Lips & Avatars = Family Friendly (RUMORS!)

[Rareware]

If these rumors are true, this could really solidify MS' move to become a more family friendly console.

A lot of news...well, RUMORS actually...breaking today concerning the Xbox 360. Both of which come from a survey that someone took and then sent in the details of what they read and saw. We'll start with the "lips" part of the situation. It seems to be essentially Microsoft's answer to Sony's SingStar. I'll let Joystiq explain:

Quote:
Lips is a "music and singing game" featuring not only two wireless microphones (that's the hardware part) but also thirty tracks, an online store, and "the ability to use and sing your own music."

First: the Lips microphones will be "interactive" with "lights on the shaft of the microphone that pulse to the rhythm of your voice, and motion sensors that allow you to dance, move or swing to score points." Second: you can use songs from a CD (how do you get them into the game?) or from an iPod – apparently the game will magically "reduce the vocals so you can sing along and be heard." Don't know the lyrics by heart? You can add those in as well.
Now, about those Avatars. Again, here's Joystiq with the details:

Quote:
"Avatars", mentioned in an independent survey for Microsoft (as taken by an X3F tipster), will supposedly be used in place of gamer pictures, and will give Xbox Live subscribers an animated, customizable online persona. The meager amount of information provided for the service claims it will be available "this holiday for all Xbox Live connected members", and "this Spring for all new console owners."

This information lines up nicely with details recently relayed to Joystiq by a trusted source, who tells us that a robust "avatar" (source's term) creation service which blends the customization options of Home with the in-game functionality of Miis would comprise a substantial chunk of the 360's fall update.

[Sephyr]

Lips is just Singstar. If it can achieve the quality of Singstar PS3, I'll be impressed as the new Singstar really raised the bar in community features.

[Rareware]

Lips is just Singstar. If it can achieve the quality of Singstar PS3, I'll be impressed as the new Singstar really raised the bar in community features.

Well, since that's probably what they're going for, they will most likely pull it off. Also, MS has a ton of experience in building on-line communities so that part is probably a given.

[Carsonal]

Blatant rip offs, but if lips and avatars are executed properly they could be pretty decent.

[Infinite Daremo]

Wow completely boring. Singstar didn't exactly do great on the PS3 so why imitate it?

[Insanehead]

Wow completely boring. Singstar didn't exactly do great on the PS3 so why imitate it?

Maybe they can do it even better? Who knows. They (MGS) did it well with Forza.

[Infinite Daremo]

Maybe they can do it even better? Who knows. They (MGS) did it well with Forza.

I just generally don't think its a great concept to imitate, just a way to rape the consumer with micro transactions over Live. The only way i can see it being any better is through Live however, with Lives localisations it would be easier to get a specific countries top songs available for that region.

[Insanehead]

I just generally don't think its a great concept to imitate, just a way to rape the consumer with micro transactions over Live. The only way i can see it being any better is through Live however, with Lives localisations it would be easier to get a specific countries top songs available for that region.

How is it rape? Consumers are given the choice to purchase their favorite songs. This kind of "game" is expected to have micro transaction. Its rape if they charge it ridiculously high, but we have yet to hear the pricing structure.

Also given that not everyone have the same taste in music I think its almost impossible to even localize each disc.

[Zassk]

Wow completely boring. Singstar didn't exactly do great on the PS3 so why imitate it?

Singstar is a key game in Europe.

[Sephyr]

Wow completely boring. Singstar didn't exactly do great on the PS3 so why imitate it?

SingStar is incredible. One of the best games on PS3. Lips is a pretty cruddy name though...

[AndyD]

SingStar is incredible. One of the best games on PS3. Lips is a pretty cruddy name though...

This.

Lips has weird connotations as well. But the idea is not bad. Some interesting freedoms like the song upload. But some gimmicky stuff as well (which is perfect for the target audience though) like the lightup microphone. The motion in the microphone is interesting, and I bet you the avatars, if they are true indeed will be made to dance and swing around based on your movement.

Avatars though are a great idea. I didnt think it would take this long for MS to come up with something to mimic the Miis. Sony has the Home avatars, and this is MSes. The system needs to be incredibly user friendly and have some simple built in social features and it will be an instant hit, considering its a free thing (I assume).

[skulpt]

This could really be an entertaining E3 for both Sony and MS, each with competing products....

MS: We're proud to announce the 3mote, a motion controller that will change the way gamers play games

Sony: We're proud to announce errmmmm, another motion controller, but we called it the Dual Walk controller....

MS: we're also proud to announce Avatars....

Sony: oh yeah, well here's Home!

Nintendo: But Wii Fit is what people want!

Sony and MS: Yeah, well we'll rip you off at next E3!

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Should be interesting. Seems like some companies are trying to play catchup with Wii concepts and social networking concepts that other companies initiated first in the console space. I'd expect either Sony or MS to get overshadowed by the slightly better ripoff version of the motion controller. I could see Sony showing something off, and then MS later than day showing the same concept, but done in a better way, or vice versa... Should be interesting.

[Rareware]

If it works, go with it. A game like that can't be than expensive to develop. There are some around here that think Singstar is a great thing. I guess it's more popular in the UK & EU, where MS is trying to continue their sales.

[Infinite Daremo]

A game designed for micro transaction is what i defined as rape. I know its choice but hey even if you don't agree with it you end up going along with it, i just bought the Metallica pack for Rock Band. Something i said i'd never do but still did!

I wasn't meaning each disk have localised content. Id expect the disk to have the same content in the majority of regions just over Live they can limit content distribution if they wanted. For example it would stop the UK game marketplace being littered with bands from Spain which no-one may have heard of.

[YoungMullah88]

one thing i like about how MS does things is, they are not afraid to imitate because they always get it right when they do....they always improve on it. i'll like to see how there animated avatar turns out(i bet they'll let you use it in some games, or maybe map your face to it)