Rock Band Statistics Breakdown

Harmonix has successfully managed to transform Rock Band into a great music platform, with just about 600 songs already available across all games, track packs, and downloadable content. While Activision is choosing to spam the Guitar Hero name by saturating the market with incremental releases, Harmonix has been diligent in weekly song releases and making disc-based track packs available as an alternative.

Pwn or Die has a great article featuring graphs that break down where songs come from, dominant genres, difficulty levels, and much more. It's interesting to analyze the data and look for trends or patterns in how Harmonix chooses the type of songs to release. I certainly don't mind the difficulty imbalance, but I hope they start to even out genre and decade song distribution in the future.

Whatever they're doing, I hope they keep doing it because it's working. Only Harmonix could make Snoop Dogg, the Dixie Chicks, and the Beatles make sense all under one roof.

Source: Pwn or Die

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Activision Doesn't Need A Hero

Activision simply doesn't understand. Rather than follow in the footsteps of Harmonix's great work, they instead choose to saturate the market with new games that feature little improvement or changes besides a new track list. Outside of the previously announced Guitar Hero Metallica set for release this month, Activision has already announced Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits for a June 2009 release. GH: GH is a collection of 48 tracks from their previous four titles retooled for band play. Another sequel to their Guitar Hero DS series is set to also release in June called Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits. This is also nothing more than another game with a new setlist of 25 songs.

Besides officially releasing three GH titles this year, Eurogamer reports Activision's plans for a handful of more new "Hero" titles set to release this year. Hard Rock Van Halen (August), Guitar Hero 5 (possibly a working title - September), DJ Hero (October), Band Hero (November), as well as another title in their GH DS series is rumored to be in production. DJ Hero has been unofficially confirmed, but the others are still up in the air. There are also reports of Activision registering Sing Hero as a trademark.

I just hope more people continue to realize the exploitative tactics and inferior products Activision is putting out versus Harmonix's Rock Band platform. With The Beatles: Rock Band set to come out in September, I'm more excited about that than any of the Guitar Hero games. I think their cash cow is going to run dry before they're done milking it.


Source: Eurogamer

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The Beatles: Rock Band Official Details

The collaboration between Harmonix, MTV Games, and Apple Corps. to produce a Beatles game was announced last October with very few details except that it wasn't going to be apart of the Rock Band franchise. Instead, it was going to be a unique experience and journey through the many phases of their famed career. The game is still going to provide that experience, but instead will now feature Rock Band branding and a better idea of how gameplay will specifically work. The Beatles: Rock Band looks to still use core Rock Band mechanics but build upon that for a more varied and band-specific title.

I am glad the game at least has a more defined gameplay system. I was worried about how the game would interact with other games in the RB franchise, although there still isn't any word yet about DLC and song importing interoperability. I just hope they do more than what Guitar Hero has done for Aerosmith and Metallica, although the latter does seem to provide a good metal experience. I'm hoping for a true story mode or something that is more than Rock Band with a setlist of Beatles songs. Given by how strongly the developers and even Sir Paul McCartney has been promoting the game, I have a little more confidence that it will turn out better than expected.

The Beatles: Rock Band will officially launch on September 9, 2009 on all major consoles. There will be a Limited Edition Premium bundle on sale for $250, featuring instruments modeled after ones used by The Beatles. Standalone guitars will also sell for $100 and individual game discs for $60. No word yet about standalone drums, mics, or a separate bass guitar.

Source: Official Site and Joystiq

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From PaRappa to Rock Band: A Music Game Journey

The music/rhythm genre has always been one of my favorites. While some gamers really got into first-person shooters, real-time strategy games, or sports games like Madden, I was a big supporter of the music/rhythm genre since it was still considered niche. Ars Technica features a great overview of where music games started and what the future possibly holds. Way before Guitar Hero and Rock Band, there were some great titles that were seen in both America and Japan.

Although Ars cites Dance Aerobics on the NES as one of the first music games, the one that I and many others remember is the incredible PaRappa the Rapper on the original PlayStation, seen above. First released in 1996, creator Masaya Matsuura helped pioneer the genre and started the huge explosion in Japan that saw hugely influential titles like Dance Dance Revolution, beatmania, GuitarFreaks, DrumMania, and many others. Since Harmonix opened up the genre in America, you can see how those titles had a hand in creating the upcoming Scratch: The Ultimate DJ and mainstream hits like Guitar Hero and Rock Band. But PaRappa proved that the genre could be just as fun with a standard controller. Niche titles like Gitaroo Man, Rez, and Space Channel 5 helped shape the genre in the US, but it wasn't until Harmonix came along that things really took off.

Harmonix laid down the groundwork for Guitar Hero with the cult titles, Frequency and Amplitude. The latter shares a very similar interface to current GH/RB games, and will definitely have a hand in shaping the upcoming Rock Band Unplugged for the PSP. Their work on the Karaoke Revolution series became a huge hit way before games like SingStar or Lips came along. And as Rock Band became a culmination of their hard work, they are looking ahead with the Beatles Game set to release later this year.

There are so many great things happening in the genre, and it really is an exciting time at least for me, personally. So many good games are coming down the pipeline with Scratch: The Ultimate DJ and Activision's DJ Hero set to try and emulate beatmania's success. Check the full article at the link below.

Source: Ars Technica

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PSP Set For Big Year With Major Franchises

Sony's little engine that could is possibly set to be the must-have handheld this year. After constant complaints about the lack of good games for the system, Sony announced a truckload of major titles at their Destination PlayStation event today. Hot on the heels of Rock Band Unplugged, the official announcement of LittleBigPlanet for the PSP was confirmed to be in development. No real details have been revealed, though the game is set to include similar gameplay and features with its PS3 counterpart. Interactivity between the two games has not been confirmed.

A new game in the Assassin's Creed franchise is also set to debut on the handheld alongside a new PSP bundle. The original game released on the Xbox 360 and PS3, with a sequel confirmed to be in development. A prequel was released on the DS and ported to Symbian Mobile platforms, with a sequel to this series also in development. No details were released about the new PSP game, but it should be similar to previous titles.

Another PSP bundle set to release this year is the Hannah Montana PSP Entertainment Pack. Obviously aimed at young girls, it includes a lilac-colored PSP, the Hannah Montana music/rhythm game, episodes of the TV series on UMD, and stickers. In support of this new demographic, Ubisoft is also releasing games from their Petz line.

MotorStorm is also finally set to debut on both the PS2 and PSP this year with MotorStorm: Arctic Edge. Developed by BigBig Studios, the ones behind the Pursuit Force games, it will take the series in the new icy terrains of Alaska. Add all that up together, and you get a very impressive list of games for the PSP. Add to that anticipated titles like Dissidia Final Fantasy, Resistance: Retribution, and a remake of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona, and there's now a reason to play games on the PSP again. This may be what the PSP needed in order to get past this slump and achieve its untapped potential.

You can check out the trailer for MotorStorm: Arctic Edge past the break.


Sources: PR Newswire and Joystiq

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Rock Band Unplugged Announced For PSP

Sony is on their way in revitalizing the slumping handheld, and one of the brand new games announced for the PSP is a portable version of the successful Harmonix/EA franchise, entitled Rock Band Unplugged. The game is set to utilize the PSP's Wi-Fi capabilities via a full in-game store for downloadable content in both North America and Europe, though other markets were not mentioned. Primotech has an exclusive on the title with a bevy of new details. Gameplay will be similar to the portable's DJ Max series as well as Harmonix's Frequency/Amplitude games on the PS2, using the Left, Up, Triangle, and Circle buttons for input rather than a peripheral like the Guitar Hero DS games. Like in Amplitude, gameplay will be broken up into phrases, and you will be able to switch between all four instruments via the L and R buttons. However, vocals will utilize button presses rather than physical singing. Perfect phrases will build up a multiplier and Overdrive will be included as well.

The visual style of Rock Band will be maintained, although there will be no multiplayer mode. Artists set to be in the game include Blink 182, Boston, AFI, Kansas, Lit, and The Police. With Backbone Entertainment (Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix) developing the title in conjunction with EA and Harmonix, I have complete faith that the Rock Band experience will be maintained without the plastic instruments. Frequency and Amplitude laid down the original groundwork for the Guitar Hero franchise, and it showed how successful and fun a music/rhythm game can be using a standard controller. I was not very impressed with the DS versions of Guitar Hero, but this looks to have amazing potential.

This game can possibly tap into the huge possibilities of the genre, and I'm glad to see Harmonix return to their roots here. No release date has been confirmed, but it's speculated to hit stores before the end of the year.

Sources: PR Newswire and Primotech

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Activision's Guitar Hero Metallica Features "Lynyrd Skynrd"

This is one of those things where you just have to shake your head in disbelief and disappointment. The cover for Guitar Hero Metallica features the names of great bands featured in the game. Unfortunately, they somehow managed to misspell one of the biggest bands in the list, Lynyrd Skynyrd. Their song, "Tuesday's Gone", is one of twenty-one in the game not by Metallica.

Activision has since fixed the boxart to show the correct spelling, but this is something they will never live down. Guitar Hero Metallica features full-band instrumentation and is set to release on PS3 and Xbox 360 on March 29 and Q2 2009 for PS2 and Wii.

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Scratch: The Ultimate DJ Snags Big Name Artists

With Scratch: The Ultimate DJ and Activision's unofficially announced DJ Hero game currently in development, turntable controllers are destined to become the new plastic guitar. Bemani attempted to popularize a similar Japanese title in America called Beatmania on the PS2, but it failed to catch on. Due to unforgiving gameplay and a mixed bag of songs, the US version of the game didn't strike a chord with many. Scratch looks to incorporate a similar controller/gameplay style similar to Rock Band and Guitar Hero, which looks promising compared to the difficulty of previous DJ games.

The game is set to release during Q2 2009 on the PS3 and Xbox 360. Check out the promising list of confirmed artists below.

• "Intergalactic" by Beastie Boys
• "Flashing Lights" by Kanye West
  
• "Let's Get it Started" by The Black Eyed Peas
  
• "Slacker" by Tech N9ne
  
• "Don't Sweat the Technique" by Eric B. and Rakim
• Other Songs From: Run DMC, The Gorillaz, Nelly and Deltron 3030

Source: Joystiq

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Guitar Hero: Metallica Slated For 2009

The game has been hinted at for months, including several not-so-subtle hints from Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich. But the above teaser video was revealed in Guitar Hero World Tour and has now made its way as an unofficial announcement. The game has been discussed in Activision board meetings and such, but no official press release or statement has been made regarding the game's specific release date or platforms.

Metallica has improved their reputation with their album, Death Magnetic as well as trying to embrace the web community after the fallout from the Napster incident. Some fans still refuse to be swayed, citing the band's greed overpowering the love and passion for the music and its fans. Metallica has since divorced itself from Harmonix and Rock Band, going exclusive with Activision's Guitar Hero franchise. The reviews for Guitar Hero World Tour show the game is a little rough around the edges, but it still provides that full-band fun. If this new game is anything like World Tour, it should be a blast. The argument of DLC vs. single band titles can be disputed, but Guitar Hero: Metallica should be big.

I still think Activision has a long way to go to catch up with Harmonix in terms of content, note charts, and overall presentation. I have yet to play GHWT, but many critics cite Rock Band as having a better grasp of the genre despite both being great games. Harmonix is also partnering with AC/DC and Wal-Mart to put out an exclusive band game of its own, entitled AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack. With Konami's Rock Revolution panned as a failure, the competition for plastic instrument supremacy continues on.

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Rock Band 2 Free DLC Revealed

Rock Band 2 is already available on the PS3 & Xbox 360, and both the Wii and PS2 versions are to follow in December. With developer Harmonix striving to have a combined total of 500 songs available for the platform before year's end, they have officially revealed the 20 free songs available for those that purchase a new copy of the game. The songs will be available through a code printed on the back of the manual, and will release on November 4 for PS3/360 and the Wii version available at the game's launch. While the on-disc content went with songs from more popular artists, the free content instead goes with some nice up-and-coming bands. The list covers a diverse group of artists and genres, such as Japan's X Japan and Ireland's Lesley Roy.

* The 88 - "Sons and Daughters"
* Authority Zero - "No Regrets"
* Between the Buried and Me - "Prequel To The Sequel"
* The Cab - "Bounce"
* The Chevelles - "Get It On"
* The Cocktail Slippers - "Give It To Me"
* Dealership - "Database Corrupted"
* Endeverafter - "I Wanna Be Your Man"
* The Ghost Hounds - "Ashes To Fire"
* Hollywood Undead - "Young"
* Kutless - "The Feeling"
* The Len Price 3 - "If I Ain't Got You"
* Lesley Roy - "I'm Gone, I'm Going"
* Opiate for the Masses - "Burn You Down"
* Semi-Precious Weapons - "Magnetic Baby"
* Shaimus - "Like a Fool"
* Thenewno2 - "Crazy Tuesday"
* Tickle Me Pink - "The Time Is Wrong"
* Underoath - "Desperate Times, Desperate Measures"
* X Japan - "I.V."

The musical genres range from metal to alternative to a little bit of rap rock and christian rock. While these artists may not have the notoriety and name recognition, many of the songs I sampled sounded fun to play. Songs like Semi-Precious Weapons' Magnetic Baby were very catchy and brings a lot of good exposure to these groups. The addition of X Japan was a pleasant surprise, although it probably helps that their latest track was sung in English. With news on the Japanese version of Rock Band remaining stagnant since its announcement, bringing over a famed Japanese artist is a good sign for possibly more Japanese music to come either as DLC or progress on Rock Band Japan. I'm a little disappointed they didn't bring over a couple of tracks that had more artist recognition, but fans of these indie groups should be delighted. And given that all of these songs are free, it's hard to be upset.

As the October 26 release date of Guitar Hero World Tour grows closer, it looks like both Harmonix and Activision are looking for ways to one-up each other. Both games are similar on the surface, but they take different approaches when it comes to releasing content. But the value of Rock Band 2 will be hard to beat, with over 100 songs available in the game alone and most RB1 disc songs and all DLC compatible with the title. The Wal-Mart exclusive release of the AC/DC Live Track Pack carries controversy over its bare-bones content, short song list, and $30/$40 price tag for Wii/PS2 and 360/PS3, but the game also allows for a one-time only export of songs for an additional 18 songs. With Guitar Hero focusing more on their GH Tunes platform, it'll be interesting to see how the sales for both games pan out.

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Scratch: The Ultimate DJ Brings Back The Turntables

The music/rhythm genre will soon be expanding to hip hop this spring when Genius Products, Genco Interactive and 7 Studios launches their new title, Scratch: The Ultimate DJ for the PS3 and Xbox 360. Much like how Rock Band and Guitar Hero gained influences from the original Japan-only Konami titles, GuitarFreaks and DrumMania, Scratch looks similar to Konami's turntable-based Beatmania. Harmonix, Activision, and even the lagging Konami have been sticking to the rock genre, but Scratch will hopefully further improve the formula that Beatmania created.

While Konami's new IP, Rock Revolution is looking very poor against Guitar Hero and Rock Band, Genius, Genco, and 7 Studios looks to really stand out against its predecessors and create a legitimate contender. Beatmania had a steep learning curve and limited library of electronic music, but Scratch will blaze its own path with a large hip hop influence. The developers are collaborating with famous hip hop producer Quincy Jones III and his QD3 Entertainment studio, who produced tracks for Tupac Shakur, LL Cool J, and even the score for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Based on released comments, QD3 sounds dedicated to utilize their experience in the music industry and hip hop to make the experience as authentic as possible. Although no specific names were revealed, the developer promises "original recordings from the catalogs of many top urban artists". The game looks to have a unique cel-shaded look with nightclubs, dancers, and b-boys creating a vibrant atmosphere along with other urban environments. Current titles have done a great job of representing rock music and its style, but Scratch sounds like a great chance to truly bring hip hop culture to life.




The 'Scratch Deck' turntable controller will be created by Numark, manufacturer of a variety of real-life DJ equipment. Based on screenshots, the controller should at least contain the familiar five colored buttons along with the turntable. What sets the gameplay apart from previous music/rhythm games is the ability to alter music tracks in real-time. The game will include the trademark rhythm patterns, but also allows you to "re-imagine songs on the fly and add [your] own creativity". Specifics have not been named, but hopefully it will be more than a simple freestyle section seen in older music/rhythm games. There appears to be some sort of career or story mode, as you choose a DJ personality and rise up from working garages to the biggest nightclubs.

There have been attempts to integrate hip hop culture into video games, but never quite like this. Get On Da Mic poorly attempted to do karaoke while the Def Jam series presented a very solid wrestling/fighter. The continued rise of hip hop music is a great opportunity to show gamers what the genre really has to offer in terms of interactive entertainment. With Activision trademarking 'DJ Hero' earlier this year for a possible new title, let's see if Harmonix or Konami provide any response.

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Rock Band 2 - The New Instruments

Although the original Rock Band game launched less than a year ago, the sequel is going to launch on the Xbox 360 on September 14 with other platforms following before year's end. With Guitar Hero World Tour making their own full band additions to stay in competition, the battle for music/rhythm supremacy is starting to heat up. While both games can boast about their large song lists and new features, perhaps one of the more important improvements to look at are the new instruments. Many prefer the GH guitars over the RB Fender Stratocasters, and GH's new drum set with two elevated stock cymbals are making many gamers turn heads. However, Rock Band's new instruments are more than just a new paint job. With some smart forward-thinking in Harmonix's designs, they may tempt previous RB owners to shy away from the new Guitar Hero instruments and even contemplate getting the new ones.

Images courtesy of GameSpot

The durability of the original drum set was often brought into question, an issue which caused Harmonix and EA to establish a robust customer service program that allowed for fast and easy replacements of defective instruments. The drum pad hit accuracy, low rebound/bounciness, and the sturdiness of the pedal are all problems that have been remedied. Similar to Guitar Hero's new drums, the RB2 set also boasts quieter, bouncier, and velocity-sensitive pads. Not only will the drum sound be less distracting and gameplay be improved, but the game will also detect how hard you are hitting the drum and adjust the sound effects accordingly. This should help for those drummers that would wail on the drums with wreckless abandon. Besides the new color scheme, a cosmetic drum target has been added to each pad to give gamers something to aim at and keep hits in the center. The drum heads use a mix of silicone and plastic to create a drum head that should give more acoustically pleasing feedback and a more satisfying experience. The pedal is also metal-reinforced, which should prevent breaking. It also stays attached and flush with the drum set when lifted up and moved, which should make transportation easier. There are also marked height adjustments on the bars to make it easier for multiple people. The feet also have non-slip pads to prevent shifting while playing. But the most intriguing addition are the new expansion slots that allows up to three cymbals to be remapped from the drum pads. They will also emit an in-game cymbal sound to add to the realism. There will be a premium electric drum set made available from ION, but the new stock set sounds pretty good to me.

Images courtesy of GameSpot

I am one of the few that actually prefer the Rock Band guitars over the original Guitar Hero design, but hopefully these new changes will help convert some of the naysayers. Besides the new sunburst color scheme, the biggest addition is an auto-calibration feature on the guitar. Adjusting lag on HDTVs have been the biggest problem with music/rhythm games, and the Rock Band in-game tool allowed for a lot of human error due to manual adjustments. There is now a photo sensor/mic that can be held up to the TV and automatically calibrate for both audio and visual lag. Besides that, the fret buttons have become much quieter and reportedly make virtually no noise at all. The strum bar has increased response time, less mushiness, and reduced travel distance to detect a strum to combine for a much improved feel. The smaller, elevated fret buttons and metronome-like strum bar on the GH guitar were features that made it hard to go back to after playing the original RB guitar. The tilt sensor has also been improved and allows for a wider freedom of movement. Smaller changes like a stiffer, textured neck, removable headstock, and a screw-less battery door are small touches that make the guitar a more viable option. There will also be high-end third-party guitars made available as well as a larger amount of options.

Perhaps the best news to come from this ridiculous music/rhythm game war is both Sony and Microsoft stepping in to mandate controller/instrument compatibility across rival games. This means that instruments from Konami's Rock Revolution, Activision's Guitar Hero World Tour, and Harmonix's Rock Band 1 and 2 will work without flaw. It is both a surprise and relief that Activision has allowed compatibility in GHWT, but no word yet on patching support for older GH titles. For a more detailed chart, check out Joystiq's Instrument Compatibility Matrix.

With almost universal compatibility across these latest wave of games, frivolous barriers like incompatible controllers are mostly a thing of the past. Add to that additional third-party controller support and offerings, and this allows consumers to pick the instruments that best fit both financially and ergonomically. It's still tough to convince previous Rock Band owners to fork over almost $200 for these new instruments along with the game, but they are really making it tempting. Hopefully we'll see soon how the Guitar Hero bundle will stack up.

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More Rock Band 2 Details Revealed

The new wireless drum controllers will include the standard version (left) and the limited edition Ion drum kit (sold separately).

Harmonix has made Rock Band into a platform rather than a series of games, with current and future instruments as well as all DLC cross-compatible with both games. Boasting over 200 downloadable songs and full albums already available, the steady stream of weekly content will ensure satisfaction for owners of Rock Band 1 and the forthcoming Rock Band 2. News on the temporarily 360 exclusive RB2 has escalated leading up to E3 2008. There have been multiple reports on rumored song lists for RB2, which will include 80+ tracks on the disc alone, all confirmed to be master recordings. Here are the 17 songs officially confirmed so far.

• "Ace of Spades" – Motörhead
• "Everlong" – Foo Fighters
• "Pinball Wizard" – The Who
• "Panic Attack" – Dream Theater
• "Any Way You Want It" – Journey
• "Chop Suey" – System of a Down
• "Kids in America" – The Muffs
• "Give It Away" – Red Hot Chili Peppers
• "Hello There" – Cheap Trick

• "Pump It Up" – Elvis Costello
• "Livin' on a Prayer" – Bon Jovi
• "Rock 'n Me" – Steve Miller Band
• "Bad Reputation" – Joan Jett
• "I Was Wrong" – Social Distortion
• "Testify" – Rage Against the Machine
• "Almost Easy" – Avenged Sevenfold
• "White Wedding Pt. 1" – Billy Idol

Every track on the confirmed list is also present in the rumored song list, which gives it even more credibility. Harmonix seems to have addressed almost every single issue and wish list many consumers had with the first game, including Online World Tour, backwards compatible DLC, and sturdier/better instruments. With so many details on new modes, features, and improved instruments, here's a summary of what has been announced so far.

• New wireless guitar with redesigned color scheme, sturdier strum bar, quieter fret buttons, and built-in calibrator camera.
  
• Real Limited Edition Fender Stratocasters with Rock Band internal parts.
  
• New standard wireless drum set with quiet, bouncy, velocity-sensitive pads, metal-inforced bass pedal, and expansion slots for cymbals.

• Premium Limited Edition $300 Ion drum kit with included cymbals, converts to electronic drum kit.
• Streamlined interface similar to integrated Music Store, new Quickplay mode, custom and auto playlists, a No-Fail mode, simulated instrument tuning, and easier lag-calibration.
• More robust custom character creation mode, pre-fab characters available, and characters can play multiple instruments.
• A fully encompassing World Tour mode, which includes better integrated DLC, solo tour for all instruments and both local and online multiplayer.
  
  
• -- Bands remain consistent, no more band leaders, interchangable characters/players.
• -- Expanded cities/venues that include RB1 areas, more hirable staff.
• -- Tour Challenges mode with progressive difficulty, dynamic DLC tasks, and local/online multiplayer compatible.
  


• Regularly scheduled online Battle of the Bands contests with various modes and detailed stat tracking.
• Detailed Drum Trainer mode that teaches real-life lessons and included freestyle mode with multiple styles available
• Music-only Jukebox Mode set to in-game footage.
• Create and purchase real-life merchandise through the game, includes an in-game photo creator.

With more details set to be revealed at E3 2008 next week, we'll see how the game will stack up against Guitar Hero World Tour. The game is still confirmed for a September 2008 release for the Xbox 360, with PS2, PS3, and Wii releases coming before the end of the year. Retail configurations and prices have yet to be announced, but should be coming soon.

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Rock Band 2 Improves, Refines Formula

Not only will this fall show off a fierce battle with new titles, Rock Revolution and Guitar Hero World Tour, but it looks like Harmonix is throwing their hats into the ring with a new entry in the Rock Band franchise. Not just settling for a sequel with a new song list, a slew of new features, online modes, and improvements have been made to the game as well as “quieter, more realistic, and more reliable instruments.” While GHWT can boast its music studio modes and additional drum cymbal, RB2 is looking to add much more. Although the game won’t make its debut until E3 2008 in a couple of weeks, it already sounds like they have been listening to the fans. The game is slated to release in September on the Xbox 360 for an “exclusive launch window” with other unspecified platforms coming before the end of the year.

Images courtesy of IGN.com

Rock Band 2's new guitar.

One of the biggest issues with the original Rock Band was instrument build and quality. Their robust warranty program alleviated some of the pressure, but it looks as though RB2’s instruments will be much more reliable. These new instruments also seek to “customize the experience” and feature “enhanced functionality and innovative new designs.” It looks like they’re opening things up for other peripheral makers, giving the user the choice of guitar and drum preferences. Given that there will be three band simulation games with three separate sets of instruments coming this fall, at least Harmonix has the consumer in mind with open compatibility. Despite the fact that Activision CEO Robert Kotick erroneously claimed Guitar Hero World Tour to be the first full band experience, their music studio and editor looks very robust and impressive. While Rock Band 2 doesn’t look to include a mode like this on the disc, it is something they want to be fully realized and integrated before featuring it in their game. Harmonix has an interest in user-created content and many of the developers have been involved in various music groups.

There is speculation that this gameplay screenshot depicts Nirvana's "Drain You".

Many of the new features, improvements, and planned songs for Rock Band 2 is being kept under wraps, but they have said that all current and future DLC will be cross-compatible between games. While Activision has shown to abandon previous GH titles with a lack of downloadable content and song compatibility between titles, Harmonix is showing their dedication and taking the next step with “new features that let you play your DLC in different ways.” RB2 Lead Designer Dan Teasdale has called the on-disc setlist as “the best setlist (he’s) ever seen in a music game.” All songs have been confirmed to be master recordings that will span a wide variety of prolific rock acts. There is speculation that the sole released gameplay screenshot is of Nirvana’s “Drain You”. They teased some of the new online modes and features, but didn’t reveal anything solid. Although not officially confirmed, an online Band World Tour mode was hinted at, with some improvements mentioned to random setlists and a deeper touring experience. Other notable mentions include work on improving the singing/guitar combination and ways to help “transition from Expert (difficulty) to real instruments.” Overall, the point was emphasized that there would be “new ways to play your music library.”

Rock Band’s DLC model has been incredibly successful, boasting over 15 million paid downloads. Outside of speculation on Nirvana, there have been reports that Turbonegro, Bad Religion, and AC/DC would also be featured in the sequel. IGN’s interview with Dan Teasdale also revealed a list of bands that may be included on the RB2 disc.

Agent Orange
The Beatles
Built to Spill
The Buzzcocks
Journey
Led Zeppelin
Modest Mouse
Pavement
The Replacements
Tool

Teasdale wouldn’t say which bands are in the game, but there have been rumors that companies like Harmonix, Apple, and Activision have been involved in negotiations about digital releases of The Beatles catalog. The absence of new Weezer song, “Pork and Beans” in the latest DLC three-pack just recently released could also mean its inclusion in Rock Band 2. With other longtime desired groups like Journey and Led Zeppelin in the list of possible included bands, the RB2 setlist may really be one of the best ones yet. Outside of their music editor suite, it looks like Activision is mostly copying ideas for Guitar Hero, With Harmonix, it looks like they may really be providing some innovative ideas. Look for more details around E3 2008 in a couple of weeks.

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Guitar Hero: Metallica vs. Rock Band: Japan

You may have seen the unintentional abundant Guitar Hero coverage here, but I couldn't help mentioning the latest news Activision has managed to stir up. Hot on the heels of Guitar Hero III, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, Guitar Hero: On Tour, and Guitar Hero World Tour, comes Guitar Hero: Metallica. Although not official yet, Wedbush Morgan analyst Edward Woo found this listing in Activision's SEC filings. The release is scheduled to come within their 2009 fiscal year, which means by Q1 '09. Initial impressions of GH: Aerosmith seems to be unimpressed, with many critics calling it GHIII with an Aerosmith flavoring. If GH: Metallica is anything similar, it will most likely turn out to be GHWT with Metallica's likeness and setlist. The band has been losing its relevancy by its hypocritical stance on downloading songs and filesharing since they sued their fans and company Napster for stealing their songs back in 2000. Their later album releases have seen much criticism, with many saying it pales in comparison to their earlier material. And with an entire game expansion planned rather than downloadable songs, this doesn't look to improve the reputation of Guitar Hero or Metallica. There is no word yet on any exclusivity contracts such as the one between Activision and Aerosmith, but Metallica has previously announced their first new single to debut on Rock Band as well as other DLC.

And on a different note, Harmonix and MTV has recently announced the creation of a localized version of Rock Band for Japan. They are teaming up with Japanese music game developer Q Entertainment, who has produced such music/rhythm titles as Lumines and Rez HD. Announced at the 2008 MTV Music Video Awards - Japan, the game will feature "Japanese musical acts as well as other localized assets". With Japan so prominently featuring music/rhythm titles, this is the first time a US music game of this stature will be localized for the Japanese market. Rock Band was recently released in Europe with nine additional localized tracks, currently available on Xbox 360 and other console versions coming this summer. With the additional tracks also made available as DLC in the US, there is speculation on the Japanese songs being made available as DLC as well. Platforms have not been announced yet for Rock Band: Japan, but Xbox 360 and PS3 are the minimum presumed systems. Although the Xbox 360 is not completely compatible with games from other regions, the PS3 is completely region-free. If these tracks don't end up as downloadable songs, then this game may be import-friendly.

Although both Harmonix and Activision have had their fair share of grief surrounding their music/rhythm games, at least Harmonix has the right idea. With a focus on DLC and localized versions, they seem to be about spreading the music and experience. Activision is the complete opposite. I've covered these topics to death, but any opinions on the Great Music Game War? Do you stand with Activision's Guitar Hero, Harmonix's Rock Band, or even Konami's new series, Rock Revolution?

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Guitar Hero Just Doesn't Understand

Activision simply doesn't get it. Since taking over Guitar Hero from original developer Harmonix, they have used the brand as a cash cow with celebrity endorsements, product placements, and sequels galore. While Harmonix has kept things simply about the music with Rock Band's gameplay, formula, and weekly song downloads, Activision is the exact opposite. Any company's bottom line is profit, but you don't see that passion and overall music knowledge Harmonix infused into Guitar Hero and now Rock Band. With most of their staff also acting as part-time musicians and apart of local bands in Boston, you could see why and how they made Guitar Hero so successful. From the atmosphere to the note charts, it just felt genuine.

Since Activision officially took over the series in 2007, they have been taking advantage of their new title with many sequels and spin-offs. After releasing Guitar Hero III, a portable DS version called Guitar Hero: On Tour and another guitar-based expansion for all major consoles entitled Guitar Hero: Aerosmith will see release this summer. Cheap cash-ins such as the small electronic key chain game Guitar Hero Carabiner have also taken advantage of the brand name. And to top it all off, they are basically borrowing Rock Band's proven success and current formula and incorporating the GH name in Guitar Hero World Tour. Don't get me wrong, GHWT looks like a good game in the increasingly crowded music/rhythm genre. But their lack of cooperation to allow instrument compatibility across rival games shows how greedy they are. With the slew of new drum sets on the way, they are determined to force consumers to choose where their loyalties and hard-earned cash lie.


Guitar Hero World Tour's current interface looks very similar to Rock Band.

And Activision is recruiting even more celebrities to their Guitar Hero PR bandwagon. This video from the All Things Digital 6 conference shows Activision CEO Robert Kotick bringing out American Idol judge Paula Abdul and Tony Hawk from their skateboarding franchise to judge and play the game live. The video does show some of the first in-game footage, which looks similar in layout to Rock Band. The host takes a jab at Kotick by mentioning Rock Band, but I can't help but feel like Activision is being disingenuous. With these music games following the same basic premise, you can't really help the similarities that will arise. But their attitude about the subject is what's bothersome. Rather than giving credit to their predecessors or even a sly reference to competition, they instead act like they created this revolutionary new idea to simulate a realistic band experience. While Konami's Rock Revolution looks weaker than Guitar Hero or Rock Band, I can at least respect what they're doing and their somewhat unique approach. It just seems like Guitar Hero is losing its integrity.

However, the bottom line is whether or not the games are fun. If they can make their many spin-offs into enjoyable, worthy experiences, then their business tactics shouldn't matter in the bigger picture. Their release of Call of Duty 4 has earned the game numerous awards and was the top-selling game worldwide in 2007. If all of these Guitar Hero sequels turn out to be great experiences, then that is all that should matter. But it looks like Activision wants gamers to either be broke, litter their living rooms with fake instruments, or choose sides & create divisions within the community much like the console wars.

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Guitar Hero Increases the PR Pressure

With the next iteration of the GH series officially entitled Guitar Hero World Tour, current developers Neversoft and Activision have really been trying to raise the bar to stay in competition with former GH developer Harmonix and MTV/EA’s Rock Band as well as Konami’s new IP, Rock Revolution. Both Guitar Hero III and the forthcoming Guitar Hero: Aerosmith have stuck with the tried-and-true guitar formula that the series is known for, but GHWT is taking notes from Rock Band by including their own drum set, vocals, new guitar controllers, and a music creation system. Some have criticized Activision for their lack of downloadable content and songs compared to Rock Band, as the latter has weekly updates with new songs and full albums. Their failure to add anything new to the series outside of the buggy ‘boss battles’ has also garnered them some criticism. But with Guitar Hero World Tour looking to fix those problems and improve upon Rock Band’s success, there is some accusing Activision of ‘copying’ Harmonix and relying on the GH name and their PR department to win over fans.

With Rock Band containing two extra instruments and more robust modes over Guitar Hero III, it would sound like a no-brainer on who would be more successful. But with GHIII releasing earlier, already having a built-in audience, a lower price point and barrier-to-entry, having less frequent instrument quality issues, and containing more difficult and guitar-focused songs, Guitar Hero has kept a loyal following despite the new development team. With Activision taking the ‘Rock Band route’, some fans are worried that the game will lose its guitar focus in favor of the new drum set. Often a criticism of Rock Band, most songs are usually considered easier on guitar because they chose songs that are fun for all four instruments. But the promised robust song list, all master recordings, and a larger dedication to DLC may appease some of the fears.

Guitar Hero World Tour's music creation mode.

The other recent criticism the game is receiving is its PR-filled trailer with celebrity drummers Travis Barker of +44 and Blink-182, Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Stewart Copeland of The Police talking up the game and its more realistic drum set. While there wasn’t actual footage shown of them playing the game, they were shown comparing the instrument to real drums and using various buzzwords to take silent jabs at Rock Band. Despite the ‘copycat’ tone that arises, the notable improvements made on the drum set can’t be ignored. The raised cymbals, pressure-sensitive pads, and wireless nature look to de-throne Rock Band’s drum experience. The new music creation system looks very promising, offering different drum kit samples, customizable guitar chords, and the pressure-activated pads changing the actual volume of the drum hit.

While Guitar Hero World Tour contains some improved and innovative features, you can’t help but get that “me too” feeling. The game also looks to alienate their audience by going away from their guitar-centric formula and creating a higher price point for the game. But if Harmonix doesn’t provide an answer this Fall with an expansion or sequel, then Guitar Hero might be the new band simulation to beat.

UPDATE: Geekpulp has brought to my attention an unofficial image of the new guitar controller on the official site. While it may not be a final design, it looks to feature a similar layout to Rock Band's Fender Stratocaster controller with five extra frets on the neck of the guitar. The new buttons look to be recessed or touch-sensitive. Actual gameplay integration with the change is still unknown.

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I Think I Notice a Drum Pattern

As I talked about previously, the battle for music game supremacy is starting to get more intense. With Game Informer and MTV Multiplayer getting exclusive shots of the Guitar Hero IV and Rock Revolution drum sets, respectively, I thought I would take a look at something a little interesting.

Rock Band Drum Set - 4 pads, bass pedal

Courtesy of Game Informer
Guitar Hero IV Drum Set - 5 pads, bass pedal

Courtesy of MTV Multiplayer
Rock Revolution Drum Set - 6 pads, bass pedal

Are we going to end up seeing Capcom release Street Fighter Drum Battle, featuring a drum set with 7 pads and a bass pedal?

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The Rock Game Rivalry Heats Up

By the end of 2008, there will be three separate band simulation games out for the consoles, each with their own set of instruments. Along with the currently available Rock Band, Activision’s Guitar Hero IV will feature for the first time in the series additional instruments such as drums and microphone. Both Rock Band and Guitar Hero were inspired by the original music/rhythm games developed by Konami and Bemani. Known for popular series like Dance Dance Revolution and Karaoke Revolution in the US, Konami has developed a slew of popular Japanese music games like the RB/GH predecessors, GuitarFreaks and DrumMania. Using their music game experience, Konami is developing Rock Revolution, a new band simulation that will feature guitar/bass and a focus on drums.


After the release of Guitar Hero II and Guitar Hero Rocks the 80s, series publisher Red Octane and developer Harmonix split ways after being purchased by Activision and MTV Networks, respectively. While Activision proceeded with GHIII, Harmonix moved on to their bigger project, Rock Band. Featuring guitar, bass, drums, and vocals, the game has set the bar for innovation in music/rhythm games. The PS3/360 version has the full feature set, while the PS2/Wii versions have created controversy with a more limited set of options. The lack of DLC, online play, and the career mode has caused a stir among gamers, as well as the price tag for the game and bundle in Europe. But with weekly downloadable content, online game modes, and a robust Band World Tour career mode, Rock Band has risen in popularity despite being a new IP, having a larger price tag and instrument quality issues.

Courtesy of Game Informer

Guitar Hero IV’s drum set will feature two cymbal pads, two toms, a snare, and a bass pedal.

Guitar Hero III was praised for its more guitar-centric songs and gameplay, but the lack of more DLC and true innovation to the series remained large criticisms. While Activision is delivering the guitar-focused Guitar Hero Aerosmith this summer, Guitar Hero IV is set to come at the end of this year and features the same instrument set as Rock Band. The game has been announced for the PS2, PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360. The new drum controller will feature two cymbal pads, two toms, a snare, and a bass pedal, as compared to Rock Band’s snare, hi-hat, tom-tom, crash cymbal and bass pedal. There will also be a new guitar controller that will take advantage of a new gameplay mechanic that has yet to be announced. Along with a career mode and create-a-character feature, GHIV will introduce all new custom songs modes. Entitled “Jam Over” and “Advanced Studio”, each will allow the creation of either a custom remix of existing tracks or an all-new custom creation. They will be allowed to upload them to their GH Tunes service for sharing. With a more robust on-disc set list and all tracks set to be master recordings, Activision looks to provide a true alternative to Rock Band.

Rock Revolution's drum user interface.

While Konami has mostly been sitting on the sidelines since Guitar Hero and Rock Band brought the music/rhythm genre into the mainstream, they look to retake their title with Rock Revolution. Recently announced at their Konami Gamer’s Night 2008, the game has been confirmed for release on the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, and Nintendo DS. While full details aren’t known, the Rock Revolution is set to include 40 songs on-disc, future DLC, a “Jam Session” recording mode, robust online modes, a new six-pad drum set with pedal. Nintendo’s systems will receive exclusive features with the Wii’s “air guitar” option with the Wiimote and nunchuck and the DS’s “vocalist” mode using the built-in microphone.

Being a big fan of music/rhythm games way before GH and the advent of instrument peripherals, I’m really glad to see the genre grow and have more games developed for it. While Japan has seen many successful music games such as Beatmania, Keyboardmania, and ParaParaParadise, the genre has only recently exploded in the US with the popularity of Guitar Hero. With these three new band simulation games competing this year, it’s great to see each developer innovate and provide new gameplay experiences. Seeing the GH franchise live on with new developer Activision, original GH developer Harmonix setting the standard for US music games, and music/rhythm pioneer Konami brings their experience into a new IP, it really sounds like a great time to be a fan.

With the continuing rivalry between Activision and Harmonix providing continuing guitar compatibility issues between RB and GH, these new expansions do not bode well for future instrument compatibility across the franchises, let alone cross-platform. No official word has been made on the subject, but these petty squabbles are only hurting the consumer. Each series will have their own distinct drum set, which makes it difficult to imagine them being compatible across the multiple games. The only conceivable instrument without any issues would be the USB microphone, but the other proprietary peripherals will force consumers to choose sides or clutter their living room with fake, plastic instruments. Seeing as they are simply controllers, it’s ridiculous to limit their options instead of allowing them to choose. Unless Harmonix, Activision, and Konami work together and fix this problem, then this will only hurt the genre instead of cultivating it.

UPDATE: I actually misstated that Rock Revolution would contain a vocal mode, and it is seemingly only included as a special DS feature. More details as they come.

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Beats Brings Music/Rhythm to the PSP

With the continuing rise in popularity of such games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band, the music/rhythm genre has seen an increase in popularity as well. Formerly a niche game type, the Guitar Hero series brought the genre to the forefront of gaming and showed gamers how fun it can be to interact and play along with the music. Although not peripheral-based, Beats for the Sony PSP brings classic music/rhythm gameplay to the handheld with a new spin and some nice features. Released exclusively on the PlayStation Store for PC and priced at only $4.99, it’s hard to beat that kind of deal.


The core gameplay mechanic consists of scrolling X, Circle, Square and Triangle icons coming from the left, right, and top of the screen. As they cross the left, right, and middle circles in the center of the screen, you must push the corresponding direction and the indicated button on the icon in time with the beat. The game awards accurate button presses and long chains of consecutive beats with more points and score multipliers. When glowing beats are timed correctly, it builds up the Overdrive Meter, which can double the score multiplier when filled completely. However, the beats will go in diagonal and odd patterns instead of going straight to the corresponding circle when Overdrive is unleashed. With more beats added as the difficulty rises, this risk/reward system adds a layer of strategy to the game. With no actual life bar as in other games, you can only score poorly in a song rather than actually failing. The game keeps track of your top 20 scores in each difficulty level, so it gives some motivation to top your best score or try out a new song that can potentially give a higher point total.


One of the best points of the game and the primary mode of Beats is My Music Challenge. It translates most of your mp3s on your memory stick and allows you to play them at multiple difficulty levels. While I had very few problems with most of my mp3s, there was a handful that couldn’t translate into the game for some reason or another. The game cannot read any other music type, so you will have to convert your music files to mp3 in order to play them. The beat detection is surprisingly solid and accurate, no matter what genre of music is playing. While songs with a typical 4/4 beat and rhythm fare better than more complicated or irregular songs, most still feel right and remain relatively on the beat. If you don’t have much digital music on your memory stick, then the game comes with tracks but offers little variety when it comes to genres. Most are more electronic than anything else, but it fits well with the gameplay. With multiple themes and visualizations available, it adds some diversity when playing.


The other gameplay mode is called Jamming and allows you to remix the pre-loaded tracks in the game by creating your own mix of drums, synth, vocals, bass, and so on. You can record your tracks and play them in Challenge mode or even share them online with others. However, the online portion is poorly implemented with no way of communicating with others or if others have downloaded or shared your mix. And with a very limited virtual manual, there’s very little explanation. While this game mode is fun, the bulk of the game is in My Music Challenge.

At only $5, you get a lot of game for such a low price. They could have done a lot more with a full UMD release, but this provides a lot of fun for experimenting with different songs and creating new mixes. This isn’t quite a system seller, but it’s a fun distraction for anyone who owns a PSP.

System: PSP
Developer: SCEE London
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Genre: Music
Number of Players: 1-4
Release Date:
US: December 6, 2007
Europe: November 20, 2007
MSRP: $4.99

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