Rockstar

Rockstar is a seemingly archaic text-based game from the middle nineties. It was both programmed and published by Wizard Games and is basically a management or simulation style of game involving the wild and cutthroat industry of popular music.
Despite the fact that Wizard missed a grand opportunity to create a colourful game, filled with exciting pyrotechnics and great sound, Rockstar is still a surprisingly addictive game. (Remember that adjective). Rockstar is a simulation of the stereotypes often associated with rock and roll bands, including drugs, illicit sexual behaviour, alcohol, and the complete lack of sleep…as well as creativity, superior vocals and business savvy.

The goal is to form a band (unless a solo career is more your thing) and climb to the top of the charts. The user begins the game as a basement or garage band that no one has ever heard of. The group will begin playing in small area taverns, or other small venues. With each successful outing, the group will become more popular, and will gain more opportunities in the business, such as playing in arenas or huge stadiums. The user will have to write quality songs, sign lucrative contracts, record albums, release interesting singles, throw parties to increase popularity and exposure and so forth.
However, with fame comes the opportunity for disaster. The first is attempting to balance drug use with a lucrative career. As the game progresses, the rock star will be offered a variety of illegal chemicals, some of which will increase creativity or reduce productivity. Others will simply increase the player’s addictions and leech more money from the coffers. The rock star will have to see doctors and psychiatrists to offset the effects of this unhealthy life style. Sometimes he will be forced to take vacations to get away from the fast-paced life. If the user does a poor job of balancing the nonstop action, he could find himself in a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program or in an insane asylum…not good for the career.
In short, Rockstar does a fairly good job of simulating all of the stereotypes people have come to associate with a classical rock band. The graphics and sound are both huge misses, but the managerial aspects are still sound and good. This is obviously not a game for children due to the questionable content and all of the illicit behaviour. The game also contains very coarse language. It is still a satisfying play, and a challenging simulation.