Saggy
June 27th, 2010, 10:08 PM
http://www.rockband.com/files/rb/2010/06/100611rb3_logo_tm.jpg
Image from RockBand.com
I'm sure most of you know by now, but for those that don't, a new iteration of the Rock Band franchise is due to be released later this year. If you're like me, you're probably starting to get tired (or already are) of all these music/rhythm games beings released and don't really care that there is a new Rock Band/Guitar Hero <insert number here> . With Rock Band 3, however, they really are bringing a lot of new, innovative ideas to this genre of gaming.
First off is the inclusion of a new peripheral, the keyboard. While this may seem like an unusual addition to some, I believe it has great potential. There are a lot of great classics that use keyboard/piano--remember that although the keyboard is the peripheral, it doesn't only have to play keyboard specifically. Some examples taken straight from the setlist of Rock Band 3 include "Break on Through" by The Doors and "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen.
http://bulk.destructoid.com/ul/176055-/Keys_02-620x.jpg
Image from Destructoid.com
The keyboard peripheral itself is a fully-functional, two-octave ranged MIDI instrument. What that means is although the keyboard can be used for general gameplay--hitting the right keys in the colour coded area--, as well as the games "Pro Mode" (more on that below), it can also be used with MIDI software/devices as a real instrument. It is currently being priced at $79.99 for its release--bundeled with the game it will cost you $129.99.
The second great thing about Rock Band 3 is the newly introduced "Pro Mode" which allows players to use more advanced peripherals that will literally let them play the song. Pro Mode allows you to use a drum set with added cymbals, the newly introduced keyboard, or one of two new specially designed guitars to learn the proper notes/chords/or beats of a song and apply that to real instruments. For example, if using the keyboard on Pro Mode, the notes you see scrolling towards you on screen will relate to the actual keys that are being played in the song. If you are using one of the new guitars, the notes on screen would show you which fret to play on which string. There are also various difficulty levels in Pro Mode as well, ranging from Easy to Expert. Easy-Pro Mode gives a limited amount of notes; just enough so that if you translated the notes played onto a real instrument, you'd have the basic (albeit terrible) sound of the song. Expert is the real deal, it's you playing note-for-note with the song. Pro Mode makes Rock Band 3 more than a game, but a learning tool for inspiring musicians; or just a way for experienced musicians to get a proper challenge out of these types of games.
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2010/06/rockbandproscreens.jpg
Image from Joystiq.com
I previously mentioned that there are two new, specially designed, "Pro Mode" guitars. One of these is the Madcatz Wireless Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar Controller (Note: Madcatz is now the official Rock Band peripheral maker for those that don't know). This guitar features 105 buttons along the neck, representing 17 frets for each six strings of the guitar. Speaking of strings, this guitar has them; replacing the infamous "strumbar" we've all come to know is six strings. While all this may seem good, you may be asking yourself, "Why is there a billion buttons? Why not just have strings across the whole guitar if they're trying to push people to play a real instrument?"
http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/176055-rb3_screen_x360_3-620x.jpg
Image of the Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar Contoller--Destructoid.com
The second PRO-Guitar controller for Rock Band 3 is the Rock Band 3 Squier by Fender Stratocaster. This is the real deal; this guitar is a fully-functional electric guitar complete with everything you would expect from a standard guitar (minus a whammy bar). Oh, and it can be used to play Rock Band as well. While playing in Rock Band's Pro Mode, pressing a string down on the fretboard is recognized by the game just like you'd expect. It even tells which fret you are holding down, and if you slide and tap your fingers on the neck, the fret you are holding down will change in real-time in game. The guitar appears to be super responsive and that's just what is needed for something like this to work. Also, remember that this is a real guitar. That means it can be plugged into an amplifier, even while you are playing the game. If you want to hear exactly what you're playing, plug this bad boy into and amp while playing Pro Mode, and prove to yourself you're playing a real song. A video demonstrating this new, amazing guitar can be seen here:
-2JxcujIGhw
Whew, now that all that's out of the way (I probably sound like one of the PR guys; I haven't even played the game yet I'm speaking so highly of it), what do you guys think about this new Rock Band game? Will you be trying it out at all or are you just going to pass it up?
Image from RockBand.com
I'm sure most of you know by now, but for those that don't, a new iteration of the Rock Band franchise is due to be released later this year. If you're like me, you're probably starting to get tired (or already are) of all these music/rhythm games beings released and don't really care that there is a new Rock Band/Guitar Hero <insert number here> . With Rock Band 3, however, they really are bringing a lot of new, innovative ideas to this genre of gaming.
First off is the inclusion of a new peripheral, the keyboard. While this may seem like an unusual addition to some, I believe it has great potential. There are a lot of great classics that use keyboard/piano--remember that although the keyboard is the peripheral, it doesn't only have to play keyboard specifically. Some examples taken straight from the setlist of Rock Band 3 include "Break on Through" by The Doors and "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen.
http://bulk.destructoid.com/ul/176055-/Keys_02-620x.jpg
Image from Destructoid.com
The keyboard peripheral itself is a fully-functional, two-octave ranged MIDI instrument. What that means is although the keyboard can be used for general gameplay--hitting the right keys in the colour coded area--, as well as the games "Pro Mode" (more on that below), it can also be used with MIDI software/devices as a real instrument. It is currently being priced at $79.99 for its release--bundeled with the game it will cost you $129.99.
The second great thing about Rock Band 3 is the newly introduced "Pro Mode" which allows players to use more advanced peripherals that will literally let them play the song. Pro Mode allows you to use a drum set with added cymbals, the newly introduced keyboard, or one of two new specially designed guitars to learn the proper notes/chords/or beats of a song and apply that to real instruments. For example, if using the keyboard on Pro Mode, the notes you see scrolling towards you on screen will relate to the actual keys that are being played in the song. If you are using one of the new guitars, the notes on screen would show you which fret to play on which string. There are also various difficulty levels in Pro Mode as well, ranging from Easy to Expert. Easy-Pro Mode gives a limited amount of notes; just enough so that if you translated the notes played onto a real instrument, you'd have the basic (albeit terrible) sound of the song. Expert is the real deal, it's you playing note-for-note with the song. Pro Mode makes Rock Band 3 more than a game, but a learning tool for inspiring musicians; or just a way for experienced musicians to get a proper challenge out of these types of games.
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2010/06/rockbandproscreens.jpg
Image from Joystiq.com
I previously mentioned that there are two new, specially designed, "Pro Mode" guitars. One of these is the Madcatz Wireless Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar Controller (Note: Madcatz is now the official Rock Band peripheral maker for those that don't know). This guitar features 105 buttons along the neck, representing 17 frets for each six strings of the guitar. Speaking of strings, this guitar has them; replacing the infamous "strumbar" we've all come to know is six strings. While all this may seem good, you may be asking yourself, "Why is there a billion buttons? Why not just have strings across the whole guitar if they're trying to push people to play a real instrument?"
http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/176055-rb3_screen_x360_3-620x.jpg
Image of the Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar Contoller--Destructoid.com
The second PRO-Guitar controller for Rock Band 3 is the Rock Band 3 Squier by Fender Stratocaster. This is the real deal; this guitar is a fully-functional electric guitar complete with everything you would expect from a standard guitar (minus a whammy bar). Oh, and it can be used to play Rock Band as well. While playing in Rock Band's Pro Mode, pressing a string down on the fretboard is recognized by the game just like you'd expect. It even tells which fret you are holding down, and if you slide and tap your fingers on the neck, the fret you are holding down will change in real-time in game. The guitar appears to be super responsive and that's just what is needed for something like this to work. Also, remember that this is a real guitar. That means it can be plugged into an amplifier, even while you are playing the game. If you want to hear exactly what you're playing, plug this bad boy into and amp while playing Pro Mode, and prove to yourself you're playing a real song. A video demonstrating this new, amazing guitar can be seen here:
-2JxcujIGhw
Whew, now that all that's out of the way (I probably sound like one of the PR guys; I haven't even played the game yet I'm speaking so highly of it), what do you guys think about this new Rock Band game? Will you be trying it out at all or are you just going to pass it up?