Electronic Arts, MTV, and Harmonix are taking the game from a solo gig, Guitar Hero, to a full band gig with Rock Band. Expected on store shelves by the holidays of 2007, Rock Band will be coming to the Microsoft Xbox 360 and the Sony PlayStation 3 and will be played on four video game controllers based on the instruments they represent; a lead guitar, bass guitar, drum set and a microphone.
Rock Band will have performances by the original artists.
In most previous music games, almost every song is done by a cover band. Some labels are planning on providing original recordings. Jeff Yapp of MTV said that the game will offer a meaningful way for labels to participate in a segment of entertainment they, for the most part, have not been able to.
The songs in the new game have not been released yet but the current renditions include the Allman Brothers, Joan Jett, Kansas, Nirvana, Wolfmother, and more.
Guitar Hero quickly became a favorite among musicians and non-musicians alike as players tap on color-coded fret keys and strum on a guitar-shaped controller in time to the scrolling on-screen notes. Rock Band will take that same premise and expand it in four directions.
As a side note, Red Octane, the developer behind Guitar Hero, is said to be bringing Guitar Hero 3 to the Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, and the PlayStation 3 this coming fall, just to get you ready for Rock Band. I guess all big headliners need a great warm-up band.
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