Arcade Station Episode 1 (English Version)

Episode 01: Welcome to Arcade Station! -Flower-

A game center’s entrance showed how crowded with so many arcade games from every single genre. Once a visitor entered, Aikatsu! machines were crowded with kids.

The wall of the game center was filled with silver tin foil marking space theme, white floors also greeted the sounds from every single available arcade games there. Visitors of all ages, especially children, teenagers, and young adults enjoyed every single game available.

Every happiness like being poured with sugar and frustration like being poured with salt filled the crowd of the game center depending on the success rate finishing a level on a single game.

A brown black spike haired guy ran entering the game center, immediately wanted to play his favorite games in the back position of the game center. He passed through the loud voices from the arcade games available.

Once he arrived there, he realized that his two favorite games were already gone from the game center. He was speechless just before asking a pale orange clothed employee who was cleaning the floor.

“Excuse me, sir, where’s Dance Dance Revolution and GuitarFreaks?”

The employee answered, “Oh, no one plays ‘em anymore, most of the players requested to upgrade those to the latest version, but the online system was confusing. If you want to play, the game is required to get online, if not, the game won’t run.”

It was true that Dance Dance Revolution and GuitarFreaks which had been previously available in that game center were far outdated, has not yet to get to the latest versions. Dance Dance Revolution X2 and GuitarFreaks V8 previously resided in the game center’s back position.

“Dammit,” Ward walked to the hub of the game center.

The hub of the game center consisted of visitors’ favorite games, such as Maimai, Groove Coaster, Dance Evolution Arcade, and Danz Base. The loud voices from those four games were superficially loud when played.

Ward sat down on the yellow bench in front of Maimai, a rhythm game in which its’ cabinet resembled a front-loading washing machine with white glowing buttons and touchscreen. The version was updated to Maimai Murasaki, the latest version available. Luckily, Maimai in that game center was connected to the internet.

Ward saw a short haired young man with cute face who finished the third and final stage. During the third stage, he played 色は匂へど散りぬるを (Iro wa Nioedo Chirinuru wo), he got 95.64% achievement and rank AAA.

“Damn, my rating down.” That young man pushed the button to “skip”.

Maimai’s screen then showed how much MaiZenny (Maimai’s in-game currency) he had acquired in order to buy an item in the end of the game. After a “GAME OVER” text was shown, he sat back.

Ward stood up and took his wallet from his pants. He put his backpack under Maimai cabinet before taking out the game card and Aime ID card. He tapped his Aime ID card to Aime Reader between two Maimai cabinets.

After Ward’s ID name, WARD1, got shown on screen, he swiped the game card to insert one credit. He pushed the button to start the game. In the beginning, the categories got shown on screen, meaning he needed to choose the song to play the first stage.

Ward chose “Pops & Anime” category. In the first stage, he decided to play Linked Horizon’s 紅蓮の弓矢 (Guren no Yumiya), the opening theme of Attack on Titan, with difficulty EXPERT level 9.

Once the stage started, a music video got shown during gameplay. A yellow star shaped double tap greeted the beginning of the stage. Ward used his hand palms to slide the touchscreen. Once entering the first verse, a yellow circle shaped appeared from the middle to the button’s target.

The other ringnote type in Maimai other than slide and double tap were single tap, a pink circle shaped which appeared from the middle to the button’s target; hold, which required to push the button until the end of the ringnote; and break, any ringnote which colored golden red and gave a bonus score if got pushed on time. This also applied on double slide and double hold to hold two buttons at the same time.

After the stage completed, “FULL COMBO” text appeared on screen, which mean Ward had pushed all the note without getting “MISS” during the stage. At the result, Ward received 97.03% achievement and rank S. Achievement and scoring depended on the timing pushing the note or slide shown on screen, there were Perfect, Great, Good, and Miss.

On the second stage, Ward decided to choose a “niconico & Vocaloid” category song, 初音ミクの消失 (The Disappearance of Hatsune Miku) with difficulty EXPERT level 10.

Despite a steady start on the stage two, Ward struggled in the last part when Hatsune Miku rapped almost unhearable, especially when he needed to push a single button many times at the end of the song. The result, Ward received 94.51% achievement and rank AAA.

On the third and final stage, Ward decided to choose MASTER difficulty level, the highest difficulty on Maimai. He said, “The first time I choose MASTER.”

He ultimately decided to choose 秘密の扉から会いにきて (Himitsu no Door Kara), No-Rin’s opening theme, with difficulty MASTER level 11. Not the right start to play MASTER difficulty for the first time.

It was indeed true, Ward absolutely struggled pushing every single button as well as sliding the touchscreen. He almost failed reaching 80% achievement which required him to clear the stage. He only received 84% achievement with rank A.

“Damn, it’s hard,” Ward said.

A young man who sat down looking Ward playing Maimai now touched his phone screen to send a message to the group on LINE. He looked Ward who saw “GAME OVER” text on Maimai’s screen.

The young man finally take the initiative to greet, “Do you mind if I get to know you?”

“I don’t mind,” Ward nodded when he sat down next to the young man.

“David Scott, call me Dave,”

“Ward, Ward Davenport.” Ward greeted and shook Dave’s hands. “By the way, you’re a high schooler?”

Dave laughed. “No.”

“Really? I think you’re a high school student based on your face.”

“No, I’m already going to college. I’m taking literature major.”

“Oh, me too. I’m taking Technical Information major,” Ward added. “Oh yeah, DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) and GuitarFreaks have recently been dropped by Arcade Station’s management here, right?” Arcade Station was the name of the game center.

“It’s because … it’s been rarely who played those games. DDR and GuitarFreaks in here were still outdated. If you want to update to the latest version, you’re required to get online, if not, the game will not run,” answered Dave.

“I see. An employee told me the online system for DDR and GuitarFreaks were complicated.”

“Oh yeah, what else the games you play here?” asked Dave.

“A lot, mostly Maimai, DDR, GuitarFreaks, Pump it Up, Maximum Tune, and BlazBlue. How about you?”

“A lot enough, mostly Maimai, Groove Coaster, Dance Evolution, and DJMAX Technika. I also play Maximum Tune besides rhythm games.”

“Hi, Dave!” a buzz cut haired guy greeted. “You’re not playing Danz Base?”

“No, just Maimai,” Dave answered.

“Whoa! Onii-chan’s here!” the short casual haired chubby guy also greeted.

“Toshi, hi,” Dave greeted back.

“You’re playing?”

“Maimai,” Dave pointed.

“I’m gonna play Danz Base with Aishiro!” Toshi walked approaching Danz Base cabinet.

“Okay!”

“Your friends?” Ward asked. “Oh, is there any game community here?”

“Yeah, I’m a member, so are they. A rhythm game community.”

“Whoa …,” Ward got impressed.

“Wanna play again?” Dave asked. “I’ll let you first.”

“Oh yeah.” Ward stood up approaching Maimai cabinet. He took out his game card and Aime ID card. He tapped Aime ID Card on the Aime reader and swiped the game card.

Dave walked as he took his yellow gloves. “Oh ya, it’s better when you wear gloves. If you wear this, you’ll slide easier. Here, try wearing my gloves.”

“Okay.” Ward nodded as he took and wore Dave’s yellow gloves.

In the first stage, Ward chose FripSide’s Luminize, Future Card Buddyfight opening theme, with difficulty EXPERT level 8. In the second stage, he chose ナミダと流星 (Tears and Meteor), one of the original songs on Maimai, with difficulty EXPERT level 9.

In the third and final stage, he once again decided to choose difficulty level MASTER. However, Dave interrupted him.

“Do you mind if I request a song?”

“I don’t mind. Sure.” Ward nodded.

Dave finally request a song from “Game & Variety” category, DJ Yoshitaka’s Flower with difficulty EXPERT level 10. Ward nodded and began the final stage.

After the stage ended, Ward received 93.23% achievement with rank AA. Dave finally met him again.

“You can use that song to train yourself for the MASTER difficulty. It’s better you train using ‘Original’ and ‘Game’ category songs with EXPERT difficulty. You’ll be getting used to before you’re ready,” Dave added. “You want to join the community?”

“You sure?” asked Ward.

“I’m asking the leader through LINE. He hasn’t come here.” Dave took his phone from his pants.

“Oh, I almost forgot, here you go.” Ward gave Dave’s yellow gloves back.

“If you want to buy some gloves, it’s better when you buy them in the ground floor’s supermarket. You better come back playing Maimai using some gloves, you’ll get comfortable when you slide.”

“I’ll buy it later.”

“Alright, the leader asked me to invite your LINE ID. Oh yeah, what’s your LINE ID?”

Ward answered telling his LINE ID and asked the same question. Dave also told his LINE ID. They finally added each other’s LINE ID. Dave also invited Ward’s LINE ID to the community’s group.

Ward also received a LINE message from his college friend. “Damn it! An impromptu class! I got to leave! I should get going!” Ward took his backpack and ran leaving Arcade Station.

“Alright, take care.”

***

MOVEMENT RHYTHM COMMUNITY (101)

6:58 PM

Ward Davenport joined the group.

Ian Hunter

Hello, 101th member! (6:58 PM)

Welcome to Movement Rhythm Community! (6:58 PM)

Toshiyuki Ryuzaki

Welcome new member! (6:59 PM)

Aishiro Daichi

Yeah! New member! (6:59 PM)

Welcome! (6:59 PM)

Don Parrish

101th member! (7:00 PM)

(7:00 PM) Halo, nice to meet you all!

(7:00 PM) Is there anyone who also plays DDR and GuitarFreaks

(7:00 PM) It was gone from Arcade Station earlier.

Dave Scott

Yeah! Finally you’re in! (7:00 PM)

Xephyr

Hello new member! (7:01 PM)

Don Parrish

It’s gone since last Monday. (7:01 PM)

Toshiyuki Ryuzaki

Yeah! Onii-chan! (7:01 PM)

Aishiro Daichi

Dave! (7:01 PM)

Xephyr

Yeah, since last Monday. (7:01 PM)

(7:02 PM) Dammit.

(7:03) I recently know that.

Ian Hunter

Huhu, DDR dan GuitarFreaks are gone (7:03 PM)

Amy Kavanagh

Good evening, all! (7:03 PM)

Welcome, new member. Hope you have a great time here. (7:03 PM)

(7:04 PM) What else you play in Arcade Station?

(7:04 PM) I play Maimai, BlazBlue, MT5, dan PIU.

Ian Hunter

Oh yeah, don’t forget gathering this Saturday! (7:04 PM)

Also for new member! (7:04 PM)

***

“Finally ….” Ward caught his breath once he arrived at Arcade Station.

Ward checked his game credits in front of credit checker cabinet after swiping the game card. He realized he has few credits left (the total credits balance was censored on purpose). He took his wallet from his pants and realizing he had few money left.

“Damn, I might play Maimai and BlazBlue once each.” Ward walked approaching Maimai cabinet. “Today’s lecture was rough ….”

Ward also took his phone when he sat on the yellow bench in front of Maimai cabinet. He sent a message to group through LINE, is there anyone playing today?

Toshi replied, skip for gath.

Aishiro copied Toshi’s reply, skip for gath.

Xephyr replied, skip for today.

“No one’s playing huh?”

***

Saturday, the most anticipated day. Ward finally attended Movement Rhythm Community’s members gathering for the first time in Arcade Station. Ward saw his phone screen to check the group’s chat log as he entered.

Because it was weekend, Arcade Station was more crowded than usual. Many Aikatsu cabinets right next to the entrance were crowded with kids playing. The sound from every game there was louder, especially from Time Crisis 5, Street Fighter IV, and Tekken 7.

Ward greeted the cashier’s table right next to Aikatsu cabinets to buy more credits. He gave his game card and his money. After the cashier checked Ward’s acquired game credits, he gave back the card after saying thanks.

Ward immediately walked to the Arcade Station’s hub which was filled by several people, he concluded that they were members from Movement Rhythm Community.

Ward stopped after realizing Dave hadn’t come, but only the other members he didn’t know at all. Ward got confused whether he should join the conversation or only waiting for his turn playing Maimai.

He saw two players playing Maimai and Groove Coaster each playing DJ Yoshitaka’s Flower at the same time. One of the members was recording using his camera phone. Ward also realized that Flower was the most mainstream song in the game’s history.

Gameplay video on YouTube:

Maimai:
Iro wa Nioedo Chirinuru wo MASTER
Guren no Yumiya EXPERT
The Disappearance of Hatsune Miku EXPERT
Himitsu no Door Kara MASTER
Luminize EXPERT
Tears and Meteor EXPERT
Flower EXPERT