Free Form Jam - sounds challenging to implement

[Apples]

Anyone else extremely curious how the "free form jam session" is going to work during a performance? I've seen the recent video floating around, but couldn't really make heads or tails out of what was going on,.

How will the game "musically" interpret what is going on and produce a sound which is appealing? A good amount of folks play this game because they have no musical talent, so it seems challenging to take random free-play notes and translate them into something which qualifies as music.

How is the game going to score it? Since it's free form, is there going to be a higher scoring element for doing technically-difficult patterns (trills or triplets for example)? Is the scoring based on number of notes played? If so, what is to prevent someone from just mashing random frets while strumming at breakneck speeds?

What does the singer do while all of this is going on?


I don't doubt the development ability to bring a feature to bear like this, I am just curious about it. IMHO there are some very large questions that would have to be answered to make it an effective addition to the game. What does everyone else think about this feature?

[SkeletorNinjaBear]

Yeah, I'm pretty lost at how they're going to make it a worthwhile addition to the game, but I'm sure they know what they're doing and are probably aware of the concern that gamers are going to have over this. You said something about a video? I've been lookin' all over for videos on rockband. Would you mind postin' a link or something?

[oberlin]

I would be really interested to see the video you're talking about. You're right though- it DOES sound like it would be a big challenge, cuz you're gonna have people just flailing on the frets and drums, hoping it accomplishes something (kind of like me playing Jordan -_-).

[WildWalker]

what the hell. 10 seconds of just sensless button mashing, drum bashing or screaming down a mic at the end of a song you just creamed, who cares if it sounds good, as long as its fun :)

[Hade01]

what the hell. 10 seconds of just sensless button mashing, drum bashing or screaming down a mic at the end of a song you just creamed, who cares if it sounds good, as long as its fun :)

No doubt about that. I can just see my bud going crazy on the drums :rolleyes:. What tickles my fancy, though, is that you can actually rev up the crowd (from what I read). Now, how would THAT work?

[KeigeMoores]

They probably pick five pitches that sound good with the song, or every song uses the same pitches. And unfortunatly, it looks like you just flail away (this works much better on drums than guitar).

[WildWalker]

They probably pick five pitches that sound good with the song, or every song uses the same pitches. And unfortunatly, it looks like you just flail away (this works much better on drums than guitar).

Unfortunately??? LOL

WW

[Frostbitten_Norseman]

Flailing for true metal, no doubt.

[Apples]

A couple folks asked for video links.

Based on an earlier HMX post, the video is several months old. I got the impression that they did not want it highly distributed because it might give a false impression of how everything looks and works. Even the song used in the video is not 100% confirmed in the game yet. Therefore, I will respect their wishes and not post directly.

Based on the recent IGN article (http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/801/801493p1.html) it looks like the visuals have been improved dramatically compared to the video, among other differences.


I would suggest that those wanting to see it anyway can do so by solving the following math problem:

"you tube" + "rock band" + "welcome to the jungle" = your video

[Blue88]

My question is what will happen when I press down all 5 fret buttons at once and play a note. Better yet, I do that, then use my other hand to press down the 5 buttons on the nottom of the neck while someone else strums.

[the_spike]

All the Welcome to the Jungle videos are removed from youtube.

[1crazyboy7]

actually theres 1 thats not, wont say w\hich one though...

[ThePaska]

I agree it seems hard for those ending jams to sound good, from the old video it looks like they just mash buttons and strum fast and it just multiplies the score. I think it will be a lot harder for the guitar/bass than the drums, but I think like it has been said most likely they just have 5 notes asigned and you just kinda strum them together, I don't think it has much to do with sounding good as far as points go, because I don't know how the computer would be able to distinguish what sounds good and what doesn't.

Another option is that it has it for the most part recorded and it is just activated by button mashing and such, although I feel like it is the first way, because the point of it is to be different everytime.

Also you should be able to find the two videos that are currently out somewhere. Even though they are off youtube, they have to be floating around the internet somwhere, you just have to know where to look.

[travmeatwad]

Are we not allowed to post the videos anymore? Because I know where you can see them both..

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/79621.html for the first one

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/80339.html for the 2nd one

[ThePaska]

Are we not allowed to post the videos anymore? Because I know where you can see them both..

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/79621.html for the first one

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/80339.html for the 2nd one

Its not that we aren't allowed to post them, it's just I think we all understand that they are being taken down for a reason, and clearly the videos aren't meant to be shown yet, but I doubt you'll get in trouble for posting them.

[copasetic]

Its not that we aren't allowed to post them, it's just I think we all understand that they are being taken down for a reason, and clearly the videos aren't meant to be shown yet, but I doubt you'll get in trouble for posting them.
Makes it easier for them to find them and file a DMCA complaint =P

I think the simplest way to go about freeform is just to let people do what they want, it'd be a big challenge to have the game recognize what's musical and what isn't and give points accordingly. If you want to mash buttons, go for it, if you want to try and work some of your own music into the song do that instead. *shrug*

[noumenon]

Perhaps they'll just make each 'fret' correspond to a note in the same key or scale so that you're dynamically generating your own music; however, the likelihood of it sounding really bad is significantly reduced. I mean that's all bands do when they have a big 'free-form' spaz out at the end of the song, it's pre-planned and they all just stick to the same keys and scales so that nobody sounds 'out'.

Of course vocals and drums could just do whatever, go mental. Dunno how it would be scored though.

[sa_nick]

My question is what will happen when I press down all 5 fret buttons at once and play a note. Better yet, I do that, then use my other hand to press down the 5 buttons on the nottom of the neck while someone else strums.

I'd say the first 4 frets would be ignored and it'd just play the other note. With a crazy ending solo it would be more likely to have individual notes than a bunch of chords. I think the end free form will just come down to crazy button mashing as fast as you can... which will be fun.... even if it sounds like crap, lol

[SoraRikuVGM]

I'd say the first 4 frets would be ignored and it'd just play the other note. With a crazy ending solo it would be more likely to have individual notes than a bunch of chords. I think the end free form will just come down to crazy button mashing as fast as you can... which will be fun.... even if it sounds like crap, lol

I can press all 5 frets on the PS2 guitar with one hand. It really isn't that hard.

[sa_nick]

or just mash the frets up against your face... both ways work...

[sushi111]

This feature has me super excited. I can imagine rocking the end of WGFA like crazy. I would explode my drums Keith Moon style!

[newwaytodie]

If the guitarist and bassist are watching each other its actually pretty easy to co-ordinate as long as the drummer is playing a somewhat consistent beat. I can match whoever I'm looking at with accompanying notes or chords. You have to know the other guys instrument though, but in a game with plastic colored buttons... no prob.

[Kyidro]

one way is alternating scales was my 1st thought...or u could randomly strum like in the vid