Some of the best reality TV in recent years has featured pretty young hopefuls, frustrating and delighting in equal measure, as they try to make an impression with a handful of old fogeys from the entertainment business. I'm talking about Popstars and Pop Idol, of course. The ones who made it through, and even some who didnt, were guaranteed a degree of success. It seems that in these times of (micro) celebrity fascination and tabloid fever, even the humble gamer shall not escape the glare of media attention. Not if Popstar Maker has anything to do with it anyway. This is where you get to create your own virtual pop combo, give em a look, a sound, some hype, and hope its enough to propel high them into the charts.
Your first job as manager is to pick your band members, style their image and choose a name for the band. You will then need to get them in the studio to record some tracks. Popstar Maker contains its own virtual mixing studio where you can combine samples and beats to create your own unique tunes. Once you have recorded a single you must design the cover, release your musical masterpiece, and sit back and watch the sales figures rise. Chart day is Sunday, and only then will you know if your band is a hit or a miss.
After your first hit single, prepare yourself and your group for a flurry of TV appearances and press interviews. Record companies will also be hungry for a piece of the action, so make sure you sign the right deal. In the midst of all this activity, you will need to get the band back in the studio to start work on their debut album. This means creating more songs with the incorporated mixing studio, whilst trying not to stray too far from your winning formula.
Remember to treat your band members well, and you'll have a happy and motivated band that will give it loads. Work them too hard, pay them too little, or fail to help them in their quest for fame and fortune, and you'll be heading to the dole queue before the end of the first bar.
Popstar Maker is not an official tie-in to any TV show as far as we can tell, but one thing is official: its a lot of fun.