iPhone App: 3D Sound Horror ~Meijou~

 鳴囁～メイジョウ～

Maker: Visualworks / Studio Mausu
Released: 2012.10.05
For: iPhone / iPod Touch


Reviewing something slightly different this time. 3D Sound Horror Meijou is an iPhone app that is probably best described as a mix between and audio drama and a visual novel. It uses some visuals so it is not pure audio, but it isn't as elaborate as a visual novel either (to begin with there are no visuals for the characters). Just as the title implies, it is a horror story that uses the dummy head mic to create 3D sound effects. I guess it is mostly aimed at women, although this only becomes clear near the end of the story and I think you can enjoy the story no matter your gender.

Meijou tells the story of four friends who travel around looking for haunted spots. Chika (CV: Hayami Saori), the only girl in the group, has found an old letter that talks about a haunted cave. Enclosed with the letter was a small charm with a bell on it. The group decides to investigate this.

The story starts with the four of them arriving at the cave. It is raining outside, and while all of them find the atmosphere rather creepy they came here to investigate the cave so they enter it anyway. The cave seems to be made by human hands, and they discover something like a living room inside. But before they get chance to properly investigate an earthquake happens and the entrance collapses. To make things worse, their flashlight also stops working.

Chika  her phone

While they are still panicking Chika her phone suddenly starts ringing. At first they think it is a mistake, but it starts ringing again a few seconds later. Chika answers the call but all she hears is noise. A few seconds after that she gets a text message which reads "go deeper", followed by a lot of gibberish.

As they venture further into the cave the calls continue and you can start to hear voices in them, and to make things worse the group ends up separated from each other and they have to try and find each other as well as the way out again. As you proceed it slowly starts to become clear what happened in the cave.

When the group finally manages to get together and find something like an exit near the end another earthquake happens, and a large rock falls down and all three guys reach out to you to save you. At this point you are presented with a choice: grab the hand of one the guys (you can pick who) or escape on your own. The ending differs depending on what you choose.

The story is split up into two apps, so to get the entire story you'll have to buy both. I think it is worth it though. Also: the app is compatible with both iPhones and iPods (and iPads) but because of the calls you receive I think listening to it on your phone has the best effect. Whenever you get a call the image on the screen switches to the standard call screen so it really looks like you are receiving a call, which adds to the creepiness .

Unfortunately the rest of the visuals are not that effective. Most of them are either to blurry or to dark to properly see what is pictured. Although I admit that the one where the ghosts try to grab Chika really freaked me out (especially because it moves). Still, the concept is interesting and I think the end result is pretty good.

The effect of the dummy head mic can't always be heard. When you are normally talking with everyone it isn't really noticeable, but you obviously do hear it when you are close to someone (like when they try to cheer Chika up or in some of the endings) and it was used pretty effectively during the calls and for some of the scare effects. Personally I like this balance, this way it feels special when it is used.

For those who are not that good with bad endings: rest assured, there is no real bad end. The main difference for the endings is who saves Chika and gets to be her main love interest. None of the endings show you getting together though, it is more like hinted at that there might be something there. There is only one ending where you unravel the entire story though.

When I listened to it I got the idea that there might be something between Yuuma and Chika, which was backed up by the fact that he is the one that stays with you when you pick the "escape on your own" option, but to my surprise it was not his ending that tells the entire story.

I don't really see why they split this thing into two apps though. It is not like it is that big as a whole either, so it feels sort of cheap to have us buy two apps to hear the entire story. Both apps together are still much cheaper than your average drama CD though, so in the end I was fine with the price. Something random that I noticed: when you first start the second app the music playing at the start screen is ominous. After you finished one of the endings however it switches to a more serene music.


Conclusion:
This was a good story, it becomes less scary towards the end but I guess that is natural as you start to understand what is going on. While most of the visuals were not that special, they way they used the call- and message screens was super effective. After hearing more horror stories that make use of the dummy head mic I can only say that the dummy head almost seems to be made for this; there is nothing as scary as ghosts talking right next to your ear.

Pick-up Voice for iOS

I kept forgetting this in the news posts, and then I thought it would be better if I actually read it first, which I kept forgetting, and so this went in circles for a couple of days but here we are!


As you may or may not know, an English version of the seiyuu magazine Pick-up Voice was released for iPhone/iPad a little while ago. Search for the Pick-up Voice Mobile in the app store/news stand and you should find it. The app itself is free, but you will need to pay a subscription fee or buy the individual issues to be able to read them.



My biggest problem with this app is actually the News Stand app itself. I had never used it before, but it annoys me to no end. When I first bought vol.1 I couldn't find it anywhere, so I had to choose download again. I didn't want to stream, so I downloaded the issue but if you close the app or your phone goes into standby mode the download stops and you'll have start over. Ugh. Eventually I managed to download it though. Next problem: if you switch into standby mode while reading the app closes and you'll have to manually select it again and manually browse to the page you were at again. Great (=＿=;;).

But if you open the current issue you are greeted by a several pages long Kaji Yuuki interview so most of my irritation just vanishes into thin air because he is so very cute somehow. I noticed that the English is a bit... weird at times. Not incomprehensible but there are definitely some odd sentences here and there and overall it has that "obviously translated from Japanese to English" feel. I don't know whether you know what I mean, but sometimes it is just so obvious what the source language was in translations, which results in a weird slightly unnatural translation. That said, everything is perfectly understandable, most of it is pretty good, and above everything else: I feel blessed for even having an English version.


Reading on an iPhone is slightly impractical but definitely possible. You'll have to zoom and scroll a bit to be able to read everything but it is not too bad. I imagine that it would be easier to read on an iPad. On the other had, I kind of wonder how it looks on an iPad. If I zoom a bit too much on my iPhone the image becomes pixilated pretty fast, so I was wondering how it looks on an iPad (If anyone has one and downloaded this, please let me know!) But once again: I feel blessed just because this exists.



I am really happy that they decided to release this, and I hope that they will continue to release more Issues in English. It really isn't that expensive, so I hope that everyone will support and buy this so that the publishers are encouraged to keep this up and maybe even release more stuff in a similar way!

iPhone App: Noboseru Schedule ~Misasa~

A little while ago an android app appeared for the Anata ga Ofuro de Noboseru CD series. By now it has been ported to iOS as well so you can play around with it on your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch. Moreover, they now also released apps for Noboribetsu and Misasa, and I got the Misasa (CV: Hirakawa Daisuke) one to review.

 If you start the app you are taken to your room, and Misasa (or whichever character you got the app for) will be standing there. The room slightly changes depending on what time of day it is. You can poke the character to get some reactions, although they are limited in the beginning. You'll have to use the app more often to raise affection and get more reactions. You can see the level of affection in the top left of the screen. By the way, the character will react no matter where you touch the screen.

The second option from the left is the calender. Everything that is in your normal iphone calender will show up here (and visa versa) which is a great bonus if you ask me. If you touch the little plus in the upper right you can add an event just like in your normal calender. If you link the app to your twitter you can also tweet about what you have in your calender. It also has a function where it automatically adds the release date of new CDs in the series to your calender.




The middle option is the alarm function. You can set different alarms. There are only 3 different voice options (wake up, reminder, and good night). No idea whether you unlock ore ones if you raise the affection, but it doesn't look like it. I currently have a wake up and good night alarm set.

To set an alarm, click one one of the alarm slots and you'll be taken to the screen on the left. There you can select on which days the alarm should be repeated (it starts with Sunday, and then the rest of the days of the week). Just tab the buttons to turn them on or off. Below that you can select which message should be played, and below that you can select the time using the two reels. Just remember that you won't be able to hear the alarm if your phone is on manner mode/ mute.





The fourth option is the help option, it explains the entire app. In Japanese of course. The final option are the settings. The top one just displays the name of the character, but there is nothing that you can select there. The second one is a voice on / off option. You can enter your birthday in the third one, so I'm guessing the character will do something special on that day. The forth one is the information on /off option. Turn it on and the app will automatically add release dates of the other CDs and other apps from the company to your calender.

Then fifth one gives some basic info on the app, the sixth one links you to the EM2 official site, the seventh one to the app official site, and with the final option you can submit a review. Judging from the app site, it looks like they will eventually release apps for the other CD's as well.



This is the first schedule app like this that I got that actually synchronises with my normal agenda, and to me that is a MAJOR bonus point. I use the Bisei Hisho (Okiayu Ryoutarou version) as well, but that doesn't synch with my normal calender (with synchs with my laptop) and I don't feel like adding everything twice so in the end I only use that one as an alarm clock (not that I have complaints about being woken by Okiayu Ryoutarou). But with this calender properly synching, I feel like I will actually be using the calender function.

I'm kind of sad that the alarm option only has three different voices, but I'm just spoiled by the Bisei Hisho app, which has a bazillion options. On a brighter side, all three of them are incredibly cute. As are the sounds that Misasa makes when you poke him (or the room behind him). I haven't been able to raise his affection yet, so I'm curious to what other reactions he has.

The app is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), iPad, and requires iOS 4.0 or later. It costs \350 / $3.99 / €2,99. Here are the links to the US and Jap iTunes stores, for other countries, search for 'noboseru' or the onsen name and you should find it:

Schedule Noboseru - Kusatsu [JAP]
Schedule Noboseru - Noboribetsu [JAP]
Schedule Noboseru - Misasa [JAP]



Conclusion:
I'm really happy that it synchs with my normal calender. The reactions when you poke the character are a bit limited though. On the other hand, you can have one of your favourite seiyuu wake you up in the morning and wish you good night. That is worth something.

(I now have both Okiayu Ryoutarou and Hirakawa Daisuke talking to me in the morning. I am one happy girl).

Love me, I'm you pet darling

Or in other words: The Aishite Ageru iPhone App. The English title sounds a bit... weird but oh well. No complaining when they went to the trouble of properly localizing it for us!! The App is based on Aishite Ageru Vol.2. Just like in the CD the setting is that you are Okamura Kouhei (CV: Morikawa Toshiyuki) his pet sparrow "Yuki".

And I really mean localizing, because Visualworks has gone to the trouble of translating the app into English for us. All of the menu's, buttons, explanation, settings, and even subs for what Kouhei is saying. For the most part the translation is solid, too. The app itself is free, but you can buy extra voice packs in the in-app store.

When you start the app you are greeted by the starting screen. From there you can go into touch mode, the settings, in-app shop, the album with all of the phrases you've already heard, and a link to the animate online store. When you open the app for the first time a short explanation will pop up as well. Tap on the touch mode button to, well, go to touch mode.




 

When you tap on touch mode you first get another short explanation. Touch mode has two different modes, you get different scenes depending on which one you are in. The one you start in has more general lines, slide the screen to the left and you'll get some sweeter lines. I haven't listened to the CD yet, but I'm assuming all of them come from the CD. You can also view the character profile from here.







The settings are pretty straight forward. You can turn the alarm of or on, and set the alarm time and volume. Below that you can set the Alarm voice, but if you haven't bought any voice packs there will be only one option. Other than that there are the snooze and vibration options, and you can turn the subtitles on or off.

The alarm voice is a bit akward if you ask me. He thanks you for waking him up, but being thanked by my own alarm is a bit... It is supposed to wake me up, not the other way around xD

In the shop you can buy extra voice packs, there are three extra packs at the moment: a comfort pack, a lovey-dovey pack, and a Yuki prank pack. (I'm actually kind of curious about that last one)

I'm not sure how many lines come with each pack, if someone knows please tell me m(_ _)m



 

In the album screen you can view all the lines that you have unlocked up to now. Select them to listen to them. No matter how much I poked, I could only get Kouhei to say five different lines in each mode, so I'm afraid that the rest is only unlocked after you buy the voice packs (T-T)









I was really surprised when I saw that the App was fully translated. Until now most of the Apps like this are still in Japanese, even if they have an English summary in the iTunes store. The screen shots in the store were also mostly Japanese, so the actual app being in English when you open it really came as a surprise. (and then it turned out the Shuukan Soine App has also been translated by now, haha)

I really hope that this becomes the standard. (Honey Bee I'm looking at you and your Starry Sky Apps!!)



If I were to say one tiny complaint about this app, is this that we only get one visual. Granted, it is a pretty one, but it is exactly the same as the CD cover and it is the only one used in the entire app. You're not telling me they didn't have some sort of sketch or something lying around that they could have thrown in there.

Only one visual or not, I'm considering buying the voice packs just to show support, in the hope that Visualworks will translate more (upcoming) Apps.

Download the App here: Love me, I'm your pet darling  [JAP]

Weekly News Post

Sasayaki Micchaku

A new Sasayaki Micchaku CD is being released on 2012.08.22. This time it is the bartender Kutsugi Mitsuru (CV: Hirakawa Daisuke) who shall be whispering into our ears. His character description stated that he looks like a flirt, but is actually a gentleman. He is a skilled bartender, and can determine what kind of drink or talk his customers want by just observing them.


Akogare no Situation
Another situations CD is on the way, this time the theme is "dakishimeraretai" ( [I] want to be hugged). This time you are working in a pharmaceutical company and have secret relation with one of your co-workers. However due to no-one knowing, his boss tries to talk him into an omiai (arranged marriage)... Exactly how this is going to combine with the theme isn't really clear yet. Also, I'm starting to think the title might refer to something more than just hugging. Or not. We'll see.


Lovers Only
MomoGre is releasing Lovers Only 3. The seiyuu this time will be Midorikawa Hikaru. The story is a love story between a musician and a fan. Due to following her idol for so long she knows that the way he is now heading was not his dream, and thanks to her pointing this out to him he starts to adjust his course. The release is planned for 2012.07.26.

Weekly News Post

iTunes
I discovered through the tumblr of the lovely Berselium that the Healing Stone CD's are available on iTunes. The USA iTunes store has them, and at least the Dutch one (where I have an account) has them too, so hopefully they are available globally. Search for "yumoriseki" or simply "yumori" and you should be able to find them.

They have been available for quite some time judging by the iTunes release date, but I though it was worth a mention. As of yet these are the only drama CD's I know on iTunes. If anyone knows any others, please let me know. So I can buy more stuff.


Lovers Only
Momo & Grapes their Lovers Only series continues. LOVERS ONLY２／ラブストーリーは君と (Lovers Only 2 / My love story is with you) will be voiced by Toriumi Kousuke and is planned for a 2012.04.26 release.

The story takes a whole different route than the more realistic last one. This time it is a story about the love between an angel and a human girl. The angels is sent to earth as a sort of cupid, but falls in love with a human girl. The official site describes it as the "sweet and painful story of the love and farewell between an angel and a human" so it looks like the story isn't going to end well. Now... I need to get my hands on the first CD...

Shuukan Soine App

Because someone asked me to, here is an explanation of how the Shuukan Soine App for the iPhone works, complete with pictures!

EDIT: By now the entire app has been translated, including subs for all the things the charaters say, so this guide has become obsolete. I'll keep it on the site as a sort of awkward review though (^-^)

When you open the app you are greeted by the above screen. Slide the screen left or right to switch between the characters. I will use Kakeru for the rest of this explanation. Tap anywhere on the screen to go to talk mode:

This is talk mode. Click on the upper left button to make him talk to you. The upper right button takes you to Soine mode, which simply means that the image changes to a close up of Kakeru. The lower right button takes you back to the first screen.

And this is what Soine mode looks like. Like before, the left button is for making Kakeru speak and the right one takes you back to talk mode.

Now, for the rest of the functions. The start screen has 4 buttons. The 1st one on the left takes you to the options for the alarm, which looks like the screen on the right here. The first option is alarm of on/of, with the second one you can set the time.

The third option lets you choose whether you want the voice for the alarm on or off (why would you want to switch that off? xD) and the fourth option lets you choose which voice you want. For the time being both Kakeru and Jin have two options.

The fifth option allows you to set whether the alarm will go into snooze mode, with the sixth option allowing you to choose after how many minutes it should repeat. But like I'll explain in a moment, these options are mostly useless for now. The final option is vibration on or off. I recommend off.

Now, as for why the snooze option is mostly useless: The alarm function doesn't work in sleep mode. Meaning that as soon as your screen switches off it no longer works, meaning that if you want it to work you need to set the setting of your iPhone so that it won't go into sleep mode, which drains you battery like mad. But I suppose it could work that way. Personally I really hope that they will fix this in a future update.

And this is what the wake up screen for the two of them looks like. I faint right after looking at it making the entire alarm option useless because I end up in coma, but hey. I don't own an iPad, but I bet they are deadly on that resolution (*o*)

The second button from the left on the main screen takes you to the 'hitsuji room' where you can buy more voices for the characters. If you buy more voices new sentences will be added to talk and soine mode, as well as new alarm voices.

Personally I'm having problems buying the extra voices (yes, I tried to. Sue me xD). When I try to but them the app says "you need to buy the app first before you can buy extra contents" (=____=) Does anyone else have this problem? It works now.


ps: the reason why the screen says that the extra voices cost 1.59yen is because that is really supposed to euro's but for some reason it shows the yen sign xD

The third option in the main screen takes you to a list of all the sentences you boyfriend has said to you, and you can select them from the list to hear them. So far there are 60 lines for each character. I don't know whether you can get all 60 without buying the extra lines, someone let me know if someone gets more lines without buying the add ons :D


And finally, the fourth option takes you to the animate website, where you can buy the CDs xD




There, I think that was everything? If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!! (^-^)