Showtime!

About

"Showtime!" is a strategy game where players build and manage their own movie studio. As a newcomer to Tinseltown, your goal is to create popular films and develop new technology to stay relevant in the film industry. With 247 hours of gameplay, this immersive single-player experience offers a deep dive into the world of movie-making.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

65%

Audience ScoreBased on 214 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game is highly addictive and provides a fun experience for fans of movie simulation games.
The developer is actively working on updates and bug fixes, showing commitment to improving the game.
It offers a lot of creative freedom, allowing players to customize their movies and manage their own film studio.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and technical issues, particularly on Windows 10, making it unplayable for some users.
Gameplay can become repetitive quickly, lacking depth and variety in movie production.
The user interface is clunky and not very polished, which detracts from the overall experience.

graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
57%
21%
The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many users noting that they are primarily text-based and lack visual depth, earning scores as low as 2/10. While some players appreciate the imaginative aspect of the minimal visuals, others express disappointment in the overall graphical presentation, comparing it unfavorably to more visually rich titles. Ultimately, the game seems to cater more to those who prioritize gameplay over graphics.
- “Graphics: 8/10”
- “There are very few visuals and only a few basic sounds - not even background music as of now but what is there is enough to make the game compelling and addictive.”
- “Where lionhead's 'The Movies' was very graphics oriented, 'Showtime!' attempts to do it largely via text.”
- “Graphics 2/10 (text based and pictures look stiff.)”
- “Finally, after uninstalling and redownloading it a half a dozen times, I was extremely disappointed. It seems like it is entirely text-driven with no real graphics to speak of.”
- “This is a remake of the old Hollywood mogul, no real graphics, and it gets repetitive really fast.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it basic yet enjoyable for casual play, offering a sense of escapism despite its lack of depth. Others appreciate its simple and addictive mechanics reminiscent of tycoon games, though they note that it can become repetitive and may require a restart to fully grasp its strategies. Overall, while it may not satisfy those seeking complexity, fans of straightforward gameplay may find it engaging.
- “However, I always feel happy to go back to it for a mess around, and it's good for a bit of escapism with simple gameplay that's not overly complex once you get the hang of it.”
- “Simple gameplay, but those who like these types of games will enjoy playing it; just a warning - time flies by quickly while playing it!”
- “Very skeptical after reading many of the reviews, but I was pleasantly surprised to find an approachable and fun game with simple yet addictive mechanics.”
- “Lacking depth to make gameplay more engaging.”
- “It was fun while it worked, but it lacks any kind of depth that would lead to meaningful gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is fairly repetitive and some things - like how many roles there are in a series - don't carry over from one iteration to another in a franchise.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
44%
33%
The reviews indicate a significant lack of depth in the story aspect, with one user highlighting that despite high-quality production, the narrative fell flat, leading to a disappointing reception. Additionally, the third installment of the 'deception' series is criticized for its uninspired plot, suggesting that the storyline feels unnecessary and poorly developed. Overall, the consensus points to a need for more engaging and well-structured narratives in the games discussed.
- “Story time.”
- “Once written, scripts are rated for various categories such as pace, story arc, and characterization among others.”
- “There is absolutely no content with regard to storylines, etc.”
- “The third movie in the 'Deception' series has the plot summary: 'No one asked for it…so here you go.'”
- “Short plot of the movies is really short and the room should be extended.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
29%
43%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the absence of repetitive, overwhelming tracks, while others criticize the lack of background music and minimal sound effects, which detracts from the overall atmosphere. Overall, the sound design is described as basic and insufficient, failing to enhance the gaming experience.
- “I'd be bothered by this, but I'm oddly glad the developer didn't shove a looping track of earbleed-worthy music down my throat like most of these games do.”
- “The game also doesn't give the right mood; there is no background music whatsoever, and the sound is minimal.”
- “The images are shoddy, the music and noise is just horrid, the means to win are terrible and, you end up just clicking next and hoping it works.”
- “There are very few visuals and only a few basic sounds - not even background music as of now but what is there is enough to make the game compelling and addictive.”
- “The game also doesn't give the right mood, there is no background music whatsoever, and the sound is minimal.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
The game has been reported to have stability issues, with frequent bugs and freezing problems that detract from the overall experience. Despite these concerns, players appreciate the developer's active involvement in addressing these issues and their commitment to ongoing support and feature updates.
- “The developer is heavily involved in making sure that the game is bug-free, and he promises to add new features and continue to support the game.”
- “It's a pretty fun game, but it freezes far more often than I would like.”
- “It's simple, fun, and a decent sim, but for such a simple game, it freezes.”
- “Enjoyable game overall, but still buggy!”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game boasts high replayability, with scores ranging from 9 to 10 out of 10, attributed to its simplicity and engaging mechanics that encourage players to experiment and improve their strategies. While some reviewers note a lack of depth, the charm and addictive nature of the gameplay make it compelling enough for multiple playthroughs.
- “The game has a great replayability factor and it's really fun to try and get your films to the top of the box office.”
- “It's simplicity allows for a lot of replayability.”
- “Whilst the game does lack a little depth, it does possess a lot of charm and replayability... it has that indescribable, 'just...one...more...turn' that Game Dev Tycoon is probably the best exponent of in this type of game.”
- “While the game does lack a little depth, it does possess a lot of charm and replayability. It has that indescribable 'just...one...more...turn' quality that Game Dev Tycoon is probably the best exponent of in this type of game.”
- “Its simplicity allows for a lot of replayability.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and lacking in depth and variety, which can lead to a monotonous experience. While it offers some freedom for experimentation, the limited results can diminish the overall enjoyment.
- “Little depth, little variety, and tedious.”
- “Even though the game becomes rather tedious after a while, it does give the player a bigger freedom to try and experiment, but with limited results.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, with players suggesting that careful management of advertising and facility development can lead to success. However, there are calls for improvements, such as enhanced advertising options and the ability to participate in international film festivals, to further enrich the experience. Overall, it is considered a fun game with potential for growth in its monetization features.
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending real money.”
- “It's frustrating that you can't progress without constantly being prompted to buy in-game currency.”
- “The paywall is a major turn-off; it feels like the game is designed to push you towards spending rather than enjoying the experience.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted to be sparse and often repetitive, with only occasional moments of wit that fail to consistently engage players.
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the game is recognized as fun and addictive, particularly for movie enthusiasts, it is noted that it could benefit from deeper emotional engagement and refinement.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is generally well-optimized, loading and running smoothly due to its mostly text-based design, although some users have experienced occasional issues.
- “The game loads quickly and runs smoothly, especially since it's mostly text-based, allowing for an enjoyable hour of gameplay.”
- “The optimization is impressive; the game performs well without any noticeable lag, making for a seamless experience.”
- “I appreciate how well-optimized the game is, as it allows for a smooth and engaging experience without any frustrating delays.”