Rockband 3

[Rwolf]

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2010-06-10-rockband10_ST_N.htm

Has my intrest, although the keyboard would be a coin toss for me. Also intergrating "full-sized, fully functional Fender guitar" I would like to see that in action.

Want to see more details if they updated the drum hardware, although they will be adding cymbals into the note chart.

Looks like Harmonix might have "Power Gig" beat with their upcoming real guitar intergration. I thought it was silly Power gig went with a "air drum" peripheral and quoting it plays more authentically.

[JacqueChoi]

If I can play this with a real guitar, it will be a first day purchase for me.

[Zipfinator]

Can't wait to see what they'll be doing for this. I love playing drums on Expert but only 4 pads and 1 kick pedal gets a bit old after 3 years. Hopefully they'll integrate double kick along with symbols into the actual charts. Also would like to see what they're going to do for guitar. I can play that on Expert too but I much prefer drums.

[Rwolf]

Can't wait to see what they'll be doing for this. I love playing drums on Expert but only 4 pads and 1 kick pedal gets a bit old after 3 years. Hopefully they'll integrate double kick along with symbols into the actual charts. Also would like to see what they're going to do for guitar. I can play that on Expert too but I much prefer drums.

Looking at the video and some screenshots, look like the cymbal notes are "round/circular" fuses instead of rectangular ones. That definitly keeps things simple, I get confused with double the note channels w/ DTXMania.

Hopefully they'll solve the hardware issue of using double pedals with the current hardware (It currently can work with a headphone splitter, but you can't have one pedal down while using the other)

[Zipfinator]

Yeah I bought the official double pedal system for my RB2 set and it doesn't work. The pedals won't work AT ALL when the splitter is plugged in. Apparently you just have to get lucky with them. They really need to sort it out and make it an actual feature of the kit instead of having to buy some crappy $5 peripheral to use it. What would really be awesome is if they integrated a hi-hat pedal AND the ability to use double kick but I doubt that will happen.

[Rwolf]

maybe that mystery port on the back of RB2 drums will be used in RB3

[Zipfinator]

I think that mystery port was for the Mad Catz Symbol pack? They released a 2 symbol pack but all it did was replace the yellow and blue pads so if you wanted to use the symbols to make it more authentic you could.

[Rwolf]

don't think so, since you can add up to 3 cymbals on the RB2 kit like in this photo http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/kotaku/2008/09/DSC02942.JPG

Top is foot pedal, middle is the mystery port, bottom 3 are for the cymbals.

[Zipfinator]

Ah well I have no idea then. I'm guessing they had plans for it but scrapped them or something.

[bounchfx]

UNF.. I can't wait for this. super excited about keyboards, though I still hope they add double bass, even if it hasn't been announced yet. also hope theres a vox+instrument mode for one player.

[Rwolf]

GameTrailers interview.
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3-2010-rock-band-3/101090

@1:30 it show's what looks like "MadCatz" guitar, looks crazy, but not fuctional outside the game. Still wondering if the other guitar is Fully Stringed.

[bounchfx]

Still wondering if the other guitar is Fully Stringed.

yes, it is.

[ZacD]

I'm cheap and broke, but I really want to play with the keyboard,

and pro mode sounds awesome

and

If I can play this with a real guitar, it will be a first day purchase for me.

There will be at least 1 "guitar" that can work as a game controller and a real guitar.

[ErichWK]

the double kick pedal for rockband was awful. I'm a real drummer and have conquered double kick on my kit...and yet that pedal for Rock Band is like running through quick sand.

[Rwolf]

the double kick pedal for rockband was awful. I'm a real drummer and have conquered double kick on my kit...and yet that pedal for Rock Band is like running through quick sand.


Have you tried modding a real pedal? I've done so with mine. Just need a door alarm switch and a head phone jack.

[ZacD]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/11/rock-band-3s-gear-priced-keytar-and-pro-guitar-sport-midi-out/#comments

[Rwolf]

Pricing sounds about right.

[Zipfinator]

Looks like that cymbal set is just a stupid addon like the one for RB2. Didn't you say they're going to add them to the charts though Rwold?

EDIT: Oh wait I looked at those in game screenshots on Zac's link. Circles! I can't wait to try that out.

[Rwolf]

I kinda hoping, and kinda hoping not they improve the drumkit. If they don't, I'll just resue the rb2 kit and save money for the ridiculous guitar.

[ZacD]

They've said multiple times they want to make as much instruments work as possible, even the guitars can be plugged into a computer and be used as a midi guitar.

So all the old stuff should work fine.

[tanka]

I love Rock Band. I hate how they've dealed with the franchise in Australia though. We still don't have RB2 here, (although I've imported it) I'm hoping that RB3 comes out here in a reasonable timeframe so I don't need to pay shipping for the keyboard. I'm pumped for the keyboard.

I got Green Day: Rock Band this week, I love that too! The guitar is a bit meh, but the drum charts are awesome fun to play. The harmonies are awesome too, they'll be a great edition to RB3.

[Rwolf]

I thought in general AU & NZ got the short end of the stick with any game. Although hearing that RB2 isn't even out yet is abit crazy.

[ZacD]

I'm scared already

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/comment/9/2010/06/5158ab0252883a5f6490fdd43942c194/340x.gif

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frJSMca4iho

[Zipfinator]

I'm excited for the drums. I've been meaning to get an electronic drum kit for a while but can't spare the money for it. This will be one step closer to that and will probably tide me over until I have the money and time for one.

[Asherr]

"Preorder now and get a set of Tony Iommi brand plastic finger tips free! (You're gonna need them!)"

[Rwolf]

I'm scared already

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/comment/9/2010/06/5158ab0252883a5f6490fdd43942c194/340x.gif


Well that take's chart reading, and muscle memory to a new level.

[ZacD]

I'm excited for the drums. I've been meaning to get an electronic drum kit for a while but can't spare the money for it. This will be one step closer to that and will probably tide me over until I have the money and time for one.


Rock Band 3 Wireless Keyboard Controller (Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3 / Wii) - $79.99
Rock Band 3 Game & Wireless Keyboard Controller Bundle (Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3 / Wii) - $129.99
Rock Band 3 Wireless Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar Controller (Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3 / Wii) - $149.99
Rock Band 3 Wireless PRO-Cymbals Expansion Kit (Universal) - $39.99
Rock Band 3 MIDI PRO-Adapter (Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3 / Wii) - $39.99

[Zipfinator]

The electronic kit I've been looking at is like $1400 so I think I can spare the $100 for the game and the cymbals expansion kit. They aren't going to do a complete drum upgrade though? That's kind of disappointing.

[Rhinokey]

i love that they are merging the game into more of a real music training tool, the vocals and drums have always been slightly usefull for that. but the guitar and bass had nothing to do with real playin, if this comes out not too buggy i will totaly sign on first day.

hopefully the game will come with sheet music / tab of the songs to practice with, hell i would love a mode where the actual sheet music just flowed across the screen like the vocals an you play by reading that/

[ZacD]

it sounds like you can use any midi keyboard or drum set with rb3, I dunno if they are updating the drums much or not, we'll probably know a lot more after e3.

[bounchfx]

they already have an updated drum kit.. It's called the ion drum kit.. Google it!

Also, rhino, pro mode IS the tab/sheet music flowing towards you. Donno if it'll be included in the game manual though.

I do know however that they have specific pro training for each of the 83 songs

[Rwolf]

I do know however that they have specific pro training for each of the 83 songs

I think I will do this in practice mode, and slow the speed too 50% or more lol. I never tried to play real guitar before, so somthing tells me I'm going to be looking down at it and back up the screen alot.

[Zipfinator]

Bounch, the Ion drum kit is kind of crappy. They made it so it could be used as an electronic kit on its own too but most of what I heard about it is bad. Its pads are kind of hard, the symbols don't react realistically like higher end electronic kits do and it doesn't change the way the game plays at all. Plus it's about $300 or $400 I think which is too much to spend on a crappy electronic kit that doesn't improve playing the game much.

I was hoping that they'd upgrade the standard kit anyway to be a bit sturdier and have the symbols built in instead of being an addon. The newest RB2 kit (Which they upgraded a year or so ago) isn't that bad though so it won't be a huge disappointment. It's kind of sad to see that the guitar is getting this major upgrade and the drums just get rehashed Symbal addon for the RB2 kit.

[sampson]

is there a song list out?

[Zipfinator]

Part of it.


2000s:
• Metric, “Combat Baby”
• Rilo Kiley, “Portions for Foxes”
• Them Crooked Vultures, “Dead End Friends”
• The Vines, “Get Free”
• The White Stripes, “The Hardest Button to Button”
• Phoenix, “Lasso”
• Ida Maria, “Oh My God”
• Juanes, “Me Enamora”

1990s:
• Jane’s Addiction, “Been Caught Stealing”
• Smash Mouth, “Walkin’ on the Sun”
• Spacehog, “In the Meantime”
• Stone Temple Pilots, “Plush”

1980s:
• Dio, “Rainbow in the Dark”
• Huey Lewis and the News, “The Power of Love”
• Joan Jett, “I Love Rock and Roll”
• Night Ranger, “Sister Christian”
• Whitesnake, “Here I Go Again”
• The Cure, “Just Like Heaven”
• Ozzy Osbourne, “Crazy Train”

1970s:
• Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody”

1960s:
• Jimi Hendrix, “Crosstown Traffic”
• The Doors, “Break On Through”

[xvampire]

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2010-06-10-rockband10_ST_N.htm
"full-sized, fully functional Fender guitar" I would like to see that in action.

based on this picture and interview
http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/11/rock-band-3s-gear-priced-keytar-and-pro-guitar-sport-midi-out/#comments
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3-2010-rock-band-3/101090

that "full-sized, fully functional Fender guitar" statement is not correct.

[Zipfinator]

Vampire, apparently there's another peripheral guitar that does that. At least that's what I thought from what I've read. That one is just the new guitar.

Anyway, do you guys think that they'll update all of the old songs to be playable in Pro mode? I'm guessing they won't since they have over 1500 songs now including all DLC but I hope they do them over time based on popular demand for which songs to update at the very least.

[ZacD]

Are they going to charge more for "pro" songs (to upgrade your old ones) or to update old ones is my question

[Zipfinator]

I'd hope that if they do end up updating the old songs to be playable on Pro they won't make you pay anything if you've already bought them. Hopefully they won't raise the price either even though it'll take more time to develop the charts. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[Rwolf]

that "full-sized, fully functional Fender guitar" statement is not correct.

No just didn't look hard enough. It's just not priced yet.

http://www.1up.com/media/03/8/1/9/lg/375.jpg

Btw, you can probably find a Ion Drum brain seperatly if you already own a a full electronic kit.

I've also notice in the Gamespot interview the guy mentions "Double Kick" lets hope it's true.

[Zipfinator]

I hope they implement double kick into the Pro mode and make it REAL Double kick with all of the notes and not like RB2 where you can just use two pedals on the already dumbed-down kick pedal charts if you can even get the shitty double kick peripheral to work.

[Rhinokey]

wow i hope they improve the quality of the periphs, i rember my rockband 1 guitar died the first nite, and so did many many others, that one with the million buttosn looks like a night mare. rwolf where did you get that image at? cause i'm skeptical, that looks so far removed from what they show in the vids,

also in the vids i did not see any guitar chord playing, cept what looked like some simple one finger bars

[Rwolf]

wow i hope they improve the quality of the periphs, i rember my rockband 1 guitar died the first nite, and so did many many others, that one with the million buttosn looks like a night mare. rwolf where did you get that image at? cause i'm skeptical, that looks so far removed from what they show in the vids,


-Yeah I heard about those nightmares. My RB1 controller is still going on strong, although the strum bar is a lil loose now. (although my foot pedal did snap, and thats when I bought a real foot pedal and rigged it up to RB)
-1up.com, but it's also in the first link Xvampire posted at engaget. I couldn't find the url link on engaget, but it's in the screenshot's gallery below the post.

Engagets pic of the full stringed squire is a little bit higer res, and you can see the 4 face buttons, start select/foward buttons, and a D-pad. But it's missing a PS/Xbox button. I wonder if that mean's it'll be compatible with both xbox and ps3?

Although Madcatz Mustang has the psn/xbox button in place.

Bounch, the Ion drum kit is kind of crappy

Well I guess RB3's midi adapter solves that :) now just need $1000-$2000 for a real kit.

[JacqueChoi]

Wow.

I'm totally buying this!


That might be the worst way i've ever seen guitar music transcribed.

[ZacD]

REAL GUITAR

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/16/rock-band-3-squier-stratocaster-plays-both-real-and-virtual-guit/

[sampson]

cool i just wish i could use my own guitar and the technology worked out the note rather than where your hand is

[ZacD]

yeah its based off midi instruments, same thing with the drums.

[Zipfinator]

Well I guess RB3's midi adapter solves that :) now just need $1000-$2000 for a real kit.

I've actually been planning to get a $1400 or so electronic kit sometime, so maybe I'll be able to use that! If I go to school in a year or so though I definitely won't have the money for it which is disappointing but I have to think about my future more than my Rock Band 3 or drum playing enjoyment.

[Sandbag]

so can you use any midi capable guitar? If I'm going to be shelling out 400+ on a guitar I'll be pretty upset if my only choice is Squire.

I've wanted a midi setup guitar for a very long time, if you can use any one you want with the game it might finally push me over the edge to buy one...

The fretboard/play space looks like a bit of a nightmare to sight-read, but to finally be aided by real world experience instead of handicapped by it is a pretty sweet payoff.

edit: if so I've heard great things about Axon's kit: http://sewelldirect.com/AXON-AIX-101-Guitar-Interface.asp?source=froogle&utm_source=Froogle&utm_medium=cse&cvsfa=1306&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=53572d35393230

[Rwolf]

I've wanted a midi setup guitar for a very long time, if you can use any one you want with the game it might finally push me over the edge to buy one...



The press release said the midi adapter would be keyboard, and drum compatible. no mention of guitar however...

Although my guess the squire will be in the $200 price range.
awesome demo btw, definitly kicks Power Gig in the face (untill we see actual gameplay at least)

[ZacD]

so can you use any midi capable guitar? If I'm going to be shelling out 400+ on a guitar I'll be pretty upset if my only choice is Squire.



I thought the midi + real guitar was going to $150?

[Zipfinator]

The improved guitar is $150 Zac (The one with the buttons all down the fret and the 6 strings at the bottom). I don't think they've announced a price on the fully stringed guitar with the xbox buttons and such but I'd guess somewhere around $300.

[Rwolf]

I thought the midi + real guitar was going to $150?

well the press release was pricing for "Mad Catz" perhipherals.

I just noticed the midi connector on that last link on the Squire, so maybe you can use your own midi guitar? I'm sure the RB community will test this out within a few weeks. Kinda like how they started modding their guitars and drumkits.

[ZacD]

The improved guitar is $150 Zac (The one with the buttons all down the fret and the 6 strings at the bottom). I don't think they've announced a price on the fully stringed guitar with the xbox buttons and such but I'd guess somewhere around $300.

damn, I was hoping it wouldn't be too much past the $200 mark.

[Rwolf]

My guess is $200 since my Sister got a squire and a cheap amp new for $200 (Canadian) area. And since they remove the two? tone knobs in place for the d-pad and buttons, I'm sure it would be silghtly cheaper/same cost as a retail guitar.

Of course this is just speculation untill official release :P

[ZacD]

They should try to keep it as cheap as possible but still decent sound, fender wants to get people to pick up real guitars after they master rockband.

[Sandbag]

if they really are using piezo pickups in/by the bridge and a midi interface I would be shocked if it was only 200.

The midi setup alone would cost at least 150, and 250 for a nice one. I'd also find it extremely hard to believe since the regular 5 button Fender Replica is 299

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Mad+Catz+-+Rock+Band+Wireless+Fender+Stratocaster+Replica+fo r+Xbox+360+%28Hot+Rod+Red%29/9574392.p?skuId=9574392&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=9574392&ref=06&loc=01&id=1218127265179

Doing what it does isn't new, but it isn't cheap either. If they did all of that on a real playable guitar and it only cost 200 bucks the guitar would have to be a complete piece of garbage (or a huge profit loss).

[Zipfinator]

Just read this on the Rock Band 3 Press Release that was made a week ago!

"To be formally announced in due course, Mad Catz will be offering updated versions of the guitar and drum peripherals from prior versions of Rock Band, as well as improved microphones in support of the Rock Band 3 vocal harmony feature."

Updated Drums, Guitar and Microphone! Hopefully the drum upgrade has some major improvements in the pad and the sturdiness.

[Rwolf]

Some vid's going into pro guitar, not so much on pro drums (nothing much new that we know of).

First Vid shows Pro Expert Guitar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5De9eCH1EU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AAy-NGf2VQ

[Zipfinator]

Looks cool.

Anyway I found out that most of the DLC and RB2 songs are already ready for Pro drums since they were programmed for use with the Mad Catz symbal addon. Yay!

[tanka]

Full setlist is announced:

Amy Winehouse – Rehab
Anthrax - Caught in a Mosh
At the Drive-In – One Armed Scissor
Avenged Seven Fold - Beast and the Harlot
B-52s - Rock Lobster
Beach Boys – Good Vibrations
Big Country – In a Big Country
Blondie – Heart of Glass
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Get Up, Stand Up
Bronx, The – False Alarm
Chicago - 25 or 6 to 4
Cure, The -- Just Like Heaven
David Bowie – Space Oddity
Deep Purple – Smoke on the Water
Def Leppard - Foolin'
Devo – Whip It
Dio -- Rainbow in the Dark
Dire Straits – Walk of Life
Doobie Brothers - China Grove
Doors, The -- Break On Through
Dover – King George
Echo and the Bunnymen – Killing Moon
Elton John – Saturday Night’s Alright
Faith No More – Midlife Crisis
Filter - Hey Man, Nice Shot
Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1
Foreigner - Cold as Ice
Golden Earring – Radar Love
HIM - Killing Loneliness
Huey Lewis and the News -- The Power of Love
Hypernova – Viva La Resistance
Ida Maria -- Oh My God
INXS - Need You Tonight
J Geils Band - Centerfold
James Brown – I Got You
Jane’s Addiction -- Been Caught Stealing
Jimi Hendrix Experience, The -- Crosstown Traffic
Joan Jett -- I Love Rock and Roll
John Lennon – Imagine
Juanes -- Me Enamora
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Free Bird
Maná - Oye Mi Amor
Marilyn Manson - The Beautiful People
Metric -- Combat Baby
Muffs, The – Outer Space
Night Ranger -- Sister Christian
Ozzy Osbourne -- Crazy Train
Paramore – Misery Business
Phish – Llama
Phoenix -- Lasso
Police, The – Don’t Stand So Close to Me
Poni Hoax - Antibodies
Pretty Girls Make Graves – Something Bigger, Something Brighter
Primus – Jerry Was a Race Car Driver
Queen -- Bohemian Rhapsody
Queens of the Stone Age – No One Knows
Rammstein - Du Hast
Ramones – I Wanna Be Sedated
Raveonettes – Last Dance
Rilo Kiley -- Portions of Foxes
Riverboat Gamblers – Don’t Bury Me… I’m Still Not Dead
Roxette - The Look
Slipknot - Before I Forget
Smash Mouth -- Walkin on the Sun
Smiths, The – Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One Before
Sounds, The – Living in America
Spacehog -- In the Meantime
Steve Miller Band – Fly Like an Eagle
Stone Temple Pilots -- Plush
Swingin’ Utters – This Bastard’s Life
Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Tegan and Sara – The Con
Them Crooked Vultures -- Dead End Friends
Tokio Hotel - Humanoid
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - I Need To Know
T-Rex - 20th Century Boy
Vines, The -- Get Free
War - Low Rider
Warren Zevon – Werewolves of London
White Stripes, The -- The Hardest Button to Button
Whitesnake -- Here I Go Again
Who, The – I Can See For Miles
Yes – Roundabout

There's alot of GH1 and 2 songs in there.. but it looks pretty good :)

[ZacD]

A really nice list, I wanna try the real guitar +midi, I'm getting prepared to suck at rockband again.

[PogoP]

Pink Floyd would be good! :(

[Rwolf]

you forgot the video to go with it!
http://vimeo.com/14293335

[Rwolf]

Sweet, looks like the fender guitar is cross platform compatible.. Still no pricing however
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/14/rock-band-3-guitar-trainer-preview-fret-nice/