THE iDOLM@STER (Arcade)

Prerelease Info Z-EndsIt isn't 1st Vision iM@S without some pain!

Unused Graphics#

Idol Game Screenshots#

Very early screenshots from the Idol Game prototype, a working title of THE iDOLM@STER, can be found in the final version. The text on each image reads "(TBD) Idol Game.", "Raise your affection with Haruka", and "Final results on your closeness with Haruka!". The former can be seen in the earliest possible screenshot with Haruka Amami's model intact, while the latter two include a space for the goal number of points and, below it, the player's accumulated point amount (both of which are blank here).

THE iDOLM@STER (2003) Screenshots#

Now under the final title, several early screenshots are present in the game's files. There's also an end screen graphic.

The character selection screen shows a stat chart with stats that don't exist in the final game (Voice, Expressiveness, Appeal, Lyrics), with only Dance surviving. The final stats are Vocal, Dance, Visual, and Character. The character portraits use early art by character designer Toshiyuki Kubooka.

Also interesting is the audition UI, which bears almost no resemblance to the final. It appears to have some kind of rhythm game, judging by the sheet with notes at the very top. There is only one judge instead of three (one each for Vocal, Dance, and Visual), and his interest is shown as a score rather than a fluctuating gauge (which can empty in the final and cause the judge to leave early). The final has the player balance appeals between the three stats with the option of doing special Memory Appeals, but none of these are present. Instead, there is a motivational message for each girl as buttons. Maybe encouraging them would net the player extra points?

Unused THE iDOLM@STER Logo#

An earlier version of the game's logo.

Unused Backgrounds#

Unique/early backgrounds not seen anywhere in the final version. The first one could be seen in the earliest possible screenshot.

Bomberman#

A placeholder graphic featuring Bomberman. The text translates to "Test".

Unused Audio#

BGM Tracks#

Path: song.afs/song/bgm.afs

Within the archive container for the game's background music (which totals out at 60 tracks, twice the amount of the Xbox 360 remake's!) are several tracks that appear to be entirely unused. Many of those 30 extras are duplicates of existing tracks (sped up, etc), but there are 13 with no apparent place in the game at all. They're numbered here by their position in the BGM file.

02
File Name: AUDITION.adx
08
File Name: DANCE.adx
09
File Name: DAYTIME.adx
16
File Name: EXPRESS.adx
30
File Name: INPUT.adx
41
File Name: PRESSURE.adx
42
File Name: PRODUCE.adx
45
File Name: SCHEDULE.adx
52
File Name: TUTORIAL.adx
54
File Name: VOICE.adx
55
File Name: WAIT.adx
56
File Name: WILD.adx
57
File Name: WORDS.adx
Officially labeled as "IM_Words" in THE IDOLM@STER BEST OF 765+876=!! BGM COLLECTION album release, this track would later be used in THE iDOLM@STER SP.