What Is SingStar?

SingStar is a karaoke game for 1 to 8 players created by London Studio exclusive for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3. The player has to sing songs (from ABBA over Depeche Mode or U2 to ZZ Top) with mostly original videos, which are sometimes different from country to country, with the mono-microphones (red and blue) so that the line on the screen (tone length and tone pitch) changes colour (from red = worse to green = good). The tone detection based on a FFT-Algorithm. SingStar supports the use of EyeToy and PlayStation Eye to see your singing on the screen.

The SingStar series was very successful in PAL-countries (Europe and Australia), and has sold over 20 million units and an additional 1,5 million units in the USA over 6 million songs have been downloaded from the online SingStore. In 2005 SingStar and SingStar Party were rewarded with the award for originality at the BAFTA Games Awards.

The technology behind SingStar began as a research project into sound input by SCE London Studio's prototyping department. The project was initially focused on developing a pitch detection system and game concepts aimed at a children's audience. Two main game concepts were developed: Songlines, a third-person adventure game in which the player would sing to unlock new environments, and SingAlong Safari, where players would complete missions by singing along with animals.

Although SingStar is a financial success for Sony and the whole music industry (similar to invention of music videos in the 80s) the critics don't like it very much. SingStar didn't get high ratings like Guitar Hero, Rock Band or even Lips. Fans and critics complain about the lack of good and appropriate music of some versions, the lack of unlockables and the game feels like a crude hacked together system. And the SingStore hasn't got all songs of the discs versions due to copyright and licence issues. The rapping feature is a mess and ruins good scores. Another fact is the senseless und unexplainable censorship that takes place in a few songs.

Duet
These Songs can by sung by two players together, or single player can chose to sing with the origianl artist. Every song has been split into two parts so that it can be player as a duet.

Rap
You need to emulate the rhythm and the words of the orginal artist. Doing so successfully will boost the rap meter towards the green "cool" zone.

Harmony Duet
Sing along with the original artist or a friend in a sweet harmony for a combined song.

SingStore
In the SingStore you can buy songs, song packages and wallpapers. Every two weeks there will be an update.

My SingStar Online
You can find new friends, upload videos and rate videos. You can join a club or create one.

Star Maker
The SingStar Story Mode - you sing songs from club to club and earns points to reach your personal world tour.

One-On-One / Sing Solo
One player from each team performs a solo. The player with the highest score at the end of the round is the winner

Duet
Two players from the same team sing together and are awarded a combined score for the their joint effort

Battle
Two opposing players sing the same song at the same time. They are scored individually and the player with the highest score at the end of the round wins.

Keep It Up
One player starts the song and must keep their performance meter half full or better in order to stay on the mic. The goal is to stay on the mic for the longest amount of time. If they sing badly, their performance meter will start dropping and they risk being booed off.

Risk
A player is challenged to score a certian amount of points on a secret song. If they select to play, they can collect double points for the round by completing the challenge, but if they don't succeed, they lose one point.

Pass The Mic
Each team member sings for a set length of time then passes the mic to the next player.

First To The Post
Go head-to-head in a sing-off where the first person to rack up 5000 points is the winner.

Medley
Players simultaneously perform either a pre-set medley or a random medley and the highest score wins.

Micro-Medley
Players simultaneously perform a key phrase of three or four lines from a song before moving to the next track. The highest score wins.

Sing-Song
It's like the classic Pong. But you control the paddle with your voice - high note moves the paddle up, low note moves the paddle down. If the player misses the ball the other play gets one point. The first player to reach ten points wins the game.

	(UK: 21.05.2004) First SingStar! Solo Mode: The only SingStar with Star Maker Party Modes: One-On-One, Duet, Battle, Keep It Up, Risk & Pass The Mic No High Scores will be saved!
	(UK: 19.11.2004) Change Disc Option appeared! New Song Class: Duet New Party Mode: First To The Post First Game with a Chart System and sortable Songs
	(UK: 13.05.2005) First SIngStar based on a Music Show New Song Classes: Medley, Rap, Rap & Duet New Profile System, New Party Modes: Medley & Micro-Medley Updated: Keep It Up & Pass The Mic to feature silmutaneous play
	(UK: 04.11.2005) First SingStar based on a Music Decade!
	(UK: 13.04.2006) First SingStar based on a Music Genre!
	(UK: 04.08.2006) First SingStar with only 20 Songs! First SingStar that has the same Track List in any Version around the World!
	(ESP: 11.09.2006) First SingStar with only Italian Songs!
	(GER: 12.09.2006) First SingStar with only German Songs!
	(ESP: 15.11.2006) First SingStar with only Spanish Songs!
	(GER: 28.08.2007) First SingStar that features only one Band!
	(SWE: 12.09.2007) First SingStar with only Swedish Artists!
	(NOR: 13.09.2007) First SingStar with only Norwegian Songs!
	(FRA: 14.12.2007) First SingStar with only French Artists!
	(UK: 19.10.2007) First SingStar based on Bollywood Movies - complete in Hindi!
	(UK: 07.12.2007) First SingStar on the PS3! Opening of the SingStore with My SingStar Online Complete new SingStar Design Now it's possible that you can turn off the Rap Part on a few songs
	(UK: 20.06.2008) New Song Class: Harmony Duet PSP Remote-Play Change Disc Option for PS3-Versions
	(FIN: 13.08.2008) First SingStar with only Finnish Songs!
	(USA: 24.09.2008) First exclusive American SingStar that is assembled from other SingStars
	(UK: 02.10.2008) First Song Pack - two Queen Packs!
	(UK: 17.10.2008) First SingStar with a VS-Theme: 15 Songs from Girl Groups and 15 Songs from Boy Bands!
	(USA: 28.10.2009) First exclusive American SingStar with new songs
	(GER: 31.10.2008) First SingStar with only Turkish Songs!
	(UK: 07.11.2008) First SingStar with Songs from the Disney Universe! In this Version you have a special Design and a nicer Rating
	(UK: 14.11.2008) First SingStar that is maded for PS2 (20 Songs) and for PS3 (25 Songs)
	(UK: 27.11.2008) Festive Fun Song Pack First Song Pack with only Christmas Songs!
	(RUS: 04.12.2008) First SingStar with only Russian Songs!
	(GER: 18.03.2009) First SingStar Compilation (Aprés-Ski Party, Deutsch Rock-Pop Vol. 2, Hottest Hits, Pop Hits & Summer Party)
	(UK: 14.11.2008) Change Disc Option with Backwards Compatibility for PS2- (without Bollywood) & PS3-Versions
	(FRA: 19.11.2008) First PS3-SingStar with only French Songs!
	(UK: 16.01.2009) Best Of 2008 Song Pack First Song Pack with a "Best Of"-Topic
	(UK: 26.02.2009) Britney Spears Song Pack First Song Pack that features only one Artist!
	(UK: 20.03.2009) Release of wireless Microphones for PS2 & PS3
	(UK: 15.04.2009) Euro Anthems Song Pack First Song Pack based on the Eurovision Song Contest
	(UK: 29.04.2009) Voice Control Trophies SingStore gets Extras
	(FIN: 29.04.2009) First PS3-SingStar with only Finnish Artists!
	(SWE: 13.05.2009) First PS3-SingStar with only Swedish Artists!
	(GER: 15.07.2009 [PS2] & [PS3]) First SingStar that is maded for PS2 and for PS3 and both versions have 30 Songs New Language: Polish New Microphone-Test
	(POR: 22.07.2009 [PS2] & [PS3]) First SingStar that features a telenovela
	(UK: 23.07.2009) Sony & Universal Music came to an agreement Now UMG songs come to the store
	(UK: 20.08.2009) Vagrant Records Song Pack First Song Pack based on a record label
	(NED: 28.08.2009) First PS2-SingStar based on a child TV show
	(POL: 02.09.2009) First PS2- & PS3-SingStar with only Polish Artists!
	(UK: 10.09.2009) Update 4.20: New Video Editor and SingStar Club feature
	(UK: 11.09.2009) EA launched Rock Band_Beatles with 2 SingStar Mics This game is the normal Rock Band_Beatles game and isn't compatible with SingStar
	(UK: 18.09.2009) First PS2- & PS3-SingStar based on a record label
	(UK: 25.09.2009) Launch of SingStar Home Space with Dizzie Rascal SingStar Rooms includes a Video Jukebox, an interactive Dancefloor, exclusive Outfits to discover and a Music Quiz
	(UK: 29.10.2009) SingStar Queen is the first disc that is completely available in the SingStore
	(GER: 15.01.2010) First SingStar that contains already released songs
	(UK: 06.05.2010) First Hindi Songs appeared
	(GER: 11.06.2010) First SingStar about a sports event
	(UK: 08.07.2010) Online Battle, Vibrato Mode, SingStar Remote Playlists via PSP Members in a club up to 1000, Player can join up to 5 clubs, better club search Link to player videos from the store, link from a song to song pack Save data no longer copy protected
	(UK: 11.08.2010) First Polish Songs appeared
	(UK: 13.10.2010) New Trophies: Dance & Guitar Redesigned SingStore
	(UK: 15.10.2010) First Guitar Disc
	(UK: 20.10.2010) First Guitar Songs appeared
	(UK: 05.11.2010 / GER: 17.12.2010) First Dance Disc
	(UK: 17.11.2010) First Dance Songs appeared


SingStar Vol. 2 (PS2) Eminem - Without Me	SingStar Legends (PS2) Madonna - Papa Don't Preach	SingStar R&B (PS2) Amy Winehouse - Back To Black	SingStar Vol. 3 (PS3) Michael Jackson - Billie Jean


SingStar (PS2) Pink - Get The Party Started	SingStar 80s (PS2) Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby	SingStar Toten Hosen (PS2) Toten Hosen - Alles wird vorübergehen	SingStar ABBA (PS3) ABBA - Waterloo


SingStar Vol. 1 (PS3) Depeche Mode - Precious	SingStar The Dome (PS2) Kylie Minogue - In Your Eyes	SingStar Hottest Hits (PS2) Avril Lavigne - When You're Gone	SingStar Party (PS2) Elvis Presley - Way Down


SingStar Vol. 1 (PS3) Britney Spears - Toxic	SingStar Legends (PS2) Pet Shop Boys - Always On My Mind	SingStar Legends (PS2) U2 - Vertigo	Singalong With Disney (PS2) Little Mermaid - Under The Sea


SingStar Rocks! (PS2) Nirvana - Come As You Are	SingStar Summer Party (PS2) Rihanna - Umbrella	SingStar Party (PS2) Alicia Keys - Fallin'	SingStar The Dome (PS2) Robbie Williams - Let Me Entertain You


Screens From Star Maker - SingStar (PS2)