it's the little things (and other random observations)

[Reedus]

I am very impressed with the overall sound quality of many of the songs in the game. I assume this is because the tracks are pulled apart piece by piece (rather than just the guitar track being pulled) and thus, each instrument available to play is given more prominence in the mix. I especially notice this with orange crush. I think it sounds phenominal.

I'm glad they mixed in actual "endings" to many of the songs that originally faded out. it REALLY bugged me in GH 80's when the songs faded out. it totally ruined that feeling of being in a live setting - as if the band was just miming the songs on stage. enter sandman has a pretty nice ending tacked onto it (if just a slight bit anticlimactic) as do many other songs.

I really dig the crowd sing-a-longs. they REALLY add to the effect of being in a live setting. it really immerses the player. they work EXTREMELY well in some of the more subtle songs, like wanted dead or alive. I like how rather than just sing along, they actually echo the chorus similar to what the background vocals do later in the song. I also like how they react to certain lyrics, such as "I want a perfect body" from creep - the audience cheers a little louder during that line.

stage lighting and effects are also impressive. things like this are hard to notice while you're actually playing the game, but watching someone else play, or watching the demo vids play before the main menu, you tend to notice some things. watch the intro to wanted dead or alive and see how the lights react to the notes on the opening guitar lines. pretty neat. or how the lights react to the keyboard break during won't get fooled again.

I really also like how well character animations are done. every little nuance right down to foot pedal accuracy and note bending on the guitar are detailed quite nicely. in addition, the way some characters react to each other is pretty cool. I've seen the female lead singer do a grind on the male guitarist before. I couldn't tell you which song, though. I'd be interested to know if the animations are all canned, or if they (particularly the drummer's) are reactive - meaning, do the animations react to the notes being played? it's hard to explain what I mean, but I hope someone will understand. a few odd flubs I've noticed, though - like how the singer will do a stage dive at the end of the song and then in the very next camera shot one second later they appear right back on stage. those things make me laugh but don't deter from the overall blown-awayness that I feel when I see things like that.

overall, I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the attention to detail in so many different aspects of this game. I can't wait to see what kind of improvements will be in store for "rock band 2"!

consider this my *clap clap* topic. :)

[Bakkster]

Ditto on the WGFA lighting, drum animations, and string bending/vibration.

I will never get tired of those things.

[Silicis_Astrum]

Yeah, Since won't get fooled again is my favorite song to play, I've noticed lots of little things that go on during it. Like after the organ solo in the middle, the camera switches to a the side of the stage and the lead guitarist jumps and powerslides to it while playing. Just like Pete townshend. Also, when the song ends (not every time but more often than not) the lead guitar will smash his guitar on stage and jump on it. All these little things that make the experience so much more rich.

Never see anything like them in GH3...

[Nate Finch]

I'm glad they mixed in actual "endings" to many of the songs that originally faded out. it REALLY bugged me in GH 80's when the songs faded out.

Totally!! That was awful... the first time it happened, I thought something was going wrong!


I really dig the crowd sing-a-longs. they REALLY add to the effect of being in a live setting. it really immerses the player. they work EXTREMELY well in some of the more subtle songs, like wanted dead or alive. I like how rather than just sing along, they actually echo the chorus similar to what the background vocals do later in the song. I also like how they react to certain lyrics, such as "I want a perfect body" from creep - the audience cheers a little louder during that line.

Yes, yes, 100 times yes! They're really well done, like the crowd singing parts of the song that aren't there until later verses etc. Definitely increases the immersion.


overall, I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the attention to detail in so many different aspects of this game.

Ditto. I don't think I've actually said it on these forums before, but this is the most fun I've had with a video game, probably ever.

Thanks, Harmonix, for such a great game!

[espher]

a few odd flubs I've noticed, though - like how the singer will do a stage dive at the end of the song and then in the very next camera shot one second later they appear right back on stage. those things make me laugh but don't deter from the overall blown-awayness that I feel when I see things like that.

Not a flub -- it's a design decision.

They opted to stylize everything as though it were a music video compiled from concert footage, hence some of the weird 'jumps' between cuts.

[Maggot_Brain]

No doubt it's a great game.

[sporkBrigade]

Some Animations are definitely reactive. Notes playing, the drumming, stuff like that. The majority of the "scenes" though are definitely canned. They've definitely moved away from the GH style of animations where the character would wander around and do little moves, but really he was his own character with his own position. Now they've moved to pre-canned scenes. The guitarist kicks the camara, the bassist and singer both sing into the mic, the singer does a crowd dive, etc etc. It just moves from canned scene to canned scene. On one side of the coin, you get weird warps like the singer crowd surfing, then poof back on stage. Or the guitarist jamming next to the bassist, then warps away to the other side of the stage. But overall, the effect is awesome, and makes for some great eye candy.

[Reedus]

my girlfriend sings and sometimes I just like watching her play solo so I can pay attention to the other stuff going on in the background. when I play, I hardly notice anything that's happening that's not on the fretboard.

[Reedus]

600,000 digital people can't be wrong!
ahh, I see you've met the fan cap of doom on hard as well!

[Nate Finch]

my girlfriend sings and sometimes I just like watching her play solo

....

....

[DesiredFX]

Audience sing-along is definitely my favorite subtle addition.

One of the animation things I noticed a couple times that I really liked was when my guitarist (as I played through solo tour) would lean in with the vocalist and sing back-up into the same mic as you so often see in real concerts. Very nice touch.

[sporkBrigade]

ahh, I see you've met the fan cap of doom on hard as well!

Technically we've been over it. Thing is I refuse to let anyone drop out. I've laid down a rule that we're not allowed to gain fans unless all 4 of us are playing.

The funny thing is that despite all these people demanding no fan caps, I want more. Once you have 600k fans, gameplay wise, they mean absolutely nothing. But over 600k, I think there needs to be additional caps for 2 person bands, then 3 person bands. So the highest possible fans should only be attainable by full 4 person bands playing on Expert. Likewise, I wouldn't mind more under 600k caps too. They should be extended based on this same principle. So a 2 person band will hit caps as is, but a 4 person band's cap will be higher. Fact is, even on medium, 4 people on medium is naturally harder then 2 people on medium. Also likewise, it's easier for 2 people to go up to Hard for the first time then it is for 4.

Should I start a thread? "HMX! I demand more fan caps!" :D

[Bakkster]

Should I start a thread? "HMX! I demand more fan caps!" :D

Yes please! :D

[HMXJohnlok]

When I tested the game, the more I played, the more I loved the game - for the exact reasons you mentioned. You will constantly see new and awesome stuff that the team has put in, and it is so nice noticing some of those things for the first time.

[Reedus]

I agree. I'm sure there's plenty more I have left to discover. attention to detail is right up there at the top of the list of things that make me enjoy a really good video game. or movie. or book. or band. :)

[jenovan]

I think the band animations were the biggest surprise for me in this game, and are the reason I (and many other folks, apparently) would like a music video maker/viewer capability.

{dorky testimonial}
I write a lot of fiction -- it's probably my #1 hobby since it's portable and is connected to virtually all of my other hobbies somehow or other -- so the first thing I tend to do in a game with character editors is make some of my pre-existing characters. In Rock Band, I spent some time designing my vocalist, pleased with how accurate I could make him look, and figured that would be the extent of his, hmm, personification in-game.

Then I went to actually play. Since I was doing vocals, of course I had a great view of all of the on-stage animations, and I was literally amazed. There was my singer, with various little antics that seemed, for the most part, in-character... well, that was really freaking cool, but I think the first time I saw a close-up of him singing, I just about flipped out. They don't just lipsync -- their entire expressions morph with the mood of the song. You'll even notice them do things like throw their shoulders back when they get ready to belt out a long note. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it, and after... what, 3 weeks? I can still watch the characters performing and be just.. enthralled.
{/dorky testimonial}

As for the animations being canned, it's true, but they still vary. I play through "Welcome Home" a lot, and I think I've seen at least 3 different "sets" of animation for it. It seems to depend on who your random bandmates are (assuming you're playing solo), and what their "attitudes" are, so it looks like there's something a little more complex going on to determine what animations are shown. However it works, though, I freaking love it. :D

Whew, been wanting to say that for a while now. :p

[sporkBrigade]

I agree. I'm sure there's plenty more I have left to discover. attention to detail is right up there at the top of the list of things that make me enjoy a really good video game. or movie. or book. or band. :)

I remember the first time in a 3d game they took the time to animate the character turning around if you did a 180 degree spin. Details like that just suck you in.

For me and Harmonix, my love for this kind of thing started with the fretting hands on Guitar Hero 2, which was my enterance into the franchise. Oh sweet jesus that was exciting. Pandora spinning her guitar in the air was pretty cool too, though.

Final thing to throw out there. Ride cymbals. Watch how your drummer sways his hand back and forth across a ride symbol on slow beats. Or almost as awesome, at the beginning of Reptilia how they strike the snare with both sticks, just to look cool. So sexy.

[mastergamer1231]

The first time i saw te string vibrations i was like


awesome....

[Bakkster]

They don't just lipsync -- their entire expressions morph with the mood of the song. You'll even notice them do things like throw their shoulders back when they get ready to belt out a long note. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it, and after... what, 3 weeks? I can still watch the characters performing and be just.. enthralled.
{/dorky testimonial}

As for the animations being canned, it's true -- but they still vary. I play through "Welcome Home" a lot, and I think I've seen at least 3 different "sets" of animation for it. It seems to depend on who your random bandmates are (assuming you're playing solo), and what their "attitudes" are, so there's something a little more complex going on than just one canned video per song. Whatever the case, though, I freaking love it.

My favorite is on Maps, where the vocalist will close her eyes while singing. Pure awesome. I've also noticed the animation variations. Sometimes they stage dive, other times they just sing with the guitarist.

[sporkBrigade]

As for the animations being canned, it's true -- but they still vary. I play through "Welcome Home" a lot, and I think I've seen at least 3 different "sets" of animation for it. It seems to depend on who your random bandmates are (assuming you're playing solo), and what their "attitudes" are, so there's something a little more complex going on than just one canned video per song. Whatever the case, though, I freaking love it.

Just to be clear, I adore the canned "Scenes". I wasn't trying to imply at all that they were limited or repetative. They're wonderful. They add a whole new spice to the performance that wasn't possible with how they were doing it in the Guitar Hero series. 2 performers interacting with each other, for example. It just didn't happen before in GH, and will continue to not happen unless they switch to the "Scene" system Rock Band is using.

[Bakkster]

Just to be clear, I adore the canned "Scenes". I wasn't trying to imply at all that they were limited or repetative. They're wonderful. They add a whole new spice to the performance that wasn't possible with how they were doing it in the Guitar Hero series. 2 performers interacting with each other, for example. It just didn't happen before in GH, and will continue to not happen unless they switch to the "Scene" system Rock Band is using.

Actually, the first thing I noticed about GH3's animations was the canned sequence of the stage-diving kid. Every song on the one venue he pops up, crosses his arms across his chest, throws up the horns, and jumps back into the audience. Every song, without fail. I got really bothered by it...

[jenovan]

My favorite is on Maps, where the vocalist will close her eyes while singing. Pure awesome.

I will admit to my secret vice: I love watching my male vocalist sing Maps... ignoring the fact that it's a female voice, of course. ;) He's not the most masculine creature in the world, so the effect is kinda cute. XD



Just to be clear, I adore the canned "Scenes". I wasn't trying to imply at all that they were limited or repetative. They're wonderful. They add a whole new spice to the performance that wasn't possible with how they were doing it in the Guitar Hero series. 2 performers interacting with each other, for example. It just didn't happen before in GH, and will continue to not happen unless they switch to the "Scene" system Rock Band is using.

That's cool, didn't mean to imply otherwise :) (If I had enough braincells to rub together right now to reword my first post a little better, I would.. maybe later ^^; )

[Undeadpaladin]

to the orginal poster. You pretty much gave the "little reasons" why rock band is far superior to guitar hero 3. Those little things add up, where as GH3 has little things that just suck(DRUMMER and crappy sound mixes to start!!)

[PatrickY]

I adore the animations, and consider the stage "performances" to be far superior to those of Guitar Hero. The crowd singing, the stage dive, the outstanding lipsynching, all of it.

A few personal favorites:

When my guitarist, Hester Bangs (named for Lester Bangs) did the Townsend slide for the first time. That killed me: I missed about 10 notes because I was just looking around saying "Did you see that? Did you *ahem* FLIPPING see that?!"

When she busts out this sneery little lip curl when some good old power chord action is about to bust loose. That actually energizes me for playing tough parts of songs, because it just looks so damn rock.

The best, though, was just the other night, when I swear my wife's character dropped down and did this little cat crawl towards the camera while singing the chorus. I've only seen it happen once, but it was just great.

I also really appreciate the grainy black and white that hits sometimes, like during the guitar solo for Black Hole Sun. That's so perfectly 90's music video. Oh, I also really like the psychedelic color swim during N.I.B: that's late 60's/early 70's rock to a tee.


Hell, the only niggling bother of the animations is the funky arm wave/crowd point things they do when some of the song's are over. The bend at the elbow just looks odd, like a marrionette doing a little shuffle dance.

[Frederf]

Check out long sessions of nobody playing and they'll make the "look at my watch" move. Notable in WGFA.

[WiseOldUnicorn]

Count me in as another who absolutely LOVES all the little details in the animations. I remember the first time I watched a video of someone playing and saw a closeup of the guitarist string bending, I was blown away. Makes me sad I have to concentrate so much on the fretboard when I'm playing and can't enjoy what's going on behind it!

[barbasol]

I totally agree. I've noticed that I am really appreciating games lately that are polished with lots of love and Rock Band definitely is one.

Aside from what's been mentioned, I like the small additions they made to guitar solos—showing the progress and awarding a rating/points right at the end. I also really like the effects switch which is often a subtle but cool addition. And the big rock endings... There's so many little tweaks and additions that take this game to the next level. :D

[Reedus]

yeah, I forgot to mention the solos. I really like how a solo breaks up the songs into sections and makes it a little easier to gague what your progress is in the song. know when a solo begins and ends helps you get a little more prepared for it - especially if it's a more difficult one.

[Reedus]

not a gripe, but another inconsistency (kinda like the stage-diving transport thing) I just noticed: sometimes when it focuses on the drummer right before a big rock ending - he'll stand up and hold his sticks in the air, yet you still hear him playing! I got a chuckle out of that one.

[terRize]

All these little things mentioned are great. I really enjoy the guitarist leaning in to sing some as well.

Anyone else think they watched a whole lot of Steve Vai dvd's? Thinking particularly of Steve Vai: Live at the Astoria London. I don't mind it at all, actually enjoy it. A lot more active then some of my others (Clapton, Jimi, Chuck Berry, Stevie Ray Vaughn) though.

The funniest thing to me is in give me shelter when the male lead singer starts singing the female backup portion. Maybe next time just have a few backup singers for those parts. Though I do enjoy that you get to sing them yourself though =)

[Reedus]

I just noticed my guitarist do an elbow drop onto his guitar at the end of a song last night. I forget which song it was, but I had never seen that before! I guffawed quite heartily.

[jblaisuri]

there's not a lot of things cooler than the crowd sing-alongs. by far the coolest addition. it's almost a motivation in and of itself to not mess up.

wanted dead or alive especially...

[CPT_Destroyer]

My favorite animation is probably what the guitarist does at the end of, "Run to the Hills". He/she smashes the guitar, jumps up and down on it, and then elbow drops it. The first time I saw that I was like - :eek: AWESOME!

[Reedus]

is it me or are they sneaking in new animations into the weekly DLC? because I am STILL seeing things I have never seen before. also, I thought we had seen all of the generic NPC bandmates, but lately I've started seeing a lot of new ones I've never seen before. what gives???

ps, this game is awesome! :D

[osteofight]

Ooh a tiny detail thread. I was gonna make one =). My faves are:

Ballroom Blitz's intro when the singer asks the other band members if they're ready and the camera goes to each one, just like in the video (http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZrBDivsSe3k)!

Guitarist girl rocks out while walking to the camera, tongue out. mmmhmmm!

In Bloom when it focuses on the bassist bopping to the beat.

I also lol when the vocalist stage dives and reappears on stage. REJECTED! :D

The vocalist's freaky dance moves during some solos.

[Reedus]

and yet another thing I noticed today: loading screens I've never seen before. I mean, seriously - I've played through career mode at least 4-5 times (counting several instruments/difficulties) and have played probably 1,000+ songs in band world tour. it's not possible that I've just not paid attention before.

STRANGE THINGS ARE AFOOT AT THE CIRCLE K.

[Reedus]

seriously, does anyone know if they've sneaked new things into DLC besides just the songs themselves? something extra in the code, maybe?

[moneyp]

Here's what always interests me. I have two regular singers, one for my one-man vocals/guitar band, and one for solo vocals. I designed the band singer to look glam (sorta Ziggy Stardust-era Bowie) and the solo singer looks like a cross between Rivers Cuomo and a young Elvis Costello. They both have the "Goth" attitude, but their animations during the same songs are vastly different. Curious to find out why.

[JPSChampagne]

I've had a female vocalist that I've played as since the game came out, and I still see her do new things every now and then. Someone mention this kind of thing earlier, but she's based on a character in a story I've written, and I'm still amazed at how she manages to have the correct body language.

It's the interactions between the characters and the mood that the animations convey that gives Rock Band an edge, for me. Guitar Hero 3 is bland and lifeless after a few minutes just watching Rock Band.

[TuesdaysGone]

Not a flub -- it's a design decision.

They opted to stylize everything as though it were a music video compiled from concert footage, hence some of the weird 'jumps' between cuts.

I never knew that. That's so cool.

[RyBu]

I'm 99% positive they added new effects ever since Sugar Magnolia.... check it out towards the end... trippppppy

[HMXPinafore]

Thanks alot for the praise guys! We really put a ton of work into making the backgrounds super cool and keeping them fresh in the dlc. True props should go to Arthur, who did all the on disc songs, and is the grand puba of cameras and lighting here at HMX. While we haven't been adding new effects to RB1,(in the case of the trippy part of china cat sunflower, that effect was always there, we were just waiting for an appropriate time to bust it out :D) we're continuing to push the system that is there and to develop and evolve our style, and of course, we've got some cool new stuff that's coming for RB2 as well!

[Reedus]

ahh, hidden programming unleashed at a later date! I like it!

another loading screen I have never seen before until last night: a map with glasses and a dart on it. has anyone seen this? if so, have you seen it from the beginning or was it just recently?

[spidoman]

Slo-mo band jump is my favorite. especially when I'm playing drums for some reason. Rest of the band goin' crazy while I stay cool in the back.

[osteofight]

another loading screen I have never seen before until last night: a map with glasses and a dart on it. has anyone seen this? if so, have you seen it from the beginning or was it just recently?

Whoa that's new to me. I saw one for the first time last week with a band poster on a wall full of posters and graffiti.

[Reedus]

Whoa that's new to me. I saw one for the first time last week with a band poster on a wall full of posters and graffiti.
and that one's new to me! never seen that before!

[HMXDungHeaver]

I love all the little details in the game. Makes it so much more realistic.

[fireshoes]

I noticed a couple new load screens after Pixies week too. My friend that also plays all the time pointed it out and was wtf?

[kdogbillion]

I was wondering about the load scenes too, and what affects them. I can get the bus breaking down scene when playing a drummer (not any other time), and once I got a CD cover screen (with pictures of them and the rock gig location in the title) during World Tour. I wish I could get some of them more often; they'd make great wallpapers.


I was wondering about what about the characters affects their animations onstage too. I was thinking about it, as I have a lot of people play and tons of deleted and created charaters. I noticed that their weight and height somewhat determine how they'll move themselves on stage (which makes a lot of sense), as well as gender, but a weird thing was that I changed a character's hair and I swear they started using some different animations. I can't say I'm sure of it though; I guess part of it will stay a mystery. It seems pretty complicated to piece together on my own.

[ninjafu]

The level of detail is really amazing in this game, but I'm surprised no one has mentioned how great the drummer animation is :)

*drummers get no respect...you know just 'cause we sit in the back we're still a part of the team...*

Anyway...not that it's perfect but that was one thing that really stood out to me as a "real" drummer...that you can see the effort they put into the timing...

But yeah, the game is truly incredible - you HMX guys/gals did an amazing job, and I'm really looking forward to whats in store with #2...(just don't pump these suckers out like Activision ok? I may be alone in saying I don't want to see a Rock Band : Metallica in 6-9 months).

[jenovan]

Glad to see this thread necro'ed! XD

I am so looking forward to seeing what new little things are added to RB2 (whenever we PS3 folks get it... :p). When I saw the first screenshots of GHWT, the characters looked so... dead. What point is there to customize your characters if they never look like they're having fun?

One of my favorite animations (though it can take several tries to get it): when the lead guitarist comes hurtling through the air to land in front of the camera, rocking out at the beginning of Welcome Home. For extra fun, try it with a female guitarist with a skirt! ;D (Hmm... now tempted to try it with a guy in a kilt..)

[Reedus]

I also want to say (which I've been thinking about lately) how much I really adore the overall visual *style* of rock band. everything from the logo (such a beautiful font), to the characters (simple yet fluid), to the overdrive layers (the paisley art), to the extraordinary venues (I think some are so freaking awesome looking), to the instruments (I *must* add art!), to the animations (so accurate!) - everything in this game looks beautiful.

yes, at first I noticed the more simplistic character models (less polygons) and the grainy filter on the graphics - but honestly, the way they mask the lack of graphical quality (due to the massive amounts of other content that strain the system, I'm sure), harmonix sure does it with style. I actually quite like the grainy style and makes the game have a more realistic look (despite not being as sharp or detailed as most other games). and the character motions are so fluid, that it almost looks completely real when some songs apply static and/or psychedelic filters on the camera.

but really, it's the entire package that works so fluidly together. to me, the game is very visually appealing in pretty much every way. it's slick, clean, and classy.

I could go on, but I digress...

fun fact: notice how your drummer's kit *upgrades* as you progress to larger venues? I'm talking about how more drums and machinery are continually being added. I know it doesn't affect the sound at all (it's purely aesthetic), but a really nice touch.

[osteofight]

I'm with you all the way Reedus. I was introduced to RB and GH3 at the same party. RB's presentation is leaps and bounds over the competition. Just the opening slow shaky zoom over the small crowd at Alice's Cafe speaks volumes more than whatever weirdness happens on GH3's stage. GH3 looks like poo. I mean, you can render poo with however many polygons you want, but it's still poo :D.

[Reedus]

as my friend likes to say: "you can't polish a turd." :P

[Reedus]

I predict this thread will get a lot more of my input when RB2 comes out and there are even more "random observations" to make! already, the RB2 trailer has got me all excited!

[Reedus]

does anyone think new clothing has been snuck into the weekly DLC? I keep seeing things I've never seen before. maybe I'm just not as observant as I used to be, but every once in a while something kind of pops out at me that I think I would have noticed before. this goes with the conspiracy theory that animations, loading screens, and other "updates" are secretly snuck into the DLC as well.

[Johnny Webb]

Since I only play drums, I tend to notice what the drummer does more than anything, and it never fails, when I'm playing a song and the drum character looks over his shoulder at the camera with that "What the hell are you doing?" look, it cracks me up.

Oh and yeah, the sing alongs are absolutely awesome. It sucks so bad when the crowd is singing with you, somebody in the band messes up, and then they stop singing. Great job HMX.

[TheGodFather73]

I have definitely noticed new bandmates, album shots, and other miscellaneous things as time has gone on. There is always the random chance I never saw certain things until recently, but I doubt it with so many other things repeating over time.

[Fizzywix]

I love how the bassist hits the right strings for songs and on Tell Me Baby the bassist actually plays slap!

[Reedus]

I have a feeling harmonix will never comment on the theory of stuff besides just songs included with DLC. I think they like that it keeps us guessing and interested. which is probably a good thing. mystery is something not very many people are good at these days.

and oh yeah, I totally forgot about new band members. I thought I had seen all of the generic bandmates, but I keep seeing new/funny ones pop up here and there.

[JuannaB]

Yes, yes, 100 times yes! They're really well done, like the crowd singing parts of the song that aren't there until later verses etc. Definitely increases the immersion...

Could be wrong, but I think that the crowd sing-along kicks in only after the crowd meter peaks for a certain amount of time. I've noticed that the better I get at playing a song, the sooner the crowd joins in...

[osteofight]

Ya i think when the crowd meter is almost at the top, the crowd starts to sing along. Noticed the trend doing vocals on Who Are You.

[Han Daimond]

Mixed reactions on the song endings.

While some are fantastic and epic like "Welcome Home" and "Foreplay/Longtime" some others are dull and simple like "More than a Feeling", I liked better the ending added on the first Guitar Hero than the Rock Band version, that ending almost ruined the song. Same issue on "Synchronicity II" and almost all The Police songs.


But yeah, this game has a lot of details, very very good ones. But about the crowd...

[RagAndBone]

Wow, you guys mentioned everything that I'm still amazed with, 8+ months later! And to whomever mentioned they're still seeing new loading screens--me, too. Facts keep popping up that I haven't gotten yet, and I read each one. In fact, with a game so polished, the only thing I hate seeing is your guitarist standing around (I'm looking at you, NIN packs). I feel like the camera could be on anything else besides the one person who has a temporary break. Takes me out of the game sometimes.

[hewhoislikegod]

I once played Won't Get Fooled Again with a friend (him on drums, me on lead guitar) and, it felt so real, I started to have an anxiety attack and almost started crying.

I'll never forget it.

It was THAT real.

[The Hungry Samurai]

And to think Rock Band 2's only going to expand on this. I'm soooo freakin psyched. Is it september yet?

[Reedus]

I really look forward to recreating my band members with (slightly) better graphics! :P

[Reedus]

tonight I saw the loading screen where they are loading gear into the van after a gig. all the dudes were loafing around while they watched the one girl in the band do all the work. I thought it was kind of sad. I wanted to give her a hug.

[Pearl White]

Yip is some nice little touches, and still is screens appearing and things i've never noticed before catching my eye as i play. The animations and the emmersion i find to be really good.

Looking forward to seeing what nice little effects RB2 will bring us

:)

[Reedus]

I really like how the RB1 venues and songs are given new life in RB2. the fact that the band has several new (and more lifelike!) animations means that, even though the note charts are the same, the visual aspect otherwise is a whole new experience. and even with the older venues, new camera angles and effects make them seem new-ish. there's a new focus effect which is used when the camera pans out really far (much more than in RB1, even in the old venues). and I swear the crowds are bigger!

[Reedus]

so for the past month I've "rented" rock band 2 and a guitar for the 360. I own rock band 1 and all of the instruments and DLC for the PS3, but when it came out on 360 a month ago, I decided I wouldn't be able to stand the wait. I also borrowed a copy of RB1 for 360 and paid the $5 to transfer those songs. I even bought a few DLC songs for the 360 just because I wanted to see how they looked in RB2. all of which was just a temporary fix until I could get my *REAL* copy when it came out for PS3 on october 19th.

well, I returned the game and the guitar today (I'm transferring to a different location), and I'll go another 9 days without RB2. I'm a little sad, but I consider myself fortunate, not only for being able to play it long before it comes out on PS3, but also for getting it even earlier than the 360 street date. yeah, I've wasted a little bit of money with downloads, but it was worth it. besides, I'm still regularly downloading weekly DLC onto my PS3 for RB1 (even though I haven't touched it since I've had RB2), so now I got a whole mess of "new" songs to play and keep me entertained until I get RB2 for PS3.

with that said, it will be absolutely no pain in the ass whosoever to start over with RB2 on the PS3. I will not mind one single bit having to start with wearing the wife-beater and ragged jeans and playing eye of the tiger 324897345873 times again, just to make it past the initial stages of the game. I'm almost anticipating it the same as I did a month ago, despite having had that chance already. the game is just so aesthetically and aurally pleasing. there needs to be an award for most stylish game ever, just so hmx can walk up on stage before they even announce the winner and say "yeah, we know."

I admit that I'm getting guitar hero world tour (disc only, and I'll be playing it with a strat!) when it comes out, if not for the 4 songs that aren't already on RB2, but because the song creator has my interest a wee bit, but I'm already completely prepared to be disappointed. sure, there will be some aspects that I will like about the game and maybe even a feature or two I wouldn't mind also seeing in rock band, but I know it will not be as pretty. I know the charts won't feel as good. I know a feel a bit like a massive tool while playing it. and I know I'll end up just appreciating rock band a whole lot more when I'm done with it.

the moral of the story: yay rock band!

[ChZuck]

speaking of the animations...

1>where did the "epic jump" from rock band 1 go? i've yet to see it in the new game.
2>I saw my character fall over while playing a guitar solo and thought it was the coolest thing ever, but now i can't remember what song it was. anyone see this?
3>a FAQ with which animations are tied to which style would be teh awesomes.

[Reedus]

3>a FAQ with which animations are tied to which style would be teh awesomes.
YES! I've always wondered this myself!

[Tego1in]

I like when the bass player and the guitarist go back to back, and every other band interaction.

[Runa216]

Actually, I just heard the crowd singalongs for the first time this week, when everyone said the Offspring songs all had them. I was blown away by how much it really pumped me up. they've been in the game since launch, and I never once noticed them!

you know, there's a lot of little details and added touches that I love, but I JUST woke up, so I really can't think of a list, but I do have one small comparison to Guitar Hero 3.....

I notice when playing Rock Band, that it FEELS like you're actually playing the song. the notes feel accurate, and it all feels like YOU. with Guitar Hero III (becuase 1 and 2 were fine,) it's like I'm disconnected. I constantly remember that I'm playing a videogame. it's like it feels like I'm doing precisely what I'm doing: Playing notes on a board on my fake plastic guitar as I listen to a song in the background. Something about the notes feel disconnected.

[Reedus]

yes, the level of immersion is much deeper in rock band. not only with more natural note charts, but even with the sound effects - I now CANNOT stand the awful noise guitar hero makes when I miss a note. it's things like that which remind you that you're playing a video game.