Now you’ve said that, I’m convinced it’s Rock Band Nirvana. Weren’t we supposed to get all of Nevermind at some point? I’m sure Courtney Love would be overjoyed to earn a ton for nothing.
sinfony
4142
Nirvana doesn’t have a big enough catalog for a full game. Off the top of my head, the only guitar-focused bands from that era with enough music to fill out a full game and plenty of name recognition would be Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. I’d guess RHCP would be the most likely among that group, and also the one I would least enjoy.
Zeppelin would be a huge coup, and also an awesome game.
If that’s your measuring stick, then I think more under 20 enjoy U2 than Zeppelin or The Stones. Also I don’t think under 20s is the target audience.
While Stones have made more albums than U2, I think the latter have a more varied output War doesn’t sound like The Joshua Tree and Zooropa sounds like nothing else.
Zeppelin might be the most important of the three, but they’ve realesed the least number of albums, they aren’t around anymore and the variation isn’t big enough to carry a whole game.
Number of albums and variation would also be my argument against Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, and Red Hot Chili Peppers - U2 is also a bigger brand than them.
And I’m not saying U2 is greater than the bands mentioned, just who I could see a s a likely choice from commercial reasons.
sinfony
4144
But a U2 game would suck, which is something we have to keep in mind. They might be a big brand, but it doesn’t change the fact that their music would be incredibly boring to play.
I think each of the bands I mentioned has put out enough music to support a full game. It all depends on how you count, but Smashing Pumpkins did 7 albums, Pearl Jam and RHCP each have 9 (once the new Pearl Jam comes out), and Zeppelin did 8. I’m not familiar with all of the other work from these bands, but I know that the Pumpkins have an enormous amount of non-album material that is really, really good. I’d also contend that there is plenty of variety in their music, certainly more than other bands that have gotten the full-game treatment (Aerosmith, AC/DC, Metallica, Van Halen).
From a commercial standpoint, a U2 game is probably a hit, but I don’t think it’s a slam dunk. Zeppelin would be a monster. RHCP would capture the fratty male audience that makes up a big chunk of the video game buying public. Pumpkins and Pearl Jam would probably do well, but they might be a bit too divisive to be worth the risk (in my experience, people either love or hate them; contrast to U2 or Zeppelin, who many love and few really dislike).
Do remember that we’re talking Rock Band and not Guitar Hero, so only one band has gotten the full band treatment: Beatles.
So what I’m thinking about is a full game with full instruments, iconic graphics and whatnot - not just a nice box, a new guitar, a compilation album and a bunch of songs that are similar in style.
That’s also why I don’t think frat boys are the target for a $200+ game. While the other bands you mention could work - apart from Zeppelin, they’re too esoteric/historical - then I don’t think any of the have the name recognition and number of hits as U2.
It also has to be a band known for selling out… I mean embracing different options for their music.
sinfony
4146
If it’s going to be another $200 game, it has to be a band that used fairly unique-looking instruments, doesn’t it? I doubt people would shell out $200 to get a set of standard Les Pauls. I can’t think of any other major-appeal bands that fit that criterion off the top of my head.
Rebel Yell!? Yay!!!
As for the new band, maybe it’s Pink Floyd. Just throwing other bands out there. Or maybe it’s Michael Jackson ;)
My hope is Zeppelin, btw. Best. Band. Ever. I would also enjoy a Smashing game, but they already have so many SP songs that it doesn’t make much sense (same with Nirvana, btw; there’s not much left, except the one obvious song). I know SP still has plenty of songs (many good ones), but it still doesn’t make sense. With the Beatles game they are using a band that has zero songs in the main RB. I think they’ll try to do that again. So I’m guessing U2, Pink Floyd, Zeppelin, or the Stones (big, iconic bands, and while the Stones do have music in RB, it’s not much relative to even their popular songs).
WarrenM
4148
Rock Band: Rush. Costs $60 and over half the songs have already been released.
But it comes with a drum set that more closely resembles Neil’s…
Rock Band: Neutral Milk Hotel! I can feel it!
No, wait! It must be RB: Devo! Or maybe a Choking Victim/Leftover Crack edition?
That’s true.
And I’m not enough of an instrument wank to know if any of the bands we’ve mentioned fits that bill. U2’s instruments certainly never stood out to me.
I still stand by my guess, though.
And now Robert made me want Pink Floyd DLC.
Perhaps it’s Jethro Tull: Rock Band - Flute Edition
Here’s a band with unique instruments:
Which actually reminds me that I wish Harmonix would license some localized content. We have 3-4 graet guitar bands in this country that never made it big, but would still be great to play - they could probably get the licenses for free considering the exposure the bands would get. Of course the actual work with the tracks would still be an expense.
Examples (pay the lyrics no mind, Danish bands as a rule shouldn’t try poetry in English):
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=45416311
And an oldie…:
Kalle
4152
Yes, localised content. I want Ebba Grön and/or Imperiet.
But of course. I forgot about that - the band pictured - Disneyland After Dark - did express an interest in being part of GH, when that came out. And there was even rumours of talks going on.
I hope the tools aren’t too hard to use.
rockbandnetwork - holy crap - that’s a great idea!
Shadarr
4156
That would push the price up to $700.
Juste
4157
Who cares? Day one purchase!
The_B
4158
I’m probably reading far too much into this but, from Ozzy Osbourne at Blizzcon:
“This video game where they play the guitar - my son is like “Hey dad, you gotta play this game.” He’s up for three days playing this game. The Rock Band people told me that up to a billion people play that game. A billion fucking people. That’s a lot of fucking mouths. It’s incredible. I doubt that many would buy my albums. You’ve gotta embrace it or you’ll fall by the wayside.”
So it seems he’s been at least talking to Harmonix - perhaps the game might be Ozzy/Black Sabbath related? (Although granted, to be fair knowing Ozzy he may have been referring to the GH people when he was doing his mocap for WT, but then again most people who get the two confused usually say GH first.)
I’d be happy though if it was just some proper Ozzy/BS DLC - lets be fair, those covers on there at the moment aren’t too great.
A billion? With a “B?” Why not just say a zillion? Or a hoojillion and five?
Ugh, I plan on renting the Beatles, but that’s it. Stop making games that force me to switch out disks. Is RB2 a platform or not?
