Rock Band's next big announcement coming soon
by Dustin Burg 
{ Nov 26th 2007 at 3:15PM }
In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, MTV Networks' vice president of program enterprise Jeff Yapp talks about Rock Band's success at bringing together both video games and music onto one platform and touts Rock Band's massive amount of DLC. But, towards the end of the interview, when talking about the franchise's future Yapp couldn't help but dangle a carrot in front of Rock Band fanboys saying that "our next big announcement, which is coming up fairly quickly, is a move to a whole other realm".So, what's the next big Rock Band surprise? Could it be the announcement of a sequel being releasing every year? Could it be something as simple as MTV Games announcing a deal between them and a major record label allowing unprecedented amounts of DLC? Or could it be something even bigger? You heard it here first kids, officially licensed Rock Band 80's hair extensions.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mikor @ Nov 26th 2007 3:24PM
Oh, how I pray this be an announcement for Online-enabled Band World Tour.
dunnypop @ Nov 26th 2007 3:29PM
oh I'm hoping they do a sequel immediately.
so that they will have boss battles, and better graphics, and some animated sequences... oh right, and a pontiac truck as a level.
yep that's what Rock Band needs.
sigmalives @ Nov 27th 2007 2:49PM
don't forget lots of Axe deodorant advertising
Intentless @ Nov 26th 2007 3:29PM
Maybe it will be that individual instruments will be available sooner than later... I just want the drums and mic don't need another guitar.
Magic Whiskey @ Nov 26th 2007 3:30PM
Water-Glass Rim Music Hero. Harmonica Hero. Boy Band. (God I hope not.)
krusty @ Nov 26th 2007 3:41PM
http://cowbellhero.ytmnd.com
ericdrum @ Nov 26th 2007 3:43PM
I want online BWT. While they're at it, they could make the hammer ons and pull offs look better.
Etchasketchist @ Nov 26th 2007 3:46PM
A whole new realm? I wonder if there will be black people in this new realm. Cuz their ain't any in Rock Band right now.
TX2Step @ Nov 26th 2007 3:49PM
@Etchasketchist
There's black people.... in the custom avatar thing. Now if you're talking about black music in general... then Rap Group might be the announcement with 22" rims included.
Tony @ Nov 26th 2007 3:49PM
I'm honestly thinking it will be them finally discussing their Wii plans for the thing...
Brian @ Nov 26th 2007 4:28PM
Yes Online Band World Tour better be available VIA a patch soon. I originally thought that's how this game was going to be. I'm disappointed in spending $170 and not having this as an option. I don't have friends therefore I'll never get on the road to stardom.
bag0rice @ Nov 26th 2007 3:52PM
or a guitar that i don't have to return after a few days of rocking
Rob Stevens @ Nov 26th 2007 3:53PM
"... is a move to a whole other realm."
I think that makes it pretty clear that it's not at all Rock Band related, and is a different project entirely.
Big Filth @ Nov 26th 2007 3:54PM
"then Rap Group might be the announcement with 22" rims included."
haha.
thats funny.
Rap Group Contents include
1. rap group game
2. 4, 22 inch rims
3. 4 huge gold chains with "RAP GROUP" medalions
4. BITCHES
and last but not least, 5,
YOUR GUN~ just incase you catch a cross town beef with another RAP GROUP!.
99.99
http://www.thegreatgamer.wordpress.com
violenceinhd @ Nov 26th 2007 4:06PM
@3
I fucking LOL'd.
Neon Jebus @ Nov 26th 2007 3:59PM
If they announced that they will offer working instruments I would be happy.
DjDATZ @ Nov 26th 2007 4:03PM
I think they'll put the corresponding music videos in the background...
shay07 @ Nov 26th 2007 4:08PM
I have to wait for xmas for the game unfortunately but i am hoping that it is online BWT so i can play with some of my friends that will have it. Kind of mad that my mom got it for christmas cuz now i have to wait.
burgerbat @ Nov 26th 2007 4:24PM
I just picked up a standalone copy of Rock Band. I hope the announcement is a standalone drum set. Maybe even wireless? I highly doubt it though. I can't help but think not having standalone instruments at launch wasn't such a great idea. The BestBuy closest to me in Houston has a TON of standalone copies. My brother bought the bundle and with my two guitars, it seemed like the most fiscally responsible thing to do. If I need to play drums, which I suck at, then I can play his. But damnit, I want some drums.
Plus, has anyone seen the USB hub with the Rock Band branding on it? It's sold separately, and it's MUCH better than the one that came bundled. I think it has a longer AC adapter cord too. I can't for the life of me figure out why they didn't include that one.
santeria49 @ Nov 26th 2007 4:45PM
Please God, let it be Online World Tour. As much as I love this game, it will run stale soon if all I can do online is quickplay.
Waruwaru @ Nov 26th 2007 4:47PM
"Groupies - the video game", complete with fake tattoos and home preg kit
ian @ Nov 26th 2007 4:50PM
I've got the scoop from a source at MTV... the next big announcement is:
BOYBAND
Thats right, you're going to create your own transgendered boy band. Each of you get a microphone and a dance pad. You have to bust your moves while HANGIN TOUGH with your vocals.
ok... maybe not, BUT it almost doesnt sound like its that far fetched.
ThematrixhasU @ Nov 26th 2007 5:10PM
Say What you want about black music or people etc but ROCKBAND IS ALL WHITE, If it had hip hop or r&b or neosoul alot more people would buy it. I know I would and alot of others also. The problem is most minorities dont know most of ROCKBAND SONGS and so theres none of us that wants it. IF it had black bands or rap artist that use bands, (Jay-z, Roots, Common, Nas, T.I, and lets not even name R&B its too many to list), we would line up to buy the game. The 22" joke was funny but Rockband is ROCK-RACIST. Say what you want but the proof is in the game.
ChromaTick @ Nov 26th 2007 5:19PM
I'm hoping for the announcement of online BWT.
However, I wouldn't be surprised if this announcement is some sort of tie in where if you purchase the DLC, you also get a copy of the song in MP3 format that you can load on your Zune, iPod, or other MP3 player.
C. T. @ Nov 26th 2007 5:20PM
I'm glad to see at least a few people are able to see that Rock Band has room to be a lot more. Just because the game has "Rock" in the title doesn't mean it has to exclude any samples from other genres. The Roots are a great band whose music suits the game at least as well as the Beastie Boys, but because they're black they are "hip hop" and not "rock." Jay-Z and Alicia Keys both have MTV: Unplugged sets that could be really really cool in the game and give people a wider spectrum of music to choose from. Don't let the name of the game limit the appeal of the game.
Frank @ Nov 26th 2007 5:23PM
I didn't think this would turn into a discussion of the inherit racism of Rock Band.
Maybe I'm just color blind... unless of course those colors are Green, Red, Yellow, Blue, and Orange.
Etchasketchist @ Nov 26th 2007 5:25PM
I'm not even asking for hip-hop. I'm asking for Bootsy. What is the point of a game where you get to play bass but you don't get to be Bootsy? What is the point of a toy drum set if you can't play Funky Drummer? Makes no sense to me.
Ed @ Nov 26th 2007 5:28PM
Or maybe hip-hop sucks and you can't really put r&b in a game about rock music. Anyway, about hip-hop not being in the game, I don't know anyone who would repeat crap like "smack that" hundreds of times.
Etchasketchist @ Nov 26th 2007 5:29PM
And i think they have a hip hop track. The Beastie Boys are still a hip-hop band last time I checked.
Specter @ Nov 26th 2007 5:35PM
Hip-Hop and rap in a game called ROCK Band. That's like Master Chief and Sgt Johnson in a game called PEACE.
thematrixhasu2 @ Nov 26th 2007 5:36PM
well ed we see where your intellect comes from, even if i take yours and Franks argument, what about black rockers Parliment, bootsy, Earth wind and fire, Ray Charles etc I GUESS BLACK ROCK DONT COUNT HUH! AGAIN SAY WHAT YOU WANT BUT ROCKBAND IS ROCK-RACIST
thematrixhasu2 @ Nov 26th 2007 5:41PM
ECTHASKETCHIST if funny you say bestie boys because in there same genre is RUNDMC which have even rocked out with AEROSMITH BUT I GUESS being white was a requirement on rockband huh.
*Walk this Way ring a bell, guess not.
Etchasketchist @ Nov 26th 2007 5:59PM
@31
Try again. This time lose the caps lock and try the punctuation keys. They're between "M" and "Shift".
Rock and roll was invented by African Americans. The fact that Harmonix didn't include one song by an African American artist (Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, P-Funk, Prince, etc.) is a disservice to the kids who are going to play this and think that black people have nothing to do with the history of rock music. That is the opposite of the truth. Rock Band is lying to the children and I find that sad.
thematrixhasu2 @ Nov 26th 2007 6:07PM
Etchasketchist i was using sarcasm to agree with you I am a african american and i dont see how they left all the black artist out of a game in which we existed before and probably after alot of the included artist.
SovietSpartan @ Nov 26th 2007 6:33PM
@22. well since we are gonna add hiphop, rap, and r&b to ROCKBAND....
WHAT ABOUT THE MEXICANS! WHERES MY MARIACHI MUSIC! I WANT A DIGITAL ACCORDIAN!
ACCORIDIAN HERO FOR THE WIN! INCLUDES FREE TICKET TO THE US! And a mariachi hat!
I think rap and hiphop songs belong on something like singstar, the only thing that stands out in hiphop or rap imo is the rapper himself...
@32
Well guitar hero doesn't have them either and no one has been ripping on it either...
Etchasketchist @ Nov 26th 2007 6:42PM
@32 Word. Dig it. Didn't get that the first time around.
It really is a shame and I hope they rectify it quickly with some DLC song packs. I also hope that somebody besides me, a whiny bitch in a comments section, notices this huge omission and draws Harmonix attention to it. I'm not really trying to accuse Harmonix of being a bunch of KKK types who hate black people. They're probably just a bunch of white rockers who just forgot to integrate the game because nobody pointed it out to them. That's cool, but now let's fix the problem. There are so many bad ass artists to choose from, it's ridiculous. I say we start from the beginning with a Muddy Waters pack and go from there.
And while they're at it, a few more female artists besides Hole wouldn't hurt. Janis, Jefferson Airplane, Joan Jett, Pretenders, etc. You want lists? I got lists.
Etchasketchist @ Nov 26th 2007 6:52PM
@34
I try to stick to the topic at hand. This is a Rock Band post, I comment about Rock Band. But since you brought it up Hendrix was in Guitar Hero 1 and Tom Morello is a boss in Guitar Hero 3 so it just barely sneaks off the hook. Rock Band's got nothin'.
bos6268 @ Nov 26th 2007 7:19PM
k
bigmac375 @ Nov 26th 2007 10:20PM
Led Zeppelin and/or The Beatles.
You heard it here first.
ASIAN @ Nov 27th 2007 3:54AM
i love how the two kids arguing for black rock music here couldn't even comprehend each other. and what the hell was the point of mentioning jay-z and nas and whatnot? they aren't rock bands man. they're hip hop artists and this game is for ROCK bands. plus, a lot of the hip hop songs don't have the traditional guitar-bass-drum combination and few of them don't even have chorus vocal parts. so most rap songs wouldn't make good rock band songs anyway. nor is jazz, really, because the main melody tends to be something other than guitar or bass. and without saxophone or oboe or whatever the main chorus is played on, the song would be really bland and boring on rock band.
and honestly, the only predominantly black rock bands i can see on rock band are jefferson airplane and maybe the pretenders if you really count them as black.
but i think it's just retarded to say it's racist and no black people will buy it because they don't know any of the songs. saying black people don't know beastie boys, jet, chili peppers, the knack, the who, the strokes and black sabbath is even more racist than anything your argument had to do with.
and one point just to make a point; i'm asian, and i don't see any asian bands on there, nor customizable asian (or hispanic) characters, even tho there are black characters. am i complaining? no. me and me black roommate love this music and have been rocking since day one. so thanks for your two cents guys but all i got out of it is a good laugh, a shaking of my head and about five minutes wasted writing this.
Etchasketchist @ Nov 27th 2007 6:27AM
@ASIAN
You are seriously not reading anything I'm writing. Or at least you're not even beginning to understand it. So I'll dumb it down for you so hopefully you can get it. It's pretty basic:
First off, forget about hip-hop. I'm not asking for hip-hop artists. Or jazz. That's completely off topic and you should just disregard that entire train of thought because it will distract you.
Second, I'm not saying that black people won't buy it or won't like it. Tons of black people love white rock bands. That's fine. So again, just strike that part out because it's clouding your thinking and keeping you from seeing my actual point. Like when you say "but i think it's just retarded to say it's racist and no black people will buy it because they don't know any of the songs." I totally agree with you, which is why I never ever said anything like that. Not even close.
The point I'm making is that by excluding black artists entirely you are presenting a racist, white-washed version of Rock Music and Rock History which is historically innacurate and totally unfunky. That's unfortunate and it should be fixed. It's not that hard. They have the downloadable content system. They should add some P-Funk songs. That is all I'm saying. Don't call me retarded and laugh at me when you can't even understand what I'm saying.
Matt @ Nov 27th 2007 9:48AM
How about Hammer Ons and pull offs that work as well as they do in GHIII? It is really starting to piss me off. It feels like I went back to GHI in that respect.
Ryan Henson Creighton @ Nov 27th 2007 12:00PM
Etchasketchist - there ARE black people in the game. What do you call Faith No More?
... oh? What? Those are white guys? Geez - i couldn't tell with all that slick rapping they do.
Keith McDuffee @ Nov 27th 2007 11:00AM
Why is Harmonix even bothering with making deals with bands and artists to feature their songs in Rock Band and Guitar Hero? The next big version of these games should simply be notes that correspond with a song that you either download to the game system’s hard drive from your own collection or from a connected network drive or Windows Media connection, iTunes, etc. That way you’re not paying silly royalties to the artists or having to use cover bands to play some of the tunes.
WiredRacing @ Nov 27th 2007 11:40AM
Uhhh.. okay well first off.. the Hendrix family would not provide access to masters in GH1 and would not allow someone else to sing in Jimi's place, so that's why the one hendrix song we got, was the one hendrix song we got. But Jimi Hendrix was not a band. And this is called R-O-C-K B-A-N-D. The implication here is a group of 4, Vocals, Drum, Lead and Bass.
The Roots are great, but they do not have anything but Rhythm guitar, this is quite possibly why they would not be considered. Perhaps they'll show up at some point as DLC. RATM is multicultural. About the best anyone could come up with a traditional rock band comprised of African Americans was Living Color, who were really only marginal in the charts. COP is brutally repetitive, but it does have the one solo which helps it's inclusion into GH3. BTW, Slash is mixed Jewish/Black and RB did have GnR in the early builds but I guess they didn't full on secure rights or plan on releasing a whole album. Beasties are Jewish.
I would certainly like to see some Prince there though, though I don't think you'll ever see him release such rights...but there are a handful of Prince tracks that would work well for Rock Band. As would a number of Lenny Kravitz records. But I don't think Parlament would fit for the initial release, but I could certainly see them and other funk (bass groove focused) groups get DLC.
So I see where you're coming from, but on the whole it's not just white-white... plus none of us know too much about the bonus bands, maybe there are black members there.. but all in all there's so few all black bands with any public recognition and the ones that are there, really don't focus on guitar much which is obviously where HMX has come from with the GH franchise.
zoltek @ Nov 27th 2007 1:06PM
online world tour and patches arent huge announcements... my guess is theyre gonna do something when albums / singles get released they'll be available on rock band shortly after, obviously they dont sound like theyre planning a sequel and wouldnt have to if they put out alot of content (like GHII and GHIII promised but never delivered on)
zoltek @ Nov 27th 2007 1:07PM
or also it could be the announcemnt of create your own songs / shirts / logos
Etchasketchist @ Nov 27th 2007 1:27PM
@43
Again, I'll repeat myself, I'm not asking for Rap Band. I don't need the Roots or Jay-Z (though 99 Problems could be badass now that I think of it; but nevermind, don't get distracted. Stay focused)
Give me some rippin' blues. Some John Lee Hooker or Muddy Waters. Give me Curtis Mayfield. Pusherman or Superfly would be ill. Machine Gun by Band of Gypsies (a BAND with Jimi Hendrix in it.) would melt faces. Bad Brains. War. Sly and the Family Stone. Friggin' Johnny B Goode. Chuck Berry, Bo Diddly, Booker T and the MG's, the Meters. TV on the friggin' Radio, I don't care. Just somebody. anybody. Rock and roll was INVENTED by black people. It's just a fact of music history. That nobody at Harmonix was able to have the creativity to come up with ONE measly track is just unimpressive to say the very least. If I want to play pretend videogame bass guitar, I would like the option to pretend to be James Jamerson or Bootsy Collins instead of Flea or That-Guy-From OK-Go. Is that an unreasonable demand? I don't think so.
zoltek @ Nov 27th 2007 5:12PM
dont get me wrong the blues are good, but lets be honest you think the majority of people that buy rock band want to play the blues ?? or blues rock ?? the game is about songs that people know (mostly) i could see maybe in guitar hero, but you want people to be able to sing leadbelly, and stevie ray, and kenny wayne sheppard and bruce.. its not happening.
Etchasketchist @ Nov 27th 2007 6:26PM
Singing the blues is hard now? It's kind of like Rock Band 101. If you can't sing the blues you have no business being in a rock band. It's pretty fundamental. And I'm sure the majority of the people who buy Rock Band don't want to play every single song on the set list. I'm not asking them to change it to Blues Band. Just one friggin' track.