History Videogame / TheIdolmaster

* ''Starlit Season'', an upcoming game for [=PS4=] and PC to be release in 2020.

** The New Generation trio (Uzuki Shimamura, Rin Shibuya and Mio Honda), Kaede Takagaki, [[MrImagination Ranko Kanzaki]] and [[{{Hikikomori}} Anzu Futaba]] are [=DLC=] rivals from the ''Cinderella Girls'' mobile game and Shizuka Mogami, Tsubasa Ibuki, Mirai Kasuga, Nao Yokoyama and Serika Hakozaki from ''Million Live'' were released as DLC rivals.

* IntercourseWithYou: "Agent Yoru wo Yuku", dealing with male prostitution.

* {{Beat}}: From the song "Danketsu 2010":
-->'''TAKANE''': My name is Takane Shijou. [Beat] [Beat] [Beat] I'm afraid everything else is a secret.

An anime, ''Anime/IdolmasterXenoglossia'' -- from the [[Creator/{{Sunrise}} makers]] of ''Anime/MaiOtome'' -- was released in 2007 and later licensed by Sentai Filmworks. Rather than being a straight [[TheAnimeOfTheGame Anime Of The Game]], it was instead an {{Elseworld}} RealRobot show that cast the main characters as pilots (or "Masters") of {{Giant Robot}}s called [=IDOLs=] (making them [[IncrediblyLamePun IDOL-Masters]]). A more straightforward [[TheAnimeOfTheGame anime adaptation]] (called ''Anime/TheIdolmaster'') aired in Japan during the Summer and Fall Seasons of 2011.

* ''SP'', a trilogy of PSP ports, each of which contained three of the nine original idols.

* SoundtrackDissonance: On one of Chihaya's rank up promotions, she delivers the bad news about her parents getting divorced, she cries, and you have to wipe her tears. ...All while the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OshsluC1Ous cheery music]] that plays in all other Rank Up events plays in the background. This also applies to SP as well since the promotions are the same as the console version.

* SoundtrackDissonance: On one of Chihaya's rank up commus, she delivers the bad news about her parents getting divorced, she cries, and you have to wipe her tears. ...All while the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OshsluC1Ous cheery music]] that plays in all other Rank Up events plays in the background.

This page talks about the 765 Pro games. For the rest of the franchise, see Franchise/TheIdolmaster.

The franchise has spawned four subseries, ''[[VideoGame/TheIdolmasterCinderellaGirls Cinderella Girls]]'', ''[[VideoGame/TheIdolmasterMillionLive Million Live!]]'', ''[[VideoGame/TheIdolmasterSideM SideM]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/TheIdolmasterShinyColors Shiny Colors]]''. First released as Mobile/Browser CardGames, they feature unique idols and have spawned numerous [=CD=] releases and Anime/Manga adaptations of their own. ''[=SideM=]'' is also noteworthy for being the first game of the franchise with females as its main audience: it features solely male idols. ''Cinderella Girls'' spawned a big enough {{fandom}} to gain an [[Anime/TheIdolmasterCinderellaGirls anime]] that premiered on the Winter2015Anime season. It has also received a RhythmGame for smartphones named ''THE iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls: Starlight Stage'' (with gameplay similar to fellow rhythm phone games such as ''Franchise/LoveLive School Idol Festival'' but using 3D models), its own ''Gravure 4 You!'' series, and a VR live "game" called ''THE IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls: Viewing Revolution''. ''Million Live!'' has its own Rhythm Game similar to ''Cinderella Girls Starlight Stage'' named ''THE iDOLM@STER Million Live!: Theater Days''. ''[=SideM=]'' followed soon after with the announcement of not only a ''Starlight Stage''-like game of their own (''THE iDOLM@STER [=SideM=]: Live on St@ge!''), but an animated adaptation within the same year during the Fall2017Anime season.

It also has a [[Characters/TheIdolmaster character sheet]], and a dedicated fansite called [[http://www.project-imas.com/ Project-iMAS]] which includes [[TheWikiRule a wiki too]]. [[http://www.project-imas.com/wiki/Main_Page Click here for the wiki]]!

Also, as all good successful franchises do, ''The iDOLM@STER'' managed to inspire other series to try and latch on the same crowd. ''VideoGame/DreamCClub'' was [=D3Publisher=]'s answer to Bandai Namco's giant, with some unique elements in order to not look like they're the same thing.

Tropes that are common for the franchise as a whole, please, list them on this page. For tropes specific to individual titles, please go to:

* ''VideoGame/TheIdolmaster2'' - Despite the name, it's actually a different continuity.
* ''Anime/TheIdolmaster'' - The animated adaptation based off of ''The iDOLM@STER 2'' game. Also has an interquel manga.
* ''Manga/TheIdolmaster2TheWorldIsAllOne'' - A manga that was also based off the second game, but with more liberties and development for its main characters.
* ''Anime/IdolmasterXenoglossia''
* ''VideoGame/TheIdolmasterCinderellaGirls'' - Page for the mobile game as well as ''Starlight Stage''.
** ''Anime/TheIdolmasterCinderellaGirls'' - The animated adaptation based on ''Cinderella Girls''.
** ''Anime/TheIdolmasterCinderellaGirlsTheater'' - The {{Yonkoma}} series of Cinderella Girls and its animated adaptation.
* ''VideoGame/TheIdolmasterMillionLive'' - Page for the mobile game as well as ''Theater Days''.
* ''VideoGame/TheIdolmasterSideM'' - Page for the mobile game as well as ''Live on St@ge!''.
** ''Anime/TheIdolmasterSideM'' - The animated adaptation based on ''[=SideM=]''.
** ''Manga/TheIdolmasterSideMWakeAtteMini'': The chibi spinoff of ''[=SideM=]'' as well as its anime adaptation.
* ''Series/TheIdolmasterKR'' - A South Korean TV drama series produced under the direction of Bandai Namco and Korean-based Interactive Media Mix (IMX).
* ''VideoGame/TheIdolmasterShinyColors''

----
!!Tropes:

[[folder:'''General/Others''']]
* AdaptationDyeJob: In the original arcade version, some idols had different hair and eye colors that were changed for the Xbox 360 version and have been kept in all subsequent games. For instance, Haruka and Yayoi originally had brown eyes, and Azusa and Chihaya originally had black hair.
* AlternateContinuity: Akihiro Ishihara, [[WordOfGod Bandai Namco's director]], said that ''[=iM@S SP=]'' and ''[=iM@S2=]'' are parallel worlds, as in ''[=iM@S2=]'', Hibiki and Takane are 765Pro's idols from the beginning.
* AndYourRewardIsClothes: Although that is largely the point with this game.
* AscendedMeme: Fans noticed that Ritsuko's outfit resembled the uniform of Lawson convenience stores, and it became a meme. Bamco and Lawson noticed the meme, and started a cross-promotion campaign that is still ongoing; you can apparently buy raffle tickets for Idolm@ster goods at Lawson.
* BareYourMidriff: Depending on the costume set.
* {{Beat}}: From the song "Danketsu 2010":
-->'''TAKANE''': My name is Takane Shijou. [Beat] [Beat] [Beat] I'm afraid everything else is a secret.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: "I Want", one of sweet, dorky Haruka's image songs, carries strong dominatrix overtones. Also, have a listen to [[ShrinkingViolet Yukiho]]'s version of "[[AllGirlsWantBadBoys Overmaster]]"!
** Hell, in the anime, sweet, dorky Haruka is the one who landed the BigBad role in the first faux-movie trailer. [[ChewingTheScenery She's apparently having a hell of a time]] [[MeanCharacterNiceActor playing it]].
** In addition, Yayoi and Ryo's speech dialects become very violent when angered.
* BlushSticker
* BribingYourWayToVictory: The downloadable content.
* CallAndResponseSong: There are a few of these, most notably "Kouhaku Ouen V", in which the audience responses from Producer Meeting 2017 were incorporated into the official recording.
* CastHerd: Each series and spinoff has three characters who are often paired together as their game's [[PowerTrio primary trio]]. Some contain secondary cast herds as well.
** From the foundation series: Haruka, Chihaya and Miki
** From ''Cinderella Girls'': Uzuki, Rin and Mio
** From ''Million Live'': Mirai, Shizuka and Tsubasa
** From ''[=SideM=]'': Teru, Kaoru and [[OneSteveLimit Tsubasa]] (not to be confused with Million Live's)
** From ''Shiny Colors'': Mano, Hiori and Meguru, members of the Illumination Stars group.
* CatGirl: You can dress up your idols to look like catgirls in the main series games, and in Cinderella Girls, Miku Maekawa's stage act is based on this, while Kirio Nekoyanagi in [=SideM=] puts on a catboy act.
* TheChosenMany: Zig-zagged in adaptations. While the classic series' adaptations showed different Producers handling different groups, ''Cinderella Girls'' had ''hundreds'' of idols thanks to their multimedia giant status, and therefore implied there were multiple producers to attend to them all. ''[=SideM=]'' averts it, since all the manga adaptations and the anime show it really is the one Producer helping them all.
* ColourCodedCharacters: All of the idols have associated colors. The colors for 11 of them can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfmNtbtoi3A here.]]
* ComicBookTime: This is more obvious in ''One For All'' and especially ''Platinum Stars'' but universal through the franchise - birthdays might be referred to from time to time, but with the exception of VideoGame/TheIdolmaster2 and other entries set in "Second Vision" nobody gets to age. Even then the idols only aged up one year.
* {{Cosplay}}: Containing many a ShoutOut.
* CostumePorn: A wide range of costumes are available for the idols to wear.
* {{Crossover}}: The cell phone ''Cinderella Girls'' and ''Side:M'' each have their own separate events with the cell phone RPG ''VideoGame/GranblueFantasy'', while ''Million Live!'' and the two aforementioned games got one with ''VideoGame/TalesOfAsteria''.
** Prior to these, [[Music/{{Vocaloid}} Miku Hatsune]] was DLC for ''Idolmaster 2'' as part of a collaboration (''HatsuneMikuProjectDiva2nd'' received some Idolmaster-based DLC in turn).
* DownloadableContent: New songs, costumes and accessories are regular fixtures as [=DLC=]. Some games include extra stories or additional rival units as well.
* ElegantGothicLolita: A few of the costumes.
* EndlessGame: ''One For All'' and ''Platnium Stars'' still track weeks and seasons, but neither have the 52-week time limit to win that was present in previous games.
* EverythingsBetterWithSparkles
* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: Happen often in the main games.
** In the UpdatedRerelease for the Xbox 360, [[spoiler:Miki cuts her hair shorter and stops dying it in her alternate route.]]
** Azusa cut her hair short on The Idolm@ster 2. Going by the anime, it was when she was scouted as part of the Ryugu Komachi. She keeps this hairstyle in future games.
** Makoto grew out her hair slightly in 2 to look more feminine. This has also stuck.
** Ritsuko trades in her braided pigtails for a messy bun in 2 to look more professional as a producer. She keeps this appearance in ''One For All'' but changes her hair again to a side braid in ''Platinum Stars.''
* TheFaceless: The PlayerCharacter. Also, Mr. Takagi. Actually, aside from Kotori and the Jupiter trio, every other character you come across, including the satellite characters on the girls' routes, are all faceless.
* FanService
* FirstPersonSnapshooter: The sole premise in ''The iDOLM@STER Gravure for You''
* FreakyFridayFlip: This has happened in two dramas within the franchise. The first was the bonus track from the Masterpiece 05 CD, where all the idols switch with each other just before an interview recording. The second was a DLC scenario for SP where Chihaya switches with the Producer.
* FreudianSlip: From the song "Danketsu 2010":
--> '''YUKIHO''': I'm Hagiwara Yukiho, 17 years old. [[CharacterDevelopment I'm REALLY fond of boys.]] Ah, wait, I meant to say tea!
* FunWithAcronyms: The first MASTER ARTIST CD series has one hidden. If you look at the covers of the CD jackets of each album, every girl is saying something, most of them in English. If you put them in the correct order, they spell...
-->'''T'''o be (CD Finale)
-->'''H'''appy and (CD Finale)
-->'''E'''xciting! (CD Finale)
-->'''I''' Love you (Iori CD 8)
-->'''D'''ododo (Makoto CD 4)
-->'''O'''ui! (Chihaya CD 5)
-->'''L'''ucky! (Haruka CD 1)
-->'''M'''usic! (Azusa CD 7)
-->'''@'''! (Ritsuko CD 10)
-->'''S'''urprise (Miki CD 3)
-->'''T'''win! (Ami/Mami CD 6)
-->'''E'''at! (Yayoi CD 2)
-->'''R'''eally!? (Yukiho CD 9)
* FurBikini: A costume or two.
* GirlishPigtails
* GoingThroughTheMotions
* GottaCatchEmAll: There's over 150 idols on the mobile game ''THE iDOLM@STER: Cinderella Girls''.
* GratuitousEnglish: Quite a few of the songs. Geetah Solo, come on!
--> '''TAKANE:''' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZHrvy4fu1Q#t=37s Haro, mai neemu izu Takane. Hau oorudo aa yuu?]]
* HelloInsertNameHere: Your character is always referred to as "Producer" and its variants, except for Ami and Mami, who always call him "Nii-chan".
** [[spoiler: As you go further into some of the girls' routes, a few of them change the way they refer to the producer, such as Miki calling him [[GratuitousEnglish Hanii (Honey)]] or Takane's Anata-sama (Dear).]]
* ImageSong: Each girl has at least one song just for her.
* IntercourseWithYou: "Agent Yoru wo Yuku" was introduced in the arcade version and deals with male prostitution, as was "[[ObligatoryBondageSong I Want]]", the song of a sadist.
** In general, the game versions of songs that can be inferred to be of a sexual nature are much vaguer about the topic than their extended, album-only full versions.
* {{Joshikousei}}: Most installments have a few. ''[=SideM=]'' puts in a couple of ''danshikousei'' for their spin on the trope.
* {{Kawaiiko}}: Some characters from the series work hard at being cute or deliberately play up their cuteness, such as Iori Minase from the original games, and Sachiko Koshimizu from ''Cinderella Girls''.
* KickTheDog: Kuroi in the anime continuity kicked a hard one when he sent {{Paparazzi}} to slander Chihaya with her DarkAndTroubledPast, traumatizing her for life and showing zero regret for it. [[EvenEvilHasStandards Even the Jupiter trio do not approve]]. To some (and probably the Jupiter trio), this becomes a MoralEventHorizon, since the previous iterations of Kuroi were at best high-class {{Jerkass}}es and never tried traumatizing people for life.
* {{Level Up At Intimacy 5}}: Idols can draw on pleasant memories to boost their performance during the Audition stage.
* LuckyCharmsTitle: A ''@'' is used in place of the "a" in the "master" part of the name.
* MinigameGame: The lessons used to increase the idols' stats take the form of minigames.
* MoraleMechanic: Tension. At high tension the idol will perform better in auditions, gaining more points per appeal and being more likely to select a Good memory during a memory appeal; the opposite occurs at low tension. In addition, at low tension the idol has a chance to skip a week completely. Tension's equivalent in 2 is the Unit Status.
* MultipleEndings
* NoDamageRun: Some of the games provide a score bonus or other reward on completing a song with a full combo, though the amount of that bonus depends on the game itself.
* NotAllowedToGrowUp: Played straight until [[Videogame/TheIdolmaster2 THE iDOLM@STER 2]], in which everyone is one year older. None of the idols have aged since then, however. This is a side-effect of ComicBookTime being used throughout the series.
* ObligatoryBondageSong: "I Want". The narrator of the song is a sadist, known in how they treat the person the song is directed to in the lyrics.
* OffModel: In the Live For You! [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVA]], near the beginning when all the idols walk away, there are two Mamis instead of an Ami and a Mami.
* OneSteveLimit: Averted trope. Within the mobile game spinoffs, many idols between them share first names. Notably, ''Cinderella Girls'', ''Million Live'' and ''[=SideM=]'' all have a character named "Nao" (Nao Kamiya, Nao Yokoyama and Nao Okamura in order, though only the first two share Japanese characters also), and the latter two games both have a "Tsubasa" in their respective game's main PowerTrio (Tsubasa Ibuki and Tsubasa Kashiwagi, same character).
* OnlySixFaces: All the girls are distinguishable only through their hair, eyes and body types. The face template for all of them is the same.
* PaletteSwap: Though an UnlimitedWardrobe might be available, many of the items in that wardrobe are the same outfit with a different color scheme. This sometimes gets combined with ColourCodedCharacters, with a singular outfit or accessory having a different color depending on the idol wearing it.
* PimpedOutDress: All the costumes with any kind of skirt would count.
* PinkMeansFeminine: Some of the outfits are pink. Iori's image color is pink, and she is shown to nearly always wear dresses and act very princess-like.
* PigeonholedVoiceActor: Creator/RieKugimiya as [[{{Tsundere}} Iori]], though since the role dates from 2005 it may be more accurate to say it was one of the roles that led to her being pigeonholed.
* PoorCommunicationKills: In this case, kill your chances of getting a Perfect Communication during jobs.
* PowerTrio: A major selling point of the game is the ability to mix and match any combination of three idols and decide who sings what lines, customizing the track to your liking.
** [[BlondeBrunetteRedhead Haruka, Miki, and Chihaya]] are frequently put together in non-canonical works, such as drama [=CDs=] and the OVA.
** Miki, Takane, and Hibiki, each specializing in a certain stat. Interestingly, in the PSP games, they form rival company 961Pro's unit "Project Fairy".
* PrettyInMink: A few of the outfits have fur trim.
* PunnyName / GoroawaseNumber:
** President Kuroi of 961 Production ("961" can be read as ''ku-ro-i'').
** The 765 in 765 Studios is pronounced "na-mu-ko", from "nana" (7), "mu" (6, for counters), and "go" (5, where "go" and "ko" are the same character, mostly). If you still don't get it, this is how Namco is pronounced in Japan. This reference can also be found in other works by Namco, the ''VideoGame/RidgeRacer'' and ''VideoGame/AceCombat'' series being good examples.
** Also, the DS game's 876 Production is read as "ban-na-mu", with "ban" (8) and then the "na-mu" part as above. "Bannamu" is a portmanteau of "Bandai Namco", and is indeed a common short form for it.
** Applies to the spinoffs' 346 Production ("mi-shi-ro", meaning "beautiful castle"), 315 Production ("sa-i-ko", meaning "ultimate") and 283 Production ("tsu-ba-sa", meaning "wing") as well.
* RelationshipValues: The Affection and Intimacy values in 2, which show your relationship with the unit and the unit members' relationship with each other respectively. ''Starlight Stage'' also has an Affection value for each card, and this needs to be maxed in order to [[LevelUpAtIntimacy5 convert it into its + form]]. Memories could also count as this.
* RuleOfCute: How can the girls have [[LuminescentBlush blushes]] on cue during the stage performances? [[{{Moe}} Who cares!]]
* SexySantaDress: In ''Live For You''.
* SoundEffectsBleep: From the song "Danketsu 2010":
--> '''AMI''': I'm a little sister character! So my popularity with [[LoliconAndShotacon lo]][[VideoGame/PacMan *wakawaka*]] [[LampshadeHanging is]] [[TokenMiniMoe guaranteed]]!
* SuperTitle64Advance: '''D'''early '''S'''tars is for the Nintendo DS, and '''P'''latinum '''S'''tars is for the Playstation 4.
* TitleDrop: The highest Producer Rank in the original game (as well as in Starlight Stage). Later games added ranks above this such as True Idolmaster. In the true ending of ''SP'' [[spoiler:after the player character proclaims he'll stay a Producer rather than become the new president he says he'd also like to be known as the Idolmaster.]]
* UnlimitedWardrobe
** LimitedWardrobe: A rare case where both apply. With the amount of DLC out there's almost no end to the clothes the girls can wear on stage. But in the in-game communications they are always using the same set, the only difference being that it changes between Summer and Winter.
* VideoGameCaringPotential
* VirtualPaperDoll
* WhoWritesThisCrap: From the song "Danketsu 2010":
--> '''RITSUKO:''' Eh? You want me to be an idol? I guess... if I could just be your very own idol, then... Wait, why do I have to say such embarrassing lines?!
* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Of the original 765PRO ALLSTARS, Chihaya. The mobile games have quite a number of exotic hair colours.
* YouLoseAtZeroTrust: In some games, having a low amount of memories can make the difficulty of lives, auditions and ''especially'' festivals range from simply hard to nigh-{{Unwinnable}}.
* ZettaiRyouiki: A few of the costumes.
[[/folder]]

* CatGirl: You can dress up your idols to look like catgirls in the main series games, and in Cinderella Girls, Miku Maekawa's stage act is based on this.

--> '''AMI''': I'm a little sister character! So my popularity with [[LoliconAndShotacon lo]][[PacMan *wakawaka*]] [[LampshadeHanging is]] [[TokenMiniMoe guaranteed]]!

The franchise has spawned four subseries, ''[[VideoGame/TheIdolmasterCinderellaGirls Cinderella Girls]]'', ''[[VideoGame/TheIdolmasterMillionLive Million Live!]]'', ''[[VideoGame/TheIdolmasterSideM SideM]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/TheIdolmasterShinyColors Shiny Colors]]''. First released as Mobile CardGames, they feature unique idols and have spawned numerous [=CD=] releases and Anime/Manga adaptations of their own. ''[=SideM=]'' is also noteworthy for being the first game of the franchise with females as its main audience: it features solely male idols. ''Cinderella Girls'' spawned a big enough {{fandom}} to gain an [[Anime/TheIdolmasterCinderellaGirls anime]] that premiered on the Winter2015Anime season. It has also received a RhythmGame for smartphones named ''THE iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls: Starlight Stage'' (with gameplay similar to fellow rhythm phone games such as ''Franchise/LoveLive School Idol Festival'' but using 3D models), its own ''Gravure 4 You!'' series, and a VR live "game" called ''THE IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls: Viewing Revolution''. ''Million Live!'' has its own Rhythm Game similar to ''Cinderella Girls Starlight Stage'' named ''THE iDOLM@STER Million Live!: Theater Days''. ''[=SideM=]'' followed soon after with the announcement of not only a ''Starlight Stage''-like game of their own (''THE iDOLM@STER [=SideM=]: Live on St@ge!''), but an animated adaptation within the same year during the Fall2017Anime season.

* {{Beat}}: From the new version of Danketsu:

* BewareTheNiceOnes: One of sweet, dorky Haruka's image songs (I Want) carries strong dominatrix overtones. Also, have a listen to [[ShrinkingViolet Yukiho]]'s version of [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys Overmaster]]!

** Azusa cut her hair short on The Idolm@ster 2. Going by the anime, it was when she was scouted as part of the RK. She keeps this hairstyle in future games.

* FreudianSlip: From the new version of Danketsu:

* GottaCatchEmAll: There's over 100 idols on the mobile game ''THE iDOLM@STER: Cinderella Girls''.

* IntercourseWithYou: Agent Yoru wo Yuku was introduced in the First Vision games and deals with male prostitution, as was [[ObligatoryBondageSong I Want]], the song of a sadist.

* ObligatoryBondageSong: I Want. The narrator of the song is a sadist, known in how they treat the person the song is directed to in the lyrics.

* RuleOfCute: [[FridgeLogic How can the girls]] [[LuminescentBlush blush on cue]] during the stage performances? [[{{Moe}} Who cares!]]

* SoundEffectsBleep: From the new version of Danketsu:

* WhoWritesThisCrap: from the new version of Danketsu:

* DyeHard: Miki is an InUniverse example.[[spoiler: Her hair color is actually brown, and it's only revealed in her alternate route as Kakusei Miki.]]

* IntercourseWithYou: Agent Yoru wo Yuku

* ''MUST SONGS'', a rhythm game for [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationVita]] with ''VideoGame/TaikoNoTatsujin''-style gameplay.

Tropes that are common for the franchise as a whole, please, list them on this page. For tropes specific to individual titles please go to:

** ''Manga/TheIdolmasterSideMWakeAtteMini'': The chibi spinoff of ''[=SideM=] as well as its anime adaptation.

* ''MUST SONGS'', a rhythm game for [[PlayStationVita]] with ''VideoGame/TaikoNoTatsujin''-style gameplay.