And that's in its digital shopfront. While Rock Band and Guitar Hero are stuck with antiquated stores, accessible only via crude in-game portals or a console's online store, Sony have today launched the "SingStar Viewer", a PS3 application that lets users browse online videos and purchase songs directly from the XMB, without having to access either the game or the PlayStation Store.

For SingStar users, it's mighty useful, both as a shopfront and as a community hub. For everyone else, it's useful too, if only so you can complain to Harmonix and Activision that their respective band games could do with something similar.

The first SingStar was released all the way back in 2004, for the PS2, and the series now spans over seventy releases across fourteen languages.

Not bad for a game that's essentially only been big in one market (Europe).

SingStar Holiday Update [PlayStation]

Not that it's not a nice place. It is! But it's also a place where the lights were installed by me, not by Sony. Where my furniture and windows were placed for everyday use, not for showing off a fiddly camera-based game. And where I'd be spending a whole week with an EyePet—the PlayStation 3's virtual dog-monkey-thing pet largely controlled and cared for via the rarely used PlayStation Eye camera—and not just an hour or two.

So cast initial impressions aside: what's it like to spend some time in the real world with a fake pet?

Loved
Aaaawwwww – The EyePets themselves are almost perfect. Perfectly cute. Part-dog, part-monkey, they'll tug at all but the driest and coldest of heartstrings. Provided, that is, they're able to do what they're told (see below).

DogMonkey See, DogMonkey Do – While there are plenty of things you can do with your EyePet, there are two that stand out; you can teach them to draw, and you can teach them to sing. Drawing involves sketching something on a piece of paper, holding it up to the PlayStation Eye then seeing the creature replicate your drawing. As something to astonish your friends with, it's up there. Up there with teaching your EyePet to sing, which requires singing something, then sitting back as the cute little guy copies/mocks your attempt with a Gizmo-like warbling of his own.

Can We Keep Him? – When EyePet works, it's mesmerising. Seeing a digital animal interact with you on a screen by dodging your swipes, pouncing on your fingers and responding to your affections with a polite purr is something to behold. When it works, you can see the future of motion-controlled gaming just poking its head above the horizon. When it works…

Hated
Failure To Launch – The technology underpinning this game simply isn't ready to go from "tech demo" to "retail game kids will play". You know something's wrong when the tutorial tells you to empty your living room of furniture, and definitely know something is wrong when half of the basic tutorials end in acute muscular pain as the EyePet randomly fails to respond to the most simple of commands. In short, in the real world (and I tested it in all kinds of lighting conditions), the EyePet ranges from mostly obedient to unresponsive to downright oblivious of your presence.

This Isn't Helping – The game's technological shortcomings are compounded by your "guide", a man in a lab coat with an annoying voice and an inability to provide clear instructions on how to complete a game challenge or properly interact with your EyePet. There were many times when I was left dumbfounded by something in the game and unable to progress, simply because basic commands or objectives hadn't been explained to me. And if he can't help me out, heaven help the small children this game is aimed at.

But Wait, There Isn't More – EyePet as a game is built around a series of challenges, tasks you must complete in order to unlock additional toys, tools or outfits for your EyePet. But these quickly become boring and repetitive, and that's before you factor in the constant repetition required to get over the game's technical shortcomings. Take away the challenges and you're left with…an expensive, unreliable tamagotchi.

EyePet is just a…shame. There's so much potential in the title, so much that London Studio got right, that it's disappointing the game is undermined by such fundamental technical shortcomings. Almost as if the intent has overshot the technology. Then again, seeing as this is the team behind the EyeToy – and EyeToy Play – maybe we shouldn't be that surprised.

If you have small kids, are luckier with your home's lighting setup or simply have money in your pocket and a burning desire to show off your PS3 in a different light (example: the ladies may not find Uncharted 2 as exciting as you), EyePet might still be worth looking into. Just stock up on patience before you get started.

EyePet was developed by London Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. Due for release in North America in 2010, released in PAL territories in October 2009. Retails both separately and in bundle with PlayStation Eye camera. A copy of the game was given to us by the publisher for reviewing purposes. Completed all challenges, spent considerable time in "sandbox" mode. Game played at all times of day in several lighting conditions.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

Why? Because it's Queen. As far as strutting, pour-your-heart-out rock goes, it doesn't get much bigger than Queen. Which means when your girlfriend/lady friend/wife/sister says "oh go on, have a go", your usual excuse of "nah, this is all girly tripe" just won't cut it. Why? Because it's Queen. You're just going to have to man up.

Loved
Variety: A big part of not just Queen's popularity, but also their longevity, is that the band's catalogue is so wildly eclectic. Pop, ballads, hard rock, most people's genre of choice will be covered, which for a party game is crucial. Indeed, in my humble opinion, the SingStar Queen tracklist is more varied – and more enjoyable – than the remainder of the SingStore itself can manage.

Princes of the Universe: The whole point of these music games is that they should make you feel big. Like a rock star. SingStar Queen nails this. Sure, that has more to do with the fact it's Queen than with the game itself, but if you don't break into a massive grin after singing "Bohemian Rhapsody" there's something inhuman about you.

Wireless Mics: My copy of the game arrived with some wireless microphones in tow, and they've been worth the wait. They're well-built, have a good weight to them, and there weren't any lag or feedback issues I could pick up. (Ed's note: The wireless microphones were released as a standalone in the UK on March 18.)

Greatest Hits: OK, yes, I am a massive Queen fan. Which is why I'm so happy with the tracklist for this game. Sure, as I said above, it's got a bit of everything, but Sony's London Studio went the extra mile and included some classics that are skewed more towards appeasing Queen fans than providing songs that would be good for SingStar's gameplay. Like "Who Wants To Live Forever", a teary train wreck of a song that not only has intolerable instrumental sections, but is from the Highlander soundtrack. Both of which make it awesome, and which also seem to have me standing to lose a gentleman's agreement...

Hated
Inequality: The game is available on both PS2 and PS3. The PS3 version contains 25 songs, but the PS2 version only has 20. This is no doubt down to size restrictions, as other SingStar titles available on both platforms have featured the same discrepancy, but still. It's a little unfair on PS2 owners, who are no doubt still the most numerous purchasers of the series.

Under Pressure: This one isn't really the game's fault either, but you can't help playing through SingStar Queen's tracklist and wishing it was Rock Band: Queen's tracklist instead.

Being the umpteenth release of a well-worn, successful franchise, there's really not much more to say. This is SingStar, only instead of corny pop songs, it's a collection of classic rock tracks. Your mileage on this will depend entirely on how comfortable you are singing in public, and how much you enjoy Queen.

SingStar Queen was released in the United States on August 4 for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3. Developed by London Studio, published by Sony Computer Entertainment. Retails for $40 on PlayStation 3 (UK version reviewed), $30 on PlayStation 2. Played every song in multiplayer mode, most songs - shamefully - in single player.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

MacDonald has announced his departure from the company, and his last day will be May 29. Over those eight years, London Studio have developed the SingStar series, the EyeToy camera and The Getaway. Hey, 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

MacDonald was also boss of Sony's Cambridge studio, and one of Sony World Wide Studio's Vice Presidents. No reason was given for his leaving. He's the second high profile resignation from London Studio in recent months, after SingStar boss Paulina Bozek jumped ship for Atari last year.

Jamie MacDonald to leave Sony [Develop]

The list - which details the top 10-selling games from the British SingStore - is useful to you because it, more than any metaphor or even carefully-chosen picture, sums up best the kind of person that plays SingStar.

1. Total Eclipse Of The Heart - Bonnie Tyler
2. Final Countdown - Europe
3. Just Like A Pill - Pink
4. Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley
5. Torn - Natalie Imbruglia
6. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
7. Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor
8. Take On Me - A-ha
9. Baby One More Time - Britney Spears
10. American Pie - Don McLean

Go on. Close your eyes. You can just see them now, can't you? And now you can, you can stop asking yourself "who the fuck plays this game?" every time you see news about SingStar.

Bonnie Tyler is UK's SingStar favourite [Casualgaming]

A big part of that popularity has been down to what's now known as Sony's "Party Starter" lineup: SingStar, Buzz! and EyeToy.

These were all developed by first-party studios in the UK (and driven by ex-Sony man Phil Harrison), and all were aimed at expanding the appeal of gaming beyond its traditional market. So Buzz! was aimed at families and parties. SingStar was aimed at the girl's night in, the gay lad's night in and drunken parties in general. And EyeToy was aimed at, well, everyone.

And all three have been a success. None more so than SingStar, however, which to date has sold an astonishing 17 million copies, again mostly in Europe. So what's the secret to the success of these games?

Sony Europe's Mike Haigh knows. It's the controllers. Speaking at DICE, Haigh says it's that each of those games uses a unique controller. Non-gamers are often terrified of control pads, so - as we've seen with the success of the wavy-wavy Wii - giving them a simple substitute (like Buzz's quiz-show controllers, EyeToy's camera and SingStar's microphones) can work wonders.

So Microsoft, take note! Oh, sorry, you already have.

Oh, and speaking of microphones, that picture up there? It's of the long-awaited wireless microphones for SingStar, which were promised to appear close to game's launch in late 2007 but will instead be out in the UK on March 20. 2009.

Sony's Social Success [Edge]

Taxi drivers 'have brain sat-nav' [BBC]

English

* Avril Lavigne - Complicated
* Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack - Tonight I Celebrate My Love
* Good Charlotte - I Just Wanna Live
* The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
* Shocking Blue - Venus
* Golden Earring - Radar Love
* The Hives - Hate To Say I Told You So
* Hard-Fi - Hard To Beat
* Avril Lavigne - My Happy Ending
* Erik Faber - Not Over
* Cutting Crew - (I Just) Died In Your Arms
* R.E.M. - Everybody Hurts
* Wilson Phillips - Hold On
* Buzzcocks - Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You shouldn't've)?
* Alphabeat - Fantastic 6
* The Vines - Get Free
* Roy Orbison - Only The Lonely (Know The Way I Feel)
* Westlife - Queen Of My Heart
* The Hoosiers - Cops N Robbers
* Coldplay - Shiver
* Coldplay - The Scientist
* Duran Duran - The Reflex
* Moloko - Sing It Back
* Aslan - This Is

Dutch

* Het Goede Doel - Belgie
* Kadanz - Intimiteit

French

* K-Maro - Histoires De Luv
* Luke - La sentinelle

Norwegian

* Tine - Vil ha deg

Portuguese

* André Sardet - Foi feitiço
* Clã - Tira A Teima
* Humanos - Maria Albertina
* Três Tristes Tigres - O Mundo A Meus Pés

Spanish

* El Arrebato - Búscate Un Hombre Que Te Quiera

More songs for PS3 SingStore [Eurogamer] [Pic]

In English:

* Ace of Base "Life Is A Flower"
* Alcazar "Not A Sinner, Nor A Saint"
* Ash "Oh Yeah"
* Blue Öyster Cult "(Don't Fear) The Reaper"
* Boston "More Than A Feeling"
* Burhan G "Who Is He?"
* Culture Club "Karma Chameleon"
* Cyndi Lauper "She Bop"
* David Lee Roth "Just A Gigolo - I Ain't Got Nobody"
* HIM "Right Here In My Arms"
* Natasha Bedingfield "Single"
* R.E.M. "Stand"
* Radiohead "High And Dry"
* Richard Hawley "Tonight The Streets Are Ours"
* Suede "Beautiful Ones"
* Survivor "Eye Of The Tiger"
* Terence Trent D'Arby "Sign Your Name"
* The Magic Numbers "This Is A Song"
* The Monroes "Sunday People"
* The Poodles "Night Of Passion"
* The Rasmus "In The Shadows"
* Toto "Hold The Line"
* Westlife "Flying Without Wings"

In Danish:

* Rollo & King "Der Står Et Billed Af Dig På Mit Bord"

In Dutch:

* Circus Custers "Verliefd"
* Hans de Booy "Alle Vrouwen"
* Heideroosjes "Iedereen Is Gek"
* Johan Verminnen "Mooie Dagen"

In Finnish:

* Aki Sirkesalo "Naispaholainen"
* Anssi Kela "Milla"
* Don Huonot "Riidankylväjä"
* Neljä Ruusua "Juppihippipunkkari"
* Pelle Miljoona Oy "Moottoritie On Kuuma"
* PMMP "Pikkuveli"

In German:

* 2raumwohnung "36grad"
* 2raumwohnung "Wir Trafen Uns In Einem Garten"
* De Randfichten "Lebt Denn Dr Alte Holzmichl Noch...?"
* Dieter Thomas Kuhn "Es War Sommer (Die Wahre Geschichte)"
* Freundeskreis "A-N-N-A"
* Revolverheld "Generation Rock"
* Wir Sind Helden "Wenn Es Passiert"

In Portuguese:

* Anjos "Eu Estou Aqui (Yo soy aquél)"
* Da Weasel "Dúia"
* D'ZRT "Verão Azul"
* EZ Special "Sei Que Sabes Que Sim"

In Spanish:

* Burning "¿Qué Hace Una Chica Como Tú..?"
* Hombres G "Lo Noto"
* Hombres G "No Te Escaparás"