SingStar
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| Sing Star | |
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| Developer(s) | SCEE |
| Publisher(s) | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Release date(s) | May 21, 2004 (Europe) December 16, 2004 (NZ) |
| Genre(s) | Music |
| Mode(s) | |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
| Media | DVD |
| Input | USB microphones, EyeToy |
SingStar is a karaoke video game for the PlayStation 2, published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and developed by SCEE and London Studio.
SingStar is distributed either as the software alone, or bundled with a pair of USB microphones - one red, one blue. SingStar is 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. For instance, in Sweden there is a "SingStar Svenska Hits" released in 2005 containing mostly Swedish hits.
In 2005, SingStar and SingStar Party jointly received the award for originality at the BAFTA Games Awards.
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[edit] Game Overview
SingStar is 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.
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.
[edit] Modes
Game play mades include:
- Sing Mode - general singing mode
- Pass the Mic - multiplayer party games
- Star Maker - a single player career mode
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.
[edit] The original SingStar
Compared to its sequels, the first SingStar features inferior voice recognition. There is a slight, but noticeable, delay between a player singing into the microphone and this being recognised by the SingStar display. Additionally, volume levels are more difficult to regulate in the original SingStar. These issues do not occur to the same degree in any subsequent SingStar iteration. Both of these gameplay concerns can, however, be alleviated by first playing any of SingStar's sequels, and then by swapping out the sequel disc for the original SingStar disc mid-game. This will enable the original SingStar tracks to be played using the superior software and user interface of the sequel disc. "Pass The Mic" mode for the SingStar will not be available however.
There are different song types in it (Alternative, rock, 80s, etc)
[edit] Releases
To date, SCEE have released each of the following games in the SingStar series:
SingStar (21/05/04)
SingStar Party (26/11/04)
SingStar Popworld (24/06/05)
SingStar 80's (11/11/05)
SingStar Rocks! (21/04/06)
SingStar Anthems (04/08/06)
SingStar Legends (27/10/06)
SingStar Pop Hits will be released April 27th 2007 in Europe.
[edit] United States Release
SingStar Rocks! Released in the United States Nov 14, 2006 after delays due to song rights. This version seems to have some of the same problems of the original as far as the volume issues.
The game sticks to its rock theme with some recent songs--Fall Out Boy's "Dance, Dance," The Killers' "Somebody Told Me," Jet's "Are You Gonna Be My Girl," and Bloc Party's "Banquet"--while also throwing in a wide range of classics, from Blur's "Song 2" and the Scorpions' "Wind of Change" all the way back to the Stones' "Paint It, Black" and, of course, "Sweet Home Alabama."
[edit] International track list
SingStar features only original artist recordings along with the music videos, where available. This contrasts with Karaoke Revolution, which only features covers (songs not performed by the original artists, but similar to the originals) of pop hits frequently sung in karaoke bars.
[edit] Playstation 3
The next entry in the SingStar series is due for release on Playstation 3. Currently known as Singstar (Working Title), it will revolutionise 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"
It is understood that current PS2 owners will be able to unlock the old titles on the PS3 by using their current discs.
[edit] See also
- UltraStar, an open-source clone of SingStar for Microsoft Windows computers
[edit] External links
- Official SingStar website
- SingStar Anthems - Track List
- Sign the petition to bring to life a new "Singstar" game!
| SingStar video game series |
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| SingStar | SingStar Party | SingStar Pop | SingStar '80s | SingStar Rocks! | SingStar Anthems | SingStar Legends | Singstar (PS3) |
