Does Harmonix have any plans to open the RBN to other consoles?

[Gundam-Fighter]

Just feel like putting this in.

Many devs HAVE said it's harder to make stuff on the PS3 but I believe that that's just been said because it's the newest console and it's system isn't like a port of something else (I'm pretty sure 360's OS was built from a more basic build of Windows) which just makes it harder as it's new nand will obviously take time to get used to.

Also as another note on PS HOME there's a bit in the event square or whatever it's called that has an interview with the creators of Fat Princess and one of them says that the things you can do with even PSN games is amazing or something like that. I don't think that it's an amazing reach to have the PSN equivalent of XNA I just don't think that until interest is more heightened that Sony just won't bother BUT it's nothing to say that Harmonix couldn't make something just for Rock Band.

[JohnnyLobes]

I would like some clarification if Microsoft "WON'T" let this work on other systems or HMX "CAN'T" get this to work on other systems. Seeing how HMX is all about vrining music to the players. We should know so we know where to spend our dollars to make our voice heard.

[dragonflyr]

I would like some clarification if Microsoft "WON'T" let this work on other systems or HMX "CAN'T" get this to work on other systems. Seeing how HMX is all about vrining music to the players. We should know so we know where to spend our dollars to make our voice heard.

it has nothing to do with "microsoft not letting this work" on other systems. (microsoft has no control over other systems.)

microsoft has the backend system in place to do this kind of thing. sony does not. it is ultimately up to sony to get something like this going.
as soon as sony (or nintendo) could get their network house in order, i'm sure hmx would be on it asap.

[iruhlman]

short answer:maybe

probably the real answer (at least for this version of RBN)

this is only going to work on Xbox and it's XNA service mainly because its been in place for years already. I highly doubt Sony and Nintendo would create something to make this happen, especially when HMX are going to bring some of the tracks over to them anyways. I'm sure they're just fine with that.

I take back my original post though, Sony should scrap Home and work on this ASAP! =)

[SFenton]

Dear RB Community,
I can't imagine that any of you haven't given thought to the Wii version of the game. As full-featured as it is, and how much each and every one of us love it, I imagine it being a near-impossible feat to accomplish technologically.

Why? It's a bit of an odd problem that stems from issues arising from the development of the homebrew community.

To get "our own" content into the game, options must be considered by both HMX, Nintendo, and other related third parties, options that would be less harmful to the console and more beneficial to the user, so long, so forth.

Being originally involved in a homebrew program that allows you to put your own songs in the game (as there's not a specific area to discuss it, those who know what it is know what it is, those who don't, please don't ask), I feel that I know enough about the situation to safely discuss it.

The first option would be to reopen a fakesignable IOS (for the newbies: firmware, sort of) in order for HMX to release, say, a channel that would search for specifically created .bin files within files on the SD Card (those who use CaitSith2's DLC Manager on the PC side know what I'm talking about), and "sign" said DLC so that it's
A) Tied to the console
B) Recognizable by the game.

But how would one create the DLC? Magma and the audio editor, of course. Once completed, let's say HMX releases a Wii-specific PC tool that exports to .bin and a new file within the DLC folders of the SD Card.

Here's where things get kind of tricky though. By reopening that fakesignable IOS, we have the ability to put our music in and "test" it. Of course, Wii will never be allowed to have an Audition mode (save for Rock Band 3 and beyond), but it would work. Two problems arise though:

1) Without patching the savegame (like the homebrew does), the music would have to go into an existing DLC folder. That's all fine and dandy until you want to buy a DLC song that uses the same number as the music you created. So you could either:
A) Overwrite your hard work, or
B) Not download the DLC you want.

2) By patching the savegame, we effectively reduce Nintendo's ability to stop piracy by reopening that IOS that Nintendo has painstakingly (not really) removed from newer Wiis. That means that everything they've attempted to do to stop homebrewers (more likely pirates, in general) is negated, only for a cause that very few people (on Wii at least) will find useful.

What's my ideal solution? Have a WiiWare Rock Band Audition mode, and nothing more, that reads unsigned files created by a HMX-developed tool. No modifications of IOS, no savegame patchers. And if you like it, well, click a little submit button that lets you upload the file to either an NUS Server (doubt it, highly), or an HMX server (more likely). Wait for approval.

One more small problem is monetary issues- I don't know how it works on Wii.

As a Wii owner who loves to chart and drums in real life, I realize firmly that there is no solution in near sight that safely guards the Wii while allowing us to play our legally-created "custom songs". However, by opening my mind, offering my suggestions, and giving out a little knowledge to the community, I hope that one day, Wii owners like myself will be able to play our own, created music in a beta state and upload them to the Network for the world to see.