The poor PlayStation Portable. It just can't catch a break -- well other than that redesign everyone is buzzing about. It's like the little engine that could, but it can't quite make it to the top of that hill, even when it's so close.
Well someone just added another cart to the load the PSP is carrying. Rock Band Unplugged, a game that will move units without a doubt, has leaked on the net. Reports say it's the full thing and there is an option for downloadable music, though it isn't active yet obviously.
The game is available at all the normal haunts that leaked games show up at, and Destructoid urges you not to download it at all. You can watch the leaked video of the game below, realize you want the game and then go out and download the damn thing for money when it gets released. Harmonix needs the support people, not a game that won't sell because everyone already downloaded it.
Coming out on the side of the developer sounds pretty lame, but what has Harmonix ever done to you? Oh, that's right they've delivered continuously great music games that push the boundaries of their own great design with every iteration. Those assholes.
Matthew Razak is Destructoid's Associate editor and co-founder of film site Flixist. He began as community member "cowzilla" and was since sequestered to write brainy features material. He lives in Los Angeles with his beautiful wife.
Likes
Games! Movies! Hats!
Meet the rest of the team
As much as I'm excited for an Amplitude playstyle-like game, I think I'm looking more forward to when its' temporarily exclusive songs become console DLC.
I already have mine preordered, so I had no qualms about trying it out before hand. Fortunately, it's absolutely awesome, I've been hooked all night. I'm disappointed in the once-again dry character creation, but the Frequency-style play is frantic and adds a whole different level to the game. It's really top-notch, and much more difficult than one would expect.
Tbh, i think i could justify downloading this by the fact that my Rock Band 1 drums died around 2 months after i got them, from normal fucking use. And, since the drum pad had cracked (which wasnt the problem), its unlikely id get a replacement because impact damage voids the warranty. THEYRE FUCKING DRUMS!
And notice i specified Rock Band ONE drums? Yeah, im from New Zealand, we dont have Rock Band 2 nor any sign of it. It took nearly a year to get the first god damn game.
So I figure Harmonix owes me. Except I dont want it, because ill just go play Rock Band. But not on drums.
Harmonix and their Guitar Hero franchise? It belongs to Activision, and they can afford to lose a few bucks. Why the hell not...
As cut-throat and competitive as the gaming industry has become over the years, something like this can really break even large corporations. Do people really want to see monopolies? Competition breeds better products.
Thats exactly what I was about to say. I mean, if the game is leaked that means it pretty much done. Why not just release it now and get your money from it earlier. This is one of the reasons why I hate street dates and find them unnecessary.
[quote]Too bad most pirates are just going to ignore your post and download it anyway.
It's just how it works nowadays.[/quote]
I totally agree. What's the point of this article?
People who regulary download pirated games wont even bother reading, since they already got it from the trackers when it was released there, but the ones who don't download regulary will now be informed that they can download it for free.
Ironicly, but this article helped piracy.
Though I wonder if Rock Band Unplugged sells well if Activision will get on the wagon and make a Guiat Hero for PSP.
GH was on the Kollers "wishlist", i think it's possible. At least I hope.
>Coming out on the side of the developer sounds pretty lame, but what has Harmonix ever done to you?
I live in the UK. I don't even need to answer that one.
Hmm, I have heard strange rumors recently about a so-called "UMD" drive on my PSP. It's supposed to be located on the back of the machine somewhere, but I've yet to find it. What's a UMD disc anyway? Does it even exist?
@ brainderailment
How would a UMD-less PSP help fight piracy? I mean, there is no UMD for this game is what copied from, right? I have heard that it would fight piracy too but never understood how.
yeah support harmonix, or they won't be able to give out $300,000,000 in bonuses to Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy again this year! well done guys, the world wouldn't be the same if you hadn't replaced the beatmania plastic turntable with a plastic guitar. THAT is innovation folks, and it deserves your cash.
i say release fake leaks that will mess psps up for good. when peoples psps are dead and gone then people will learn. they werent planning on buying games anyway so whatever. dl from store only.
I'm currently trying to download it (and failing), but only because I want to play it now. I'll be there day one, purchasing a legit copy for my collection. Even with custom firmware, I've never felt the need to pirate games I don't intend to buy.
Chaoticwolf: Sony installed a failsafe in the PSP so that you can reflash it whenever you want. And no, before you say it, there is no way they could write over that protected area of the NAND because it can only be accessed when the PSP is booted in Recovery Mode, which as well is only possible via hardware. Sony shot themselves in the foot by making a recovery mode that's so easily accessible with just sending nothing but garbage data (00's) to the PSP via the battery memory on startup.
In short, you don't know anything about the piracy scene, I live in it, and perhaps you should look up some facts next time before making baseless assumptions.
Maybe the future of games is in having games be free but just charge more for DLC... something like rb/gh would still make money. I think they're making more on dlc for these games anyway. Maybe just have a gimped game (5-10 songs a la demo) for free with the rest DLC. I haven't seen/heard of any DLC pirating... yet.
Then again we don't need EA with this kind of charging power. like GameInformer's "GameInfarcer" Madden with DLC EVERYTHING anyone?
How are we giving money to Harmonix. We're giving money to Electronic Arts. They're the ones publishing the game, not Harmonix. Shouldn't Harmonix already have their money?
And on a side note, Harmonix and Activision get interchanged when you guys talk Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Activision doesn't make Guitar Hero, and never has. But I guess thats good for Neversoft, as people aren't complaining about how bad they have Neversoft, its how bad they hate Activision.
"They're the ones publishing the game, not Harmonix. Shouldn't Harmonix already have their money?"
Yeah sure :) Do you really expect EA to give all the money upfront? Harmonix get part of the sum when they start work on the game, and rest depending on the the game sales.
And even if EA would give whole sum to Harmonix upfront, and game has poor sales, do you think they would give them chance to make another one?
@sonic wow bro i didnt know but thanks for coming at me like that obviously i dont "live" it as you do but wtf im pretty sure before they weren't expecting this so your just gonna sit back and blame them? if you continually keep running into bad files eventually you will get tired of fixing your psp i hope imagine constantly waiting for downloads and its bugged.
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!
Contest:
1:00 AM on 05.17.2009
| 
Solid looking setlist though.
I would never steal something from Harmonix anyways. Hell, I wouldn't pirate from anyone in this economy, too many people have lost their job already.
It's just how it works nowadays.
Though I wonder if Rock Band Unplugged sells well if Activision will get on the wagon and make a Guiat Hero for PSP.
That would be awesome.
I've always like Guitar Hero over Rock Band, just saying
And I don't see how a Guitar Hero on PSP could be different from this...
My main reason for saying that is because Guitar Hero Copied Rock band for World Tour to help profit.
So if ti sees there's a market for portable music games such as this whats stopping them from doing it besides piracy of course.
But yeah it probably would be much different besides probably following each one instrument and not all at one time.
But then again Rock Band ang Guitar Hero are basically the same game sorta kinda.
And notice i specified Rock Band ONE drums? Yeah, im from New Zealand, we dont have Rock Band 2 nor any sign of it. It took nearly a year to get the first god damn game.
So I figure Harmonix owes me. Except I dont want it, because ill just go play Rock Band. But not on drums.
:P
PS, had I owned a PSP, I woulda bought it anyway.
Harmonix and their Guitar Hero franchise? It belongs to Activision, and they can afford to lose a few bucks. Why the hell not...
As cut-throat and competitive as the gaming industry has become over the years, something like this can really break even large corporations. Do people really want to see monopolies? Competition breeds better products.
Thats exactly what I was about to say. I mean, if the game is leaked that means it pretty much done. Why not just release it now and get your money from it earlier. This is one of the reasons why I hate street dates and find them unnecessary.
At last the psp seems in this path. Nintendo DS is fucked, while flashcards do what the people want.
It's just how it works nowadays.[/quote]
I totally agree. What's the point of this article?
People who regulary download pirated games wont even bother reading, since they already got it from the trackers when it was released there, but the ones who don't download regulary will now be informed that they can download it for free.
Ironicly, but this article helped piracy.
GH was on the Kollers "wishlist", i think it's possible. At least I hope.
I live in the UK. I don't even need to answer that one.
How would a UMD-less PSP help fight piracy? I mean, there is no UMD for this game is what copied from, right? I have heard that it would fight piracy too but never understood how.
@ atastysammich: Ha ha, I thought the same thing.
yeah support harmonix, or they won't be able to give out $300,000,000 in bonuses to Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy again this year! well done guys, the world wouldn't be the same if you hadn't replaced the beatmania plastic turntable with a plastic guitar. THAT is innovation folks, and it deserves your cash.
Btw, guitar hero I and II were harmonix games, then activision bought the franchise.
In short, you don't know anything about the piracy scene, I live in it, and perhaps you should look up some facts next time before making baseless assumptions.
I only wish the vast majority of Pirates were like you.
Then again we don't need EA with this kind of charging power. like GameInformer's "GameInfarcer" Madden with DLC EVERYTHING anyone?
And on a side note, Harmonix and Activision get interchanged when you guys talk Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Activision doesn't make Guitar Hero, and never has. But I guess thats good for Neversoft, as people aren't complaining about how bad they have Neversoft, its how bad they hate Activision.
Yeah sure :) Do you really expect EA to give all the money upfront? Harmonix get part of the sum when they start work on the game, and rest depending on the the game sales.
And even if EA would give whole sum to Harmonix upfront, and game has poor sales, do you think they would give them chance to make another one?