14 DAY TRIAL // You probably heard some rumors a few days ago stating that a new Rock Band is in the works. Yes, I'm talking about that online survey which asked you to choose which cover would better suit a new iteration of the game. Well... it seems that all the reports were accurate and, even more, we already know the winning cover. Anybody surprised by this new Rock Band title? Of course not - a new Guitar Hero is also coming.
What matters most now are the details about the game - Harmonix has decided to adopt the "half-closed mouth" regarding the matter, which means that we don't know too much about it. We do know, though, that all the songs you have downloaded for Rock Band will work flawlessly in the new game and there will always be a cross-title compatibility between the games - which is understandable, since fans have downloaded over 15 million songs.
But not a real surprise, since we have seen a few screenshots and realized it was basically the same game when it comes to the looks. However, there are a few improvements: even though the RB1 peripherals will be accepted by Rock Band 2, new and better ones will be available in a bundle pack (however, we have no further details on the matter). Also, "major improvements" are promised when it comes to online functionality and, overall, the game will be more "party friendly". Also, band and character customization as well as the navigation system and Band World Tour will be improved. A big surprise for some is the fact that the official announcement confirms that the game will initially be released for Xbox 360 consoles by the end of the year, while "all relevant platforms" will get it later.
"As successful as the original Rock Band continues to be, we've now had the benefit of the last eight months to listen to our fans' requests and to build upon that foundation," said Alex Rigopulos, co-founder and CEO of Harmonix. "Rock Band 2 is a second-generation band game that will elevate the music game experience to the next level."
We truly hope this is the truth. However, judging by the details we have at the moment, we don't see a real "next level" anywhere...