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| Rock Band | |
|---|---|
 Rock Band cover art | |
| Developer | Harmonix Music Systems |
| Publisher | MTV Games |
| Release dates | PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 November 20, 2007 (North America) May 23, 2008 (Europe) October 16, 2008 (Australia) PlayStation 2 December 18, 2007 (North America) Wii June 22, 2008 (North America) |
| Platforms | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Wii |
| Genre | Music/Rhythm |
| Game modes | Solo Tour, Band World Tour, Band Quickplay (Online Multiplayer), Multi-player Versus (Online Multiplayer) |
| ESRB rating | Teen (T) |
Rock Band is a music/rhythm game developed by Harmonix Music Systems. The game lets players simulate a rock band using various instrument peripherals. The different instruments include guitar, bass, and drums. You can also sing using the USB microphone.
Contents |
[edit] Tracklist
Main article: Rock Band Tracklist
The tracklist in Rock Band contains a mix of master recordings and cover versions. The total number of playable songs included in the game is 58; 45 of these are featured in the main set list, while there are 13 bonus tracks. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game include downloadable content, which allows you to purchase new songs. There's currently over 180 songs that can be purchases from the Music Store in the game.
[edit] Game modes
Rock Band consists of various game modes, including single player, local multi-player, and online multi-player modes.
[edit] Solo Tour
In Solo Tour, you select one of three instruments: guitar, drums, or vocals (there is no Solo Tour for bass) and play through the two set lists (bonus set list is optional). You earn cash for each song you complete, relative to the rating you received on the song. This money can be used to customize the character you use in all game-modes.
[edit] Band World Tour
In Band World Tour, up to four players can form a band (locally) and play songs and set lists in various locations. As you advance through the tour, you unlock tour vans, tour buses, airplanes, groupies, and other things that allow you to perform at different venues. After enough gigs have been performed, you earn the right to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
[edit] Band Quickplay
In Band Quickplay, up to four players can play together and perform different songs. Band Quickplay can be played locally, online, or a combination of both.
[edit] Score Duel
In Score Duel, two players compete against one another using the same instrument and same difficulty level. Whoever scores the highest amount of points wins.
[edit] Tug-of-War
In Tug-of-War, two players alternate playing parts with the same instruments. Whoever scores the highest amount of points wins.
[edit] Instrument peripherals
[edit] Guitar and Bass
The guitar/bass controller is modeled after the Fender Stratocaster. To simulate playing the music, the player must press down the corresponding colored fret button that matches the colored note on-screen as well as hitting the strum bar at the same time. The guitar also features five identical smaller fret buttons on the bottom of the neck. These buttons are used during guitar solos in which you don't have to strum the notes, you just simply have to press the buttons down. The guitar also features an effect pickup switch, by toggling in between five different effects. The effects on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions are none, wah-wah, flange, chorus, and echo. The effects on the PlayStation 2 version are none, doubler, slap back echo, medium echo, and long echo. While the effects on the Wii version are none, flange, slap back echo, chorus, and echo. The effects can be used during Overdrive and a guitar solo.
[edit] Drums
The drum controller features four drum pads and a kick pedal. Each pad has a colored ring around the edge, which corresponds to the notes on-screen. Red represents the snare drum, blue represents the tom-tom drum, yellow represents the hi-hat, and green represents the crash cymbal. While the kick pedal simulates the bass drum. The bass pedal is represented on-screen by an orange horizontal line. To simulate playing the drums, the player must hit the respective drums pads using the included drum sticks, as well as hitting the kick pedal with their foot corresponding to the colored notes on-screen. Players are also allowed to create custom drum fills during certain sections of songs. By completing the drum fill by hitting the green pad (crash cymbal), you enable Overdrive.
[edit] Vocals
The USB microphone is used for singing in the game. The players challenge is to try to match the pitch of the vocalist of the song. During some sections when there are no vocals, circle notes appear on-screen, indicating that the singer must tap the microphone to simulate a tambourine or cowbell. Overdrive is activated when singing during freestyle sections of songs, this is indicated when a yellow background appears on the vocal interface.
