If, by any chance, you ever enter an arcade in Asia, chances are you'll most likely come across a cabinet that looks like an upright washing machine. What is it, why is it so popular, and how do you play it?
Well, this blog is going to go over those questions. I am going to tell you everything you need to know about Maimai; so whether you're a total newbie or an aspiring master, feel free to read and comment!
Maimai is an arcade game developed by Sega. It is a rhythm game where you must interact with objects onscreen while listening to songs. Now, you might straight up say, "Why waste my time doing such a stupid thing?" Well, let me list some things that is beneficial if you play:
- It is straight up entertainment (it's fun!)
- It can help you to feel music better. Some people cannot mimic a song's beat, as everyone has different musical capabilities. Miami could potentially help you to be more musically skilful.
- For masters, it's a good cardio exercise. (It can be as tiring as going to the gym)
- You can meet new people.
Of course there are some drawbacks, such as:
- It is expensive.
- Too much playing can damage your arms and/or eyes.
- It can be addicting.
With all of those in mind, I still encourage you to try playing it if you have the chance. To me, it is the best arcade game out there and I must say that I'm not the only person to think of that. However, bear in mind that Maimai is only available largely in Southeast Asia, so if you're living outside of that region, you might have to wait for a few years until they expand to other continents. Or you could just go to Japan. Yay!
What you will need in order to play Maimai:
- Some money
- Hands
- Gloves (optional, but it is increasingly important as you become better)
- Aime/Banapass (Cards used to create an account, optional)
Now, I'm going to show you how to play Maimai. Note that by Maimai, I'm referring to the newest version as of the date I'm writing this article (Feb 2017). Things may change in the future.
Firstly, approach the machine and swipe your card to get credit. Since this is your first time, see that there are eight buttons around the screen. Now, press the bottom left button. It will have the words "Guest Play". That's what you want. Press yes, and you've already entered the game.
Secondly. If you're playing with a friend, the machine might ask you if you want VS play or SYNC play. If you're new to this, press VS play and ignore this. (I will publish an article regarding this matter).
After that you'll be redirected to the menu. This is the time where you must choose a song. Now, most of the songs will be Japanese. If you know some Vocaloid songs, feel free to search it, but in the case that you don't know any songs, just go to "Recommended Track Ranking" and choose one from there. It shows you what songs are the most popular.
After finding a song you want to play, here are some key concepts that you must know:
- Difficulty. One song may have 5 or 6 difficulty levels. They are: Easy, Beginner, Advanced, Expert, Master, and Re:Master. Since you're new to the game, you might want to choose any one of the three easiest ranks (Easy, Beginner or Advanced). Keep in mind that songs also have level numbers (i.e. the Song "Sugar Song to Bitter Step" and "Kimono Yozora Souhaikan" both have a "Master" difficulty, but they have different level numbers (the former being 11+ and the latter being 11)). This basically means that "Sugar Song to Bitter Step" is a bit harder than "Kimono Yozora Souhaikan", generally speaking.
- Speed. If you look at the top left corner you'll notice the writing "Speed of Rings". It refers to how quickly the rings/notes will move from the centre to the edge of the screen. Since you're just starting, the ideal speed is anywhere from 2.5 until 4.5. Keep in mind that bigger speeds mean that the notes are moving faster. Feel free to experiment with the speed and find one that you're most comfortable in.
- Gameplay. I'm going to make an article regarding how the game works as well as introducing the various types of notes that appear in the game.
Finally, play the game!
Remember that Maimai is a game. You will get better the more often you play. So, if you mess up, don't be discouraged, keep practicing, and most importantly, enjoy yourself! Good luck!
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