We wish Harrison and the entire Harmonix crew the best of luck in this endeavor, if only so they can finally stymie the infinitely deplorable "why don't you learn how to play a real instrument" contingency. Man, we hate those guys.
Dhani Harrison: Rock Band 3 will make you better at actual rocking
by Griffin McElroy 
on Nov 7th 2009 1:00PM
75
We wish Harrison and the entire Harmonix crew the best of luck in this endeavor, if only so they can finally stymie the infinitely deplorable "why don't you learn how to play a real instrument" contingency. Man, we hate those guys.
Reader Comments (75)
Posted: Nov 7th 2009 1:25PM (Unverified) said
The instruments will probably be backwards compatible but the old tracks wont be taking advantage of the new buttons unless the the fret layouts are rewritten... I smell DLC-money to be made.
and just my two cents on the 'learn to play a real instrument' comments: For casual players of these games it's totally inappropriate. For the kids that spend hours and hours mastering some of these tracks - pick up a guitar, you'd be surprised how much you can accomplish in the same time. And no, i'm not saying go out and compose a symphony, just try to play the songs you like; most 'musicians' are terrible composers and only ever get around to do doing covers.
and just my two cents on the 'learn to play a real instrument' comments: For casual players of these games it's totally inappropriate. For the kids that spend hours and hours mastering some of these tracks - pick up a guitar, you'd be surprised how much you can accomplish in the same time. And no, i'm not saying go out and compose a symphony, just try to play the songs you like; most 'musicians' are terrible composers and only ever get around to do doing covers.
Posted: Nov 7th 2009 1:31PM vidguy said
Seems counter-intuitive. The reason RB and GH sell is because they are accessible - almost anyone can pick up and play. You make it more realistic and you lose that accessibility.
There are already "games" in which you plug in a /real/ guitar and play along to the music. RB3 doesn't need to be one of them to sell.
There are already "games" in which you plug in a /real/ guitar and play along to the music. RB3 doesn't need to be one of them to sell.
Posted: Nov 7th 2009 10:26PM whymog said
Which is why I really doubt a game with more realistic peripherals is going to be a proper Rock Band game. It doesn't make sense to go back and rechart the 1000+ songs to work with a whole new set of instruments, especially when you consider that they'd have to issue hundreds of patches tailored specifically for each individual song as well as the song packs on three different platforms.
I think what is more likely is that Harmonix's newest project is something that will exist alongside Rock Band as a separate IP entirely, maybe even with significant content cross-over, but it'll be built to accept input from a more real-world sort of peripheral. My dream is to see a game that works with an electric guitar or bass that actually teaches technique and theory without being tedious to play. But if anyone could do it, it's Harmonix.
But as someone who could have bought a few orphanages with the money I've spent on DLC, I reaaaally hope that stuff doesn't become obsolete.
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I think what is more likely is that Harmonix's newest project is something that will exist alongside Rock Band as a separate IP entirely, maybe even with significant content cross-over, but it'll be built to accept input from a more real-world sort of peripheral. My dream is to see a game that works with an electric guitar or bass that actually teaches technique and theory without being tedious to play. But if anyone could do it, it's Harmonix.
But as someone who could have bought a few orphanages with the money I've spent on DLC, I reaaaally hope that stuff doesn't become obsolete.
Posted: Nov 7th 2009 1:39PM (Unverified) said
I bet it will be new software for a real guitar. I know it has been done before but not really in a game and definitely not in a fun way. I would buy it for my Ibanez.
Posted: Nov 7th 2009 1:44PM Commander Corn said
I have noticed that Rock Band has greatly increased my speed at actual drumming, and it helped me understand common drum patterns in music more.
Posted: Nov 7th 2009 1:48PM dogmaticatheist said
This could only work if they require real guitars to be plugged into your console. You'd then have to memorize chords and play them at the right time.
The current drum setup is actually pretty decent. It doesn't translate 100% to real drums, but it at least gets you to learn how to use the foot pedal and timing.
I fail to see how a plastic peripheral with buttons is going to translate to actual guitar playing.
The current drum setup is actually pretty decent. It doesn't translate 100% to real drums, but it at least gets you to learn how to use the foot pedal and timing.
I fail to see how a plastic peripheral with buttons is going to translate to actual guitar playing.
Posted: Nov 7th 2009 1:58PM (Unverified) said
no it won't
Posted: Nov 7th 2009 2:14PM Reaper man said
It's really interesting to see Harry Potter, Hermione, and Ron going through their rebellious stage...
Posted: Nov 7th 2009 2:20PM (Unverified) said
If they actually follow through on this idea, it will revolutionize these types of games.
Posted: Nov 7th 2009 2:32PM Ryuk said
i don't know what to make of this. part of me doesn't want this to happen, because it means more and more kids are gonna pick up guitar and play just cause of rock band. part of me thinks its a good thing. the former part is just me being a cocky douche guitarist probably...
Posted: Nov 7th 2009 2:41PM (Unverified) said
ive been playing real guitar for 5 years and guitar hero/rock band for 2 and let me tell you, it already helps build hand stamina and muscle memory on expert. more buttons wouldnt make it as fun as it is now just more confusing.
Posted: Nov 7th 2009 2:55PM SitriStahl said
i hope its an extra mode, and the core 5-buttons/4pads+pedal setup stays as the actual game
Posted: Nov 7th 2009 3:22PM ViewtifulJason said
They'd have to overcome the instrument compatibility problem first. Alienating millions of plastic instruments from the new game would cause udder failure and more than likely tank Harmonix. If this became a separate project outside of the Rock Band franchise, or a special mode such as a heavily-expanded Drum Trainer but including the other instruments, that would interesting, and would definitely shut my guitar-playing brother's mouth.
Posted: Nov 7th 2009 3:23PM ViewtifulJason said
I can't believe I wrote "udder". I've been watching too much Rocko's Modern Life.
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Posted: Nov 7th 2009 3:39PM (Unverified) said
Unless Rock Band 3 comes with a real guitar and is a series of instructional videos on playing guitar, I don't see 5 colorful buttons teaching anyone how to manipulate sound with strings and hollow casing.
Posted: Nov 7th 2009 3:47PM (Unverified) said
I just saw Dhani's band thenewno2 with Wolfmother last night. They were pretty good.
Posted: Nov 7th 2009 4:30PM whnunlife said
Posted: Nov 7th 2009 4:40PM tasteofink313 said
i know how evey one says learn an actual instrument. but come on now, the best way to get better at actual rocking to is to actually rock. ive been playin guitar for 6 years, i dont want a guitar simulator i want a fun rhythm game. i just see this ending up badly.
Posted: Nov 7th 2009 10:00PM (Unverified) said
If Neversoft had announced that future iterations of GH titles would have different, more "realistic" controllers, people would shit bricks and say "omg gh is sooooo gay and this is going to make it even gayor."
When HMX announces it, people are either saying:
"Sounds interesting, I'll give it a shot"
or
"omg aaaaawwweeesssooommmeee rb is sooooo much bettor than gh b kuz it is inovaytav"
My thoughts: this is a terrible idea. Leave the genre alone, it is fine the way it is. We don't need stringed controllers or any bullshit like that.
When HMX announces it, people are either saying:
"Sounds interesting, I'll give it a shot"
or
"omg aaaaawwweeesssooommmeee rb is sooooo much bettor than gh b kuz it is inovaytav"
My thoughts: this is a terrible idea. Leave the genre alone, it is fine the way it is. We don't need stringed controllers or any bullshit like that.
Posted: Nov 8th 2009 5:16AM SitriStahl said
people don't complain about rock band because they haven't had 6 games this year, and each game is compatible with the last(sans the beatles, but that was their choice)
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Posted: Nov 8th 2009 3:26AM TaskMaster said
Why don't you stop writing silly articles on Joystiq, and work for a REAL publication.
/required sacasm tag
/required sacasm tag
Posted: Nov 9th 2009 8:35AM Tukachinchilla said
If it's going to take "a couple of years" for a RB3, then GH5, with it's ease of entry party mode will win, regardless of how good playing RB is.
Posted: Nov 9th 2009 9:19AM (Unverified) said
Here's what you should think about when you say "just learn to play a real instrument"...
Instead of playing a first person shooter, just join the military.
Instead of playing a first person shooter, just join the military.
Posted: Nov 9th 2009 9:50AM (Unverified) said
DrumMania/RockBand actually teaches you the basics of drumming at least and you can transition to real drums.
If you're going to put all this time into playing GH/RB guitar, wouldn't it be 1000% cooler/more useful way to spend your time if you can learn a little about music/real guitar at the same time?
Learning an instrument isn't that hard btw, esp considering how much time people spend on music games :P
If you're going to put all this time into playing GH/RB guitar, wouldn't it be 1000% cooler/more useful way to spend your time if you can learn a little about music/real guitar at the same time?
Learning an instrument isn't that hard btw, esp considering how much time people spend on music games :P
