Japanese PSP karaoke service launched

By Hirohiko Niizumi, GameSpot
Posted Jan 24, 2006 5:28 pm PT

Taito offering popular pastime for Sony's handheld; songs are downloadable through Portable TV Web site for under a buck.

TOKYO--In Japan, would-be pop stars can now download tunes and practice singing their favorite songs through their PSPs. Taito, one of the country's major karaoke providers, today announced that it has launched a karaoke download service for the PSP on Portable TV, a Sony Web site dedicated to PSP content.

The selection of karaoke songs currently encompasses Japanese pop music, songs from popular anime shows, and TV theme songs. At this time the site offers only about 70 songs, but Taito plans to expand the available selection to more than 10,000 songs by early summer. Each of Taito's karaoke songs can be downloaded for 105 yen ($.93) and can be played back on the PSP for 15 days.

33 Comments

overachiever92
Posted Jan 26, 2006 7:41 pm PT

Well, that would at least earn the title interesting, except the downloads are (am I incorrect?) inpermanent. As if they don't belong to you! They don't, but any good site isn't going to let you BORROW songs, so that you can sing to everyone, whether it's in the car, on the bus or during your lunch break. Oh the possibilities of portability! They just don't came in 93 cent packages of public self-inflicted humiliation.
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
Kravyn81
Posted Jan 25, 2006 2:02 pm PT

Sign me up! Not.
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
MeTaL-HeaD
Posted Jan 25, 2006 11:24 am PT

Heavy Metal?
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
ArmoredAshes
Posted Jan 25, 2006 10:12 am PT

Yeah it is a really great idea but hwy for only 15 days?...thats kind of weak...if im paying for it i should be able to keep it...
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
lstr
Posted Jan 25, 2006 9:41 am PT

And who says there's no content for the PSP. :p
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
remmbermytitans
Posted Jan 25, 2006 9:30 am PT

LLLAAAMMMEEE...... 15 days? thats the stupidest thing ever..... you wanna know why the DS is pwning in japan? thats why! they arent concentrating on games! they're spending money on pointless extra features! the japanese dont give a crap about extra music.... we have iPods for that! its all about the games.... and we've learned that the japanese want good games... so stop wasting money on stupid things!
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
Ontario21
Posted Jan 25, 2006 8:36 am PT

Big deal lol, That is stupid! 15dys??? They should at least be able to keep the song on the duo card as long as they like.
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
bizsumpark182
Posted Jan 25, 2006 7:05 am PT

Keep the karaoke off the streets!
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
chrisdojo
Posted Jan 25, 2006 6:30 am PT

15 day playback limit? seems like a dumb service anyways.
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
B-bad
Posted Jan 25, 2006 6:07 am PT

sound cool doesn't it , does it come with a mic for the psp or do they just use the headset w/mic (socom).
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
tubarao1
Posted Jan 25, 2006 5:31 am PT

PSP is a "do anything" machine but only 15 days? ???
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
babyghost853
Posted Jan 25, 2006 3:10 am PT

They need something wacky to pull ahead of the ds in the japanese market.
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
mhder
Posted Jan 25, 2006 1:59 am PT

Well it's a interesting addition but far from being called an innovation.
The interesting thing is that - when you buy a single cd in Japan, Karaoke or instrumental version of that song is included so... so people can sing in their rooms I guess. So I guess if you don't own the single - this is the next best thing? Not completely sure what they're going for with this.
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
Mad_Professor_X
Posted Jan 25, 2006 12:02 am PT

Another lame idea by Sony on the handheld market

*sigh*
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
rockstar_88
Posted Jan 24, 2006 11:46 pm PT

Creeeepy.
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
Neoyamaneko
Posted Jan 24, 2006 11:22 pm PT

You can get a Karaoke Attachment for the Sega Dreamcast and have access to the entire Segakara library (over 40,000 songs with a big English section) for $15 a month. I'd rather have that than pay constantly for the same song from the Taito Karaoke library that is notorious for their small library and lack of English songs. Only Bandai's karaoke system is more sparse. I'll spend my money on PSP games, thank you very much.

Helluvagood: You must be under 21 because you don't know how popular karaoke is in bars in the States. Whenever I used to go to Karaoke night at this one Tampa bar, the waiting list was always like 20 deep and you'd be lucky to sing 2 songs in the 4 hour time limit.
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
Sociologist
Posted Jan 24, 2006 10:58 pm PT

Imagine if a portable DDR could be developed. I'm certain that there is a market for that, as anyone who has had to lug around a console and pads can tell you. It may seem far-fetched due to the small PSP screen, but I'm certain that it could be designed to work well with a portable unit.
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
helluvagood
Posted Jan 24, 2006 9:25 pm PT

sweet koolio, no way karaoke is fun, prolly cuz ur not AzN
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
babyghost853
Posted Jan 24, 2006 8:37 pm PT

This is just the sort of stupid thing japanese love, and could just push the psp even more..
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
jakeboudville
Posted Jan 24, 2006 8:32 pm PT

great idea
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
killa-k
Posted Jan 24, 2006 7:56 pm PT

well i guess it would b a good idea
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
chibi-acer
Posted Jan 24, 2006 7:01 pm PT

The PSP doesn't have the best built-in speakers, though. It'll be interesting to see how well this is received.
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
SLAYERPSP
Posted Jan 24, 2006 6:59 pm PT

lame another reason japan is so strange who cares lets make a ass of ourselves by singing in public i hate people who try to sing and cant please save us from the noise polluation
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
hush404
Posted Jan 24, 2006 6:48 pm PT

Hmm odd that it's only for 15 days... but hey! who keeps saying sony's got no innovation (Im looking at you Nintendo fanboys).
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
joyer
Posted Jan 24, 2006 6:28 pm PT

hahahahha sounds like itunes karioke style... 15 days though what a gyp... ahhh who cares anyway
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
mhder
Posted Jan 24, 2006 6:19 pm PT

The western misconception: karaoke happens in bars in front of strangers. In Asia, karaoke = small-large private rooms where you gather with your friends and coworkers to sing.
As fro the 15 days - everything in Japan costs a lot - 100 yen is nothing. I was going to write that 100 yen buys you nothing but I guess it buys you a 15 day karaoke song.
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
andrewtyen
Posted Jan 24, 2006 6:18 pm PT

cool
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
Donkeljohn
Posted Jan 24, 2006 5:58 pm PT

There will still be plenty of people in Japanese Karaoke bars getting blitzed and singing Barry Manilow songs. . . they'll just be better practiced.
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
diggyzoom
Posted Jan 24, 2006 5:56 pm PT

fantastic idea but only 15 days ?
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
PRGundam91
Posted Jan 24, 2006 5:51 pm PT

that is the craziest thing ive ever heard.
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
seancoonce
Posted Jan 24, 2006 5:50 pm PT

15 days.... weak sauce!
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
NeoJedi
Posted Jan 24, 2006 5:47 pm PT

That is a great idea, because everybody knows how the Japanese love their Karaoke.... hehe.
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree
Orasion_Seiz
Posted Jan 24, 2006 5:32 pm PT

thats cool
- Login to rate this comment
- 0 of 0 users agree

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Q&A: EA Games prez on wielding Warhammer, policing 'Sporn'

In the second half of GameSpot's interview, Frank Gibeau talks about his WOW habit, refusing to green-light single-player games, the Wii, the next Medal of Honor, and the possibility of a Black comeback. Full Story
- Posted Aug 30, 2008 7:27 pm PT
- 107 Comments
PAX 2008: Ryan Payton on Kojima, Japan

The former English-speaking face of Metal Gear Solid 4 talks about his duties on the game, the real reason Japanese gamers aren't buying the Xbox 360, and more. Full Story
- Posted Aug 30, 2008 1:23 pm PT
- 142 Comments