SuperStar SMTOWN is a South Korean rhythm game developed by Dalcomsoft, Inc. which was first launched on Google Play in August 2014. The game features songs by artists of the entertainment company SM Entertainment.[1] The game is available in Asia and the US, and is playable in English, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Indonesian, and Turkish.
| SuperStar SMTOWN | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Dalcomsoft Inc. |
| Platform(s) | iOS, Android |
| Release | August 15, 2014 |
| Genre(s) | Music |
The goal is to complete a song and unlock the following song in three levels: Easy, Normal and Hard.[2] As of September 6, 2023, the game features more than 950 songs from 72 solo artists, groups and units of SM Entertainment.
In July 2016, Pulse News reported that the game has over 8 million downloads and has raised ₩10 billion ($8.8 million) in cumulative revenue since its release.[3] The game reached 10 million downloads on May 2, 2018.[4]
Background and history
editSM Entertainment, a South Korean entertainment company, aimed for a game featuring SM Town, its stable of singers.[1] Daum Kakao jointly published the game with China's mobile game publisher, Chukong.[5]
Gameplay
editLike most rhythm games, players tap descending colored objects when they align with the bar at the bottom of the screen, the goal being to accumulate points. Tapping the objects in time correctly, and consecutively without any misses, gives bonus points. After each song, scores are recorded and enables the player to compare scores with other players online. With enough points, a player can go up a rank on the weekly chart (starting from Bronze, to Silver, Gold, Platinum and finally Master with each being divided into three levels respectively).
Songs from various artists of SM Entertainment are featured in the game. Previously until 2017 updates, after completing a song, a new song is unlocked. The goal is to unlock all the songs in all three levels, Easy, Normal and Hard, which is not anymore applicable to the late 2017-now updates. The same 600+ songs must be unlocked in the three levels. After beating all three levels, the 'Challenge' mode will be unlocked. 'Star Cards' (Cards that feature the solo artists and individual group members of SM Entertainment) is also a feature of the game. New cards are earned after completing a song, although a player may purchase them from the game's store in packs. When equipped, cards enable the player to gain more points, with an even bigger advantage if the player collects all the cards that corresponds to the theme of the group or artist. These cards can also be used to enhance other cards to gain more bonus. As of January 13, 2021, there are over 1400+ star cards (including normal and limited edition) to collect in the game.
Soundtrack
editSuperStar SM Town has more than 950 songs from 70 of SM Entertainment's boy bands, girl groups, sub-groups and solo artists, namely: Kangta, BoA, TVXQ!, U-Know, Max, Super Junior, Kyuhyun, Super Junior-D&E, M&D, Ryeowook, Yesung, Super Junior-K.R.Y., Super Junior-M, Henry, Zhou Mi, Sungmin, Donghae, Eunhyuk, Girls' Generation, Girls' Generation-TTS, Girls' Generation-Oh!GG, Taeyeon, Tiffany, Seohyun, DJ Hyo, Yoona, Yuri, Shinee, Taemin, Jonghyun, Key, Onew, Minho, F(x), Amber, Luna, Exo, Exo-K, Exo-M, Lay, Exo-CBX, Chen, Baekhyun, Exo-SC, Suho, Kai, D.O., Xiumin, Red Velvet, Red Velvet – Irene & Seulgi, Wendy, Joy, Seulgi, NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV, WayV – Kun & Xiaojun, Mark, NCT DoJaeJung, Taeyong, Ten, Doyoung, Lucas, SuperM, Aespa, Got the Beat, Riize and NCT Wish. Songs by the SM special group like SM the Ballad and SM Town are also included.[6][7] The songs must be unlocked in all three levels of the game; easy, normal and hard.[8][9][10]
References
edit- ^ a b Huh, Veronica (August 26, 2014). "SM Entertainment Launches Mobile Rhythm Game, SuperStar SMTown". The Korea Bizwire. Archived from the original on 2014-11-04. Retrieved 2014-12-02.
- ^ Han Dong-kyun (August 22, 2014). "SM Entertainment introduces a mobile rhythm game 'SuperStar SM Town'". Whowired Korea. Archived from the original on February 10, 2015. Retrieved 2014-12-02.
- ^ Lee, Sun-hee (July 27, 2016). "Korea out to make star-studded mobile games the new Hallyu hit". Pulse News. Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
- ^ "한류의 힘! '슈퍼스타 SM타운' 글로벌 누적 다운로드 1000만 돌파". Naver. May 4, 2018. Archived from the original on 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
- ^ Kim, Liz (March 4, 2015). "DaumKakao to jointly publish Superstar SMTOWN with China's Chukong". Whowired Korea. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
- ^ "SM엔터의 힘, 모바일 게임에서도 빛난다". Naver. January 16, 2015. Archived from the original on 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
- ^ "다음카카오, 중국 추콩과 'Superstar SMTOWN' 공동 퍼블리싱". Naver. March 4, 2015. Archived from the original on 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
- ^ "엑소 'December, 2014' 슈퍼스타 SMTOWN에서 공개". Naver. December 15, 2014. Archived from the original on 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
- ^ "'레드벨벳을 이겨라!'..제1회 레드벨벳배 SUPERSTAR SMTOWN 대회 개최". Naver. March 20, 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-10-25. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
- ^ "4주년 맞은 리듬게임 '슈퍼스타 SMTOWN', 기념 업데이트 실시". Naver. August 16, 2018. Archived from the original on 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2020-05-08.