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Tons of new Rock Band deets; Nex thoroughly approves
Nex06.14.08 - 10:01 PM 55 comments

Tons of new Rock Band deets; Nex thoroughly approves screenshot

DToid reader Jordan sent in a tip linking to a post on the NeoGAF forums which contains scads of new details on the upcoming mega rhythm game Rock Band. The info was gleaned from the latest issue of Game Informer magazine, and based on what they reveal, we can only assume the boys at Game Informer give fantastic head!

You can find a full list of the details after the jump, but I'd like to share with you a few choice pieces that almost made me forget about the oncoming trainwreck that is Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s

Will feature full support for four player online play on both 360 and PS3. Any combination of on/offline play will work and each player can pick their own difficulty setting.

Thank god! Insectuality (my virtual side gig) just wouldn't be the same if I had to pick up some mouth breather from Texas to play bass.

4 songs announced in the article, not sure if this is new or old but whatever.
Weezer - Say It Ain't So - Original Master Track
Black Sabbath - Paranoid - Original Master Track
The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again - Original Master Track
Nirvana - In Bloom - Original Master Track

Admittedly, half of these are recycled from earlier Harmonix titles, but, at this point, we're just thankful they aren't tossing Krokus in there.

Singing is now more in depth. There is a phoneme detector that will pick up individual vowels and consonants you say. Build up enough highly judged phrases and you'll be able to sing free-form. If you do well enough in free-form, then you'll trigger the vocalist's version of star power.

Does this mean we have to accurately follow along with Kurt's mumbling, or can we improvise and, y'know, pronounce the damn words like we aren't all hopped up on H?

Hit the jump for a full rundown on how awesome this title is going to be. 

Originally posted by Sallokin on the NeoGAF forums (information taken from latest issue of Game Informer):

- One disk with 4 separate campaigns. Guitar, Drum, Bass and Vocal. Each can be played on its own from start to finish, in addition, a full band game is designed to allow for one huge co-op playthrough.

- Will feature full support for four player online play on both 360 and PS3. Any combination of on/offline play will work and each player can pick their own difficulty setting.

- Flexible community system will allow you to find bandmates anywhere in the world

- There will be a way for you to share your band's triumphs with the world, but the details are still under wraps.

- Musical fret-boards are now transparent so you can see more of the background visuals. Guitar is on the left side of the screen, Bass on the right and drums down the middle. Vocals scroll from right to left along the top of the screen.

- Guitars and Bass now have 10 frets. 5 for the regular sections of the game and 5 for the newly designated solo sections.

- Whammy bar is back as is the tilt to activate rock band's version of star power

- there is a five way switch on the guitar that allows for 5 different self-applied effects to the sound.

- Singing is now more in depth. There is a phoneme detector that will pick up individual vowels and consonants you say. Build up enough highly judged phrases and you'll be able to sing free-form. If you do well enough in free-form, then you'll trigger the vocalist's version of star power.

- Microphone doubles as a tambourine on many songs to combat super long guitar solos where the singer doesn't have much to do.

- Drums are apparently insane. You use actual sticks and hit one of four colored pads in front of you, in addition to a kick pedal attached to the drumming unit. Drummers will also have the ability to do fills etc. in their own little free-form section, do well and you'll trigger the drummers version of star power.

- If one person fails, the whole band does not fail, their section simply turns gray and they have to sit out the rest of the song unless one your band mates initiates star power, which will bring you back into the fold.

- If all bandmates can reach the end of a song, you'll be greeted with one huge free-form jam session.

- There will be a character creation system, and you can create multiple avatars that play different instruments.

- Four themed clothing stores in addition to licensed guitars and pedals and other rock paraphernalia.

- A full set of mo-cap stage movements have been added for each instrument. You can decide whether your vocalist moves like Axel Rose, or stands his ground like Clapton.

- 40 performance venues planned

- All peripherals will be unique to each platform. This isn't the developer's decision. Apparently MS peripherals require special circuit boards.

- You'll be able to craft your own band logo

- The HUD in the screens isn't final but is a good indication of what you can expect

- 4 songs announced in the article, not sure if this is new or old but whatever.
Weezer - Say It Ain't So - Original Master Track
Black Sabbath - Paranoid - Original Master Track
The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again - Original Master Track
Nirvana - In Bloom - Original Master Track

INSTRUMENT DESCRIPTIONS

Sorry I can't post photos so my descriptions will have to suffice

Guitars/Bass

Guitars are an exact 3/4 replica of a Fender Strat.

Xplorer guitars will work for 360 owners, but you may not be able to pass on all the new stuff this model has.

Five familiar buttons near the top of the neck, five buttons near the body of the guitar. You will use these new buttons during specially designed solo sections using ONLY hammer ons and pull offs, no having to worry about your strum bar. Signature Fender 5-way switch has been added. By shopping at the in game store you'll be able to purchase several virtual effects pedals such as Flange, Wah, Chorus and Echo. These can be applied during your song by setting the 5 way switch to the desired effect.

Microphone

There will eventually be a Rock Band branded Mic

Other USB mics will be supported, but Harmonix will probably NOT allow the use of the 360 headset due to its low fidelity. Mics will be usable as tambourines during certain songs.

That's all for mics!

DRUMS

The picture of the drum peripheral in the mag is not final.

It consists of four pads, a kick pedal and legs for the enire unit to stand on. Think of it as a TV dinner tray stand only cooler

Leftmost pad (red) is your snare drum, everything else doubles as toms and cymbals depending on the song.

A set of real wooden drum sticks will ship with the unit.

A piece of the stand can be taken off so that the unit can sit lower, or on a coffee table.

There is a kick pedal

If you play drums in this game on hard or expert, then you're really playing the drums. Apparently you could sit down at a real set and play the same songs.


THAT'S ALL SHE WROTE

Sorry for spelling and grammar. Was doing this while doing work. 



MORE IN OUR xbox 360 SECTION

Latest comment by Cokeman170 |view all 55 comments
Nex: You look like an even bigger fag when compared to Connor Oberst....



BuckF1tches's Avatar
BuckF1tches at 06/14/2007 22:02

He looks emo. How'd he get in here?
Ambulance-Y's Avatar
Ambulance-Y at 06/14/2007 22:06

bright eyes isn't in the game buckf1tches, it's merely saying to keep bright eyes OUT of it.
Sheir's Avatar
Sheir at 06/14/2007 22:07

Conor Oberst is an epic douchebag.
ian_esq's Avatar
ian_esq at 06/14/2007 22:08

run from bright eyes.

run to Rock band
sushi111's Avatar
sushi111 at 06/14/2007 22:10

Holy shit this game sounds awesome. Awesome songs too.
TabascoMan's Avatar
TabascoMan at 06/14/2007 22:12

the more i read about this game, the more i anticipate it. being a former novice drummer, i'm most interested in how realistic the drum controller device is gonna play. sounds somewhat promising so far.
Nex's Avatar
Nex at 06/14/2007 22:15

Kids, not just Bright Eyes; I was referring to everything Mr. Oberst has ever done! This includes his solo work and all that Los Desaparecidos shit! None of it had better come anywhere near my Xbox!
ian_esq's Avatar
ian_esq at 06/14/2007 22:16

gahh I just wanna play this game right now
TheTaj's Avatar
TheTaj at 06/14/2007 22:16

Sounds great! Harmonix be takin's my moneyz. <=(
MYL0R's Avatar
MYL0R at 06/14/2007 22:18

40 venues? Effects "pedals"? HOPO only solos on frets near the body? Weezer?! Practically real life drums?!?!?!!?
William Haley's Avatar
William Haley at 06/14/2007 22:23

This game is literally a dream come true. This is the kind of game that people sit around and go "You know what would be awesome?" and then someone else goes "Yeah, but that'd never happen."

Harmonix <3
Racoon's Avatar
Racoon at 06/14/2007 22:24

Holy fucking awesome.
Lynx's Avatar
Lynx at 06/14/2007 22:29

Move the fuck over Guitar Hero.

Damn.
Namelessted's Avatar
Namelessted at 06/14/2007 22:30

i wants the rock band
BuckF1tches's Avatar
BuckF1tches at 06/14/2007 22:32

I just read... and want to say this kicks GH2's ass. I'm speechless.
TheTaj's Avatar
TheTaj at 06/14/2007 22:33

aaaaaaaaaaaaand how much will this cost me?
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 06/14/2007 23:22

Cost is not an option, unless you can't handle the rock.
Aex's Avatar
Aex at 06/14/2007 23:33

Ugh, not ANOTHER Nirvana song :(
s0lesurviv0r's Avatar
s0lesurviv0r at 06/14/2007 23:36

That's alot of equipment.
Knives's Avatar
Knives at 06/14/2007 23:53

This is gonna be an amazing game, i can see myself playing drunk at a party with friends (like i do with GH now) but 4x better!!
Cokeman170's Avatar
Cokeman170 at 06/15/2007 00:03

Conor Oberst is the only man I would go gay for. I was listening to him by coincidence when i read this artice.... "We're gonna stay true blue! ::trumpet solo::"
Cokeman170's Avatar
Cokeman170 at 06/15/2007 00:19

Nex: Mr. Oberst is a god. I doubt they would put his "soft" stuff ina guitar game. His Los Decapercidos stuff was amazing, and I doubt they would put Commander Venus in this game, as that band broke up in the 90's, was signed by Lumber Jack records, and its was hella indie shit. It was him most rock stuff though.
Angry Irish's Avatar
Angry Irish at 06/15/2007 00:49

I want Tool.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 06/15/2007 01:08

Will my bandmates and I be able to destroy waves of zombies using only the power of ROCK? Seems to me like they're really dropping the ball by not incorporating this feature.
LordGloom's Avatar
LordGloom at 06/15/2007 01:23

This is just hearsay, but when you're doing the HOPO solos, all women within a seven foot radius of you orgasm instantly.

Hell, you might just orgasm yourself.
Tino's Avatar
Tino at 06/15/2007 01:25

Man, I'm trading in my guitar hero stuff. No reason to play that tired and old franchise anymore.
Sharpless's Avatar
Sharpless at 06/15/2007 01:55

Fuck Oberst in his little emo vagina.

Oh, and fuck Guitar Hero. This game sounds amazing. And "Say It Ain't So"? The guitar solo? I am so there. WANT.
Samit Sarkar's Avatar
Samit Sarkar at 06/15/2007 02:16

“Won’t Get Fooled Again” by The Who? I can’t wait...it’ll be an eight-and-a-half–minute orgy of rock in this game!

So what’s the over/under on the price of Rock Band? I’ll say...$149.99
Slackore's Avatar
Slackore at 06/15/2007 02:24

Digital Ash was a good album, the fun stops there
LordGloom's Avatar
LordGloom at 06/15/2007 02:39

"And "Say It Ain't So"? The guitar solo? I am so there. WANT."

I actually tried to do a custom of it, but it turned out horribly awkward to play in some sections, and overtly easy in others, so I scrapped it before I finished.
Bethla Garrison's Avatar
Bethla Garrison at 06/15/2007 03:38

I can't believe they got some of those songs. With this, especially after the competitive-multiplayer BS in GH3, it seems like the heart of the GH series really lies in Harmonix. Not that I won't still buy GH3.
Dan Paranoir's Avatar
Dan Paranoir at 06/15/2007 04:09

Gimme Gimme Gimme!!! And by the way - looking for female front singer not older then 25 please! :P
Merovingian's Avatar
Merovingian at 06/15/2007 04:24

Hahaha. The guy looks like he's on crack. I hope he gets raped by some gang bangers trying to buy crack and dies.
TheStripe's Avatar
TheStripe at 06/15/2007 07:32

Now that's an emo way to die;

[angsty guitar]
"Fucked in the butt,
while I went to get some rock,
now I'm dyin' on the street,
from an overdose of cock"
[/angsty guitar]
-D-'s Avatar
-D- at 06/15/2007 08:16

ARGH! why are we always waiting for the good stuff?!
galagabug 's Avatar
galagabug at 06/15/2007 08:20

must. have. drums. now.
TheStripe's Avatar
TheStripe at 06/15/2007 08:27

I have utmost faith in this game, but not so with GHIII. Activision and Red Octane may be the rhythm game star of the moment with Guitar Hero's immense popularity, but Harmonix is the granddaddy of the genre. Having played nearly every one of their titles (the exception being that eyetoy baloney) these guys do it right, every time. Those of you with a PS2 or greater should go out and get Amplitude and Frequency (if you can find the latter, last I knew it was out of print) and blast through those to pass the time to Rock Band.
-D-'s Avatar
-D- at 06/15/2007 08:29

They need to get some original master recordings from Slayer w/ Dave Lombardo on drums - how's that for an "expert" mode?
Diomeneus's Avatar
Diomeneus at 06/15/2007 08:36

Am I the only one you keeps looking between the photo of Nex and the photo of Conor and thinking that they look like they could be brothers? Only nex would be the non-emo brother?
apemon's Avatar
apemon at 06/15/2007 08:44

Must cost HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS. But we'll buy it anyway. And our friends will play it for free :((
Crackhippo's Avatar
Crackhippo at 06/15/2007 08:48

aslong as TOOL isn't in it im gettin this for sure!
Xzyliac's Avatar
Xzyliac at 06/15/2007 08:53

The Who? Sweet, sweet, karma. She's a wonderous mistress.
Nex's Avatar
Nex at 06/15/2007 09:42

@ Diomensius:
I think Mr. Oberst is one of the few men next to whom I look REALLY INTENSELY masculine. I'm going to start hanging out with him just so women will think I'm a lumberjack or a puma or something.
LordRegulus's Avatar
LordRegulus at 06/15/2007 09:50

Won't Get Fooled Again?

ORIGINAL. MUTHAF***ING. MASTER??

*asplode*

Mother of God, I hope I can handle hearing my buddies totally butcher Daltrey's uber-scream...
LordRegulus's Avatar
LordRegulus at 06/15/2007 09:51

[u]eeeeeYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!![/u]
LordRegulus's Avatar
LordRegulus at 06/15/2007 09:52

No BBCode underlining? I call shenanigans.
signal's Avatar
signal at 06/15/2007 12:02

I wish I could just plug my drumset into my 360...
topFAPgearFAPgorillaFAP's Avatar
topFAPgearFAPgorillaFAP at 06/15/2007 12:33

" this is the first day of my life
i thought i was born right in the door way
i went out in the rain and suddenly everything changed, they're spreading
blankets on the beach
yours is the first face that i saw
think i was blind before i met you
i dont know where i am, i dont know where i've been, but i
know where i want to go
and so i thought id let you know
these things take forever i especially am slow
but i realize that i need you
and i wondered if i could come home
remember the time you drove all night
just to meet me in the morning?
you said it was strange that you
felt as if you just woke up
and you said, this is the first day of my life
im glad i didn't die before i met you
but now i don't care i could go anywhere with you
and id probably be happy
so if you wanna be with me
these things theres no telling
you just have to wait and see
bit id rather be working for a paycheck than
waiting to win the lottory
besides maybe this time its different,
i mean really think you like me"
-first day of my life by Bright eyes




haha i got conor oberst near your xbox. now lets get jenny lewis near my wii (makes sense!) and ben gibbard to play odin sphere and all write songs about the beauty of it, then they can have a gay orgy, (except for jenny, she's hot)




the end
Snaileb 's Avatar
Snaileb at 06/15/2007 12:45

Smashing Pumpkins also confirmed their support with this release. Meaning : WOO HOO! Smashing Pumpkins songs!
Robert's Avatar
Robert at 06/15/2007 13:49

A new Queens of the Stone Age song will be in the game as well, but that's old news.
brad drac's Avatar
brad drac at 06/15/2007 20:03

Goddamn, this sounds promising. Not looking forward to the price tag, though. Red octane can go fuck themselves though, harmonix are the best in the business(in the west at least).
0bshaky's Avatar
0bshaky at 06/16/2007 12:57

That emo haircut is for people that like to get fucked in the ass. Also all those fucking new MTV bands smell like shit. The Bravery, The Klaxons, The Almost, The this, The that... What the fuck? "The" in the band name with a fucking gay haircut is cool now? Rock is dead and these piece of shit kids killed it.

I used to like fucking punk and hardcore and metal and thrash and all those amazing things but now they are so niche that just cant appear in a video game. We have to settle with Billy Corgan's penis head girl-like singing.

FUCK THIS.
tme2nsb's Avatar
tme2nsb at 06/19/2007 15:08

Hmmmmm
Sounds to me like Joint Sessions of GuitarFreaks/Drummania...only, this is doing it 6 years after they did it. Shame that those games never made it big in the US because Konami is stupid.

And now if they did release it, everyone and their grandmother will be calling it a rippoff of this game...even though this game took it's inpriration from the joint jam from GF/DM.
tme2nsb's Avatar
tme2nsb at 06/19/2007 15:09

Oh, and if you never heard of GuitarFreaks or Drummania - then google it. Been around forever.
Cokeman170's Avatar
Cokeman170 at 06/19/2007 23:40

Nex: You look like an even bigger fag when compared to Connor Oberst.

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