Rock Band in 2013 and beyond

[NightmareLyre]

I've read that the new Playstation won't use a cell processor, and thus won't have backwards compatability.

Would that mean no backwards compatibility for games only or also DLC and instruments though?

[Mackie]

Ill admit it. There's a little part of me hoping that harmonix is secretly working on an "all or nothing" Rb4 title. With the genre being next to dead, it would give them plenty of time to theorize, test, experiment on radical new ideas that might save the genre; you know not announcing anything untill they are sure that what they have is a winner.

[LoopyChew]

Would that mean no backwards compatibility for games only or also DLC and instruments though?

Just games, unless emulated. In theory, if the new PS3 can read the old file system, it should be able to read the old DLC files; this is why old SingStar PS2 discs can be read in SingStar PS3.

[A_Drunken_Smurf]

Whatever is done in 2013, be it RB4, or DLC 'til the cows come home, I'd love to see crowd singalongs come back.

Nothing immersed me more in a song than playing well, and having the crowd start singing the chorus while I'm rockin' out. It is the one thing I missed the most in my transition from RB2 to RB3 (well, that and the Stage Kit, but that was addressed)

[mdogg094]

My theory is that the only way that Rock Band can resurge is if they make it where you can play the whole thing with all real instruments (any guitar/bass/keyboard/electronic drums set, RS style cables). This would remove the danger of broken hardware.

They also could add a recording feature to use these instruments on. I feel that if they combined "game" with "learning/recording tool" then they have a shot at netting an audience that might otherwise not be interested.

(of course they would also maintain plastic instrument functionality for those who don't have real instruments)

[Mackie]

I've gone on the record saying that they only way rb can be resurrected is to move to all real instruments (for peripheral freedom as others mentioned). But I've also went on to add that they should get rid of 5-button legacy mode and develop a new casual mode of play utilizing real instruments so people who aren't interested in learning will still have fun. Needless to say I was burned at the stake for the suggestion. Maybe it's not such a bad idea for the next generation of consoles, especially considering the possibility of DLC not being able to transfer over anyways.

[RuseBalaxin]

There's nothing "wrong" with this generation of consoles, but once they make new ones, there will be even fewer users of the current ones. Not zero (the PS2 is STILL getting new games, aren't they? or were until very recently?), but fewer, and we (probably) can't afford to lose even more regular users without losing the whole franchise. IF the DLC transfers over to the new consoles, and IF there's some game (any game!) that will allow you to use it, then Rock Band might just live on.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for Rock Band living on and creating newer, better experiences to fulfill those rock star fantasies inside me. I just feel that video game consoles are, in themselves becoming a leaky boat, a sinking ship. This generation of gaming has endured an astounding 7 years opposed to the mandatory 5 that our technology dictates to the market. I would be very interested in knowing what exactly are the limitations of today's consoles that necessitates newer hardware.

Backwards compatibility, as you mentioned is the other major issue I have.
What becomes of the $1,000+ dollars I have poured into this franchise?
For others it's even more. When and where do we, as gamers draw the line?
Every version of the PS3 after its initial launch saw Sony strip away things
like usb ports, specific hardware features and even PS1 compatibility.

With Microsoft, its mandatory to have your system online 100% of the time,
except media such as music and video can be deleted off your system or locked out entirely at a moments notice and God help you if you purchase a MS Point card that wasn't scanned properly at the register. Seriously, I've owned both systems.

Bearing all this in mind, will having a new console with new hardware, and new instruments convince paramount artists like Led Zeppelin to bring their music
to the Rock Band franchise for anything less than a seven-figure paycheck?
That's what I would like to know. If the next generation of gaming supports
the current instruments and DLC, I might just be inclined to soldier on. We'll see.

[SirDavidTLynch]

With Microsoft, its mandatory to have your system online 100% of the time...

Except last month when I had no internet for a full week and was still able to use the Xbox just fine.

[LoopyChew]

I've gone on the record saying that they only way rb can be resurrected is to move to all real instruments (for peripheral freedom as others mentioned). But I've also went on to add that they should get rid of 5-button legacy mode and develop a new casual mode of play utilizing real instruments so people who aren't interested in learning will still have fun. Needless to say I was burned at the stake for the suggestion. Maybe it's not such a bad idea for the next generation of consoles, especially considering the possibility of DLC not being able to transfer over anyways.

Without Rock Band's instruments or library, why would it be called Rock Band aside from cashing in?

At that point, Harmonix would be better off coming up with a new franchise which people will hail as "the spiritual successor to Rock Band."

[Mackie]

Without Rock Band's instruments or library, why would it be called Rock Band aside from cashing in?

I wouldn't be opposed to a new game name, new everything to be exact.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, with these new console on the horizon, they have an opportunity to something completely different. They're already out of the instrument making game. Current DLC may not transfer over. So that means they got the freedom to do whatever they want on the new console. If there were any time to start absolutely fresh, this would be it.

Stuff like completely new gameplay mechanics, new game modes, no more toy instruments, new whatever.

The current consoles already got a ton of content available to them. If people really don't like the new direction, they could just hold on to their current console and play rb3. It's not like if a new format comes along , all their libraries and hardware stop working.