Game Review: Rock BandGame Review: Rock Band

David LawrenchukDavid Lawrenchuk

CIS 487CIS 487

September 22, 2008September 22, 2008

Basic InformationBasic Information

Game Title:Game Title: Rock BandRock BandDevelopers:Developers: Harmonix Music Systems and Q Harmonix Music Systems and Q EntertainmentEntertainmentPublisher:Publisher: MTV GamesMTV GamesDistributor:Distributor: EA DistributionEA DistributionType of game:Type of game: Music; RhythmMusic; RhythmPrice:Price: $60 (game only); $170 (special $60 (game only); $170 (special edition)edition)Minimum requirements:Minimum requirements: Xbox 360Xbox 360

Playstation 3Playstation 3Playstation 2 (version is limited)Playstation 2 (version is limited)Nintendo Wii (version is limited)Nintendo Wii (version is limited)Guitar, drum, and microphone Guitar, drum, and microphone

peripheralsperipheralsActual requirements:Actual requirements: Same as aboveSame as above

OverviewOverview

Playing Rock Band is supposed to simulate Playing Rock Band is supposed to simulate being in an actual band.being in an actual band.

You “perform” songs recorded by actual You “perform” songs recorded by actual popular artists.popular artists.

Players can play lead guitar, bass guitar, Players can play lead guitar, bass guitar, drums, or sing with included peripherals.drums, or sing with included peripherals.

It’s possible to play by yourself, or play It’s possible to play by yourself, or play together as a band, with one person on together as a band, with one person on each instrument (up to four people total).each instrument (up to four people total).

PeripheralsPeripherals

Lead guitar/Lead guitar/ Drums Drums MicrophoneMicrophone

Bass guitarBass guitar

Game PlayGame Play

Only actual game play occurs when Only actual game play occurs when you’re playing a song.you’re playing a song.

During a song, notes scroll across the During a song, notes scroll across the screen that the players hit in time to.screen that the players hit in time to. For guitar and drums, these notes For guitar and drums, these notes

represent buttons on their peripheral.represent buttons on their peripheral. For the singer, he or she should match the For the singer, he or she should match the

pitch of the singing in the actual song.pitch of the singing in the actual song.

Sample ScreenshotSample Screenshot

From left to right: Bass, drums, and guitar, with singing along the top.From left to right: Bass, drums, and guitar, with singing along the top.

ScoringScoring

As the song progresses, Rock Band scores As the song progresses, Rock Band scores the players on how well they match the the players on how well they match the song.song.

Each correct note nets the player points.Each correct note nets the player points. At the end of the song, Rock Band shows At the end of the song, Rock Band shows

the percentage of correct notes struck and the percentage of correct notes struck and the longest consecutive note streak for the longest consecutive note streak for each player, and the total number of each player, and the total number of points the band received.points the band received.

Perform too badly and you will “fail” the Perform too badly and you will “fail” the song, and have to start over.song, and have to start over.

Game DemoGame Demo

Oasis – “Don’t Look Back in Anger” as Oasis – “Don’t Look Back in Anger” as performed by some people on YouTube:performed by some people on YouTube:

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v=_2zCa2GzI0w=_2zCa2GzI0w

ArtworkArtwork

Artwork is nice; but far from the focal Artwork is nice; but far from the focal point of the game.point of the game.

Game interface is very crisp, easy to Game interface is very crisp, easy to understand.understand.

A video runs in the background A video runs in the background during the song, but is often ignored during the song, but is often ignored due to the player’s attention being due to the player’s attention being on what they have to be playing.on what they have to be playing.

Music!Music!

Music is a very important aspect of Rock Band.Music is a very important aspect of Rock Band. Actual recording of song plays in background to Actual recording of song plays in background to

aide the players in terms of rhythm, etc.aide the players in terms of rhythm, etc. Rock Band has a very outstanding soundtrack, Rock Band has a very outstanding soundtrack,

both in terms of quality and quantity.both in terms of quality and quantity. As of this presentation, there are 360 different As of this presentation, there are 360 different

songs available between Rock Band, Rock Band songs available between Rock Band, Rock Band 2, and all downloadable songs through Xbox Live 2, and all downloadable songs through Xbox Live and Playstation’s equivalent.and Playstation’s equivalent.

Example SongsExample Songs

The All-American Rejects – “Dirty Little The All-American Rejects – “Dirty Little Secret”, “Move Along”Secret”, “Move Along”

Blue Öyster Cult – “Don’t Fear the Blue Öyster Cult – “Don’t Fear the Reaper”Reaper”

Bon Jovi – “Wanted Dead or Alive”, Bon Jovi – “Wanted Dead or Alive”, “Livin’ On a Prayer” (Rock Band 2)“Livin’ On a Prayer” (Rock Band 2)

Boston – “Foreplay/Long Time”, “More Boston – “Foreplay/Long Time”, “More than a Feeling”, “Peace of Mind”than a Feeling”, “Peace of Mind”

The Cars – The entire self-titled albumThe Cars – The entire self-titled album David Bowie – “Heroes”, “Moonage David Bowie – “Heroes”, “Moonage

Dream”Dream” Foo Fighters – “Everlong” (Rock Band 2)Foo Fighters – “Everlong” (Rock Band 2) Jet – “Are You Gonna be my Girl?”Jet – “Are You Gonna be my Girl?” Joan Jett – “Bad Reputation” (Rock Band Joan Jett – “Bad Reputation” (Rock Band

2)2) The Killers – “When You Were Young”The Killers – “When You Were Young” Modest Mouse – “Float On” (Rock Band Modest Mouse – “Float On” (Rock Band

2)2) Muse – “Hysteria”Muse – “Hysteria” The New Pornographers – “Electric The New Pornographers – “Electric

Version”Version” Nirvana – “In Bloom”Nirvana – “In Bloom”

Oasis – “Wonderwall”, “Don’t Look Back Oasis – “Wonderwall”, “Don’t Look Back in Anger”, “Live Forever”, “Rock ‘n’ Roll in Anger”, “Live Forever”, “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star”Star”

OK Go – “Here It Goes Again”OK Go – “Here It Goes Again” Pixies – The entire “Doolittle” albumPixies – The entire “Doolittle” album Radiohead – “Creep”, “My Iron Lung”Radiohead – “Creep”, “My Iron Lung” The Ramones – “Blitzkrieg Pop”The Ramones – “Blitzkrieg Pop” The Rolling Stones – “Gimme Shelter”The Rolling Stones – “Gimme Shelter” Silversun Pickups – “Lazy Eye” (Rock Silversun Pickups – “Lazy Eye” (Rock

Band 2)Band 2) Sonic Youth – “Teen Age Riot” (Rock Sonic Youth – “Teen Age Riot” (Rock

Band 2)Band 2) Smashing Pumpkins – “Cherub Rock”, Smashing Pumpkins – “Cherub Rock”,

“Zero”“Zero” The Strokes – “Reptilia”The Strokes – “Reptilia” Weezer – “Buddy Holly”, “El Scorcho”, Weezer – “Buddy Holly”, “El Scorcho”,

“Say it Ain’t So”“Say it Ain’t So” The Who – “Baby O’Riley”, “My The Who – “Baby O’Riley”, “My

Generation”Generation” Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Maps”, “Date with Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Maps”, “Date with

the Night”the Night”

Special FeaturesSpecial Features

The ability to download new songs The ability to download new songs (released weekly) through Xbox Live.(released weekly) through Xbox Live. New songs cost $1.99, $0.99, or free, New songs cost $1.99, $0.99, or free,

depending on the song.depending on the song. Only available on the Xbox 360 and Only available on the Xbox 360 and

Playstation 3.Playstation 3. Ability to play online with people Ability to play online with people

within the Xbox Live community.within the Xbox Live community.

What is fun about it?What is fun about it?

Allows people to pretend they’re in a real Allows people to pretend they’re in a real rock band.rock band.

Allows you to play songs you like. Allows you to play songs you like. Multiplayer (social aspect).Multiplayer (social aspect). Wide (and excellent) selection of songs Wide (and excellent) selection of songs

adds to replay value.adds to replay value. New songs added weekly.New songs added weekly.

Four different instruments to play, in case Four different instruments to play, in case you get tired of one.you get tired of one.

Rock Band vs Guitar HeroRock Band vs Guitar Hero

Rock BandRock Band Song selection has less Song selection has less

emphasis on guitar, due to emphasis on guitar, due to there being three other there being three other instruments as well.instruments as well.

Quantity of playable songs is Quantity of playable songs is enormous. (360 songs)enormous. (360 songs)

Quality of songs is better Quality of songs is better (although this is an opinion).(although this is an opinion).

Allows for up to four people to Allows for up to four people to play simultaneously.play simultaneously.

New songs can be downloaded New songs can be downloaded through Xbox Live.through Xbox Live.

Guitar HeroGuitar Hero All songs are “Guitar heavy”, with All songs are “Guitar heavy”, with

many difficult guitar solos, etc.many difficult guitar solos, etc. Quantity of playable songs is not Quantity of playable songs is not

quite as enormous. (73 songs in quite as enormous. (73 songs in GH 3)GH 3)

Multiplayer capabilities is limited Multiplayer capabilities is limited to two guitars dueling against one to two guitars dueling against one another.another.

No new songs can be added to No new songs can be added to the game; all the songs you get the game; all the songs you get when you purchase the game is when you purchase the game is what you get.what you get.

SummarySummary

Rock Band is a high quality video Rock Band is a high quality video game.game.

Quite fun, especially with multiple Quite fun, especially with multiple people playing simultaneously.people playing simultaneously.

Well worth purchasing if you have a Well worth purchasing if you have a console that supports downloadable console that supports downloadable content.content.

Could be improved by making it more Could be improved by making it more realistic; especially with the drums.realistic; especially with the drums.