SingStar
- This article concerns the series as a whole. For the first entry in the series, see SingStar.
SingStar is a karaoke video game series for the PlayStation 2, published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and developed by SCEE and London Studio. Currently, there are 8 installments of the series on the PlayStation 2. A version for the PlayStation 3 is in preparation.
SingStar games are distributed either as the software alone, or bundled with a pair of USB microphones - one red, one blue. The games are compatible with the EyeToy camera, allowing players to see themselves singing.
Some versions of SingStar are localised to accommodate local content depending on the territory of release. In Germany there is a "SingStar Deutsch Rock-Pop" containing German hits, in Italy there is a "SingStar Top It" containing Italian hits, in Norway there is a "SingStar norsk på norsk" containing Norwegian hits and in Sweden there is a "Singstar Svenska Hits Schlager" containing songs from the Swedish Melodifestivalen.
Game Overview
SingStar is a popular karaoke game in which players sing to music videos in order to score points. Players interface with their PS2 via SingStar USB microphones (not compatible with any other game) while a music video plays on screen. Lyrics are shown at the bottom of the screen. SingStar matches a player's song voice to the original track, with players scoring points according to how accurate their singing is. Usually, two players compete simultaneously. Certain modes of SingStar may vary this basic pattern, but the principle is similar throughout. Thus, SingStar is a competitive singing game akin to Karaoke Revolution. However, unlike Karaoke Revolution, the SingStar series fails to remove the original singers' voice from the songs; by merely adding subtitles to music videos, SingStar games do not allow players to hear their own voice clearly.
SingStar allows players to swap out the current disc (called the master disc) for another SingStar disc. This allows access to the songs on other versions without the need to reset the console. When a new disc is swapped in, the game retains the functionality and appearance of the master disc. By starting with a new version, players can swap in their old SingStar disc and experience them with the functionality and cosmetics of the master disc.
Singstar's backing tracks differ from most traditional karaoke systems. Rather than recording a backing track without vocals for the purpose, SingStar features unaltered audio tracks by the artists who recorded the song, complete with their original vocal.
Modes
Game play modes include:
- Sing Mode - general singing mode
- Pass the Mic - multiplayer party games
- Star Maker - a single player career mode (only in the original SingStar)
Up to 8 players can participate in SingStar's "Pass The Mic" mode, in which teams of players face off against each other in a series of singing challenges.
SingStar is unique in that it features a single player career mode. This mode was abandoned in favour of multi-player modes in future SingStar versions.
Recent versions of SingStar measure a player's pitch only, meaning that one can sing a SingStar note in any octave and still score for it. This allows some leniency for singers who may not be capable of singing a song in the same vocal range as the original recording.
SingStar can be played at 3 difficulty levels - easy, medium, and hard. The harder the difficulty setting, the less leeway the game allows for out of tune notes.
Releases
To date, nine Singstar games have been released for the PlayStation 2 in the UK.
PlayStation 3
The next entry in the SingStar series is due for release on PlayStation 3. Currently known as Singstar (Working Title), it will revolutionize the series by having an iTunes-like service available. For a small fee, the user can download tracks to the hard drive to sing along to. The videos will be available in High Definition. EuroGamer have reported that tracks will be at the same price as current iTunes tracks (video or song price not confirmed) and that Sony will continue to support the PS2
The PlayStation 3 version of SingStar will come with two microphones, which are silver and are branded SingStar.
Some of the Songs demonstrated at E³ 2006 were:
- Avril Lavigne - "Complicated"
- Coldplay - "Speed of Sound"
- Culture Club - "Karma Chameleon"
- Franz Ferdinand - "Do You Want To"
- Marilyn Manson - "Personal Jesus"
- Queen - "Don't Stop Me Now"
- Soft Cell - "Tainted Love"
- The Darkness - "I Believe in a Thing Called Love"
Owners of PS2 Singstar games will not be able to unlock the old titles on the PS3 using their current discs.[10]
References
- ^ a b IGN: PS2 Release Dates
- ^ HMV.co.uk games: Singstar Rock Ballads bundle (2007)
- ^ a b PlayStation.com.au: Game Release Schedule
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ PlayFrance: Singstar R&B
- ^ PALGN: Updated European release list, 16/07/07
- ^ IGN: PS3 Release Dates
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
PALGN AUSwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Hill, Jason (2007-05-21). "Singing up a storm". The Age. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
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See also
- UltraStar (and UltraStar Next Generation|), an open source clone of SingStar for Microsoft Windows and Linux computers.