I'd like to address all the uproar...

[Mitch_360]

If you are losing your faith in rock band please read and bear the wall of text. I just can't believe what i'm seeing on the forums.

So far Harmonix has delivered a platform in which you can play a multitude of songs with all 4 instruments. (179 songs...1 disc)

Are all 179 mass market winners...no. But i have discovered so much because of them that i can't be mad when they release stuff i don't know. Now that i have these songs...i cannot give them back.

We can all figure that harmonix and mtv WILL release a sequel or an expansion of some sort to include online world tour and better periphials. Maybe they can't announce it yet...maybe they are waiting for e3...they do have their own booth for the show btw. Who knows? BUT YOU KNOW THEY ARE WORKING ON IT.

Now we have ghiv...yes i am excited too and now everyone is ready to jump ship...it makes sense to me...Latest and Greatest always wins...

A better drum set, create-a-song, battle of the bands, online tour...i mean, what's not to like?

They we get hit by the GH: Metallica...oh brother...i have loved metallica since i was a child and now that should be what i call a dream come true...but is it?

If Guitar Hero IV is called world tour and not called something else like "band hero" or whatever...are we to assume that they will go back to "just the guitar and bass" gameplay?

If so, then they have just shot themselves in the foot...Do i want to have GH I, GH II, GH III, GH:OT, GHIV, GH:A, and GH:M? Do i want to keep switching those discs out to play the song i want? No sir. And do i want to purchase a gh game that just has guitar AFTER they have went to all 4 instruments? Hell NO!

YOU ALL KNOW that the rock band dlc will be compatible because no one would even consider buying rock band 2 if the dlc wasn't...THEY KNOW THAT.

The instruments will be better, online world tour WILL be included and who know what else...

A crap load of songs, one disc...one platform. Their idea from the start. Sounds good to me.

[ELDUDEARINO69]

I totally agree with your perspective.

I hate taking discs in and out. It isn't going to kill me to do it, but I don't want to switch discs just for a couple of songs. Plus the amount of money I've put into Rock Band/DLC and all that. I just don't know if I really want to jump. I'm sure Harmonix will have backward compatible DLC. They'd be stupid not too. However, I'm not taking anything away from Guitar Hero outside of Overcharting. They did OK, but nothing special. I just don't know if I want to shell out $200 for something I already pretty much BASICALLY have sitting here...

It's like I already have a 32 inch TV

Do I really NEED a 38 inch TV?

Meh. I honestly WOULDN'T mind to play GH4, but I'm not bashing it and I'm not crazy over it. I'm definitely not buying it right away either.

[Akuryu]

What about the 58 on-disc RB1 songs? Unless RB2 is an online expansion, you'll probably have to switch discs for those. Down the road we'll have a RB3 and RB4...the same effect will happen.

[MistressMissy]

What about the 58 on-disc RB1 songs? Unless RB2 is an online expansion, you'll probably have to switch discs for those. Down the road we'll have a RB3 and RB4...the same effect will happen.

I honestly hope it will be an expansion disc, which is what Guitar Hero should have done with 80's and Aerosmith. Too bad they just want more money outta your pocket.

[CysticManatee]

I agree with everything you said.
But on a side note, they're making GH: Metallica along with GH: Aerosmith? What a joke. (Don't get me wrong they're both good bands, but this just seems like a waste of money.)

[RockBandRocker]

I have a feeling that, if a Rock Band 2 does come out, it will work like a PC expansion pack.

Have you ever played "The Sims"? With each expansion pack, at some point in the installation you need to put in the previous game/expansion for it to update those files.

Rock Band 2 should require you to put your Rock Band 1 disc in, so it can "burn" the on-disc songs into some sort of Rock Band 1, 58 song, DLC pack. All original 58 will still show up.

This way, you can play all the old standards along with the new on-disc songs.

That's just my two cents on how Rock Band 2 could expanded upon Rock Band. :)

[David2380]

You can compare the two platforms(RB Vs. GH) forever...What really matters and what it all comes down to is the music. You say...."screw GH Met....seperate disc, maybe only guitars, only 1 band....etc. etc....Let me tell you something..if they come out with a GH Iron Maiden with their whole catalogue... I would give up my Rock Band Disc, all of the instruments and all of the DLC for it....TRUTH. It's all about the MUSIC my friends...whoever consistently gets the better music will win the war...

[U2Phreak1969]

What about the 58 on-disc RB1 songs? Unless RB2 is an online expansion, you'll probably have to switch discs for those. Down the road we'll have a RB3 and RB4...the same effect will happen.

I hope they can figure out a way that even if you didn't buy Rockband I you can load the Rockband II disc and start playing, but at the same time. . . When you pop in the disc, if you did have Rockband I, it would recognize the Rockband DLC on your HD and ask if you if you want to boot from that disc or simply download the updates.

Granted, this would probably eat up a lot of HD space. . . But hey, I'll buy a new HD if they fill my current one!

And according to GameInformer, GH:WT is going to finally get serious about weekly DLC. It would be great if they did something similar with their expansion packs allowing GH:M or GH:A to be loaded into the DLC file. I'm sure that is a pipe dream, but it would be cool.

[litaljohn]

What about the 58 on-disc RB1 songs? Unless RB2 is an online expansion, you'll probably have to switch discs for those. Down the road we'll have a RB3 and RB4...the same effect will happen.

agreed... OP you had good intent but you contradict yourself in your post. you can't defend rock band by saying they will come out with a sequel or expansion and than complain that GH has sequels and expansions.

and since hmx made gh 1 and 2, in essence what we hold in our hands right now would be the "true" gh3 then, where both companies share the same exact root....

[krammkracker]

I hope they can figure out a way that even if you didn't buy Rockband I you can load the Rockband II disc and start playing, but at the same time. . . When you pop in the disc, if you did have Rockband I, it would recognize the Rockband DLC on your HD and ask if you if you want to boot from that disc or simply download the updates.

Granted, this would probably eat up a lot of HD space. . . But hey, I'll buy a new HD if they fill my current one!

And according to GameInformer, GH:WT is going to finally get serious about weekly DLC. It would be great if they did something similar with their expansion packs allowing GH:M or GH:A to be loaded into the DLC file. I'm sure that is a pipe dream, but it would be cool.

I just wanted to add my thoughts here, I think you touched on a good point.

Now Neversoft did say they wanted to do lots of DLC for GH:WT, (even hinting at large packs) now whose to say that this GH:Metallica game is even a game? Could it be a large expansion pack for 360/ps3 and be a standalone game for wii/ps2? It could. How do we know? All we know is someone found a piece of paper saying "GH:Metallica" is in the line-up for Q1 2009. So before we all start talking like we even know whats going on, I think we have to realize that noone knows the future.

And would you give HMX a break! Jeeze, they aren't sitting around picking their noses...except for HMXJohnlok of course...LOL... But seriously they have something lined up. Don't worry I'm sure there will be plenty of big-name bands coming down the pipe soon. Just probablly in RB2 or an expansion (the big-bands would want more exposure than just DLC like everyone else)

[Bullseye]

Skepticism is an integral part of any gaming forum. It's natural to see the competing game developers' latest and greatest and start to worry that our $180 (DLC and mods not included)investment just became obsolescent. Bottom line is, with rare exceptions, the console video game industry has never tried to keep a game going with just upgrades. Game companies traditionally release new discs when making sequels and it will have to be a complete paradigm shift for HMX to release RB2 as just an upgrade (DLC or install disc) to our existing RB discs. We might be expecting too much for that to happen-- the logistics: how much HD space required; how to distribute it; will it render online modes incompatible with those that only have RB; how will they distribute it; can they make a profit with this business model; is it even possible?

Now with that all that in mind, I think several things will probably occur. Predictions ONLY:
1. RB2 will feature new instruments, most likely including additional buttons to keep pace with GHWT.
2. RB2 will have backwards compatibility with DLC.
3. RB2 would need a feature in the options to toggle off extra game mechanics (if drums require another pad or 6th onscreen note, there'd have to be an option for RB1 note recognition--would be hell to keep track of in leaderboards)
4. RB1 58 songs would probably have to be offered as DLC--not the end of the world because there are several songs I'm sure a lot of us would cut out entirely (Electric Version comes to my mind): the rub is they'd need to have a way of verifying that you own the original RB as I can't imagine paying twice for the same song (this isn't iTunes).

Anyways, just some long winded ideas to prove I'm not a pessimist.

[zack10house]

couldn't there just be some kind of disc specific code? I'm sure each disc has some sort of serial number. say this can only be used once and then it gets disabled, there you go backwards compatibility FTW

[Trondala]

We can all figure that harmonix and mtv WILL release a sequel or an expansion of some sort to include online world tour and better periphials. Maybe they can't announce it yet...maybe they are waiting for e3...they do have their own booth for the show btw. Who knows? BUT YOU KNOW THEY ARE WORKING ON IT..

No we don't, because HMX/EA have not made any statement to that effect.



They we get hit by the GH: Metallica...oh brother...i have loved metallica since i was a child and now that should be what i call a dream come true...but is it?

If Guitar Hero IV is called world tour and not called something else like "band hero" or whatever...are we to assume that they will go back to "just the guitar and bass" gameplay?

Actually from what most people have gathered GH:M like GH:A is the same to GH3 that rock's the 80's were to GH2, and has nothing to do with GH:WT at all.



YOU ALL KNOW that the rock band dlc will be compatible because no one would even consider buying rock band 2 if the dlc wasn't...THEY KNOW THAT.
Again there is no statement from HMX/EA to this effect, so no we do NOT know that. The truth is that a lot of people will buy it even if it's not compatible, and I would not be the first time EA put out a sequel that didn't really offer anything new. We can only hope that if they indeed do a sequel they make it compatible and add enough new stuff to make it worthwhile getting it.



The instruments will be better, online world tour WILL be included and who know what else...

A crap load of songs, one disc...one platform. Their idea from the start. Sounds good to me.

Again I'm very curious about where you get this info from.

[Salvatoris]

I totally agree with your perspective.

I hate taking discs in and out. It isn't going to kill me to do it, but I don't want to switch discs just for a couple of songs. Plus the amount of money I've put into Rock Band/DLC and all that. I just don't know if I really want to jump. I'm sure Harmonix will have backward compatible DLC. They'd be stupid not too. However, I'm not taking anything away from Guitar Hero outside of Overcharting. They did OK, but nothing special. I just don't know if I want to shell out $200 for something I already pretty much BASICALLY have sitting here...

It's like I already have a 32 inch TV

Do I really NEED a 38 inch TV?

Meh. I honestly WOULDN'T mind to play GH4, but I'm not bashing it and I'm not crazy over it. I'm definitely not buying it right away either.

The disc switching issue is a good point, but one that I think works against HMX, not in favor of them. I am pretty sure GH4 (aka world tour, they are the same game) will have a higher percentage of the kind of songs I want in the game. Once it comes out, I dont see myself switching back and fourth between discs, and certainly not between peripherals, to play both games. Guitar Hero World Tour will be the nail in Rock Band's coffin. HMX, with their agenda of introducing us to their personal favorite songs, brought it on themselves... and I honestly believe the ball is already rolling, no way to stop it. For ignoring the requests of their players, they even deserve to be ridden out of the video game industry on a rail.

and no, you don't need a 38 inch TV, I think a minimum of 46 is good. ;)

[G_tarRoCK3R]

I have a feeling that, if a Rock Band 2 does come out, it will work like a PC expansion pack.

Have you ever played "The Sims"? With each expansion pack, at some point in the installation you need to put in the previous game/expansion for it to update those files.

Rock Band 2 should require you to put your Rock Band 1 disc in, so it can "burn" the on-disc songs into some sort of Rock Band 1, 58 song, DLC pack. All original 58 will still show up.

This way, you can play all the old standards along with the new on-disc songs.

That's just my two cents on how Rock Band 2 could expanded upon Rock Band. :)

I'm going to quote this because its an awesome idea and people prob won't see it the first time around. Sims had a great idea and Rock Band would be smart to do this....Good thing I have a 120GB HHD

[Salvatoris]

I'm going to quote this because its an awesome idea and people prob won't see it the first time around. Sims had a great idea and Rock Band would be smart to do this....Good thing I have a 120GB HHD

Something to bear in mind, a VAST majority of xbox owners only have the 20 gig hard drive. Mine is already over half full with Rock Band downloads. Of course I don't like most of those songs so they won't really be missed when I delete them for songs I actually enjoy.

[S1ckH4nds]

Guitar Hero World Tour will be the nail in Rock Band's coffin. HMX, with their agenda of introducing us to their personal favorite songs, brought it on themselves... and I honestly believe the ball is already rolling, no way to stop it. For ignoring the requests of their players, they even deserve to be ridden out of the video game industry on a rail.
That's probably the most LOLworthy post I've seen today. Thanks! :D

[bullyboy35]

You can compare the two platforms(RB Vs. GH) forever...What really matters and what it all comes down to is the music. You say...."screw GH Met....seperate disc, maybe only guitars, only 1 band....etc. etc....Let me tell you something..if they come out with a GH Iron Maiden with their whole catalogue... I would give up my Rock Band Disc, all of the instruments and all of the DLC for it....TRUTH. It's all about the MUSIC my friends...whoever consistently gets the better music will win the war...

Exactly!!!!.....And this is how it should be.....If they both have great music and DLC then it's great for us.....

I will gravitate to who puts out the most "mainstream" music....Sorry folks but if you are having friends over and having "Band" parties....The hits win out every time!!!

[jeccaneko]

It's like I already have a 32 inch TV

Do I really NEED a 38 inch TV?


It depends on what kinda TV you're talking about. If your current 32 inch TV is a huge crappy one from the 80s, and the 38 inch one is a wide screen LCD HDTV, then yeah. You need the 38 inch TV. At least, if I were in your shoes, I personally would need that TV. :p ;)