The Idolmaster SP

The Idolmaster SP
Cover art of The Idolmaster SP: Perfect Sun. From top to bottom: Makoto, Haruka and Yayoi.
Developer(s)Namco Bandai Games
Publisher(s)Namco Bandai Games
Director(s)Akihiro Ishihara
Producer(s)Yōzō Sakagami
Writer(s)Tomoyo Takahashi
Emi Tanaka
SeriesThe Idolmaster
Platform(s)PlayStation Portable
Release
  • JP: February 19, 2009
Genre(s)Raising simulation, Rhythm
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

The Idolmaster SP (アイドルマスターエスピー, Aidorumasutā Esu Pī, officially stylized as THE iDOLM@STER SP) is a series of three Japanese raising simulation video games in The Idolmaster series developed and published by Namco Bandai Games. They were released on February 19, 2009, as Perfect Sun (パーフェクトサン, Pāfekuto San), Missing Moon (ミッシングムーン, Misshingu Mūn), and Wandering Star (ワンダリングスター, Wandaringu Sutā) for the PlayStation Portable as a port of The Idolmaster. The gameplay in SP features changes from its predecessor, including an additional promise system which puts more of a focus on communication. The games include three game modes: two single-player and one multiplayer mode for up to three players. The story is told from the perspective of a producer in charge of training 10 prospective pop idols on their way to stardom, and each version of SP features different idols.

One reason for dividing SP among three versions when developing the games was to allow players to buy the version which features their favorite idols. Rival idols were introduced into SP because the development team felt that rivals are essential for The Idolmaster, which also serve to deepen the bonds between the player and an idol. Including downloadable content, the game features 54 songs the idols perform: 34 songs in original versions and 20 remixes of those songs, which have been released on several music albums. The three versions of SP sold 129,088 units collectively in their first week of sales, and together ranked as the second best-selling video games in Japan that week.