PlayStation 3 SingStar Viewer: A Look Back at Historic PlayStation Content
Back in December 2009, PlayStation 3 users were introduced to a new application called SingStar Viewer, as announced by Rob Rutter from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE). This application was part of Sony's strategy to expand the reach of their popular SingStar franchise to users who might not have purchased the full game.
What Was SingStar Viewer?
SingStar Viewer was a free application for PlayStation 3 consoles that allowed users to explore the SingStar ecosystem without owning the complete game. Once downloaded from the PlayStation Store, it appeared in the Games menu of the PS3 dashboard, providing a gateway to the SingStar experience.
The application enabled users to browse, preview, rate, and purchase content from the SingStore directly through the interface. This strategic move by Sony aimed to bring more players into the SingStar community and increase digital content sales.
Community Reception
As with many PlayStation UI changes of that era, the addition of SingStar Viewer to the Games menu sparked some debate among PS3 owners. Some forum users on KonsoliFIN (a Finnish gaming community) expressed concern about the growing number of icons in the Games menu, while others pointed out that the application was optional and didn't need to be downloaded if unwanted.
Other PlayStation 3 Developments from This Period
The same time period saw other significant PlayStation 3 news, including the finalization of Blu-ray 3D specifications by the Blu-ray Disc Association. Notably, it was confirmed that PS3 consoles would be able to support Blu-ray 3D through a firmware update, as the specification didn't require HDMI v1.4 as previously rumored.
This news was particularly exciting for PS3 owners, as it meant their existing hardware would gain new capabilities without requiring additional purchases.
The Original Content
The original content from Viddler.com that this page references was a demonstration video of the SingStar Viewer application. This video was linked from the European PlayStation Blog and showcased the features and user interface of the application.
While the original video is no longer available due to Viddler.com ceasing operations in 2022, the discussion about this PlayStation 3 application remains part of gaming history, documenting Sony's efforts to expand their digital content ecosystem in the early days of connected consoles.
This topic was originally discussed in KonsoliFIN's PlayStation 3 News/Rumors forum thread (page 18), where Finnish gamers discussed the latest PlayStation developments.