No sooner does Variety
all-but-confirm that Microsoft's somewhat mysterious
Lips karaoke project will be shown at E3 then
Gamekyo gets their hands on some apparent promotional shots of the game's wireless microphones (above) and box art. No screenshots of the gameplay yet, but the photo dump does include two pictures of people standing around with microphones near their mouths (you know, in case you were wondering what
karaoke looked like).
Actually, these singing shots do show one interesting feature: the "lights on the shaft of the microphone that pulse to the rhythm of your voice," that were
hinted at in last month's leaked
Intellivoice Intellisponse survey. According to the pictures, this feature takes the form of two rings of light near the base and tip of the microphone, bathing the singers' hands in an ethereal blue or red glow. We'll let you know if the feature comes off as trippy or tacky when we inevitably get some hands-on time with the game next week.
[Update: Corrected the name of the Intellisponse survey. Not to be confused with
Intellivoice. Whoops!]
{ Jul 11th 2008 at 4:25PM } 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
heh @ Jul 11th 2008 4:28PM
Liek dat blue an red lite is soooooooo gonna clash wid mah green and white xbox 360! Hu-uh!
MED @ Jul 11th 2008 4:55PM
pardon me?
Sora267 @ Jul 11th 2008 4:58PM
You read it right. dat blue an red lite is soooooooo gonna clash wid hiz green and white xbox 360.
Mr.ESC @ Jul 11th 2008 5:32PM
What he is trying to say is: "I never learned how to type properly and I have dyslexia please someone help me".
Wes @ Jul 14th 2008 11:01AM
No child left behind left this child behind. He was beyond all hope.
Jon A. @ Jul 11th 2008 4:31PM
I really like this game's box art better than Singstar's. It looks like people just having a fun time. With Singstar's boxart, I tend to want to punch people in the face.
commen-cents @ Jul 11th 2008 4:35PM
because the box art is really what matters when choosing a game to play
Jon A. @ Jul 11th 2008 4:40PM
I think it is for the type of people that would be interested in this game.
Jon A. @ Jul 11th 2008 4:41PM
I think it is for the type of people that would be interested in those games.
Vince UK @ Jul 11th 2008 4:41PM
But Lips' box art looks like a child created it, can't be real.
Lips is a bit of a naff name come to think of it, why not tongue or throat?
heh @ Jul 11th 2008 4:43PM
I'd be the first in line to buy a game called "tongue".
ThePerfectCompanion @ Jul 11th 2008 4:50PM
I'm not really into these games but I do agree with Jon that the box art is better.
It just comes across as being more authentic in my opinion. Singstar looks like it's trying too hard. As if it wants to prove to you in your face that the game is the next coming of Jesus for karaoke lovers...
That being said "Lips" could quite possibly be the worst title for a video game...
After Captain Rainbow that is...God Nintendo you really had to go there huh?
Sam406 @ Jul 11th 2008 5:25PM
"I really like this game's box art better than Singstar's. It looks like people just having a fun time. With Singstar's boxart, I tend to want to punch people in the face."
So, I assume you didn't buy Call of Duty 4 because you thought all the soldiers in the game were black silhouettes.
samfish @ Jul 11th 2008 5:26PM
The Singstar boxart makes me want to punch the jerk in the sunglasses and I don't know why. Probably something deep seeded and psychological going on there...
Lips' boxart is OK until you notice the goofy looking slack jawed yokel's face in the middle and you'll never be able to not see it again.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread) @ Jul 12th 2008 2:31AM
dammit Samfish. now i cant stop looking at that jackass. he just keeps starring at me! i hope that's not the box art just for the fact that that guy is on there lol.
13alder @ Jul 13th 2008 10:32PM
i ALWAYS judge a book by its cover and i approve this message.
Baligouxji @ Jul 11th 2008 4:38PM
Out of all the crazy: "Hey look, we have casual games too!" things mircosoft could do, I'm glad they're doing this one. It seems like it'll be a good attempt.
Brett from Atlanta @ Jul 11th 2008 4:33PM
Are lights really necessary? Wouldn't you be looking at the screen and not at the lights on your mic? And, if this is wireless, wouldn't they drain battery life?
Burritoclock @ Jul 11th 2008 4:55PM
It's in the bible that adding lights to ANYTHING makes it instantly 100x better. Even sandwiches.
Alexander @ Jul 11th 2008 4:33PM
OMG Microsoft! Sooooo innovative!
copa @ Jul 11th 2008 4:35PM
Real original idea, Microsoft. A shaft that pulses and eventually bathes you when you put your lips up against it.
Is there anything that Microsoft WON'T copy?
heh @ Jul 11th 2008 4:38PM
Anything useful.
Mr Mister @ Jul 11th 2008 6:18PM
Xbox live features, controller with motion sensor, wow is there anything that Sony won't copy.
J @ Jul 11th 2008 9:56PM
mr mister, you didn't get the joke. You and the ppl who voted you up are morons. I bet some of the ppl who voted you up actually got the joke, but vote up any sony insult no matter how unwarrented.
He's comparing MS's design of the mic to that of a penis. MS is copying the penis. It was a joke. Wasn't meant to insult MS. Kinda funny. But then again you're a dumbass and use any excuse to insult Sony.
Copa, you WERE comparing it to a penis right? Or am i just dirty.
Anyway, i have no problem with any company copying anything as long as they improve on it and create new standards. For example, i WANT motion control to be improved and be a new stardard, without lowering the standards of other factors... like graphics. This mic is somewhat of an improvement adding lights to go with the beat of your voice.
You shouldn't be playing this game alone, so those lights aren't for the individual holding it to look at, but i guess the audience or competitors.
I'm pretty sure copa was referring to a penis. He was being too subtle for the children who come here.
copa @ Jul 11th 2008 10:19PM
"Copa, you WERE comparing it to a penis right?"
No, you have a filthy mind and you didn't get the joke.
I was comparing it to a vagina.
Jon A. @ Jul 11th 2008 4:38PM
At least they added the ability to add your own music.
But to answer your question...
No, there doesn't seem to be anything Microsoft won't copy.
juju187 @ Jul 11th 2008 4:43PM
they all copy each other...
o wellz
Ignatius @ Jul 11th 2008 4:48PM
Anyone else find the description kind of creepy? Pulsing shaft. HEE HEE. :P
heh @ Jul 11th 2008 4:52PM
Not so much creepy as I find it extremely sensual.
Snowblind @ Jul 11th 2008 4:51PM
Microsoft release a singing game and they get panned for "copying ideas" While Sony completely rip every feature from the Xbox and you're all singing "yay, trophies". Doesn't sound biased at all does it?
Nintendo isn't exactly innocent on this front either, infact, I'd challenge anyone here to find anyone, in any industry that doesn't borrow ideas from their competitors.
C'mon guys, grow up.
heh @ Jul 11th 2008 4:56PM
When you think about it, the PC is the father of games. As such, it's safe to conclude PC > consoles.
But seriously, the whole "lol u copy othar cumpanee" is just how the fanboys shoot mud at one another.
Vidikron (FU) @ Jul 11th 2008 4:57PM
Since when did Sony not get panned for copying ideas? I think you have the wrong site.
Phranctoast @ Jul 11th 2008 5:07PM
must be opposite day again.
Snowblind @ Jul 11th 2008 5:10PM
I was probably just avoiding those topics :P
But yeah, the point was it's a little silly to critisise a company for releasing a particular type of game. What's next? A boycott on Nintendo for releasing a racing sim?
Lekko @ Jul 11th 2008 7:54PM
I'm still waiting for Microsoft to copy a decent puzzle game...
or adventure game...
or space flight combat game...
or RTS...
or psuedo-art wtf kinda game...
Korova *of the highlands* @ Jul 12th 2008 6:23PM
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Snowblind @ Jul 12th 2008 7:54PM
"or RTS..."
How about Halo Wars? It's looking fantastic.
HenryJonesJr @ Jul 11th 2008 4:53PM
Considering that the microphone in the supposed box art is not the same as the microphone in the promotional photos, I think the box art is a fake. Thankfully so, I might add.
NATO_Duke @ Jul 11th 2008 5:05PM
We really need some more interesting pre-E3 stories today. :(
Mr.ESC @ Jul 11th 2008 5:21PM
What don't you like Karaoke?
Let me Sing a Song.
WHEN I WAS
A YOUNG BOY
MY FATHER TOOK ME
INTO THE CITY
TO SEE A MARCHING BAND...
NATO_Duke @ Jul 11th 2008 5:49PM
Nice!
saw them live a month or so ago. Pretty good show.
heh @ Jul 11th 2008 6:13PM
Duke, you just lost all of the little respect that I had for you. :(
Also, didn't their lead singer die in a truck accident or something?
meledeo @ Jul 11th 2008 7:24PM
Only in a really good dream I had.
343 Guilty Fart @ Jul 11th 2008 5:15PM
Can I just use my Rock Band mic?
atlnative @ Jul 11th 2008 5:24PM
I think I saw Jenna Jameson use one of these in a movie once...
slickestjg @ Jul 11th 2008 5:27PM
Anyone else think that white dude in the middle looks like a fat Tobey Maguire aka Spiderman aka SeaBiscuit?
Nate @ Jul 11th 2008 5:37PM
Wireless Mics = Win. Very cool. Hopefully it'll push Rock Band and Singstar to do the same (is SingStar's mic wired? I thought so, but don't have it, so not sure).
Wired Mics suck.
That being said... I don't like singing in games because I can't sing and neither can any of my friends.
Nate @ Jul 11th 2008 5:37PM
What happened to my icon? I don't want this lame Mario....
j.howlett @ Jul 12th 2008 1:54AM
maybe for gaming, but for performing i try to follow the advice of black thought, "never use a cordless", but wireless mics have improved.
blindfromthesun @ Jul 11th 2008 5:45PM
'Lips'...Microsoft's best kept secret. Or wait...would that be the $300 price drop...or the Darwin/Newton Wii-mote clone...or...too many to list.