I've done a run through most of the content and I gotta say I'm in love, but the management aspects of the game need balancing. Here's some issues I've noticed:

• Advertising is far too lucrative compared to the other deals. Once unlocked there's little reason to do anything else.
• Frequency and severity of setbacks should be raised a tad. I got to a point where I could just plow through scandals and carry on. Depending on the popularity of an idol, some stuff that happens in the game would be career ending irl.
• There's really only one way to start the game, without managers you run out of money fast, and starting out with managers, the game is a cakewalk.
• It's too easy to get silver/gold/platinum idols when recruiting, and platinum idols are so freaking good the training aspect of the game becomes basically useless.
• Additionally, there's 0 insentive to take anyone below silver. Perhaps a potential system like FIFA's would work well? I'd be more willing to grab an inexperienced idol if I knew she had potential to be better than the others in the long run.
• The profile menu needs to show some indication of which tier an idol is, and their current overall score. Currently I can't really see how my idols have progressed or regressed over time.
• All idols should probably have at least one neutral/bad trait. I never had to deal with any of the negative ones during my playthrough. Perhaps a system where they all have a combination of good and bad traits?
• Regional and national scouting seem to have no effect. If it does, it's not cost effective. Perhaps restrict the rare cards idols to those?
• Daily tasks are essentially useless after the game gets going. I think this is a symptom of business deals being OP.
• [Bug] Idols on hiatus still get reduced stamina from daily tasks and tv shows and stuff.
• [Bug] Stylists do not respect the stamina threshold like dance and vocals coaches do.
• In that same vein, training is currently very hard to manage. You either do everything by hand or it's kind of a clusterfuck.
• Business deals should probably pause the game and prompt you. They can be easy to miss.
• Likewise, when someone finishes working on a project the game should pause and show a notification.
• [Bug] Idols sometimes look completely different after being recruited.
• [Bug] Sometimes time stops passing.
• Internet shows are just plain better than the others, no reason to do TV or Radio besides fulfilling a task.

I have a few more thoughts but I tried to keep it to just balance fixes and the like. If I had to suggest something more substantial, that would be shareholder goals and requirements. I feel the exponential growth of income would be better served by investors who want bigger and bigger gains as time passes. Think Activision disappointing with record profits lol.

And of course  a hard mode for the masochists.

I love what you guys are doing. Best of luck!

Stupid forum software doesn't have a rational quote function...

>There's really only one way to start the game, without managers you run out of money fast, and starting out with managers, the game is a cakewalk.

Maybe for you, not so for me...  Not without spending a ton of money on offices and managers, and even then it takes a while to reach that point.

>It's too easy to get silver/gold/platinum idols when recruiting

The RNG has blessed you...  For me, it often takes spending a million yen or more on local auditions to get a bare handful.  Takes a long time to get that money back.

>Regional and national scouting seem to have no effect. If it does, it's not cost effective. Perhaps restrict the rare cards idols to those?

I agree with this...  You spend a ton of money on those, and the current return is simply not worth it.  Nor does your fame seem to increase the quality of girls who audition.

>Daily tasks are essentially useless after the game gets going. 

Performances are borderline useless, granted...  But Promotion remains useful when leveled up, and Spa Day is handy after a concert.