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Europe, Australia get no Rock Band in 2007?
Rock n' Roll is a harsh mistress. There can be no doubt about that. It's so harsh, in fact, that Europe, Australia, and New Zealand won't be seeing Rock Band until next year. At least, that's what it looks like. Yes, we know. Let it out. Let it all out. We can hear the lamentations being shouted at computer monitors all the way on the other side of the Atlantic and Pacific. During a GameSpot interview, Red Octane founder Charles Huang noted that he didn't think Rock Band would see release in Australia and New Zealand by the end of the year. He then refined his statement to cover "multiple territories." When contacted by GameSpot UK for comment, their EA rep responded, "We don't think [Rock Band] will be released in Q4." Huang cited the difficulty of producing enough peripherals for a worldwide launch as a likely reason for any delays.Keep in mind that Huang works for Rock Band's closest competitor, so a delay is probably in his best interests. Still, given EA's comments about the UK, Australia and New Zealand's rock fate isn't looking too bright this year.[Via Joystiq]
EA and Activision find mud, start slinging
We knew it had to happen eventually. EA and Activision have officially begun sniping one another in regards to Rock Band and Guitar Hero III. In one corner, you have Activision's Will Kassoy who sees Guitar Hero III as a highly accessible sequel in a genre-defining series. Furthermore, he says that Rock Band may prove too complicated for the average gamer, while Guitar Hero III offers fun for everyone. EA, naturally, takes a different stand. According to EA's Frank Gibeau, the various choices available in Rock Band (guitar, bass, drums, and vocals) is precisely what makes it accessible. As Gibeau notes, some folks would rather sing than play guitar. Which will ultimately win? Gamers will decide later this year.[Via Joystiq]
Dash update preps 360 for wireless guitars
Major Nelson sends word that a Dashboard Update is now available. Users will be prompted to download the update the next time they sign into Xbox Live. Before everyone goes crazy looking for fabulous new features, you should know that this is not the Fall Update. Most of you probably figured this out, as it is still summer. All the update does is ready the 360 to accept those fabulous wireless guitars that ship with Guitar Hero III and Rock Band later this year. It's good to know that the 360 will play nice with the wireless guitars and all, but we'd really like to know how much they're going to cost.
E3's Rock Band guitars wired, fuels 360 price speculation
After an intense session of Rock Band from Harmonix -- we totally nailed the vocal for Stone Temple Pilots' "Vasoline" by the way -- we noticed that the guitars had dangling wires tethering them to the Xbox 360. Considering the game has been widely advertised as having wireless guitars, this made us curious. Remembering the recently leaked price memo, you may recall that the wireless 360 guitar was listed at $79.99 while the PS3 guitar was listed at $59.99. Some have speculated that the 360 discrepancy is the result of having to pay Microsoft to use its proprietary wireless technology. Is MTV Games making cheaper wired guitars for those that can't afford wireless? Mmm ... could be.
Steven Van Zandt chairs Rock Band music advisory board
During EA's E3 press conference, Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos announced the formation of the Rock Band music advisory board. The board is to be comprised of music industry experts and will oversee the selection of music that will appear in Rock Band as the game's constantly expanding music selection grows every week. Rigopulos further announced that the advisory board would be chaired by Steven Van Zandt, former guitarist for the E Street Band (and Silvio Dante from The Sopranos). Van Zandt stated to the crowd that is the advisory board's mission to select the best songs from every era of rock n' roll as well as selections from up and coming artists.Of course, there are still a few unanswered questions, the first being how much all this mammoth content will cost. We'd also like to know what other music luminaries have been invited to join the music advisory board. Your guess is as good as ours.
Rock Band picks up Metallica, entire album DLC
Rock Band served as the tail end of EA's E3 press conference, and they made sure to save a few announcements for last. CEO of Harmonix, Alex Rigopulos announced that Rock Band will receive downloadable content every single week after its initial release. Even better, he announced that players not only be able to download single songs and multi-song packs, but entire albums. The first album that will be available for download is The Who's Who's Next. Finally, Rigopulos announced that Rock Band musicians will at last be jamming to Metallica. It was revealed that Metallica's "Enter Sandman" will ship with the retail version of Rock Band with many more career-spanning tracks coming as downloadable content.Guitar Hero III may have Slash, but Metallica is certainly a jagged metal feather in Rock Band's increasing ostentatious cap.
Today's riskiest video: Jackass trailer
Jackass: The Game interests some of us idealistic gamers. Yes, we're the hopeful ones that think this could be an inventive, Stuntman-esque title, where you have to complete odd feats to progress. The cynical recognize Jackass as an easy cash-in; MTV Games didn't even spring for next-gen development costs and instead decided to sling it to PS2, PSP, and DS players.Will the real joke be on the gamers who buy the title? We'll find out with the game's September 24 release. Until then, watch the trailer after the break.%Gallery-4144%
First glimpse at ten-button Rock Band guitar controller
Harmonix was just getting us warmed up, it seems. Instead of the five fret buttons we've grown accustomed to on the past Guitar Hero series, the Rock Band official Stratocaster-based guitar controller displays ten fret buttons. On the second pic embedded below, you'll notice the five new buttons down at the base of the neck. We can only imagine what kind of sick guitar solo action Harmonix has in store for us with these.The pics arrive courtesy of a Gamestop newsletter, which also details the new features embedded into the guitar controller. As we reported earlier, guitar effects will play a large role, allowing the player to flange, wah, reverb and delay their way into guitar gaming bliss. No official pricing was included at this time, though we wouldn't be surprised to see something closer to $79.99 or thereabouts for the controller alone. Price be damned, we're still going to have to give this bad boy a spin. Anyone else?
