All Rock Band 3 Tracks Are Not Backwards Compatible

[Greg Tito]

All Rock Band 3 Tracks Are Not Backwards Compatible

Think you could skip Rock Band 3 and just cherry-pick the tracks you want to play on your old rig? Think again!

Due to new authoring technology, Harmonix said that all Rock Band 3 DLC tracks will not be playable with Rock Band 1 or 2 software. Rock Band 3 (RB3) tracks include harmony support for vocals, as well as the keytar accessory, in addition to never-before-used lighting and animation cues for the onscreen performance, and all of that extra stuff is unintelligible to the old systems. Also, all tracks that you currently own for previous RB tracks (which Harmonix calls "Legacy Tracks") must be repurchased to play on RB3.

For example, say you want to get a track off the new Bon Jovi DLC pack for RB3 (which [user]John Funk[/user] is excited about BTW], but you already own a "legacy" version Wanted Dead or Alive. If you want to grab the Rock Band 3 version of Wanted, you'll need to fork over 160 Microsoft points or $1.99. And if you want the Pro Guitar or Bass format, which will let you dissect the track and play it like a real musician [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/reviews/8275-Review-Music-Game-Roundup], that will cost you an extra 80 MSP or $.99.

I understand that RB3 offers a lot of new features and uses technology that was unavailable in Harmonix's previous games, but Jumpin' Jimi Hendrix, I never thought that there would be format wars within a videogame. I mean, I hated when I had to re-purchase all of my music when CDs replaced tapes, but you're telling me that I have to do the same thing in Rock Band? That just sucks.

Update: To be clear, you will still be able to play DLC you've purchased with RB1 & 2 with RB3. The tracks just won't have any of the features of RB3 like Pro or keyboard support. Thanks, [user]Dorkmaster Flek[/user] and [user]Virgil[/user] for clarifying that.

Source: Joystiq [http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/09/psa-all-forthcoming-rock-band-dlc-incompatible-with-rb1-rb2/?]

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[tehroc]

I'd wager you can place this mostly on the backs of the recording industry. The labels have always been keen on having us repurchase the same music on new formats. What's next? Will they finally add Rhythm Guitar to Rock Band 4 and ask us to repurchase all the RB3 songs again?

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Hmm...confusing.

Onyx hurt itself in it's confusion!

 

[StriderShinryu]

So, if I picked up RB3 I would still be able to use all of my RB1/2 tracks on it but I just wouldn't have the new stuff (keys, harmonies, etc.)? If I wanted those extras in RB3 I would have to buy the same tracks again?

That doesn't sound terribly bad I suppose, and I certainly understand the new RB3 tracks not working with RB1/2, but I also don't have a huge library of downloaded tracks (and most/all of the ones I do have wouldn't really benefit from the RB3 extras anyway).

 

[Dexiro]

It's not a massive problem. If you want to play your old songs you can just pop in your RB2 disc.

 

[tehroc]

It's not a massive problem. If you want to play your old songs you can just pop in your RB2 disc.

Nah the problem is with bands like Queen and Boston that have a lot of keyboards and harmonies, but we've already bought the older tracks and have to repurchase the new ones if we want those features (whenever they are released).

RB3 has no problem playing legacy tracks (well except the ones that don't transfer), but what they are saying is buying new song releases for Rock Band 1 and 2 are done.

Like I said this is all in the licensing, the recording industry didn't give you a discount when you bought vinyl > tape > cd > mp3 of the same album and they sure as hell not going to start for Rock Band.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

I hate to say it but this is just another argument for the practice of Piracy.*

Can't they understand that you never put an obstacle in the way of someone enjoying themselves without causing upset?

* Root does not condone piracy in any shape or form. Root is a writer, that would be daft.

 

[Dorkmaster Flek]

Okay, this is one of the most poorly researched and confusingly written things I've ever seen. Whoever did this writeup needs to be smacked in the head with a large trout. This article seems to be complaining about two things that don't exist at all: 1) You can't play post-RB3 DLC in RB2 (this is true) and you should be able to (not even close), and 2) You have to repurchase all your existing tracks to play them in RB3. This is just completely false in so many ways, I can't believe The Escapist let this slide without getting the facts even remotely straight.

"Legacy" (i.e. pre-RB3) DLC works fine in RB3. That is not the issue. Your old tracks still work just fine in RB3, and Harmonix said far in advance that all DLC post-RB3 will work only with RB3 because of the new features. In fact, they're even going a step further. They have said that for all upgraded songs after the Bon Jovi pack, if there is pro guitar/bass charting available, they will also have a "legacy RB2" version of the pro guitar addon so you can get just that and not have to upgrade to the RB3 version if you just want pro guitar.

The issue is updating old DLC with new features like keyboards and vocal harmonies. In order to do this, the tracks actually need to be completely redone. The licensing changes, which means it needs to be relicensed, and the audio mixing is completely different because of the new keyboard audio stem which needs to be broken out of the background. Plus, all the existing charts need to be updated to adhere to modern charting standards. Things have changed quite a bit since RB1. We have blue and orange notes on easy/medium, HOPO chords, and the new trill/roll mechanic for drums and guitar. Then the entire thing has to be QA'd again through the normal process. It is literally a new piece of DLC from the ground up.

This is what people are pissed about. We will have a "RB3 Version" of the song, as well as the old version. They are completely separate. I admit some kind of discount would be nice and it's not an ideal situation, but there is still a ton of work that goes into upgrading the old tracks. It is not unreasonable at all to think of them as entirely new DLC, and this is still better than not having these awesome tracks updated at all IMO.

If it's not worth it to you for the upgrade, then just don't buy it. Vote with your wallet if you really find it so reprehensible.

 

[Credge]

but you're telling me that I have to do the same thing in Rock Band? That just sucks.

Nobody said that.

What they did say is that all new DLC will not work with RB1 and RB2.

They've also said that, if you want promode, you're going to have to get the new DLC. This isn't a brand new announcement either.

 

[ShadowKatt]

Regardless of what Dorkmaster [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/7.243903.8876320] says, the dlc I got for RB never worked for RB2, so I don't expect any of my DLC for RB 1 or 2 to work in 3. I'm not in the least bit suprised. I'm not happy about it, but I'm also not suprised either.

 

[Something Amyss]

It's not a massive problem. If you want to play your old songs you can just pop in your RB2 disc.

Or play them on Rock Band 3. you just can't use them in pro mode, or with the other new feature. And you need to buy the new one and then upgrade if you want pro mode.

That's what's happening with the three Bon Jovi tracks that were in previous editions.

I've already played "Livin' on a Prayer" and "You Give Love A Bad Name" on RB3. The old versions are still playable.

However, this still sucks. And there are very few tracks I'd even think about paying an additional three bucks for

 

[Jordez]

This is interesting. A big reason why Rock Band is considered a lot better than Guitar Hero by many people is due to the compatibility of DLC between games and the massive track library. So I'm surprised that this has happened.

 

[asinann]

This is interesting. A big reason why Rock Band is considered a lot better than Guitar Hero by many people is due to the compatibility of DLC between games and the massive track library. So I'm surprised that this has happened.

The old songs still work, they just can't do pro mode, 3 part harmonies or use the keytar.

 

[SaintWaldo]

You only have to "repurchase" if you want the RockBand3 features in songs that were tracked BEFORE RockBand3 was even really fully designed. So, it's not fully a repurchase, it's a format switch. Your analogy to re-buying songs for CD that you used to have on tape is functional, but remember, you got full random access and loss-less storage for that deal. It's not as disappointing to repay for a format that actually improves the experience, right? This is why iTunes survived the initial laughter.

It only sucks if you thought razor-blade systems like this were future proof, and, be honest, that's YOUR fault, not Harmonix's. (The rhetorical "you", not, you know, Mr. Tito, himself.)

 

[Dorkmaster Flek]

Regardless of what Dorkmaster [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/7.243903.8876320] says, the dlc I got for RB never worked for RB2, so I don't expect any of my DLC for RB 1 or 2 to work in 3. I'm not in the least bit suprised. I'm not happy about it, but I'm also not suprised either.

Well I don't mean to be rude, but I have over 1000 songs in my RB library, and every piece of DLC I bought before RB2 worked in RB2, and all of those songs now also work in RB3. The only possible exception to this is on the Wii, where RB1 didn't have support for DLC at all so therefore you must have at least RB2 to play DLC there. However, you specifically mentioned RB1 DLC not working in RB2, so I'm going to have to say that you are completely 100% wrong.

 

[DTWolfwood]

I understand that RB3 offers a lot of new features and uses technology that was unavailable in Harmonix's previous games, but Jumpin' Jimi Hendrix, I never thought that there would be format wars within a videogame. I mean, I hated when I had to re-purchase all of my music when CDs replaced tapes, but you're telling me that I have to do the same thing in Rock Band? That just sucks.

Ouch good thing i held off on the Rock Band series.

Now im torn between the RB3 and PowerGIG, a button based pro guitar or an actual Electric Guitar >.<

 

[superbatranger]

I...this is confusing. Does this mean none of the songs I have downloaded for Rock Band 2 won't work for Rock Band 3?

 

[PhunkyPhazon]

Does this count for the Guitar Hero 3 controller? I've just been using that for the last three years.