Stephen J Cannell: Writer
In this game, you assume the role of Stephen J Cannell, the creative genius behind such TV classics as the "A-Team" and "The Rockford Files." In this game you have to drive around Hollywood finding washed up B-movie stars, aging Method actors, and alcoholic soap stars. You then enlist them into your latest attempt at proving to everyone that there's more to you than just the "A-Team" and "Renegade."
You start off in your modest Villa in Malibu, sat in your study, with your trusty type-writer (like the one at the end of the A-Team's credits). Via the Type-Writer based interface, you choose a new concept for your next TV show via a series of multiple choice questions (Are there explosions? Are there car chases? Is there romance? Are there explosively romantic car chases?)
You then send out your 'script' to various Hollywood agents (you can unlock more of these bloodsuckers as you get further into the game) who report back to you by indicating on a map of Los Angeles where your prospective 'stars' hang out. With a limited amount of fuel, you have to drive off into the urban nightmare of LA, picking up actors/actresses in a Crazy Taxi kind of way... You can choose your performers according to ability, charisma and sex appeal, or you can just go after the ones that are easiest to find...the choice, as ever, is yours.
There will also be special guest stars that you can find, hidden within the playing environment... David Hasselhof (naturally), Stephanie Beecham, William Shatner, Dick van Dyke... and yes, dammit, Roger Moore. These performers not only add weight to your fledgling programme, but they will give you new vehicles to drive around in: For example, finding Peter Falk will give you Columbo's clapped out old Peugeot, while finding Lee Majors will grant you the Jeep from The Fall Guy.... you get the idea.
After you've found your stars, you drive them back to your villa before your fuel runs out. The next section of the game sees you play out the various sections of your TV programme (a bit like 'The Movies')... Some sequences might be quite detailed, while some will be more like traditional mini-games (think of Bishy-Bashy or Wario Ware...) Each actor/actress has different abilities (fighting, driving, crying) and this dictates how easy it will be to complete a given sequence (and consequently how exciting this sequence is to watch). These sequences are assembled into your programme; this is assessed and represented as viewing figures.
You earn money according to how many people watch your TV show. This allows you to buy more fuel, enabling you to travel further into LA to find bigger stars for your NEXT project. You can even use your money to relocate to another part of LA which will open up new opportunities for you creatively. (See how easy Hollywood-speak is? Notice how vague I sound?)
Hopefully, as you progress, your new TV shows will become more popular, and your reputation as a televisual svengali will grow. As you become more successful, however, you will have to contend with lawyers and accountants, who will pursue you and try to steal your 'fuel'; this will be a bit like an inverse Chase HQ, with those leeches trying to ram you off the road. Also beware of Glen A Larson (who drives Kit) and Aaron Spelling (who drives Joan Collins); they will try to poach actors from you, and maybe even steal your ideas.
You complete the game when you finally lose the tag "that guy who did the A-Team" (which is represented by a cuban cigar in the bottom left of your screen).
