Get your Ravi on with We Rock: Drum King

by Griffin McElroy { Dec 20th 2008 at 2:15PM }

If there's one thing we learned from Nintendo's presentation at E3 earlier this year, it's that ~~snowboarding injuries are often hilarious~~ playing imaginary drums is like, the coolest-looking action that anyone could ever hope to perform. 505 Games, whose publishing repertoire includes PAL versions of Cooking Mama and Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life, will attempt to capture said lightning in a bottle with their upcoming Wii rhythm game We Rock: Drum King. We think we know who's winning the coveted "Best Video Game Title of 2009" award.

The title, which is being developed by ARC System Works (the minds behind WiiWare "games" Family Glide Hockey and Family Table Tennis), is currently slated for a Europe-only release of April 2009. Based on a brief explanation provided in a press release, gameplay sounds like it will be reminiscent of Guitar Hero, with players using two Wiimotes to "air drum" along with a song, as designated by multicolored bars moving along a track. We will be heartbroken if this one doesn't make it across the Atlantic.

Tags: 505-games, arc-system-works, drum, ravi-drums, we-rock-drum-king, wii, wiimote

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

deaftly @ Dec 20th 2008 2:32PM

europe only huh?

thank god.

Conor @ Dec 20th 2008 7:11PM

@The people that don't like the music in RB/GH

What music do you people like then?

BIGGEN (LIVE-PSN: BIGGEN1103) @ Dec 20th 2008 2:37PM

geezus, not only is the market already overly saturated with "rhythm" games by GHs and RBs alike, but now we have knock offs like Rock Revolution, Drum King, and that Disney....thing.

i just want one music game that does it all, especially lets me put my own music into the game (and select music from different eras) without limitations and automatically creates varying degrees of difficulty without any effort on my part whatsoever while not making me play shit from the likes of AC/DC, Metallica, or Beastie Boys (and Faith No More). i ask you, is that so damn difficult?!

Brett from Atlanta @ Dec 20th 2008 2:47PM

You're right dammit! We need a game that lets us use most likely stolen MP3's and create our own music files. We also need flying cars, no pollution, no war, no economic problems, beer on sundays in the south, and a lot of other Utopian ideas to come true that never will.

BIGGEN (LIVE-PSN: BIGGEN1103) @ Dec 20th 2008 2:49PM

beer on sundays in the south?! now you're just being ridiculous!

genaldar @ Dec 20th 2008 2:54PM

You hate AC/DC, Metallica and the Beastie Boys? Exactly what kind of music are you looking to play? Bluegrass?

Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Dec 20th 2008 2:56PM

Welllll, Leftover Salmon would be fun I'd think.

Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Dec 20th 2008 3:01PM

Oh, and I personally agree. Those 3 bands are shit music I wouldn't want to play in a music game. Doesn't mean the only thing left is bluegrass, lawd. Your comment is crazy like beer in the south on Sundays.

Jakka ( The Order of Haters of Balance) @ Dec 20th 2008 3:02PM

I didn't think it was possible to hate AC/DC...what did AC/DC ever do to you?

BIGGEN (LIVE-PSN: BIGGEN1103) @ Dec 20th 2008 3:05PM

@genaldar
are you serious? seriously, are you serious?

BIGGEN (LIVE-PSN: BIGGEN1103) @ Dec 20th 2008 3:08PM

@jakka
they play shitty music

WRE @ Dec 20th 2008 3:11PM

Whoa Biggen, I know that AC/DC is no Hansen, or Generic Whiny Emo Band 3, but "shitty"? Really? If "You Shook Me All Night Long" is wrong then I don't want to be right.

Haggard @ Dec 20th 2008 3:19PM

And if And Justice For All, Blackened and Orion aren't seven shades of awesome then I'm not sure I like real music.

Tiptup300 @ Dec 20th 2008 3:20PM

Okay, lets see how this works out.

BA DA DA DA DAT BOO DOO DoO DOO DOO DOOT BA DA DA DA DAT BOO DOO DoO DOo DOO DOOT DEe DEE DOOO DEE DA DE

Now take that and map it out According to different instruments, IT WOULD Be thaT diFFICulT!

NOtE: I hate my shift key.

Superstar90 @ Dec 20th 2008 3:34PM

I, too, dislike AC/DC. And most of the music on RB and GH.

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Dec 20th 2008 4:11PM

YOU GUYS HATE AC/DC?!!! I mean I expect this from a "hardcore" Ps3 fanboy they always hate all the good stuff in favor of Jpop but you Superstar90? C'mon man. (Yet I do hate most of the songs in GH and RB as well)

In a more closed inspection I like AC/DC but some of their songs give me a headache and some of them sound very much like the others but I guess that can be said of any group.

Now that if you guys happen to like Soulja Boy now I officially lost all faith in humanity and I’ll pray for its immediate extermination…After I get 1000 in Banjo Kazooie.

Brett from Atlanta @ Dec 20th 2008 4:20PM

If you hate AC/DC, would you then at least provide us with an example of some bands you like BIGGEN? I know some people don't care for them, but hate is such a strong word. If you could at least provide some counter examples of "good music," maybe then it would help us all understand why you don't care for them.

Brett from Atlanta @ Dec 20th 2008 4:25PM

@ Jeckyl:
Don't throw the fanboy card into this. I love my PS3 and I also love AC/DC. Saw them a few nights ago actually and they rocked pretty hard. Great show.

genaldar @ Dec 20th 2008 4:44PM

I agree with Brett, Biggen please enlighten us poor fans of music listened to by more than 5 people about some "good" music we should look for.

btw I know there are more types of music than those bands and bluegrass, I was pointing out that hating the music of 2 of the biggest rock bands of all time means that maybe, just maybe, playing a rock band fantasizer (it simulates nothing) is a bad choice. Pardon me for being factitious.

genaldar @ Dec 20th 2008 4:50PM

@markez a fucking jamband? God I hate that shit. I immediately walk away when anyone brings up phish or another band of that ilk. And I can't say a band describing their style as "Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass" makes me want to listen. In fact I wish I had the 30 seconds back it took me to read up on them on wikipedia.

Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Dec 20th 2008 5:56PM

@ genaldar

Lol, man, nobody made you read up on it. I have one Leftover Salmon tune that's been in my mp3 folder for eons, so sue me. By no means am I a jamband nut, not there's anything wrong with that. Notice earlier I said "I personally agree".

Saying you immediately walk away from anyone who brings up jamband music makes you sound like a hell of a douche.

Desert Eagle @ Dec 20th 2008 6:13PM

@ BIGGEN:

You hate AC/DC and Metallica and want a music game that can do everything? Well, for people like you, you can count on Wii Music for that job...

Desert Eagle @ Dec 20th 2008 6:18PM

*Jumps on the double comment bandwagon*

@ Brett: I don't really think he is going to respond. I've a great feeling that this guy is too much of a pussy to even respond to a question like that because the Internet commenters won't respect its favorite MTV bands he loves to listen to, unless he proves otherwise. >.>

deaftly @ Dec 20th 2008 6:24PM

This is the only band I like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0

Jakka ( The Order of Haters of Balance) @ Dec 20th 2008 6:43PM

You saucy bastard!

zuburi @ Dec 21st 2008 1:32AM

@deaftly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgRriCJARvU

BIGGEN (LIVE-PSN: BIGGEN1103) @ Dec 21st 2008 3:54PM

wow, why such anger towards someone who hates a band you like desert eagle (and others)? actually, i like bands such as radiohead, calla, the verve, doves, pink floyd, the doors, some grateful dead, some fleetwood mac, the flaming lips, grandaddy, voyager one, and some others that i find to be NON mainstream and infinitly more talented than the shit that's on the radio or on mtv. so kiss my grits!

Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Dec 20th 2008 2:38PM

I think this could go either way; really bad, or pretty good.

A wiser move to me would be to combine all three of the games referenced; Cooking Mama, Harvest Moon, and this game.

You could finish off a sick drum fill, throw the sticks way up high in the air, chop a few carrots, water some tulips in a flower pot next to you, and then catch the sticks on the way down, and then just ride the crash symbol to glory.

This is gaming, and can only be accomplished on the Wii.

Brett from Atlanta @ Dec 20th 2008 2:49PM

Harvest Mama: Drum King! Brilliant!!! Day one purchase for me if I get to use asparagus as drum sticks.

WRE @ Dec 20th 2008 3:12PM

Harvest Mama sounds ridiculously awesome.

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Dec 20th 2008 4:04PM

No,"Organ Harvest Mama" sounds ridiculously awesome.

(1+ all above)

Brett from Atlanta @ Dec 20th 2008 2:42PM

I often wonder if developers of games like this ever read posts like these and feel ashamed...God I hope so.

sam @ Dec 20th 2008 5:27PM

Well, they could be making a sequel to 'Hooked! Real Motion Fishing', so on balance, I don't think they have anything to be ashamed about.

Incidentally, that's a Japanese developer (of, mainly, utter crap), which probably means it will get a Japan release as well? I dunno...

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Dec 20th 2008 4:02PM

Is that really a screenshot? For the image alone I thought this was about a Guitar Hero like Flash game.

Klink258 @ Dec 20th 2008 4:23PM

It looks... so... bad.

Abscissa @ Dec 20th 2008 6:15PM

If the rhythm minigame from Zak and Wiki is any indication, this game is going to be *completely* unplayable.

Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Dec 20th 2008 6:24PM

OH THE HORROR!!! My god, I wanted to beat those, I really did. I read up on how people beat these on the interweb and it just didn't help me. I continued to fail :( DAMN THAT BELL

Mr Khan @ Dec 21st 2008 12:31PM

Motion controls have advanced quite a bit from Zack and Wiki's time, but come on, it's 505 Games. It probably wouldn't be playable wherever they put it

Desert Eagle @ Dec 20th 2008 6:34PM

When I saw the screenshot, I thought this game was going to be something like a cellphone/iPod game. Then I saw the article stating it would be released on Wii for Europe and chuckled.

Sucks to see how the Wii gets a lot of shovelware games when in fact is a console with a whole lot of potential...

Little Big PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Dec 20th 2008 6:59PM

"Based on a brief explanation provided in a press release, gameplay sounds like it will be reminiscent of Guitar Hero, with players using two Wiimotes to "air drum" along with a song, as designated by multicolored bars moving along a track."

So, is this is essentially Wii music without balance board support and just for drums? Why would anyone want to air drum instead of having the actual feedback of the drum controller? It can't be that hard to make an uber cheap drum set or at least have existing drum set compatibility at launch.

Uber cheap portable drum set -
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=208289384&listingid=34050094&dcaid=17902