UlasanAnime.com – Today marks the final day of operation for the GREE-published version of Million Live, the original IDOLM@STER MILLION LIVE game, often referred to as “Greemas.” This game, central to the IP, has now ceased operations.
There are many thoughts to share, so this will be presented concisely in bullet points as a commemoration of this significant occasion.
Greemas was the game that introduced me to “gacha.” This experience lowered my mental barriers, leading me to spend money on games I deemed worthwhile, primarily the other two major IDOLM@STER SNS games, Deresute and Theater Days. I also invest in games that have provided significant entertainment, albeit to a lesser extent. For instance, while I’ve spent around $160 on Pricone Re:Dive, I likely won’t exceed that amount, which is less than 10% of my expenditure on Greemas.
While Greemas was occasionally very enjoyable, it often felt like a chore. Fortunately, the chore aspect was generally light, unless one aimed for extremely high rankings. According to the final statistics provided by the game during its shutdown period, I managed to achieve the “IDOLM@STER” achievement 11 times, indicating I produced at least one idol within the top percentiles. These smaller accomplishments contributed to the game’s enjoyment.
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What will be most missed about Greemas is its capacity for creative storytelling. This included events inspired by Star Wars, taking traditional idol challenges to new heights, the Namasuka Sunday events, and even “Tokugawa’s Castle,” a literal in-game event. There were also various sports meets, TGS, and a live event set on a space station. It was truly unconventional. Theater Days has yet to replicate this level of creativity, though there are signs that it might head in that direction.
Million Live may have been the first IDOLM@STER game to closely integrate the game with live events, allowing for producer support walls and even ticket lotteries within the game. It is hoped that this tradition will continue.
This game was also the first in the IM@S series to incorporate recorded lines from live performances into the game shortly after the events concluded. This approach effectively energized the dedicated fanbase involved in events and highlighted live performances as an integral part of the game. It suggests that Million Live as an IP truly revolves around its live events.
Beyond the in-game experience, the core community on Greemas was significant. During the Theater Boost (an idol voting event for Theater Days), communication occurred on the idol boards within Greemas. Greemas also featured a dialogue engine that allowed players to create and submit commu screens, with contests held for the best fan-submitted entries. The loss of these features, in addition to basic player communication and lounges, leaves no easy replacements.
Thank you, Greemas. Million Live will undoubtedly continue, but it will never be quite the same, and the good (and bad) times will not be forgotten.
