Lips (video game)

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Lips
Lips Video Game Cover.JPG
Developer(s) iNiS
Publisher(s) Microsoft Game Studios
Designer(s) Keiichi Yano
Platform(s) Xbox 360
Release
  • NA: November 18, 2008
  • EU: November 21, 2008
  • AU: November 27, 2008
Genre(s) Music / Rhythm
Mode(s) Single-player, Multi-player

Lips is a 2008 karaoke video game for the Xbox 360. Lips was developed by iNiS and published by Microsoft Game Studios. The game features the use of motion sensitive wireless microphones and supports the use of songs already owned through a Zune or iPod. [1] [2] [3] Lips has spawned three sequels: Lips: Number One Hits , Lips: Party Classics , and Lips: I Love the 80's . Localized versions of the game and sequels have been released in several countries, including Lips: Canta en Español (Lips: Sing in Spanish), and Deutsche Partyknaller (Lips: German Party Hits).

Contents

The Lips' microphones are compatible with Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero: Metallica due to a patch that was released in summer 2009.

Gameplay

The gameplay in Lips is similar to the gameplay of SingStar and Karaoke Revolution . In addition to supporting single-player, the game allows two players to sing duets or play competitively in various multiplayer modes including "Time Bomb", "Kiss", and "Vocal Fighters". Unlike most other music games, players cannot fail out of a song if they sing badly (or even if they don't sing at all). [4] The game does not have a difficulty setting but rewards players for their singing in six categories including rhythm, pitch, and vibrato. [5]

Players can connect a digital music player (such as an iPod or Zune), or use a USB flash drive, to sing along to their own music. The game will perform vocal reduction and score player like the included songs, except that the game will not display song lyrics. [3] Players can also connect their Xbox 360 to a computer running a compatible media sharing service, such as Windows Media Connect 2.0, Windows Media Center, Zune PC software with sharing, or PVConnect to access their own music from a network share within the game.

Lips is bundled with two motion-sensitive wireless microphones (one white, one black). A second player can seamlessly join in the currently playing song by picking up the microphone and shaking it. [3] The microphones can also be used to perform gestures dictated by the game, plus the standard game controllers can also be used to add overlays such as hand-claps and crowd noise.

In February 2009, Microsoft released a title update for Lips. This patch addressed most of the issues with the game, namely, it introduced a new algorithm for voice recognition and vibrato pick-up, claiming that the game was 'too easy' before, and the ability to synchronise the microphone timing, a cause of regular negative feedback. This update also introduced the use of global leaderboards to track high scores. Minor tweaks were also made to the user interface.

Additionally, following the April 2009 title update, song packs were also introduced for purchase, offering bundles of songs for a discounted price.

As of October 2014, the store and server for Lips had been shut down.

Wireless Microphone compatibility list

The games listed below support the Xbox 360 Wireless Microphones.

Reception

Lips received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. [6] Reviewers praised the wireless microphones and multiplayer experience but criticized the single-player modes and the song import feature which many people had issues with. In addition, the import feature does not support lyric downloads but the game does make an attempt to reduce the real singer's voice volume while playing in this mode.

The A.V. Club gave the game a B+ and called it "A self-esteem booster for your tone-deaf friend, though the introduction of more content should help make it stay fun for everyone else." [8] 411Mania gave it a score of seven out of ten, saying that it was "a mixed bag, but by far it is not a bad game. It's a decent game that is missing some of the key components that other games in this genre have." [17] In contrast, Variety gave it a mixed review, saying that "Though it will quickly bore vocalists acclimated to the challenge of Rock Band, Lips excels as home karaoke, bringing style and pizzazz to a crowded genre. However, Lips is also exceedingly shallow, with a small number of songs and a broken system for importing new ones, meaning living room crooners will likely stick with Sony's deeper SingStar franchise for the time being." [18]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<i>Guitar Hero: Metallica</i> 2009 video game

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<i>Rock Band</i> Series of rhythm video games

Rock Band is a series of rhythm games first released in 2007 and developed by Harmonix. Based on their previous development work from the Guitar Hero series, the main Rock Band games has players use game controllers modeled after musical instruments and microphones to perform the lead guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, drums and vocal parts of numerous licensed songs across a wide range of genres though mostly focusing on rock music by matching scrolling musical notes patterns shown on screen. Certain games support the use of "Pro" instruments that require special controllers that more closely mimic the playing of real instruments, providing a higher challenge to players. Players score points for hitting notes successfully, but may fail a song if they miss too many notes. The series has featured numerous game modes, and supports both local and online multiplayer modes where up to four players in most modes can perform together.

<i>Lips: Number One Hits</i> 2009 video game

Lips: Number One Hits is a karaoke video game for the Xbox 360 console, and is the follow-up to the 2008 title Lips. Like its predecessor, the game was developed by iNiS and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It was released in 2009 and received generally average reviews. Spin-offs of the game have also been released, including Lips: Deutsche Partyknaller and Lips: Canta en Español.

<i>Karaoke Revolution</i> (2009 video game) 2009 video game

Karaoke Revolution is a video game for the PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360. It is developed by Blitz Games and published by Konami. A different version of the game, Karaoke Revolution Glee was released exclusively for the Wii and is based on the popular musical TV sitcom by 20th Century Fox.

<i>Lips: Party Classics</i> 2010 video game

Lips: Party Classics is a karaoke video game for the Xbox 360, and the second follow-up to the original Lips. The game was developed by iNiS and published by Microsoft Game Studios. The game, like all the other titles in the main Lips series, features the use of motion sensitive wireless microphones and includes 40 upbeat songs from the past decades.

<i>Lips: I Love the 80s</i> 2010 video game

Lips: I Love the 80s is a karaoke game for the Xbox 360 games console, and the third follow-up to Lips. Like the other entries in the series, the game uses motion-sensitive wireless microphones, but like Lips: Party Classics it is compatible with USB microphones. It was only released in Europe.

Rhythm game accessories are often required to play rhythm games available for various consoles, such as the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360. These include dance pads, guitar controllers, drum controllers, microphones and turntable controllers. With the exception of microphones, these controllers can generally be used to control any game, but have limited inputs, making them impractical for most games.

<i>Rock Band 4</i> 2015 music video game

Rock Band 4 is a 2015 rhythm game developed and published by Harmonix. The game was initially distributed by Mad Catz, who also developed new instrument controllers for the game, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 6, 2015. Performance Designed Products (PDP) took over manufacturing of instrument controllers and distribution of the game by 2016. It is the fourth main installment and the ninth console release in the Rock Band series.

References

  1. ↑ Plunkett, Luke (July 14, 2008). "Take A Look At iNiS' Lips". Kotaku . G/O Media. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  2. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (July 16, 2008). "iNiS's Keiichi Yano quiet on Lips DLC pricing". Eurogamer . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 Grant, Christopher (July 17, 2008). "Details on Lips: microphone, your songs, its songs". Engadget (Joystiq). Yahoo! Inc. Archived from the original on July 18, 2008. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Geddes, Ryan (November 20, 2008). "Lips Review". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Cocker, Guy (November 19, 2008). "Lips Review". GameSpot . Fandom. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Lips". Metacritic . Fandom. Archived from the original on August 5, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  7. ↑ Walker, Torrey (November 21, 2008). "Lips Review". 1Up.com . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on February 28, 2016. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  8. 1 2 Nelson, Samantha (December 29, 2008). "Lips". The A.V. Club . G/O Media. Archived from the original on February 24, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  9. ↑ Edge staff (January 2009). "Lips". Edge . No. 197. Future plc. p. 91.
  10. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (November 19, 2008). "Lips". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  11. ↑ Vore, Bryan (January 2009). "LIPS: A Solid First Effort at Karaoke Gaming from Microsoft". Game Informer . No. 189. GameStop. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  12. ↑ Buffa, Chris (December 10, 2008). "Lips Review". GameDaily . AOL. Archived from the original on December 12, 2008. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  13. ↑ McGarvey, Sterling (November 24, 2008). "GameSpy: Lips". GameSpy . IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 16, 2008. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  14. ↑ Sandoval, Angelina (December 9, 2008). "Lips - 360 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 26, 2008. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  15. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (December 12, 2008). "Lips Review". Giant Bomb . Fandom. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Lips". Official Xbox Magazine . Future US. February 2009. p. 81.
  17. 1 2 Huston, Ty (February 1, 2009). "LIPS (Xbox 360) Review". 411Mania. Archived from the original on February 1, 2009. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  18. 1 2 Alexander, Leigh (December 1, 2008). "Lips". Variety . Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
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