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.

  • Kravyn81

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 2:02 pm PT

    Sign me up! Not.

  • MeTaL-HeaD

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 11:24 am PT

    Heavy Metal?

  • 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...

  • lstr

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 9:41 am PT

    And who says there's no content for the PSP. :p

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • bizsumpark182

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 7:05 am PT

    Keep the karaoke off the streets!

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 6:30 am PT

    15 day playback limit? seems like a dumb service anyways.

  • 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).

  • tubarao1

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 5:31 am PT

    PSP is a "do anything" machine but only 15 days? ???

  • babyghost853

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 3:10 am PT

    They need something wacky to pull ahead of the ds in the japanese market.

  • 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.

  • Mad_Professor_X

    Posted Jan 25, 2006 12:02 am PT

    Another lame idea by Sony on the handheld market

    *sigh*

  • rockstar_88

    Posted Jan 24, 2006 11:46 pm PT

    Creeeepy.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • helluvagood

    Posted Jan 24, 2006 9:25 pm PT

    sweet koolio, no way karaoke is fun, prolly cuz ur not AzN

  • 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..

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Jan 24, 2006 8:32 pm PT

    great idea

  • killa-k

    Posted Jan 24, 2006 7:56 pm PT

    well i guess it would b a good idea

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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).

  • 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

  • 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.

  • andrewtyen

    Posted Jan 24, 2006 6:18 pm PT

    cool

  • Donkeljohn Site moderator

    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.

  • diggyzoom

    Posted Jan 24, 2006 5:56 pm PT

    fantastic idea but only 15 days ?

  • PRGundam91

    Posted Jan 24, 2006 5:51 pm PT

    that is the craziest thing ive ever heard.

  • seancoonce

    Posted Jan 24, 2006 5:50 pm PT

    15 days.... weak sauce!

  • NeoJedi

    Posted Jan 24, 2006 5:47 pm PT

    That is a great idea, because everybody knows how the Japanese love their Karaoke.... hehe.

  • Orasion_Seiz

    Posted Jan 24, 2006 5:32 pm PT

    thats cool

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