three of the titles into English and ported them over to iOS, giving fans all over the world the chance to experience the Japanese sensation for the first time.
The only problem is, they’re priced at $54.99 each!
The Idolm@ster series of rhythm games follows the career of a producer who recruits, trains, and promotes a group of female performers. You’re essentially the manager of a young girl band that’s taking the world by storm. In Japan, the series has been a massive seller, so it’s a surprise it’s taken Namco so long to translate it into English.
But that wait is finally over, and English-speaking rhythm game fans can get their hands on the games for the first time. Just don’t expect to pay iOS prices.
All three Idolm@ster titles are priced at $54.99 a piece — that’s a total of $164.97 if you buy all three. That’s the kind of price you’d expect to pay for a console game, but not for a mobile title that you’ll be playing on your iPhone or iPad.
We appreciate that Namco has had to translate each title into English, but $54.99 just seems extortionate. Especially when you consider that these games aren’t the full versions; they’re just rhythm games that have had all of the simulation aspects stripped away.
But if you’re happy to pay that to get your first taste of Idolm@ster, you’ll find the App Store links below.
- Idolm@ster Shiny Fiesta Rhythmic Record
- Idolm@ster Shiny Fiesta Hormonic Score
- Idolm@ster Shiny Fiesta Melodic
Via: Joystiq
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
