Music Notes 6/10
Harmonix finally issued some official details regarding Rock Band 3, including confirmation that keyboard is a new playable instrument. Love how the keyboard can work both as a regular keyboard or as a keytar. There is no excuse now for no Genesis in Rock Band, in fact, I will honestly be surprised (disappointed too, but more surprised) if there isn't a Genesis song in RB3's setlist. "Home by the Sea" would be FRICKIN TITS in RB, c'mon HMX!
Keyboards plus the addition of the vocal harmonies that were introduced in Beatles:RB means that up to seven players can play RB3 at once. Whoa. Meanwhile, I've never managed to get more than three people to play the RB insturments I have now. Sigh.
The other big addition to the game is "Pro" mode, which attempts to simulate the real-life playing of the instruments as closely as possible. Yes, they are releasing a new guitar controller that has six "strings" and 102(!) buttons on the fret board. Or if you prefer, a true guitar/controller hybrid that will work in the game as well as on a real stage. Damn. The optional cymbals for the drum kit will now finally have their own notes on the song charts. "Pro" mode will utilize all 25 keys on the new keyboard controller, whereas regular play uses the same 5-color layout of guitar and drums and only requires players to hit keys that fall within a certain color.
It sounds cool, but only if the game has a robust tutorial mode that's more than just playing the same section of a song over and over. It's long been noted that drumming in RB is close to how drumming actually works, so it felt like a missed opportunity that the various RB games' drum training modes gave little advice on how to improve one's technique. If they're serious about bridging the gap between gamers and musicians, a little more guidance would be most appreciated.
Bit pricy natch; a bundle of the game and the keyboard (which, I assume, is how most current RB gamers will be purchasing RB3, if they so desire) will retail for $130. One of the new non-hybrid "pro" guitars will go for $150 by itself. At least getting new instruments isn't mandatory if all you want to do is play RB like you always have. Then again, all you'd be buying is a new track pack and UI. If nothing else, if they can recreate the awesomely short load times of Beatles: Rock Band for all my RB1/RB2/DLC tracks, that would be a worthy upgrade itself.
The tracks so far are at least more impressive than what's been revealed for the next Guitar Hero game (I think a third of those are already in RB). I'm very happy to see "Plush" (wanted it for a long time, and was a little worried it wouldn't ever be in RB when it popped up as GH DLC recently), "The Power of Love" should be great (is it too early to ask for more Huey Lewis, like "Heart and Soul" maybe?), and "Bohemian Rhapsody" should be an instant party favorite.
All previous RB DLC will be compatible, and it sounds like players can export their RB2 songs to hard drive as with RB1. The notable exception, of course, is Beatles: RB. Could the keyboard be patched into TB:RB, maybe paving the way for long desired songs like "Hey Jude", "Let It Be" or "Strawberry Fields Forever"?
No confirmed release date, but RB3 is expected out by Christmas. And unlike RB2, RB3 will hit all three major consoles simultaneously. Yay.
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I was supposed to see U2 in Oakland next week, but alas, Bono's recent emergency back surgery has postponed the show until sometime in 2011. Loved the Fark take: "Doctors think he hurt himself tryin' to throw his arms around the world." Ah well, get well soon, Mr. Hewson.
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At least I have a new Chemical Brothers album to look forward to this month. I'm intrigued by the samples of Further I've heard so far. Okay, I'm not crazy about the debut single "Swoon", but the 12-minute epic "Escape Velocity" is my awesome-song-that-I'm-going-to-make-myself-sick-of-because-I-can't-stop-playing-it song of the moment.