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Harmonix creating next-gen Rock Band game with EA News

Xbox 360 PlayStation 3 News by Tom Bramwell

2 April, 2007

Harmonix will apply the skills it acquired developing Guitar Hero to a new series created in conjunction with owner MTV and Electronic Arts called "Rock Band".

Unveiled in USA Today, Rock Band is a mixture of rhythm-action disciplines and karaoke, set to appear on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this Christmas.

There will be four instrument-based controllers (lead and bass guitars, a drum kit and a microphone), and online support will include the ability to form bands with people in other countries.

You'll also be able to buy songs online, and those used in the game will be performed by the original artists rather than cover bands.

Harmonix co-founder Alex Rigopulos tells USA Today that Rock Band "takes the core promise of Guitar Hero and expands it tenfold".

"We'll be covering a great breadth, from metal to classic rock to Southern rock to everything in between," he adds.

Expect to hear more on Rock Band very soon, with an EA announcement anticipated today.

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Comments: 1-34 of 34 in total

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GrandpaUlrira
02/04/07 @ 07:41
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Sounds expensive...
Zerimski
02/04/07 @ 07:55
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Look at the date on the USAToday article.
masterson
02/04/07 @ 07:59
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Yeah because it must be a joke right?
I mean it's not as if EA/MTV/Harmonix would be likely to do an expanded version of Guitar Hero is it? :D
Toothball
02/04/07 @ 08:12
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So this is why they're having someone else make Guitar Hero games. Is anyone still going to play those? I'm sure they'll be fun and all, but against the rest of the band?
Edited 1 times, most recently on 02/04/07 @ 09:12
brooza
02/04/07 @ 08:17
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Looking at the date, I'll wait for another confirmation
Tonka
02/04/07 @ 08:24
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I wonder what the drumkit will look like.
This? -or-
This?
Toothball
02/04/07 @ 08:25
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What's wrong with the date? Today is the 2nd, not the 1st?
bauhaus
02/04/07 @ 08:25
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RAWK \M/
Zomoniac
02/04/07 @ 08:27
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It should look like this. They should allow for the use of triggers or mic recognition. That's my baby, btw :)
Eighthours
02/04/07 @ 08:30
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I'm currently deleting expletives. This is going to be amazing.
bonker
02/04/07 @ 08:36
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Southern rock?
Freelancepolice
02/04/07 @ 08:38
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lynyrd skynyrd are an example of southern rock, possibly spelt wrong as well
Myre
02/04/07 @ 09:00
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Best game announcement ever?
Wendelius
02/04/07 @ 09:01
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The USA Today article was published on the 1st of April which, you'll have to admit, is not the best date to announce a new game on. Will wait and see. Not convinced.
Eraysor
02/04/07 @ 09:10
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Four instruments?! I see a Steel Battalion price tag for this one.
McBradders
02/04/07 @ 09:12
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Finally!
grussbarbar
02/04/07 @ 09:17
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No Wii support? :( :(

Apart from that, it seems like a cool concept. Although I'm not too sure if the singing part is a good addition. That might be taking it a bit too far...
disc
02/04/07 @ 09:38
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Eraysor: So you don't see 3-4 different game packages? One for each instrument.
HairyArse [mod]
02/04/07 @ 09:47
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/dribbles down leg
Wayne
02/04/07 @ 10:21
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You would need some amount of room in your living room!!!
And if Guitar Hero is £50, how much will it be for two guitars, a mic and a drum set?

I find this very difficult to believe.
Toothball
02/04/07 @ 10:45
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Why is it hard to believe? Wouldn't Eurogamer be risking their reputation if this story was false? And why would USA Today make up a story about Guitar Hero for a joke, when they cover all sort of other news?

Of course, if this is false I will be disappointed. But so far I don't see much to doubt.
disc
02/04/07 @ 10:50
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There's nothing false here. MTV bought Harmonix ages ago. EA announced that they would publish a new Harmonix title as well. EA also announced last week that they would announce the game this today.
Scientist
02/04/07 @ 10:57
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"And why would USA Today make up a story about Guitar Hero for a joke, when they cover all sort of other news?"

Exactly. If it were an April Fool joke it would be lost on the majority of the readers (too special interest). It's USA Today, not "In-jokes-for-conspiratorially-minded-gamers" Today.
PlugMonkey
02/04/07 @ 11:44
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You would need some amount of room in your living room!!!
And if Guitar Hero is £50, how much will it be for two guitars, a mic and a drum set?

I find this very difficult to believe.

Have you ever played in a band? Minimum entry level is normally that you own one of the required instruments, not all of the required instruments.

Well, one of the required instruments or a van, obviously.
Wayne
02/04/07 @ 11:51
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I don't think it's a fair comparison. Being in a band and playing video games.
Let me know when Gibson start making joypads.
Toothball
02/04/07 @ 12:01
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Not a fair comparison? The game is about being in a band. Plus, with the online features they've mentioned, owning one "instrument" should be a very feasible option. There's likely to be "musicians" all over the place looking for a band. They don't even have to be in your living room.

I'm getting more excited about this with every post.
Edited 1 times, most recently on 02/04/07 @ 14:48
Erinan
02/04/07 @ 12:02
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Now that would be a very mean April fool.
PlugMonkey
02/04/07 @ 12:31
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I don't think it's a fair comparison. Being in a band and playing video games.
Let me know when Gibson start making joypads.

No, you're right. Gibson don't make joypads and therefore there is absolutely no possible way you could play this game without owning each of the instruments yourself.

*rolls eyes*

Promise me one thing. If you get this game, can you put a video of your one-man-band act on youtube? I can't think of any other reason why you would need all the instruments yourself.
Zerimski
02/04/07 @ 12:38
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OK, EA press release has just hit. It's not a joke.
Toothball
02/04/07 @ 13:47
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@PlugMonkey

"I can't think of any other reason why you would need all the instruments yourself."

Actually, I'm already planning to buy all of the instruments myself. It's never hard to rustle up an evening of Guitar Hero amongst my friends, so finding a band isn't going to be any harder.

That's assuming that you can fit four people onto one console, which most games seem to forget these days. It will be great to find band members all over the world, but to overlook band practice with your friends in Real Life (tm) would be quite distressing.
Edited 1 times, most recently on 02/04/07 @ 14:48
PlugMonkey
02/04/07 @ 15:53
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but to overlook band practice with your friends in Real Life (tm) would be quite distressing.

Amen to that. I'd be pretty disappointed if it was online only.

I'll probably collect them all eventually, as I generally travel the countryside offering a video game demonstration service to my friends (Have Wii, will travel!), but much like a 2nd guitar for Guitar Hero - it's not completely essential to begin with. In the early stages it will be more a case of co-ordinating with my mates as to who buys what rather than us all buying one of everything.
ronuds
02/04/07 @ 18:23
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EA will find a way to screw this up.
Freelancepolice
02/04/07 @ 19:13
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Well i'm sure a lot of people will already own a guitar. It's the drum kit that actually might bump the price up (singstar mics don't retail for that much)
tancredo
03/04/07 @ 09:44
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What EA, Harmonix or God should tell us is if we will be able to use the 360 Guitar Hero Controller or if Rock Band will come out with their own exclusive set of instruments.
It would be a pain to actually have to buy different controllers for the two games.
Edited 1 times, most recently on 03/04/07 @ 10:45

Comments: 1-34 of 34 in total

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