Rock Band 2 gets official for this fall, new guitar revealed

While the original Rock Band is still going strong, Harmonix is already looking towards the next bit of kit that it hopes will be cluttering your place, with it now getting official with Rock Band 2 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. This time around, it seems the Xbox 360 will be getting a jump on things with a launch in September, with the PS3 version set to follow "later in the year." Both of those will, naturally, be coming with all new instruments, including the tasty Fender Stratocaster pictured above, but you will be able to use your current gear if you want to spare the extra clutter and save a few bucks. What's more, you'll also be able to carry over all your current downloaded content and, as IGN reports, you'll even be able to download and play new tracks on Rock Band 1 once Rock Band 2 is out. Of course, Harmonix is saving most of the details for E3 next month, but you can find a few more tidbits in IGN's interview with Harmonix's Dan Teasdale available at the read link below.

[srw985 @ Jun 30th 2008 1:49PM]

How about this time you launch it in the UK at the same time?
We only got Rock Band 1 on 360 a few weeks ago, and PS3 / Wii users still have nothing over here.

[Micanos @ Jun 30th 2008 2:21PM]

Sucks to be in the UK, but mate,
you've got football

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Jun 30th 2008 2:27PM]

Not in the summer we have'nt. Season finished in may and doesn't start again until august.

[Kurai @ Jun 30th 2008 2:41PM]

There was a follow up announcement saying that European release should be the same month as the North American one.

[holycow @ Jun 30th 2008 3:21PM]

I'm so glad Micanos said FOOTBALL and not Soccer!

+1 internets for you Micanos!

[ryan.sahb @ Jul 1st 2008 3:55AM]

This is gonna come out before we get the first one in Australia D:

[KeegdnaB @ Jun 30th 2008 1:51PM]

how bout some Wii DLC

seriously

come on

seriously

[Christian Walters @ Jun 30th 2008 3:42PM]

DLC is not coming to the Wii...duh

[cfreak @ Jun 30th 2008 7:11PM]

I Bet RB2s going to have DLC, i mean Guitar hero 4 is bringing it. in order to keep pace with that, harmonix is going to have to offer DLC for wii.

[Kawaiipikachu @ Jun 30th 2008 7:30PM]

There is a dlc service for the Wii & it called “Pay'N'Play” Guitar Hero 4 going to use the Pay & Play service .
besides which it better to get Guitar hero 4 than rockband becasue the drumkit won't breakdown as easily .
i rather redoctain's well built controllers than some cheap rubbish whoever who makes the rockband's health hazzards

[Danakin @ Jun 30th 2008 1:52PM]

Once Guitar Hero: World Tour gets released, it will be interesting to see how Rock Band plays (pun totally intended).

[Dead_Rebel @ Jun 30th 2008 2:50PM]

Read:
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=puns

[Danakin @ Jun 30th 2008 2:54PM]

hahaha, maddox is t3h man

I am only up to 2002 in his archives though...

[Ghen @ Jun 30th 2008 3:17PM]

Is that an excuse?

[Danakin @ Jun 30th 2008 3:32PM]

no...

I don't need an excuse; I called attention to my pun this time, and I don't care that I did

...so sue me

[smi1ey @ Jun 30th 2008 1:53PM]

Guitar Hero 4 FTW. ;)

[smi1ey @ Jun 30th 2008 1:55PM]

Oops! I mean Guitar Hero: World Tour. *sigh* Being a REAL drummer who is sick of the crappy Rockband kit, I have high hopes for the new design of the Guitar Hero setup!

[Hold McGroin @ Jun 30th 2008 2:12PM]

After GH3, you should know that Activision will imitate Rock Band, but add in really useless crap, impossible matches VS the CPU, and then make the whole thing more of a grind than WoW.

[Marvin Quach @ Jun 30th 2008 10:30PM]

woah there hold,
You also forgot making the difficulty levels impossibly difficult just so they can say that they made improvements to the game!

And then we'll have gamers who will have memorized them because they have nothing better to do with their lives and then brag about it, thus making MTV or whomever the heck making these think "HEY, THIS WAS A GREAT IDEA" when it really was dumb and makes the game less fun for everyone.

[maxxwizard @ Jun 30th 2008 1:54PM]

looking forward to buy this (without the instruments)

[SteveJ @ Jun 30th 2008 2:00PM]

I know there isn't a great deal of demand for it, but what about the PS2? I don't have any of these new-fangled systems, but am enjoying RB on PS2 quite a bit. I think they did a nice job with the PS2 version and was hoping they'd continue support for the elder platform.

I can't imagine that Sony is going to be too happy with a delayed PS3 release of RB2 either.

[Andrew @ Jun 30th 2008 2:01PM]

They have not changed the strum bar to something more like Guitar Hero, hence I probably won't be picking it up.

[tyler @ Jun 30th 2008 2:01PM]

Glad to see the current equipment and dlc will work with RB2. Heck, if the drums don't change, I'll pick up the game and another guitar and be.. (wait for it).. ready to rock!

[ShadowKain @ Jun 30th 2008 2:06PM]

I hope GH4 is not as bland as Rock Band and Aerosmith, a trend I hope does not continue. Yes I undoubtably will get bashed for that comment, but lets face it, rock band's SONG LIST (not its great gameplay mind you) was not that amazing compared to the previous games, and Aerosmith is truly meant for those who well, like Aerosmith alot, and for everyone else, the non-crazy riffs (but very awesome) of Joe Perry will not last long in GH infected consoles. Joe Perry is the MAN, don't get me wrong, but I'd rather listen to them as well as other simple riff bands like ACDC and KISS, rather than play their simple riffs. You get my drift? Awesome to listen to, but borin to play on GH (although fairly more fun to play on real guitar).... peace

[Matt @ Jun 30th 2008 2:32PM]

It had a great song list if you factor in the oodles of DLC, which GH3 just didn't have much of at all.

[Ghen @ Jun 30th 2008 3:20PM]

If I have to buy 40 extra songs to validate my original rock band purchase then the game designer is just DOING IT WRONG.

The original setlist should be A+ epic songs and the DLC should all be the indie, sub-genre stuff for specific fans. Not the other way around.

[dreamscape86 @ Jun 30th 2008 4:12PM]

Concur with Ghen.

I have Rock Band, and it's fun, but there aren't enough really great songs in the initial bundle.

[Andy Anonymous @ Jul 1st 2008 4:03AM]

I disagree 100%. I love the Rock Band song list, especially compared to all the crappy metal and laughable cover versions that litter the GHIII list.

[ynx @ Jun 30th 2008 2:07PM]

this is seriously getting ridiculous..

[computer.dude.28 @ Jun 30th 2008 2:09PM]

"Time time around, it seems the Xbox 360"
Come on! Proofread before posting..

Very exciting though, Rock Band 2.

Also, is anyone else finding internet explorer 8 insanely slow cause it's a bitch to use for me..

[CubeGuy @ Jul 1st 2008 3:14AM]

I think I found your problem. I get you're running the wrong version. Try the build at this link...

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/?from=getfirefox

[GreezyG @ Jun 30th 2008 2:11PM]

Unless there are MAJOR hardware changes I dont really understand coming out with a "new game" every year or so. They are all the same just new songs.

Thew new guitar does look nice though :)

[Bad Beaver @ Jun 30th 2008 2:27PM]

They sell. For money.

[Max @ Jun 30th 2008 2:15PM]

all right boys, i got a dilemma. i have rock band for ps3, with about 80 dlc songs. rb2 for ps3 will come later, which sucks for me, but i was planning on buying a 360 in the next few weeks. should i get rb2 for 360 and just start downloading all the new dlc for that, or wait for the ps3 version to come out so i can play all my dlc plus the new dlc?

[tyler @ Jun 30th 2008 2:26PM]

First of all, I won't be like most and say 'oooh don't buy a 360 bla bla bla' because I say if you got the bones for whatever systems, then game on!

But in all honesty, I would just say wait for the ps3 version to come out because if you go the 360 route, you'll have to purchase all the equipment again. If you wait for the ps3 version, you could pick up the game, and perhaps just another guitar if you wanted, and continue using all the dlc from rb1, in addition to any new dlc and both game discs.

[Max @ Jun 30th 2008 2:42PM]

ok, i figured it out. i will get ghwt for 360 and wait for the ps3 version of rb2.

[Ghen @ Jun 30th 2008 3:21PM]

You have money. I hate you.

[Elisha Adeagbo @ Jun 30th 2008 2:18PM]

another guitar?

[Todd @ Jun 30th 2008 2:21PM]

Is -finally- wireless?

[cub3 @ Jun 30th 2008 2:27PM]

Yeah another guitar to do the same shit as the other one, and wait, no one is going to ever see it. they think people would actually take these guitars out to the bar or something.

[wraith808 @ Jul 1st 2008 4:50PM]

@todd

I guess you don't know that there is *already* a wireless one?

[Eric @ Jun 30th 2008 2:21PM]

Now that they've finally decided to put the first Rock Band on Wii, it seems like they wouldn't stall for Rock Band 2...

[Bad Beaver @ Jun 30th 2008 2:25PM]

Or learn a real instrument and enhance your chance for procreation.

[Matt @ Jun 30th 2008 2:32PM]

Congratulations! You are the first person to ever say this! While I'm at it, I'll take flight lessons and then jump in the cockpit of an F-16. Maybe I'll enlist in the U.S. Marines, because, shit, why would I play Call of Duty 4 when I can get shot at for real?

[Kurai @ Jun 30th 2008 2:39PM]

My chances of procreation are just fine, and I barely play real guitar, what's your point?

[Bad Beaver @ Jun 30th 2008 2:40PM]

I knew I would be the first to notice ;)
Being a fighter pilot or any pilot or muscle-loaded warrior-type will also enhance your chance for procreation by the way.

[KiraXD @ Jun 30th 2008 3:19PM]

But being a douchebag on a geek gadget site actually lowers your chance for procreation... so...

[Ghen @ Jun 30th 2008 3:24PM]

My wife is pregnant and I buy every GH game that comes out plus I play all the flash rhythm games like SCGMD as well as frets on fire.

Oh yeah and I can't play real guitar for shit. I must be 360 degrees of nerdy because I just came right back around and procreated without your consent.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jun 30th 2008 2:26PM]

Planned Obsolescence: Rock Band 3's Guitar will have strings.

[Maestro @ Jun 30th 2008 2:33PM]

Cats everywhere are worried.