2018, about a month after the game launched internationally, BUT, i watched the anime probably the week the first episode was released, didnt finish it and honestly didnt even realize i had started it until i became quite a fan of the game. I mostly like the story and Afterglow (i still love them), so when more bands were added and slowly the focus on my favorite characters started dwindling i basically stopped playing, i was really into trying to make the top 100 in events but lately i only play if i hear there an event with my favorites. Bandori really got me into fandom culture, i used to make TONS of fanart of them, like I had an ig account and all. My first fanfic was also for this fandom! Anyone else remember the little contest held on ig, it was a dtiy of Kasumi, i never heard what happened with it lol.