We're not exactly sure how much of MTV Multiplayer's information about transferring Rock Band songs to Rock Band 2 is new, but it gives a tiny bit more detail to the process, which has yet to be fully explained. We knew that the transfer would cost "under $5"and that RB1 would receive a patch the day RB2 released, but we believe the detail about a "password" bundled with RB2 is new ... maybe. Either way, we haven't written about it.
Harmonix's John Drake tells MTV that when the game releases on Sept. 14, the RB1 patch will add an "export" feature to the game. Selecting to export will prompt the user to add a password included with Rock Band 2, after which a payment screen will be displayed. Told you it was a tiny detail!
ShackNews ran a piece today, pretty much reiterating our details from a couple weeks back, about the status of various Rock Band 2 release dates. Many retailers are still listing the release date for the standalone disc and individual instruments for Rock Band 2 on Xbox 360 as Sept. 14. All other console versions, along with the Xbox 360 "Special Edition" bundle with all the instruments included, are currently listed with an Oct. 19 release.
A Harmonix rep responded today to Joystiq's inquiry on the subject saying, "We have not confirmed this information yet."
Well, looking at the dates here, it's about time someone did.
With its rock 'n' roll aesthetic and Jack Black-connection, currently publisher-less Brütal Legend seemed like a natural fit to be picked up by MTV Games, the way Variety saw it. But, the publisher denied the hunch saying, "We are big fans of [Double Fine chief] Tim Schafer. We hope the game finds a good home."
Well, that's just great. So, who'll pick it up? We can rule out Activision and MTV ... and almost certainly Majesco. While we don't know who the most likely candidate is now, we'd like to humbly offer the services of Joystiq's publishing arm. Here's what we can promise.
1. No interference from us, except when we occasionally but adamantly demand that our likenesses replace those of the lead characters. 2. No knowledge of how to actually publish a game, specifically in regards to marketing, manufacturing and distribution channels. 3. Lots of hugs.
Let's preface this piece with two points: 1) No official Rock Band 2 release date has been set for any console. 2) No official Rock Band 2 release date has been set for any console. Clear? Let's do this.
MCV reports (via Spong) that "a handful" of North American retailers have listed the release date for Rock Band 2 on PS3 as "November 23rd -- just a month after the October 19th release date." Cutting through several bits of minutia, we don't know where this October release date comes from as Harmonix reconfirmed to us today that the Xbox 360 version releases in September.
We did check with the fine folks at Amazon who said their information comes "directly from the vendor." Meaning that current information has the standalone game of RB2 releasing Sept 14, the "Special Edition" with the instruments is available for both Xbox and PS3 on Oct 19, along with the PS3 standalone version of the game. But, let's be clear, once again: No official Rock Band 2 release date has been set for any console.
Part of the appeal of games like Rock Band is that you can play like you're in a band without actually having to go on-stage and risk mass humiliation. Of course, there are those who can't see the line separating failing a song in front of three friends and failing a song in front of 10,000 strangers. For them, MTV has created the Rock Band Live Tour.
Kicking off on October 5 in San Diego, CA, the tour is headlined by Panic at the Disco and Dashboard Confessional, and, as the press release happily exclaims, "possibly you!" Pre-concert Rock Band 2 competitions will be held by local radio stations, national contests, and on-site at each venue, the winners of which will "perform" on-stage in-between sets by opening acts Plain White T's and The Cab. (In addition, MTV has announced that tracks from all of the acts on the tour "minus you!" will be made available in a post-launch DLC pack for Rock Band 2.)
Dashboard Confessional frontman Chris Carraba is quoted in the release, saying, "I'm practicing my Rock Band drumming. With any luck I'll win a spot on stage to show what I can really do." Har-har! Tickets for the tour go on sale at 10:00am local time on Friday, August 8. Check out the full schedule of stops after the break.
Harmonix has made Rock Band 2 much more party-friendly by adding a no-fail option. It's accessible through the Extras menu as an unlockable. Like the name suggests, you can't fail a song when on this mode -- perfect for playing with people who like to stretch themselves too far when playing with friends, or perhaps bars that are hesitant to let people ruin drunken audience singalongs by a tricky bass line. Another, less obvious benefit mentioned in our interview this morning with senior designer Dan Teasdale: People who are unable to use their legs can now play drums.
In the madness of E3, we got 10 minutes with Rock Band 2's Senior Designer Dan Teasdale. We rattled off a bunch of questions and jotted down his basic answers. Full quotes? We don't have time for full quotes! Check out the rapid-fire Q&A after the break.
When we sat down to get a fresh look at Rock Band 2 at the HarmonixE3 booth, the musical members of the dev team were happy to tell us that many people who try Rock Band wind up pursuing real instruments as a result. When discussing the new drum trainer in Rock Band 2, Senior Designer Dan Teasdale told us, "I feel kind of bad that we're turning people into drummers." Teasdale, as it turns out, is a bass player bassist.
"The Who recently licensed downloadable tracks for the video game Rock Band. Daltrey said he tried it and got bored quickly. He laments the way technology has shifted how people regularly interact with music, saying the scrapping of long-play records signaled the death of the music industry." (from CNN)
Roger Daltrey is 150 years old. (not from CNN; our estimate)
Interesting, the site links two two separate retailers for "official" pre-orders: One from Gamestop which lists the Xbox 360 special edition bundle at $189.99 and one from Amazon that lists it at $199.99. Gamestop also list a PS2 version at a discounted $179.99. A true rock star probably wouldn't care about these minor discrepancies, but for a struggling garage band, those are spare dollars that could go to cheetos and gas for the van.
Just to make sure, we checked with Harmonix to see if there was any other music sneaking into this week's Rock Band DLC, like what happened with Weezer and Doolittle. So, for this week, the much anticipated "best of" The Who will be available, replacing The Who's Who's Next album originally announced many, many moons ago.
The Best of The Who Rock Band Edition (1600 MS points / $20) -- All songs are also sold individually (160 MS Points / $2)
"Amazing Journey"
"Baba O'Riley"
"Behind Blue Eyes"
"Eminence Front"
"Going Mobile"
"Leaving Here"
"My Generation" (LIVE)
"Real Good Looking Boy"
"Sea & Sand"
"Summertime Blues" (LIVE)
"Who Are You"
"Young Man Blues" (LIVE)
Videos for the songs can be found after the break. The album and tracks will be available tomorrow, July 15, for both Xbox 360 and PS3.
According to The New York Times, the arrival of Rock Band 2 later this year will not only be accompanied by expected fanfare, but the belated blaring of scented weapon rockers, Guns N' Roses. Taken from the band's eternally upcoming album, Chinese Democracy, "Shackler's Revenge" will reportedly grace Harmonix's sequel, signaling the first time a new Axel-lent song has managed to find its way onto a disc in a very long time.
While the Times views the track's in-game appearance as a portent of the band's album making it to store shelves before the great shelf extinction of 2019, less optimistic folks (that's us!) have simply accepted an unpleasant truth. Rock Band 2 is never coming out.
Here at Joystiq, we weren't too surprised when Konami decided to jump on the legal bandwagon by bringing a lawsuit against the makers of Rock Band for patent infringement. After all, the rhythm game has made roughly a gazillion dollars and has component parts that bear at least a passing resemblance to Konami games like Guitar Freaks and DrumMania (not to mention Karaoke Revolution, which Harmonix helped develop, and the upcoming Rock Revolution). That said, we're not the ones being sued, so our relative shock at the suit doesn't really matter. That said ...
"Konami's actions are extremely surprising," an MTV Games spokesperson told MTV News regarding the suit. "Unfortunately, successful products such as Rock Band can often become targets for baseless litigation. We have substantial defenses to this claim and intend to vigorously defend it."
The full interview includes more details about the lawsuit and information on the actual patents that Konami claims are being violated. Any budding legal eagles out there want to check them out and give an informed opinion on the merits of the suit?
Konami has filed a lawsuit against Harmonix, MTV Networks, and their parent company Viacom alleging that Rock Band violates patents it filed in 2002 and 2003. In the suit, Konami seeks to block Harmonix from using its "inventions" – we're guessing guitar controllers here – and, in addition, is asking for cash compensation. Bloomberg reports that Viacom has not received a copy of the compaint and, as such, could not issue an official comment.
Having introduced GuitarFreaks – a music game utilizing guitar controllers – in Japanese arcades nearly a decade ago, Konami has been late to the guitar game party in the States, only recently announcing its own answer to Guitar Heroand Rock Band with Rock Revolution. We've contacted Konami for comment on the legal proceedings and will update when possible.
Let's get this out of the way first: Rock Band 2 isn't the innovator Rock Band 1 was. But if it walks like Rock Band 1 and rocks like Rock Band 1, then what makes it Rock Band 2? If you're afraid of getting a glorified song-pack, Harmonix has a handful of new features in store that they hope will assuage your fears, and they all seem to revolve around the user experience. That means no new instrument types and no fancy, new graphics, but a whole lot of what you love about Rock Band 1 has been fixed up and added onto. We got a chance to check the game out at EA's EA3 event last month and EA shared a fact sheet with us that lays out all the new features.
The sequel's major feature seems to be "backwards compatibility" – that means all your previously purchased DLC will work, no need for redownloading or authorizing. It just works. The same philosophy extends to your equipment: all of your Rock Band 1 equipment will work with Rock Band 2.
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