Rock Band Revival? Rumors Point to New Next-Gen Title

[Steven Bogos]

Rock Band Revival? Rumors Point to New Next-Gen Title

Prepare your living room for an onslaught of new plastic instruments.

The whole Guitar Hero/over-saturation at its finest [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/tag/view/rock%20band?os=rock+band]. Now, five years after Rock Band 3's release, rumors are pointing towards a Rock Band revival for next(current?)-gen consoles.

According to a report from Bloomberg [http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-18/new-rock-band-game-said-to-be-developed-for-latest-consoles], Harmonix is currently developing a new Rock Band next-gen consoles. Specifically, the PS4 and Xbox One were mentioned in the report, though one would think the Wii U with it's unique gamepad would be a nice fit for the game. Bloomberg didn't offer any further details, but claimed that its source was "familiar to the matter" and asked not to be named because the matter is private.

Last year, Harmonix new DLC songs were released [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/138127-Harmonix-Says-Gamers-Want-Rock-Band-4] for Rock Band 3 after a 2-year hiatus.

So, maybe this rumor isn't so crazy after all. What do you guys think? Are you ready for a next-gen Rock Band? Or, are you worried that Activision will join the party with a new Guitar Hero and we'll have the same problems all over again?

Source: Bloomberg [http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-18/new-rock-band-game-said-to-be-developed-for-latest-consoles]

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[StriderShinryu]

I'd totally be up for a new Rock Band. I still play RB2 once in a while. I don't think the issue was ever RB versus GH as both (especially initially) offered different experiences, it was the general over saturation of the market and the end of the music game fad.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

I was happy this particular genre seemed to die. It'd be fine if it taught you to play an actual instrument, but it's just a karaoke quicktime event.

 

[FalloutJack]

No no no... You market it as a reunion tour. It'll be loads of laughs.

 

[Sight Unseen]

Yes!!! Rock Band is one of my favorite games of all time! Please let this be real!

 

[Sinister Minister]

I was happy this particular genre seemed to die. It'd be fine if it taught you to play an actual instrument, but it's just a karaoke quicktime event.

Which...RB3 did. With its Pro Mode. Of course you needed the instruments for that particular mode but they still did it. I think you're looking for Rocksmith, in that case.

 

[Evil Smurf]

As I'm a fan of drinking, and this is glorified karaoke, I'm in.

 

[Robyrt]

I was happy this particular genre seemed to die. It'd be fine if it taught you to play an actual instrument, but it's just a karaoke quicktime event.

Which...RB3 did. With its Pro Mode. Of course you needed the instruments for that particular mode but they still did it. I think you're looking for Rocksmith, in that case.

I think the distinction is that Rocksmith is set up to teach you how to play a real instrument, while RB3 just grades you on your performance on a real instrument. I have a lot of bad drumming habits thanks to learning from Rock Band

I'd like to see RB4 move more in this direction, though. A looser vocal scoring (with consonant recognition added) would allow you to crank the mic up to Expert and still sound good, while a revamped keyboard notation would let you transfer your skills directly onto a real keyboard. The kick pedal needs to be removed from Easy Mode drums (literally 100% of new people I've introduced ignore the pedal for their first song), while the guitar needs some more awareness of the 2nd set of fret buttons that were rather underused in RB3.

 

[DTWolfwood]

it's been long enough. I would be down for a new one. Plus i have no idea what i did with all my plastic instruments now. So i'd even be game to get a brand new set.

Edit: If (not likely) they make the new one have backwards compatibility with the old instruments this new RB would definitely sell like gangbusters.

 

[superline51]

If they could some how transfer the DLC songs from last gen onto current gen, I will be all over this.

 

[AnthrSolidSnake]

I would love for a return of Rock Band/Guitar Hero.

Contrary to popular belief, playing those games actually DID help me play real instruments. No, obviously not through learning the actual notes, tuning, music reading, etc., but enabling me to become much more nimble with my finger placement.

When I first started practicing guitar and playing violin, I just could not get my fingers to move. Of course, like most beginners it was predictably clunky and slow, but Guitar Hero was surprisingly good practice.

Of course, it's absolutely no replacement for actual practice and a real teacher, but it was a fun and welcome substitute for a little while.

Plus, to this day I'm still undefeated among my friends in Expert difficulty, so that always feels pretty good.


Also, I never understood the argument people against the games had: It didn't teach you how to play a real instrument. Umm...no shit. It's a video game. It's supposed to be fun. You don't play Skyrim to learn actual sword combat.

 

[thehorror2]

A Rock Band 4 on next-gen consoles would actually be enough to get me to buy one of said consoles. I've had awful luck trying to track down the instruments for the last rock band, since I missed out on getting them when they were new, and half the time they're broken or substandard anyway. The PS4 would be my "Rock Band, and a few other things" console.

 

[Lord_Jaroh]

Unless they let me port over my library of songs that I have purchased from them, it will be a "no-buy" from me. What would be the point? to get to buy the songs I like again? They already tried that when the keytar came out.

However, if they want instant success and sell consoles for Sony, backwards compatablize their shit and people everywhere will buy it (including me) and a PS4 to play it on.

 

[FPLOON]

I'm down to clown
As I re-rock all through the town
Bring back that Rockband sound
For the next-gen all-around!

So, yeah... I would love a next-gen RockHero... with [more] blackjacks and [more] hookers... I don't care as long as can sing and rock out to Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up to the tune of Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit... Also, I would love a DJ Hero 3 and/or a[nother] DJ-based rhythm game with matching DJ-based controller...

 

[Zydrate]

I was never good at it. Indeed, I was pleased when I stopped hearing about it and the trend seemed to be short lived.
Yet somehow I knew it wouldn't die. The lure of a 40-60$ game and then peddling 100-200$ more in peripherals is too much of a temptation for companies to ignore.

 

[RayTheGod]

I would consider buying a PS4 if Harmonix really did release a new Rock Band game. Rock Band 3 is the only game I've touched on my xbox in the last few years. That being said, I don't think we'll see this new game for a good while.

 

[smithy_2045]

If they could some how transfer the DLC songs from last gen onto current gen, I will be all over this.

Pure speculation, but I'd think that there'd be the possibility of transferring the re-licensed DLC from 360 to One or PS3 to PS4. The songs which they had to stop selling due to licensing agreements expiring probably won't, and Sony to Microsoft or vice versa is very unlikely.

 

[superline51]

If they could some how transfer the DLC songs from last gen onto current gen, I will be all over this.

Pure speculation, but I'd think that there'd be the possibility of transferring the re-licensed DLC from 360 to One or PS3 to PS4. The songs which they had to stop selling due to licensing agreements expiring probably won't, and Sony to Microsoft or vice versa is very unlikely.

The PS4 is my primary right now, but since I have all the DLC on my 360, would have to go with the Xbone version (Yes, I have both).

 

[bat32391]

I don't see any reason not to. Pump one out and keeping putting songs out for it over the course of this generations life cycle.