Rock Band 2: The Opening Act Details

Scribbled on June 30th, 2008 by Jonah Falcon
Filed in E3, Interviews, Microsoft Xbox 360, Music/Rhythm, Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3

…(sigh)

Remember when Electronic Arts and Harmonix bragged they’d focus on Rock Band, that the downloadable content would be the the main focus of keeping Rock Band fresh?

Fools.

This is ELECTRONIC ARTS. It stands to reason that one year - yes, one year - after Rock Band’s release there would be a Rock Band 2. This isn’t a case of reaction to Konami and Activision’s attempts to bring multiple instruments, because Rock Band 2 will appear on the Xbox 360 this September.

In IGN’s Q&A with Lead Designer Dan Teasdale, we know the following stuff about Rock Band 2: The Opening Act:

Rock Band DLC will be compatible with Rock Band 2. In fact, all forthcoming Rock Band DLC will be compatible with the first Rock Band
Teasdale says that the setlist in Rock Band 2 is “the best setlist I’ve ever seen in a music game”. Since he developed the first two Guitar Heros as well as Rock Band, that’s quite a boast
World Tour Online, finally, as well as the hint that “[we've] taken almost everything people have asked for in Rock Band and added it to Rock Band 2, as well as including some ‘first time ever’ features”; I’m guessing he means an online “Battle of the Bands” feature
“New ways to play the music library” is intriguing. Maybe the ability to create medleys?
The ability to prevent certain random songs from appearing on the setlist when choosing random
The ability to play vocals and an instrument at the same time and have it represented in-game
Homebrew song support, as Guitar Hero On Tour promises
“Quieter instruments”, which means the drums won’t sound like you’re hitting a cardboard box with a spoon

Rock Band 2 will debut at E3. The Xbox 360 version is coming out in September, while the PlayStation 3, Wii, and PlayStation 2 versions are coming… er, later. Other platforms (ie. Wii) are unannounced.

So, what do you think?

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2 Responses to “Rock Band 2: The Opening Act Details”

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Enosh99 Says:
June 30th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Actually I don’t have a problem with this at all. All the instruments from Rock Band will work with Rock Band 2, all the DLC will work with both games. I would be shocked if the game saves from one game would be incompatible with the other. In reaility you could buy the retail game disk only and effectively pay $60 for a ~50 song track pack and online functionality expansion. Sounds like an acceptable deal.

If we were dealing with the EA of old then Rock Band would have been whored out like Guitar Hero has been in the last year or so.

So I don’t have any problem adding the game to my must by list. I’m definitely going to get the game only and simply ride my instruments until they are no longer serviceable.
Jonah Falcon Says:
June 30th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Uh huh. How much are people going to pay to get New Improved Quiet Drums! or A Guitar That Isn’t Musty!