Multi-Million Selling Global Singing Franchise Grows Worldwide Next Generation Community...

Multi-Million Selling Global Singing Franchise Grows Worldwide Next Generation
Community with North American Debut of SingStar(TM) on PLAYSTATION(R)3
SingStar PS3 Elevates Social Gaming with Personalization and Community
Functionality

FOSTER CITY, Calif., May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment
America Inc. (SCEA) announced today the North American release of SingStar(TM)
exclusively for PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system.
Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment's Worldwide Studios, London Studio,
SingStar PS3 takes the successful interactive singing experience established
with the popular PlayStation(R)2 franchise to the next level by giving players
access to purchase hundreds of songs and videos across multiple genres, build
and customize party playlists and build a community of user-created
performances.
With more than 12 million franchise units sold worldwide on the
PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, SingStar makes its US PS3 debut
with a Blu-ray Disc(TM) containing 30 chart topping singles and videos from
today's hottest artists and legends including The Killers, U2, Smashing
Pumpkins, Outkast, R.E.M., Radiohead, Britney Spears and The Pussycat Dolls.
In addition to the new songs available on the disc, SingStar PS3 provides
players with access to a catalog of hundreds of downloadable songs featuring
the real artists and videos, via the PS3 online SingStore(TM). Available at
$1.49 for each individual track, players can choose from songs and videos
across multiple genres to create their own personalized party playlists. Over
200 downloadable songs will be available within the North American SingStore
on day one with the goal of adding approximately 25 to 50 new songs each
month.
Bringing social networking and user-generated content to the forefront of
social gaming, through utilizing the PLAYSTATION(R)Eye camera, players can
become global stars with My SingStar Online(TM) where they can share their
personal SingStar performances with the online worldwide SingStar community
via captured video, audio and photos. Players also will be able to view and
rate videos created by others, as well as check out the community's top
performers with the newly added feature of weekly highest-rated videos. My
SingStar Online already has proven to be a top destination for SingStar fans
abroad following the game's European release this past holiday, attracting
140,000 registered users who, combined with visitors to
http://www.singstargame.com, have shared over 20,000 videos of their SingStar
performances that have been watched a total of 2.5 million times.
"The worldwide success of SingStar continues to spread across North
America due in large part to its casual-friendly, social gameplay," said Jeff
Reese, director, software marketing, SCEA. "PS3 has allowed us to evolve the
SingStar experience, growing beyond simply expanding the library with new
tracks. Adding new next-generation features such as the SingStore and My
SingStar Online, SingStar PS3 is the complete party package with an
ever-growing downloadable catalog, global community-driven content and
innovative, social networking features."
In addition to the inclusion of the weekly highest-rated video feature, a
number of other enhancements were added to the game today via a free patch for
North America. New features include enhanced harmony duets, separate Battle
mode difficulty selections, a lag calibration feature for different TV types,
and PSP Remote Play. The new Harmony Duet mode allows for scoring of melodies
with specifically selected duet tracks, while the Battle mode difficulty
selection lets players choose their own individual difficulty rating when in
Battle or Duet mode. For those on-the-go wanting to have their playlist ready
when they arrive home, they can now access the SingStore and My SingStar
Online with PSP Remote Play. With Remote Play, players can browse, stream and
remotely launch downloads from the SingStore, as well as check out their
profile on My SingStar Online.
SingStar PS3 will be available both as a stand-alone disc and as a bundle
packaged with two high-quality USB microphones. Fans who own microphones from
the SingStar PS2 library can put them to use with SingStar PS3. Since the
franchise launched on PlayStation 2, the North American SingStar catalogue has
grown to 150 songs and includes a mixture of genres from 90's to pop.
The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has rated
SingStar "T" for Teen. For more information about the ESRB visit
http://www.esrb.org.
About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the
entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation(R) and PS one(R) game console,
the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, the PSP(R)
(PlayStation(R)Portable) system, and the ground-breaking PLAYSTATION(R)3
(PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system and its online and network services
PLAYSTATION(R)Network and PLAYSTATION(R)Store.
Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment
America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops,
publishes, markets, and distributes software for the PS one game console, the
PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the PSP system and the PS3 system
for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif. Sony Computer
Entertainment America, Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American
operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment
Inc.
Visit us on the Web at http://www.us.playstation.com
PlayStation, PS one, PSP and PLAYSTATION are registered trademarks and PS3
is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc
Blu-ray Disc is a trademark.
SingStar is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.
(C) 2007 Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. Published by Sony Computer
Entertainment America Inc. Developed by SCEE London Studio. All rights
reserved
SOURCE Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Alyssa Casella, +1-650-655-3617, alyssa_casella@playstation.sony.com, or
Jennifer Clark, +1-650-655-5994, jennifer_clark@playstation.sony.com, both of
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.