Will my retirement from wrestling prove to be the best move I ever made, or the biggest mistake? Hoping to prove otherwise comes "Popscene" - a music simulator in the mould of the Wrestling MPire series. God knows the music business has just as many vibrant personalities as wrestling does, so let's see what they could be getting up to...

Back To The Future
Although it never materialized, Popscene was actually conceived some 4 years ago in the summer of 2000. This crude 2D version was arguably the first decent game I ever made, but its large file size condemned it to the history books. Even in this early, unfinished state, the game still showed plenty of potential though. So now, 4 years later (and 4 years a better game designer), the concept has been resurrected for one more shot at the big-time...

All Around The World
The name is about the only thing that remains the same, because the concept has now been promoted to a huge 3D world - the likes of which we've come to expect from the wrestling games! It features a staggering 150 artists, spread across 6 unique record labels. Introducing "Epic Talent" (the home of legendary veterans), "Super Sounds" (the home of pop artists and divas), "Rock-out Records" (the home of traditional rock bands), and "Urban Records" (the home of hip hop artists). There's also "The Underground", where all the aspiring young acts (or washed up veterans) strive to get recognized. In "Legacy Records", there's even a place for the deceased artists so that they can release records posthumously! It might be called "Popscene" but, evidently, every major genre has been represented to ensure that the game caters for all tastes...

Headline Acts
The characters that make up those rosters are as unique as the labels themselves! Although there are technically no real-life artists, there are plenty of familiar faces to look out for. From the legendary acts of the 60's, through to the chart-toppers of the 90's and present day, the range of characters is exceptionally broad. They're all perfectly unique too - not only in appearance, but in the role they play in the industry. In amongst the usual vocalists and dancers, you can also find guitarists, drummers, keyboardists, and even DJ's! Some characters have even dedicated their lives to behind-the-scenes roles, such as writing and production... 

Fashion Accessories
Each artist's appearance is as unique as their role in the world. The game boasts the best character modelling yet - and there are plenty of ways to enjoy it. From gaunt body shapes to fat, from tight-fit to baggy, from male to female... there are countless possibilities. Not least because there's even more fun to be had with the hairstyles - ranging from shaved to wild Afro's, and all kinds of long-haired variations. There's the usual selection of headwear and eyewear to experiment with too. Above all else, there's the best range of face and costume textures yet. By mixing and matching the different designs, on different body parts, you can truly create your own style...

Surgical Assistance
You can edit the costumes of your characters at any time, but more adventurous changes (such as those to the face and body) require plastic surgery! This costly procedure is your ticket to the image that you've always wanted. An artist's appearance can fluctuate over time as surely as their skills do. They lose weight, gain weight - and even gain wrinkles as they get older! You'll be thankful of this opportunity to turn back the clock...

Tale Of The Tape
Underneath the cosmetics, the most important aspect of a character is their personality. As in the wrestling games, there are 8 key statistics (rated out of 100) that determine how useful or valuable they are. "Popularity" indicates their drawing power, and is therefore the most important quality. Similarly, "Reputation" indicates how much respect they command in the outside world. Meanwhile, "Attitude" governs how reliable they are and "Happiness" indicates their enthusiasm. In addition to those personality traits, there are also musical skills to consider. "Production" influences their ability to produce entertaining songs, whilst "Writing" governs their artistic output. Similarly, "Performance" influences how well an artist delivers an entertaining song, whilst "Talent" is their ability to deliver artistic tracks. As in real life, that balance between art and entertainment is the key to a successful career...

Best Of The Best
With all those statistics flying around, you'll be glad of the game's "Database" feature that helps you make sense of it all! It's like a record book that reports the top 10 artists in any given category - ranging from the "Most Popular" to the "Most Troublesome". These rankings are a fantastic way of keeping track of who's hot and who's not. You can even refine the search to one particular label, so you can see where you stand in the greater scheme of things. It's a depressing reminder that the world doesn't revolve around you!

Seal The Deal
After studying the world rankings, you'll often discover an artist that you want to sign. Fortunately, you have the power to approach any artist at any time - but getting them to sign on the dotted line is another matter! Fans of the wrestling games will recognize the tug-of-war that is the contract negotiations. You have to offer artists a signing-on fee, a contract length, and the percentage of the income that you're willing to pay them. The royalties are broken down into 3 distinct categories: those from CD sales, those from ticket sales, and those from endorsements. All of them are a regular occurrence in any successful artist's life, and your employees will expect their cut. Sometimes even the most reasonable of deals doesn't cut it though, because artists can also have personal reservations. Whether it's the prospect of working with an artist that they don't like, or simply the fact that they're happy where they are, there are plenty of doubts that need to be addressed. Sometimes contract negotiations are as much about politics as they are about money...  

Making The Band
There's more to putting together a great band than simply signing a handful of chart-toppers. A band functions on the same 8 cylinders that drive an individual artist - it's just that they're compromised in a team environment. There's the collective "Popularity" and "Reputation" to worry about, and also the collective "Attitude" that governs how well the unit functions. More importantly, you also need to cultivate a good melting pot of talent. A well-rounded team needs good production skills, thoughtful writing, a consummate performer, and undeniable talent. Sometimes a couple of artists will demonstrate all of the required qualities, but more often than not you'll need to hire a specialist in each area...

True To Form
You can have up to 5 artists in a team, but that doesn't mean that they all have to be on-stage. You have access to "Formation" options that allow you to dictate who plays what role - whether it's in the limelight or behind-the-scenes. Furthermore, you can also specify what shape the band takes (from a boy band line-up to a traditional band layout) and you can even determine who goes where. Far from an aesthetic decision, these layouts are actually an important part of good management. By confining an artist backstage, you can make the most of their production skills (otherwise they would have been diluted). Likewise, an artist needs to be on-stage to contribute their performance skills. A successful unit will use the right skills, in the right way, at the right time... 

A Word In Your Ear
You don't necessarily have to make all the decisions though. You have a very real relationship with your employees, and they will often come to you with ideas of their own! Whether it's a change of costume or a change of attitude, they're always there to add their two cents. You might meet under less happy circumstances though. Sometimes artists can be more demanding than helpful - asking for more money, more time off, etc.. Ruling with a firm hand is tempting, but it invariably results in an unhappy work environment. Treading that line is yet another responsibility on your shoulders...

What's The Deal?
The most lucrative "meeting" you can expect to sit through is that with the boss of a major record label! After paying your dues on the independent circuit, it's only a matter of time before an offer comes your way. If not, you can even barge into their offices and perform for a deal! In any case, when the times comes, you'll find it's similar to negotiating a contract with an employee of your own. Only the tables are turned: instead of negotiating a reasonable deal, you're now out to get as much as you can! As you do with your artists, the label boss will offer you a signing-on fee, a combination of royalties, and a contract length. It's then up to you to demand a more favourable deal, but if you push your luck you may find that the whole thing falls through...

Mission Impossible
Even when you do settle in at a major label, the meetings don't stop there. The boss will regularly call you into his office to discuss your progress. More often than not, he'll have ideas of his own about what you should be doing - and may even set you a career-threatening ultimatum! Whether it's hiring a particular character or achieving a particular goal, failure to obey these demands could see you demoted back to the small-time. On the other hand, you may find that the pressure brings out the best in you! Business meetings aren't always so tense though. In addition to your boss, you can also get visits from other entrepreneurs and fellow artists that want to collaborate with you. This is where your "endorsement" royalties pay off, because you can earn millions by lending your name to a product or selling the rights to your material...

As The World Turns
The careers of all the other artists evolve as surely as yours does. Whether it's a change of label, a new relationship, or a fluctuation in talent, the latest gossip is reported to you via weekly news reports. It's important to pay close attention to the exploits of your peers, so that you know who's worth working with and where they can be found...

Courting Controversy
Sometimes the news is so close to home that you get caught up in the mess! Scandals and accusations are commonplace in the music industry, and you're fair game as soon as you become successful. Whether it's fellow artists, business contacts, or complete strangers, you will regularly find yourself being dragged through the courts. Sometimes the claims are legitimate (such as those to song rights), whilst others are just plain bogus (even extending to claims of sexual abuse!). However, the process is frighteningly random - so you can't rely on the judge to make the right call. When a decision doesn't go your way, it can damage your bank balance as much as your reputation...

Annual Honours
With so much tension in the industry, you'll be relieved to attend fun events such as the award ceremonies! These crop up occasionally throughout the year to honour the finest artists in each of 3 categories: "Best Single", "Best Album", and "Best Artist". Like the news reports, this feature reminds you that there is an outside world to keep an eye on. The nominees are accurately linked to who really is causing a stir in the charts. Naturally, it's possible for you to be one of them - but it's far from guaranteed. You genuinely have to become one of the hottest artists to scoop one of these awards - so when it finally happens, it really is something to celebrate! Not least because it boosts your profile like nothing else...

Material Girl
If you want to become an award-winning act, it all begins in the recording studio. You can specify a track to work on with each passing week and eventually it will materialize, ready for you to use. When that happens, a song is blessed with 2 unique qualities: an "entertainment" rating and an "artistic" rating. Entertaining songs are those with commercial appeal that can expect to do well in the charts. Artistic songs, on the other hand, are those that warrant critical acclaim and take longer to lose their appeal. Naturally, a good combination of the two is required for a decent song. Although these qualities are somewhat random, they are strongly influenced by the skills of your production team. A poorly managed team will be lucky to have more than a couple of hits on an album, whereas those with dedicated producers will boast a more consistent hit rate...

The Source
Exactly what the tracks sound like is all down to you. The game is designed to call on a music CD or a folder of MP3's. You can specify which one (including those of your own!) in the "Publishing" screen. You can then customize the project further by entering the title of the album, the title of each song - and even their style. Each track can be assigned a style of animation (ranging from slow ballads to wild moshing!) and also a tone (as in happy or angry). This is handy for making sure that the performances are as faithful to the real-life material as possible. Let's face it, the game has absolutely no hope of doing it perfectly - so it needs all the help it can get! 

Special Delivery
Whatever your arsenal contains, the most important part of the process is bringing it to life on stage. After using your production skills to create the material, you now call upon your performance skills to ensure that it's delivered properly. The better the performer, the more likely they are to fulfil a song's maximum potential. This is where it becomes apparent that an act is only as good as a material - because even the best of performers can't salvage a bad song! Consistency is important because the total entertainment of a set is the average of each song that was delivered. This means that a good show can be tainted by one miserable performance. Inversely, it also means that a bad show can be salvaged by pulling an amazing performance out of the bag...

Critically Acclaimed
If the crowd don't make it clear how well your set was received, the journalists certainly will! Each major performance is followed by an actual review that summarizes the night's entertainment (including a genuine photo from the show!). These critics pull no punches, and won't hesitate to punish you for a lacklustre effort. Unfortunately, their opinion matters because these reviews are instrumental to your progress. A good review boosts the popularity and happiness of your act, whereas a bad review does more harm than good...

Singles Night
Fortunately, touring isn't the only way to make your name. You get similar review opportunities from singles and albums once they're released. These tend to be more favourable because the material doesn't get lost in translation. However, they're few and far between - so they have to be deployed strategically. You can release up to 4 singles from one album, before releasing the album itself...

Boxing Clever
Before you release anything, you can even shoot your own photo for the cover! There's a whole system in place to help you take in-game photos - and it's even accompanied by the titles and label logos that you'd expect. You can even get a "Parental Advisory" sticker if your reputation demands it! However, the best thing about this feature is loading in your own designs from outside the game. The game simply saves an image to the hard-drive, and it's right there to replace if you so desire. It's handy for loading in the real box art when working from your own albums...

Top Of The Pops
The box art is merely cosmetic. What you should really pay attention to is how well the product performs in the charts! Every week, the latest list is compiled to show the best-selling records - and hopefully you'll be amongst them. It's far from guaranteed though. The charts are as competitive as they are in real life - with hundreds of artists throwing their names into the hat. The sales are accurately calculated too - so you can see songs slowly losing their appeal, whilst newcomers storm to the top...

Show Me The Money!
Between CD sales, ticket sales, and endorsements, there's a lot of money flowing into a successful act. As accurate as it is, you'll be pleased to know that the process is blissfully simple. Whenever a transaction occurs, the original sum is clearly stated before it filters down to you and then onto your employees (based on the percentages you negotiated). You're left in no doubt as to how much was made, how much you took away, and how much you gave away. If you don't like what you see, it may be time to talk about a new contract!

Promotional Offers
Not only do live shows bring in gate money, but they can also be used to enhance sales elsewhere in your empire. In addition to the more traditional venues, you may find yourself playing at shopping malls, radio stations, TV shows, and even sporting events! Although these venues tend to be the least spectacular, their high-profile nature brings other benefits. A good performance here can boost an act's profile even more than usual, and they invariably boost CD sales too - which helps to stop a release from sliding out of the charts...

On The Road
Rarely will you be able to demand performances at those lucrative venues, so you have to spend a lot of time making your name on the road. There are plenty of places to visit though! All in all, there are a dozen unique venues - ranging from humble bars to spectacular stadiums. Many of them boast my best modelling yet too. From the stage to the surroundings, a lot of effort has gone into making the locations look as realistic as possible. The atmospheres are as smooth as ever too. Whether it's the colourful ambience of an indoor venue, or the very real ambience of an outdoor festival, the atmospheres are very convincing. Nothing makes the atmosphere quite like the crowd though! As you'd expect, each venue has a capacity - and they fill up according to how many fans you attracted. Rather embarrassingly, you may find yourself performing to a half-filled venue! A situation made all the more poignant by the fact that the attendance is linked into the sound. The more people there are, the louder the crowd volume is. It definitely highlights the difference an intimate crowd and a full house...

The Property Ladder
Your access to these venues is limited to how popular you are. You have to "negotiate" bookings much like you would a contract - and if you're not popular enough to call the shots, you may find the doors are closed to you. Climbing up the ladder is a gradual process. You start at bars and clubs (or maybe even busking on the streets!), before progressing to halls, and then to stadiums. However, there are two ways of approaching bookings. You can also specify how many songs you're willing to perform. A long headline set might get shot down, but you can always lower your ambitions to that of a supporting act. It doesn't pay as well per ticket, but sometimes the experience is worth compromising for...

Personal Organizer
With all these different venues and commitments filling up your days, you'll be grateful for the game's scheduling system! As in the wrestling games, it clearly states what lies ahead of you. This allows you to plan your tours efficiently, and it also helps you prepare for big shows. Speaking of big shows, they don't get much bigger than "Tribute" and "Charity" events! Whenever an artist passes away (which is a very real possibility), you may find yourself participating in a huge super-card to honour their work. As their portrait haunts you from the video screen, you deliver a performance worthy of the occasion. Naturally, all the proceeds go to a memorial or charity fund - but they're a priceless way of boosting your profile and reputation...

The Hall Of Fame
No matter how many plans you make, all things must come to an end. Although you can choose to retire at any time, you can't rest on your laurels because failure can force you out! The longer you work, the higher the expectations are - and as soon as you stop meeting them, it could spell the end. Retirement isn't so bad though. Your achievements are summarized in one final news report. It states how many weeks you were in business for, how many CD's you sold, how many awards you won, and how much money you banked. These achievements are then ranked in the "Hall Of Fame" for you to cherish (and compare with other efforts!)...

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