games  anime  |  toys
Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 


Harmonix, EA, MTV drop Rock Band; e-heroin addiction not included photo

Remember the other day when I told you that MTV, EA, and Harmonix were collaborating on something huge? Well, they just announced it; Rock Band is coming and it's going to rock you not unlike a hurricane.

USA Today has a story about the announcement, and the details made me as giddy as a groupie meeting The Nuge circa 1977. Apparently Harmonix wants to greatly expand the premise presented by its Guitar Hero series by allowing four people to form a band in person, or online to melt faces with fists full of awesome.

Other than that nugget, the details are somewhat scarce, but based on the article, we're envisioning a foursome of players all over the world keeping rhythm with various simulacra of traditional instruments. Picture this: you're shredding away in your bedroom in Seattle, your cousin is keeping time on a faux-drum set in LA, a forty year old ex-GnR roadie is laying down a heavy bassline in Baltimore and a waifish Canadian teenybopper is belting out Copkiller. If they include a bonus game where Tipper Gore calls you a "plague on society", I'll buy unicorns for the entire development team.

(Editor's Note: I almost forgot, Rock Band will be coming to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 around the holiday season, assuming none of the devs OD. -- Nex) 


Continue: More Rock Band stories





prev next

21 comments | showing # 1 to 21

wardrox's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 06:25
wardrox
How can you keep in time with somebody 4,000 miles away? Surly the lag would make it impossable?
DeusPayne's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 06:55
DeusPayne
What lag? There's practically no data being sent. Seriously, each package during gameplay can probably be reduced to a few booleans and integers, and then all scoring, timing, and calculations can be done locally.
Kerri's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 07:30
Kerri
Please, Please don't be an April fool
king3vbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 07:42
king3vbo
this is gonna be impossible to pull off, its gonna take like 300 dollars in accessories if you want a full set
TheBrain's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 07:47
TheBrain
Pretty ambitious. I'll stay wary for the moment.
thisissami's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 07:58
thisissami
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=23941

:D

here's what it says for you lazy people:

Sony, EMI, Warner and Universal sign up

Electronic Arts has officially announced new PS3 and Xbox 360 title Rock Band, revealing that several key music publishers have already agreed to supply tracks for the game.

News of the title emerged earlier this morning, when it was reported that Rock Band is being developed with Harmonix and MTV and will use four instrument-themed controllers.

Now Electronic Arts has released an official statement confirming that "unprecedented deals" with record labels have already been signed. As a result, the game is set to feature "master recordings from the biggest songs and artists of all time", spanning "all genres of rock".

Several major music publishers will offer access to their track catalogues, including EMI Music Publishing and Warner/Chappell. Along with EMI Music and Warner Music Group's Rhino Entertainment, labels which have agreed to supply songs include Hollywood Records and Sony BMG plus Universal Music Enterprises.

"Our vision for Rock Band is to completely change the way people interact with and enjoy the music they love," said MTV executive Jeff Yapp.

"By joining forces with EA and the music industry’s largest record labels and publishers, we are striving to create a groundbreaking new platform that allows people to connect with their favorite music and artists in ways they never have before."

Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos commented, "Harmonix was founded to create new ways for everyone to experience the pleasure and satisfaction that comes from playing music. Our work on Guitar Hero was an instrumental step toward that goal.

"But Rock Band is Harmonix’s most ambitious project to date, and it will take music gameplay to an entirely new level. MTV has given us the freedom and the resources to really swing for the fences and make the game we’ve always wanted to make."

Rock Band is due out on PS3 and Xbox 360 this Christmas.
darkslide's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 08:00
darkslide
What? No Wii?
thisissami's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 08:01
thisissami
and here's another article from Game Industry.biz

New game to work with four instrument-based controllers

Electronic Arts has signed a deal with MTV and Harmonix, the developer behind Guitar Hero, to produce a new game titled Rock Band.

According to USA Today, the game will mix rhythm action gameplay with karaoke, and is due for a release on PS3 and Xbox 360 this Christmas.

Rock Band will work with four instrument-based controllers - lead and bass guitars, a drum kit and microphone. Online features will include the option to form bands with gamers in other countries.

Players will also be able to buy songs online, and tracks used in the game will be performed by the original artists rather than cover bands.

An official announcement is expected from EA later this morning.






the difference between this article and destructoids being that the instruments are specified here to be Bass, Guitar, Drums, and vocals.

i'm gonna go play guitar hero II now. still have 14 songs in Hard to get 5 stars on! then onto expert! woohoo!
inque's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 08:11
inque
I was going to say the same thing darkslide 8(
ZeeJayTL's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 08:21
ZeeJayTL
a microphone?.?.?.?.?.?.?.?

...

meh I say.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 08:48
Mxyzptlk
Choking to death on your own vomit sold separately.
xtofuconsumerx's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 08:51
xtofuconsumerx
No Wii EXACTLY. My wii is a dust collector. I am excited to see a company try and innovate things. We need more things like this to come out. Even if you do not like the idea or do not want to fork over the cash I think the main thing is realizing the risk this company is taking and applaud them for doing so, otherwise we will just get another fps that has some new cover system.
BahamutZero's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 08:58
BahamutZero
this sounds lag-tastic. htf is everyone going to stay in sync
epoch's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 09:35
epoch
vocals is friggin lame, they should of gone with keyboard
Danzuke's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 09:39
Danzuke
keyboards aren't lame?
wardrox's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 09:53
wardrox
The lag isnt caused by the amount of data being sent, its caused by the speed of light, the actually time it takes the signal to get across. Although its true you can't stop the signal, it can get laggy, though, it may not be noticable. I guess we will ahve to wait and see. Though I echo the "What, no wii?"
disrupto's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 10:29
disrupto
I'm not surprised that there's no Wii, considering how important the online multiplayer is.
imcowman's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 10:36
imcowman
yarr, now I HAVE to buy a 360. don't they realize how easy to is to create something 'wireless' for the Wii? Just plug it into the remote, even have a place for the remote to clip into the instrument!

but it is interesting to find out how they get guitars working on the PS3.....will they work with GH1 and 2? finally?
Necros's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 11:07
Necros
I could easily see myself paying $200 for this. No more than that, though. And those would have to be amazing accessories.
ZeeJayTL's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 11:24
ZeeJayTL
[quote]Danzuke says:
04/02/2007 09:39
keyboards aren't lame? [/quote]

Rainbow in the Dark FTW
Cory_t_'s Avatar - Comment posted on 04/02/2007 12:09
Cory_t_
I can see the drums being ultra ghay! They better not be like the DK bongo's... i want a five piece set!
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 
New on Destructoid.TV play all videos

Loading
Loading Destructoid Videos


    Win this!
    Dive in! meetup+play for a chance to win a PC

    Dtoid Twitter    Got news?   tips@destructoid.com

    Reviews & Previews
    Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles review
    Left 4 Dead 2 review
    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex review
    Arkedo Series - 02 SWAP! review
    EyePet review
    more reviews
    Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks
    Monster Hunter Tri
    Hooking onto, under and above Just Cause 2
    PS3's 256-player MAG
    Rooms The Main Building
    more previews


    - The Dtoid Army is 50709 strong -

    Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

    Call for entries: do the wrong thing

    New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide




     Originals
    Jim Sterling: Think L4D2 is an expansion? You're a f*cking idiot





















    More Destructoid Originals




     Popular now more






















    Team Destructoid   tips@destructoid.com
    Nick Chester
    Editor-in-Chief
    Niero
    Founder, publisher
    Jim Sterling
    Reviews Editor
    Hamza Aziz
    Community Manager
    Dale North
    News Editor
    Rey Gutierrez
    Video editor & director
    Anthony Burch
    Features Editor
    Colette Bennett
    Tom Fronczak Brad Nicholson
    Ashley Davis Ben Perlee
    Conrad
    Zimmerman
    Chad Concelmo
    Jonathan Holmes Jonathan Ross
    Brad Rice Jordan Devore
    Will Maddock Matthew Razak
    Dyson Joseph Leray
    Topher Cantler Samit Sarkar
         
      Dexter
    Adam Dork
    Daniel Lingen
    Hollie Bennett
    Joe Burling
    Mikey
    Stella Wong

    Josh Tolentino




     

     
      get involved

    register or login
    post a blog
    post a forum
    enter a contest
    contribute a news tip
    suggest a feature
    be a guest editor
    support

    new member's guide
    login assistance
    tech support
    report abuse
    email our editors
    read our dev blog
    nuclear crisis?
    keep in touch

    RSS feed
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Myspace
    Flickr
    Game nights
    Meetup+play online
    seriously

    about Destructoid
    advertising
    terms of use
    privacy policy
    jobs at MM
    buy our crap
    our network

    Tomopop
    Japanator
    Despingation?




    Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
    living the dream since March 16, 2006