Konami announces Karaoke Revolution: American Idol
2006 May 09 Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., today announced Karaoke Revolution®: American Idol (working title) for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system.
Together with FremantleMedia, co-producer and licensor of America's top rated television show, Konami has developed a game that lets players sing and perform through a full season of competition to claim the title of American Idol. Featuring 40 all-new songs and several unique modes of play, Karaoke Revolution: American Idol delivers an immersive Idol experience as players sing their way to victory.
"Both smash hit pop culture phenomena, American Idol and Karaoke Revolution have come together to deliver the only video game which lets players sing as a virtual contestant on the top-rated FOX television series," said Matt Knoles, Product Manager at Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. "Complete with 40 new songs and all the drama and personality of America's top-rated TV show, Karaoke Revolution: American Idol is the closest players can get to being on stage without going to an audition."
Karaoke Revolution: American Idol allows players to play the part of an American Idol contestant as they audition, earn an invitation to Hollywood and ultimately perform in front of the crowd on centre stage. Players can choose to sing from 40 all-new songs, including hits from the show, and receive verbal feedback on their performance from the judges. The evaluation by the game's judges will affect whether or not they move on to the next round of competition. Players will be able to construct their contestant with new skin tones, clothing, hair styles and accessories in the updated Character Customization mode, creating a specialized look that is sure to catch the attention of the judges and the crowd. Players can also import images of their face with the EyeToy™ USB camera (for PlayStation®2) to bring themselves directly into the actual competition.
In addition to the new American Idol mode, which can be played in single or multiplayer, Karaoke Revolution: American Idol also features popular Karaoke Revolution game modes such as KR Challenge, Medley and Quickplay, giving players even more ways to sing their way to the top. Up to eight players can sing in the game's head to head and team modes, while two players can sing together in Duet Mode to see who has the most star power.
American Idol, which is currently in its fifth season, continues to dominate television ratings and break viewership records, averaging more than 31 million viewers per episode. The number one and two television series in the 18-49 demographic, American Idol has experienced year over year growth for five consecutive seasons and was the most searched for show on Yahoo! for 2005.
"FremantleMedia is committed to raising the bar for American Idol products. Teaming Konami with the hugely successful American Idol franchise is a natural match and the result is a truly remarkable video game," adds David Luner, Vice President of Licensing, FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas. "The Idol experience is all about participation. This game's ability to import your own image and customize the likeness of your virtual character will really allow players to feel what it's like to become an American Idol."
Karaoke Revolution: American Idol is scheduled to launch this December. For more information on the game, please visit: www.konami.com/gs.
About Konami
Konami is a leading developer, publisher and manufacturer of electronic entertainment properties. Konami's titles include the popular franchises Metal Gear Solid®, Silent Hill® and Castlevania®, among other top sellers. The latest information about Konami can be found on the Web at www.konami.com. Konami Corporation is a publicly traded company based in Tokyo, Japan with subsidiary offices, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. in the United States and Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH in Frankfurt, Germany. Konami Corporation, the parent company of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. is traded in the United States on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol KNM. Details of the products published by Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. can be found at www.konami.com/gs.
About FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas:
FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas (FLW, Americas) is the licensing arm of FremantleMedia for North and South America. FremantleMedia one of the largest international creators and producers of program brands in the world, with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment programming in over 40 territories. FLW, Americas exploits FremantleMedia's many strong brands, including the award winning, American Idol, the world's longest running gameshow The Price Is Right, the ever-popular Family Feud, and other classic gameshows, across multiple off-screen platforms including merchandising campaigns, live events, sponsorship, interactive and wireless support, home entertainment and music publishing. FLW, Americas is also responsible for additional business diversification initiatives including 'Thumbdance', a pioneering wireless channel delivering original made-for-mobile video content on demand.
FLW, Americas is part of FremantleMedia North America (FMNA). FMNA is on the leading edge of global broadcast production, developing some of television's most innovative and watched new programming. Based in Santa Monica and with offices in New York, FMNA has produced such genre-bending shows as the musical/reality phenomenon American Idol. In 2005, FremantleMedia programs garnered 16 Emmy nominations, including six for American Idol. Other credits include The Price Is Right (CBS), the longest-running gameshow in television history, the daily syndicated gameshow Family Feud, the hotly debated reality series The Swan (Fox), the breakout hit lifestyle show How Clean Is Your House? (Lifetime), Distraction (Comedy Central), Property Ladder (TLC), American Inventor (ABC), the upcoming The Gameshow Marathon (CBS) and America's Got Talent (NBC).
FremantleMedia is the production arm of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company. With interests in 34 television channels and 30 radio stations in 10 countries, RTL Group is a division of leading integrated media and entertainment company Bertelsmann AG. For further information, visit www.fremantlemedia.com.
About American Idol:
Fourteen-time Emmy-nominated AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment, Ltd.; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Nigel Lythgoe, President, 19 Television; and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.
About 19 Entertainment:
19 Entertainment, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CKX, Inc. (NASDAQ: CKXE), was founded by Simon Fuller 21 years ago and acquired by CKX in March 2005. The company is recognized as a leading creator, provider and promoter of globally successful, music-based entertainment, or "Entertainment Brands."
Simon Fuller, who serves as Chief Executive Officer of 19 Entertainment, is the creator of AMERICAN IDOL in the United States, "Pop Idol" in the UK, as well as versions of the IDOL format in more than 30 countries around the world. Fuller is also the co-creator of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, which aired in the U.S. on FOX during summer 2005 and was the top-rated television show in its time slot.
Fuller has made music history in the UK and the U.S.A., producing a stream of No. 1 hits and managing multi-platinum-selling acts. Fuller recently became the world's most successful manager - breaking a record set by the Beatles' manager Brian Epstein in the 1960s - when three of his artists occupied the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 positions on the U.S. single chart as well as the No. 1 position on the album chart.
19 Entertainment has been involved in the creation of 109 No. 1 singles and 87 No. 1 albums in the UK alone, with an impressive tally of 296 Top-40 albums and 465 Top-40 singles.
Together with FremantleMedia, co-producer and licensor of America's top rated television show, Konami has developed a game that lets players sing and perform through a full season of competition to claim the title of American Idol. Featuring 40 all-new songs and several unique modes of play, Karaoke Revolution: American Idol delivers an immersive Idol experience as players sing their way to victory.
"Both smash hit pop culture phenomena, American Idol and Karaoke Revolution have come together to deliver the only video game which lets players sing as a virtual contestant on the top-rated FOX television series," said Matt Knoles, Product Manager at Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. "Complete with 40 new songs and all the drama and personality of America's top-rated TV show, Karaoke Revolution: American Idol is the closest players can get to being on stage without going to an audition."
Karaoke Revolution: American Idol allows players to play the part of an American Idol contestant as they audition, earn an invitation to Hollywood and ultimately perform in front of the crowd on centre stage. Players can choose to sing from 40 all-new songs, including hits from the show, and receive verbal feedback on their performance from the judges. The evaluation by the game's judges will affect whether or not they move on to the next round of competition. Players will be able to construct their contestant with new skin tones, clothing, hair styles and accessories in the updated Character Customization mode, creating a specialized look that is sure to catch the attention of the judges and the crowd. Players can also import images of their face with the EyeToy™ USB camera (for PlayStation®2) to bring themselves directly into the actual competition.
In addition to the new American Idol mode, which can be played in single or multiplayer, Karaoke Revolution: American Idol also features popular Karaoke Revolution game modes such as KR Challenge, Medley and Quickplay, giving players even more ways to sing their way to the top. Up to eight players can sing in the game's head to head and team modes, while two players can sing together in Duet Mode to see who has the most star power.
American Idol, which is currently in its fifth season, continues to dominate television ratings and break viewership records, averaging more than 31 million viewers per episode. The number one and two television series in the 18-49 demographic, American Idol has experienced year over year growth for five consecutive seasons and was the most searched for show on Yahoo! for 2005.
"FremantleMedia is committed to raising the bar for American Idol products. Teaming Konami with the hugely successful American Idol franchise is a natural match and the result is a truly remarkable video game," adds David Luner, Vice President of Licensing, FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas. "The Idol experience is all about participation. This game's ability to import your own image and customize the likeness of your virtual character will really allow players to feel what it's like to become an American Idol."
Karaoke Revolution: American Idol is scheduled to launch this December. For more information on the game, please visit: www.konami.com/gs.
About Konami
Konami is a leading developer, publisher and manufacturer of electronic entertainment properties. Konami's titles include the popular franchises Metal Gear Solid®, Silent Hill® and Castlevania®, among other top sellers. The latest information about Konami can be found on the Web at www.konami.com. Konami Corporation is a publicly traded company based in Tokyo, Japan with subsidiary offices, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. in the United States and Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH in Frankfurt, Germany. Konami Corporation, the parent company of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. is traded in the United States on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol KNM. Details of the products published by Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. can be found at www.konami.com/gs.
About FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas:
FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas (FLW, Americas) is the licensing arm of FremantleMedia for North and South America. FremantleMedia one of the largest international creators and producers of program brands in the world, with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment programming in over 40 territories. FLW, Americas exploits FremantleMedia's many strong brands, including the award winning, American Idol, the world's longest running gameshow The Price Is Right, the ever-popular Family Feud, and other classic gameshows, across multiple off-screen platforms including merchandising campaigns, live events, sponsorship, interactive and wireless support, home entertainment and music publishing. FLW, Americas is also responsible for additional business diversification initiatives including 'Thumbdance', a pioneering wireless channel delivering original made-for-mobile video content on demand.
FLW, Americas is part of FremantleMedia North America (FMNA). FMNA is on the leading edge of global broadcast production, developing some of television's most innovative and watched new programming. Based in Santa Monica and with offices in New York, FMNA has produced such genre-bending shows as the musical/reality phenomenon American Idol. In 2005, FremantleMedia programs garnered 16 Emmy nominations, including six for American Idol. Other credits include The Price Is Right (CBS), the longest-running gameshow in television history, the daily syndicated gameshow Family Feud, the hotly debated reality series The Swan (Fox), the breakout hit lifestyle show How Clean Is Your House? (Lifetime), Distraction (Comedy Central), Property Ladder (TLC), American Inventor (ABC), the upcoming The Gameshow Marathon (CBS) and America's Got Talent (NBC).
FremantleMedia is the production arm of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company. With interests in 34 television channels and 30 radio stations in 10 countries, RTL Group is a division of leading integrated media and entertainment company Bertelsmann AG. For further information, visit www.fremantlemedia.com.
About American Idol:
Fourteen-time Emmy-nominated AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment, Ltd.; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Nigel Lythgoe, President, 19 Television; and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.
About 19 Entertainment:
19 Entertainment, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CKX, Inc. (NASDAQ: CKXE), was founded by Simon Fuller 21 years ago and acquired by CKX in March 2005. The company is recognized as a leading creator, provider and promoter of globally successful, music-based entertainment, or "Entertainment Brands."
Simon Fuller, who serves as Chief Executive Officer of 19 Entertainment, is the creator of AMERICAN IDOL in the United States, "Pop Idol" in the UK, as well as versions of the IDOL format in more than 30 countries around the world. Fuller is also the co-creator of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, which aired in the U.S. on FOX during summer 2005 and was the top-rated television show in its time slot.
Fuller has made music history in the UK and the U.S.A., producing a stream of No. 1 hits and managing multi-platinum-selling acts. Fuller recently became the world's most successful manager - breaking a record set by the Beatles' manager Brian Epstein in the 1960s - when three of his artists occupied the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 positions on the U.S. single chart as well as the No. 1 position on the album chart.
19 Entertainment has been involved in the creation of 109 No. 1 singles and 87 No. 1 albums in the UK alone, with an impressive tally of 296 Top-40 albums and 465 Top-40 singles.
