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Harmonix Introduces Pro Mode, Keyboards for Rock Band 3

by Neal Ronaghan - June 9, 2010, 11:14 pm EDT
Total comments: 19 Source: USA Today

Pro Mode attempts to segue players into playing real instruments, and will be bolstered by new instruments, including the brand new keyboard.

Keyboards are headlining the list of new additions for Harmonix's Rock Band 3, which will also feature Pro Mode, 83 new songs, and refined gameplay, according to USA Today.

"With the introduction of keyboards, we get to bring a ton of amazing new music onto the platform, which will help feed the appetite for music for years to come," said Alex Rigopulos, Harmonix CEO.

The new instrument addition will be playable with a keyboard controller, which will essentially be a real keyboard, complete with the ability to function as a MIDI keyboard when hooked up to a computer. The normal mode will feature five colored 'streams' that will focus different sections of the keyboard. As you get into harder difficulties, the streams will move around the keyboard for different parts of the song.

However, the Pro Mode will change up the gameplay considerably. For the keyboards, it will use all 25 keys. Meant to bridge the gap between the game and real instruments, Pro Mode also extends to the guitar, bass, and drums. There will be two new guitar controllers that will function as game controllers and real instruments. Players can use them for normal play, Pro Mode, or for play outside of the game environment. One of the guitars will be a fully functional Fender guitar.

"Our ambition for Rock Band 3 was really to re-energize and reinvigorate the [music game genre] and advance it and move it forward," Rigopulos said.

This package will go along with 83 new songs, which will include Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and The Doors' "Break On Through." Additionally, players will be able to drop in and out of games on a whim, and also changed difficulty mid-song.

No prices have been announced for any of the peripherals, and there is no set release date for Rock Band 3 yet.

Talkback

Finally.
Now, let's see the prices.

Take note, Activision: this is how you make a sequel to a music game.

Spak-SpangJune 10, 2010

Rock Band seems to be making a real sequel that is making new innovations.  I am sure they will also have a set price to upgrade old songs on your hard drive...hopefully. 

Though just because it is new, doesn't mean it will be better.  I am worried about the PRO mode...it can very easily fall flat and it will be the biggest addition to the series.

BlackNMild2k1June 10, 2010

Now that is a sequel worth noting. I'm glad Harmonix decided to take a step forward instead of continuing to circle the drain with ideas.

But it loos like you are gonna need 2 theater wide HDTV's and enough space to play Natal to accommodate all these instruments. I can already see a Rockband Karaoke popping up at some local bar though.

This year's Umloud is going to be epic, lemme tell ya.

This sounds awesome but extremely expensive.

nickmitchJune 10, 2010

Quote from: BlackNMild2k1

Now that is a sequel worth noting. I'm glad Harmonix decided to take a step forward instead of continuing to circle the drain with ideas.

But it loos like you are gonna need 2 theater wide HDTV's and enough space to play Natal to accommodate all these instruments. I can already see a Rockband Karaoke popping up at some local bar though.

The gamplay vid makes it look like they found a way to keep the keep board from needing more space than the other instruments. At least not too much more.

BlackNMild2k1June 10, 2010

Quote from: nickmitch

Quote from: BlackNMild2k1

Now that is a sequel worth noting. I'm glad Harmonix decided to take a step forward instead of continuing to circle the drain with ideas.

But it loos like you are gonna need 2 theater wide HDTV's and enough space to play Natal to accommodate all these instruments. I can already see a Rockband Karaoke popping up at some local bar though.

The gamplay vid makes it look like they found a way to keep the keep board from needing more space than the other instruments. At least not too much more.

Keyboard & Mic..... I see some autotune vocals coming as the next step in this ever evolving genre.

Ian SaneJune 10, 2010

How much is fully functional fender guitar going to cost?  It's either going to be an insanely expensive controller or a really low quality guitar.

I like how they're changing things up and keyboards is an obvious and great idea.  Though this Pro Mode stuff sounds iffy.  If we're going to the point where you pretty much have to play a real instrument, why are you playing a videogame?  You and your friends should be jamming for real.  Though as a music teaching tool this might be very effective.

I fear that Guitar Hero's insane overexposure may have already ruined the market for Rock Band.  And Rock Band isn't innocent either with their Beatles, Lego and Green Day spinoffs.

If I had to actually play a song I might do better at the game since it's easier to memorize then.  With these games the buttons don't really match up with real keys.  But with real instruments I can use music theory to help remember what to do, as well as improvise.  This might work well also as a backing band program for someone who doesn't have a band to play with but wants to play full songs with accompaniment.

BlackNMild2k1June 10, 2010

Quote from: Ian

If we're going to the point where you pretty much have to play a real instrument, why are you playing a videogame?  You and your friends should be jamming for real.  Though as a music teaching tool this might be very effective.

Sounds like you answered your own question.

Making learning fun and also tricking others into learning when they just thought they were playing games. This gives gaming a practical and profitable real-world application.

Now when you waste your life away perfecting some silly game, you can take what you learned from that game and go make money on the streets.


edit: that reminds me, I can't wait till the Natal reveal of Mime School.

TJ SpykeJune 10, 2010

Quote from: NWR_Neal

There will be two new guitar controllers that will function as game controllers and real instruments. Players can use them for normal play, Pro Mode, or for play outside of the game environment. One of the guitars will be a fully functional Fender guitar.

Looks like Harmonix is worried about Power Grip: Rise of the Six String (which was unveiled last year and will come with a guitar controller that can be plugged into a amp to be used as a real guitar).

As for innovations, the only new thing this game seems to be offering is keyboard support; everything else exists in other games.

Ian SaneJune 10, 2010

Regarding these "real guitar" controllers, if possible, I would like them to support any real electric guitar.  I don't know the technology involved so maybe they can't do this.  But I'm not going to buy any more guitar controllers.  If I could use my real guitar then I would be much more interested in this game.

StratosJune 10, 2010

Quote from: BlackNMild2k1

I can already see a Rockband Karaoke popping up at some local bar though.

They already have this. There is a bad in Seattle that has a Rockband setup instead of a karaoke machine.

Mop it upJune 10, 2010

A keyboard is no easy instrument to play, I'm not so sure this one will be any easier...

MorariJune 10, 2010

Quote from: Ian

Regarding these "real guitar" controllers, if possible, I would like them to support any real electric guitar.  I don't know the technology involved so maybe they can't do this.  But I'm not going to buy any more guitar controllers.  If I could use my real guitar then I would be much more interested in this game.

Agreed. That's why I've been waiting and hoping for Guitar Rising to actually be released. I don't think that's ever going to happen though. :P

As widely used as keyboards (pianos, organs, etc) are in modern music, they're still not quite as typical through all genres as the pre-existing four instruments are. It'll definitely bring in a lot more New Wave and (hopefully) Psychedelic Rock, I guess.

Why haven't the drums already implemented a MIDI output anyway? They're basic, but would work well enough for an actual instrument.

StratosJune 11, 2010

The Guitar Hero drum set I have from World Tour has an out for plugging in a real electric drum set. The cumbersome thing is you have to have both drum sets out to play on the real one. I have an old electric set from my youth that I've been meaning to plug in and see how it works.

I'm excited for the keyboard part because I've been meaning to learn the piano for a while now. If the educational part of the game turns out well enough it could help with both that and me getting better at the real guitar.

Quote from: BlackNMild2k1

Keyboard & Mic..... I see some autotune vocals coming as the next step in this ever evolving genre.

T-Pain: Rock Band anyone?

BlackNMild2k1June 13, 2010

Quote from: NWR_Lindy

Quote from: BlackNMild2k1

Keyboard & Mic..... I see some autotune vocals coming as the next step in this ever evolving genre.

T-Pain: Rock Band anyone?

Fanboy Reaction to the announcement

StratosJune 13, 2010

Quote from: BlackNMild2k1

Quote from: NWR_Lindy

Quote from: BlackNMild2k1

Keyboard & Mic..... I see some autotune vocals coming as the next step in this ever evolving genre.

T-Pain: Rock Band anyone?

Fanboy Reaction to the announcement

That is freaking hilarious. If I ever have kids I'm gonna record them crying and play it back like that during their teen angst years.

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