rock band video game music video game developed published title rock band series xbox playstation versions released north_america november playstation version released december wii version released june xbox version released europe playstation playstation wii versions released september ports game released australia november game released japan developed canceled allows players simulate performance popular rock music songs playing controllers modeled musical instruments players play lead guitar bass guitar drums parts songs instrument controllers sing microphone players scored ability match scrolling musical notes playing instruments ability match singer pitch vocals players xbox playstation versions interact players platform online multiplayer capabilities addition core songs included game disc downloadable songs released xbox playstation versions launch game software available bundle packaged instrument purchase separately individual instrument released later date game received widespread critical acclaim sales million units global revenues million players million downloadable song purchases release game success prompted release sequels rock band beatles rock band green day rock band gameplay gameplay elements guitar hero series players use modeled musical instruments simulate performance rock music players use instruments playing scrolling musical notes screen time music expands guitar hero series offers gameplay drums vocals addition lead bass guitar gameplay screen interface uses combination elements rock band tracks vertically scrolling colored music notes section lead guitar drums bass colored notes screen correspond buttons guitar drum lead bass guitar players play notes holding colored buttons guitar peripheral pushing controller bar drums players strike matching colored step pedal simulate playing bass drum notes screen vocals display horizontally similar karaoke revolution lyrics display beneath green bars represent pitch individual vocal elements singing vocals player sing relative pitch original vocals pitch indicator displays singer accuracy relative original pitch remainder screen display band virtual characters perform concert cooperative play band players earn points common score score tracked separately player collected select portions song successfully playing white notes section guitar controller bar white sustained notes energy meter filled halfway players deploy resulting band meter tracks player changing dramatically allows players strategically use raise pass portions song failed activate score vary based player note streak players deploy independently collect additional deployed draining band member choose difficulty play spanning easy medium hard expert player play falls fail song instrument muted audio mix active player activate bring failed players song saving band member band member saved twice failure brought song failed players continuously drag band saved player saved band meter reaches band fails song players earn bonuses phrases extra points big rock ending unlike playstation wii version players xbox playstation versions create game character complete hair body physique clothing onstage movements instruments character permanently locked specific instrument cash earned game player purchase items game rock shop rock star game features art maker players combine different clip art elements create custom face paint clothing designs instrument artwork band instrument game features special branded guitar controllers modeled lead bass guitar gameplay similar controllers feature colored buttons neck bar bar controller additional buttons smaller size located closer guitar main body buttons play notes guitar solos denoted note track turning blue hammer pull offs need additionally controller features effects switch different effects applied solos activated deployed holding controller vertical position pressing select button controller offered wired wireless versions confirmed guitar controllers additional party controllers compatible game controller compatible guitar hero iii drum controller features rubber drum pads kick pedal pads colored rings edges correspond notes screen representing snare drum red hat yellow tom tom blue crash green kick pedal bass drum screen notes represented orange horizontal lines pair authentic drum sticks included controller special freestyle drum fill sections songs indicated columns note turning solid color deployed hitting crash green note right handed configuration appears directly freestyle drum fill representatives suggested play drum parts hard pretty play drums reality rock band microphone instrument similar model developed karaoke revolution games singers judged closely match relative pitch song vocalist talking parts judge pitch pick individual spoken lyrics sections vocals display circle notes allowing microphone tapping making vocal cues singers deployed singing freestyle vocal sections songs denoted yellow artwork background vocals interface mode band world tour game primary multiplayer mode allows combination local players create virtual band play tour virtual representation world online play supported players use band mode play band online xbox playstation versions game mode lets bands play different venues spanning cities including los_angeles seattle boston new_york london sydney stockholm rome creating band characters logo players begin playing concerts small venues hometown unlock tour buses private jets unlock cities continents successful performances earn band fans stars game cash cities larger venues require band achieve certain number fans stars unlocked game venues inspired real life venues display local art styles represented cities xbox playstation versions complete lists songs like previous games players complete unique sets activities venue performances consist single songs multiple song sets mystery players faced decisions refers risk versus reward certain performances bands faced optional challenge requires band average certain stars gig order rewards bands choose perform benefit concert earning game money gaining fans sell earning game money losing fans additionally certain bands compete band personnel recording deal record label endless setlist provides players day concert experience setlist requires playing entire game disc setlist start finish playstation wii versions contain stripped version band world tour mode local players able play completing tiers songs ordered difficulty players create characters choose city venue setlist play solo tour modes solo tour single player mode offered lead guitar drum microphone support bass feature open ended gameplay features generation versions mode structured vein career mode guitar hero games players choose create character xbox playstation versions complete sets songs ordered difficulty instrument setlist ordered differently completing sets songs additional songs unlocked play game modes playstation xbox versions players use money earned performance purchase merchandise rock shop character cash carries mode vice versa modes players quickly play song instrument individually solo competitive experience players individually compete instrument type war like face players trade playing sections song meter favor score duel like guitar hero pro face player plays song entirety difficulty level earn points head head modes available online xbox playstation versions locally band mode allows bands quickly play song xbox playstation versions allow combination local online players play band playstation wii versions supports local players included mode allows players learn play instrument practice mode allows players practice songs instrument soundtrack versions feature core playable tracks game disc featured tracks main setlist tracks bonus songs independent lesser known bands bands employees total songs master recordings wii version game features additional songs featured tracks include don fear enter goes highway star learn fly david_bowie wanted dead alive won songs disc transferred user hard drive xbox playstation rock band furthermore extra songs carried founder commented game soundtrack covering great breadth metal classic rock southern rock record labels agreed supply master recordings artists use game including downloadable songs playstation xbox versions game support downloadable songs users download songs track track basis tracks digitally bundled song packs complete albums discounted rate likened game new platform future music releases company built library downloadable content hundreds songs year game release releasing new content weekly basis songs available game launch date date downloadable songs available million song purchases players downloadable songs playable game mode including band world tour career mode downloadable songs released came cross compatible rock band downloadable albums major selling point game albums having released date currently song packs containing songs priced individual songs available standard price occasionally certain songs initially priced limited time prices albums differ depending songs album contains playstation wii version lack downloadable content released series track pack standalone games sold retail stores volume contains tracks available downloadable content xbox playstation saw expanded release xbox playstation exclusively featuring songs live concert released november development previously responsible making guitar hero series manufactured owned rights series june bought september purchased result purchases longer able develop future games instead subsidiary development company released legends rock october according business cost million develop vice president product development stated game took months develop having envisioned possibility different instruments completed guitar hero series selecting soundtrack developers recognized needed select songs recognizable particularly vocals contrast selecting songs able pick songs played better recognizable consider songs help players come socially won retained long synthesizer solo band members start playing big finish team able introduce songs smaller artists felt good additions maps yeah yeah electric version help introduce players classes music half songs hired studio sing lyrics crowd stadium game players performing additional crowd sing add performance experience current parent company mtv provided financial support development process taking advantage stature facilitate deals record companies licensing rights songs record companies pledged support offering master recordings pressed office space forced offices middle rock band beta period order support company person staff continued bring developers order complete title time led problems bringing newer board technical plan requiring team redesign parts game online times correct xbox playstation versions game developed house development playstation version certain features faced difficulty making xbox guitar wireless developers charged licensing fee use microsoft wireless technology chosen pay fee xbox playstation sold different price points instead chose wired technology xbox bundle guitar announced april ceo said announcement takes core premise expands lets create complete collaborative band rock band featured game convention provided exhibition highlights employees microsoft executive played game stage performing main moore game twice accidentally hit guitar xbox guide button software update released march added new features game update included game music store preview options revised microphone performance faster downloadable content loading online community october mtv announced transformed extensive community website game launch extend features game community website absent game launch order fix bugs complete features launched december site offered band profile pages stats classified area bands find additional members band online forums sharing features originally announced features ability players pose photo shoots order shirts eventually available website release promotion mtv promoted heavily months leading game release game nationwide promotional tour united_states tour buses stops major american cities set demo stations showcase playable versions game fans locations included college campuses additionally fan created bands able audition stage playing game performances recorded sent mtv casting directors selected bands appear total request live battle bands promotional tour commenced featured showcase mtv_video_music_awards las_vegas september mtv invested additional promotions totaled million game set homes real world participants allowing air visibility vh1 produced brief spoof documentary style music titled rock band rock band band story documenting fictional band plays game game appeared demo sam club stores demo contained songs supports gameplay instruments actual store setup varied demo drum set lacked bass pedal game automatically playing bass drum notes companies helped promote rock band free reduced cost downloadable content best buy offered free downloadable tracks band disturbed customers pre ordered album online tracks available users june mcdonald sponsored month long program reduced cost selected downloadable tracks approximately half standard cost week month dollar menu promotion united_kingdom release game took place london number bands including automatic whip performed short sets editions special edition bundle includes game software guitar drum microphone playstation playstation wii include wireless guitar xbox bundle contains wired guitar separate wireless guitar currently available xbox initially hub included xbox wii playstation order increase number available ports console recent playstation include hub box indicating mtv originally announced released xbox playstation november black friday busiest shopping days united_states release date eventually moved november game software available purchase individually game launch allowing players microphone compatible guitar controller advantage vocals lead guitar bass guitar gameplay individual rock band branded instruments available retail stores later starting drum kit february individual wireless guitar available april april announced timed xbox exclusive partial european launch versions follow later summer technical issues guitar release players reported hardware issues complaints stemmed bass drum pedal snapping controller bar occasionally activate response issues admitted guitars bundled initial shipment game subject manufacturing issues stated replace faulty players affected faulty able advantage day obtain replacements class action lawsuit issued failures bass drum pedal claiming companies force consumers pay repairs upgrade rock band drum kit attempts settle lawsuit unsuccessful september original dropped lawsuit players discovered game launch guitar controller bundled playstation version legends rock initially compatible playstation version despite stating controllers followed open controller standard work resolved technical solutions cited party fault failing correct developed patch fix issue blocked stated unwilling reach agreement pay use guitar hero iii technology applies wii les paul peripheral patch playstation version eventually released september allowing guitar hero iii les paul controller work released playstation version frontman guitar controller compatible press conference convention confirmed xbox version guitar hero world tour able use instruments adapting note tracks account smaller number drum pads compatibility guitar hero result additional arrangements reception prior release ceo remarked company able meet high demand holiday season stating going able inventory meet demand north_america europe calendar year fiscal year prompted retailers limit number sold game released published review scoring xbox version calling gaming intensely rewarding experience commented game isn technical emotional ign awarded game score editor choice award xbox playstation versions ign largely praised game calling games year suggesting best party games released gave generation versions game stating rocks gamespot rated generation versions game calling best party games time gave game editor choice award xbox version average critic score according metacritic tying 24th highest scored xbox game similarly playstation version average critic score metacritic making 25th highest scored playstation game critics commended xbox playstation versions game group gameplay depth mode introduction drum peripheral common complaints game focus different feel packaged controller game solo tour modes enjoyable multiplayer offerings ign video review lamented lack single player mode playstation version game received subject criticism omission character features stripped mode gamespot rated stating rock band lot fun ps2 near ideal version experience rated noting removed features game feel like version game succeeds infinitely fun play friends reviews wii version criticize lack features compared playstation xbox versions wii version basically playstation counterpart ign criticized late release effort completing game ign noted drum controller improvement original version stating pads kick pedal withstand abuse sales october game sold million units generated global revenues million sales helped fifth largest video game publisher united_states analysts estimated breaking sales game march list listed fifth highest grossing video game united_states earning million revenue december million downloadable songs purchases rock band music store estimated averaging sale million downloadable songs days sales songs favor hard rock bands single saints los_angeles debuting rock band track time release album saw downloads itunes downloads week release popularity tracks led groups considering releasing material game rush alternate version working man released met praise players group released song download itunes considered making albums available went album released game months later awards prior game release featured convention garnering attention awards including best awards best best hardware peripheral best gamespot best stage demo best xbox game release won dozens awards covering game releases game won seven awards ign best receiving honors best music game xbox playstation best local multiplayer game xbox playstation best downloadable content playstation best console peripheral overall awards best music game best licensed soundtrack best local multiplayer game gamespot awarded awards best recognizing game best rhythm music game best new gaming hardware best downloadable content best sound design best multiplayer game wired named game year named second best game gamepro honored innovation award person cooperative play selection best party game gamespy recognized game music game year xbox playstation additionally awarded best multiplayer experience console game won awards receiving honors best rhythm game best soundtrack game developer won studio year game won award best multiplayer game play best awards awarded honors categories nominated game won awards family game year outstanding achievement soundtrack outstanding innovation gaming named best party game year game called best rhythm game time cultural impact like guitar hero series significant impact culture founders named list influential people creation article guitarist claims history rock roll turn rise radio cds mtv sequel rock band officially announced june released september xbox platform releases following later year original instruments compatible features new instruments described reliable furthermore existing forthcoming downloadable content cross compatible rock band rock band saw enhancements existing mode new drum trainer battle bands modes songs exported use rock band purchase export key patent litigation march mtv sued violation patent gibson claims covers technology concert performance pre recorded audio musical instrument follows similar action gibson taken guitar hero series later settled court gibson case hold shortly filing allow united_states patent open examination patent subsequent review patent modified exactly define type musical instrument patent covers original language conflicted patent change language sought case forward requested summary judgement believing new language patent include rock band controllers mid case settled parties non disclosed terms july filed separate lawsuit mtv attempting block sale infringement patents musical rhythm matching game issued including patent mtv spokesperson expressed lawsuit extremely surprising intend defend suit december issued claiming significantly improves original patent rock revolution game uses controllers similar suits settled undisclosed terms september
Rock Band (video game)