News

Microsoft announces pay-by-the-hour Karaoke game
Posted: 19.11.2012 19:47 by JonahFalcon Comments: 9
The KARAOKE Channel has announced that Microsoft will be hosting a new karaoke game, named simply Karaoke, which will use charge users by the hour to play.

 
The game will offer gamers time blocks of 2, 6 and 24 hours, which allows them access to over 8,000 songs that will be live streamed through the Xbox 360. Players will have the option to queue songs as they're playing via the Smartglass app on tablets and mobile devices.

Players can also favorite selected songs. They can also change the key the song is played in as well as add the vocal track to help players sing new songs or help unskilled singers.

Presumably, Karaoke will be free-to-download. The hourly rate has not been revealed yet, either. Players will have to supply their own vocal input via either an Xbox 360 headset, an Xbox wireless mic, or a based USB mic.

Karaoke is due to be released this upcoming Holiday season.
Related games: Karaoke (Xbox360)

Comments

By nocutius (SI Elite) on Nov 19, 2012
nocutius
Even for Japan I'm not sure how popular this would be, the whole point of karaoke is to go out and have fun.
By JonahFalcon (SI Elite) on Nov 19, 2012
JonahFalcon
This is exactly how most karaoke places work - you buy a booth for $20 per person for an hour. I get the impression it'll be MUCH less than $20 per hour, and it obviously won't be per person.
By djole381 (SI Elite) on Nov 20, 2012
djole381
@JonahFalcon
Clearly you underestimate Micro$oft :
http://megagames.com/news/microsoft-patents-kinect-system-spies-you
By JonahFalcon (SI Elite) on Nov 20, 2012
JonahFalcon
What does that have to do with the price of tea in China, or karaoke?
By djole381 (SI Elite) on Nov 20, 2012
djole381
I don't know about the tea price in China :) but, as you can see, the new Kinect system would be used to control how many people can use a product (Karaoke). Simply put, they'll use Kinect to determine how much to charge you for using Karaoke with your friends, or at least, that's what they patented, though I'm not sure they'll ever implement it. Then again, it's M$ we're talking about :)
By JonahFalcon (SI Elite) on Nov 20, 2012
JonahFalcon
Um, Karaoke uses a mic.
By stuntkid (SI Elite) on Nov 20, 2012
stuntkid
The price of tea would likely to be very cheap in China.

I'm not convinced that pay-per-user content on Kinect would go down well with the community, especially for home use. We aren't charged extra beyond the initial purchase of DVDs, for example. And couldn't we easily point the Kinect to a smaller group of people? However, back on topic, there's no mention of it being used with Karaoke, nor if the game requires or has Kinect functionality (though could be implemented in future update), only that some pay-per-user idea being patented.

I suppose Karaoke would be a hit with karaokers who can bring the fun and host parties at home - providing it's at a competitive price tag. With a large selection of songs at your fingertips what's not to like? Though, it's not something I'd get into myself - can't sing to save my life and I would prefer to play the guitar! The key change feature does sound quite intriguing!
By nocutius (SI Elite) on Nov 20, 2012
nocutius
I wasn't commenting on the price but the concept, I don't see karaoke as something fun if you don't go out with friends, the social concept is the whole point.
It's the same with drinking, sure I can get drunk by myself at home but there's really no point. Even if some friends come over and everyone gets drunk it's not the same if you don't go out later in the evening.
For certain activities doing them at home is a downer is what I'm trying to say :).

And that MS patent is just a horrible thing, I can't see anything positive for the consumer about it at all.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Nov 20, 2012
herodotus
What a joke, yet a lucrative one for M$. A wonder Activision didn't think of this.