Topic: EA Confirms Rock Band for Wii

[WindyMan]

CEO John Riccitiello makes it known that it's coming, but didn't say much else.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=15212

 During Electronic Arts' Q3 fiscal results conference call, CEO John Riccitiello said that a version of Rock Band will be coming to the Wii.  Riccitiello did not say exactly when it would happen or give any further details.    

"In terms of pacing the next few quarters, you're probably well aware of the more than $2.5 million music downloads that have occurred on Rock Band," said Riccitiello. "What's probably the most interesting piece right now is the coming launch on the Wii, the continued sale of the core platforms in North America and then the fiscal '09 launch across Europe against all of the SKU."    

Riccitiello said that Rock Band will be a big part of EA's portfolio in its next fiscal year, which starts in April.  Whether or not the "coming launch" of Rock Band Wii will be in EA's new fiscal year will not be known until the publisher decides to provide more information.    

Given that the Wii's processing power is more comparable to the PlayStation 2 than the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, the Wii version of Rock Band may be an adaptation of the PS2 version.  The PS2 version had a strictly linear world tour mode, no online play, and no possibility for downloadable content.  The Wii version may differ in that it is better equipped for online play, but until EA offers more details, any talk about features in the Wii version is merely speculation.

[Kairon]

I'll buy it because it was tons of fun when I played it on New Year's Eve... but gosh darn EA! Tell me WHEN!

[BlackNMild2k1]

I've said it before and I'll say it again; WiiWare launches in March, and with WiiWare comes a new firmware update allowing HCSD support and or external HDD support that can be used just the same as internal flash memory.

Just as Guitar Hero III is to start having DLC in march (coincidence?) and RockBand Wii is to launch (possibly) in April and being mentioned just after DLC sales for the game, I think its only logical to come to the same conclusion.


****the above is 100% pure speculation****
*but you must believe for it to become true**

[GoldenPhoenix]

Already have Rock Band, but it is great to see it come out on Wii (about freaken time).

[NeoThunder]

I want to get this for my Wii verses my 360, only thing is downloadable content is a huge part of rockband.....so i wonder if this may in a way confirm USB hard drive support and/or direct access to SD cards

[ReverendNoahWhateley]

Before I read this, I really had no idea that Rock Band even existed for the PS2.  You know, if someone has the cash to buy Rock Band for the PS2, they should really bite the bullet and spend just a little bit more for a Wii or a 360 Arcade.

[Spak-Spang]

I wonder if they will try to add any Wii Specific controls, or even change things up some?

[EasyCure]

this news makes me happy that i decided not to buy GH3 right away.

i played rock band once at a bestbuy and by then the controls were all sorts of f*cked up so i couldnt get a real experience out of it, but i know i'd prefer it over guitar hero if only for the option to play instruments other than guitar. This way i make one purchase of a bundle and can get the GH3 game disk as a stand alone title (and not have to pay extra for the extra guitar since i might not get use out of it)

[Pale]

I hope the Wii Guitar Hero controller will work...

But it probably won't.

[Morari]

THIS POST HAS BEEN CENSORED FOR YOUR PROTECTION

--Bureau of Internet Morality

[Ian Sane]

I'm surprised hardware issues are even a concern with a music game.  It's not like a game like this needs cutting edge visuals.  It needs decent sound and specialty controllers and in this case online support which the Wii has.  Laziness would be the only reason for the Wii to get a gimped version.

Though why is the market leading console the last one to get this game?  Why have the rules of third party support changed now that Nintendo is on top again?  If/when they make a Rock Band 2 it should be designed to launch on the Wii.  It can launch on the PS3 and X360 as well but it should be on the Wii on day one.  The Wii has been out over a year.  This sh!t should be WELL behind us by now.

[Kairon]

I heard once that the GH3 for PC version had some exorbitantly HIGH system requirements....

[darknight06]

The reasoning for some of the graphics cuts on PS2 was due to RAM, not having internal storage, as well as processing power required to sync what will usually be 4 different instrument timings and notecharts on the screen at once.  Even on PS3 and 360, the background animations only run 20 fps while the scrolling notes are at 60 just so the framerate could stay up.  Even if it only had an effect temporarily, the PS3/360 versions of Guitar Hero 3 had slowdown on star power and a lot of notes on screen, add two more things to keep up with and see where it all goes.  

Now the PC version of GH3 was just pasted together, that's why that ones runs like crap on anything that probably isn't current.

[Djunknown]

Quote
i played rock band once at a bestbuy and by then the controls were all sorts of f*cked up so i couldnt get a real experience out of it, but i know i'd prefer it over guitar hero if only for the option to play instruments other than guitar.

I was playing Rock Band over the holidays at Best Buy, belting out the tunes on the mic. I was playing with a kid who was playing the guitar on expert, and a little girl playing drums. She wrecked those drums by the 3rd song. WTF...

Quote
Why have the rules of third party support changed now that Nintendo is on top again?

At least we're getting it sometime as opposed to being shunned, so we should be thankful that EA/Harmonix will grace us with their presence. Oh wait....