Harmonix: Rock Band in for a 'fundamental creative reinterpretation'
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Harmonix is trying to find a steady beat after a stressful year with surprising highs and lows. In an interview with Giant Bomb, Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos mentions the company is considering a "fairly fundamental creative reinterpretation" of the Rock Band business.
"We still have a loyal audience who continues to show up weekly to gobble up our weekly releases. That actually continues to be a profitable business for us, which is nice," said Rigopulos. "We're committed to the franchise, but when I think that when we do things with it in the future, it's going to be a pretty dramatic departure from what we've done before."
Co-founder and CTO Eran Egozy added, "We do have plans on where we're going to go with Rock Band and how we plan to expand it. All I'll say for now is that it isn't what you think. You might assume we're going to add saxophone or something along those lines, but no, the kind of direction we're planning on taking Rock Band, the kind of innovation we have in mind, is taking it in a different direction, one that's more suitable to the kind of environment we're in, what people are doing now, what they're interested in playing now, versus, say, 2007."
Egozy concluded, "It's more than ideas. We are working on it, and we have forward progress. It's an exciting, fresh take on it. I'll leave it at that."
"We still have a loyal audience who continues to show up weekly to gobble up our weekly releases. That actually continues to be a profitable business for us, which is nice," said Rigopulos. "We're committed to the franchise, but when I think that when we do things with it in the future, it's going to be a pretty dramatic departure from what we've done before."
Co-founder and CTO Eran Egozy added, "We do have plans on where we're going to go with Rock Band and how we plan to expand it. All I'll say for now is that it isn't what you think. You might assume we're going to add saxophone or something along those lines, but no, the kind of direction we're planning on taking Rock Band, the kind of innovation we have in mind, is taking it in a different direction, one that's more suitable to the kind of environment we're in, what people are doing now, what they're interested in playing now, versus, say, 2007."
Egozy concluded, "It's more than ideas. We are working on it, and we have forward progress. It's an exciting, fresh take on it. I'll leave it at that."
Reader Comments (35)
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 2:51PM Dark Archon PSN Archonik XBL Dar said
What " what people are doing now, what they're interested in playing now" is a free Rock Band "shell" that can be "topped-up" with paid for songs.
That seems to be the logic step to take. The DLC library is huge and a free Rock Band version would encourage players to buy tracks they like.
I'm hoping there's more to it. Love Harmonix and everything they do. Dance Central 2 is awesome too. Go and buy it.
That seems to be the logic step to take. The DLC library is huge and a free Rock Band version would encourage players to buy tracks they like.
I'm hoping there's more to it. Love Harmonix and everything they do. Dance Central 2 is awesome too. Go and buy it.
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 2:53PM Dark Archon PSN Archonik XBL Dar said
@Dark Archon PSN Archonik XBL Dar
Whoops. Should have read:
What "[...]" sounds like [...]
sorry guys ;)
Reply
Whoops. Should have read:
What "[...]" sounds like [...]
sorry guys ;)
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 2:54PM libregkd said
So long as all the songs I've obtained over the years can transfer over to new Rock Band games, I'm really fine with whatever they do.
But otherwise I'd be done with the series(In that I stop buying new games and stick to what I currently have.)
But otherwise I'd be done with the series(In that I stop buying new games and stick to what I currently have.)
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 2:54PM ack31184 said
i'm calling it: AIR GUITAR, powered by Kinect. oh, air drums too.
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 2:56PM Pasty said
Great, Facebook.
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 2:58PM Korbie said
Hey, Activision? This is what it looks like when you're not completely money-hungry and creatively bankrupt.
I.e. You'd still be making music games. How's Guitar Hero working for you?
I.e. You'd still be making music games. How's Guitar Hero working for you?
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 2:59PM klusion said
Intrigued, but I still have to buy Rock Band 3...
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 3:01PM (Unverified) said
PSN & XBL: Eckofall
Add me and I'll play every game with you ever! =D
Hadu Hafez
Add me and I'll play every game with you ever! =D
Hadu Hafez
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 3:01PM mietha said
Sooooo..., they're making it for cellphones... ****ing great...
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 4:22PM baby sea tuna said
@mietha
Even if they were, it's not news. RB has been on smartphones for a while now and it hasn't had a discernable effect on their business strategy.
Reply
Even if they were, it's not news. RB has been on smartphones for a while now and it hasn't had a discernable effect on their business strategy.
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 3:14PM John Z said
Okay, raise your hand if you now suddenly kinda want a plastic saxophone to push buttons on and blow. Into.
Come to think of it, it would be almost too risky to produce just because if there's as much trouble as there were with the first drum kits, "it blows" is just kinda low-hanging fruit for reviewers.
(And again, I tease because I love.)
Come to think of it, it would be almost too risky to produce just because if there's as much trouble as there were with the first drum kits, "it blows" is just kinda low-hanging fruit for reviewers.
(And again, I tease because I love.)
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 4:46PM Apakal said
@John Z
No. Catering to the keyboard forced RB3 to have easily the worst set list in almost any rhythm games (minus a few gems long sought after) and has essentially forced Harmonix's hand to a degree in what songs they can choose from for future DLC.
Introducing another niche instrument would spiral the game even farther downward and eliminate even more song choices, unless you're happy getting one new instrument track for every 50 traditional 4-piece tracks.
Reply
No. Catering to the keyboard forced RB3 to have easily the worst set list in almost any rhythm games (minus a few gems long sought after) and has essentially forced Harmonix's hand to a degree in what songs they can choose from for future DLC.
Introducing another niche instrument would spiral the game even farther downward and eliminate even more song choices, unless you're happy getting one new instrument track for every 50 traditional 4-piece tracks.
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 3:14PM Squawk said
Why do I have a bad feeling about the future of Rock Band?
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 3:45PM RickGhastly said
@Squawk
After how poorly the last one sold, we may be lucky to even get whatever potential monstrosity that everyone's talking about (unless you'd rather see the genre die with an ounce of remaining integrity). At this point it seems like more of an issue of keeping music-based games alive rather than needless corporate tampering.
Reply
After how poorly the last one sold, we may be lucky to even get whatever potential monstrosity that everyone's talking about (unless you'd rather see the genre die with an ounce of remaining integrity). At this point it seems like more of an issue of keeping music-based games alive rather than needless corporate tampering.
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 3:17PM Cat Herder said
Why no saxophone? I would love to see some of my favourite ska tunes show up on Rock Band.
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 3:21PM Gratchet said
Jesus that was the most vague response I could have gotten. What I did get though was that the disks are not profitable, but the weekly download content is.
I have said it over and over on their forums. They need deals. 1/2 price Rock Band 1 & 2 DLC. Back catalog DLC track pack deals. Buy 2 get 1 free. Rewards for customers who keep coming back again and again for more.
Imagine this. Rock Band 4. Improved animations and 0 pre-included songs. Instead you get to pick 80 songs from their 2200 songs catalog. You put together your own set of what you want. $50.
For me Rock Band is as important of a platform as the game system it is on. I want to know that my ($1000+) investment can stay with me.
Sell the idea that these will always be available to me. Kinda like Steam. Steam tells me that I can download their shit on whatever computer I want, whenever I want, no matter how many times I want it. Make me feel like what I bought is mine.
I could go on and on. I wish these guys would just hire me.
I have said it over and over on their forums. They need deals. 1/2 price Rock Band 1 & 2 DLC. Back catalog DLC track pack deals. Buy 2 get 1 free. Rewards for customers who keep coming back again and again for more.
Imagine this. Rock Band 4. Improved animations and 0 pre-included songs. Instead you get to pick 80 songs from their 2200 songs catalog. You put together your own set of what you want. $50.
For me Rock Band is as important of a platform as the game system it is on. I want to know that my ($1000+) investment can stay with me.
Sell the idea that these will always be available to me. Kinda like Steam. Steam tells me that I can download their shit on whatever computer I want, whenever I want, no matter how many times I want it. Make me feel like what I bought is mine.
I could go on and on. I wish these guys would just hire me.
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 3:38PM jsx92 said
Anyone invested in Rock Band would say the same.
I don't have high hopes for track BC in the next generation. Let's be real, the genre is hurting and the remaining artists aren't licensing. It relies heavily on the instrument hardware which is console specific. The instruments are a big problem for their business model.
Also, without disc songs you greatly segment the user base in online play.
Unless they can get me some Zeppelin or Floyd or Tool or DMB or ... something other than the top 40 stuff they're going to be hard pressed to sell me another Rock Band game. Software "innovation" (which to Harmonix means removing core features like versus) simply isn't enough in this genre.
Reply
I don't have high hopes for track BC in the next generation. Let's be real, the genre is hurting and the remaining artists aren't licensing. It relies heavily on the instrument hardware which is console specific. The instruments are a big problem for their business model.
Also, without disc songs you greatly segment the user base in online play.
Unless they can get me some Zeppelin or Floyd or Tool or DMB or ... something other than the top 40 stuff they're going to be hard pressed to sell me another Rock Band game. Software "innovation" (which to Harmonix means removing core features like versus) simply isn't enough in this genre.
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 3:40PM libregkd said
@Gratchet
Unfortunately its hard to pull off those kind of deals and incentives when dealing with music labels. They are seriously one of the most shittiest types of companies to deal with and will usually put down rules in such a way that, if they don't get their way, then HMX can't get the music.
Just an example with this, there have been so many times that HMX wants to push out a pack of songs (Such as this week's DLC) but labels don't like the idea of their music being bundled together with music from another label, so it forces HMX to release the songs as singles instead of a discounted pack.
The sales that do go on only happen because they get help from Sony/MS to cover the expenses. I've been saying that Pre-RB3 songs should get a discount just because they are "outdated" songs, but music licensing doesn't work that way unfortunately.
Also, your Steam comparison can't really work here as HMX isn't the one who has put up the infrastructure to purchase/download DLC, its Micorsoft, Sony, and Nintendo. They are kinda at the mercy of those companies when it comes to DLC. And I've never been a huge fan of "choose your song list" idea. While its good to give choice, all that does is fragment an already highly fragmented online community.
Reply
Unfortunately its hard to pull off those kind of deals and incentives when dealing with music labels. They are seriously one of the most shittiest types of companies to deal with and will usually put down rules in such a way that, if they don't get their way, then HMX can't get the music.
Just an example with this, there have been so many times that HMX wants to push out a pack of songs (Such as this week's DLC) but labels don't like the idea of their music being bundled together with music from another label, so it forces HMX to release the songs as singles instead of a discounted pack.
The sales that do go on only happen because they get help from Sony/MS to cover the expenses. I've been saying that Pre-RB3 songs should get a discount just because they are "outdated" songs, but music licensing doesn't work that way unfortunately.
Also, your Steam comparison can't really work here as HMX isn't the one who has put up the infrastructure to purchase/download DLC, its Micorsoft, Sony, and Nintendo. They are kinda at the mercy of those companies when it comes to DLC. And I've never been a huge fan of "choose your song list" idea. While its good to give choice, all that does is fragment an already highly fragmented online community.
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 3:22PM YouAintFatYouAintNotin said
Rock Band DUBSTEP VERSION...
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 3:46PM foxhound said
@YouAintFatYouAintNotin
I hope not. I'm nowhere near the talent level of guys like this:
http://thebubble.msn.com/video/?id=ae5d535f-e159-4444-98f8-477c47e0d182
Reply
I hope not. I'm nowhere near the talent level of guys like this:
http://thebubble.msn.com/video/?id=ae5d535f-e159-4444-98f8-477c47e0d182
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 3:25PM CoconutSkittle said
Maybe Rock Band 4 will have a giant guitar peripheral to clip onto your 3DS.
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 3:27PM onlysublime said
in other words, they're going to copy Rocksmith...
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 3:40PM cantwait2bhome said
I'm thinking...Rock Band MMO...
That's what all the kids are doing these days, right?
That's what all the kids are doing these days, right?
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 3:54PM pokeman7452 said
Oh no. I love the RB series, it is the reason I got a xbox in the first place. But this quote scares me:
"taking it in a different direction, one that's more suitable to the kind of environment we're in, what people are doing now, what they're interested in playing now, versus, say, 2007."
Over the years, I have watched my favorite games and series (Ace Combat, Mass Effect, etc) "adapt to a more current audience" at the expense of those who LIKED the original formula. Mostly these changes are shooters that add regen health and easymode features to make the game "simpler" and anything else to make it more like CoD. It is unfortunate that the "current audience" is majority of 12yr olds that beg their parents to get them games that let you blow other people up with unrealistically overpowered stuff. The only change I would like to see in the future of the music genre is Orchestra Hero. If not that, leave it be please.
tl;dr - They are going to make RB into a CoD clone to appeal to the 12yr olds >.>
"taking it in a different direction, one that's more suitable to the kind of environment we're in, what people are doing now, what they're interested in playing now, versus, say, 2007."
Over the years, I have watched my favorite games and series (Ace Combat, Mass Effect, etc) "adapt to a more current audience" at the expense of those who LIKED the original formula. Mostly these changes are shooters that add regen health and easymode features to make the game "simpler" and anything else to make it more like CoD. It is unfortunate that the "current audience" is majority of 12yr olds that beg their parents to get them games that let you blow other people up with unrealistically overpowered stuff. The only change I would like to see in the future of the music genre is Orchestra Hero. If not that, leave it be please.
tl;dr - They are going to make RB into a CoD clone to appeal to the 12yr olds >.>
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 4:25PM baby sea tuna said
@pokeman7452
I know, Mass Effect 2 was a HUGE step backward from the first one!
/s
Reply
I know, Mass Effect 2 was a HUGE step backward from the first one!
/s
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 4:54PM commonperson said
Seeing how the made the leap from Guitar Hero to Rock Band I have a feeling we're going to be looking for something similar between Rockband 3 and what ever the next iteration is. I wouldn't be suprised if they tried to rebuild the entire hierarchy but we'll see. Given they are very invested in this and actually try and inovate not just regurgitate like Activison did with Guitar Hero once they got their hands on it, it should be interesting (with harmonies, keyboards, drums, guitar and base there's little room to go in the instrument front.)
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 5:28PM GewurztraminerX said
Is it backwards compatible with previous DLC?
If the answer is 'yes' then that's all I need to know.
If the answer is 'yes' then that's all I need to know.
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 5:55PM Cranky Penguin said
I don't know where else Harmonix can go. Rocksmith now lets you use an actual guitar so Harmonix is playing catchup in this genre for probably the first time.
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 8:05PM Synner said
How about hoolers and blow? It's hookers and blow isn't it?
Posted: Oct 25th 2011 11:48PM Ovy said
As a long time Rock Band fan, this comments worry me.
Posted: Oct 26th 2011 2:18PM totalysharly said
Oh god. The last thing the world needs is an FPS controlled by a guitar controller.
Posted: Oct 26th 2011 4:13PM mjanosko said
Interpretive Dance Band?
Posted: Oct 27th 2011 3:54AM Crayola Q Pants ESQ said
Purchasable hats?







