Rock Band's campaign mode won't have online co-op

by Justin McElroy { Oct 22nd 2007 at 4:15PM }

When you travel from city to city in Rock Band's "World Tour" mode, you'll be stuck performing with bandmates across the den from you, rather than across the country, according to Harmonix. In a forum post from a company staffer, it was revealed that online co-op won't be a part of the World Tour, though it's still included with the quickplay and competition modes.

If you were looking forward to hitting the road with a global band you might fight some comfort in the fact that the feature is still being developed. Sadly though, we don't know if we're talking about a feature for DLC or Rock Band 2: Rock Harder.

[Via Shacknews]

Tags: ea, harmonix, rockband

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Keith @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:19PM

Bad move!
wtf

x876543 @ Oct 22nd 2007 5:36PM

What's the point of having it online if you can't play with other people?

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DSR7997 @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:21PM

Dude weak....

EihBeir @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:24PM

You know, I was really excited about Rock Band for awhile...but I've been having second thoughts lately. This news didn't help.

I think my biggest concern is not being able to play online because EA unplugs the servers 45 minutes after Rock Band 2 hits the shelves.

[.sm0ke.] @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:36PM

EA is not in charge of the servers. Harmonix is operating them. They confirmed this a few weeks ago on the Official Xbox Magazine podcast.

EihBeir @ Oct 22nd 2007 5:35PM

That's good to know, 'cause I don't put it at all past EA to shut down online service for a $170 product.

Neon Jebus @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:23PM

I hear the music from losing on The Price is Right playing in my head. For some reason I thought this was a major feature for the game.

Maybe I should have paid more attention...

Sean @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:27PM

The idea of online co-op and vs. in GH and Rock Band is lost on me. The reason co-op and vs. are so fun is because your opponent is right next to you rocking out in unison.

baby sea tuna @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:32PM

Having played it with 3 other people during the Rock Band tour, I agree with you 100%.

NATO_Duke @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:53PM

In a perfect world maybe, but I dont have a full band of people to play with at home each time I feel like it. Sometimes its nice to just have folks do it online.

Shagittarius @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:58PM

Why do I picture Sean and his friend with the mullet rocking out on their knees like Warrant in the 'Where the down boys go' video.

Sean @ Oct 22nd 2007 5:12PM

@NATO: While I understand it's fun to play games with people online, the experience of GH or Rock Band multiplayer just can't be emulated online in the same way an FPS or fighter or even puzzler can. It's just like playing the single player, unless there is some kind of online feature that I am oblivious to.

@Shags: That is because it is the truth. I admit it.

Jeff @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:27PM

Because so many of us have a full band's worth of gamers in our households.

On the bright side, who really cares about campaign? It's all about free-play.

Sean @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:39PM

You may not have a household full of gamers, but I'm sure you have friends that can come over periodically and play, and if you don't have that...I am sorry for you.

Ed @ Oct 22nd 2007 6:38PM

It's things like this that makes me love my siblings

Mike @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:29PM

This is a pretty big bummer as I won't be able to play the world tour with my old college roomies. At least we can rock out in free play online though. I'll just have to save the local band for my friends in town. Way to harsh my mellow, Harmonix.

RT @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:31PM

"I think my biggest concern is not being able to play online because EA unplugs the servers 45 minutes after Rock Band 2 hits the shelves."

EA isn't running the RB servers. HMX is.

Also, this issue has been way overblown. So what? You can't unlock things together online. Big deal. You can still play all the songs online head-to-head competitively or up to 4 players co-operatively.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:32PM

ummmm so? Honestly people, it isn't as bad as you think. And besides, I think the whole point of Rockband is to have your friends with you, you know kinda like an actual Rock Band. The game would lose it's meaning if your band could play over online.

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:33PM

Man, for a game that once seemed completely unstoppable just recently, Rock Band has really been taking some serious negative blows the last few weeks, it seems like.

It's starting to look like Guitar Hero III is going to crush it.

Jeff @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:56PM

Can't help but agree.

As a PC gamer, though, GH3 won a while ago. =P

Shagittarius @ Oct 22nd 2007 5:01PM

I disagree since I'm not trying to pimp GHIII on the Wii. Rock band will crush GHIII ultimately.

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Oct 22nd 2007 5:03PM

Wonderfully intellectually dishonest of you, considering that I don't intend to purchase either game.

megaStryke @ Oct 22nd 2007 5:04PM

I'm keeping a checklist of things Shagi says. Whenever the OPPOSITE comes to pass, I check it off. I can't wait to see this whole clipboard checked off!

Shagittarius @ Oct 22nd 2007 5:14PM

Ok megastryke when the last copy of both GH3 and RB have sold we can test that theory.

FidliousWong @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:34PM

I'm sorry, this is earthshattering HOW? While it sucks, you can still unlock songs THEN play with your friends online. Realistically, how many people can get a band together online and play through it at a speed that would keep everyone happy?

Competitive and freeplay will be the best modes online anyway. I hate grinding through songs I don't care for and I remember the party issues in WOW. Just imagine how many people would drop when you play an unpopular song.

Or maybe I'm the only one who remembers how Coop on Crackdown always ended up as "unsupported deathmatch?"

FidliousWong @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:38PM

Negative blows? Only one I remember was the song list "blow."

I remember Justin on the podcast thinking this would be a huge hit against Rock Band compared the GHIII but he forgot to notice that track number referred to sans unlockables. Guitar Hero I had 30 songs sans unlockables, GHII had 40 (48 on 360). So a 40-50 tracklist sounds about in line.

Seroth @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:40PM

Sure, online would make it infinitely better, but World Tour Mode is still pretty awesome by itself without online.

I hope people realize that World Tour Mode is more than just playing a bunch of songs in a row like Career Mode in Guitar Hero.

NATO_Duke @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:57PM

FYI: Your posts today seem pretty condescending. Between this one and the one were you told us you actually read the article, it seems you think we are all morons. Believe it or not, others here read articles and realize facts on games.

Just know, the attitude, its obvious.

Ed @ Oct 22nd 2007 6:38PM

That's good because most people here are morons. GHIII being better than Rock Band, my ass.

T3H WICKERMAN (FDF) @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:44PM

bit of a bummer, but it will still rock the tits off guitar hero 3 (though i think i may still play it). Im always happy for more Ramones!

Brice @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:55PM

Do I really want to play with random people online to unlock stuff in the campaign mode? Chances are (like in Halo) they will screw up and it will take a lot longer. If the people are in the room at least they are friends and you can talk shit to them when they screw up. And in doing that its in good fun.

Todd @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:55PM

Heh, I dunno man, I'd still rather join a real band.

NATO_Duke @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:58PM

Congrats, you are that guy! Yes, form a real band! Nobody here has heard that one. Head of to GH posts and tell em to learn to play the real guitar. It always gets a chuckle.

T3H WICKERMAN (FDF) @ Oct 22nd 2007 5:07PM

there u go again... dont worry duke when it comes out we will all sorts of post about how so and so can play the REAL drums and all about their shitty bands!

jovin6 @ Oct 22nd 2007 5:21PM

Yea, dude. Like yesterday, I was playing Madden, and then I realized, "Fuck that! Why don't I go join the NFL." Now I'm a corner for the Pats.

T3H WICKERMAN (FDF) @ Oct 22nd 2007 5:28PM

Yeah when i was playing orange box i just stood up and said, " you know screw this i will get my own head crab and the learn to use my real portal gun.

Sean @ Oct 22nd 2007 5:40PM

Yeah, you think that's cool? Yesterday I was playing Katamari Damacy and I was like "Man, this is really fun, but I think I could do this for real!" And then the King of the Cosmos came out of no where and was all like, "Go make some stars." And I'm like, "I guess, man. Just chill out." Then I started rolling this little ball around and everything started sticking to it. First it was dustmites and pieces of candy and then it was toys and silverware and then eventually I had all of Lincoln Park Zoo and the city of New York rolled up in this freakin' ball. What a day that was!

NATO_Duke @ Oct 22nd 2007 6:00PM

T3H WICKERMAN - dude, you made me laugh pretty hard there. The head crab = Great image.

ThornedVenom @ Oct 22nd 2007 5:03PM

Going Nintendo by "greater experience when multiplayer is regrouped together", eh?

It don't think it really matters in this case, because it's not one of those games where you would need the whole screen to appreciate a wider viewpoint and better details.

derrickgott007 @ Oct 22nd 2007 5:12PM

You can still play competitvly online....did everyone forget that?

T3H WICKERMAN (FDF) @ Oct 22nd 2007 5:33PM

Yeah but will you stay in chat or will you have to keep hosting new rooms? Im curious as to how it will work. I would like to host and create a set list and then be able to play it uniterupted with my pals.

jsn @ Oct 22nd 2007 5:16PM

disappointing but not a big deal overall. This isn't something that's going to keep it from flying off shelves.

arrrgh @ Oct 22nd 2007 5:26PM

it would probably matter if their song list was worth anything...play 4 songs you like, suffer through 35 you hate :S

Hey Apples @ Oct 22nd 2007 5:32PM

I thought this was a big deal at first also. But as one user pointed out... once people unlock everything and go through the tour, they're going to just slip back into the quickplay style performances which are supported via multiplayer.

It's like unlocking the setlist in GH2... you only do that once time generally.

gonk @ Oct 22nd 2007 6:19PM

how can they make online coop work for one mode and not another? the songs are the same

RomeoDude @ Oct 22nd 2007 6:40PM

Totally not cool.... Hopefully the 'future add-on' won't have the fate of the promised XBox Live Guitar Hero II Online add-on.

baby sea tuna @ Oct 22nd 2007 9:21PM

...or the "pedals" they were supposed to release for the X-Plorers.

Thr3e2wenty8 @ Oct 22nd 2007 6:44PM

GHIII no doubt will be fun and be played like crazy but having a game that allows you to throw down on the drums is going to overtake the world man. This aint no Diddy Kong bongo deal either. Isn't this the game that said they expect to have downloadable albums?

carg0 @ Oct 22nd 2007 7:05PM

of course they're not going to have online campaign co-op. how else would they get you to buy their uber-$169 package?

I expect they'll wait till the end of the year, possibly even later, to release the individual instruments with each copy to maximize their profits. it sucks but that's business.