THQ announces Band Mashups, Wii exclusive rhythm game for April

by Jason Dobson { Feb 7th 2008 at 11:26AM }

Never let it be said that publisher THQ is opposed to trying new things. Sure, the studio may have more than a passing fancy with licenses the way most of us appreciate oxygen, but the studio has been known to come up with an original idea now and again -- before summarily slitting its throat. THQ's latest sees the company wading waist deep into the crowded waters of rhythm gaming with Band Mashups, a title that you'll only be able to play on the Wii when it ships out the door in April.

Currently being pieced together by the Giants: Citizen Kabuto devs at Planet Moon, Band Mashups is described by THQ as "the ultimate band battle," offering both single and multiplayer rhythm gameplay, 70 "over-the-top musical weapons," and more than 150 tracks across five different styles of music, including rock, funk/hip-hop, country, marching band and Latin. Sure, it sounds like a lot of music, but as THQ explains, the game's track list is actually made up of 30 different licensed tunes from the last 40 years, each recorded in five different styles. We're unsure what to make of this, though the idea of hearing some of our hair band faves in the style of a marching band is enough to keep us awake at night clutching our Def Leppard blankets.

Gallery: Battle of the Bands (Wii)

Tags: band-mashups, BreakingNews, giants, planet-moon, thq

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Feb 7th 2008 11:29AM

If this crap keeps up, I might have to join the MSDF.

Fernando Rocker @ Feb 7th 2008 11:40AM

Please Crono, don't desperate.

There's one thing that no one can take from us... we Nintendo fans we are the most loyal and rabid fanbase out there, since 20 years ago. You dont see that kid of pasion with any other company.

Good times are coming, just remember SSBB, Mario Kart Wii and many more...

Just remember, Nintendo is gaining momentum... their next console probably will be powerful enough to have a lot of support from third party developers, plus, a Wii fanbase ready to migrate to a Nintendo HD console.

FidliousWong @ Feb 7th 2008 11:59AM

Yeah, a game to go from announcement to release within three months spells bad news. But couple this with the fact that this game concept (same song, different instruments/styles) didn't work work when Nintendo tried it on Daigasso Band Brothers (I own this game, and I can tell you exactly why it was never released in the US under the name Jam with the Band).

Something about this entire game just screams "Rush job." I hope I'm wrong, though. Wii could really use an exclusive music game that has some level of quality to it. Hell, at this point, someone should just license Bravo Music from Sony and do a straight port...

Hell, the gameplay based on accelerometer is already built in...

Kye Wii60DF @ Feb 7th 2008 12:12PM

Crono, as Leader of the NDF (on leave) I would encourage you to stand on both sides of the fence, as I do.

Sure the MSDF can be immature at times, but they're a good bunch. Way smarter than the average PSDF member.

If at any time you want to join the Wii60DF just let me know and I'll put in a good word for you.

BPM 6th Mix MAX @ Feb 7th 2008 12:17PM

"Yeah, a game to go from announcement to release within three months spells bad news."

Not that I'm optimistic about this title, but I'm sure it was in development for a while before its announcement. Plus, it isn't the kind of game that'll require complex physics and AI engines, nor intricate level design. So, it may not need as long of a development cycle as other genres.
And with that said, I still don't have much faith in the game.

Fernando Rocker @ Feb 7th 2008 12:17PM

Kye is right... I enjoy playing with my 360... it have very good games. And all the people in my Live list from Joystiq are very good people, excellent friends.

Wii60 is good, but never leave Nintendo on the side. =)

Kye: Gamertag Fernando Rocker

FidliousWong @ Feb 7th 2008 12:23PM

BPM, I know what you're saying and I shouldn't judge it from announcement to ship date...

But it's so very hard to do. I can't recall a single game that went from announcement to ship in three months and didn't 100% blow ass...

jsn @ Feb 7th 2008 12:37PM

crono: The gimmick is wearing on you too eh?

License to ill @ Feb 7th 2008 12:53PM

"Sure the MSDF can be immature at times"

Sorry but if you have DF at the end of your name it pretty much makes you immature at times...

Noshino @ Feb 7th 2008 12:53PM

hahaha, all the "Defense Force" sites are full of blind rabid fanboys who only worship their console of choice...

might it be

http://www.360defenseforce.com/
http://www.sonydefenseforce.com/
http://www.nintendodf.com/

.....

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Feb 7th 2008 1:02PM

jsn,

Its not the hardwares fault, but the bullshit software that keeps getting pumped (pimped?) out on it. Wii is capable of doing great things.

No one but Nintendo is willing to even try those great things, though.

Gavin @ Feb 7th 2008 2:45PM

"we Nintendo fans we are the most loyal and rabid fanbase out there"

i.e. Desperate as you see your console fall into the hellish release cycle pit of mini-game collection, PS2 port, puzzle game, mini-game collection, PS2 port, puzzle game, mini-game collection, PS2 port, puzzle game, mini-game collection, PS2 port, puzzle game, mini-game collection, PS2 port, puzzle game, mini-game collection, PS2 port, puzzle game, mini-game collection, PS2 port, puzzle game, mini-game collection, PS2 port, puzzle game, mini-game collection, PS2 port, puzzle game, mini-game collection, PS2 port, puzzle game, mini-game collection, PS2 port, puzzle game, mini-game collection, PS2 port, puzzle game, etc, etc, etc, etc...

vidGuy @ Feb 7th 2008 4:24PM

"puzzle game, mini-game collection, PS2 port"

Yeah, I'm so pissed that I can own Zack and Wiki, WarioWare, and Okami on the same system. I mean who wants Super Mario Galaxy (it's not like it was the best game released this year or anything), Smash Brawl (overrated 'fighter'), and No More Heroes (Suda owes me for retinal damage from the graphics). Geez, there's nothing on it for a gamer to enjoy.

**rolls eyes, flips Gavin the bird**

Fernando Rocker @ Feb 7th 2008 11:36AM

I hope THQ company burns. Literally. (Without people inside the buildings, of course)

FidliousWong @ Feb 7th 2008 11:54AM

You know... I have FRIENDS in Volition... so for that, I hope you play in fire. Then again, I hoped you played in fired after comparing NSMB to Daxter...

Fernando Rocker @ Feb 7th 2008 11:57AM

sheppy

Apparently you don't have any sense of humour.

Fernando Rocker @ Feb 7th 2008 12:01PM

And I was comparing the fact that you were very excited because Daxter sold 2 millions copies, because is a 2 year old game, bundled, and is selling at retail at $20 and NSMB is not bundled, its still at full price, 34.99 and has sold 13 millions.

Besides, I will never compare Daxter to NSMB... is obious that NSBM is a lot better than Daxter...

FidliousWong @ Feb 7th 2008 12:02PM

I have a sense of humor. But I also know where THQ does have SOME advantage. But it's a give or take. Because of THQ, the lead in Summoner 2 had to be redesigned as a "sexy femme" and rewritten. But also because of THQ, they were allowed to take on a massive project like Saint's Row.

FidliousWong @ Feb 7th 2008 12:08PM

Very excited? Where did you get that impression? I applauded them and their work.

You have a new developer without a known name (only thing known about Ready at Dawn was they were formed by Blizzard vets) tackling a streaming game design on a handheld with a character that doesn't exactly have international known appeal or even very well known outside of the gaming circles. And quality wise, gameplay length, and technical accomplishment, they knocked that game right out of the park. And they got sales because of that. It's good to see great game designs get support from the community.

But Mario? Dude, the fact that Mario Party selling as much as it does, even on DS, should give you EVERY indication of the millions of sheep that flock to that cock like an immigrant looking for a green card...

Fernando Rocker @ Feb 7th 2008 12:10PM

"And they got sales because of that."

They got the sales because is bundled.

FidliousWong @ Feb 7th 2008 12:13PM

You have to sell at least 500,000 copies to get on Greatest Hits on PSP. So before that $20 price tag, they sold 500,000+ copies. They continued to sell at $20. And they continued to sell at bundled prices.

This is basic logic, boooooooooyooooo.

They got a huge boost in December due to the bundle but the fact remains they had a least a million before the bundle.

Noshino @ Feb 7th 2008 12:38PM

hey Fernando, news for you, NSMB has been bundled for QUITE a while...

and aside from the minigames, the replayability of it is awful, a few hours and I was done with it...completly, finito...

Now Daxter, a developer that came out of nowhere, now that is something clap for...

Please Fernando, give credit where due, and Ready at Dawn studios deserve it...and NSBM, if it wasn't because of the minigames, I would have already returned it...

Fernando Rocker @ Feb 7th 2008 12:40PM

Noshino

NSBM is not bundled.

Noshino @ Feb 7th 2008 12:49PM

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-4510198-4539813?ASIN=B000KZ7E0E&AFID=Froogle&LNM=B000KZ7E0E|Ultimate_Bundle_for_Nintendo_DS_Lite&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=B000KZ7E0E&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001

Also Fernando, I remember having seen it in different retailers before, Costco being the most recent one that I can remember...

Fernando Rocker @ Feb 7th 2008 12:53PM

Noshino

Thats a store bundle... like the ones that online stores do with the Wii. They charge you for the game.

The bundle of Daxter is Sony official, with a free game (Daxter).

http://confusedgam3r.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/daxterbox1.jpg

Fernando Rocker @ Feb 7th 2008 12:54PM

This is an example of the bundle you sent me...

http://www.target.com/Ultimate-Adventure-Bdl/dp/B001332THU/sr=1-6/qid=1202406838/ref=sr_1_6/601-3828990-1305707?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k%3Ads%20bundle&page=1

Look at the price!

Noshino @ Feb 7th 2008 1:00PM

err...Fernando, a bundle, regardless of it being official or not, its still a bundle...it STILL SELLS...

So please, rephrase your point, because now you aren't even making sense...

FidliousWong @ Feb 7th 2008 3:14PM

Gah, both you and noshino drive me nuts sometimes...

Fernando, a bundle is a bundle. It may not be enforced by the parent company but it does mean additional game sales to the bottom line. So when a store bundles Mario and shaves $10 off, it's still a sale of SMB. It still pads the numbers. And one of the more legitimate debates is that Wii's attach rate was significantly padded due to bundles over the holiday season. Also, you're wrong. Daxter is NOT free. The entertainment pack was $30 over the Core. If you break it down by price, Daxter is about $10 with the bundle.

Noshino, NSMB was not bundled by Nintendo... period.

And finally, time to rip on NSMB because I'm tired of hearing how great this step BACKWARDS was. "A, whaaaa?"

Look, NSMB was a huge disappointment for me because it was, frankly, waiting for a sequel over 10 years in the making. Only once it finally came out, it was like the designers took a long look at SMB3 and Super Mario World and decided all that shit was far too complex. So essentially, what I waited 10+ years for is... Super Mario Brothers 2...

The depth of the gameplay of the series as it evolved was removed. A vast majority of the hidden items weren't even hidden. You saw where you had to go, you just needed the shrinking mushroom. Not too many suprises. Hell, truth be told, NSMB was just as big a disappointment for me as Super Mario Sunshine.

Noshino @ Feb 7th 2008 9:17PM

sheppy,

I agree with you on everything BUT I never said that NSMB was bundled by Nintendo...

Marty @ Feb 7th 2008 11:43AM

Personally, I'm holding out for a dueling banjos game. Plastic, wireless banjo FTW.

KayRazy Ken Kutaragi @ Feb 7th 2008 11:55AM

Will this get the fabled Nintendo Seal of Quality?

Innovation indeed.

Waggle on

Mr Khan @ Feb 7th 2008 7:16PM

This is probably not the last time i will say this

Either Sony or MS (or both) would license this game for their console. The seal of quality simply means the game works on the console's hardware. That is all.

DMeisterJ @ Feb 7th 2008 11:59AM

WOW. This game looks like it (and probably will) suck/s. This game is supposed to come out in two months? Are they at least planning on overhauling the graphics on this blatant, but horribly done ripoff of Gutiar Hero 3? Newsflash THQ! Guitar Hero is alread on the Wii and is a much better game than this. Save your money and use it to actually make a change in Smackdown vs. RAW this year!

Deck @ Feb 7th 2008 12:02PM

Wow... just wow.

THQ... just wont stop will they?

This one is going to go down the pipes pretty damn fast.

rv @ Feb 7th 2008 12:12PM

The volus are so lame. They all sound asthmatic.
Why not someone cooler like a turian?

ThornedVenom @ Feb 7th 2008 12:04PM

Somebody get me DDR Rock Band Warioware.

Dash @ Feb 7th 2008 12:29PM

You know people, I don't understand why is everybody already trashing the game (I didn't see any video because I'm at work, so if it's the video that sucks, so forgive me).

I mean, it has a great song list, but not only that, it does one amazing thing: it allows you to play in diferente styles. I want to see The Ramones in a latin music style, Kool and the Gang rocking out or Def Leppard in country.

I know it's not a fantastic game, it won't beat Guitar Hero/Rock Band, but it looks at least to be a funny little game with good and varied music.

I'll give it a chance, even if it's just to have Kool and the Gang and Soungarden in the same game.

bilbravo @ Feb 7th 2008 12:43PM

wow this looks like guitar hero on crack

vidGuy @ Feb 7th 2008 12:55PM

"The full soundtrack includes other weird and wonderful choices like Tenacious D's "Master Exploder" and "Man of Constant Sorrow" from O Brother Where Art Thou."

Sounds like it'd be crazy fun. Graphics are horrible but, like all other Wii games, if it's fun who cares about graphics? I'm not dropping cash on this but I don't see any reason to crucify it, either.