Idol Manager
{{Short description|2021 business simulation video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Idol Manager
| image = Idol Manager cover.jpg
| caption = cover art by Pixiv artist Ninamo
| developer = Glitch Pitch
| publisher = Playism
| designer = {{Unbulleted list|Justin Kuiper|Max Rogozin}}
| programmer = Max Rogozin
| artist = Aiwa
| writer = Justin Kuiper
| composer = {{Unbulleted list|Kobishi|Naisu}}
| platforms = {{Unbulleted list|Microsoft Windows|Nintendo Switch|PlayStation 4|PlayStation 5}}
| released = {{Unbulleted list|Microsoft Windows|{{Video game release|WW|27 July 2021}}|Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5|{{Video game release|WW|25 August 2022}}}}
| genre = Business simulation
| modes = Single-player
}}
Idol Manager is a business simulation game developed by Glitch Pitch and published by Playism. It was initially released on Microsoft Windows on 27 July 2021, with the ported versions of Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 available on 25 August 2022.
Gameplay
Idol Manager provides a free-play mode and a story mode.{{cite news|first=Brent|last=Middleton|url=https://goombastomp.com/idol-manager-review/|title=Idol Manager Review|website=goombastomp.com|date=24 August 2022|access-date=19 March 2023}} The story mode features three difficulties and multiple endings.{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2022-08-26/rise-as-an-idol-manager-today-on-switch-playstation-4-5-just-dont-go-broke-or-go-to-prison/.189017|title=Rise as an Idol Manager Today on Switch, PlayStation 4/5 - Just Don't Go Broke or Go to Prison|work=Anime News Network|date=26 August 2022|access-date=19 March 2023}} In the video game, players take on the role of a business manager, who is responsible for the daily trainings and commercial activities of Japanese idol groups. The game also features random events, allowing players to navigate through PR disasters and defuse tensions between group members.{{cite news|first=Orpheus|last=Joshua|url=https://noisypixel.net/idol-manager-switch-announced-august-2022/|title='Idol Manager' Switch Port Announced; August 2022 Release|website=noisypixel.net|date=11 May 2022|access-date=19 March 2023}}
Development and release
Idol Manager was revealed at E3 2020.{{cite web|url=https://ngpx.games/|title=New Game+ Expo|website=ngpx.games|access-date=19 March 2023|archive-date=8 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908183628/https://ngpx.games/|url-status=dead}} It was developed by Glitch Pitch, an indie game studio located in Russia, and published by the Japanese independent video game publisher Playism.{{cite news|first=Keiichi|last=Yokoyama|url=https://automaton-media.com/en/playism/20210726-1374/|title=Idol Manager, an idol management agency simulation, now available on Steam|website=automaton-media.com|date=16 August 2021|access-date=19 March 2023}} The in-game images and cover art are created by Pixiv artists.{{cite web|url=http://idolmanager.net/presskit/|title=Factsheet|website=idolmanager.net|access-date=19 March 2023}} The game was launched on 27 July 2021 for Microsoft Windows via Steam.{{cite news|first=Azario|last=Lopez|url=https://noisypixel.net/idol-manager-pc-release-date-july-2021/|title=Idol Manager Gets PC Release Date Set for July; Showing the Complexities of the Idol World|website=noisypixel.net|date=5 June 2021|access-date=19 March 2023}} The Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions were released on 25 August 2022.{{cite news|first=Sal|last=Romano|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/05/idol-manager-adds-ps5-ps4-versions|title=Idol Manager adds PS5, PS4 versions|website=gematsu.com|date=19 May 2022|access-date=19 March 2023}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| align = left
| MC = 73/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/idol-manager/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Idol Manager PC|work=Metacritic|access-date=19 March 2023}}
}}
Idol Manager received "mixed or average" reviews for the Microsoft Windows version according to review aggregator Metacritic.
Tilly Lawton of Pocket Tactics rated the game an 8 out of 10, praising the game is fascinating and in good combination with its visual novel aspects, but wrote the game is "not for everyone" and pointed out the UI system of the game is somewhat inconvenient.{{cite news|first=Tilly|last=Lawton|url=https://www.pockettactics.com/idol-manager/review|title=Idol Manager Switch review – stressy baka|work=Pocket Tactics|date=25 August 2022|access-date=19 March 2023}}
Allen Kesinger of COGconnected gave 89 out of 100, also praising the game's Gal-game art style, but criticized the game's buggy UI as well.{{cite news|first=Allen|last=Kesinger|url=https://cogconnected.com/review/idol-manager-review/|title=Idol Manager review – spice up your life|website=cogconnected.com|date=25 September 2022|access-date=19 March 2023}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://idolmanager.net/}}
Category:Business simulation games
Category:Japanese idol video games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Video games developed in Russia