Despite potential for a never-ending torrent of downloadable content keeping it alive for years, a sequel to last year's Rock Band was invevitable. Harmonix or MTV Games have yet to confirm its existence, but these two scans of the game's potential cover art do a decent job for them.
Obtained by Joystiq from a reader who was part of a Listen Research survey, the cover art was presented to participants who were asked to choose which one best fit with the game's description. From the survey:
"Rock Band 2 lets you and your friends play as a virtual 4-person band, in person or online, to rock out to some of the biggest rock anthems from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s. Rock Band 2 will be a full featured sequel, similar to full featured sequels you see released by other big video game franchises, such as Need for Speed, Devil May Cry, Final Fantasy, Call of Duty, or Halo. In the music/rhythm genre, it is similar to the feature jumps made from Guitar Hero I to Guitar Hero II or Guitar Hero II to Guitar Hero III."
OK, so it's a sequel ... to Rock Band. Alright then. Sounds good. The question remains, of course, what would you like Harmonix/MTV Games to deliver in a sequel to a game which, at its core, is already spot on? Now that you've seen what Activision will be delivering with their next Guitar Hero (full band, music creator, buffed up "career" mode), are there any features you're just dying to see come to Rock Band?
Contest:
3:05 PM on 06.05.2008
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I called it
Usable old DLC obviously. I've invested in a lot of songs and would like them to be playable again.
I'm sure they will enhance the graphics a bit more.
More options, more songs, ability to use any instrument with a character, ability to make use the custom characters even with less than 4 members.
No more peripherals. Definitely no more peripherals.
I'm completely fucking serious. I want a keytar.
For example, in my game I created my band under my girlfriend's profile because she was going to be the singer in general. But if someone else wants to sing they have to do so under her profile because she is considered the band leader. And if she wants to play drums or something it has to be under someone else's profile. It's just unnecessarily cumbersome. Also, because my girlfriend's profile isn't an Xbox Live profile our stats don't get uploaded and we don't show up online while playing.
Seeing how involved the World Tour is it's just not practical to have multiple bands either. We ended up never moving forward through World Tour because it was such a hassle, we'd just play Quick Play.
Also, if they could make the beginning band set-up easier and more streamlined that would be cool. That always seemed like the most frustrating part especially when you're playing with people who've never really played. Some pre-made characters to select from would be nice too instead of the forced randomizer.
The more convenient the better.
@Char: Agreed. I have socks and rubber bands tied around my drum pads so drum rolls(hard and expert mode) will register, and I have the "pedal metal" on my bass pedal so it won't snap. Also, Guitar hero guitars are much more effiecent for me on expert than RB's fender could ever hope to be.
*Awaits Harmonix fanboys telling everyone to shut-up*
I think they just need to put something against GH so RB doesn't stay as the older game.
@F Whipple
I was wondering when someone would say that :)
whoever said that can choke on it. if i have to buy new instruments, i'm giving up rhythm gaming forever.
Also, my big Rock Band vs Guitar Hero view has always been that Guitar Hero songs were more fun to play. If Rock Bank can nail the song list, that'd be great. Oh, and guitar Hero (except for 80's had tons of songs you could unlock, at no additional charge!
The ability to customize NPC band members, so you don't have a metal-ass looking band of players being fronted by a random NPC vocalist that looks like a lumberjack or some shit. It would be nice in solo career as well, my goth-chick guitarist had to play beside a southern-rock bassist and the 70s psychedellia singer for most of the expert career.
More incorporation of DLC in WBT; maybe include random setlists by genre, so you might have a 'random glam' set and get either the on-the-disc glam songs, and/or your DLC Bowie/whatever. So the random sets might have more coheasion. Maybe have DLC packs insert themed gigs or venues, especially with full-album DLC. Something like that.
Other than that, 'moar win' and polish would be welcome, inter-opperable periphials and DLC... Uh, more options in char creation/customization because more is always welcome. Support for having one player model on stage doing both guitar/bass and vocals, as well as the already mentioned 'have one character be able to sit behind the drums and play the guitar'.
World Tour: make it online, let me customize my (or select pre-made) band mates, get a system that works for the band leader. Also, I don't wanna play Nirvana 18 goddamn times in a row.
DLC: make it work with what I already have.
Other than that, just the usual: new songs, venues, clothing, etc.
And if they prove they have improved their instruments, why not another guitar? I have self fixed my guitar like 3 times already.
Now where is my Rock Band fanboy t-shirt?
And yes, awesomer is a legit word, has been for years.
I want a double kick peddal
I want songs with balls (not typing list again)
I want a guitar that doesn't feel like im strumming a fucking SPONGE
And I don't know, the Create-A-Track is a good idea, but I would also like to be able to add songs from my library because the ones that they are going to pick are inevitably going to suck.
Rock band instruments that work as synthesizers when connected to computers/amps/mixers
Songs: I highly suggest they push heavilly to get a lot of more classic songs. Be it some beatles, or some of the greatly known songs on classic rock stations. I also suggest they also try to get bands that, for creative decision, have remained apprehensive to be in globally consumer view. Pearl Jam "Ten" Album, i'm lookin at you.
Aside from that, enhanced game overall from the previous version. Perhaps additional clothing for the characters to come free with select downloads. Perhaps saying that after you download x amount of songs from said band, you get band specific apparel to wear.
Rock Band Backwards Compatability. If Rock Band 2 does not support Rock Band tracks, even if just the downloaded tracks - I highly doubt I will buy Rock Band 2. I do not want to swap discs just so I can play the songs I previously got. Guitar Hero would be immensely better if I could play all the previous songs I got by buying the game, and I believe that Rock Band is no exception to this. This would make Rock Band 2 an immediate success in my eyes.
@Nick Chester: I think the main reason why people want other instruments (other than they want to rock out virtually on their favorite instrument) is that a new peripheral would make Rock Band 2 a true sequel. Otherwise, if it's the exact same peripherals, gameplay, options, and more songs, why does it warrant a sequel, instead of simply making more DLC?
Why are the songs they pick going to suck? More often than not the songs they've released are at least tolerable, and they have to appeal to each owners' tastes at least once in a while to hold up the interest their fanbase.
- Better character creation
- Bass Career Mode
- DLC from RB would hopefully transfer over to RB2
- Online Band World Tour
- Primus, Protest the Hero, Between the Buried and Me
- Also, cocks.