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It’s that time of year again: EA and Activision will attempt to prolong profits in the plastic peripheral battle by making yet another iteration of their respective franchises. While Activision seems to be looking to new game modes for its Guitar Hero titles, Harmonix and MTV Games have put their money on gamers wanting a more authentic music playing experience.
You can play the latest Rock Band just like previous iterations, using all your old guitars, drums and, of course, with the new wireless keyboard controller ($79.99), but Pro mode seems to be the real selling-point of Rock Band 3.
Playing through the three difficulty levels of Pro mode, you can supposedly learn skills for your preferred instrument that translate into the real world. The only drawback is that to take advantage of the new mode, you have to buy the new Mad Catz designed peripherals.
New Hardware
Rock Band will differentiate between the toms and cymbals in Pro mode, so it will be essential to buy the PRO-Cymbal Expansion Kit ($39.99), adding three dedicated cymbals to your existing drum set; whereas for both pro guitar and bass, you will have to use the entirely new wireless Fender Mustang controller ($149.99) that taunts you with a fret board positively riddled with buttons.
As an alternative to the new guitar, Harmonix worked with legendary guitar makers Fender to produce a real six-string electric guitar that doubles as a controller.
Mark Van Vleet, Senior Vice President of Business Affairs over at Fender commented in a statement released on their site, “We’ve heard countless stories about how Rock Band has inspired folks to pick up and learn to play guitar. This instrument and the Rock Band Pro gameplay contained within Rock Band 3 are uniquely poised to open the doors of musical enjoyment for music lovers around the world. Quite simply put, this is a huge step forward and a momentous occasion in guitar instruction and music entertainment.”
Dates and details for the Fender-made guitar haven’t surfaced yet, so watch this space.
Another device, the PRO-Adapter ($39.99), will give those who already own a proper MIDI drum set or keyboard the ability to use those with the game, instead of forking out for the branded instruments.
Rock Band’s Backwards-Compatibility
On the content side of things, the game will release with 83 new tracks from various artists, but you’ll be glad to know that the small fortune you spent on DLC over the weeks and the various game discs (Rock Band 1 & 2, Green Day: Rock Band and even Lego Rock Band) will all be accessible from Rock Band 3′s menus. There hasn’t been any mention as to whether The Beatles: Rock Band’s content will be playable yet. I can hardly imagine it would be an oversight for such a huge property, but I guess stranger things have happened. Right? Oh well.
The new Rock Band will also feature much better music library organization and sorting with filters, according to the developers. Players can sort titles according to genre preferences: hiding songs that they’re not interested in, and allowing the game to suggest alternatives instead.
The current list of games announced by EA:
2000s:
* Metric – “Combat Baby”
* Rilo Kiley – “Portions for Foxes”
* Them Crooked Vultures – “Dead End Friends”
* The Vines – “Get Free”
* The White Stripes – “The Hardest Button to Button”
* Phoenix – “Lasso”
* Ida Maria – “Oh My God”
* Juanes – “Me Enamora”1990s:
* Jane’s Addiction – “Been Caught Stealing”
* Stone Temple Pilots – “Plush”
* Smash Mouth – “Walkin’ on the Sun”
* Spacehog – “In the Meantime”1980s:
* Dio – “Rainbow in the Dark”
* Huey Lewis and the News – “The Power of Love”
* Joan Jett – “I Love Rock and Roll”
* Night Ranger – “Sister Christian”
* Whitesnake – “Here I Go Again”
* The Cure – “Just Like Heaven”
* Ozzy Osbourne – “Crazy Train”1970s:
* Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”
1960s:
* Jimi Hendrix – “Crosstown Traffic”
* The Doors – “Break On Through”
Subtlety
Also, take another glance at that keyboard image up there. See that single note on the far right? Hopefully this will be on the retail product as well.
I love you Harmonix <3
Rock Band 3 will hit shelves Q4, 2010.
