also known as ''Garupa'' or ''Bandori'', is a mobile
rhythm game
Rhythm game or rhythm action is a genre of music-themed action video game that challenges a player's sense of rhythm. Games in the genre typically focus on dance or the simulated performance of musical instruments, and require players to pres ...
developed by Craft Egg and published by
Bushiroad
is a Japanese entertainment company, producer of collectible card games and trading cards, publisher of mobile apps and games, promotional items and many other venues, which was founded in 2007 by Takaaki Kidani and is headquartered in Tokyo. ...
for the
Android and
iOS
iOS (formerly iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its hardware. It is the operating system that powers many of the company's mobile devices, including the iPhone; the term also includes ...
platforms. Part of Bushiroad's ''
BanG Dream!
''BanG Dream!'', also known as , is a Japanese music media franchise owned by Bushiroad. Created by Bushiroad president Takaaki Kidani in January 2015 with original story by Kō Nakamura, the project began as a manga before exp ...
'' music franchise, it was released in Japan in March 2017, and worldwide in April 2018. The game was also released by Mobimon Inc. in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan in October 2017, by
Kakao Games
Kakao Games Corp. (Hangul: 카카오게임즈) is a South Korean video game publisher and a subsidiary of Kakao. It specializes in developing and publishing games on PC, mobile, and VR platforms. Each is represented by Namgoong Hoon and Cho Gye-h ...
in Korea in February 2018, and by
bilibili in mainland China in May 2019. A
Nintendo Switch
The is a hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. The console itself is a Tablet computer#Gaming tablet, tablet that can either be docking station, docked for use as a home video ...
port of the game was released in Japan in September 2021; unlike the
free-to-play
Free-to-play (F2P or FtP) video games are games that give players access to a significant portion of their content without paying or do not require paying to continue playing. Free-to-play is distinct from traditional commercial software, which ...
mobile version, it is a
premium game
Video game monetization is a type of process that a video game publisher can use to generate revenue from a video game product. The methods of monetization may vary between games, especially when they come from different genres or platforms, but ...
.
''Girls Band Party!'' has enjoyed success in Japan and worldwide, and is credited with helping the franchise grow in popularity. A spin-off
anime
is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...
series based on the game titled ''
BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Pico'' began airing in 2018.
Plot
The game's setting mainly follows the ''BanG Dream!'' universe after the anime's first season. ''Girls Band Party!'' consists of the main story, band stories, and event stories, each of which are split into seasons.
In the main story's first season, the
player character
A player character (also known as a playable character or PC) is a fictional character in a video game or tabletop role-playing game whose actions are controlled by a player rather than the rules of the game. The characters that are not control ...
is a self-named worker at the live house CiRCLE who is tasked by fellow staff member Marina Tsukishima with recruiting groups for the Girls Band Party event.
Poppin'Party, the franchise's main band, assists the player in their scouting, during which they enlist the groups
Roselia, Afterglow, Pastel Palettes, and Hello, Happy World!. The second season focuses on CiRCLE's plans to host a second Girls Band Party.
Band stories individually focus on the bands.
Poppin'Party has four such stories: the first, "Poppin'Party is Born!", is a retelling of their formation from the anime's first season; the second, "Colorful, Poppin' Candy", details the band's efforts to save the downtown festival; "Double Rainbow" centers on an argument between the five when keyboardist
Arisa Ichigaya finds herself compounded by her studies and commitment to the band;
"Live Beyond!!" focuses on the band's participation in the Rocking Star Festival and desire to spread their music. Afterglow's first two band stories "Afterglow, The Same As Always" and "Tied to the Skies" follow vocalist
Ran Mitake's growth, including rebelling against her disapproving father in the former and her relationship with her bandmates as she progresses as a person in the latter,
while the third "One of Us" tells of the band's efforts to play in a music event. Pastel Palettes' disastrous debut concert and attempts to change their reputation are covered in "Pastel Palettes, The Beginning", while "Luminous Once More" discusses the members' dreams and goals and "Title Idol" introduces a sister idol unit.
Roselia's creation is detailed in their first story "Bloom of the Blue Rose", "Neo-Aspect" follows their efforts to rediscover their pride after a falling-out, and the band ponders its future in "Sprechchor". Hello, Happy World!'s first two stories "Smiles To The World! Hello, Happy Union!" and "I Need You!" focus on their plans to cheer up an injured friend of the band and restoring an old amusement park, respectively,
and the band's third "Smile Connection!" follows their trip to a foreign country. The first band stories for
Morfonica
Morfonica is a Japanese all-female band, all-female rock band that is part of Bushiroad's media franchise ''BanG Dream!''. Formed in 2020, the group's members portray fictional characters in the project's anime series and mobile game ''BanG Dream ...
and
Raise A Suilen
Raise A Suilen (stylized as RAISE A SUILEN) is a Japanese all-female rock band that is part of Bushiroad's media franchise ''BanG Dream!''. Formed in 2018, the group's members portray fictional characters in the project's anime series and mobile ...
discuss their formations, the latter of which is a retelling of ''BanG Dream! 3rd Season''. Morfonica's second, "Fly with the night", concerns violinist
Rui Yashio's future with the band, while RAS' "Coruscate -DNA-" revolves around band leader
Chiyu Tamade and her family.
Events, in which players compete with one another for the highest total score during a given time period, are complemented by stories. Examples of event stories include "Sakura Blooming Party!", where the first-year students convene for a
sakura viewing party, and "A Song Unfinished", in which Roselia's vocalist
Yukina Minato struggles to perform a song her father had written.
Gameplay
''Girls Band Party!'' gameplay consists of tapping notes as they slide toward the bottom to the rhythm of a chosen song; such notes exist as taps, drag notes that players must hold, flick notes, and special yellow notes that activate character skills and lines mid-performance.
Players are given 1,000
health points
Health is an attribute in a video game or tabletop game that determines the maximum amount of damage or loss of stamina that a character or object can take before dying or losing consciousness. In role-playing games, this typically takes the for ...
to clear a song, but one can adjust song speed, difficulty level, and note size to their liking.
In lieu of a energy system that is prevalent in most
free-to-play
Free-to-play (F2P or FtP) video games are games that give players access to a significant portion of their content without paying or do not require paying to continue playing. Free-to-play is distinct from traditional commercial software, which ...
games, ''Girls Band Party!'' utilizes Live Boosts that increases rewards for completing a song, and players can continue playing even when they run out of boosts.
Songs are generally one minute and 30 seconds in length, though full-length tracks for some tracks are available.
In 2019, the game introduced a
music video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...
feature that replaces the in-game background with clips from the anime such as opening themes and performances.
Some songs were created by the winning bands in the game's General Election, a series of voting contests based on a certain topic. For example, the second election mixed the bands' members to form different units; the winning group (High School Part Time Workers) resulted in the song "You're Not Alone", which would be used as an
insert song
is hand-drawn and computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japanese, (a term derived from a shortening ...
in the anime's second season.
Besides original songs,
cover version
In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...
s of popular music by the five bands are also playable. The addition of cover songs was inspired by their positive reception during ''BanG Dream!'' first live concerts, with franchise creator
Takaaki Kidani
is a Japanese video game developer and entrepreneur born in Kanazawa, Japan. He is the founder and representative director of Bushiroad. Kidani has also served as the chairman of New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He continues to be involved with N ...
comparing them to the use of mainstream series in Bushiroad's ''
Weiß Schwarz
is a Japanese collectible card game created by Bushiroad. The game is separated into Weiß-side and Schwarz-side. "Weiß" and "Schwarz" are German language for white and black, respectively.
Gameplay
The game focuses on two main aspects: c ...
'' card game as "drops in momentum" are canceled out by "the addition of popular titles."
The international versions also have region-exclusive tracks: in 2018, the Korean server partnered with
K-pop
K-pop (), short for Korean popular music, is a form of popular music originating in South Korea as part of South Korean culture. It includes styles and genres from around the world, such as pop, hip hop, R&B, experimental, rock, jazz, gos ...
group
GFriend
GFriend (stylized in all caps; ) was a South Korean girl group formed by Source Music in 2015. The group consisted of six members: Sowon, Yerin, Eunha, Yuju, SinB, and Umji. They debuted with the extended play (EP) '' Season of Glass'' on Ja ...
to include their songs "
Me Gustas Tu" and "
Time for the Moon Night
''Time for the Moon Night'' is the sixth extended play (EP) by South Korean girl group GFriend. It was released by Source Music on April 30, 2018, and distributed by kakao M (formerly LOEN Entertainment). The album contains six songs, includi ...
",
while the English game featured
Pinkfong
Pinkfong (Hangul: 핑크퐁) is a South Korean children's educational brand of The Pinkfong Company (formerly SmartStudy), a South Korean educational entertainment company. Pinkfong consists of mainly children's songs, of which the most famous ...
's "
Baby Shark
"Baby Shark" is a children's song associated to a dance involving hand movements that originated as a campfire song dating back to at least the 20th century. In 2016, "Baby Shark" became very popular when Pinkfong, a South Korean entertainment ...
" and daniwellP's "
Nyan Cat
Nyan Cat is a YouTube video uploaded in April 2011, which became an internet meme. The video merged a Japanese pop song with an animated cartoon cat with a Pop-Tart for a torso flying through space and leaving a rainbow trail behind. The video r ...
" for a limited time. Duet covers between the bands and the original artists, such as Poppin'Party performing "Days of Dash" with
Konomi Suzuki
is a Japanese singer from Osaka Prefecture who is signed to MAGES. and KADOKAWA. After winning the Animax All-Japan Anisong Grand Prix in 2011, she made her debut in 2012 with the release of her first single "Choir Jail", which peaked at 34 ...
, are categorized as "Extra" songs.
Certain covers were spawned from collaborations between ''BanG Dream!'' and other franchises. The
Vocaloid
is a singing voice synthesizer software product. Its signal processing part was developed through a joint research project led by Kenmochi Hideki at the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain, in 2000 and was not originally intended to b ...
project, the video game series ''
Persona
A persona (plural personae or personas), depending on the context, is the public image of one's personality, the social role that one adopts, or simply a fictional Character (arts), character. The word derives from Latin, where it originally ref ...
'', and the anime ''
Is the Order a Rabbit?
, often abbreviated as , is a Japanese four-panel manga series written and illustrated by Koi. The series has been serialized in Hōbunsha's ''Manga Time Kirara Max'' magazine since March 2011 and the chapters collected into ten ''tankōbon' ...
'', ''
Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World'', ''
A Certain Scientific Railgun T'', ''
Ojamajo Doremi
, alternatively titled ''Magical DoReMi'' in English, is a Japanese magical girl anime television series created by Toei Animation. It focuses on a group of elementary school girls, led by Doremi Harukaze, who become witch apprent ...
'', ''
Zombie Land Saga
is an anime television series produced by MAPPA, Avex Pictures and Cygames. The series aired in Japan between October and December 2018. A second season titled ''Zombie Land Saga Revenge'' aired between April and June 2021. An anime f ...
'',
and ''
Tokyo Revengers
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ken Wakui. It was serialized in Kodansha's ''Weekly Shōnen Magazine'' from March 2017 to November 2022, with its chapters collected in 30 ''tankōbon'' volumes as of November 2022. A ...
'' have partnered with ''Girls Band Party!'', which includes covers by the bands and special character costumes. The ''Zombie Land Saga'' collaboration featured an appearance from ''ZLS'' character Kotaro Tatsumi, whose voice actor
Mamoru Miyano
is a Japanese actor and singer. He is best known for his roles on ''Steins;Gate'', ''Durarara!!'', ''Death Note'', '' Soul Eater'', ''Wolf's Rain'', '' Ouran High School Host Club'', '' Ajin: Demi-Human'', '' Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood'', ' ...
reprised his role to become the game's first voiced male character.
Players gain experience points (EXP) by clearing songs and listening to
overworld
An overworld (sometimes referred to as a hub world) is, in a broad sense, commonly an area within a video game that interconnects all its levels or locations. They are mostly common in role-playing games, though this does not exclude other vide ...
conversations between characters.
Characters are fully voiced with
2.5D movement via
Live2D
Live2D is an animation software developed by Live2D Ltd. It can be used to generate real-time 2D animations, usually anime-style characters, using layered, continuous parts based on an illustration, without the need of frame-by-frame animation ...
technology, and their interactions are depicted in a
visual novel
A , often abbreviated as VN, is a form of digital semi-interactive fiction. Visual novels are often associated with and used in the medium of video games, but are not always labeled as such themselves. They combine a textual narrative with sta ...
-style presentation.
Further dialogues can be attain by improving cards and attaining more EXP.
EXP also improves a band's rank, which unlocks additional chapters in band stories.
Cards, which use a star ranking system to determine rarity (four stars being the rarest), are acquired via the
gacha
Gacha may refer to:
* Gashapon, a kind of toy that originated in Japan which is sold inside a plastic capsule. Commonly sold in vending machines
** Gacha game, video games that are monetized via a concept that is similar to gashapon. Comparable to ...
system, a luck-based mechanic in which players spend the in-game currency Stars with the hope of winning their desired cards. Although ''Girls Band Party!'' is a free-to-play game, players can spend real-life money to acquire more stars.
The game's
multiplayer
A multiplayer video game is a video game in which more than one person can play in the same game environment at the same time, either locally on the same computing system (couch co-op), on different computing systems via a local area network, or ...
, known as Multi Live, is a cooperative mode in which five players try to record a high cumulative score. During performances, the team can earn more points when they maximize a "Fever Chance" combo bar and enter "Fever" mode.
Player versus player
Player versus player (PvP) is a type of multiplayer interactive conflict within a game between human players. This is often compared to player versus environment (PvE), in which the game itself controls its players' opponents. The terms are mos ...
multiplayer modes are also available such as VS Live and Team Live, the latter of which is a five-on-five format.
During the game's anniversaries in March, new content is added and the main story is updated. The second anniversary in 2019 saw the introduction of an overworld lounge that features new character interactions and animations. The following year, Raise A Suilen and Morfonica were added as playable bands, while new gameplay mechanics included Live2D animation during lives and a "rehearsal" mode that allows players to practice songs without fearing health depletion. The fourth anniversary introduced the Team Live mode, character birthday gacha cards, and sideways flick notes.
Stage Challenge, a game mode in which players are restricted to certain band lineups and progress by attaining target scores, and multiplayer music video functionality were implemented in 2022. A "super-large update" is scheduled for the six-year celebration with the addition of a third Main Story season and 3D animated videos for fan-voted songs.
Development
''BanG Dream!'' was formed in 2014 by Bushiroad head
Takaaki Kidani
is a Japanese video game developer and entrepreneur born in Kanazawa, Japan. He is the founder and representative director of Bushiroad. Kidani has also served as the chairman of New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He continues to be involved with N ...
, whose company had enjoyed success with the rhythm game ''
Love Live! School Idol Festival
(often abbreviated as ''LLSIF'' or ''Sukufesu'') is a Japanese rhythm game series. The original game, developed by KLab and published by Bushiroad's Bushimo, was first released in Japan on April 15, 2013 for iOS and June 8, 2013 for Android (ope ...
''.
Bushiroad reached out to
CyberAgent
is a Japanese digital advertising company, which was founded in 1998 by Susumu Fujita and headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. It is owned by Susumu Fujita with 20.50% interest; Fujita is representative director, while Yusuke Hidaka is executive vice ...
's Craft Egg, who agreed to create a ''BanG Dream!'' game after expressing interest in the franchise's premise of voice actresses capable of playing their own instruments. After initially considering a
simulation
A simulation is the imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system over time. Simulations require the use of Conceptual model, models; the model represents the key characteristics or behaviors of the selected system or proc ...
or puzzle game, Craft Egg CEO Shuichi Morikawa opted to frame it as a music game. To differentiate ''Girls Band Party!'' from competing titles in the genre, Craft Egg included cover songs, which was inspired by Poppin'Party's usage of such music in its live concerts, and made it free to play. Kō Nakamura, who created the story for ''BanG Dream!'' and the lyrics for Poppin'Party's original songs, had no involvement in writing the game's storyline.
Development of the game ran from August to November 2016, with hopes of releasing it in coordination with the anime's broadcast in March 2017.
The game was created using
Unity engine
Unity is a cross-platform game engine developed by Unity Technologies, first announced and released in June 2005 at Apple Worldwide Developers Conference as a Mac OS X game engine. The engine has since been gradually extended to support a varie ...
.
It was officially announced on September 15, 2016 at
Tokyo Game Show
, commonly known as TGS, is a video game expo / convention held annually in September in the Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan. It is presented by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) and Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. The ...
, where Roselia's members made their debut. The other vocalists
Ayane Sakura
is a Japanese voice actress. She is affiliated with Aoni Production. Her roles included Natsumi Koshigaya in ''Non Non Biyori'', Secre Swallowtail in '' Black Clover'', Ochaco Uraraka in ''My Hero Academia'', Tsubaki Sawabe in ''Your Lie in April ...
(Afterglow's Ran),
Ami Maeshima (Pastel Palettes'
Aya Maruyama), and
Miku Itō
is a Japanese voice actress and singer affiliated with Style Cube. Her major voice roles include Nanako Usami in ''Locodol'', Ann Akagi in ''Action Heroine Cheer Fruits'', Kokoro Tsurumaki in ''BanG Dream!'', Miku Nakano in ''The Quintessential ...
(Hello, Happy World!'s
Kokoro Tsurumaki) were officially confirmed during a presentation on December 7 at
Sunshine City, Tokyo, while Afterglow's voice actresses revealed their involvement with the project on
Twitter
Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
during the month. The remaining cast members were revealed during a show at EX Theater Roppongi to promote the game on February 24, 2017.
In-game character dialogue is recorded in groups, such as between band members, to allow for a natural atmosphere in conversations. When
Yurika Endō
is a former Japanese voice actress and singer from Tokyo, Japan. After starting her career in 2013, she began playing supporting roles in anime series such as '' Ace of Diamond'', '' Magimoji Rurumo'', and '' Sakura Trick''. In 2017, she played t ...
(
Lisa Imai) and
Satomi Akesaka
is a Japanese actress, voice actress and former singer affiliated with the Amuleto talent agency. She voiced main characters Hina Satou in ''Tesagure! Bukatsu-mono'', Taeko Nomura in '' Coppelion'', Mutsuki in '' Danchigai'', krkr in ''Gdgd Fairi ...
(
Rinko Shirokane) departed the franchise, their successors
Yuki Nakashima and
Kanon Shizaki re-recorded their characters' lines; conversely, Maeshima's voice acting for Aya remains in the game after her exit and replacement.
Pre-registration opened on January 1, 2017;
Kidani heavily encouraged others to pre-register when the anime, which began airing that month, received mediocre reviews.
By the game's launch in March, over 560,000 players had completed the process.
Closed beta testing launched on February 17.
Release and marketing
The game was first released in Japan on March 16, 2017.
Mobimon Inc. published a
traditional Chinese
A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays or ...
-language version in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan which was released on October 19. A Korean server by
Kakao Games
Kakao Games Corp. (Hangul: 카카오게임즈) is a South Korean video game publisher and a subsidiary of Kakao. It specializes in developing and publishing games on PC, mobile, and VR platforms. Each is represented by Namgoong Hoon and Cho Gye-h ...
went live on February 6, 2018.
An English global version was first launched in
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
on March 29, 2018 followed by a worldwide release on April 4. Mainland China would receive its own server by
bilibili on May 30, 2019.
An
augmented reality
Augmented reality (AR) is an interactive experience that combines the real world and computer-generated content. The content can span multiple sensory modalities, including visual, auditory, haptic, somatosensory and olfactory. AR can be de ...
application based on the game titled ''BanG Dream! Garupa AR!'' was distributed for a limited period starting January 9, 2018. In 2019, ''Girls Band Party!'' partnered with SCRAP Co. to organize "Find the Random Star!", an
escape room
An escape room, also known as an escape game, puzzle room, exit game, or riddle room is a game in which a team of players discover clues, solve puzzles, and accomplish tasks in one or more rooms in order to accomplish a specific goal in a limite ...
-like game in which participants search for
Kasumi Toyama's lost guitar by solving riddles located throughout the city. The event ran from December 4, 2019 to February 29, 2020 in
Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...
,
Nagoya
is the largest city in the Chūbu region, the fourth-most populous city and third most populous urban area in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020. Located on the Pacific coast in central Honshu, it is the capital and the most pop ...
, and
Osaka
is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of 2. ...
.
Various promotional events have been held to support the game. On January 13–14, 2018, the franchise's five bands participated in the Garupa Live and Garupa Party! at
Tokyo Big Sight
, officially known as , is a convention and exhibition center in Tokyo, Japan, and the largest one in the country. Opened in April 1996, the center is located in the Ariake Minami district of on the Tokyo Bay waterfront. Its most iconic feature ...
, which included a tournament and performances. In 2019 and 2020, the game was a title sponsor for
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
(NJPW) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion based in Nakano, Tokyo. Founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, the promotion was sold to Yuke's, who later sold it to Bushiroad in 2012. TV Asahi and Amuse, Inc. own minority shares ...
's
Wrestle Kingdom 13
Wrestle Kingdom 13 in Tokyo Dome was a professional wrestling event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on January 4, 2019 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. It was the twenty-eighth January 4 Tokyo Dome Show and the ...
and
14;
Kenny Omega
Tyson Smith (born October 16, 1983), better known by the ring name Kenny Omega, is a Canadian-born professional wrestler. Omega is an executive vice president of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), in which he also performs. Omega is a former one-ti ...
, then a wrestler for Bushiroad-owned NJPW, starred in a commercial for the game. Actor
Toshihiro Yashiba
is a Japanese actor represented by JFCT.
Filmography
TV series
Films
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yashiba, Toshihiro
Japanese male actors
1971 births
Living people
People from Sōka ...
, actress
Marie Iitoyo
is a Japanese actress and fashion model.
Filmography
Film
Television
Video on demand
Japanese dub
Publications
Fashion Magazines
* ''Niko☆Puchi''(April 2009 issue - June 2011 issue) - Exclusive model
* '' Nicola''(June 2011 is ...
, and
YouTuber
A YouTuber is an online personality and/or influencer who produces videos on the video-sharing platform YouTube, typically posting to their personal YouTube channel. The term was first used in the English language in 2006.
Influence
Influent ...
s
Hikakin
also known as Hikakin (Japanese: ヒカキン) is a Japanese YouTuber and the co-founder of UUUM, a Japanese multi-channel network. A video of his ''Super Mario Bros.'' beatbox went viral in 2010, reaching over 3.8 million views by mid-Septembe ...
and
Fischer's have also starred in advertisements for ''Girls Band Party!''. A joint commercial between ''Girls Band Party!'' and the movie ''Ao-Natsu'', the latter of which featured a cameo appearance from
Aimi of Poppin'Party, aired in June 2018 and starred the film's lead roles
Wakana Aoi
is a Japanese actress and former singer. In March 2017, she landed the lead role in NHK's 97th Asadora, ''Warotenka'', which aired from October 2017 to March 2018.
Career 2009–2012: Early career
Aoi was scouted in Harajuku, Tokyo, in her fift ...
and Hayano Sato.
In May 2018, ''Girls Band Party!'' partnered with
Sega
is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational video game and entertainment company headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Its international branches, Sega of America and Sega Europe, are headquartered in Irvine, California and London, r ...
's arcade rhythm game ''Ongeki'' to include the vocalists as playable characters and opponents in the latter; songs from ''BanG Dream!'' are also available. A collaboration with fellow smartphone game ''Lost Decade'' took place in August 2020 where Roselia's voice actresses appeared in ''Lost Decade'' in-game radio show and the band's characters became attainable. In April 2022, ''
PuraOre! Smile Princess'' had an event co-starring Poppin'Party in which players could attain ''gacha'' cards with the band members.
''
BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Pico'', a
chibi anime series by
Sanzigen
is a Japanese animation studio specializing in CGI animation. The studio was founded in 2003, later becoming formally incorporated in 2006 by former employees of Gonzo, and has contributed to various anime series and films. Its name is derived f ...
, premiered on July 5, 2018. A spin-off from the main ''BanG Dream!'' anime, ''Pico'' has produced two additional seasons in 2020 and 2021. Bushiroad and
Kadokawa Corporation
, formerly is a Japanese media conglomerate that was created as a result of the merger of the original Kadokawa Corporation and Dwango Co., Ltd. on October 1, 2014.
History
The holding company known today as Kadokawa Corporation was origi ...
also released an
anthology series
An anthology series is a radio, television, video game or film series that spans different genres and presents a different story and a different set of characters in each different episode, season, segment, or short. These usually have a differ ...
manga called ''BanG Dream! Garupa Pico Comic Anthology'', which features comics from 17 artists, on March 14, 2019. A manga adaptation of the event stories, titled ''BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! The First Page'', was released on March 16, 2021.
To celebrate the game's fifth anniversary, a two-part animation from Sanzigen titled ''BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! 5th Anniversary Animation: CiRCLE Thanks Party!'' was released on March 10 and 17, 2022.
Nintendo Switch port
On February 28, 2021, Bushiroad announced a
Nintendo Switch
The is a hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. The console itself is a Tablet computer#Gaming tablet, tablet that can either be docking station, docked for use as a home video ...
port. Rocket Studio assisted in developing the port.
A demo was launched on August 5 ahead of its release in Japan on September 16.
Unlike the mobile game which is free-to-play, the Switch version is a premium game.
In addition to the traditional touchscreen mechanics via the Switch's handheld mode, the game can be played on a television using the
Joy-Con
Joy-Con are the primary game controllers for the Nintendo Switch video game console. They consist of two individual units, each containing an analog stick and an array of buttons. They can be used while attached to the main Nintendo Switch cons ...
controllers; a special difficulty level is reserved for Joy-Con gameplay. Unlike the
microtransaction
Microtransactions, often abbreviated as mtx, are a business model where users can purchase virtual goods with micropayments. Microtransactions are often used in free-to-play games to provide a revenue source for the developers. While microtransact ...
s in the mobile version, the Switch game allows players to acquire cards by collecting tickets earned by playing the game and reading the stories. Cards from the mobile game are also ported with the exception of those from collaborations.
At its release, the in-game universe was set in the main story's first season. Content from the second season, including Morfonica and Raise A Suilen, were added via
downloadable content
Downloadable content (DLC) is additional content created for an already released video game, distributed through the Internet by the game's publisher. It can either be added for no extra cost or it can be a form of video game monetization, enablin ...
on January 27, 2022.
According to Bushiroad executive Kazuhiko Hirose, the port was created to appeal to demographics outside the mobile gaming market.
Comedian and bodybuilder Nakayama Kinnikun assisted in promoting its release with a series of online commercials.
Reception
''BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!'' has garnered positive reviews, with
ComicsVerse
ComicsVerse is a comics journalism website covering comics news, reviews, analysis, and interviews with artists and writers. In addition to original written content, the site produces podcasts, videos, original webcomics, and covers news related ...
's Jessica Liong regarding it as "arguably the most popular" animated aspect of the franchise. Speaking with ''Real Sound'' in 2018, Kidani remarked "everything just went through the roof" after the game's release, noting its "level of polish" was among the factors that helped the franchise gain popularity.
In a 2018 review for ComicsVerse, Hayden Moseley noted the game grants "too much freedom" for players, which is beneficial for those experienced with rhythm games but the contrary for newcomers. Despite this, he suggested much of its appeal comes from the interactions between characters, comparing it to "watching a playable anime." He also praised ''GBP'' for its "complex" but "rewarding and incredibly fun" gameplay, concluding that "the music and the girls are completely worth exploring."
Describing it as "a super sweet rhythm game", Elizabeth Henges of
XDA Developers
XDA Developers (also known simply as XDA; often stylized as xda-developers) is a mobile software development community launched on 20 December 2002. Although discussion primarily revolves around Android, members also talk about many other opera ...
listed ''GBP'' as one of the best Android games of 2020 and wrote that although the ''gacha'' system "can be annoying at times", one "can easily get by without spending money, and playing online with friends is a blast."
In Japan, the game surpassed four million downloads in its first six months following release; by November 2019, it had over 11 million Japanese players. It grossed () between 2017 and 2018, including in 2017 and in 2018.
In 2018, the game was the 15th most successful mobile game and the second-most successful rhythm game in Japan in terms of revenue, only behind ''
The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls: Starlight Stage''.
The game's worldwide English server exceeded one million downloads in two months, followed by reaching ten million in August 2018.
''GBP'' has received awards in Japan like the
App Store
An App Store (or app marketplace) is a type of digital distribution platform for computer software called applications, often in a mobile context. Apps provide a specific set of functions which, by definition, do not include the running of the co ...
's "Top Game Ranking" and
Google Play
Google Play, also known as the Google Play Store and formerly the Android Market, is a digital distribution service operated and developed by Google. It serves as the official app store for certified devices running on the Android (operating sys ...
's "Grand Prize for Players' Choice Game and Attractive Game" in 2017.
Notes
References
External links
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{{Bushiroad
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2017 video games
Android (operating system) games
Bushiroad
Nintendo Switch games
Free-to-play video games
Gacha games
iOS games
Multiplayer and single-player video games
Music video games
Video games developed in Japan
Kakao Games games