Other than the Guitar Freaks over at Konami, Harmonix has been singlehandedly paving the way for innovation in the musical gaming space since 1995. Everything from Frequency and Amplitude, all the way up through the past Rock Band iterations has had an emphasis on translating what the player is hearing musically into something that they can interact with on-screen.
This went even one step further when they debuted the drums with the original Rock Band. What was once a genre consisting of glorified PlaySchool guitars, now had an instrument that, if mastered in the game, could legitimately transfer to skills on an actual set of skins. Little did we know that this was just a toe in the water of musical innovation, and a sneak peak of what was to come.
Blake-
Just in case you have been living under a rock for the last month, Rock Band 3 has two game-changing upgrades that will not only modify the way you play, but also introduces ever-increasing levels of realism. First off, as hinted at months ago, Keyboards are entering the fold of plastic accessories that you have no room for in your closet. That’s right, those of you who have been crying out for keytar may finally be getting your wish. But remember, sometimes you should be careful what you wish for, because they just might come true. When playing in the traditional instrumental mode, the keyboards roads will once again be broken up into 5 tracks, very much like what has been seen on the guitar parts for years.
While sure, the addition of keyboards is all fine and dandy, what really has my mouth in a frothy lather is the new Pro mode, which will be available for all instruments. As the name may imply, this is a step up from the traditional Expert mode and not only requires the use of newer, more advanced guitars and/or bases, but also allows for REAL instruments to be used in the game. Let that set in for a second… real stringed instruments, keyboards, and electronic drum kits, will now be able to join the drunken fray of musical shenanigans. Of course, none of this will work directly out of the box. It will require the assistance of an independently acquirable accessory, designed by Mad Katz. (Damn you Harmonix, haven’t you already sold enough worthless pieces of plastic to me?!)
Accessory asshattery aside, I am thrilled at the concept that Rock Band 3 will be taking the first steps towards actually teaching America’s gaming youth how to play guitar, keep a beat, and shred an organ solo that would bring a tear to the eye of any hardcore Boston fan. Opting for not changing Harmonix’s formula for success, Pro mode will be tiered, consisting of easy through expert difficulty levels. Unfortunately during the demo, we were not able to see the progression between the specific tiers, but a representative for Harmonix assured us that it would be a smooth transition.
Other things of note included the ability to facilitate drop-in and out multiplayer, all in real time. Sick of Billy’s drunk ass always failing out and ruining the buzz for everyone else? You can kick him to the curb without ever having to leave your song. Speaking of songs, with the massive tracklist that has been assembled by the Rock Band team, it has become increasingly necessary to find new ways to navigate the online store more efficiently. An immense amount of time and effort has went into assuring that this process is as streamlined as possible.
In short, this is the Rock Band that I have been waiting for since the first time I strapped on a plastic Gibson. I just hope they can deliver on their promises!
Ross-
Rock Band 3 is the evolution that the music game genre needs in order to survive. Track packs will only keep gamers interested for so long before they move on. Right now the casual audience has everything they need to have fun while hardcore rockers are getting bored by the same old thing. Rock Band 3 changes that.
The keyboard is the most obvious innovation. While it can’t be used on every song, the keyboard is a fun new instrument to master. Playing by color will get you started while pro mode draw from those piano lessons you had as a kid. Luckily the keyboard isn’t the only instrument that will have a pro mode.
Let me start by pointing out that all of your old plastic instruments are compatible with Rock Band 3. If you want to use it like a track pack, you can. For those gamers who want more, the pro instruments will bring hardcore music gamers one step closer to the real thing. The drum set adds cymbals on top of the four drum pads, but it is the guitars that are most impressive.
Holy buttons, Batman! With 17 frets and 6 strings, the new Mad Catz controller introduces over 100 buttons for advanced players to jam with. Notes will play down the note highway with not only a string, but the fret number as well. When our E3 demonstrators showed off a controller that doubled as an actual electric guitar that they plugged into an amp, my mind was blown. Rock Band 3 itself won’t teach you to play an actual instrument, but it’s getting damn close.
We’ll leave you with a picture of Blake failing his ass off on keyboard… Enjoy!!
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