Overview
OTOGEMA is a celebratory original song produced for the 10th anniversary of the maimai rhythm game series, debuting in maimai でらっくす UNiVERSE PLUS on July 11, 2022. Performed by doujin-circle veteran beatMARIO (ビートまりお) with music and lyrics co-created by Pierrot☆Man (ピエロ☆マン), the track is a high-energy love letter to rhythm-game culture and the maimai community alike.
The title is a portmanteau of the Japanese shorthand 音ゲー (otoge, meaning "rhythm game") and ゲーマー/ゲーマニア (gēmā/gēmania, "gamer" / "game maniac"), summing up the song's ethos in a single word. The music video, directed by からめる (karameru) and featuring cameos from beatMARIO, Pierrot☆Man, Sega composer 光吉猛修 (Mitsuyoshi Takenobu), and the maimai development team, is densely packed with visual parodies of past maimai song music videos, including several that were removed or retired in the DX era.
The MASTER chart stands out as a four-way collaboration among Jack, はっぴー, からめる, and ぐるん, marking the first time notes designers outside of the core 譜面ボーイズ (Jack and はっぴー) were credited on a maimai original chart. The chart cleverly mirrors the song's lyrical tour through maimai's version history, with each verse about a past version being accompanied by a signature chart pattern from that era.
Videos
Charts
DX
BASIC
4(4)
192 notesDesigner: -|Tap 153Hold 9Slide 4Touch 20Break 6
ADVANCED
7(7)
307 notesDesigner: -|Tap 251Hold 24Slide 5Touch 7Break 20
EXPERT
10+(10.6)
538 notesDesigner: はっぴー|Tap 402Hold 33Slide 56Touch 37Break 10
MASTER
13+(13.6)
877 notesDesigner: Jack & はっぴー vs からめる & ぐるん|Tap 672Hold 15Slide 112Touch 30Break 48
Trivia
- OTOGEMA's title combines 音ゲー (otoge, rhythm game) with ゲーマー or ゲーマニア (gamer / game maniac), as explained during the maimai 10th anniversary overnight livestream.
- This was beatMARIO's first maimai original song since ♡マイマイマイラブ♡ (My Mai My Love), released several years earlier.
- The music video was directed and animated by からめる (karameru), who also co-designed the MASTER chart. It features a 'realistic' version of the mascot でらっくま (Delu-kuma) as a running visual gag.
- The cast includes surprise appearances by Sega sound team member 光吉猛修 (Mitsuyoshi Takenobu), Pierrot☆Man, はっぴー, からめる, and the maimai development team.
- The MV parodies music videos from numerous past maimai songs, including コネクト (Connect), ネコ日和。 (Neko Biyori), 炭★坑★節 (Tankō Bushi), and ピーマンたべたら (Piiman Tabetara), all of which were removed or retired in later maimai versions.
- Other songs parodied in the MV include Fragrance, Starlight Disco, We Gonna Party, ぐるぐるWASH！コインランドリー・ディスコ, FEEL ALIVE, Garakuta Doll Play, planet dancer, and 火炎地獄 (Kaen Jigoku).
- The MASTER chart is a collaboration among four notes designers: Jack, はっぴー, からめる, and ぐるん. This was the first maimai original chart to credit designers outside the core 譜面ボーイズ (Jack and はっぴー).
- During the 'maimai言えるかな?' (Can You Say maimai?) section, a parody of the Pokémon song ポケモン言えるかな?, each lyric referencing a past maimai version is paired with a chart pattern iconic to that era. For example, 'MURASAKi' triggers the 乙姫の部屋 pattern (16th-note quadruplets + slides), and 'FiNALE' uses overlapping echo slides from Believe the Rainbow.
- OTOGEMA was initially unlocked by accumulating 36 km of travel in the 10th Anniversary Area (10周年記念ちほー). It became generally unlockable on March 23, 2023.
- The song was available by default on the same day in the Asian (international) version, bypassing the area unlock requirement.
- The MV also contains an homage to the internet meme 'Hatten ar din' (a Swedish FLASH animation likely derived from an Arabian folk song), appearing during the countdown section.
- The track length is 2 minutes and 16 seconds.
FAQ
- What does OTOGEMA mean in maimai?
- OTOGEMA is a portmanteau of 音ゲー (otoge, meaning 'rhythm game') and ゲーマー/ゲーマニア (gamer / game maniac). The title was explained during the maimai 10th anniversary overnight livestream.
- Who composed OTOGEMA for maimai?
- The song was performed by beatMARIO (ビートまりお), with music composed and arranged by Pierrot☆Man (ピエロ☆マン). Lyrics were co-written by Pierrot☆Man and beatMARIO.
- When was OTOGEMA added to maimai?
- OTOGEMA debuted in maimai でらっくす UNiVERSE PLUS on July 11, 2022 as part of the 10th anniversary celebration. It was initially unlockable through the 10th Anniversary Area and became generally unlockable on March 23, 2023.
- What is special about OTOGEMA's MASTER chart?
- The MASTER chart (level 13+, constant 13.6) was co-designed by four notes designers: Jack, はっぴー, からめる, and ぐるん. This was the first maimai original chart to include designers outside the core 譜面ボーイズ (Jack and はっぴー). The chart also quotes signature patterns from earlier maimai versions to match the lyrics.
- What maimai songs are parodied in the OTOGEMA music video?
- The MV parodies over a dozen past maimai song videos, including コネクト (Connect), ネコ日和。 (Neko Biyori), 炭★坑★節 (Tankō Bushi), ピーマンたべたら (Piiman Tabetara), Fragrance, Starlight Disco, We Gonna Party, ぐるぐるWASH！コインランドリー・ディスコ, FEEL ALIVE, Garakuta Doll Play, planet dancer, 火炎地獄 (Kaen Jigoku), and others.
- Who appears in the OTOGEMA music video?
- The cast includes beatMARIO, Pierrot☆Man, Sega composer 光吉猛修 (Mitsuyoshi Takenobu), はっぴー, からめる, and members of the maimai TEAM. A realistic-style version of the mascot でらっくま (Delu-kuma) also makes a prominent appearance.
External Links
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