maimai | |
---|---|
Maimai DX Splash cabinet | |
Developer(s) | Sega |
Publisher(s) | Sega |
Composer(s) | Hiroshi Kawaguchi |
Platform(s) | Arcade |
Release | maimai
|
Genre(s) | Rhythm game |
Mode(s) | Single-player, Multiplayer |
Arcade system | RingEdge 2; ALLS (DX above) |
Maimai (stylized in all lowercase) is an arcade rhythm game developed and distributed by Sega, in which the player interacts with objects on a touchscreen and executes dance-like movements. The game supports both single-player and multiplayer gameplay with up to 4 players.
The game is mainly available in Japan, later with an English-language version available to overseas regions including Taiwan and Hong Kong[1][2] and a simplified Chinese version for China.[3]
The PiNK PLUS version of the game was location tested in the United States at Dave & Buster's in Irvine, California in December 2016,[4] and was also tested at Round 1 in Puente Hills, California in January 2017.[5] In 2021, several “classic” cabinets with the FiNALE version installed, appeared at the Round 1 at Deptford Mall in New Jersey.
The defining feature of maimai's arcade cabinet is its striking resemblance to a front-loading washing machine.[6] Early advertisements and promotional materials had different joke catchphrases sprinkled in, such as "It's not a washing machine!" and "No water." At its first deployment test, maimai had "NO WASHING" written on its cabinet. Early in development, the original concept was actually a music player, instead of a rhythm game. One or two people can play per machine. The motherboard can be accessed using the back door on the player 2 side. The original design was made in collaboration with Electronics manufacturer Sharp in Sega's maimai LIVE 2014 Washing Festival event.[7][8][9]
To save their personal play data, players can use an IC "Aime" card with the machine to log into their account. From October 25, 2018 onward, other IC cards from other developers such as "Project DIVA" and "BanaPassport" cards will also work with maimai.
Using a computer or smartphone, a player can use "maimai DX NET" to access detailed information on their account like scores and earned achievements as well as change their account name. Before "maimai deluxe" was released, it was possible to link a niconico account to upload a recording of the play from the camera built into the arcade machine. Even without a niconico account, the player could view the recording. However, in the summer of 2019, this integration was removed with the release of maimai DX, and a camera and photo gallery was added instead, where commemorative photos at the end of a song could be saved instead. The recording function was completely removed in favor of the photos.
If a player is already playing on a machine, the second player's input will not work at all until the end of the game. The background image during this time states "Please wait until the play is finished".
Various kinds of objects will appear at the centre and approach the outer rim of the circular touchscreen. The player must tap, hold or slide on the touchscreen or surrounding buttons in time with the music, depending on the type of note.
The types of notes in the game includes:[10]
Each song in the game has four to five playable difficulty levels, four of the regular difficulties being: BASIC, ADVANCED, EXPERT, and MASTER.[11] MASTER mode is only unlocked upon achieving a Rank S score (97% and above) on the EXPERT difficulty of a song.[12] Alternatively, one can also obtain a Ranks S on the MASTER chart of the song (if available for play) and unlock the MASTER chart itself. A RE:MASTER mode is available for selected songs and will be unlocked after achieving a Rank S score on the EXPERT or MASTER difficulty. (Rank S scores former to the addition of RE:MASTER mode on songs will not be counted)[13]
maimai's scoring system includes alphabetical ranks and a percentage score calculated based on the player's MISS, GOOD, GREAT, PERFECT and CRITICAL PERFECT notes. Players also earn achievements for not missing any notes (FULL COMBO), achieving PERFECT or CRITICAL PERFECT on every note (ALL PERFECT), achieving CRITICAL PERFECT on every note (理論値) or obtaining a 100% score on SYNC PLAY (100% SYNC).
In order to CLEAR a song, players must score at least 80% on a song. In maimai PiNK, the ranking system changed from D-SS to F-SSS. In maimai MiLK PLUS, 3 new ranks, namely S+, SS+ and SSS+, were added to the ranking system, thus changing the system to F-SSS+.
ORANGE PLUS | → | PiNK | → | MiLK PLUS | → | DX | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SS | 100% and above | SSS | 100% and above | SSS+ (AP+) | Obtaining an ALL PERFECT and getting the full score of the song | SSS+ | 100.5000% and above | |||
S | 97-99.99% | SS | 99-99.99% | SSS | 100%-(full score of the song - 0.01%) | SSS | 100-100.4999% | |||
AA | 94-96.99% | S | 97-98.99% | SS+ | 99.50-99.99% | A to SS+ rankings remain the same as MiLK PLUS. | ||||
A+ | 90-93.99% | AAA | 94-96.99% | SS | 99-99.49% | |||||
A | 85-89.99% | AA | 90-93.99% | S+ | 98-98.99% | |||||
A- | 80-84.99% | A | 80-89.99% | S | 97-97.99% | |||||
B+ | 75-79.99% | B | 60-79.99% | All other rankings remain the same as PiNK. | BBB | 75-79.9999% | ||||
B | 65-74.99% | C | 40-59.99% | BB | 70-74.9999% | |||||
B- | 55-64.99% | D | 20-39.99% | B | 60-69.9999% | |||||
C | 20-54.99% | E | 10-19.99% | C | 50-59.9999% | |||||
D | 19.99% and below | F | 9.99% and below | D | 49.9999% and below |
If the game cabinet has a camera installed, players can record one of their played songs and access them on the website maimaiNET, which can then be downloaded and posted to sites like niconico and YouTube.
In MURASAKi, if a two player game is engaged, and both gets max combo for a song (regardless of difficulty), both the players will get "MAX FEVER" and will be shown on the song selection screen.
A significant proportion of players puts on gloves during gameplay.[10][15]
maimaiNET and maimaideluxeNET are the names for maimai's player account website. To enable these services, a SEGA ID or other IC card with play data has to be linked.[16]
Its functions include:
Along with officially licensed songs from popular artists, VOCALOID songs, Touhou Project arrangements, songs from other SEGA video games, and maimai original songs are also often added to the library. Each song has a unique background image, and in some cases may be the original PV corresponding to the song. Currently, songs in maimai are sorted into categories based on where they originated from. They may also be found in other categories for reasons like events and new releases.
By doing certain achievements and actions in the game, the player can earn various badges for their maimaiNET profile, as well as player icons and titles. Some are hidden achievements found only through playing the game. Some achievements may also unlock songs.
|title=
specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in en). https://twitter.com/performai/status/233731733365858304.
|title=
specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in en). https://twitter.com/maimai_official/status/1220150991909056513.