How good would Online BWT really be? (Theoretically)

[Frederf]

I'm not here to judge whether online BWT should or shouldn't be in Rock Band directly. There's plenty of other threads for that kind of discussion. What I do want to know is what theoretical value do people hold in their heads with regards to Online BWT.

My personal opinion is that I'm really not too disappointed with the lack of Online BWT. Why? Well I can't see how it would be so-awesome-cool (tm). Basically my two options for Online BWT would be:

1. Play with random Internet people.
2. Play with my friends via the Internet.

Option 1 doesn't sound too intriguing since the long-term build-a-better-band experience is not likely to happen since you generally only play with people online for an hour or two at the most and probably never see them again. Progress goes to the "Leader's Band" so 75% of players online would be the band leader and expecting all the other multiplayer players (who are doing the same thing) that they should be band members and not leaders. Ugh.

Option 2 requires that your friends have the game and they don't. Kinda kills that.

Online Band Quickplay sounds like all I'd really want. No idea why you don't earn cash during quickplay though. That's a head-scratcher.

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I'm really interested in people's opinions on the orders of "I am really disappointed that Online BWT is not in Rock Band, this is why, and this is exactly how I envisioned myself enjoying it."

[thegreatpablo]

In this day and age, it's not uncommon to have friends all over the country, if not the world. Being able to rock out and play with them in some progressive manner is really appealing to some people, such as myself.

You just arrange a time and day and play together once a week or something like that. The more competitive types could do it more often.

Also, especially for PS3 owners, not having a full compliment of available instruments ruins the 4 man band approach. Being able to add a bassist to your current 3 man band would do really well.

[Damaged]

You do #1 until you find great people to play with that like the same songs as you do then you move everyone over to #2. No online means you're pretty much playing with people you already know. Online described above could have you meeting new people and having a good time. Happens with Clans all the time.

[Quyrean]

Easy, my hubby is from Wisconson, we live in California. He has lots of family and friends back there. I would love to be able to play world tour with him, me, his sister, and her husband.

[CPT_Destroyer]

I have a lot of online friends that would play it with me, and are getting it for Xmas (like me) or already have it. We'd be able to devote a couple hours a day, which is more than enough for me.

And for playing with strangers, I wouldn't use that function, but hey, I suppose it's possible you'd be matched with three other good people that wouldn't abandon you. But most likely no.

[Grey_Street]

Yeah after college all my roomate are kind of spread out and it would be nice to be able to play w/ them with out having to travel...that's what we are doing this weekend :) So playing BWT online would be AWESOME.

As for playing w/ strangers, I foresee alot of griefers joining bands and failing on purpose just to lose the band leader's fans...sad but I guarantee it would happen.

[Tekkor]

It would be huge to have it in game for me.

My wife and I play along with our son...however one of my best friends lives in Oklahoma and we live in Florida. He has the game and him and his wife play and we have hooked up already several times to do quickplays...but we would have alot more fun with the challenge and setup of the BWT instead of just playing song after song.

Im very disappointed its not in the game in some form or another.

[Assault420]

It is not very easy to find people that can play expert for each part. I have alot of friends that come over and play, but only a small handfull can play on expert. So being able to play this mode online not only makes sense, but seems more reasonable. Seeing that the majority of gamers are not "Experts".

[Xzyliac]

I have to say after owning Rock Band online BWT just seems less and less appealing.

It's the physical interaction I love. Arguing, joking, switching instruments, practicing, building our rockers, I love it. Online doesn't have that.

[SlipKnot Saint]

It would be huge to have it in game for me.

My wife and I play along with our son...however one of my best friends lives in Oklahoma and we live in Florida. He has the game and him and his wife play and we have hooked up already several times to do quickplays...but we would have alot more fun with the challenge and setup of the BWT instead of just playing song after song.

Im very disappointed its not in the game in some form or another.


im from oklahoma!!!! dont get the game till christmas though.

[LeShrimp]

what would having the choice ruin for any of you that aren't interested in it?

[Frederf]

That is based on the idea that developer time spent on Online BWT is not spendable on something else.

So it seems that 80% of people (at least those responding here) would use Online BWT to play with people they already know (but live far away) and pretty much play with the same people every time who also own the game and the peripherals.

The remaining minority (~20%) would spend a significant amount of time playing Online BWT with random Internet people.

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It looks like Online BWT would be used primarily for playing with friends and family you already know and not for the public multiplayer aspect.

[DesiredFX]

I'm sure I'm not saying anything new in this thread but I have friends in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Florida that all want to play this game.

The Florida friend comes and visits us in Alabama on a regular basis--he was here when I bought the bundle--but we'd prefer to be able to play as our band even when he's not visiting.

[JuliusMode]

In agrrement with pretty much everyone else here: the idea of BWT Online makes a lot of sense for those who love playing with friends, but don't actually know a lot of people who are into games in close geographic proximity.

People will of course joke that if you don't have three friends, you've got bigger problems than not being able to play Rock Band, but really, once you're out of high school, it becomes less of a given than your friends will automatically be into video games, and between that and coordinating schedules to go through a whole campaign together in the same physical location, Offline BWT can get pretty impractical in some situations.

Not playing together in person isn't better. It is. I just feel for those rock-deprived soccer moms out there who can't reasonably invite the book club over to start a band, but would love to jam with old college mates living in Albuquerque. :P

Edit to add: Frederf, your assessment of playing with friends vs. strangers seems about right.

[HellishFiend]

The way i see it online BWT should be modeled somewhat after a typical MMO (World of Rock Band anyone?) with both solo elements and group elements.

Create a character and play solo to earn solo fame and fans (translate over from offline solo play perhaps).

As a band leader: Create a band and view lists of available players sorted by fame/fans/other catagories and send requests to join your band.

As a band member: Joining a band adds a percentage of your solo fame and fans to the band.

Maybe a battle of the bands mode too?

Obviously this is kept short to be readable, I could go on for paragraphs about each individual aspect.