Following the game’s July 2021 release on the Windows PC, developer Glitch Pitch and publisher PLAYISM have brought their dark comedy business simulation game Idol Manager to the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. From a fully in-game, micro-transaction-free gacha system to bolster your company ranks to setting up albums, practice rooms and holding concerts – will you succeed in making the next big thing in the Japanese idol industry, or find yourself crippled with millions of yen in debt?
The console release of Idol Manager contains all content featured in the original PC version, in addition to controller support. There is no major new content included in this version. You can nab yourself a copy via the Nintendo eShop or PlayStation Store for $24.99 USD or local equivalent, with Japanese voice overs and text support for English, Japanese, Russian, Simplified Chinese and Brazilian Portuguese.
Thanks to a somewhat questionable figure’s generous offer, you find yourself with the keys to a building and support in making the idol agency of your dreams. Build and operate the most prestigious talent agency in the world by creating the next hit idol group. The road to idol supremacy takes guts, grit, and girls, and by having all three you may just beat out your competitors.
Below is a bit more about what the game entails:
Start by scouting and hiring promising talents. Audition new girls and examine their skills, looks and traits to see if they fit the band’s image. A national audition could bring in better talent than a local audition, but wider searches cost more money, and suspiciously-sourced funds don’t grow on trees. Choose the idol candidates wisely, as toxic personality traits or incompatibilities between the girls can spell doom.
Spend money wisely to attend to the band’s needs and direct them with the help of hired agency personnel. Study Market trends, release commercially pleasing products, and continue the inception of new bands to ensure global monopolization of the idol game. Aim for a steady growth of the brand while managing mental health and comfort. Keep a firm hand on the idols to keep them on the right path, but too much control might lead to rebellion. Giving the idols free reign over their public appearances might keep them happy, but fans might balk at their choices.
How much blood, sweat, and tears will you spill in order to achieve success? Volatile personalities want to hog the spotlight. Rival groups and agencies want their slice of the pie. Competitors may resort to sabotage and subterfuge. Playing by the rules might lead to a clean conscience and a matching, cleaned-out wallet; underhanded tactics might lead first to fame and later to prison.
I’ve always loved idol groups, but I know how dirty the business can be when you dig into it, and I wanted to present that duality in Idol Manager. Everyone who supported the game from our crowdfunding campaigns to PC launch to now with the console versions helped make this a reality!
Max Rogozin – Founder of Developer Glitch Pitch
A review of Idol Manager is in the works, and will be shared in the next few days.
