14 DAY TRIAL // Some retailers are saying that they are expecting Rock Band 2 to hit stores by November this year. Even more, reports are coming in regarding focus groups set up by Harmonix concerning the price and the features of the new installment of the game.
A rather curious mention regarding Rock Band 2 also popped up in an obituary for the late guitar player Bo Diddley, in which it was claimed that his trademark guitar shaped like a cigar box could be featured in the new game as an unlockable instrument.
It was about time Harmonix began thinking about the next step in its music simulation series. Since the game debuted in North America last November, it has attracted a huge following because of the fact that it allows a group of friends to play songs while simulating all the components in a band, including the voice section. The idea, which took the basic gameplay of Guitar Hero, also originally created by Harmonix, was a smash hit. The game recently launched in Europe, while a Japanese localized version of Rock Band is also coming to Japan in the near future.
Then again, Activision has recently announced that it is planning to release Guitar Hero: World Tour, originally titled Guitar Hero 4, a game that will also allow players to play all the instruments in a band. And, alongside this game that will probably be on par with Rock Band, Activision is also cornering some great bands with titles like Guitar Hero: Aerosmith and Guitar Hero: Metallica. There's also a Nintendo DS version of Guitar Hero on the way.
With the competition between Rock Band and Guitar Hero heating up, it's probably time for Harmonix to announce its next move. There's no official word from the developer or from MTV regarding Rock Band 2 but, if the rumors persist, we can expect an announcement real soon.