Rumor: Elite Beat-dev iNiS developing Xbox 360's 'Lips' karaoke game

by Christopher Grant { Jun 16th 2008 at 3:14PM }

While the thread on this rumor is pretty thin, we wanted to share it with you anyways, being clear about its origins. After yesterday's rumor-splosion gave us some more potentially accurate info on Lips – the Xbox 360's answer to PS3's SingStar – we received an unverified tip which appeared to originate from within Microsoft, which told us that the Microsoft Game Studios-published title was being developed by iNiS, the Japanese dev best known for its Elite Beat Agents and Ouendan Nintendo DS games.

So, to recap: Microsoft is working on a karaoke game codenamed "Lips" – that's a rumor. The developer working on the game is iNiS – also a rumor. That iNiS has a long history of making music and rhythm games and that it's co-founder Keiichi Yano confirmed that the developer was in fact working on an unnamed Xbox 360 game – those are both facts. We'll (hopefully) put the rest of the puzzle together four weeks from today when Microsoft holds their E3 press conference. If you've got any more information, we're all ears about Lips.

Tags: iNiS, karaoke, Lips, Microsoft-Game-Studios, Rumor

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Fernando Rocker @ Jun 16th 2008 3:19PM

Wow... it may be good. EBA and Oundean are one of the best music games ever.

beatboxtaun @ Jun 16th 2008 4:06PM

I loved EBA! It's one of those games that you beat over and over again! That would be cool.

Hey, I'm on there now. You can message me.

Fernando Rocker @ Jun 16th 2008 4:09PM

=)

You didn't answer... I ate all the chicken fajitas... hehe.

Alan @ Jun 16th 2008 3:22PM

Bah! I want an EBA sequel here in the US instead.

Demaar @ Jun 16th 2008 8:43PM

True, but my interest in this Lips thing just jumped through the God damned roof. Considering my interest was zero before, that's a bit of a difference lol

Hoopla @ Jun 16th 2008 3:25PM

Get to work on EBA2: Encore, iNiS!

Oshi @ Jun 16th 2008 3:53PM

This. Also, Ouendan 3.

Ethan @ Jun 16th 2008 3:30PM

They might actually be beginning to understand what this massmarket crossover appeal thing is. It's not bright colours and childish themes, it's about tapping into something people already enjoy.

Superstar90 @ Jun 16th 2008 3:31PM

I hope the motion controls force you to replicate EBA dances! They are so perfectly co-ordinated!

1UPMASTER @ Jun 16th 2008 3:32PM

that picture REALLY got my hopes up for EBA2...

J.Goodwin @ Jun 16th 2008 3:41PM

Very interesting.

If iNiS was involved, then I think we could safely assume that this is not just another karaoke game. Probably the worst case scenario for this thing would be for it to be Singstar with a different title.

You need more than a distinction here, you need something genuinely different...

Jhongerkong @ Jun 16th 2008 4:11PM

I wanna buy this just so I can yell "OOOOUUUUUUEEEEEEENNNDDDDDAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNN!" into thie mic.

MrLuna @ Jun 16th 2008 4:12PM

Why would anybody think that SignStar needs an answer to begin with is beyond my comprehension.

Keiichi @ Jun 16th 2008 4:16PM

EBA2: European Tour, dammit! Gimme some Lightning Seeds, Roxette, Republica, Fratellis and The Feeling!

And we know that Ouendan 3 is coming - unless that 'tsuzuku' at the end of Moero Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii was a lie. Don't let Looney Tunes Cartoon Concerto get away with its shameless plagiarism...

J.Goodwin @ Jun 16th 2008 4:54PM

Republica - YEEESSSSS!

Noshino @ Jun 16th 2008 4:53PM

oh...sheat...time to get a 360 I guess, EBA was so addiciting, played it almost nonstop til I got all ranked S on all songs...

michas_pi @ Jun 17th 2008 12:08AM

HEEEEEEEEEELP!

Nick @ Jun 17th 2008 4:22PM

im prob not supposed to say anything about it but i did focus group on lips... got kicked out for knowing too much on the ideal of video games so i feel im free to speak on what happened...

only thing i got out of it was that you could upload mp3s to it and sing to those... im not too hip to karaoke games but from there pitch it didn't seem like anything new or exciting...