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Rock Band As the Costly New MTV?
Posted by
Zonk
on Wed Apr 04, 2007 04:34 PM
from the we-are-indeed-getting-the-band-back-together dept.
from the we-are-indeed-getting-the-band-back-together dept.
With the announcement of Rock Band, fans of the Guitar Hero series are well and truly pleased. Despite the fact that GH controllers will work with the game, with all the peripherals the game is going to be ridiculously expensive, assuming you want to get an entire band together. "Specifically, the 'Rock Band Wireless Guitar Controller' will retail at $79.99 (40 quid approx), the standard 'Rock Band Guitar Controller' at $59.99 (30 quid approx), the 'Rock Band Drum Set' $79.99 and the 'Rock Band Microphone' at $39.99 (20 quid approx)." Beyond that, though, Kotaku's Brian Crecente takes a look at the game in a broader context, wondering aloud if the game will be a new version of MTV ... or at least, a new version of the way MTV used to be. Introducing new bands, songs, and sounds to consumers via videogames seems like a fairly natural way of trying things.
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Guitar Hero Developer Announces Rock Band 71 comments
figgen writes "Gamers and music fans have been waiting on details for the next Harmonix project, now that the company has been purchased. The development team behind Guitar Hero announced Rock Band via USA Today. The title is coming to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and will expand on the concept by adding singing and drumming into the mix. 'With MTV as a partner, Harmonix was able to sign deals with the major forces in the music publishing industry and has access to the master recordings of music from popular artists. Electronics Arts is also involved, and will use its global reach to help distribute the game.' GameSpot had a chance to sit down with Harmonix's Alex Rigopulos and EA Partners' David DeMartini to talk about the upcoming title."
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Rock Band Bundle Only Option Available This Year 68 comments
Via 1up, an interview at the site bits bytes pixels and sprites with the folks at Harmonix clarifies a great deal about Rock Band . The co-op multiplayer rhythm game is due out before the end of the year, and at least in 2007 the only way to get it will be the $169 bundle pack. There's also some information on the game's downloadable content, which sounds like it will be considerable: "Harmonix is committed to providing gamers with a wide selection of new content and promises that one week from launch The Who's famous album "Who's Next" will be made available for download. Harmonix has also scheduled new content to be released every week until the end of 2007 to keep the game fresh throughout the holiday season."
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well.. not specifically (Score:2)
Videogames and interactive media in general are the new MTV, not just one game.
They're missing the audience controllers though. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:They're missing the audience controllers though (Score:3, Funny)
only a matter of time? (Score:2)
Prices are guesses... (Score:5, Insightful)
YouRockTube (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
To qualify as 'new MTV' it would have to retain its self-important focus on a brand that can be sold to the people who listen to pop music. MTV hasn't had anything to do with music itself since
This is a gaming enthusiast's dream... (Score:2, Insightful)
It looks great on paper, really great, but I don't think people are going to spend 2-300 dollars on a video game. Games with one unique peripheral have trouble catching on.
This may be a huge flop.
Re:This is a gaming enthusiast's dream... (Score:4, Informative)
The Japanese are more gadget oriented than USians, though, and this may explain at least some of the success of the series in the Japanese market as compared with its difficulty here in the USA.
Parent
Well... (Score:4, Insightful)
Don't think so. (Score:2)
Introducing new bands, songs, and sounds to consumers via videogames seems like a fairly natural way of trying things.
Consumers exist to consume "content", that is, consume it passively. Since we're not talking about customers of Harmonix (i.e. the people buying Guitar Hero games), nor are we talking about gamers in general, we can't assume anything will be able to influence consumers that involve active entertainment.
Never underestimate the apathy of consumers! Your customers, however, are more likely to enjoy learning about new bands they can listen to and perhaps go to concerts of and purchase albums of.
MySpace == next MTV (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't think it's very likely that Rock Band will include tools of a high enough quality to create serious music, especially since its a console game. Allowing people to upload their own songs requires tons of regulation (for obscenity, copyright infringement). It seems far too early to tout this game as the Next Big Thing for music. It'll be like Guitar Hero, with more instruments.
Personally, I think the new MTV already exists in MySpace (and to a lesser extent YouTube). There have already been numerous artists whose popularity on these sites has landed them record deals. Its a better breeding ground for new bands: there is much more infrastructure for rated and discovering related talent to what you like, especially when you factor in that all the legitimate rock stars have MySpace pages for their bands. New music videos are premiered there. Concerts are announced "secretly" for MySpace fans, with tickets only purchasable via the site. And since MTV (and now MTV2) almost never show music videos any more, this is where people go to see them.
Re: (Score:2)
Obvious applications... (Score:4, Funny)
Not a contender for real music (but is MTV?) (Score:2)
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Sure, these games are good for the market of people who would normally buy a $50 guitar and never learn... but really...
They're even more pointless than sports games. At least there are physical, social, and weather barriers stopping you from playing real basketball...
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
On the other hand, pretending to play an instrument and "is this the new MTV" really are a couple sentiments that belong together.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Why Guitar Hero is fun, from a former musician (Score:4, Insightful)
As someone who knows how to play various instruments (having been in band/orchestra for many years), I will say that playing an instrument when you're good at it, can be a lot of fun. However, there's also the years upon years of experience of practice that it takes. And even then, it's obvious that most folks just won't ever have the talent that rock stars have.
On the other hand, with much less practice, I can play a video game that simulates the skill involved in playing a musical instrument. It's immersive (crowds cheering for me) and I'm playing actual songs that I like (versus "Row row row your boat" for the first few weeks while learning a real instrument). Furthermore, since it's easy for me to pick up and learn, it's probably easy for my friends as well. So, in short time, my buddy and I can get in some awesome, and fun, guitar duos.
Of course Guitar Hero II should not be an actual replacement for learning guitar, but it was never meant to be. Just because it's impractical in that sense, though, doesn't mean it's a stupid idea of a game.
On a personal note, I have noticed that a lot of my fellow former-musician friends also have taken a liking to Guitar Hero. Your comments seem to imply that we'd be the first to realize that a game like Guitar Hero is a waste of time. It's actually the opposite. Since we've all understand how much time and energy it took to master our respective instruments (for myself, it was the violin and the trumpet), we know that it can take months, if not years, to get good enough at the guitar to even come close to playing some of the well-known rock songs. The decision ultimately becomes quite simple. I'll take rocking with Van Halen in only a few hours, thank-you-very-much.
Parent
Re:Depends... (Score:5, Insightful)
Number one: You KNOW that they're not going to allow midi hookups. Or at least I feel you should know, if you're thinking about it much. Given the history of gaming and peripherals, I'd rate that as VERY wistful thinking.
But on to your other point, of hoping it is more "real"... How "real" is it exactly that you want? That you have to actually play a real instrument well? (Which is what it sounds like you're moving towards?) If you are a person capable of doing that (which it sounds like you are) then you don't NEED THIS as a game.
The purpose of most games is for a chance to pretend that you are something you're not, and act under a different set of rules than normal. Counterstrike, you get to pretend to be a swat-team member or a terrorist. Normally society frowns on people running around with guns and shooting each other. But here's a make-believe way we can try it out and have fun!
Well, guitar hero is for people to pretend that they can play guitars and are rock stars. It serves its purpose remarkably well. It is SQUARELY aimed at people who can't play guitar, but enjoy the fantasy of being on a stage, "wailing" on their "axe". I think it is safe money that "Band" will be similar, allowing some game-mechanic that maps well onto music, so that people can pretend to be playing in a band. (The only toss up is the vocal, which I'm expecting will be sharing a lot of technology from kareoke machines.)
The thing though is... The fact that its not more "real" isn't its weakness, but its strength. It puts a plausible, rock-feeling experience into the hands of a bunch of people who wouldn't otherwise get one.
If you actually ARE one of the people who can play drums and guitar, then you don't NEED this game to be more real. If you want the next level up for reality, then all you have to do is go find a couple of similar people and make a REAL band, which as people seem to never tire of pointing out, is far more rewarding anyway.
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
I know midi is way out there - but it would be fun
I'm looking for something that's more like the experience of playing Tekken at an arcade, less the experience of playing it at home. The GH controller is cheesy, but still sorta gets the idea going. Like the duckhunt gun, it gets the job done and it's sorta fun. Playing FPS games with a standard controller is really lame. I just have this dread thinking of the rockband drum kit. What, is it a little controller with 4 or 5
Real if allowing creation... (Score:3, Interesting)
But if you played earlier games from Harmonix like Frequency, they supported modes that really did let you create music. You had fewer options note-wise than with a full keyboard, but many tracks of instruments - you could come up with some really different stuff that way. That's what I expect to see out of Rock Band, and even if it's fewer notes than you could get out
Re: (Score:2)
Like some people keep saying "why play guitar hero when you can play guitar" it's one of those "why play gran turismo when you can actually drive" things.
Maybe because it's a game?
Games are fun?
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Well, today, sure, but, back "in the day"...they actually did play music videos, and they were often pretty trend setting.
Ah...the good old days of "I want my MTV..."
*sigh*