Rock Band 3: The Search For Squeeze

[Cumcarl]

From Harmonix's Facebook page today:http://www.pic-host.info/files/13.swf

Rock Band  Harmonix is developing Rock Band 3 for worldwide release this holiday season! The game, which will be published by MTV Games and distributed by Electronic Arts, will innovate and revolutionize the music genre once again, just as Harmonix did with the original Rock Band, Rock Band 2 and The Beatles: Rock Band. Stay tuned for more details!

Rumors are abounding about "controllers that will help you learn how to play the real thing." I'll believe it when I see pics. Let the speculation begin though.

I'm looking forward to see this. But like most of you said, more kits and upgrades to the drums... 

[James of LinHood]

Seen at the end of the Green Day Demo:



Keys. Interesting.... (And I'll start the Piano Man requests.)

You know, when I first saw that my initial reaction was ''Werewolves of London, please!''  Mostly cuz I think it would be a great song to sing/play at parties.   

[Kete]

I heard that Rock Band 3 will include an accordion.

[Maverick Joe Six-Pack]

I heard that Rock Band 3 will include an accordion.

I'm holding out for a Keytar myself.

[Compound]

Seen at the end of the Green Day Demo:



Keys. Interesting.... (And I'll start the Piano Man requests.)

You know, when I first saw that my initial reaction was ''Werewolves of London, please!''  Mostly cuz I think it would be a great song to sing/play at parties.   

No, no. With Zevon, they need to do "Lawyers, Guns and Money" before anything else.

I'm holding out for a Keytar myself.

That's actually been one of the stronger rumors about the keys.

[James of LinHood]

Huge update:

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/109/1096085p1.html

Rock Band 3 will have a total of 83 on-disc songs.  Harmonix just announced 22 of them.  They are:

Metric - Combat Baby
Them Crooked Vultures - Dead End Friends
The Vines - Get Free
Phoenix - Lasso
Juanes - Me Enamora
Ida Maria - Oh My God
Rilo Kiley - Portions for Foxes
The Whites Stripes - The Hardest Button to Button
Jane's Addiction - Been Caught Stealing
Spacehog - In the Meantime
Stone Temple Pilots - Plush
Smash Mouth - Walkin' on the Sun
Ozzy Osborne - Crazy Train
Whitesnake - Here I Go Again
Joan Jett - I Love Rock and Roll
The Cure - Just Like Heaven
Dio - Rainbow in the Dark
Huey Lewis and the News - The Power of Love
Night Ranger - Sister Christian
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
The Doors - Break on Through
Jimi Hendrix - Crosstown Traffic

Also, from the above link:

The third title will introduce a 25-key MIDI keyboard controller, and two new, stringed guitar controllers; one of which is a full-sized, fully functional Fender Squier Stratocaster. The other guitar controller is a Fender Mustang Pro from peripheral maker Mad Catz.

"It can tell where your fingers are based on technology in the neck and the bridge of the guitar. No buttons," Harmonix said. "While you're playing it, it feels exactly like playing a real guitar."

Rock Band 3 will also include a new expert "Pro" mode that will allow players to learn and develop their skills by replacing the colored-coded tabs with real music notes.

Crazy!

[Kete]

I don't care much about the soundtrack ( a few songs are cool), but keyboard and stringed guitars!?!  That's freaking sweet.

With keyboard, maybe we'll get some Ben Folds, Regina Specktor, Elton John....

[James of LinHood]

Cover art:



Keyboard controller:



Info from several different interviews with Harmonix devs over the past 24 hours:

- For songs that don't have any keys to play, you can opt to play guitar or bass parts on the keyboard controller. Similarly, if you don't have the scratch to pick up a keyboard, you can play keyboard parts on guitar or bass.

- Bass parts seem to get short shrift, as there doesn't appear to be any sort of professional bassist mode.

- These playlists can be saved for easy access to your favorite songs, and you can also use them to challenge your friends to leaderboard battles. This stuff will be tied into social networks, like Facebook and Twitter.

- Also, it's worth noting that due to changes in the file formats Harmonix is using for downloadable content, song packs released after RB3's release won't work in Rock Band 2, effectively putting an end to continued support for the first two games in the series.

- A MIDI-Pro adapter will be available for $39.99 that effectively turns any MIDI-based keyboard or drum set into a controller for the game

- Pro mode isn't a difficulty above Expert; instead, it's a modifier that can be used on Easy, Medium, Hard, and Expert. This effectively makes for eight full difficulty settings per song for guitar, bass, and drums.

- The smaller semi-pro guitar controller ($149) has 17 frets and six "strings" for a total of 102 buttons. The big Squier (price TBA)? Just a regular Fender with a MIDI out and "fret-sensing technology for your fingers."

- The Rock Band 2 kits and cymbals will work fully in Pro mode. The mysterious black jack? "That will be by default a second kick pedal jack...or you can switch it to be a hi-hat, which functions in the free-play drum modes or the drum fills." If you have only one or two cymbals, you can still play Pro but won't get the point bonuses for hitting the correct cymbal.

- "The vast majority of the entire Rock Band catalog supports cymbals in gameplay."

- "Everything that we've done with keys and guitar is a brand-new form of track and gameplay. That's all restricted to RB3-specific content and forthcoming DLC."

- "We have new gameplay that we use for trills, tremolo picking, and rolls. Essentially, if the part is really fast and loose our authors can mark it and a special graphic appears on the track. Players can then hit all the notes as long as they play fast enough rather than having to beat-match these really awkward parts."

- "You can now sort by the length of songs, what you've previously rated them, and what game they're from. You can even mark tracks so that they don't pop up in random sets and ruin your parties. For the first time, you're going to be able to create set lists, save them and pick'em later. If you want to go that extra mile, you can share the playlists with your friends online and turn it into a battle."

EDIT:  It's also worth noting that the keyboard note highway will only use five keys.  Which is why you can use your guitar for the keyboard part.   

[gbeenie]

I virtually never buy games when they're just out. I may have to make an exception.

[James of LinHood]

Pricing

Game itself:  $59.99

Keyboard Wireless Controller:  $79.99

Game & Keyboard Bundle:  $129.99

Pricing is the same for X-Box 360, PS3, and the Wii.  Gamestop is accepting pre-orders now.   They list a release date of October 31st.  But that date has not yet been confirmed by Harmonix.

[MrTorso]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/16/rock-band-3-squier-stratocaster-plays-both-real-and-virtual-guit/

Pretty cool gadget! Now all the "why don't you get a real guitar" jerks can shut up. 

[James of LinHood]

Yeah, those poor guys.  Now they only have the Guitar Hero crowd to pick on.

[MrTorso]

With the new keyboard there had better be a ton of DEVO in the pipeline for DLC. The new DEVO album as DLC would be sweet!

[k1]

With the new keyboard there had better be a ton of DEVO in the pipeline for DLC. The new DEVO album as DLC would be sweet!

I still want some Blues Brothers! (And Primus)

[Kete]

With the new keyboard there had better be a ton of DEVO in the pipeline for DLC. The new DEVO album as DLC would be sweet!

I still want some Blues Brothers! (And Primus)

They really need some new bands.  They already released the best stuff from the existing bands.  They need to fork over the money for Zeppelin.

It would also be cool if they brought over some of the exclusive Guitar Hero stuff (like Tool).  I like GH, but the fact that they don't make every past song available on the new game is a showstopper for me.