Rock Band: Evolution or Revolution?

[Xzyliac]

Enough of this depressing *****ing about BWT's online (well lack thereof) and back to our blind, drooling, lust for Rock Band.

Do you believe Rock Band is a evolution for the rhythm genre or rather a total revolution?

On one hand it is simply the evolving of the same tried and true formulas. On the other few music games have emphasised cooperation and the awesome teamwork feeling. In the past it's always been competitive.

Thoughts?

[SoraRikuVGM]

Enough of this depressing *****ing about BWT's online (well lack thereof) and back to our blind, drooling, lust for Rock Band.
I'll continue with my *****ing, that you very much.

I just want SWT to be like BWT. ;_; Just when I get a 360 so I can STOP complaining, something springs up.

[foolosophy]

Still evolution. If they further indulge on that BWT I think it will be a Revolution but right now it's too limited. They need to expand their online capabilities as well. That's my opinion though, I don't like to label anything 'revolutionary' unless I'm VERY sure about it.

[ThuDogFood]

I say evolution.

Everyone plays roughly the same as past rhythm games. The guitars are just like guitar hero, the vocals are just like karaoke revoultion, and the drums are just like [insert one of too many generic drum games too count] with a more realistic drum set.

The only major differences are the emphasis on co-op, and the bwt structure. So, I say it's just the next step.

That said, as long as the songs are good, I'll keep buying the RB and GH series.

[bounchfx]

unless you don't know the definition of the word - it's an evolution of the genre. however, a huge step forward. (at least in USA), a big step nonetheless

[Edgehopper]

Still evolution. If BWT turned into something MMO-like (in the social aspects that is), that would be truly revolutionary.

[HeXcoda]

I don't wanna be sour grapes here, but unless BWT is expanded and covers all the bases, it's just evolution. Revolution means a whole new approach to music games, and frankly, without that, it's just Guitar Hero with different instruments and a different set list.

Which is still good, mind you -- plenty of fun along the lines we're already familiar with -- but it's only an evolution without that open-access, non linear RPGish option. That's what sets it apart from the previous games, and it's only going to be available for some folks.

[Xzyliac]

I think the above posts really reaffirm how important online is for this gen. It's really the first console generation powerful enough to experiment in online space.

[ThePaska]

To me it a little from column A, and a little from Column B.

On the one hand it is clearly an evolution of the genre. It's a progression from Guitar Hero, it incorporates all the instruments and improves on something that has worked in the past. A lot of what we see in Rock Band is vastly improved versions of previous rhythm games, most closely related to Guitar Hero I and II and 80s.

It is also a bit revolutionary for a few reasons. Nothing like this has ever been done before. This is a game that will truly give you a band experience, you get to play not one, but four different instruments. The world tour mode is very impressive never before have we seen something that really gives you the feeling of touring and being in a music career instead of just going through the motions of clearing songs tier by tier. Lastly the downloadable content is just impressive. No console game has ever attempted weekly DLC before, and this will truly be something impressive when it is all said and done. The sheer quantity of the DLC is impressive, and the frequency in which it comes out just adds to that.

[Magnet]

Revolution? Evolution? Can't it be both?

[TheRocker]

I really cant decide if its either one i think it might be both.Revolution because its defining a new era in Rhythm games wich expands into many Instruments not being concentrated on one , and at the same time its an Evolution from 1 into Many things.

[acetabulum]

I've seen people hook up Guitar Freaks, Drummania, and Keyboard Mania together at arcades at least waaay back in 2001, so other than adding a singer, it's more of an evolution. Although this time we finally get to play songs we know.

[Kang_Zircon]

I'd say it's still an evolution. If it were a revolution, I'd expect to see something in this game that I've never seen before. The game is certainly has a culmination of elements that have never been in a game before, but the individual parts have all been done before in some form. Revolutions are extremely rare, though.

[JackBNimble]

Who are the GODS of GH ? HMX! And what did HMX do? They went on to make Our beloved Rock Band ! IE ...EVOLUTION,RB has gone on to do bigger and better things then just the old GH series.The revolution is still coming,and thats when we will all burn our GHIII games and use the Les Paul as bass guitars ! REVOLUTION .......To the death of GH! :D :D

[MrBlueShirt]

Evolution of an already great idea and concept.

[markmw]

That pertially rips off Guitar Hero & SingStar Amped...

[jq71586]

You're right, they ripped off Guitar Hero.

But here is something funny. Harmonix is making this game and they made Guitar Hero 1,2, and 80's. So they ripped off their own creation? Thats hilarious.

[markmw]

But some of teh song choices were taken from SingStar Amped.

Those songs include:
(Don't Fear) The Reaper - BOC
Go with the Flow - QotSA
Creep - Radiohead
Vasoline - STP

[jq71586]

They weren't taken from anything. Those songs were created by the artist/band. They can be distributed to whomever they see fit, for the right price. Just because a song is on one game doesn't mean it can never be used on another game.

[markmw]

just wanted 2 point dat out

[Xzyliac]

Years before SingStar Harmonix made Karoke Revolution. So SingStar kind of used the ol' HMX elements.

Also I highly doubt SingStar played into the setlist decision.

[markmw]

SingStar Amped & Rocks! had good setlists.

[CableCarrier]

You're right, they ripped off Guitar Hero.

But here is something funny. Harmonix is making this game and they made Guitar Hero 1,2, and 80's. So they ripped off their own creation? Thats hilarious.

Not only that, but they developed the Karaoke Revolution games, which pre-dates SingStar by a while. Let's not forget Amplitude and Frequency, which could be seen as sort of a precursor to the Guitar Hero games.

[jq71586]

Not only that, but they developed the Karaoke Revolution games, which pre-dates SingStar by a while. Let's not forget Amplitude and Frequency, which could be seen as sort of a precursor to the Guitar Hero games.

Very true, but I didn't want to get into the argument that much. I think I posted that at 9 am. I had just woken up :D

[G_tarRoCK3R]

I'm thinking its an evolution, considering it is based off of GH

[JackBNimble]

That pertially rips off Guitar Hero & SingStar Amped...

So how is HMX ripping off GH? Did they not create it?And adding vocals and drums isn't ripping anyone else off either because they through it all together to make band.If it was just vocals or drums or what ever ,then maybe you could call it a rip off.When GH does the full band thing with Band Hero will that be a rip off of RB?Hmmm

[Tendoza]

Evolution, this is about as far as a rythym games can go...

The only thing I can think of that could possibly make Rock Band evolve further is by adding new instruments and touching up on the already concrete gameplay.