Joystiq visits Harmonix to talk Rock Band DLC and incidentals

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 14th 2007 at 3:55PM }

Yesterday we spent some time at Harmonix playing Rock Band and tried to get those lingering questions answered a week before launch. We also got some clarification on certain issues about the game and an explanation of the Canadian delay.

If there is anything you walk away with after spending a day at Harmonix and talking about Rock Band, it's the knowledge that downloadable content (DLC) will be a vital element. It was something Rock Band producer Helen McWilliams had mentioned at E3 to us as being "the big thing," but when you actually see the scope of it ... seriously, it's the big thing.

Although Harmonix PR coordinator John Drake wouldn't share the pricing of the downloadable songs, he did offer, "It'll take your breath away -- in a good way." Gamers should be pleased to hear that they'll be able to purchase songs in packs or as singles. The various members of the team we spoke to during our time at their offices know that DLC is where their financial bread will be smothered in Ben Franklin butter. During one interview, a member of the hardware development team wouldn't discuss whether they're actually taking a loss on the pricing of Rock Band with the expectation of making it up in the long run. Whatever money they may -- or may not -- be losing on selling the "music platform" (as they call Rock Band) in the short term, it appears the weekly DLC will be the thing bringing longevity to the product as opposed to yearly sequels.

As far as the DLC goes, there's already plenty that's been announced. Harmonix has a small team that continually works on content -- and has been for quite some time. Rock Band Senior Producer Tracy Rosenthal-Newsom explained there will be weekly DLC content for Rock Band, much like you'd expect new XBLA or PSN content on their respective days. Although MTV owns Harmonix, Rosenthal-Newsom says that the media giant has been hands-off creatively. Of course, it's provided a synergistic blessing when it comes to dealing with the licensing issues for the songs Harmonix wants. We also confirmed with Eric Brosius, senior sound designer, that the Harmonix staff songs from Guitar Hero I & II can become DLC content in the future for Rock Band.

You might recall the powered USB hub, bundled with the Xbox 360 version of Rock Band, as being a point of contention. Harmonix notes that the powered USB hub is actually a Microsoft regulation, and that it's not particularly looking forward to receiving the wrath of 40GB PS3 owners when they find no USB hub in the PS3 Rock Band package. Remember the guitars are wireless, but still use a dongle. The developer points out that by the time Sony's new PS3 came about, it was too late to change the Rock Band package. Those who purchase or receive a 40GB PS3 and want to play Rock Band properly are forewarned to buy a separate USB hub now.

As for the Wii version of Rock Band, we didn't see any prototypes. And although we definitely looked, we didn't see any Wiimote-embedded Rock Band guitars strewn about the place. On the subject of peripherals, Harmonix mentioned that it's keeping an open platform philosophy to the game, meaning you'll likely be able to use your Guitar Hero guitar with Rock Band (in case you didn't already know).

Finally, Harmonix reps responded to Canada's "delay" -- it seems the original release announcement was for the United States only and not for North America (although we're sure that comes as little comfort to Canadian gamers who will have to wait until Dec. 17).

We'll have more info about the Rock Band store later on, as well as details on Rock Band's World Tour Mode, where the RPG meets the rhythm game.

Tags: EA, Harmonix, MTV, Rock-Band, rockband

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

DeadPlasmaCell @ Nov 14th 2007 4:06PM

I'll believe it when I see it.. weren't these the same guys that boasted "The most DLC ever!" for GH2 on the 360? It all sounds really good and hopefully they'll be able to deliver.

DeadPlasmaCell @ Nov 14th 2007 4:11PM

Ok, maybe it was RO who said it, my bad.

glassd @ Nov 14th 2007 4:18PM

If I remember correctly, Activision was respnosible for the 360 version of Guitar Hero 2 and were responsible for the downloadable content. Which is still stupidly priced. I will not pay 7+ dollars for 3 songs, what a ripoff.

Yuccadude @ Nov 14th 2007 4:22PM

glassd, it's $6.25 USD, but I agree the pricing is a little too high. I also understand that it's not like buying 3 songs from Itunes or whatnot, but double the price isn't really fair to the consumer either. With all of the in-game advertising of GHIII about to increase(somehow, didn't think it was possible), we should be getting to download these songs for free, or severely reduced prices for all.

Also, I'm really excited about doing poorly on drums in Rock Band, Tom Sawyer kicked my butt on Medium my first playthrough. The lack of a kick pedal didn't help, but oh well.

brandon_r87 @ Nov 14th 2007 4:33PM

Yuccadude, you're right. Buying DLC songs is not like buying a song off iTunes. I can't put it on my iPod and take it around with me. I can't burn the song to a CD. I can't simply listen to it on the device I purchased it without actually playing along.

I see your point and agree, with DLC songs we get the awesome capability of being able to play the song in game. But there are also other trade-offs that should be considered. That's why I think DLC songs and iTunes songs should be the same price. Each has advantages and disadvantages that should be figured into pricing.

Intentless @ Nov 14th 2007 4:38PM

A lot more work goes into producing the versions used for the video game. Each track needs to be synced with the controls. It has to be the master track which the industry doesn't just give away. Considering with a master track its each individual input. Drums guitars vocals seperated. Master tracks arn't cheap and the music industry isn't going to just say here you go use it in game. They want a piece. The product is being sold through Xboxlive or other online distribution systems so they need their cut, then the guy that probably spends a few days at least working on it just to make sure the guitar line works in game. Then another few days for the drums and so on and so forth. People don't work for free.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Nov 14th 2007 5:21PM

All that is true, intentless. It costs the company more money to make a GH/RB track than to just sell the song.

The problem comes in perceived value of the consumer. A 99 cent download from your favorite online retailer can be played on any pc, burnt to CD, or carried on your favorite MP3 player. Thats alot of choices for 99 cents.

But for 2 dollars, you can play along in GH/RB, and nothing else. You can't just listen to the song, even on the game. You can't transfer it to another device for listening/burning. You can't take it with you.

So for 2 dollars you can get 2 songs and do nearly anything you want with them, or you can get one song and play in GH/RB. Thats a problem of value, and one not easily overcome.

Blair.thiessen @ Nov 14th 2007 4:39PM

I had this preordered... but it is now delayed till December 20th for Canada... not sure if I'll get it now.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Nov 14th 2007 4:35PM

I is excited for this game again.

megaStryke @ Nov 14th 2007 4:35PM

GOD. DAMMIT. The game comes out next week, people! How much do individual damn songs COST?

brandon_r87 @ Nov 14th 2007 4:40PM

Judging by his comment "It'll take your breath away -- in a good way," it had better be $1.25 or less, or people will be disappointed, even if only because he said that and got everyone's hopes up. I think $1 is the most fair, but a GH addict like me wouldn't be above paying $1.50. I just hope its low enough I don't have to feel bad buying all the songs.

gonk @ Nov 14th 2007 4:37PM

i'm waiting for next year when the dlc shakes out and there are some decent songs to play. the default track list sucks :( if they had gh3's track list for rock band, I would've bought it day 1

Intentless @ Nov 14th 2007 4:40PM

Guitar Hero 3 is a decent game but the track lists sucks. The only notable song that is worth playing or that I recognize oddly enough is Die Toten Housen a band out of germany that you can't buy here... At least in my opinion. There isn't anything of major note on the game that is like... I NEED TO PLAY THAT. At least Rock Band has some major classics like Deep Purple and the like....

megaStryke @ Nov 14th 2007 4:50PM

Wait, wait, wait... are you serious? You're just referring to the bonus tracks, right? I hope you are, because I highly doubt Die Toten Housen is the only notable band in the game. I mean, you got:

"Rock and Roll All Nite" – Kiss
"Barracuda" – Heart
"Bulls on Parade" – Rage Against the Machine
"The Seeker" – The Who
"Paranoid" – Black Sabbath
"Even Flow" – Pearl Jam
"Welcome to the Jungle" – Guns N' Roses
"Black Magic Woman" – Santana
"Cult of Personality" – Living Colour
"Cliffs of Dover" – Eric Johnson
"The Number of the Beast" – Iron Maiden
"One" – Metallica

Just to name a few. NONE of those are notable?

Intentless @ Nov 14th 2007 5:10PM

"Rock and Roll All Nite" – Kiss
Cliche
"Barracuda" – Heart
Meh
"Bulls on Parade" – Rage Against the Machine
Fine you have me on this one.
"The Seeker" – The Who
Of all their songs?
"Paranoid" – Black Sabbath
Again black sabbath has so many better songs.
"Even Flow" – Pearl Jam
Can't disrespect Eddie...
"Welcome to the Jungle" – Guns N' Roses
Wasn't this done before?
"Black Magic Woman" – Santana
This is barely rock it has some great riffs and melodies but I'm a metal head. Rock and Roll... I don't rock to santana...
"Cult of Personality" – Living Colour
This is considered rock?
"Cliffs of Dover" – Eric Johnson
Who is this?
"The Number of the Beast" – Iron Maiden
Friends killed this in highschool so it isn't personal.
"One" – Metallica
So many better "air guitar" songs for Metallica. Still this is my favorite song from their entire career...

Samuel McConnell @ Nov 14th 2007 4:51PM

If the bundle was a loss-leader, they wouldn't be selling a Playstation 2 version. I have a feeling there won't be any DLC there.

mattgreene @ Nov 14th 2007 5:45PM

They can sell expansion packs on disc to recoup losses.

Kevin @ Nov 14th 2007 4:49PM

If I can get some 311, Alien Ant Farm, and Orange 9mm DLC, I will be the happiest gamer alive.

Patrick @ Nov 14th 2007 5:31PM

smooth criminal would blow my mind gh dlc please

TX2Step @ Nov 14th 2007 4:54PM

Next Wednesday is not coming fast enough!!

(I ordered mine from Amazon during the whole "Black Friday" thing but is having it delivered NEXT DAY!

phil lesh @ Nov 14th 2007 5:54PM

The "explanation" for the Canadian delay is now that they never said it was going to be released in North America on November 20? Go to Harmonix's own listing of their own press releases:

http://www.harmonixmusic.com/press.html#

and click on the release dated October 29, a whole two weeks ago:

[quote]
Rock Band is slated for release on Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system on November 20, 2007, and on PLAYSTATION®2 computer entertainment system December 18, 2007 in North America.[/quote]

I don't know why the game is delayed in Canada, but it sure isn't because of language regulations (or they're brutally incompetent and it is because of the language regulations), and they did, repeatedly, state in official press releases that the Canadian release date would be November 20. Currently, there is no official release date for Canada, as they haven't officially confirmed December 17. Don't count on obtaining it in Canada before Christmas unless that it's officially confirmed.

WhatIsThatThing @ Nov 14th 2007 5:57PM

My wallet feels lighter already!

Jay @ Nov 14th 2007 7:27PM

2 things are needed for me to be ABSOLUTELY sold on RB

First - some Weird Al DLC

Second - LEFT HANDED CONTROLLERS....Harmonix, here's your chance to one-up guitar hero and not force us southpaws to play the stupid thing upside down.

Gregory Harbin @ Nov 14th 2007 7:40PM

Jay, I've played Rock Band at Best Buy, and can CONFIRM that it has a Lefty Flip mode, easily accessible through the options menu during play. So, one-up for Harmonix, eh?

Charron @ Nov 14th 2007 7:58PM

Guitar Hero's got that. He means a guitar that flips to lefty and doesn't feel terrible.

On that topic, the whammy bar is more centralized on the Strat, so that part should feel better, but it's not a perfect lefty-ready controller.

Jay @ Nov 14th 2007 9:09PM

Why is it when ever I mention "Left-Handed Controllers" I always get the response "Use the flip mode"

How about ALL controllers are left-handed now and you can actually realaize how awkward it is to play....the least of which being unable to use the strap.

OmegaRed @ Nov 15th 2007 10:35PM

GH3 controller for Wii has a spot on the back of where the neck connects for left or right handed use.

OmegaRed @ Nov 15th 2007 10:40PM

Sorry, I worded that funny.
GH3 controller has an alternate place to connect the strap that is on the on the back of the neck. I haven't used it, but it could be used for both left and right handed playing. Here is a pic.

http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/image/article/816/816619/guitar-hero-iii-legends-of-rock-20070829015535603.jpg

BIGGEN @ Nov 14th 2007 7:50PM

this game looks like fun, granted you have enough people (or on LIVE). but looking at the pics of the people actually playing it just makes me fart. i mean laugh and fart. LAUGH SO HARD I FART, there, said it.

Kappy @ Nov 14th 2007 8:47PM

I'll address a few comments here:

Regarding price of DLC content, and I'm just guessing here, but the record companies probably charge less in royalties than they do to say iTunes for two reasons: 1) The songs can only be played in the game, and 2) People who want more content but haven't heard the songs before may find that they like it, this means a likely purchase of the track from some other vendor, and possibly a purchase of many other tracks/albums from the same band.

Regarding the GHIII track list, it probably has more "big name" tracks than the first two games combined (and better bonus tracks IMHO). And to the fellow who didn't know Eric Johnson, you are obviously not a guitarist. Eric Johnson is one of the top virtuoso guitarists and has been featured in G3 along with Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. Granted it's probably not the most mainstream song, but it won a grammy for best instrumental track, and this is a guitar game so you'd think at least a few songs would feature top technical guitarists. Now when are we going to get some Dream Theater???

-kap