Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA ƒ (初音ミク Project DIVA ƒ) is a 2012 rhythm game created by Sega and Crypton Future Media for the PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 3.^[5] The game is the fifth entry in the Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA series of Vocaloid rhythm games and was released on the PlayStation Vita on August 30, 2012. A PlayStation 3 version titled Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Ƒ (capital F as opposed to the PS Vita's Italic ƒ) was released on March 7, 2013.^[1] The PS3 version was released physically and digitally in North America on August 27, 2013, making it the first game in the Project DIVA series to be released in the West.^[6] It was to be released in Europe at the same time, but instead released one week later, on September 4, 2013 as a digital download only title. The PS Vita version was released in North America and Europe in March 2014, both as digital download only titles as well.^[7]

The game appeared at Sony's E3 2012 booth in June 2012 under the name Hatsune Miku so as to gauge interest for the game.^[8][9] Like the original the game primarily makes use of Vocaloids, a series of singing synthesizer software, and the songs created using these vocaloids, most notably the virtual-diva Hatsune Miku. Project DIVA F is the first game in the series to be multi-platform, with it being developed simultaneously for the PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 3, though there is some differences with regards to control schemes.^[10][11] A sequel, titled Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F 2nd, was released for PS3 and Vita on March 27, 2014 in Japan and released in November 2014 in North America and Europe.^[12][13]

Gameplay

The game retains the same basic gameplay mechanics from the series albeit with several new changes, most notably the addition of the "Star" symbol to the game's existing symbols of cross, circle, square, triangle and arrows. The "Star" symbol represents the "Scratch" move where instead of pressing the face buttons as usual, players rub the screen or flick the analogue stick, depending on which system is being used.^[11][14]

In-game screenshot during the new "Technical Zone" of the game.
Note the new "Star" symbols in the game.

"Chance Time" has been modified from previous installments, with each successful beat filling a star shaped gauge on the bottom left of the screen. When filled, it triggers a final scratch symbol that, if successfully scored, will change the outcome of the scene. Another new mechanic is the "Technical Zone" mechanic. When it occurs during a song, players must maintain an uninterrupted combo within that time limit for bonus points. Additional features like DIVA Room and Edit Mode will also returns with additional features.^[11][14][15]

The game features graphical improvements over its predecessors in light of the PlayStation Vita's higher processing power compared to the PlayStation Portable. The models in the game are also based on the PlayStation Portable predecessors rather than the Dreamy Theater models, which have a slightly different art style. There are also improvements in the animations of the characters, such as smoother movements for Miku's hair and Rin's ribbons; the game also features improved facial expressions and lighting with real-time lighting computation being added into the game.^[11]

Development

Development for the game first began in 2011 before the previous entry in the series, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Extend. The game is jointly developed by the development teams behind the PlayStation Portable entries in the series as well as the team behind the Arcade entry in the series.^[11] A new entry in the Project DIVA series was first teased by Sega on Christmas Day 2011, when Sega released a teaser video on YouTube with footage of Hatsune Miku singing two different songs and the words "Coming 2012" at the end of the trailer.^[16] On April 9, 2012 Sega posted a teaser site online announcing that they would be revealing the next entry in the Project DIVA series on April 12, 2012.^[17]

The game was then officially revealed on April 12, 2012 as a multiplatform game for both the PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 3 making the series' official debut on both platforms, both Dreamy Theater software for the PS3 were not actual full games for the console. A recent "store-front trailer" shows off a new feature – officially called "Photo Studio". Development will be focused on the PlayStation Vita first before being shifted over to the PlayStation 3 at the later part of its development cycle and hence the Vita version will release earlier in 2012 with the PS3 version releasing in 2013.^[11] The release date for the Vita version of the game, was later announced as August 20, 2012 in an issue of the Japanese gaming magazine, Dengeki PlayStation.^[1]

The game was also present at a booth at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2012, where a partially translated version of the game was playable. The game featured two songs, both in Japanese as well as Japanese lyrics but with English menu items. The demo was placed there in order to gauge interest for the game for a potential localization and the response was said to be good, although there were no official plans to localize the game at the time.^[8] On March 7, 2013, the day of the PS3 version's Japanese release, Sega posted an image of Miku on their English Facebook page, asking fans to like and share the image if they would like to see the PS3 version of the game released in Western territories.^[18] On June 6, 2013, Sega confirmed the game would be released in Western territories in August 2013. A retail release in North America was announced, as well as a digital release on the PlayStation Network in North America and Europe.^[19] In November 2013, Project Diva f for PlayStation Vita was announced for America and Europe for early 2014.

Reception

The PS Vita version of Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA f took first place on the Japanese sales charts in its debut week, selling 159,592 physical retail copies.^[20] The PS3 version released one year later sold 110,229 physical retail copies within its debut week in Japan, also topping the weekly charts.^[21] By 20 April 2013, Sega announced that the game shipped a total of 390,000 copies across both platforms.^[22]

PlayStation LifeStyle's import review was very favorable, calling the main portion of the rhythm game "as solid as they come" and recommending it to importers.^[23] The PS3 version received a review score of 35/40 from Famitsu.^[24]

Song list

There are a total of 44 songs available between Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA f/F. 33 songs (32 new and 1 old) are obtained normally by playing through the game, 4 songs are only available through AR Mode, 1 song is DLC and must be purchased from the PlayStation Network. The 6 Bonus Songs are included with Project DIVA F, but were released as DLC for the Vita version of the game.

• Songs with a light-blue background are returning songs from previous games.
• Songs with a yellow background are songs only available in 'AR Mode' for the Vita and 'Live Stage Mode' for the PS3.
• Songs with an orange background are DLC and must be purchased on the PlayStation Network to be played.
• Songs with a green background are new songs in Project DIVA F for the PS3. They were released as DLC for the Vita version of the game.

References

External links

• Official website

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