Topic: Rock Band 2 Announced for Wii

[Nick DiMola]

MTV Games and Harmonix will launch the game as an Xbox 360 release this September with a Wii version to follow sometime later this year.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=16307

 MTV Games along with Harmonix offically announced yesterday that Rock Band 2 is slated for a Wii release later this year. Currently it is unknown as to whether or not the Wii version will support everything found in the Xbox 360 version, specifically downloadable content.    

Rock Band 2 is confirmed to ship with over 80 songs on the disc, all of which are master tracks. Currently ten tracks have been revealed, spanning nearly five decades, they are as follows:    

 
• Dream Theater "Panic Attack"
 
• System of a Down "Chop Suey"
 
• Foo Fighters "Everlong"
 
• The Muffs "Kids in America"
 
• Red Hot Chili Peppers "Give it Away"
 
• Motörhead "Ace of Spades"
 
• Cheap Trick "Hello There"
 
• Elvis Costello "Pump it Up"
 
• Journey "Anyway You Want It"
 
• The Who "Pinball Wizard"
 

   

Rock Band 2 will also feature a slew of new modes including Tour Challenges, Drum Trainer, and Battle of the Bands. Tour Challenges will replace the original Rock Band's Solo Tour and will allow the player to take on a random or focused set of songs in a similar fashion as the multiplayer Band World Tour. The Drum Trainer mode will help players develop their in-game drumming skills through a series of tutorials. The Battle of the Bands mode will feature contests that will allow virtual bands to take on other bands through challenges online that will constantly be produced by Harmonix.    

In addition to these new modes, Band World Tour will be refined and include online play, the ability to have any character play any instrument and hirable staff. Quickplay will now be easier to navigate and also grant you the ability to make your own setlists.    

Rock Band 2 is due for release on the Wii later this year, specifically after September.    

Start A Band, Rock The World!    

Developed by Harmonix, the world's premier music videogame company, and published by MTV Games, Rock Band™ 2 is the next evolution of the groundbreaking music platform that forever changed the face of music videogames. Rock Band 2 builds upon the original, challenging players to put together a band and tour for fame and fortune while learning to master lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals, and raises the bar to include an entirely new level of depth, connectivity, authenticity and exhilarating features.    

Rock Band 2 will feature more than 80 tracks on disc – but it doesn't stop there. Players will have access to all DLC tracks, packs and albums released to date as well as future DLC releases; that's more than 200 song choices and counting. The music in Rock Band 2 features all master recordings and spans all genres of rock from punk, metal and alternative to classic and southern rock.    

Rock Band 2 will be released on Xbox 360™ videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft this September and will have an exclusive launch window in North America. Rock Band 2 will be available for the PLAYSTATION® 3 and PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment systems and Nintendo Wii™ system later this year.    

Key Features    

Rock the World!    

Rock Band 2 offers new and dynamic online modes that will connect the entire Rock Band community in more ways than ever before, both locally and globally.  Rock in Style!    

Rock Band 2 introduces a new variety of instrument choices all with new and improved drum and guitar peripherals, enhanced functionality and innovative new designs. All Rock Band 2 instruments are fully compatible with the original Rock Band. Conversely, all Rock Band peripherals will be fully compatible with Rock Band 2.    

Unrivaled Song Library!    

Rock Band 2 features the biggest and most diverse soundtrack ever featuring some of rock's most prolific acts, comprised entirely of master recordings.    

Complete the Look!    

Rock Band 2 delivers new clothing, accessories, tattoos, hairstyles, instruments and more to keep your unique rock avatar playing the full rock part.    

Battle it Out!    

Go head to head competing against other bands with Battle of the Bands contests that will be generated by Harmonix on a regular basis.    

Stay on Top!    

Stay the undisputed leader board champion with real time alerts updating you when another rocker or band has surpassed your score!    

Take on Tour Challenges!    

Play through mini-campaigns focused on a specific instrument, your favorite artist, your preferred genre, or a particular album.    

Customizable Set Lists!    

Create your own set lists in Quickplay mode to keep the music rolling and your band rocking!    

Rock 'n' Roll Never Dies!    

Rock Band 2 offers backwards compatibility with Rock Band downloadable content- all previously purchased tracks will immediately load into your Rock Band 2 play list!    

Game Modes    

Quickplay    

Now easier than ever to get in and jam without hassle.    

- New prefab characters
 - Your customized characters can now play on any instrument
 - Make your own set lists
 - Organize song lists by a variety of categories (alphabetical, genre, era, etc.)

   

World Tour, Solo Tour and Band World Tour join forces to create the ultimate band touring experience!    

- World Tour is now online
 - No more band leaders! If you need to fire your guitarist but keep the band going, fire away!
 - Switch up instruments throughout world tour
 - All new collection of opportunity gigs, challenges, cities, venues, and hirable staff

   

Tour Challenges    

Take your band on tour in a whole new way with specific music challenges.    

- Focused mini-campaigns featuring the best songs by instrument, decade, genre or artist
 - Automatically generated DLC challenges
 - Album specific challenges
   

Battle of the Bands    

Put your band to the ultimate test by competing against other bands, both on your friends list and around the world!    

- Dynamic content with regular new contests designed by Harmonix
 - Matches up your score against overall competition and friends' bands - with REAL TIME feedback
 - Get updates on new battles from your Band Profile, as well as notifications when your score has been topped!

   

Drum Trainer    

A true teaching tool that gives players a step-by-step lesson through the basic beat and fill vocabulary any real world drummer would know.    

Music    

Major record labels and leading music publishers have signed on to provide unrivaled access to master recordings and legendary rock artists with hits from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and 2000's. The Rock Band 2 disc will feature more than 80 rock hits—all master recordings! Plus, Rock Band 2 owners will have access to the growing Rock Band DLC catalog of more than 200 tracks. Below are just some of the amazing tracks and artists you will get on disc with Rock Band 2.    

2000s
 Dream Theater "Panic Attack"
 System of a Down "Chop Suey"
   

1990s
 Foo Fighters "Everlong"
 The Muffs "Kids in America"
 Red Hot Chili Peppers "Give it Away"
   

1980s
 Motörhead "Ace of Spades"
   

1970s
 Cheap Trick "Hello There"
 Elvis Costello "Pump it Up"
 Journey "Anyway You Want It"
   

1960s
 The Who "Pinball Wizard"
   

Key Players    

- Developed by Harmonix – the world's premier music videogame company– and published by MTV Games.
 - Distributed and Co-Marketed by Electronic Arts, the world's leading interactive entertainment software company.
 - Master Recordings provided by EMI Music, Hollywood Records, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group's Universal Music Enterprises and Warner Music Group's Rhino Entertainment.
 - Rocked out even harder by YOU and millions of drummers, guitarists and vocalists around the world. Groupies not included!

   

Product Specifications    

Publisher: MTV Games Developer: Harmonix Distributor: Electronic Arts  Category: Music/Rhythm Game  Ship Date: September 2008 (Xbox 360) 2008 (PS3, PS2 and Wii)

[shammack]

I will be interested to see whether they stick to their guns of claiming that DLC is impossible on the Wii, or add it and prove that they didn't have it in the first one because they're lazy lying scumbags.  Though I guess they've already proved that since this is going to have online play.

[Morari]

In addition to these new modes, Band World Tour will be refined and include [...] the ability to have any character play any instrument and hirable staff.

That's good. I hope Guitar Hero: World Tour lets us use created characters for the NPC band!

[Ian Sane]

Tsk tsk.  Guitar Hero: World Tour will be available on the Wii the same day as the Xbox 360 version.  And Activision has promised that the Wii version will be as close to the other versions as possible and will have DLC, something that MTV Games has not confirmed and has claimed is "impossible".  So I think it's pretty obvious which game gets my business.

[AV]

Pointless. Why even bring out the first one? They should of just released the Wii version of 2 with all the songs of one on it.

now two versions of the same game on the market within a few months is not good.

Store are going to be pissed off.

The game is huge and takes up space and more likely than none they will not carry 2 with instruments just the disk and encourage people to buy both, which will be a hard sell.

[NWR_Neal]

If I didn't have a 360, I would also be outraged about the inconsistencies between the Wii version of Rock Band and the 360/PS3 iterations.
However, I have a 360 and Rock Band is my favorite game for it. I'm still really disheartened at the fact that EA Games or Harmonix can't get the Wii version working well. They still haven't said exactly what features will carry over to the Wii version but I can't say I have high hopes...

[D_Average]

The big blue ocean will eat this up while geeks and otaku pick up World Tour.

[GoldenPhoenix]

I'm still waiting for some more Rolling Stone songs to be available via DLC on 360. I hope the 2nd iteration has some more!

[NWR_Neal]

I'm still waiting for some more Rolling Stone songs to be available via DLC on 360. I hope the 2nd iteration has some more!

I've heard rumors about the Stones being one of the next bands to have a big pack released. Although might be more hopes and dreams than actual info.

[Jonnyboy117]

I think it's telling that this press release doesn't mention anything specific about the Wii version, which probably won't have DLC or any decent online modes.  On the other hand, Activision made a big deal out of these things when they announced World Tour for all platforms.

[GoldenPhoenix]

I think it's telling that this press release doesn't mention anything specific about the Wii version, which probably won't have DLC or any decent online modes.  On the other hand, Activision made a big deal out of these things when they announced World Tour for all platforms.

The sad thing is that without Vicarious Activision would probably be doing the same as EA who doesn't have a company that will go beyond what is asked.

[Jonnyboy117]

EA's studios have crafted multiple Wii games with relatively advanced online features, including the 32-player Medal of Honor game.

Please remember that EA neither develops nor publishes Rock Band; they only distribute it.  MTV Games is the publisher, and Harmonix is the developer.  In the case of the first Rock Band, I believe it was farmed out to another studio for the PS2/Wii version.

[GoldenPhoenix]

EA's studios have crafted multiple Wii games with relatively advanced online features, including the 32-player Medal of Honor game.

Please remember that EA neither develops nor publishes Rock Band; they only distribute it.  MTV Games is the publisher, and Harmonix is the developer.  In the case of the first Rock Band, I believe it was farmed out to another studio for the PS2/Wii version.

Yeah the first Rock Band was farmed out to some unknown developer, it is no surprise it turned out so average.

[Dan_Flyhight]

Well I can understand Harmonix wanting to keep up with Red Octane so they're making a new game to keep up with guitar hero world tour, but I won't be buying 2. If the trend keeps up I'll just get 3 next year.