UlasanAnime.com – With the release of the last Tripri member’s SSR and recent upgrades to social features and new game modes, it’s a fitting time to review the first 30 weeks of IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls: Starlight Stage (Deresute) and look ahead to its next phase.
The game’s impressive revenue figures certainly justify prominent advertising, even featuring a well-known celebrity. The sheer financial success is remarkable.
A point of interest is observing how early adopters of Japanese free-to-play rhythm games with idol elements will adapt to a post-voiced-idol reality in Deresute. Unlike some other titles, Deresute doesn’t feature “trash idols,” a creative decision shared with Love Live SIF that warrants attention regarding the franchise’s direction.
The overwhelming support for Deresute bodes well for the franchise’s future, potentially leading to more Cinderella Girls anime. This success can be viewed as a culmination of 2015’s promotional efforts, including the IM@S 10th and DereAni promotions, which built goodwill that Deresute now monetizes. It’s not just a major franchise finding its footing, but also a struggling development company striking gold in a competitive market—a true Cinderella story.
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The game likely experienced a significant shift with the Tulips event, featuring characters who had minimal exposure in DereAni. This raises questions about the fanbase for these less prominent characters, unless one is a dedicated Cinderella Producer.
This brings up the persistent question of an English localization. While a release seems plausible, its potential success remains uncertain, prompting consideration of how Bandai Namco perceives this possibility, especially given the author’s own reservations as a franchise supporter.
The game has settled into predictable patterns for gacha idols and event types, though variations exist. Current event formats include standard song point contests, medley event contests, and caravan events focused on farming SR idols and in-game items. Each event builds upon previous iterations, with the quest system enhancing song events and the medal exchange simplifying caravan events.
A notable new addition is the 5-player multiplayer battle system and the quest system, which rewards players for various achievements. The introduction of these features earlier this week likely provided a significant jewel bonus for many dedicated players.
Personally, the author’s engagement with the game has waned due to the intense grind required for competitive events. While Deresute’s grind is generally forgiving, the lack of an extra hour or two for dedicated play led to missed opportunities, such as not obtaining Anya or Fred again. These disappointments, while minor, do impact the player experience.
The thrill of pulling caravan SRs and the general gacha experience remain enjoyable aspects of the game, encouraging continued, albeit responsible, participation. Deresute possesses a solid foundation for sustained success.
The primary objective for Deresute is to mitigate player attrition during this initial phase of potential decline, ensuring the game remains rewarding for its dedicated player base without exhausting its core appeal. The introduction of new game modes, particularly the somewhat complex multiplayer system, is likely a strategic move to maintain player interest.
Competitiveness in events remains high, with event scores typically ranging between 15,000 and 20,000. While the engagement level of the broader player base, with 10 million downloads, is difficult to gauge, a substantial number of players are still actively ranking. The stratification of lower tiers might serve as a better indicator of overall engagement.
Introducing new features that enhance existing gameplay is a smart strategy for maintaining player interest, and the implementation of the quest system exemplifies this approach. As long as developers continue to innovate creatively, these features should provide long-term enjoyment for players.
In time, the marketing engine is expected to re-engage, positioning Deresute as a more effective content delivery platform than traditional methods, thereby drawing players back periodically. The potential for Deresute to host events similar to Million Live’s 3rd tour for Cinderella Girls’ 4th event is exciting.
This integration extends beyond in-game features; in true media-mix fashion, all aspects of IM@S can interconnect, driving not only engagement and enjoyment but also adding a new dimension to the franchise’s interaction with its audience. This interconnectedness represents the true strength of the franchise.
