Posts in category rhythm
by Jason Dobson Oct 11th 2007 11:50AM
Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Simulations, Rhythm, Casual
Among the
cavalcade of announcements from Nintendo this week comes details surrounding what appears to be a full fledged game based on
the Wii's conductor demo shown during last year's E3. The game, tentatively titled
Wii Music, was first brought to our attention earlier in
an interview earlier this year, and will allow players to control a group of musicians in both single and multiplayer modes supporting up to four players.
Interestingly, while the E3 tech demo was based solely around the concept of conducting the orchestra using the Wii remote as a baton, this improved take on the concept will allow players to directly control of up to six band members using both motions and button presses, with
Wii Music offing an impressive selection of 40 different types of instruments with which to outfit your band, leading us to believe that the game will support a wide array of music styles, though no details along this line have been announced.
Wii Music is expected to ship in Japan sometime next year, however it's anyone's guess when the game will make the rounds to either North America or Europe.
by Ludwig Kietzmann Oct 9th 2007 8:30PM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Rhythm
Yahoo! Games has posted a video preview of this holiday's multi-instrument music extravaganza,
Rock Band, paying special attention to the venues you and your faux band will be tearing up, bringing down and
figuratively destroying. Spread across the cities of Boston, Los Angeles and New York, the initially revealed venues (out of the final 41) are divided into three size groups, with your band's surging popularity pushing you out of small clubs and into large arenas.
In an accompanying interview,
Rock Band's senior artist Peter McDonald explains that the fancy venues provide not only bigger crowds, but also more spectacular stage effects and sophisticated camera work (read: "crazy crane shots"). Have a look for yourself at places like "Heebie Jeebie's," "Empire Square Garden" and "The Snake Pit" by clicking that
Read link.
[Thanks,
Whymog]
by Ross Miller Oct 9th 2007 3:23PM
Filed under: Sony PSP, Action, Driving, First Person Shooters, Online, Rhythm
Sony Computer Entertainment America is currently developing seven original titles for the PSP, due out next year via download through the PlayStation Store.
According to sources speaking to
GamesIndustry.biz, the first-party
septet encompass three action games, two music-based games, one shooter and one racer (where does
Calling All Cars fit into that list?). They will be approximately one-half to one-third the size of current UMD disks and are intended to provide two to ten hours of gameplay.
Sony is also reportedly courting developers to provide more original titles to the network. No other details are currently available. The PlayStation Store, currently only accessible via the PS3, will be available through the
PC and PSP next year.
by Alexander Sliwinski Oct 9th 2007 11:45AM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Rhythm
MTV's Multiplayer blog has posted answers to
frequently asked questions regarding the corporate fustercluck (MTV/EA/Harmonix) published rhythm game
Rock Band. We could bother to put the question and the answer, but if y'all can't figure out what the original question was you can hit up
Multiplayer:
- No other hardware combinations have been announced yet beyond the standard (guitar, drum, mic) bundle. And yes, the bass guitar is just a second guitar controller which you probably have lying around ...
- ... because Harmonix will keep an "open platform philosophy" and games will be compatible with third-party controllers "that conform to the various platform controller standards."
- If you're short on guitars but want to play head to head, the online play will be both cooperative and competitive.
- The Xbox 360 gee-tar will come with a USB hub (remember the guitar in the bundle is wired).
- A Wii version has not been announced ... yet.
Now, we don't have insta-access to
Rock Band like MTV's Multiplayer blog, but we can try to get some questions answered too -- we're scrappy like that. So if you have some lingering
Rock Band questions (and there are plenty good ones still left), leave 'em in the comments and we'll try to get some answers. And automatic name calling to the people who ask questions already answered by bullet points above.
by Alexander Sliwinski Oct 9th 2007 9:25AM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Rhythm
Karaoke lovers who had Nov. 13 circled on their calendars for the next-generation of
SingStar to arrive -- um, just ignore that
announcement was ever made.
SingStar PS3 has been delayed and is currently residing in limbo until further notice. Sony told GI.biz that the game needs further testing and
no specific "release period" will be given.
Reasons for the delay are not given, but the prominent theories are licensing issues and PSN problems. Sony says this delay will give them more time to test the
SingStar PSN content "to ensure that it is as rich, simple and accessible a
SingStar experience as possible." Don't fret Euro
SingStar faithful, by the time the PS3 version comes out you'll be able to
purchase a cheaper PS3 model and play all your
PS2 SingStars on it too ... oh wait,
no you won't. Oh well, there's always the
SingStar PS2 bundle.
by Alexander Sliwinski Oct 9th 2007 4:00AM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Peripherals, Rhythm
This isn't a story we get to tell very often, but it's certainly an interesting one for gamers to keep in mind when shopping at online retailer Amazon.com. Last night we were tipped that Amazon.com's prices on
Guitar Hero III inflated significantly from the $99 we had adjusted to over the last couple months. We checked with
GH III publisher Red Octane, who told us that the prices hadn't changed. In truth, Amazon was no longer offering
GH III directly from "Amazon actual" and their system defaulted to a third-party retailer who had included shipping into their price -- that explained the new, higher price. So, why did Amazon decide to stop offering
GH III directly? They weren't sure anymore that they could guarantee supply on future pre-orders (because that's technically all you can do at this point), so rather than disappoint customers with possible delays they pulled the pre-order offer.
A representative for Amazon tells Joystiq, "Our third party vendors control their own list prices, which can factor in shipping and sales tax costs. Ultimately, the choice lies with the customer to decide who they want to purchase from so that they get the best shopping experience on Amazon.com." For the best example of how things can go when Amazon isn't the direct seller, a "new" Wii is currently on Amazon for $370. That is currently the cheapest you can get it from an authorized third-party retailer. When it becomes "in stock" again for "Amazon actual" it'll be the normal $250. Just a little something to be aware of when shopping from one of the top retailers on these intertubes.
by Jason Dobson Oct 8th 2007 4:56PM
Filed under: Culture, Nintendo DS, Portable, Simulations, Rhythm, Casual
Ubisoft's quirky
Jam Sessions is less a game and more an interactive
toy in a vein similar to that of Nintendo's own
Electroplankton, turning the Nintendo DS into a kind of minimalist guitar for virtual strumming. While its appeal may be decidedly niche, Ubisoft has now set about looking for people who are both skilled at creating music with the stylus as well as unafraid to
torture entertain the general public with their voices for fun and prizes.
Between now and October 23, touch screen virtuosos can upload their
Jam Sessions videos, which must include both lyrics and vocals, to Ubisoft's special
Jam Sessions contest page on YouTube where they will be judged by the internet masses. Winners will be announced on November 6, with two people representing the winning entry making the trip to New York City to perform live on MTV lookalike, Fuse TV. Ubisoft urges musicians to keep this last bit in mind, as they
"don't want to be responsible for your band breaking up," though imagining a musical act throwing down over an argument over who gets to go on national television to play
Jam Sessions live on camera is hilarious and certainly something we'd pay to see.
[Via press release]
by Zack Stern Oct 6th 2007 1:00AM
Filed under: Culture, Nintendo DS, Mac, PC, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Simulations, Video, Rhythm, Casual
Game Revolution's Nick Tan recently
played Guitar Hero III song,
Through the Fire and Flames by Dragonforce, on expert. That website describes it as the hardest in the game, designed to be "unbeatable." And Nick conquered it.
Yes,
weeks before you adoring, fake guitar fans get
a chance to play, the hardest song has been bested by a player on his fourth attempt. The video of the event is mediocre, and the moment of triumph is anticlimactic. ("Go balloons, go balloons,
we need more balloons. ...") But we were still floored watching this face-melting song --and player -- in action.
Be amazed by the clip after the break.
Continue reading Today's shredingest video: Guitar Hero III victor
by Ross Miller Oct 5th 2007 1:52PM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Rhythm
The wireless
Guitar Hero III guitars for PlayStation 3 will not work seemlessly with the console's Bluetooth technology, instead requiring a dongle that plugs into the USB ports. On the plus side, as noted by
Wired's Chris Kohler, is that the dongles are modeled after guitar picks. Much more appealing than a boring, black brick.
Rock Band's wireless PS3 guitar also showed up recently in an FCC filing with a mysterious (albeit less attractive)
dongle solution, which presumably will ship with the final product. Maybe by then, however, the
Harmonix Red Octane gang will pretty their dongle up.
by Justin McElroy Oct 3rd 2007 7:51AM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Rhythm
Activision released a ton of
Guitar Hero III (due out on Oct. 28)
tracks this morning, some you've probably heard rumored before, some of which are likely surprises to you. Either way, we've provided a ridiculously clickable list that may or may not include a little profanity. We apologize in advance.
What's that? You've already forgotten the previously announced songs? There's a big list after the break.
Continue reading Aerosmith, Cream, Disturbed, many others added to Guitar Hero III
by Alexander Sliwinski Sep 28th 2007 3:55PM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Rhythm
It's official folks,
Rock Band will be $170 for Xbox 360 and PS3 and release Nov. 23. A Friday ... wait, Black Friday? Yes, more on that in a second. The PS2 version will release Dec. 10 for $160. Our spidey sense started tingling that something was up when we received info that Amazon was listing
Rock Band for $169 -- a $30 reduction from the $199 they've had listed for months. Turns out that they received the official price today. The bundle includes the game (reg. $60, $50 on PS2), the guitar (reg. $60,
but wired on Xbox 360, wireless is separate and $80), the wired drums (reg. $80), and wired microphone (reg. $30).
Now the big question: What were the powers that be thinking with November 23rd? Nov. 23rd is Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, the high holy "oh my gawd we're going to get trampled when the stores open" day of the year. Can you imagine what it's going to be like trying to pick up your game at retail on that day? Don't know about the rest of you, but if there were ever a time to get your game by mail -- this would be that time!
[Thanks to all those that sent info in]
by Alexander Sliwinski Sep 28th 2007 1:00PM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Rhythm
Update:
All has been revealed.
Earlier this week Amazon.com dropped the ball and freaked a lot of pre-order customers out by sending emails saying
Rock Band was delayed until 2008 --
it wasn't true. Interestingly, in their "oops" letter today to those same pre-order customers Amazon says: "'Rock Band Special Edition' [Video Game], Estimated arrival date: 11/27/2007 - 11/29/2007."
The person we received this info from uses Amazon Prime, which gives faster shipping on items, so those dates should be the week of release. Of course, Amazon already screwed up the
year this week, so what's another week? Most guesstimates have had the release the week of Nov. 20. The official
Rock Band release announcement is expected next week. Still no word yet on
official peripheral pricing though.
Update: After receiving more of these letters, it turns out there are apparently two versions. One with an 11/23 date and another with 11/27 date. We spoke with Amazon.com and they say that there is an algorithm in the system that decides these dates based on location, but because there's no official date yet, these delivery estimates are still subject to change. The difference in date are not related to console platform. Boy it'd be nice to finally get a solid release date.
[Thanks Tim]
by Zack Stern Sep 28th 2007 8:50AM
Filed under: Culture, Nintendo DS, Portable, Rhythm, Casual, Galleries
The dancing-puppet game,
Boogie, launches on the DS this "holiday" season. The portable version of the title has more game in it (read: objectives and losing conditions). But after briefly playing, it still seems
aimed close at the casual market Boogie (Wii) courted; rhythm fans might want to pass.
Boogie (DS) copies rhythm game techniques, but it comes off as a casual, unfocused
Elite Beat Agents. Maybe after hours of playing -- or a better fit with a gamer who's never tried a rhythm title -- it would feel more unique.
Continue reading Joystiq impressions: Boogie (DS)
by Ross Miller Sep 27th 2007 9:45PM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Video, Rhythm
There is something inherently wrong with having R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe's voice paired up with a muscular, long-haired man in a sleeveless t-shirt. It just feels wrong. Regardless, that's exactly what we see in the above video that reveals the band's contribution to EA's upcoming
Rock Band.
IGN also
previews the game, noting that we shouldn't expect as many solo-centric songs as one would find in
Guitar Hero, since the game's focus is on enjoyment for an entire band. That said, IGN assures there will be tracks to appeal the budding (virtual) shredder. We tend to think there are more than enough bands out there -- Mastodon, Minus the Bear, Tool, Neil Diamond, etc. -- where every instrument part is an enjoyable challenge. The article also discusses the Fender Stratocaster-inspired guitar controller and its special effects switch.
Rock Band is
(still) due out sometime in November.
[Via
X3F]
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