Hype is a music industry board game published by Virgin Games in 1985 that simulates the rise of unknown rock bands. Each player starts a pop band and must take them from performing local shows and recording demos all the way to getting a record deal and touring by jet-plane. The first player to score a Number 1 hit wins the game. The game was conceived by Steve Fairnie (lead singer of The Technos) and designed with Willie Williams (later U2’s set designer). It features a distinctive circular board and originally included a 12” vinyl record by The Technos.
Components
1 Circular game board
Player band tokens
Cards (gig cards, record deal cards, event cards)
Money tokens
12” Vinyl record by The Technos (included with original edition)
Die/dice
Setup
Place the circular board in the center.
Each player selects a band token and places it at the starting position.
Shuffle the various card decks and place them on the board.
Distribute starting money to each player.
Determine who goes first.
Turn Structure
On your turn:
Roll dice and move your band token around the board.
Take the action corresponding to the space you land on.
Resolve any events or encounters.
Actions
Performing Gigs
Play local shows to earn money and build your band’s reputation.
Start with small venues and work up to larger ones.
Recording Demos
Spend money to record demos.
Demos are necessary to attract record label attention.
Getting a Record Deal
Land on or reach the record deal opportunity.
Requires having demos and sufficient reputation.
Touring
As your band grows, upgrade from local gigs to national tours and eventually jet-plane tours.
Event Cards
Landing on certain spaces triggers event cards that can help or hinder your band’s progress.
Events may include band member disputes, equipment failures, media attention, or lucky breaks.
Scoring / Victory Conditions
The first player to achieve a Number 1 hit record wins the game.
Players must progress through the stages of the music industry: local gigs, demos, record deal, touring, and chart success.
Special Rules & Edge Cases
Circular board: The board’s circular design represents the cyclical nature of the music industry.
Vinyl record: The original game included an actual playable 12” vinyl record for atmosphere.
Band progression: Players must follow the natural progression of a band’s career — no skipping straight to a record deal.
Money management: Balancing spending on recording and touring against income from gigs is essential.