Harmonix to Announce New Game Monday

[mister_slim]

Not as an April Fool's joke, Chris Kohler over at Wired's Game|Life (http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/03/ea_mtv_will_ann.html) mentions that EA and Harmonix will announce their new game on Monday:
In an email to media late Friday night, representatives of the companies said that MTV and Harmonix will also unveil a "first of its kind" partnership with major record labels and music publishers; representatives of those labels will be on hand during the teleconference.Not a lot of details yet, but I can't wait. I didn't expect an announcement so soon. Next, I'd like Harmonix and Sony to announce Frequency and Amplitude as downloadable games for the PSN. They could call it Freqitude!

[Vandenh]

They already did: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2007-04-01-rock-band_N.htm

[Evil Avatar]

There will be four instrument-based controllers (lead and bass guitars, a drum kit and a microphone), and online support will include the ability to form bands with people in other countries.

Let me get this straight... they are producing guitars, drums and a microphone so that you and your buddies can haul your Xbox's over to someones house and pretend to play music.

As opposed to say... you and your buddies buying real guitars and learning a real skill like playing an instrument.

Does anyone else see something fundementally wrong with this idea?

[Vandenh]

>Does anyone else see something fundementally wrong with this idea?

It is easier to play this than a real instrument.

>can haul your Xbox's over to someones house

You can also do it over Live.

[DeadlyDonkey]

Let me get this straight... they are producing guitars, drums and a microphone so that you and your buddies can haul your Xbox's over to someones house and pretend to play music.

As opposed to say... you and your buddies buying real guitars and learning a real skill like playing an instrument.

Does anyone else see something fundementally wrong with this idea?

That is the exact same argument somebody could make for Guitar Hero.

Didn't stop it being a runaway success.

[AversionFX]

Really weird idea, and I honestly don't know how it could be done. I would actually rather start a band than play a game like this. Guitar Hero is awesome, but this? Skeptical.

[Evil Avatar]

That is the exact same argument somebody could make for Guitar Hero.

Didn't stop it being a runaway success.

Fairly true, but I always saw Guitar Hero as more of a musical button masher - the fact that it is single player means people who have zero musical skill might get interested in learning an instrument or might just play it for the button mashing.

Once you start talking about it like a party game, it just feels weird for people to go to the trouble to head over to someone elses house and play this "fake music" party game.

I'm not trashing it - I think it is an awesome idea and might be a great product, but it still seems pretty weird and like it might not be something we would want to encourge our kids to do.

[Evil Avatar]

Really weird idea, and I honestly don't know how it could be done. I would actually rather start a band than play a game like this. Guitar Hero is awesome, but this? Skeptical.

I think what makes this so weird is the microphone. I could see bapenguin, Everlost_MI and I jumping into Xbox Live one night and all playing through a song or two together (or six after a few beers), but where does the microphone come in?

I don't think anyone wants to hear my Kermit the Frog voice singing - and how is a Microphone a 4th instrument? One dude just sits there and sings? How lame is that???

[Evil Avatar]

The really sad part is that this reminds me that I can't afford Guitar Hero for the 360.

[Tricky Thumb]

Never underestimate the power of a party game.

I agree, it's a far-fetched idea and all, but no less than Guitar Hero was back when it was announced. I'll hope for the best and fear the worst, but color me excited on the news.

[TrackZero]

Let me get this straight... they are producing guitars, drums and a microphone so that you and your buddies can haul your Xbox's over to someones house and pretend to play music.

As opposed to say... you and your buddies buying real guitars and learning a real skill like playing an instrument.

Does anyone else see something fundementally wrong with this idea?

Nope, they're doing the above, but you play online. Gotta read the whole article first. ;)

[Loganrapp]

Clearly no one here has tried to carry a drum set to a jam session. Or amps, for that matter.

No, it would not be easier to start a band. First off: What songs to play? Everyone wants to play their own favorite songs, and then they want to play it their way. Plus, no one's going to trade from lead guitar to drummer on a whim. Lead guitar always wants to play lead guitar, and fuck off to the drummer who wants to do anything but keep time and bang the crash cymbal every once in a while.

However, get two guitar controllers, a mic and what I'm guessing is going to be something along the lines of a five-pad drum controller (those are easy to find already, just adapt to the system); and in five minutes, you're able to start rocking out and switching off like nobody's business.

It effectively takes the ego out of rocking out with your friends. Because, really, guy gets all defensive over being lead guitarist for this... it's really just a lot more pathetic, y'know?

[DesignerKid]

Really weird idea, and I honestly don't know how it could be done. I would actually rather start a band than play a game like this. Guitar Hero is awesome, but this? Skeptical.

Don't project your feelings onto the masses. Unfortunately hardcore gamers (and game designers...) do this way too often. Some people, like myself, don't have the time, money or desire to actually play in a band. And most people simply don't have the talent.

In my opinion this game is going to bury Guitar Hero. As a matter of fact when Guitar Hero was first released, I really felt like this would be the natural evolution of the franchise. As a matter of fact, Activision probably does as well considering they've already trademarked Band Hero and Band Villian.

It'll be interesting to see how it plays out, my guess is that while Guitar Hero will continue to be a strong franchise, this game will have stronger game design, track selection and marketing support.

[Riproar]

I read in an article in Gameinformer with the lead of Harmonix who said that their eventual goal with Band Hero is to implement a freestyle mode where players can create their own songs over Live with other people.

That sounds like pure music creating candy for those not endowed with true music skills. I can see the winners of some MTV sponsored Band Hero song creation competition getting a gig on the program.

I think this band idea for Guitar Hero is great. Since first playing Guitar Hero I though wouldn’t it be cool if you had an option to just say: Give me the guitar sounds from Smoke on the Water and just let me play with them. To me, that us what they are doing now, with a few more instruments thrown in.

Only thing that gets my goat is that we are going to need new controllers that work for each new console. I’ve got three guitars for my PS2 and I’ll have to buy all new ones for the PS3? That’s the part I don’t like…at all!

[Everlost_MI]

I think what makes this so weird is the microphone. I could see bapenguin, Everlost_MI and I jumping into Xbox Live one night and all playing through a song or two together (or six after a few beers), but where does the microphone come in?
...yeah but who get to play drums!?

I don't think anyone wants to hear my Kermit the Frog voice singing - and how is a Microphone a 4th instrument? One dude just sits there and sings? How lame is that???

At least your vocals wouldn't sound like Michael Jackson hitting puberty...which would be mine. A..HEhe!

[Spigot]

This is kind of cool, but I'd rather they came out with another game like Frequency or Amplitude as opposed to more Guitar Hero/Bemani style games. Ah well.

Of course, I remember people begging for something like this back when Guitar Hero first came out. With all those peripherals, I wonder how expensive it will be.

[morose]

Well, Guitar Hero 2 has become a staple at all the parties my friends and I attend. Especially with the folks who aren't into gaming much, but enjoy the music. So as long as you have the option to leave out a part if you want (i.e. you can play one guitar, and drums, or all the instruments and leave out the singing) this will be a HUGE hit with us.

[BGSS]

Let me get this straight... they are producing guitars, drums and a microphone so that you and your buddies can haul your Xbox's over to someones house and pretend to play music.

As opposed to say... you and your buddies buying real guitars and learning a real skill like playing an instrument.

Does anyone else see something fundementally wrong with this idea?

I don't. I guarantee you that within 2 weeks (or less) of this being released, Ill be able to beat the hardest songs on this game, on both guitar and drums. Now I don't have a lot of free time every day, maybe 3 hours. Are you suggesting that in 3 hours a day for 2 weeks I could learn 2 real instruments (guitar and drums) well enough that I could play every song that they have in those games on real instruments?

Obviously not. In these games you don't have to learn any songs at any point, you sight read everything. It's also much easier than real instruments so there is a much smaller learning curve and a MUCH MUCH smaller mastery time. With this type of game you can also mix it up often, I could have 8 friends over and we could mix and match and take turns on different instruments. With real instruments, i'd have to hope that all of my other friends master all the other real instruments too or we won't be on the same level and can't even play the same songs together.

The point of these games is not to actually be a band, its just another way to have fun with VIDEO GAMES.

[KingGorilla]

Let me get this straight... they are producing guitars, drums and a microphone so that you and your buddies can haul your Xbox's over to someones house and pretend to play music.

As opposed to say... you and your buddies buying real guitars and learning a real skill like playing an instrument.

Does anyone else see something fundementally wrong with this idea?

Well, not nearly as retarded as this shit.

http://www.8ttb.com/_images/pics/pictures/mini-6%20-%20injik%20is%20a%20DDR%20junkie.JPG