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Posts with tag harmonix

Rock Band Track Pack no replacement for DLC, available July

Posted May 5th 2008 2:17PM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: News

Rock Band for Wii isn't even screwing you over out yet, and already the downloadable content problem has been solved! All you have to do is buy an additional disc with a whopping twenty tracks for $29.99! No, you don't get to choose which ones you want and spend only a little money. You want extras? Pony up, suckers!

It's one thing -- and an acceptable thing -- to milk customers for a few bucks at a time for additional songs they really want. It's another thing altogether to offer up a full expansion for thirty dollars less than a month after the game is released. That's right: Rock Band isn't scheduled for the Wii until June 22, and this Track Pack is due July 15. And it's labeled Volume 1, naturally ... expect another round not long after that. We're anticipating September.

The only logical explanation for this travesty is that Harmonix is upset that they missed the Wii boat and are now scrambling to scrape as much quick cash as possible. The question is: will Wii owners take the rather unattractive bait? Fume your way past the break to see the full track listing for Rock Band's Track Pack Volume 1.

Continue reading Rock Band Track Pack no replacement for DLC, available July

Harmonix was hesitant over Wii, now big fans

Posted Apr 16th 2008 5:00PM by Chris Greenhough
Filed under: News, Interviews



Well, we finally know the answer to a question that's been floating around since before the Wii version of Rock Band was confirmed: when it came to the Wii edition, what took so long, fellas? After all, Nintendo's console not only sells lots, but it's also a hit with the social gaming crowd, who'd surely lap up Rock Band.

The answer is a familiar one, because like so many other developers and publishers before it, Harmonix failed to anticipate just how popular this Wii thing was going to be. GameDaily grilled Harmonix VP of Product Development Greg LoPiccolo on this, who manfully admitted that "when we made the initial decisions about where to place our resources, [the success of the Wii] wasn't as clear as it became in retrospect and really for us, it was simply a matter of resources." Or, to put it another way: Harmonix likes money.

LoPiccolo also confessed that Harmonix had been reluctant to hand over the development reins of the Wii version to a different company, and that the studio "wasn't comfortable handing much of the core off to others, because we wanted to make sure that it was everything we wanted it to be." Whether Wii Rock Band is everything we want it to be is still up for debate.

Gallery: Rock Band

First Rock Band Wii shots arrive, fail to cheer us up

Posted Apr 15th 2008 9:00PM by Chris Greenhough
Filed under: Screens


Rock Band's taken its fair share of flak recently -- some would say it's been perfectly justifed -- but perhaps these first screens of the Wii version in action will help slow the barrage of complaints about the game.

To the surprise of nobody, they're pretty much identical to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Harmonix's multi-instrumental extravaganza (minus the super-sharp HD look, obviously), and, y'know, that means it's quite a pretty game, at least. Convinced, yet? No? You're still dwelling on that missing DLC and online play, aren't you? Can't blame you. So are we. Sigh.

Gallery: Rock Band

NMS08: Rock Band 'bonus' simply PS3/360 dregs

Posted Apr 15th 2008 6:30AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: News

The mystery of our Rock Band's "bonus" tracks has been solved -- and the songs are nothing you haven't seen before, especially if you've been following the available DLC for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the title. Here's your extra content, Wii owners. Merry freakin' Christmas.
  • "Dirty Little Secret" - The All American Rejects
  • "Roam" - The B-52's
  • "Don't Look Back in Anger" - Oasis
  • "Roxanne" - The Police
  • "Rockaway Beach" - The Ramones

Gallery: Rock Band

No Wii Rock Band in Europe until August [update]

Posted Apr 14th 2008 9:00PM by Candace Savino
Filed under: News

We're not surprised that the majority of you aren't excited by the Wii's gimped version of Rock Band. If you actually were looking forward to it, though, and happen to live in Europe, EA just offered you another kick in the face. The company announced today that the Wii, PS2, and PS3 versions of Rock Band won't be hitting the continent until August 29th. So, if you were planning on jamming this summer with your fake band on Nintendo's console, it's not going to happen.

Of course, you could always get the Xbox 360 version instead, since it comes out in May and actually has online play and DLC, unlike the Wii version -- but it might cost you an arm and a leg. Though, to be honest, we're not really sure what the going rates for arms and legs are these days.

[Update: EA retracted their confirmation of the date, and is back to saying that all non-360 versions of Rock Band will release in Europe "later this summer." The company also states that the August 29th date on the fact sheet was an error. Very shady, EA!]

[Via Kotaku]

Give your Rock Band drums some extra lives

Posted Apr 10th 2008 1:30PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: Fan stuff, Mods, Peripherals, Video


One of the complaints of those who have picked up Rock Band for consoles that aren't the Wii is that the drum set included can be kind of loud. We get it; you're jamming along to your favorite song and don't realize you're actually shaking the walls because you're drumming so damn loudly. The landlord gets upset, kicks you out and you're forced to now call the box that Rock Band came in your home.

Well, there might be hope for an alternative future. Thanks to the mod above, you can add some style to those boring drums, as well as help mute the loud banging that comes as a result from wailing on them. For those of you living in close proximity to other human beings, we imagine this is something you're going to want to look into.

Gallery: Rock Band


[Via Engadget]

Harmonix explains gimped Wii Rock Band

Posted Apr 9th 2008 5:00PM by Chris Greenhough
Filed under: News, Interviews

So it appears you're all pretty upset about the Wii version of Rock Band. And hey, we can't blame you -- we feel the same way! The reduced feature-set of the Wii game hurts, and like many of you, the lack of online play and DLC may well force us to purchase another version.

But according to developer Harmonix, none of this is really its fault -- nope, it's the Wii that's to blame, specifically the lack of a Wii hard drive. Quoth Harmonix design director Rob Kay: "[...] We need a hard drive. That's what we want. The whole problem is there's nowhere to store it. If the platform could do it, we'd jump on it."

Which is a valid point, actually. With single songs on other versions weighing in at around 30 - 45MB, the Wii's 512MB of internal storage would fill up quickly. We remain justifiably cross, however, at the missing online play.

Wii Warm Up: Let's talk Rock Band (again)

Posted Apr 3rd 2008 9:00AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: Wii Warm Up

The last time we talked about Rock Band in the morning topic, we didn't yet know that we were getting the shaft. Yeah, we said it: Rock Band for the Wii sucks. Personally, this blogger is more unhappy about the lack of DLC than the lack of other online functions. That's a lot of money to spend on a game that can't be updated similarly to the other next-gen versions, and considering we've got WiiWare on the table, no DLC just seems wrong. We're used to dragging friends over to play Wii; after all, we've played more multiplayer Wii in person than online by a long shot. It's old hat by now. Not being able to play online is sauce in the flavor of weak, to be sure, but no DLC means no sale from where I'm sitting. Of course, a lot of you probably feel differently; maybe you'd rather have online play, or perhaps you're actually excited about Rock Band. If so, please explain that one to us, because we are confused.

Rock Band drums and boxart revealed

Posted Mar 25th 2008 12:45PM by Chris Greenhough
Filed under: Peripherals, Screens


Click to enlarge image.

As disappointing as it was to hear that the Wii version of Rock Band would be closer to the PS2 game than those on next-gen machines, we're not about to start booing the game off stage just yet. Besides, who says the Wii version is inferior in every way to its next-gen brethren? The Rock Band drums, for instance, look absolutely spiffy in Wii white -- we genuinely prefer these to the black versions that appeared on other consoles. Okay, so that's a small victory, but it's a victory nonetheless.

Speaking of Rock Band peripherals, GameStop has already listed prices for the drums ($79.99), wireless guitar ($59.99), the game on its own ($49.99), and the Rock Band Special Edition Bundle For Rich Sods ($169.99). Hit the gallery for some boxart goodness.

Gallery: Rock Band


[Via press release]

Rock Band coming to Wii on June 22nd [update 2]

Posted Mar 24th 2008 2:15PM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: News


Harmonix has finally made it for-really-real official: Rock Band is coming out on the Wii. They announced today that Rock Band will come out for Wii on June 22nd in the U.S. and Canada, in a Special Edition package including drums, a wireless guitar, and a mic, for $169.99. Standalone instruments will also be available.

Rock Band will feature 63 songs, which includes five "bonus songs" -- we don't know what any of the songs are or what it means for some of them to be "bonuses." Songs that are available as DLC on other platforms? Nintendo stuff? No idea. But as long as there are songs in the game for us to play fake instruments to, we kind of don't care. We are down with Waggle Rock.

[Update: thanks to a post on the Rock Band forum from a Harmonix staffer (via Joystiq), our enthusiasm has diminished somewhat. "The feature-set is a lot closer to the PS2 version of Rock Band which was also developed by Pi Studios," according to the post. Interestingly, he also said that the peripherals don't use the Wiimote, which calls Guitar Hero interoperability into question.]

[Update 2: MTV's Multiplayer blog answers the DLC question definitively: "There will be no DLC available, but the Wii version will have the five additional songs on the game disc."]

[Via Gaming Bits, thanks, Rivithed!]

Wii Warm Up: Let's talk Rock Band

Posted Feb 3rd 2008 10:30AM by Chris Greenhough
Filed under: Wii Warm Up

EA confirmed earlier this week that it would be bringing Rock Band to the Wii, an announcement which prompted spontaneous high kicks and even the splits from most of the Wii Fanboy crew. This is a fantastic development, and the pairing of Rock Band and the Wii seems absolutely right. It's the ultimate party game for the console that is most suited to social gatherings.

So, we can't help ourselves. We want to chat some more about Harmonix's big-budget rhythm game, and get some of your thoughts. Firstly, will you be buying it? If so, all of the instruments? And which role will you be playing?

Also, is this the kind of thing your relatives would play with you? We'd love to see bands that span the generations, with grandmothers on bass and uncles maintaining a steady beat on the drums. Our families won't have a choice, frankly. They will be playing and they will enjoy it.

Retail Rock Band mic not actually Wii-compatible

Posted Feb 2nd 2008 12:00PM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: News


Wii Rock Band continues to surround itself and everything around it with an air of irresistible mystery, even after confirmation of its release. Last week, we received an early clue to the game's existence from the packaging for a cross-platform Rock Band microphone-- or so we thought. Turns out, the microphone isn't actually Wii-compatible, and the mention of Wii on the case was an error. In other words, it was just a coincidence that a Rock Band microphone was marked as working with the Wii a week before we officially heard about the game.

Now, on to the next mystery: why the hell do only certain USB microphones work with the Wii? They're USB microphones.

Start saving: EA CEO confirms Rock Band

Posted Jan 31st 2008 10:09PM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: News


The microphone predicted the future! It's a magic microphone! During a conference call today, EA's CEO John Riccitiello casually referred to the "coming launch" of a Wii version of Harmonix's multi-instrumental music game Rock Band. Harmonix's Alex Rigopoulos has mentioned the possibility before, but this is the first official word from the publisher.

In addition, Kotaku reports that EA said that a European release of Rock Band was set for April-June of this year "across all SKUs." You know what's a SKU that, as of right now, has a version of Rock Band? That's right, the Wii. So we should probably expect the Wii game in the U.S. around the same time.

Of course, there are no details, so we don't know if it's going to have all of the amazing features of the "next-gen" versions, or will be more like the still-awesome PS2 version.

[Thanks, Tanks and Smit!]

Does the new Rock Band mic hint at a Wii game?

Posted Jan 29th 2008 11:15AM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: Rumors, Peripherals


It could, if you're optimistic enough! This "premium" (read: $50) Rock Band microphone peripheral's packaging says that it works on the Xbox 360, the Wii, and the PlayStation 3. Of course, there is currently no version of Rock Band for the Wii, nor has there been an announcement. Score Hero forum member Rocker74 picked up one of the mics and took the picture seen above. You can just see the word "Wii" if you kinda squint.

Did the packaging design for an accessory leak an unannounced game? Probably not. Our guess is that this USB microphone is compatible with the existing Wii singing games, which means High School Musical, American Idol, and EA's own Boogie. We would, of course, love to be wrong. We'd rather have the full Rock Band experience instead of just the expensive peripherals.

[Via Engadget]

EA: No Rock Band for you (maybe)

Posted Jan 2nd 2008 7:00PM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: News

Is there a possibility that we'll someday see Rock Band on the Wii? Maybe, but for now, EA doesn't seem very interested in bringing the title to our console of choice. Last year, Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos seemed excited about seeing Rock Band on "every important platform," and on the Wii in particular, but despite the Wii's amazing sales records, we can only guess that, at this point, it's not important enough. After all, EA's Bryce Baer told the good folks at GamePro that there's nothing in the cards at this time. At least, nothing's been announced -- which we knew -- but it didn't seem very enthusiastic, either. We'll try not to be bitter.

We'll probably fail.

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