SingStar Vol. 2 announcement brings more questions than answers
by Jem Alexander 
{ Apr 15th 2008 at 7:30PM }
We're wondering exactly why Sony are releasing a second volume. Wasn't the SingStore meant to prevent this sort of thing? Considering the market it's designed for (casual gamers) we can sort of understand if the extra volumes are released for people who have no intention of signing up to the PlayStation Network. But more gameplay modes? We hope to see this new "Harmony mode" released as a free download for SingStar Vol 1 users who do use the SingStore. If not, expect users of the original game to be quite angry. The release of Volume 2 brings with it more questions than answers, such as a price or release date. Also, how will this affect the still-pending US release? Stay tuned.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fiddlesworth @ Apr 15th 2008 7:49PM
You wonder why they're releasing a second volume and then describe one of the many reasons they should.
Makes sense!
Downloads don't suit everybody.
Liquid Ocelot (call me Liquid) @ Apr 15th 2008 7:59PM
Lol. A second volume when the US doesn't even have the first volume. I guess they like Europe more than us...
NOT!!!!
Kspraydad @ Apr 15th 2008 8:47PM
Too bad.
I was assuming the 2nd launch would include the BT microphones but based on the image I'd guess not.
When this launches in US (soon?) I'm only really interested in the BT mics.
dbh1973 @ Apr 15th 2008 9:58PM
Why anyone would get this and not Rock Band baffles me.
Kspraydad @ Apr 15th 2008 11:20PM
My 12 year old girls love American Idol not RockBand SuperNova.
Different tastes DO exist.
Guy- @ Apr 15th 2008 10:22PM
I think its cool that they have Volume 2. Not everyone has internet access, and not everyone wants to pay money for downloadable songs.
Haiddasalami @ Apr 16th 2008 1:18AM
Jem, we still dont have a video review. :(
CianKn @ Apr 16th 2008 8:23AM
wireless mics would be nice....
alien @ Apr 16th 2008 8:48AM
This seems kinda pointless after American Idol was released - looks like it's going to be an identical type of game. Even if the songs were all different, who would want to pay for a full new game again? Much cheaper to buy new songs for AI.
fanpages @ Apr 16th 2008 12:04PM
Cool... (or rather, luke warm) another PS3 SingStar title without (a release date, or price, or) an incentive to buy (unless the SingStore shopping experience is going to go backwards like the PLAYSTATION Store has in the last 24 hours).
"Terminal 5" progress aside, the price of the new title should be set to make it cost-effective to purchase all the tracks included on the disc in bulk rather than paying the individual download costs... however, this is assuming that the purchaser of the physical item would have wanted to download all of the tracks included anyway. If you are just buying the Blu-ray based title for one or two tracks not available to download via SingStore, then the cost of £17.99-£19.99 is likely to be a hard to justify.
The lack of wireless microphones is not a great loss as they are just more gadgets to interfere with your wireless router, cordless mouse, BlueTooth mobile telephone, cordless landline telephone, microwave oven, remote car alarm fob, and ultimately the small grey matter than may remain between your ears after all the drunken sessions of SingStar. If you'll pardon the phrase, there is probably no "band"width left for the microphones.
Yes, the ability to "unlock" the tracks on the physical discs as free downloads would be a major step forward if all the tracks available to buy offline matched the list available to buy online, but I suspect Sony are experiencing difficulties gaining (secondary) clearance from the artists & their recording labels in the various European territories.
Additional modes of game-play available on subsequent discs should also allow the unlocking of the same feature online, but this is open to abuse from one punter who buys the disc & then distributes it to many others.
To implement a fair system, each Blu-ray title should carry a unique serial number that can be tied to one, and only one, PLAYSTATION Network Id, either by inserting the disc into a PS3 console (if the Blu-ray drive is still working in that 40Gb machine), or by registering the serial number online.
One thing is clear though... Sony need to take their time & implement a policy that will upset the least number of customers, or else this may well be the last physical SingStar release due to lack of public demand.
Oh, before I forget... I used the SingStore download facility for the first time just over a week ago. It really needs more feedback on-screen about when the actual downloading of tracks is taking place. You select the (maximum 15) tracks, then you are prompted for your PLAYSTATION Network password (that caused some grief at home as her of the doors marked 'in' did not have this & had spent the best part of half an hour selecting the tracks only to have to cancel & await my return... that added to the party spirit no end!), and the purchasing process works adequately. The confirmation e-mail arrived hours later, but that is a side-issue. You are then given a download screen where all the tracks are listed & you have to check corresponding boxes to indicate what you want to download. And then you wait. And then you wait some more. And then you think that it isn't working & you log-out & come back... only to find it is still not working. Then you go off & do something less boring instead, and come back an hour later to find that the first two tracks have downloaded in the background but you have no idea how long the complete list of 15 tracks will take & whether you should leave the large black grilling-machine-dust-magnet powered-on all night, or just for the next hour. Some interaction with the standard Download XrossMediaBar function would be a welcome addition so that the files/tracks being downloaded in the background can be monitored outside of the SingStore screens. Just a thought.
I wonder if the new release will prompt an update to the SingStarGame.com site to indicate when the first PS3 title will be an offer other than "Coming Soon"...
[ http://www.singstargame.com/en-gb/Browse-Songs-Home/Browse-Songs1/?platform=ps3&toggleState=Carousel ]
PS. I placed a pre-order for the PS2 "SingStar: Summer Party" yesterday.
As much as we moan about Sony's decision(s) with regards this franchise, at least it is not [Wii/PS2] "Boogie"!
BFN,
fp.
(1upGamers.com)
Tanja Ørris @ May 11th 2008 4:08PM
Question... When you have downloaded the songs from singstore, how the h.ll do you get to playing the songs in the game? I can´t find them anywhere....
Dan Davis @ Apr 16th 2008 10:15AM
Can't hear you over me playing another round of "Gimme Shelter" on Rock Band...