14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has announced that it plans to release a new entry in the Lips series in spring 2010, bearing the name Party Classics. The idea is to introduce a new line up of songs more oriented toward singing in the living room with friends and battling to obtain the biggest score. The game will contain more tracks than Lips: Number One Hits, which arrived earlier in 2009.
The tracks confirmed to be featured in Party Classics are: “Love Shack” sung by The B-52's, “Tubthumping” from Chumbawamba; “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor; “Rock And Roll All Nite” as performed by KISS; “Wannabe” by Spice Girls; “I Think We're Alone Now” from Tiffany and “Y.M.C.A.” by the Village People. Microsoft is not saying when players will be able to check out the other songs in the new Lips. The upcoming videogame will be packed with microphones and it's not clear whether a version of the package without them will be offered.
It's somewhat counterintuitive for the software giant to be pushing a whole new disk-based Lips videogame, especially as other and bigger franchises like Rock Band and Guitar Hero seem to be struggling with low demand. Analysts have indicated that the weakness in the music game market might be one of the reasons which will drive videogame sales lower during this year's Christmas period than for 2008.
Lips has never been a huge success and Microsoft might have been better served by offering the same tracks as downloadable content packs for the already launched Lips products. Another problem with the title is the release date of spring. The schedule might be somewhat clearer and will allow players to notice the release but it would have been a better idea to actually try and out it during the holiday season, when the request for social-based gaming is bigger.