Rock Band on Nintendo's Wii

[MisterBones]

There is no console better suited for Rock Band than the Nintendo Wii. I know it sounds crazy but stay with me for a second.

Harmonix Goals:
- Make the feeling musicians get when playing together accessible to the public.
- Create a game that is intuitive to play and thus can reach the masses.

Nintendo's goal with the Wii:
- Bring gaming to the masses (as with DS/NES)
- Develop an intuitive control system that is intuitive to use and thus can reach the masses (a la NES D-Pad)

The two companies are very similarly in line when it comes to goals. Plus the Nintendo Wii has been outselling both competitors. It would be crazy not to develop Rock Band for the Wii - the game itself doesn't require so much horsepower, but rather it requires space. By not developing Rock Band for the Wii Harmonix is:

- Undercutting it's own goals to make things accessible to the masses as Wii will soon be the most common household console - and the target audience for the system is the same audience Guitar Hero was targeted to.

- Undercutting profits - the Wii is not only an extremely hot selling item (more hardware opens the door to more hardware sales) but the Wii is far less expensive to develop for (higher margins).

- Missing it's target audience. Those that bought Guitar Hero off the bat weren't the same people duking it out in Halo 2 22 hours a day (though some were, myself included) most "hardcore" gamers (to whom the xbox 360 and ps3 are geared) referred to Guitar Hero as "DDR with instruments." The key to GH success was mass appeal and accessibility.

- Frustrating me - I bought the first Guitar Hero about 7 days after the debut and had the 2nd pre-ordered the first day that I could place one at RedOctane.com. I kept my PS2 specifically for the 80's Guitar Hero game. I guess I'll break down and buy a 360 since I don't have $600 for the decent PS3 - but that's a whole lot to ask of your audience is to drop $150 in addition to the cost of a 360 or PS3 ($550 for the RB game plus the cost of the cheapest decent 360, $750 for the PS3 and the system Best Buy Carries, $400 for RB and the Wii). PLUS your profit margins are far smaller on the 360 and PS3. (lets give a conservative estimate for a bundle of guitar hero instruments say $100 and a conservative number for the game lets say $50). In addition the already wireless (with a port in the bottom) controllers for Wii could be utilized to make a cheaper instrument package.

I love Harmonix and I've loved them since Amplitude - please put Rock Band on the Wii.

From,
Harmonix loving Wii owner.

[SoraRikuVGM]

Finally someone understands. I just hope HMX takes it online and makes downloadable content available on the Wii. I also want no gimmicks, and the regular instruments. Please don't do some crappy gimmick.

~PLEASE

[Magnet]

- Undercutting it's own goals to make things accessible to the masses as Wii will soon be the most common household console - and the target audience for the system is the same audience Guitar Hero was targeted to.

The same can be said for practically any game. Obviously you'll lose out on potential sales if you don't make it available for all current-gen consoles. Even if the Wii costs less to develop for, there's still a lot of extra work that would need to be done on the game to put it on another platform. They should wait out to see how well the game sells this winter and see if a port to the Wii is worth the effort. I imagine it will be.


- Missing it's target audience. Those that bought Guitar Hero off the bat weren't the same people duking it out in Halo 2 22 hours a day (though some were, myself included) most "hardcore" gamers (to whom the xbox 360 and ps3 are geared) referred to Guitar Hero as "DDR with instruments." The key to GH success was mass appeal and accessibility.

The members of the audience Guitar Hero was targeted to were PS2, and later 360, owners. Have you seen the sales for the games? They aren't missing the audience at all. You make it seem as though only the Wii is for everyone while both the PS3 and 360 are only for hardcore gamers. The 360 and PS3 also have a wide array of games geared for everyone. I do think the game would do very well on the Wii, but don't count Sony and Microsoft out of appealing to everyone just because Nintendo is marketing that idea the best.

And the hardcore gamers weren't calling GH "DDR with instruments," you must be thinking of uninformed critics with no idea of how the games are created.


I love Harmonix and I've loved them since Amplitude - please put Rock Band on the Wii.

That's just treason if you're not loving them since FreQuency.

[Maposaurus]

Frequency was pretty decent, but Amplitude won it with online play.

Why hasn't there been online play in GH since GH360?

[Magnet]

FreQuency technically had online play. It came with the online adapter when that came out for the PS2.

[newwaytodie]

I like the idea of Rock Band on Wii, whether that can or will happen I don't know. The Wii has technical limitations compared to PS3 and Xbox360, so any iteration of RB would have to be some kind of down-scaled port. Considering the core gameplay elements, graphics have never really been that important. They definately add to the experience, but that's not what hooks you. I'd actually like to see a unique to Wii game from Harmonix.

[SoraRikuVGM]

I like the idea of Rock Band on Wii, whether that can or will happen I don't know. The Wii has technical limitations compared to PS3 and Xbox360, so any iteration of RB would have to be some kind of down-scaled port. Considering the core gameplay elements, graphics have never really been that important. They definately add to the experience, but that's not what hooks you. I'd actually like to see a unique to Wii game from Harmonix.

Shaddup you. The only Next Gen console I have and can go online with is Wii. I WANT RB ON WII.

[1crazyboy7]

yes, all i have is a wii, ps3, and xbox 360 are too much money for me, and the wii is a great system anyway. i dont want to be left out of the rock band phase just because i dont have a ps3 or 360. guitar hero 3 isnt making me do that, its coming out for ds even!!!(or wikipedia says. and 2008 instead of 2007 for the ds one)so please harmonix, pleaaaase make it come out for wii. and if u do plz include online for it, guitar hero 3 is, yes i know im using guitar hero 3 as an example alot)if u make it for wii you will prob. get a lot more ppl to buy it. i think everyone that wants it should post here, and if theres enough posts, maybe theyll end up making it for it.

[zankfrappa]

i dont think wii owners would be too bothered if the graphics suffered much, they bought a Wii after all, if they were concerned about graphics in the first place they would have got a ps3 of Xbox 360 in the first place, but whether it can cope with all four instruments could be an issue i suppose.

[deathstick]

i dont think wii owners would be too bothered if the graphics suffered much, they bought a Wii after all, if they were concerned about graphics in the first place they would have got a ps3 of Xbox 360 in the first place, but whether it can cope with all four instruments could be an issue i suppose.


That's why I have a 360, cause as much fun as the Wii is, it's definitely can't keep up with the 360 graphically.

[1crazyboy7]

i dont think wii owners would be too bothered if the graphics suffered much, they bought a Wii after all, if they were concerned about graphics in the first place they would have got a ps3 of Xbox 360 in the first place, but whether it can cope with all four instruments could be an issue i suppose.

why wouldnt it be acble to??? it does allow 4 players...

[TheRocker]

He meant can the Wii handle 4 instruments running on the console at the same time.

[SoraRikuVGM]

It could easily handle it.

All of you, stop hating on me. This is my only chance at happiness in RB form.

[WildWalker]

I have nothing against the Wii, but I wonder if it can cope with RB?

As the Wii is not HD it doesnt have to cope with a lot of video data, but look at the Wii specs.

IBM Broadway Processor
729MHz Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) ATI Hollywood 243MHz
Supported ResolutionUp to 480p
System Memory88MB

System memory 88Mb? Sounds tight?

The Xbox 360 has 3x3.2Ggz cores running two threads each, thats blinding in comparison. It also has around 512Mb RAM from what I can remember.

Maybe the RB developers could shed some light on whether they think its possible?

WW

[Maherj]

I own both a 360 and Wii. At first I figured the Wii would be a great console for Rock Band, but after seeing the potential that GH2 for the 360 has, I just can't imagine it on the Wii. The Wii is great, but the 360 just trumps it in so many other ways (Graphically, HDD, etc).

[1crazyboy7]

He meant can the Wii handle 4 instruments running on the console at the same time.

it could handle it... its just a diff type of controllers... why wouldnt it be able to?

[1crazyboy7]

I own both a 360 and Wii. At first I figured the Wii would be a great console for Rock Band, but after seeing the potential that GH2 for the 360 has, I just can't imagine it on the Wii. The Wii is great, but the 360 just trumps it in so many other ways (Graphically, HDD, etc).

ok, so the 360 version may be graphically better, still why cant they make it for the wii to make wii owners happy, they would be losing customers not making it for wii, and once again activision knows that, there making guitar hero 3 for wii and i bet its gonna be great.

[Maherj]

ok, so the 360 version may be graphically better, still why cant they make it for the wii to make wii owners happy, they would be losing customers not making it for wii, and once again activision knows that, there making guitar hero 3 for wii and i bet its gonna be great.

Not saying that it can't be done, I actually think it could be done properly on the Wii. The lack of online play and the small hard drive, however, is quite curious to me as a Wii owner. I would have liked to see more games being released for online play, but it appears that the 360 is going to dominate the online gaming market.

I was a Wii owner before I was a 360 owner. After GH2 was annouced for the 360 and it wasn't anywhere on the horizon for Wii, I went out and got a 360 and Guitar Hero. Now that I've gone this road, I just can't see myself getting this title for the Wii.

I hope they do come out with a Wii specific version, but I think it will be a bit more limited then what the 360/PS3 can handle.

[WildWalker]

I guess we will have to just wait and see.

I'm guessing that 360 and PS3 versions will be first, as they account for the biggest slice of the market.

WW

[XdeathsbloodX]

if RB comes out on Wii it most likely wont have online play or downloadable content mostly due to Nintendo's complete lack of an online strategy and small amount of internal system memory. The Wii only has 512MB of memory built it (compared to 360s 20GB/120GBs or PS3s 20/60/any size HDD you want). So if it does come out for the Wii it will most likely be a very cut down port.

[ThePaska]

I couldn't agree with you more, the Wii is the perfect place for Rockband, and I have little doubt in my mind that we'll be seeing it eventually, but I wish it would come out this year!

The thing about Rockband and Guitar Hero is they really don't need to be that good graphically. And as a Wii owner I'm a little dissappointed that its only making its way out this holiday season on 360 and PS3...I might just have to buy an Xbox simply for Rockband, I know I bought a PS2 simply for Guitar Hero.

[SoraRikuVGM]

I couldn't agree with you more, the Wii is the perfect place for Rockband, and I have little doubt in my mind that we'll be seeing it eventually, but I wish it would come out this year!

The thing about Rockband and Guitar Hero is they really don't need to be that good graphically. And as a Wii owner I'm a little dissappointed that its only making its way out this holiday season on 360 and PS3...I might just have to buy an Xbox simply for Rockband, I know I bought a PS2 simply for Guitar Hero.

I have the feeling I have to ask for a 360 this year too. T_T

[TheRocker]

Also Wii not Having a HardDrive might be a problem for RB Content , in the IGN Pre-E3 Preview they announced 100 songs for download in the first year.

[WildWalker]

[QUOTE=MisterBones;7161]There is no console better suited for Rock Band than the Nintendo Wii. I know it sounds crazy but stay with me for a second.
[QUOTE]


I was just thinking about this rather bold statement. And then I thought, if there really is no better suited console for Rock Band than the Wii, why are HMX making it for the Xbox 360 and PS3 first?

Then I realised, there are two better consoles than the Wii, the Xbox 360 and PS3. Which is why the Wii version is last. Muahahahahahaaaaaaaa


WW

[Ghaleon]

I'd imagine a Wii port is, and has always been, strongly considered. It is my opinion that the lack of any sort of planning on Nintendo's part for network connectivity is the biggest thing keeping a Rock Band release from hitting the system at this point. Rock Band is being postured to be Myspace meets iTunes meets the consistantly high quality of Harmonix games by MTV and EA.

There's an inherent delay in the porting work for the technical side as well, but I'd imagine that once Nintendo gets their acts together and it doesn't take a 45 digit encryption key to identify lil Timmy across the street to join an online game, you'll start hearing talk of a Wii version of Rock Band.

[WildWalker]

I have not seen a Wii online, from what you said it sounds cumbersome (at the moment)

The reason I went Xbox/Live was that I bought the PS2 netowork adapter when it came out, man it was a mess to set up, it wasn't hard, just time consuming. Unlike XBL you had to go through the same **** with every game.

Live however, I set it up once, I was lucky to get live when it was a beta, about 4 or 5 months before launch, and although you had to pay, they didnt start your 12 months until live launched officially, which was nice. So I have had XBL for around 4 years now and it really is ace, mainly due to its simplicity.

My only dislike with XBL is the lack of perpetual servers, like you get with PC gaming (where no one is the host, there really is a server there)

WW

[ThePaska]

I'd imagine a Wii port is, and has always been, strongly considered. It is my opinion that the lack of any sort of planning on Nintendo's part for network connectivity is the biggest thing keeping a Rock Band release from hitting the system at this point. Rock Band is being postured to be Myspace meets iTunes meets the consistantly high quality of Harmonix games by MTV and EA.

There's an inherent delay in the porting work for the technical side as well, but I'd imagine that once Nintendo gets their acts together and it doesn't take a 45 digit encryption key to identify lil Timmy across the street to join an online game, you'll start hearing talk of a Wii version of Rock Band.


The thing about that is third party games are not bound by Nintendo's "friend codes" so that wouldn't be a problem, they can do whatever they want as far as online goes, from what I remember.

[XdeathsbloodX]

I can name 1 3rd party DS game that has online play, Castlevania Portrait of Ruin, and it does have friend codes, and add in the fact that Nintendo isnt sending 3rd party devlopers any kind of instructions on how to set up online for their consoles anyway. SNK has wanted to release some games for the Wii this year (both Wii games and Virtual Console games) with online play but Nintendo has told them that they cant do it untill 2008 at the earliest.

[ThePaska]

I can name 1 3rd party DS game that has online play, Castlevania Portrait of Ruin, and it does have friend codes, and add in the fact that Nintendo isnt sending 3rd party devlopers any kind of instructions on how to set up online for their consoles anyway. SNK has wanted to release some games for the Wii this year (both Wii games and Virtual Console games) with online play but Nintendo has told them that they cant do it untill 2008 at the earliest.

I know exactly what you mean about the DS, no one was ever happy with its online/Friend Codes. The Wii is slightly different however. It is early in it's online life, but I don't think it is going to be nearly as bad or troublesome as the DS.

Nintendo has sent out dev kits a while ago actually. I know what you say was the case early on this year, up until recently actually, but dev kits have been out for a while, and there some 3rd party games that will be coming out with online play. Madden 08 for one, which I believe comes out at the end of this year, as well as Guitar Hero III, so I don't see why Rockband is any different.

[WildWalker]

Online play is so important nowadays that I thought Nintendo would have had that buttoned up prior to the Wii release.

I don't think I will buy a Wii now, not after buying a HD screen, I guess a Wii2 will be out Eventually (lol, would that be a Wii11?)

WW

[spastro]

I know it's all been said before. But here is my rant.

OK all.

Just wondering what the deal is with the this game and not providing a Wii version.

From what i can see from screen shots and videos the in game graphics are nothing to astounding (not that there needed for this type of game) and im assuming from what i have seen on the wii that it could easily handle it.

What i would like to know is what is the deciding factor behind Rockband not being made for the wii.

It contains all the necessary features , wireless controller inputs, bluetooth, compatible with a microphone/headset (as seen with boogie), DVD support, and hopefully the graphical power.

With the strength and momentum that the wii is moving at; at the moment it only seems like a logical choice. Not only will you target hardcore beat genre fans such as myself, the party goes, hardcore game fans in general as well as the regular players that the wii has been attracting

[spastro]

[QUOTE=XdeathsbloodX;7872]if RB comes out on Wii it most likely wont have online play or downloadable content mostly due to Nintendo's complete lack of an online strategy and small amount of internal system memory. The Wii only has 512MB of memory built it (compared to 360s 20GB/120GBs or PS3s 20/60/any size HDD you want). So if it does come out for the Wii it will most likely be a very cut down port.

if guitar hero 3 can do it for the wii like they have already stated then so can RB

[admanimal]

In an April interview the Harmonix CEO already all but confirmed that a Wii version would eventually appear, as well as some kind of version on all the other major platforms (DS, PSP, etc.). I wouldn't loose sleep over whether a Wii version is going to happen.

http://wii.ign.com/articles/777/777553p1.html