Survey reveals Rock Band 2 concept box art

61 Comments by Ross Miller Jun 5th 2008 3:25PM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Rhythm

Joystiq has obtained two scans from an anonymous tipster that reveal a new survey conducted by Listen Research for Rock Band 2. (If you recall, Listen Research conducted a different, more detail-oriented Rock Band 2 survey last month.) Participants were shown two different box art concepts and asked the following:

Indicate which of the two covers below would attract you more if you were shopping for a new game in a store.
Indicate which game box cover you believe is a better fit with the description of the game.

If anyone asks, our vote is for the the game box cover shown above. We've placed the description and second game box cover after the break.

Description (from the survey):

"Rock Band 2 lets you and your friends play as a virtual 4-person band, in person or online, to rock out to some of the biggest rock anthems from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s. Rock Band 2 will be a full featured sequel, similar to full featured sequels you see released by other big video game franchises, such as Need for Speed, Devil May Cry, Final Fantasy, Call of Duty, or Halo. In the music/rhythm genre, it is similar to the feature jumps made from Guitar Hero I to Guitar Hero II or Guitar Hero II to Guitar Hero III."

Tags: ea, electronic-arts, harmonix, rock-band, rock-band-2, survey

(Page 1) Reader Comments

Fatass of Sarcasmness: Jun 5th 2008; 3:30PM

Exciting.

McWeen: Jun 5th 2008; 3:31PM

Umm yea...

NATO_Duke: Jun 5th 2008; 3:31PM

Yay - more peripherals!

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award): Jun 5th 2008; 3:44PM

Who's to say the old ones won't work? Game only SKU FTW.

baby sea tuna: Jun 5th 2008; 4:21PM

Seriously. I can't imagine them breaking the old peripherals for the new game. They'll probably introduce some new alternatives to the original instruments, but nothing you'd *have* to buy.

NATO_Duke: Jun 5th 2008; 6:06PM

Yeah I would hope the old ones work - but those look like wide boxes to me.

T: Jun 5th 2008; 6:46PM

How would it be any different than GH and GHII?

The RB1 bundle is discontinued in favor of RBII. If you want the full bundle, you'll have to buy RBII (which makes sense to promote it)

For people who already own RB1, you can buy just the disc of RBII. For people who buy the RBII bundle they can then buy RBI disc-only if they choose.

I don't see why everybody's flipping out over it...

bluestriker: Jun 5th 2008; 7:49PM

Harmonix would never fail us. :)

But in all honesty, I'm not sure that I like either of them too much. I live the original Rock Band's box art better.

Farseer (GDI): Jun 5th 2008; 10:33PM

I agree with bluestriker. Harmonix has been good to its fanbase in the past, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Robert Zakheim: Jun 5th 2008; 3:36PM

I hope it's slightly more like the jump from GH1 to GH2 than the jump from GH2 to GH3.

Also that the setlist this time has a better difficulty curve for guitar. RB1 was so easy I was almost 100%-ing songs in Tier 8.

At least DLC gave us stuff like Metallica, Working Man, and Shockwave, among others.

Robert Zakheim: Jun 5th 2008; 3:38PM

Also a better drumset would be nice.

JonFitt: Jun 5th 2008; 3:54PM

No, easier guitar parts are great!
I don't want to be sitting around waiting for the next note, but GH3 gets too hard too quickly.

Hard != Fun

Robert Zakheim: Jun 5th 2008; 4:14PM

Eh... maybe it doesn't have to be harder, but I'd prefer it if easy songs were more like In Bloom, Gimme Shelter, and Say it Ain't So, etc. As in, they have solos rather than just a handful of the same riffs over and over (i.e. Maps, Learn to Fly, I Think I'm Paranoid).

Princess Skittles: Jun 5th 2008; 3:36PM

Focus testing, that's good for the industry.

OMGOMG: Jun 5th 2008; 3:37PM

"In the music/rhythm genre, it is similar to the feature jumps made from Guitar Hero II to Guitar Hero III."

Yes!!!! Boss battles OMGOMGOMGOMOMGOMG!!

Broven: Jun 6th 2008; 8:29AM

I hope you're joking. Boss battles ruined GH3 for me.

Charron: Jun 5th 2008; 3:38PM

From a design standpoint... I actually prefer the RB1 silhouette style. It creates a human scene without creating characters, something important in the "you are the band" mentality the game's trying to convey. In that vein, I prefer the second option, but... it's too white. Needs more color.

Also, it depends on how different RB2 would be from RB1. If it's meant to be similar, the box art should be as well- keep the visual branding going. If it's substantially different... aside from my concerns about that gameplay direction, it should look sufficiently different from the first game, in which case I'd go with the first.

...and this is why they generally don't allow full-text comments on surveys.

benjor0x0r: Jun 5th 2008; 3:40PM

I don't really care for either. In the first one the shadows are unbalanced, so the Bassist is kinda getting screwed. But in the second it highlights the singer, who is usually the most annoying person to be around...

B3astofthe3ast: Jun 5th 2008; 3:51PM

WANT

Cian: Jun 5th 2008; 3:52PM

Love the second box art myself.

FOXHOUND: Jun 5th 2008; 3:57PM

I forgot the name of the BGM, but it'd be a nice challenge to play the end theme from DMC3 if they truly are going to add some game soundtracks.

LaughingTarget: Jun 5th 2008; 4:03PM

Stick the bastard in a brown paper bag for all I care, the box was too big for the first one to keep around so it went in the trash. Don't bother spending a load of money on the container.

baby sea tuna: Jun 5th 2008; 4:21PM

But it is our most modestly priced recepticle...

niindre: Jun 5th 2008; 4:04PM

Without a doubt they will upgrade the drums to match (probably exceed) the competition.

I really hope they add a one octave keyboard, that would be awesome... oh and a ton of Doors and more Cars to go with that

Tag: Jun 5th 2008; 4:08PM

Looks like one is trying to put the vocal aspect in the foreground, while the other is more of a guitar/drum approach with the vocalist barely visible in the background.

On an impulse decision (which it wouldn't be because I'm a fan and don't give a crap about the boxart) I would go with the blue cover.

Daniel: Jun 5th 2008; 4:08PM

Yea, you guys made a good pick. That second one just looks weird.

Tegolin: Jun 5th 2008; 4:10PM

"It is similar to the feature jumps made from Guitar Hero I to Guitar Hero II or Guitar Hero II to Guitar Hero III"

What other jumps are there?

I likke the first one. Color scheme sticks to the 1st game.

Kewlrats: Jun 5th 2008; 4:10PM

I like the silhouetted (white) one myself.

Because you can totally see the girl rocker's boobie nipples.

Abscissa: Jun 5th 2008; 4:19PM

Umm, as opposed to what? Leg nipples?

makishima: Jun 5th 2008; 4:20PM

As opposed to her elbow nipples?

makishima: Jun 5th 2008; 4:21PM

@Abscissa Damnit you beat me to the punch

Tiptup300: Jun 5th 2008; 5:07PM

dugg for nipples!

Cesaria (MKW:2621-2994-1376): Jun 5th 2008; 4:11PM

You know it could just be a white box, with generic text saying "Rock Band 2," and people would flock to it. The box means nothing. I think the first game has done enough to cement the name into people's minds.

Abscissa: Jun 5th 2008; 4:17PM

Exactly. And it's not as if a big, nearly $200 (and I said *nearly*, not *exactly*!) box is going to be an impulse buy for people (At least not anyone that's actually responsible with money).

Cesaria (MKW:2621-2994-1376): Jun 5th 2008; 4:26PM

I understand what they're trying to do. They're trying to market to your average Walmart shopper, but I think the game has successfully entered the mainstream media to the point where anyone with a passing interest in the rhythm genre will snatch it up.

Abscissa: Jun 5th 2008; 4:12PM

People actually blow resources focus-testing *box-art*?!?

Sora267: Jun 5th 2008; 4:14PM

If they're at the boxart stage already, then the game is probably done for the most part. I'd say it'll be out in time to compete with GH:World Tour.

aldo: Jun 5th 2008; 4:18PM

DLC from RB1 NEEDS to be compatible with RB2 or this is just a money pit, and we've all been down that road with the GH's.

Moorio - XBL: peacebyanymeans: Jun 5th 2008; 4:39PM

It'd be nice, but it's not needed. I still have Rock Band 1, I can just pop it in and play the songs.

But, allowing DLC from 1 in the game and vice versa would be awesome.

Mike: Jun 5th 2008; 4:47PM

And we'll continue down that road because people pay for it.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Jun 5th 2008; 4:48PM

I'm still slightly disappointed that there is already a sequel in the works. I mean with all the downloadable content and such, you'd think that Harmonix would have been able to support the game for a couple of more years.

Noshino: Jun 5th 2008; 5:07PM

Not really, thing is, GH STILL a huge competitor, if they stay behind, they will lose momentum...

Mullinsmcd: Jun 5th 2008; 5:20PM

I'm guessing that all the RB1 peripherals will work but the DLC will not. Hopefully RB2 will have all the best things outlined in GH4(ie band vs band, create your own song,etc) and include an online world tour mode. Im really rooting for Harmonix here. Cant wait til E3 and we can see what they have up their sleeves.

343 Guilty Fart: Jun 5th 2008; 5:38PM

Didn't RB1 just come out 6 months ago? Why do we need another so soon?

Kouheikun: Jun 5th 2008; 7:03PM

I actually like the second boxart better, it looks more stylish. The first is too cluttered and busy.

Also, is it normal practice to survey people about boxart? And why would it matter for a game like Rock Band ... at $170 it's not exactly an impulse buy.

Kouheikun: Jun 5th 2008; 7:03PM

Ghen: Jun 5th 2008; 4:42PM

They both look to be the same level of washed out to me... first one just has more shades of blue.

Oh well, not like I'm going to be a consumer so I don't have a voice in the matter.

Gabriel: Jun 5th 2008; 6:22PM

i have to agree with you there kouheikun the second boxart does look better

niindre: Jun 5th 2008; 7:04PM

I think Harmonix needs to wise up on the DLC thing. If they don't let me use my RB1 DLC on RB2, why on earth would I not jump ship and just buy GH:World Tour?

They need to realize this is a smart move that benefits them and their loyal customers. I always thought (hoped) it was the greedy bastards that published the game that made them put on the asshat as far as the DLC went. Prove me right guys.

xenoraptus: Jun 6th 2008; 7:04PM

I recall an interview a while back where Harmonix was asked if downloadable content would work in a possible Rock Band sequel.

Long story short, they said yes.

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