SingStar PS3 release in limbo

By Games Industry.biz Published 9 October, 2007

Still in testing, says Sony.

A release date for SingStar on the PlayStation 3 is currently up in the air as Sony continues to test downloadable content and community features for the next-gen version of one of its most popular social gaming franchises, GamesIndustry.biz reports.

Although reviews have started to appear in the specialist press, a spokesperson for Sony has told GamesIndustry.biz that the game needs further testing, and would not be drawn on any specific release period.

"We want to ensure that consumers have the best possible experience when playing SingStar on PlayStation 3.

"We are therefore taking extra time to test the downloadable content and community features of SingStar to ensure that it is as rich, simple and accessible a SingStar experience as possible," said the company.

Sony's official PlayStation 3 website lists a release period for the game as between July and September 2007, while online retailers suggest October or late November.

Other sources have suggested there may be issues with the games licensed content, and that the title is finished but awaiting clearance by legal departments.

GamesIndustry.biz understands that promotional copies of the game - which work on any retail PlayStation 3 - have been sent out to journalists but do not allow access to online features via the PlayStation Network.

Over ten SingStar titles have appeared on the PlayStation 2 since it was first released three years ago.

The PS3 version is seen as one of the central titles in Sony's online network initiatives, along with community and social gaming application Home, and Media Molecule's innovative platformer LittleBigPlanet.

At last month's Tokyo Game Show, Sony said it was delaying the launch of Home until Spring 2008.

Replace miserable weather with GamesIndustry.biz and the outcome is instantly brighter.

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Comments (46) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • keyboardmonkey #1 4 years ago

    Have we already had the list of songs that are going to be available on the disc?

    Boy is Sony going to be pissed if they don't get this out for Xmas (holiday season if you want to be anal)
    Edited by 1 at 09/10/07 @ 11:52

  • Razz #2 4 years ago

    /Nelson Muntz

    /points

    HA haaaa!

  • rhinoxious #3 4 years ago

    Not surprising, this isn't so much a game as a karaoke version of the Apple Music Store.

    Anything where people pay money for content needs to be spot-on from the off.

  • Royal Fool #4 4 years ago

    Testing, my ass.

    I've already seen the complete PAL version, with a real disc, cover and manual. The game is already finished from what I can tell, Sony are just holding it back for some reason.

  • Dizzy #5 4 years ago

    Damn Unreal Engine again!

    Oh wait...

  • Yaster #6 4 years ago

    @ Royal Fool
    There'll be a lot more to test than whats on the disc, there's the whole network functionality

  • afghan_jones #7 4 years ago

    until this and LBP are out and about, PS3 just has nothing to offer me, regardless of price/SKU.

  • zuljin #8 4 years ago

    @Royal Fool
    Warhawk is a prime example of a game that is finished, with real disc, cover and manual. Doesn't stop their whole stats system being screwed. Just like plenty of PC games download a patch, even on release date.

    Just because the game is finished, doesn't mean it isn't being tested and / or fixed.

  • keyboardmonkey #9 4 years ago

    Then kicked in the nuts

    Is this so you can do that "were walking in the air" number by that chap who had no nuts at the time.
    Edited by 1 at 09/10/07 @ 12:07

  • Dizzy #10 4 years ago

    >Then kicked in the nuts.

    Better just remove them...

  • SeesThroughAll #11 4 years ago

    Next-gen 1080p Blu-Ray Karaoke

  • Beano #12 4 years ago

    @Royal Fool: Maybe Sony are still testing and debugging the server side of the "product" and wants to be sure it works before the product hits the street. Makes sense to do this to avoid more bad PR.

    @zuljin: Good point reg. Warhawk ;)
    Edited by 1 at 09/10/07 @ 12:10

  • DonnieDarko333 #13 4 years ago

    Well i hope it's at least a Christmas 2007 release date, as that would be the best time to release it.

    BUT it's looking like another 'delayed till 08 game' for Sony.

    We still have Ratchet, Uncharted and Eye Of Judgement right?

  • Triggerhappytel #14 4 years ago

    To be honest, the delay might be fairly shit but I think they're better to hold off the release by a few months and get a competent product on the market from day one.

    Although if they miss the Christmas period they will miss a lot of potential sales.

  • Steroyd #15 4 years ago

    Sony needs this and Eye of Judgement to distinguish themselves from MS and Nintendo this Xmas, needs to be spot on from day one which must be difficult and frustrating.

  • playgen #16 4 years ago

    10 releases on PS2 eh, I wonder if this PS3 version will sell many consoles after so all those sequels, its not like its going to be drastically different from the ps2 titles unless I've missed something.

  • deaner #17 4 years ago

    They're just putting the advetising in Home and then it's ready to roll.

    These deals take time to arrange, and will keep the game free of charge.

    Couldn't give much of a monkeys about Singstar, not being a tart an' all!

  • SeesThroughAll #18 4 years ago

    its not like its going to be drastically different from the ps2 titles unless I've missed something.

    It will have a focus on network functionality, especially when used with the PSEye.

  • Les #19 4 years ago

    I want PS3 SingStar now!

    edit: actually, I wanted it back in July already...
    Edited by 1 at 09/10/07 @ 12:24

  • captainrentboy #20 4 years ago

    An important PS3 title getting a delay?.... Fuck off, you're joking right, this is unheard of and a huge surprise.

  • wise #21 4 years ago

    "GamesIndustry.biz understands that promotional copies of the game - which work on any retail PlayStation 3 - have been sent out to journalists but do not allow access to online features via the PlayStation Network."

    Finished versions for debug PS3s were sent out as early as august, I believe... Not sure about network functions, because I never bothered to try.

  • optimusprym8 #22 4 years ago

    There is a huge difference between getting a box ready for retail and actually getting the game ready for release, believe.

  • Myre #23 4 years ago

    You could download songs from the store on the kits setup in Leipzig. At least according to the sony staff there.

    I'm suspicious this is being held back for an X-mas bundle with the new 40gig model. After all the PS2 singstars; "legal problems" just doesn't ring true to me.

    I wouldn't be suprised to hear about another round of Christmas themed Singstar TV ads featuring the new download functionality, Slade and an old lady doing some hearty Cliff Richard singing.

    Edited by 1 at 09/10/07 @ 12:40

  • richardiox #24 4 years ago

    I imagine Sony will be planning a total rinse out with DLC on this...maybe put 15 tracks on the Blu-Ray (really use that capacity) then hammer us on the DLC.

    /recalls Sonys original plan for GT5 - you buy the game and then download and pay seperately for every track and car. They soon dropped that idea once the community responded with a resonant "fuc kyou"

  • tonynibbles #25 4 years ago

    /screams

    VERY LOUDLY

  • Killerbee #26 4 years ago

    Singstar - one of the most important casual gaming franchises Sony has - is delayed?

    Well thanks goodness all those excited PS3 owners will be able to play the existing PS2 versions in the meantime.

    Oh wait, no they won't if they buy the 40GB version of the PS3 - precisely the model that is intended to appeal to the casual gaming market - because Sony are complete idiots and took the backwards compatibility out.

    /slow claps

  • Bigglesworth #27 4 years ago

    I'm suspicious this is being held back for an X-mas bundle with the new 40gig model. After all the PS2 singstars; "legal problems" just doesn't ring true to me.

    I could see that giving players the ability to distribute what is essentially a cover of an artist's track to the internet at large (well, the PSN at least) might give some licensors cold feet.

  • zuljin #28 4 years ago

    @richardiox
    "I imagine Sony will be planning a total rinse out with DLC on this...maybe put 15 tracks on the Blu-Ray (really use that capacity) then hammer us on the DLC."

    30 tracks...
    http://en .wikipedia.org/wiki/SingStar_%2...

  • frombrosis #29 4 years ago

    /screams

    VERY MELODICALLY

  • MikkyX #30 4 years ago

    I work in the industry (sort of - I have a high scores site with some Singstar games on in) - SEND ME A PROMO COPY!

    I think it's being held back until Christmas in the hope people will pay £400 for a downloadable content-enabled karaoke machine.

    (And yes, I've got a PS3. Last time I played it? When Super Stardust HD turned up on the store.)

  • lambtron #31 4 years ago

    "Next-gen 1080p Blu-Ray Karaoke"

    Hehe - they should change the title to this.

  • morriss #32 4 years ago

    But the PSN is free!!!!!

    or

    You get what you pay for.

    You decide.

  • morriss #33 4 years ago

    I'd pay Sony a monthly fee to get their fingers out of their arses.

  • kangarootoo #34 4 years ago

    @Royal Fool

    Dude, read the article. Its the online part that needs the extra time spent. Seems perfectly reasonable to me given the online aspects are what make it distinct from every SingStar released thus far.

  • captainrentboy #35 4 years ago

    Surely you only have to have look at the content of each service, and how many games get released and actually work on each, to figure out that paying £3 odd a month for Xbox live Gold isn't that bad of a thing.
    Just saying, that's all. I could never be one of those folk that hold a massive grudge against Microsoft because I have to pay £30 a year (I get it cheap) to use their Gold membership, because frankly it's a fooking great service. The implentation of the online features, however small, into almost every game is genius, and very easy to use.

  • kangarootoo #36 4 years ago

    I think the lesson we can perhaps learn is that you get what you pay for, and maybe also that "value" is very subjective and not based only on monetary cost.

    You can't simply say free > charged.

    Try telling that to someone going in for heart surgery and ask them whether they want to hunt around for the cheapest deal.

  • zuljin #37 4 years ago

    free heart > expensive heart.

    Sorted.

  • Rirekon #38 4 years ago

    So this will come with a huge library of songs because it's on Blu-Ray right?

  • deaner #39 4 years ago

    No - just actual Hi-Def video and textures!

  • kangarootoo #40 4 years ago

    30 vids isn't it, plus some vouchers to download extra tracks for free? That may not be current info.

    Plus any PS2 SingStar discs you have can be bunged into your PS3, unlocking the free download of said tracks from the store (pretty certain that is still the case).

  • Les #41 4 years ago

    "So this will come with a huge library of songs because it's on Blu-Ray right?"

    No because most of the space will be filled with SD/720p/1080p versions of the music videos.

  • kangarootoo #42 4 years ago

    Its also worth bearing in mind that songs cost money. Whether you can fit them on the disc is hardly the deciding factor.

  • mamoulian #43 4 years ago

    @kangarootoo:
    "Plus any PS2 SingStar discs you have can be bunged into your PS3, unlocking the free download of said tracks from the store (pretty certain that is still the case)."

    Was that definitely the case?
    I really hope it is still the case, I don't want to have to buy those old songs again just so I can be on the online scoretables for those songs. Nor do I want to have to reboot and swap discs.
    Unfortinately I haven't heard anyone else say that this is a potential possibility :-/


    And... What on earth have they been doing all this time? Wasn't this originally slated to be a launch title - i.e. March? Porting a relatively simple game like Singstar must have been a piece of cake compared to developing something new and 'hardcore' like Motorstorm/Resistance/Warhawk. Sure online is a new tech but they're already expert in getting licenses for songs, creating the note-mappings and packaging them all up. Right now they must be comfortable with that given the rate at which they have been churning out new PS2 discs of 30 songs.
    They've had a really long time now just to sort out a GUI which plugs into the PSN for auth, downloads large files over HTTPS then indexes them in a menu...

  • morriss #44 4 years ago

    Online is a new tech?! It's 2007.

  • 3william56 #45 4 years ago

    Yeah morriss, there's so many score based karaoke games with downloadable content out there, it's all old hat and they should have sorted it out ages ago.

    Oh. Wait...

  • reddevil1963 #46 4 years ago

    Oh look, another delayed PS3 game! lolol