Disney announces peripheral-free 'Ultimate Band' for Wii, DS

53 Comments by Kyle Orland Feb 27th 2008 3:00PM
Filed under: Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, Rhythm

Sure, you love Rock Band, but shelling out the $170 for the requisite game and peripherals isn't even an option if you're a Wii or DS owner. Enter Disney Interactive, who think they can bring peripheral-free rhythm gaming to Nintendo systems with Ultimate Band.

No, the Fall Line Studios-developed game won't feature Mickey, Donald or other familiar characters (unlike some other Disney-fied rhythm games) but it will feature a "deep song list, dynamic venues, and customizable characters" according to the press release. The Wii version will let players use the Wii remote and Nunchuk to play drums, guitars and "front man" while the DS version will also let players "create their own original songs ... and apply creative mixing effects." The portable version will also include support for Disney's DGamer online social network. Look for both versions by the holidays.

Also see: THQ's Band Mashups for the Wii

Tags: Disney, Disney-Interactive, DS, rock-band, Ultimate-Band, Wii

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Fernando Rocker: Feb 27th 2008; 3:05PM

Here are three screeshots...

Am I crazy or those are very good graphics?

http://kotaku.com/photogallery/ultimateband/1000821219

xFenixKnightx: Feb 27th 2008; 3:16PM

Fernando please tell me your joking, please?

Fernando Rocker: Feb 27th 2008; 3:17PM

I meant... compared to the usual third party crap.

Nick the Hero of Canton: Feb 27th 2008; 3:31PM

No, Fernando is right. Those look better quality (lighting and stuff) than GHIII for Wii.

xFenixKnightx: Feb 27th 2008; 3:36PM

Ohhh, I see.

Nick the Hero of Canton: Feb 27th 2008; 3:52PM

btw, for the record, I wasn't being sarcastic.

Tony C: Feb 27th 2008; 8:37PM

Sure, great graphics that unfortunately, the Wii will never be able to show. Am I the only one that finds it funny that the screen shots are 1280 pixels across when the Wii can only output 720x480 (480P)? =)

Tiptup300: Feb 27th 2008; 8:55PM

Am I the only one not caring about HD, I run with a EDTV and use the RCA cables. I do have a 1080i big screen in my living room, but I'd rather just play in my room...

Fernando Rocker: Feb 27th 2008; 3:07PM

No kidding... I'm interested in this game =p

I hope it gets an online mode.

xFenixKnightx: Feb 27th 2008; 3:44PM

Seriously though Fernando, I hope Nintendo is using all this dough the Wii is raking in and invests it in some powerful HD hardware for its next-gen console sometime in 2010 or 2011.

jsn: Feb 27th 2008; 4:34PM

Fenix: why would they do that when they can skate by with outdated hardware? they've got a legions of blind followers who will lap up their gimmick and its retread, simpleton games. There is no reason to push the boundries anymore.

bender: Feb 27th 2008; 4:44PM

@jsn

Nintendo won't be able to make another console that isn't on par with the other ones anymore unless they come out with something else that they can hype up like the wii remote and downplay graphics. Theoretically, Sony and Microsoft could do it to if they play their cards right. No, I think their next one will be as powerful, if not more powerful than it's competitors since they already stated that N6 will be HD.

Nick the Hero of Canton: Feb 27th 2008; 6:02PM

It may be a gimmick with outdated hardware, but it's a gimmick with outdated hardware I actually have fun with it.

baby sea tuna: Feb 27th 2008; 3:08PM

I can only dream that this game will be as good as Alvin and the Chipmunks...

/Goes back to playing Rock Band.

Mr Khan: Feb 27th 2008; 5:16PM

Which is also coming to Wii

Worst Review Ever: Feb 27th 2008; 3:09PM

Huh.

deaftly: Feb 27th 2008; 3:13PM

Can't wait to rock out to some Hanna Montana. This has fail written all over it.

Co: Feb 27th 2008; 3:26PM

shit dude no need to wait! I saw 2 different Hanna Montana games in Best Buy when I was there last week!!

DCBlack: Feb 27th 2008; 11:05PM

That's So Raven ftw!

D_Average: Feb 27th 2008; 3:15PM

I can only hope they include a metal version of "Its a Small World After All"....

XanthouS: Feb 27th 2008; 4:05PM

That would make about as much sense as creating some metal version of "The Devil Went down to...

wait...

oh yeah

Chris: Feb 27th 2008; 3:29PM

O how I love generic characters who look like they have down syndrome.

BIGGEN: Feb 27th 2008; 4:04PM

like in GH and RB? the ONLY thing good about this game seems to be customizable characters. i haven't played GHIII or RB, so tell me, can you make a character that looks like you, or is it the usual, what was it:

"generic characters who look like they have down syndrome" (well put BTW)

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School): Feb 27th 2008; 4:55PM

In rock band, you have about 5 or 6 faces to choose from (male and female), and can scale the weight and build through about 5 settings each (short to tall, and thin to fat). Beyond that, there's a metric F ton of clothes, Hairstyles, and tattoos/facepaint to further customize with.

For example. I just created an FF7 band. Sephiroth on Drums, Tifa on Vocals, and Cid Highwind on Bass. Its not exact, but its close enough to be able to tell who is who.

The band is called "Tifa's 7th Heaven" by the way.

Tiptup300: Feb 27th 2008; 8:56PM

I see some hard-core rockers living the big life. Don't know what your talking about.

Shagittarius: Feb 27th 2008; 3:30PM

This title will reveal just how huge the limitations of the wii-mote are.

jsn: Feb 27th 2008; 4:28PM

you mean that isn't already well known?

Spirit: Feb 27th 2008; 3:30PM

Is Disney trying to make kids emo? (look at the screenshot)

Juice: Feb 27th 2008; 3:30PM

rock out to all your favorite disney classics!

baby sea tuna: Feb 27th 2008; 3:49PM

If I don't get to play as the Tar Baby from Song of the South, I want nothin to do with it.

deaftly: Feb 27th 2008; 3:55PM

I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering, splendid
Tell me, princess, now when did
You last let your heart decide?

I can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over, sideways and under
On a magic carpet ride

baby sea tuna: Feb 27th 2008; 4:00PM

*swoon*

ThornedVenom (Patapornographer): Feb 27th 2008; 3:47PM

Wait, how is it possible without peripherals?

*plays Frets on Fire with a keyboard like an idiot*

smartguy1600: Feb 27th 2008; 4:09PM

it seems like maybe you would push the buttons on the nunchuck for the chords. And then "strum" the wiimote in time to the notes. The little "no" sign probably is the default without any buttons pressed.

Jared: Feb 27th 2008; 3:53PM

Honestly, this is just a blatant rip off of both GH and Rock Band and they should be ashamed of themselves.

Morisato: Feb 27th 2008; 4:31PM

GH and RB is a rip of GuitarFreaks and DrumMania... they should be ashamed of themselves...

The BPM Scrolls IV: Knights of the Nine: Feb 27th 2008; 9:26PM

Rock Band = Drummina + Guitar Freaks + Karaoke Revolution

You missed something. ;P

Dan CiTi: Feb 27th 2008; 3:57PM

Surfer Girl called it.

Eoco: Feb 27th 2008; 4:02PM

The Wii version seem like a pretty good idea, if you don't want to fork out for peripherals. However it is made by Disney...

D_Average: Feb 27th 2008; 4:04PM

I wonder if this game will be made by small children...

XanthouS: Feb 27th 2008; 4:07PM

Can't wait to flail my arms around as I go for a FC on expert "Front Man".

What the hell does that even entail? Try to pump up the crowd as precisely as possible using the Wiimote?

Donald: Feb 27th 2008; 4:12PM

This may be the greatest example of licensed schlock sincAPPROACHING SOUND BARRIER

Tegolin: Feb 27th 2008; 4:27PM

Yeah.
Cause GH with a regular controller is loads of fun.

Joe: Feb 27th 2008; 4:28PM

God, I wish Harmonix and/or Red Octane would sue...

Gavin: Feb 27th 2008; 4:36PM

Have you tried playing Guitar Hero or Rock Band without the toy instruments and just a controller? It fucking sucks a mega ultra boatload of ass. Waggling along with the music is going to be just a lame.

WiNG: Feb 27th 2008; 5:04PM

Some thoughts:

1. The graphics really don't look that bad, especially if you compare it to GH, which was never about graphics to begin with.
2. Depending on what the songs are, this could suck hard OR be "okay". Metal mixes of Disney classics would be awesome in the dorkiest way possible.
3. Personally I think it's good they're making a game that doesn't require another 12 peripherals. The Wii has enough of those.
4. Mii integration plz?

cduran01: Feb 27th 2008; 5:26PM

I don't know, I think playing with an actual guitar shaped peripheral is much cooler.

At least with GH and GB, there was some work put into designing the instruments. Without those instruments its just a simple musical puzzle game.

Deozaan: Feb 27th 2008; 5:34PM

Nintendo needs to get on the bandwagon with Mii Music or something.

Deozaan: Feb 27th 2008; 5:35PM

Are you kidding? The Guitar Hero guitar looks like a Fisher Price toy.

I haven't seen the rock band instruments, but I doubt they're *that* much better.

Deozaan: Feb 27th 2008; 5:37PM

The above was in response to cduran01 when he said:

"I don't know, I think playing with an actual guitar shaped peripheral is much cooler."

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