Like the writer at Gizmodo, I don’t actually care much about Rock Band but the intro to the game that sums up the band’s career in a little over two and a half minutes is dope. As trippy as it should be…
Previously:
Tag Archives: Rock Band
The Beatles vs. Rock Band
Those rumors of the Beatles getting their music in Rock Band? False. But not entirely off the mark, according to a report from Billboard:
MTV Networks and Harmonix — the game developer behind the popular “Rock Band” franchise — together with the Beatles’ Apple Corps Ltd., are developing an entirely new interactive music game based solely and exclusively on the entire Beatles catalog.
The game, which does not yet have a title or release date, will not be part of the “Rock Band” franchise, but will be based on the same platform.
Not entirely sure what that means. But I’m guessing Harmonix and Apple aren’t entirely sure either. Here’s what they’re saying:
• The music will come from master recordings of the Beatles’ U.K. releases, but will not be remixed or remastered.
• It will include “new types of interactive gameplay” associated with the Beatles’ imagery in addition to its music.
• Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono, and Olivia Harrison are “involved in the vision and creative direction.”
• Giles Martin will serve as music producer.
• Don’t expect it before Thanksgiving, 2009.
Videogames Inspire Real Life
Wired talks about how Guitar Hero and Rock Band are inspiring gamers to get off their geeky asses and learn to play the real guitar, Gateway Drug to Six-String Bliss:
Aaron Starke, a 20-year-old gamer from Sugar Land, Texas, was turned on to the guitar about three months ago after a job at Fry’s Electronics got him playing his fair share of Guitar Hero.
“I play expert mode on pretty much everything,” Starke said about his guitar-gaming prowess. Like Grondah, he found that learning to play a real guitar requires more patience than toying with a plastic, guitar-shaped game controller.
This means that in a couple of years we can expect MySpace to be flooded with dorkmetal bands! Will the nerds be disappointed when they find out that in the real world it takes more than just “expert-level” playing to gain fans? All kidding aside, this can only be a good thing for rock and roll. Right?
But this isn’t just affecting young kids. One of the original founders of Glorious Noise recently emailed me to say: “I have reached the point in Rock Band where the amount of practice it’s going to take to get better makes me feel embarassed. So I’m going to be giving the real guitar another go.” Let’s wish them all a whole bunch of luck!
Guitar (Anti-) Hero
I like to have a good time. I like parties and I like to talk to my friends on those rare occasions when we all actually get together in real life (as opposed to this virtual world we seem to be falling into deeper and deeper). So, it is with great anticipation that I approach the Annual Winterfest in Brutus, Michigan that has become the de facto GLONO retreat every February. It’s a chance for me to get some snowboarding in and to debate everything from the latest Oasis album to Hillary’s implosion with people for whom I hold the highest respect and regard.
This year, however, saw the return of an unwelcome guest. A rude scourge who interrupts conversation and monopolizes the stereo. I am talking about the ever growing intrusion of Guitar Hero/Rock Band on what should be an otherwise perfectly good time.