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Rock Band developer Harmonix recently announced its Rock Band Network feature for the Xbox 360 version of Rock Band 2. This nifty new feature will allow players to upload their own originally recorded music and apply the gameplay mechanics (meaning the matching button combinations) to them. Even better, any tracks that fulfill Harmonix’s technical specifications while receiving enough positive peer reviews will be put up for sale on the Rock Band Network Store.
The system is similar to the feature found in Activision and Neversoft’s Guitar Hero: World Tour, which allows players to create music within the game and upload it to the online store, but MTV and Harmonix have obviously taken it one step further. Personally, I find this idea extremely exciting. The more ways there are for unsigned/indie label bands to be heard the better. Some people (i.e. me) love to be the one who listened to the band before they were cool, but imagine mastering the band’s song on expert before they were cool.
This leads us to the obvious question: will bands bite? In other words, will unsigned bands, or even bands attached to a label, leave the safe haven of Myspace behind and allow potential fans to play their music? More importantly, would you use the Rock Band Network as a tool to discover new music? Your chance to be heard, loyal readers, is in that tiny link above that image!
(Image Via Playstation UK)
My guess is that it will be exploited mostly as a marketing tool for non-stadium acts and maybe some indie labels, but from what I’ve seen of the genre (not much, admittedly), people like playing songs they know, not songs they’ve never heard. Obviously some music discovery happens (your friend is like “no dude, we gotta do this Led Zep tune” and you’ve never listened to them), but I don’t think many would be downloading much indie content just for new songs to play.
But I’ve been wrong before, certainly.
Honestly I think it is a great idea because how many people do you think buy albums any more? There are so many kids out there and adults playing RB and GH so it is smart for bands to get out this way and they are getting paid for their submissions if they win. How many people do you know that have discovered a band because of these two games? So kudos Neversoft and Harmonix. Oh and Joe I thought you would be all over the Warcraft movie lol.
I totally agree, Mike. We’ll just have to see how it all pans out. Also, what makes you think I’m not all about the Warcraft movie? With Sam Raimi directing, I’m on board!