The impact of Rock Band

[lithiumkc]

Having bought both GH1 and 2 soon after they came out, I can account for having shown the game to probably... between 50-60 people over the course of time. Out of that, maybe 1 or 2 people 'disliked' the game, and either they refused to play it or were too full of themselves to admit liking it.

What I'm saying is, guitar hero ON ITS OWN is a huge success, without a doubt one of the most addictive and approachable games ever, and it appeals to just about everybody whether they play music or not. I still notice it did not get as much attention as it should have in Canada at least.

Now take RB. Hitting in november, it's got all the aspects of GH1 and 2... And about a thousand added features. If the hype builds up more than it is now (Nobody outside of the internet community knows about this game yet), the game could be a revolution in the industry, or at least for the rhythm genre. Based on the technology we're bound to, the game will basically teach you how to play drums and how to sing. Imagine in several years, when we inevitably have more processing power for consoles, better graphics, better sound and better peripherals.

What do you guys forsee in the future AFTER RB? Games that teach you guitar? Actual bands forming online? Online audiences? I think we all know that RB is going to be enormously successful, but where will it go from here?

[NorrenRadd]

If the hype builds up more than it is now (Nobody outside of the internet community knows about this game yet), the game could be a revolution in the industry, or at least for the rhythm genre.

I am worried about this a little, but I'm counting on MTV to plaster it all over their channels come fall.

Also, I'm hoping for some sweet poster ads to be posted in major metropolitan areas, much like the GTA IV ones were in New York. That would be cool.

[Eman311]

If this game takes off (and it will.......) all the things you mentioned i think are inevitable.

An actual band formed just from guitar hero.........imagine the bands that will come out of RB.

[hmxsean]

I think you'd be surprised! I've been getting emails from all sorts of people who don't visit game sites and the such. We had write ups in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times and other places that aren't real known for being game-centric. It is kind of cool to have that before the game even comes out!

[lithiumkc]

I honestly can foresee a trend of new bands emerging from this game. If online support is really as good as theyre saying, it's going to open an enormous community of music lovers to one another, a community that was previously very inaccessible over the internet or just looking around town. I've only ever found a few people to jam with by going online, but this game is DESIGNED to make you meet people.

My prediction is that at the very least there's going to be an irregularly big amount of new drummers in the next decade due in part to this game. I know I'm going to put in the effort to go from medium to expert and learn drums and I dont doubt that a lot of other people will too. This should overlap into the actual music industry well, drummers and bassists are the hardest to come by.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.. But HMX, and MTV, I really suggest you start pushing this game and getting it out there. I know that in Canada, guitar hero 1 took absolutely forever to hit the mainstream. For about 8 months after i got GH1, i stressed to my employers at the time to put a booth up for demo, and guaranteed sales... They didn't. Everybody was in the dark about the series until GH2 hit and there were play-testing booths set up in Future Shop and such. Then it exploded.

Posters, billboards, and ads! Viral advertising! You know that this game is going to be massive if you take the right avenues and get it out there, and 3 months before the game it's still pretty underground!

[TheTogfather]

I think you'd be surprised! I've been getting emails from all sorts of people who don't visit game sites and the such. We had write ups in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times and other places that aren't real known for being game-centric. It is kind of cool to have that before the game even comes out!

Agreed. Just yesterday someone asked me if I'd heard of the game, someone who I don't think spends a lot of, or any, time on gaming sites. Not sure where he heard about it, but the word is definately spreading already...with about 6 months to go, I think we're in good shape.

note: this person also decided, in fact, to add a full stage to his already in-progress theater room he's building. I'm so hanging out w/ him more once this drops.

[sa_nick]

Yeah I've had a few people ask me if I've heard of the game, it's kinda hard to answer just how much I've heard of the game and how hyped I am about it.

What I did notice was that a lot of people that don't know all that much about the game are saying that some company ripped off the guitar hero idea and added more instruments... so that kinda sucks. I put them in their place though. lol.

[Edgehopper]

What I did notice was that a lot of people that don't know all that much about the game are saying that some company ripped off the guitar hero idea and added more instruments... so that kinda sucks. I put them in their place though. lol.

I've seen that a lot on the bulletin boards, particularly the version where people screwed over by Activision/RO's handling of DLC don't trust Harmonix's pronouncements of awesome DLC planned for this game. I predict that mistaken whining will end, oh...as soon as Who's Next is released :)

[sa_nick]

I've seen that a lot on the bulletin boards, particularly the version where people screwed over by Activision/RO's handling of DLC don't trust Harmonix's pronouncements of awesome DLC planned for this game. I predict that mistaken whining will end, oh...as soon as Who's Next is released :)

Haha, and how!

[CENACHAINGANG54]

Let me tell you people are finding out and are getting hyped in my area! I am a big GH player and I know I am responcible for a few people playing the game. Well I know RB will be as if not more addictive than GH. I have friends on live now that has already asked me to start a band with them. Although I know GHIII will be good, but the main talk going around frome my friends and some others is all about Rock Band!!1