[PlexShaw]

Sony have announced that the long-awaited SingStar wireless mics will be available early in the New Year. If that wasn't enough, they are also holding a competition for 100 people to get pre-release versions of the mics to test (they want to make sure the instructions are clear etc).

Further details can be found here:

Myspace.com Blogs - Try out our new Wireless Microphones first! - SingStar MySpace Blog

EDIT: full text for those who cannot access MySpace:

Try out our new Wireless Microphones first!

We’ve managed to get our hands on a pre-release batch of SingStar wireless microphones and we’re giving 100 SingStar fans the chance to test them out before anyone else! Out next year, the official wireless microphones will work on both PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 and allow you to really bust out your moves without busting your console.

Each winner will receive a pair of wireless mics which are then yours to keep. All we’re asking is that you fill in an online questionnaire to let us know how easy the instructions are to follow.

Just send your name, full postal address and whether you’ve got a PS2 or PS3 to competitionsuk@scee.net with the subject line “Wireless Mics”. 100 names will be drawn at random so good luck!

Terms and condition apply.

Love SingStar Team
x

1. The Draw is open to UK residents aged 16 or over that are members of the SingStar® communities on Facebook or MySpace except employees of the Promoter or Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited, their families, agents or anyone professionally connected with the Promotion.

2. No purchase is necessary, although you will need a PlayStation® 2 or PLAYSTATION®3 console to be able to take part in the Microphone Trial (defined below).

3. To enter, you must send an email to competitionsuk@scee.net with the title “Wireless Microphone Test” stating your full postal address and specifying which PlayStation® console you would like to use Wireless SingStar® Microphones with. No applications from agents, third parties, organised groups or applications automatically generated by computer will be accepted. No incomplete, illegible or corrupted entries will be accepted. No entries not in accordance with the entry instructions will be accepted.

4. Closing date for receipt of entries is 09:00 GMT on Monday 1 December 2008.

5. The Draw is limited to one entry per person. No entrant may win more than one place on the Microphone Trial.

6. The Promoter does not accept any responsibility for entries lost, damaged or delayed as a result of any network, computer hardware or software failure of any kind. Proof of sending will not be accepted as proof of receipt. Entries will become the property of the Promoter.

7. The first sixty (60) entries specifying a preference for PLAYSTATION®3 and the first forty (40) entries specifying a preference for PlayStation® 2 drawn at random from all entries received by the closing date will win a place on a trial testing the new Wireless SingStar® Microphones (the “Microphone Trial”).

8. The decision of the judges is final. In the event of unforeseen circumstances the Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prize for an alternative of equal or greater value or to amend, alter or cancel the promotion. No cash alternative will be offered. No correspondence will be entered into.

9. Those chosen to take part in the Microphone Trial will be notified by email within two (2) days after the closing date and must claim their place on the trial within seven (7) days of the notification. If any entrants do not claim their place after this time, their places will lapse and the Promoter reserves the right to offer unclaimed places to substitute winners selected in accordance with the Promotion rules.

10. The winners’ details (name and county) will be made available on request to those enclosing a stamped SAE to "SingStar Wireless Microphone Promotion, C/o Sony Computer Entertainment UK Limited, 7th Floor, 13 Great Marlborough Street, London, W1F 7HP " within eight weeks after the closing date.

11. Those chosen to take part in the Microphone Trial will be sent a Trial Pack comprising two Wireless SingStar® Microphones, one USB receiver, one Mini-B USB Cable, four AA batteries, an Instruction Manual and a Troubleshooting Guide and will be required to test the Wireless SingStar® Microphones and complete and return the questionnaire provided (the “Trial Questionnaire”).

12. Any entrants chosen to take part in the Microphone Trial and that complete the Trial Questionnaire by Sun 21 December 2008 shall be permitted to keep their Trial Pack. Any participants that do not return the Trial Questionnaire by Sun 21 December must return their Trial Pack to the Promoter at their own expense by no later than 1 March 2009 and the Promoter reserves the right to take all measures necessary to recover any such Trial Packs that are not returned by that date.

13. You acknowledge and agree that the subject matter of the Microphone Trial (including, but not limited to, any information that you receive from the Promoter, the contents of any testing questionnaires completed by you and all other information in respect of the Wireless SingStar® Microphones and the Microphone Trial) is confidential and that, if you are chosen to take part in the Microphone Trial, you shall keep such subject matter in the strictest confidence and shall not disclose it to anyone else without the prior written consent of SCEE.

14. By entering the Draw, all entrants will be deemed to have accepted and be bound by the rules and consent to the transfer of their personal data to the Promoter for the purposes of the administration of this Promotion and any other purposes to which the entrant has consented. All entry instructions form part of the rules.

15. These terms and conditions shall be governed by English law and the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction.


Promoter: Sony Computer Entertainment UK Limited, 10 Great Marlborough Street, London, W1F 7LP

[BenchyUK]

Cheers mate. I've applied

I'll also keep an eye on the official PS3 Forum becuase as a BETA test member, i may have a chance of signing up that way too

Thank God there's finally some wireless Mics on the way

[waring192]

cheers fella, sent the e-mail now.

[catisfit]

I hope they charge internal batteries via USB (like DS3). If they need duracells (like Guitar Hero etc) then nothanks.jpg.

[PlexShaw]

Originally Posted by catisfit

I hope they charge internal batteries via USB (like DS3). If they need duracells (like Guitar Hero etc) then nothanks.jpg.

They require 2 AA batteries each (according to the T&C's of the competition).

You could always just use rechargable batteries I guess.

[catisfit]

Originally Posted by PlexShaw

They require 2 AA batteries each (according to the T&C's of the competition).

You could always just use rechargable batteries I guess.

I'd rather stick with wires than use rechargable batteries.

Do they need a USB dongle too or are they bluetooth?

[Honeysuckle]

wow thank god ...those wired mics dont work for me the wires are too short lol

I wish I can use the Rock Band mic ...I dont really like the SingStar mics its so heavy .

[PlexShaw]

Originally Posted by catisfit

I'd rather stick with wires than use rechargable batteries.

Do they need a USB dongle too or are they bluetooth?

It's a USB dongle (again, it's in the T&C's) because Sony wanted to ensure that the mics work on both the PS3 and PS2.

Out of interest, why would you rather stick with wires than use rechargable batteries?

[Tigerblade]

Originally Posted by PlexShaw

It's a USB dongle (again, it's in the T&C's) because Sony wanted to ensure that the mics work on both the PS3 and PS2.

Out of interest, why would you rather stick with wires than use rechargable batteries?

I think he means a rechargeable base station which is connected to the PS3 to drop the mics when not in use. Charges and stores. That is how I'd prefer it

[catisfit]

Originally Posted by PlexShaw

It's a USB dongle (again, it's in the T&C's) because Sony wanted to ensure that the mics work on both the PS3 and PS2.

"In the T&Cs" is all very well but if you can't access MySpace it doesn't really help

Originally Posted by PlexShaw

Out of interest, why would you rather stick with wires than use rechargable batteries?

Because if you are halfway through a SingStar session and the rechargable batteries die then it's disruptive. I can't imagine the Mrs and friends being particularly happy if they are halfway through belting out Bohemian Rhapsody only to realise the batteries in their mic have just died and they have to stop while I fix it. Also I'm not particularly good at keeping a stash of fully charged replacements around (we get through rechargables at a fair rate), so there will be at least a few occasions when I have no replacements ready and that's it, game over. Unless I keep the wired mics as a backup, but people buying SingStar Vol. 4 won't even have that option.

I'm quite happy with the piece of mind I have from just plugging the mics in and playing.

[PlexShaw]

Originally Posted by catisfit

"In the T&Cs" is all very well but if you can't access MySpace it doesn't really help

Added the full text to the first post, so you have no excuse now.

Because if you are halfway through a SingStar session and the rechargable batteries die then it's disruptive. I can't imagine the Mrs and friends being particularly happy if they are halfway through belting out Bohemian Rhapsody only to realise the batteries in their mic have just died and they have to stop while I fix it. Also I'm not particularly good at keeping a stash of fully charged replacements around (we get through rechargables at a fair rate), so there will be at least a few occasions when I have no replacements ready and that's it, game over. Unless I keep the wired mics as a backup, but people buying SingStar Vol. 4 won't even have that option.

I'm quite happy with the piece of mind I have from just plugging the mics in and playing.

Fair enough. I was just curious because I've gone from being dead against wireless microphones to being all for them based on my experience with Lips on the Xbox 360. I'm just going to get an extra set of Eneloop's (the best rechargable batteries out there IMO) to deal with any potential problems related to batteries running out mid-song. I'll keep the wired ones as back up of course.

I've heard that Sony won't be releasing any more bundle versions of SingStar in future and will apparently be making the mics (either wired or wireless) available on their own instead. The fact that SingStar Vol. 3 or SingStar ABBA are only available in solus versions would back that up.

[Bribrian]

Originally Posted by PlexShaw

The fact that SingStar Vol. 3 or SingStar ABBA are only available in solus versions would back that up.

I've seen Singstar Abba bundle with mics (£49.99)........
(comes in a square-ish box)

[zapata]

Originally Posted by Bribrian

I've seen Singstar Abba bundle with mics (£49.99)........
(comes in a square-ish box)

Can I ask where as the missus wants the Abba one but we don't have the mics so this would be ideal.

[PlexShaw]

Originally Posted by Bribrian

I've seen Singstar Abba bundle with mics (£49.99)........
(comes in a square-ish box)

Well fair enough then. I've never seen it and none of the usual online outlets seem to be stocking it, so it's clearly not widely available.

Absolutely certain that there is no bundle of Vol 3 though... I think...

[Bribrian]

Originally Posted by zapata

Can I ask where as the missus wants the Abba one but we don't have the mics so this would be ideal.

It was in a Smyths Toyshop, was in buying a Wii Fit bundle for my daughter for xmas & seen it on the shelf. Didn't know it existed until then.....

It's very expensive though at £49.99, i'm sure you could pick them up separately cheaper....

[zapata]

Originally Posted by Bribrian

It was in a Smyths Toyshop, was in buying a Wii Fit bundle for my daughter for xmas & seen it on the shelf. Didn't know it existed until then.....

It's very expensive though at £49.99, i'm sure you could pick them up separately cheaper....

Thinking about it yes I'm sure your right, also just been looking at the "lips" game for the 360, seems to have a good track list and alot of downloadable stuff and the mics are wireless.

[Jimster71]

At Play.com the wireless mics are 17.99, as is the game. Saves a few quid from the bundle price.

I bought volume 3 this way. A shame I didn't see this earlier, would have entered the wireless mic contest!

[PlexShaw]

Originally Posted by Jimster71

At Play.com the wireless mics are 17.99

Those mics are wired. The wireless mics are not out until early next year.

[Jimster71]

Doh! I know they are wired, I bought some. No idea why I typed wireless, sorry for any confusion caused.

[ScarySquirrel]

AWESOME:

Dear SingStar Winner,

This is the email you've been waiting for!!! You recently entered a competition to test wireless microphones for SingStar... and yes you have been randomly selected to partake in this research. What does this mean..... wireless mic's will be sent to you!

The products will be distributed from the development team tomorrow and thus should arrive special delivery friday 5th Dec 2008. If you are unavailable to sign for the items you will be left a notice card and may need to go and collect the product (details on the notice card).

You will receive another email on friday which will contain a link through to the reseach questionnaire. please complete this and submit the answers once you have tested the microphones as we want them to be as fit for purpose as possible when we release them into the retail market in the future.

Thanks again for helping us with our product research

Love SingStar Team
x

I don't even have the game, but this means I can pick up the game only cheap 2nd hand. £12 in my local exchange shop, they have it in stock and I have about £70 worth of vouchers for there. Result, my PS3 might actually get some use other than watching films

My GF is going to be VERY happy!?!

You get to keep them as well as long as you provide feedback on them!

[Tigerblade]

Originally Posted by ScarySquirrel

AWESOME:



I don't even have the game, but this means I can pick up the game only cheap 2nd hand. £12 in my local exchange shop, they have it in stock and I have about £70 worth of vouchers for there. Result, my PS3 might actually get some use other than watching films

My GF is going to be VERY happy!?!

You get to keep them as well as long as you provide feedback on them!

No offense to you at all....jammy git

....but this is so typical of Sony! Someone who doesn't own the game or even plays games on their PS3 wins.......Home beta mk2?

[Dancook]

I'm in too

[BenchyUK]

I'm sorry but SONY make me angry on their randomness Well done to you guys though for getting chosen

[94jdh]

Got my confirmation e-mail as well, great news. Good luck to all those that applied!

[Bren]

I missed out too. I know people that don't even have a PS3 that have won where as i own every PS2 & PS3 disc plus i have spent over £250 on the Singstore.

[JohnnyR1Red]

I got selected too, can't believe it. I am having a Singstar party on Saturday so can't wait

[PlexShaw]

To the people who won: hurry up and complete the questionnaire so that Sony can release the wireless mics quickly!

[Jimster71]

Well done to those who got them. Don't forget to give us your impressions of them.

[BenchyUK]

I want photos too

[Bribrian]

Damn, i would have loved these for my Abba/70's night..............