Rock Band 3 announced

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

Including:

Three-part vocal harmonies!
Optional "Pro" mode drums that require cymbals!
Optional "Pro" mode guitar that is a proper stringed instrument! One Madkatz controller has multiple buttons on each position on the fretboard to represent different strings. Another one, made by Fender, is a genuine strung guitar that also works in the game.
Outside of Pro modes, existing hardware works.
25-key MIDI compatible keyboard controller!
Mid-song jump-in/jump-out multiplayer and difficulty adjustment!
Backwards compatible with all existing Rock Band DLC and on-disc content!
More than 2000 songs in the library by the end of 2010!
New filtering and sorting options in the UI to cope with huge songlists!

To ship by the end of 2010. Yay!

nickachu · **Posted:** Thu Jun 10, 2010 20:16

Oooh if the drums are more like real drums then I may actually buy one of these games

devilman · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 12:18

Most of those new features don't interest me - with the possible exception of the keyboard controller. However, I struggle with Keyboardmania on the PS2 (I think the keyboard for that is about 25-key too, with an additional effect wheel type thing) so I can see me being hopeless with it on Rock Band 3.

To be honest though, if they release RB3 with more venues, songs and challenges, I'd still buy it, even though the game itself was much the same.. just a good excuse to play through it all again, really.

Malabelm · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 12:22

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:

Including:

Optional "Pro" mode guitar that is a proper stringed instrument! One Madkatz controller has multiple buttons on each position on the fretboard to represent different strings. Another one, made by Fender, is a genuine strung guitar that also works in the game.

Any pics?

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49237

I wonder how they'll use the keyboard. 25 keys is significantly more complex than 5 coloured buttons, but still not really big enough to play most things fully.

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

Craster wrote:

I wonder how they'll use the keyboard. 25 keys is significantly more complex than 5 coloured buttons, but still not really big enough to play most things fully.

The keys have colour coding above them apparently, grouped into bands. On lower difficulties you can be one or even two keys over, or hitting more than one key, and still get the note. Obviously the margin for error shrinks as you increase the difficulty. Also, don't forget the note tracks themselves will be simplified from the real song.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49237

I predict that will enrage me.

Mr Burrrrt · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 13:52

Anybody seen this?

http://www.yourockguitar.com/

Works with rock band etc, but can also be played like a real guitar with onboard sounds and has MIDI too, so can be used to control synths etc and as a MIDI input device for the recording software of your choice. The only thing you can't do is string bends. Reminds me a bit of the Casio DG-20 from the 80s. £199 + £25 each for the adapters for 360/PS3/Wii which I suspect will be considerably cheaper than the Fender thing and is definitely a lot cheaper than the Keytar that him out of Pendulum uses.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 13:55

*Adds Chicken drum sticks to shopping list*

Mr Burrrrt · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 14:32

Ha ha. yeah it look bloody awful, but anybody who's ever messed about with MIDI guitars will know how useful this would be. It might even get some of the Rock Banders to actually learn to play.

Pundabaya · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5016

Don't care... whatever they do, it still won't be as good as Amplitude.

tossrStu · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1326

Unfortunately, old songs won't be updated to include keyboard parts or support for pro mode, and all DLC released after RB3 won't be compatible with previous versions of the game.

On the upside, they're releasing an adapter which allows you to connect your own MIDI keyboard or drumkit to your console.

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

tossrStu wrote:

Unfortunately, old songs won't be updated to include keyboard parts or support for pro mode, and all DLC released after RB3 won't be compatible with previous versions of the game.

I'm not surprised by the former (it'd be mad huge amounts of work); the latter is slightly surprising but is probably to encourage people to upgrade. It doesn't strike me as too nakedly commercial.

Quote:

On the upside, they're releasing an adapter which allows you to connect your own MIDI keyboard or drumkit to your console.

They are? Cool! Although the GH:WT kit can be used to fashion such an adaptor which does work for Rock Band.

There was coverage of the game on Destructoid today, with a hands-on and pics of the new instruments.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49237

tossrStu wrote:

On the upside, they're releasing an adapter which allows you to connect your own MIDI keyboard or drumkit to your console.

Oh my.

End of an Era · **Joined:** 25th Nov, 2008 **Posts:** 1041

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:

25-key MIDI compatible keyboard controller!

Does this mean that playing the game might actually teach me how to play a musical instrument?

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

End of an Era wrote:

Does this mean that playing the game might actually teach me how to play a musical instrument?

Yes, and for the drums, and the new Pro guitar too.

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12329

And for those of us that already play those instruments and realise it's a hell of a lot harder*, how will this translate to being enjoyable?

*not drums, obv!

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

That'll be why the Pro mode is optional!

Also, it still has difficulty levels. So if you select Pro and Easy, you have to (say) strum and fret the right string on the guitar, but you still only have to do one note for every 5-10 the real guitarist plays, and you'll play single notes rather than chords. Hopefully that's enough wriggle room for the guys doing the note charting to produce something that's fun and challenging.

End of an Era · **Joined:** 25th Nov, 2008 **Posts:** 1041

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:

End of an Era wrote:

Does this mean that playing the game might actually teach me how to play a musical instrument?

Yes, and for the drums, and the new Pro guitar too.

Well colour me intrigued. One of my many, many failings is that I have less musical talent than a wet fart in a sound proof room. What put me off previous games in the series was they'd do nothing to address this, but this might just be what I've been waiting for!

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

Pricing from Kotaku (http://kotaku.com/5561505/how-much-will ... llers-cost)

Rock Band 3 Wireless Keyboard Controller (Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3 / Wii) - $79.99
Rock Band 3 Game & Wireless Keyboard Controller Bundle (Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3 / Wii) - $129.99
Rock Band 3 Wireless Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar Controller (Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3 / Wii) - $149.99
Rock Band 3 Wireless PRO-Cymbals Expansion Kit (Universal) - $39.99
Rock Band 3 MIDI PRO-Adapter (Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3 / Wii) - $39.99

tossrStu · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1326

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:

tossrStu wrote:

Unfortunately, old songs won't be updated to include keyboard parts or support for pro mode, and all DLC released after RB3 won't be compatible with previous versions of the game.

I'm not surprised by the former (it'd be mad huge amounts of work); the latter is slightly surprising but is probably to encourage people to upgrade. It doesn't strike me as too nakedly commercial.

Oh yeah, going back and adding pro mode to 1100+ songs would be near-impossible but not having keyboards is disappointing -- or at least, it was until I thought about it after posting, and to be honest I can't actually think of too many that do have keyboard parts. Anyway, it's been confirmed that you can play guitar and bass tracks on they keyboard (and vice-versa) so at least keyboard players get something to do in old songs.

RB3 DLC not being backwards-compatible is a little disappointing but entirely understandable given how different the DLC format must be in order to incorporate pro mode and an extra instrument (it's not like when they added HOPO chords to RB2 DLC which RB1 could just interpret as regular chords). Besides, there's nearly 3 years-worth of constantly-released DLC for RB1/2/Lego players to get stuck into so I don't think there's much room for anyone to (legitimately) complain...

Looking at my signature, all I seem to have played recently on my 360 have been Rock Band games so it's probably safe to say I'll be picking up RB3 (and no doubt throwing lots of money at Harmonix in exchange for DLC afterwards). I probably won't be picking up a pro controller for a while (I kinda like the fact that RB isn't real guitar playing) but the keyboard is a definite possibility -- I'd go for the MIDI box but it'd be too much of a ballache to set up with my controller keyboard, with MIDI cables trailing one way across the floor to the 360 and the keyboard's PSU cable trailing off at a right angle to the nearest power socket; and besides, it's a mofoing KEYTAR plus it looks a little like a Roland SH101 which I always wanted when I was younger.

Wullie · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 6183

Mr Russell wrote:

And for those of us that already play those instruments and realise it's a hell of a lot harder*, how will this translate to being enjoyable?

*not drums, obv!

Personally I find playing plastic guitars harder & therefor less enjoyable than the real things. I keep wanting to hit notes that aren't there

Malabelm · **Posted:** Thu Jun 17, 2010 12:03

There's an E3 demo of RB3 here: http://e3.gamespot.com/video/6265935/

It's seven people playing a couple of songs and talking about the instruments and changes coming up. Quite impressive.

myp · **Posted:** Thu Jun 17, 2010 17:13

Are they going to make it so you can have your character be able to do more than one thing, like vocals and guitar at the same time? I do this at the moment sometimes, but I have to sign in as two players, which is annoying.

kim · **Posted:** Thu Jun 17, 2010 17:15

pricey. will the mic autotune me?

Malabelm · **Posted:** Thu Jun 17, 2010 17:19

myoptikakaka wrote:

Are they going to make it so you can have your character be able to do more than one thing, like vocals and guitar at the same time? I do this at the moment sometimes, but I have to sign in as two players, which is annoying.

No idea, but I'll keep an eye out for anything relating to that.

Mr Burrrrt · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 13:22

kim wrote:

pricey. will the mic autotune me?

No, you'll need an R n B producer for that.

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2010 13:27

Mr Russell wrote:

And for those of us that already play those instruments and realise it's a hell of a lot harder*, how will this translate to being enjoyable?
*not drums, obv!

Screw you, buddy

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12329

Grim... wrote:

Mr Russell wrote:

And for those of us that already play those instruments and realise it's a hell of a lot harder*, how will this translate to being enjoyable?
*not drums, obv!

Screw you, buddy

Really this more translates to "I wish I had enough rhythm to play drums".

Anyone fancy letting me come round their house to have a bash, as I don't fancy doing it in the music shop and looking a tit.

myp · **Posted:** Sat Jun 19, 2010 23:14

Mr Russell wrote:

Anyone fancy letting me come round their house to have a bash, as I don't fancy doing it in the music shop and looking a tit.

Surely you've already unlocked this cheev?

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12329

myoptikakaka wrote:

Mr Russell wrote:

Anyone fancy letting me come round their house to have a bash, as I don't fancy doing it in the music shop and looking a tit.

Surely you've already unlocked this cheev?

Played real drums and looked like a tit (150G)

tossrStu · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1326

Tracklist, anyone?

http://kotaku.com/5618286/harmonix-conf ... -3-setlist

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

1. Amy Winehouse – Rehab
2. Anthrax – Caught in a Mosh
3. At the Drive-In – One Armed Scissor
4. Avenged Sevenfold – Beast and the Harlot
5. The B-52s – Rock Lobster
6. The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations (Live)
7. Big Country – In a Big Country
8. Blondie – Heart of Glass
9. Bob Marley & The Wailers – Get Up, Stand Up
10. The Bronx – False Alarm
11. Chicago – 25 or 6 to 4
12. The Cure – Just Like Heaven
13. David Bowie – Space Oddity
14. Deep Purple – Smoke on the Water
15. Def Leppard – Foolin'
16. Devo – Whip It
17. Dio – Rainbow in the Dark
18. Dire Straits – Walk of Life
19. The Doobie Brothers – China Grove
20. The Doors – Break on Through (To the Other Side)
21. Dover – King George
22. Echo & the Bunnymen – The Killing Moon
23. Elton John – Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
24. Faith No More – MidLife Crisis
25. Filter – Hey Man, Nice Shot
26. The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1
27. Foreigner – Cold as Ice
28. Golden Earring – Radar Love
29. HIM – Killing Loneliness
30. Huey Lewis and the News – The Power of Love
31. Hypernova – Viva la Resistance
32. Ida Maria – Oh My God
33. INXS – Need You Tonight
34. The J. Geils Band – Centerfold
35. James Brown – I Got You (I Feel Good)
36. Jane's Addiction – Been Caught Stealing
37. The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Crosstown Traffic
38. Joan Jett – I Love Rock N' Roll
39. John Lennon – Imagine
40. Juanes – Me Enamora
41. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Free Bird
42. Maná – Oye Mi Amor
43. Marilyn Manson – The Beautiful People
44. Metric – Combat Baby
45. The Muffs – Outer Space
46. Night Ranger – Sister Christian
47. Ozzy Osbourne – Crazy Train
48. Paramore – Misery Business
49. Phish – Llama
50. Phoenix – Lasso
51. The Police – Don't Stand So Close to Me
52. Poni Hoax – Antibodies
53. Pretty Girls Make Graves – Something Bigger, Something Brighter
54. Primus – Jerry Was a Race Car Driver
55. Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
56. Queens of the Stone Age – No One Knows
57. Rammstein – Du Hast
58. The Ramones – I Wanna Be Sedated
59. Raveonettes – Last Dance
60. Rilo Kiley – Portions of Foxes
61. Riverboat Gamblers – Don't Bury Me… I'm Still Not Dead
62. Roxette – The Look
63. Slipknot – Before I Forget
64. Smash Mouth – Walkin' on the Sun
65. The Smiths – Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before
66. The Sounds – Living in America
67. Spacehog – In the Meantime
68. Steve Miller Band – Fly Like An Eagle
69. Stone Temple Pilots – Plush
70. Swingin' Utters – This Bastard's Life
71. T.Rex – 20th Century Boy
72. Tears for Fears – Everybody Wants to Rule the World
73. Tegan and Sara – The Con
74. Them Crooked Vultures – Dead End Friends
75. Tokio Hotel – Humanoid
76. Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers – I Need to Know
77. The Vines – Get Free
78. War – Low Rider
79. Warren Zevon – Werewolves of London
80. The White Stripes – The Hardest Button to Button
81. Whitesnake – Here I Go Again
82. The Who – I Can See for Miles
83. Yes – Roundabout

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

"I approve of this."
\
:cthulhu:

devilman · **Posted:** Sat Aug 21, 2010 14:18

Ooh.. some good stuff there. Mind you, I'd be buying it regardless - it's usually the stuff I don't know already that I end up liking the most. RB has introduced me to some good songs in the past and I suspect it'll be no different this time round.

In other words.. day one purchase for a Rock Band fanboy like me.

Runcle · **Posted:** Sat Aug 21, 2010 14:28

Achievements seem like a achievement completionists nightmare, loads of achievements based on keyboard peripheral, the pro guitar peripheral, and playing downloaded songs.

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32624

DO WANT.

myp · **Posted:** Sat Aug 21, 2010 14:34

Yep, looking forward to this. Would it be worth buying a Rock Band drumkit now while they're dirt cheap, then the cymbals and stuff later?

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49237

There's about 5 decent tracks on there for plating instruments on. Bohemian Rhapsody, for fuck's sake? Why pick a track where the point of it is 90% vocal? They do that with so many songs and it really pisses me off.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49237

Oh, wait - durr. It's in there because it has a piano track.

tossrStu · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1326

Craster wrote:

Oh, wait - durr. It's in there because it has a piano track.

And to show off vocal harmonies too, I suppose.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Sat Aug 21, 2010 15:19

I do not find that a particulary inspiring song list.

Dimrill · **Posted:** Sat Aug 21, 2010 16:08

Looks smashin'

myp · **Posted:** Sat Aug 21, 2010 16:24

Mr Dave wrote:

I do not find that a particulary inspiring song list.

You're broken.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Sat Aug 21, 2010 17:13

myoptikakaka wrote:

Mr Dave wrote:

I do not find that a particulary inspiring song list.

You're broken.

a) With a few exceptions, all th bands I like on there they've chosen songs I don't particularly like (Or songs that wwere on GH:WT).
b) Slipknot? They want me to pay money so I can have that shit rammed down my ears?
c) SLIPKNOT?!?!?!?!!!!!

myp · **Posted:** Sat Aug 21, 2010 17:25

Mr Dave wrote:

myoptikakaka wrote:

Mr Dave wrote:

I do not find that a particulary inspiring song list.

You're broken.

a) With a few exceptions, all th bands I like on there they've chosen songs I don't particularly like (Or songs that wwere on GH:WT).
b) Slipknot? They want me to pay money so I can have that shit rammed down my ears?
c) SLIPKNOT?!?!?!?!!!!!

I see your points on a) and b), but you're wrong on c).

Mentski · **Joined:** 17th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 86

Primus. That is all.

Hopefully a setup for a DLC pack somewhere down the line.

Shame Harmonix seem hell bent on treating bassists like a red-headed stepchild, though. Such musical wonder demands a proper pro-mode bass controller.

Playing basslines on a guitar is NOT COOL, and NEVER WILL BE.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

One armed scissor should be fantastic. Yoshimi and stop me.. are great songs too.

myp · **Posted:** Sat Aug 21, 2010 17:31

Mentski wrote:

Primus. That is all.

Hopefully a setup for a DLC pack somewhere down the line.

Shame Harmonix seem hell bent on treating bassists like a red-headed stepchild, though. Such musical wonder demands a proper pro-mode bass controller.

Playing basslines on a guitar is NOT COOL, and NEVER WILL BE.

Bassists unite!

I've wanted to get this for a while, but can't justify the price, really. Also, I have a real P-Bass, so it'd pale in comparison.

Mentski · **Joined:** 17th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 86

myoptikakaka wrote:

I've wanted to get this for a while, but can't justify the price, really. Also, I have a real P-Bass, so it'd pale in comparison.

Got one, actually. It's a decent enough controller, and the scale and duel strum-bar can add to making bass feel like a different playing experience.

Problem is, the earlier generation is isn't wireless and has a little problem picking up strums if you accidentally hit two at once. Switching the up/down wires on one of them fixes it, which, incidentally, is Madcatz' solution on the later wireless versions.

I'm seriously considering getting a wireless one, now, I've played the old controller almost to death and has started sticking.

Anyway. Yeah, decent enough controller. Obviously nothing like playing the real thing (Proud owner of a Aerodyne Jazz Bass, myself), but that's to be expected.

Dimrill · **Posted:** Sat Aug 21, 2010 17:48

Primus suck!

myp · **Posted:** Sat Aug 21, 2010 18:27

Dimrill wrote:

Primus suck!

ISWYDT

Be Excellent To Each Other

Rock Band 3 announced

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