ECTS 2003: Pop Idol - Simon Cowell in glorious cel-shaded nasty-vision

Not content with crushing Pop Idol wannabes with his cutting insults, Simon Cowell is now set to feature as a computer generated video game star - or rather, a tough end-of-level boss...

These first images show how the virtual Simon Cowell will look, with his trademark black t-shirt, snug-fit, high-waisted pants and an 11 O'Clock shadow that we've never really noticed before.

With the second series on air at the moment, the game couldn't ask for any more promotion, but the chance to be dissed by computer Simon is too tempting to miss.

You compete as a contestant through the compete Pop Idol experience: from auditions to a series of heats, and if successful on to the final.

You control the contestant's singing voice with some quick-fingered button-pressing in time to song lyrics. Lose the beat and your Pop Idol singer's voice fades and quivers off key, prompting unrest in the audience and a tongue-lashing from the computer-generated Mr. Cowell.

Virtual Simon is no subtler in the game than he is on the TV show, with hundreds of prickly put downs, including: "I've had more fun in a dentist's chair. You couldn't hit a note if your life depended on it!" All voiced by the man himself.

The question remains, will Pop Idol the videogame be more Dagenham than Manchester United? It's a good bet for Christmas number one, but we'll check it out when it's released in November on PS2 and PC.

Nick Walkland