DailyTech - Rock Band 3 Delivers With Keyboard, 6-string Fender Mustang Pro Guitar

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Software Rock Band 3 Delivers With Keyboard, 6-string Fender Mustang Pro Guitar
Tracie McDaniel - June 11, 2010 3:41 PM

29 comment(s) - last by Ratinator.. on Jun 17 at 12:00 PM

(Source: Joystiq)

Developers introduce a MIDI keyboard and a fully-functional, full-sized Fender guitar.

Internet users who are growing weary of the discord created by ongoing piracy battles can find solace in the melodies created by Harmonix Music System's Rock Band 3. Harmony is truly in action in this newest edition of the popular music game. As if Rock Band fans were not already addicted, Harmonix developers have taken RB3 to a whole new level. Although it is not a virtual 3-D experience, this game brings the virtual world much closer to reality and is sure to create diehard rock-heads.

Game features have been expanded and greatly enhanced according to Joystiq. There is now a full band, with seven different instruments: a keyboard, two guitars, three vocalists and a drum. Each instrument can be adjusted to Pro Mode, which has been designed to help users learn how to play on real instruments, note-for-note. The Fender Mustang Pro Guitar has over 100 buttons and six strings. The vocalist mode boast harmonies by The Beatles.

The system is goal-based. RB3 adapts to single players with a multitude of new options to help users win the game. Players can master more than 700 challenges in the career mode by meeting performance goals. When users score 100 percent they earn fans. This opens up new features. Road Challenges are included in the band world tour.

When working with multiple players, band members can set up their own instruments, login name, difficulty setting, track and other options. Band members move throughout the game in full-motion, while completing actual tasks in the background. Players also have the option of dropping in and out of games, changing instruments and even settings without stopping songs.

The music choice screen has been enhanced as well. There is now a filter system with a new song information screen that allows users to choose song length, genre, difficulty, mark tracks, etc. Filters can now be combined and playlists can be saved. RB3 will come with 83 songs but will allow players to import songs as well.

Rock Band 3 will be available for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS at the end of the year.

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Here they come..

By KingOfOldSkool on 6/11/2010 3:48:52 PM , Rating: 4

Que overwrought cliche comments on how gamers should ditch the quick amusement fix(which was one of the main points of playing a game last I checked)of playing Rock Band and instead pick up a "real" instrument in 3, 2, 1..

RE: Here they come..

By probedb on 6/11/2010 6:03:13 PM , Rating: 3

But it is more fun playing real guitar. Not saying ditch the game as that's fun too but the real thing is even more fun!

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RE: Here they come..

By just4U on 6/12/2010 11:29:04 AM , Rating: 2

My cousin has been a musician and guitarist for many years.. He probably owns atleast a dozen guitars yet...

He loves that stupid game. lol.

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RE: Here they come..

By Ratinator on 6/17/2010 12:00:20 PM , Rating: 2

That is your opinion though and probabaly stems from some love of music and many years of practice and experience allowing you to play a guitar well. Many people wouldn't call having to put in hours and hours of learning and repetition fun. I enjoy the game because for that moment I can feel like a guitar player (even if only fantasy) and it only take a few minutes of work to get going on easy level. I don't enjoy music enough to want to spend countless hours learning to play.

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RE: Here they come..

By sleepeeg3 on 6/11/2010 8:20:31 PM , Rating: 1

*Queue

Que = Spanish for "Wassup!"

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RE: Here they come..

By Apple Of Sodom on 6/11/2010 11:02:17 PM , Rating: 5

*Cue

Queue = a line

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RE: Here they come..

By BruceLeet on 6/12/10, Rating: -1

RE: Here they come..

By IceBreakerG on 6/13/2010 6:04:35 PM , Rating: 3

quote:
*Queue

Que = Spanish for "Wassup!"

Sorry, but that's not correct.

Que = "What?"

"Que Pasa" = Wassup

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RE: Here they come..

By afkrotch on 6/13/2010 7:12:18 PM , Rating: 2

Por qué?!?!?!

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Clever

By Spivonious on 6/11/2010 4:00:16 PM , Rating: 2

Neat idea on the guitar. Hopefully this will make it easier for actual guitarists to play the game. As a guitarist myself, I can attest that the game is harder than actual guitar because the colored buttons don't line up to what you'd be doing on a real guitar. Hopefully this game lets you play the actual song.

RE: Clever

By Spivonious on 6/11/2010 4:01:00 PM , Rating: 4

However, I do have to point out that if you're playing this on Pro mode, just start a real band. It's a lot more fun.

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RE: Clever

By zaaf on 6/11/2010 4:04:52 PM , Rating: 2

I completely agree. I'm amazed at how difficult it is to play these songs with 5 buttons compared to 6 strings and 22+ frets.

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RE: Clever

By MrBlastman on 6/11/2010 4:11:00 PM , Rating: 2

I also spy a true Midi port on that keyboard. Interesting.

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RE: Clever

By cplusplus on 6/12/2010 3:17:40 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
I also spy a true Midi port on that keyboard. Interesting.

The keyboard and the Pro-mode guitar are both real MIDI instruments.

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oh god

By DuctTapeAvenger on 6/11/2010 4:26:24 PM , Rating: 2

Is that a button for a guitar strap on the keyboard? If so, will this get released with the Natal system, and require you to wear a fro and glittery purple pants to be able to activate it?

The actual guitar has me excited. I've been wanting to learn, and have yet to find a system that works well. Doing it on my own ended in failure last time. Maybe this will work better. If not, It'll look good hanging on my wall next to my airbrushed Guitar Hero Les Paul (which isn't actually hanging on my wall).

RE: oh god

By LRonaldHubbs on 6/11/2010 6:04:12 PM , Rating: 2

Keytar FTW!

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Exceptionally cool

By gcor on 6/12/2010 1:42:57 AM , Rating: 2

I love it.

Guitar Hero inspired me to take up the guitar proper, which is currently a slow, painful and surprisingly rewarding experience.

It would be totally amazing if the legions of games players all became real players. I can imagine the live band scene exploding all over the world.

Most excellent.

RE: Exceptionally cool

By Al Koholic on 6/12/2010 10:14:44 AM , Rating: 2

I hope you're right. My Quake 2 clan and I might end up in some trouble though.

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Use your own guitar?

By Eris23007 on 6/13/2010 11:49:37 AM , Rating: 2

What I want to know is whether I can plug in one of my two electric guitars or my electric bass and use them. This sounds like it could be a mega-efficient way of learning to play songs I don't already know...

BUT I don't want to buy another (crappier) guitar - I already have a perfectly good Fender American Deluxe Strat (and a Mesa Mark IV to go with it :-D). So anyone know if you can set it up to use with your own guitar?

Using my drum set would probably be harder... Maybe if I get that electronic kit I've had my eye on... Roland V-Drums FTW!!!

RE: Use your own guitar?

By Spivonious on 6/14/2010 2:08:19 PM , Rating: 2

Since it looks like they're using MIDI, you should be able to buy a MIDI pickup for your real guitar and use that.

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Haha

By Shatbot on 6/11/2010 3:46:17 PM , Rating: 1

They finally turned Guitar Hero into playing normal guitar. The next version is already touted to be more authentic than the real thing.

RE: Haha

By zaaf on 6/11/2010 4:01:21 PM , Rating: 1

Huh? Was that sarcasm? How can this be more authentic than the real thing?

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RE: Haha

By Shatbot on 6/11/2010 4:42:06 PM , Rating: 1

Ummm yeah. :)

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$$$++

By raumkrieger on 6/11/2010 7:07:30 PM , Rating: 3

To make full use of this game one would have to get a second mortgage! 7 instruments plus the game, and the console, and a tv large enough to allow you to play the game without squinting.

The guitar

By VahnTitrio on 6/11/2010 4:25:03 PM , Rating: 2

I foresee a blister epidemic we haven't seen since the original Mario Party. Those tiny gaps can't be good for your fingertips, as the tendency when playing guitar is to slide along the strings.

Another thing is how do you read the notes. Is it going to be numbers coming at you like guitar tabs? That has to be extremely difficult to read real time. I'd rather just plug in my guitar and have the game decide by pitch accuracy if that's the case.

cost

By hughlle on 6/12/2010 4:20:37 AM , Rating: 2

jjust how much is that guitar going to cost when keeping the price the the real article in mind?

at the end of the day all the people i know who enjoy group music etc, well they're in a band and are not being sad and lame infront of their tv :)

By Chiisuchianu on 6/12/10, Rating: -1

RE: NO

By gcor on 6/12/2010 6:42:39 AM , Rating: 2

Exactly how are they killing gaming? I don't get it.

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RE: NO

By thelostjs on 6/13/2010 9:38:23 AM , Rating: 2

Back in my day, you had to buy your own keyboard. Instead of a guitar with over 100 buttons, you got a mouse with 2.

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