The folks over at Multiplayer used their "We work for MTV" powers to get some answers out of Harmonix about Rock Band. Of course, the fact that Harmonix also works for MTV probably aided them in this process. Ah yes, they even mention it in the post, so there you go. Anywho, Harmonix answered a few frequently asked questions (there should really be an acronym for that) about Rock Band that have been plaguing the community. First and foremost, there are no plans to offer other hardware configurations aside from the drums, microphone, guitar, and game bundle that has been circulating for a while now. In other words, if you'd prefer a bundle with, say, just a mic and the game, you're out of luck unless you buy them separately (which is still cheaper than the monster bundle). Also of note, the 360 bundle (with a wired guitar, remember) comes with a USB hub for all those other instruments. Finally, for those with Guitar Hero II X-plorers lying around, 3rd party guitars and peripherals should work just fine with Rock Band. We're sure it won't take long for peripheral makers to produce some less expensive versions of the various instruments, so those not looking to break the bank on the bundle may want to wait. Of course, if you're planning on nabbing Guitar Hero III, you should be able to use its guitar as well.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-09-2007 @ 6:12PM
Tony said...
Cool. I can sell one of my GHII guitars and keep the other for bass.
I'm still slightly bummed over the wires thing, but whatever.
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10-09-2007 @ 6:16PM
xenocidic said...
dumb move imo !~
now I won't be able to get my cowbell on ... in bundle form anyway.
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10-09-2007 @ 6:33PM
Etchasketchist said...
"drums, microphone, guitar, and game"
guitar is singular?
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10-09-2007 @ 6:37PM
Iced_Eagle said...
I had a chance to play RockBand a few days ago at the World Cyber Games. I was the singer for two songs (Dani California and Will you be my Girl)
It's tons of fun! Screen doesn't really get too cluttered since you focus on your section and pretty much ignore the rest. One thing that anyone who plans on singing is that if you don't know the words, you may be in trouble for a while. If you watch the lyrics, they aren't all next to each other so if you don't know the word you will blindly sing the syllabul and hope it sounds alright once you realize what the word is.
In a fast song it sort of sucks since you have a lot of words with dashes in between them to indicate the word continues through more beats or whatever. It can get hectic at times.
Once people start learning the words these problems go away. :) On the Jet song (are you gonna be my girl) I did pretty good since I already knew the words.
Oh, and tambourine / cowbell works perfect on the mic. ;)
My friend played both the drum and guitar in both songs respectively. Drum's were hectic at first since you need to multitask when you have the foot pedal and drum hit at the same time. It takes some getting used to he said. Guitar was exactly like guitar hero which was cool.
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10-09-2007 @ 6:43PM
Brian Arnold said...
I've heard over and over that GH2/3 guitars will work with Rock Band, but I am curious as to the other way around.
I know that the fast fret buttons on the bottom of the Fender Strat won't work in GH2/3, but I'd like to know if the rest of it will. I'm definitely buying a (non-bundle, wireless) Fender controller, but am also buying both RB and GH3, and would love it if I could use the nifty Fender on all of the GH games.
I'd imagine that it does work, but, I don't know for sure, and that kind of bothers me.
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10-09-2007 @ 7:19PM
bigcuedaddy said...
I read that they will be offering a freestyle option for the drums, without using the pre-formatted screen. If they could somehow figure out how to do that with the guitar and bass parts, this would be the most amazing game in the history of mankind.
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10-09-2007 @ 8:23PM
Richard Comegys said...
All I want to know is, will it be region free???
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10-09-2007 @ 8:28PM
Raptor-DP said...
@ #2
they've said previously that for parts of the game that don't have singing but have other percussion instruments, like cowbells or tambourines you'll tap on the mic to the rhythm.
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10-10-2007 @ 7:55AM
lysernix said...
@5 ... My question as well. Will Rock Band guitar work for GHII/III?
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10-10-2007 @ 8:34AM
xenocidic said...
@8 i was trying to make a joke that I wouldn't be able to get the microphone(cowbell) and game in a bundle. since all I care about is playing the cowbell parts for "Don't Fear the Reaper" i was hoping that a bundle would be available.
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10-10-2007 @ 8:44AM
Majikthise said...
What about those fast fret buttons then?
You say we can use a GH2/3 controller, but those extra buttons are missing. Will this matter?
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10-10-2007 @ 9:04AM
xenocidic said...
@maji i believe that those extra buttons are only used in the hardest difficulty ... so you wouldn't be able to do that.
someone will have to correct me if I'm wrong.
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10-10-2007 @ 11:45AM
JediMasterASD said...
All of that was already known. why didnt they ask some good questions like how much DLC will cost and what artists are they planning on putting out albums from.
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10-10-2007 @ 4:23PM
tcc3 said...
Fewer instrument bundle options sucks. Why not give us the choice of instrument, or reduce the price of each instrument, or the game itself. The game +1 instrument should be on par with Guitar Hero at ~ $100
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10-11-2007 @ 10:49PM
Chase said...
Cool, I went to read the article and I was mentioned in it!
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