For me karaoke is a really bad date. I mean who wants to hear the excruciatingly awful vocal stylings of your new beau, or indeed subject them to your own caterwauling. That¡¯s why Konami¡¯s version of the karaoke date ticks all the right boxes: your virtual reality partner sounds great, has a bunch of cute dance moves and won¡¯t complain if you join in enthusiastically, even if you¡¯re totally off key.

¡°!¡± is the latest spin-off project to capitalize on the runaway success of the virtual dating DS game. A collaboration between Konami and karaoke machine manufacturers , the Love Plus songs were launched on the Crosso karaoke machine on Nov. 19. ?There are three songs to chose from, each featuring a different Love Plus character who is shown singing and dancing along to the music in front of a background that looks like the typical interior of a karaoke room. Manaka Takane sings ¡°Lum no Love Song,¡± Rinko Kobayakawa does a rendition of ¡°Sobakasu¡± and the popular Nene Anegasaki performs ¡°MUGO¡¤N . . . ?Iroppoi.¡± If you¡¯d like to check out the results have a gander at this .

Not ones to miss a good merchandising opportunity, Konami has already announced the sale of ¡°Uta Love Plus,¡± a limited edition CD of the girls singing popular songs, available online at shopping site. You¡¯ll also be able to download cute Love Plus chibi avatars to your phone over the coming months from Joysound¡¯s website.

The games are bound to be popular with fans. Love Plus generated a lot of media attention ?since its launch last year mainly due to the insane devotion among the game¡¯s players that saw one guy and others becoming so obsessed that their real life partners became jealous. Konami encouraged their ardor even more this summer by creating a real-life holiday experience for where suitors could get their photo taken on an iPhone alongside their digital date.

If fans are prepared to step out with their virtual girlfriends on a real holiday, enjoying some private time with them in a karaoke booth should be snap. Although you won¡¯t be able to hold her hand or kiss, at least you won¡¯t have to pay for her drinks.