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More cowbell for Rock Band

by: John - posted: 7/5/2007 12:22:00 PM
More On: Rock Band
Here's a lot of info for Rock Band which we will get to see next week at E3. One neat feature for the singer is that you can tap the mic to play a tambourine and cowbell notes. That's right, if you have the fever you can satisfy it with more cowbell. I gotta have my cowbell. You can also shout out to the crowd to try and get them riled up. The singer portion doesn sound intriguing but you won't catch my playing that part though. The drums on the other hand will be one instrument I'll definitely try to get into when the game's released. Some songs will be played by a coverband while others will be the originals themselves giving the game a nice combination of originl music and covers from different bands. From the looks of this press release, the game's shaping up to be something special.
 
The Ultimate Interactive Music Game Experience
 

Developed by Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, Rock Band™ is an all-new platform for gamers to experience music, giving players the chance to rock in the shoes of the biggest guitarists, bassists, drummers and singers of all time – as a solo superstar or as part of a hard rocking band.

 

Rock Band™ delivers four music games in one – challenging rockers to master lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals or play collectively as a whole band. Built on unprecedented deals with top record labels and music publishers, the music featured in Rock Band™ spans all genres of rock and includes many master recordings from legendary artists.

 

Rock Band™ will be released on the Xbox 360™ videogame and entertainment systemand the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system in Holiday 2007.

 
Gameplay
 

 
Guitar gameplay
 

Rock blistering solos to rock’s best tunes! Challenge your rock star status on the screen while strumming a slick guitar that’s modeled after the legendary Fender® Stratocaster®.

 
 
Singing gameplay
 

The ultimate kick for Freddie Mercury wannabe’s. Using a Karaoke-style interface, players’ vocal performance is rated as they sing into the microphone.
 
Drum gameplay
 

Capture the power, physicality, and sheer fun of real drumming with Rock Band’s custom drum kit controller featuring four pads, kick pedal, and real drum sticks.
 
Bass gameplay
 

Bust out defying rock rhythm with the bass guitar option, which offers different parts to play in every song, and some unique gameplay twists.

 
 
Modes
 

Master the basics! No need for experience. Pick your weapon of choice and ascend from beginner to rock god using Rock Band’s Tutorial Mode.

 

Perfect your tune! Breakdown any part of any song at your preferred speed with Rock Band’s Practice Mode.

 

Instant fix of fun! Jump into any unlocked song for some quick jam time either on your own or with other players with Rock Band’s Quickplay Mode.

Take it on the road! Pack up your instrument of choice and set out on the open road for a fun and challenging single player career mode with Rock Band’s Solo Tour Mode.

 

Conquer the world! Live the ultimate rock band lifestyle when you form a band locally or online and set out on tour. The journey to rock stardom takes you from small town bars to world-renowned venues. Earn fame and fortune along the way to secure rock star necessities with Rock Band’s Band World Tour Mode.
 
 
Key Features
 

Unrivaled song library! Major record labels and leading music publishers have signed on to provide unrivaled access to master recordings and legendary rock artists – from punk, metal and alternative to classic and southern rock.

 

Rock ‘n’ Roll Never Dies! Full support for downloadable content delivers never-ending challenges.

 

Play together in your living room or across the world! Rock Band™ offers deep online functionality, allowing players to rock together whether they’re in Rhode Island or Reykjavik.

 

Create your own rock avatar! Mold a unique rocker using Rock Band’s character creator. Chose from gender, body shape, face, hair, clothes, tattoos and signature moves. Don’t forget to pick your specialized rockin’ instrument.

Drumming in the spotlight! Showcase a real drum solo with Rock Band’s freestyle drum fill windows featured in each song. Break out your own rhythm and style as anything goes! 

 

Call out the crowd! Vocalists can bring the crowd to their feet during Rock Band’s freestyle vocal fill windows. Ad-lib your own words or shout to the crowd to raise the rock intensity of the performance.

 

Save your mates! Band mates can fail out of a song for poor performance, but the band still plays on. Rescue your failing mate by busting out signature moves and blistering solos to wow the crowd with showmanship.

 

Boost your bonus! Earn bonus points for your band during Rock Band’s Unison Phrase opportunities if everyone plays perfectly. A single mistake blows the phrase for everyone.

 
 
 
Songs
 

Major record labels and leading music publishers have signed on to provide unrivaled access to master recordings and legendary rock artists with hits from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s. Record labels partnering with MTV Games and Harmonix include EMI Music, Hollywood Records, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group’s Universal Music Enterprises and Warner Music Group’s Rhino Entertainment. Music publishers partnering with MTV Games and Harmonix include EMI Music Publishing and Warner/Chappel Music.

 

Some of the songs that will ship on Rock Band™ disc include:

 
The Who

Won't Get Fooled Again

(master)
Mountain

Mississippi Queen

(cover)
 

David Bowie

Suffragette City
(master)
 

Black Sabbath

Paranoid
(cover)
 

Blue Oyster Cult

Don't Fear the Reaper

(master)
 
Nirvana
In Bloom
(master)
The Hives
Main Offender
(master)
 
Weezer

Say It Ain't So

(master)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Instruments
 

 
Guitar Controller
 

Modeled after the legendary Fender® Stratocaster® and used for both guitar and bass parts.

 

·         A second set of fret buttons on the neck of the guitar. Using these buttons players can “finger tap” notes in solos - no strumming required

 

·         A five-way FX switch lets players choose their own showboating audio FX, including flanger, wah wah, echo, and chorus

 

·         Wired & Wireless versions

 
Drum Controller
 

Captures the raw power, physicality, and sheer enjoyment of real drumming.

 

·         Big circular pads that can take a bashing

 

·         An awesome foot pedal that emulates the resistance and speed of a real kick drum pedal

 

·         Real drum sticks

 

·         Built in joypad with buttons and direction pad for easy control of menus and other UI

 

Microphone

Let’s players belt out the lyrics to some of the most recognizable rock anthems of all time!

 

·         Hand held microphone with authentic styling and weight

 

·         Rates singers in real-time, using pitch, rhythm and phoneme detection

 

·         Percussion breaks – tap the mic against your hand to play the tambourine and cowbell notes
 
Key Players

·         Developed by Harmonix – the leading developer of music-based games– and published by MTV Games.

·         Distributed and Co-Marketed by Electronic Arts, the world’s leading interactive entertainment software company.

·         Master Recordings provided by EMI Music, Hollywood Records, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group’s Universal Music Enterprises and Warner Music Group’s Rhino Entertainment.

·         Access granted to MTV / Harmonix to select songs for use in Rock Band™ from catalogs provided by EMI Music Publishing and Warner/Chappel Music.

·         Fender guitars, basses and amps will be exclusively featured in Rock Band™.

·         Will feature RolandTM related branding in gameplay.

·         BOSSTM guitar effects pedals will be featured in-game.

·         Rocked out by YOU and millions of soon-to-be drummers, guitarists and vocalists around the world. Groupies not included!