Rock Band 3 looks pretty awesome!

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Woke up this morning to find that USA Today has a kick ass video of Rock Band 3 where they show off the new keyboard instrument and talk with the devs about new features. Players can drop in & out in mid-song and they showed a player changing difficulty in mid song as well. Looks like they are continuing vocal harmonies and they had 4 instruments running along the bottom. Keyboard is a full-fledged MIDI keyboard with 25 keys. The last big feature is a Rock Band Pro mode where players are shown real musical notes. Not sure how that works and its not shown in the video.

Just very, very cool. Wondering how much that keyboard peripheral is going to cost though. $50? $80?

And here's some more info from Kotaku. Bohemian Rhapsody and Rainbow in the Dark? Oh yes, I will be buying this Day One!!!

Rock Band 3 will, as expected, let you do something you've never been able to do in a Rock Band (or Guitar Hero) game before: play the keyboard.

Yes, the fifth wheel of the rock world makes its long-overdue debut in Harmonix's Rock Band 3, a report on USA Today showcasing not only the new controller in action, but a revamped tracklist designed to make the most of it.

The keyboard is a "25-key, fully functioning MIDI" version of the real thing, and is one of two key improvements made to the game, the other being the introduction of a new "Rock Band Pro" mode for expert players, which replaces coloured tabs with real musical symbols in an effort to get players on the track to playing real instruments.

To complement Pro mode, there are two new guitar controllers in development that feature actual strings, one a full-sized replica of a Fender Stratocaster, the other a Fender Mustang Pro. "You can go from plucking single notes to power chords and bar chords, we have crazy stuff like tapping and slides," Harmonix's Sylvain Dubrofsky says. "If you ever had any aspirations of connecting with the music in a deeper way ... you are really going to like Rock Band 3."

A partial tracklist has also been revealed, and is predictably keyboard-heavy.

2000s
Combat Baby — Metric
Dead End Friends — Them Crooked Vultures
Get Free — The Vines
Lasso — Phoenix
Me Enamora — Juanes
Oh My God — Ida Maria
Portions of Foxes — Rilo Kiley
The Hardest Button to Button — The White Stripes

1990s
Been Caught Stealing — Jane's Addiction
In the Meantime — Spacehog
Plush — Stone Temple Pilots
Walkin' on the Sun — Smash Mouth

1980s
Crazy Train — Ozzy Osbourne
Here I Go Again — Whitesnake
I Love Rock and Roll — Joan Jett
Just Like Heaven — The Cure
Rainbow in the Dark — Dio
The Power of Love — Huey Lewis and the News
Sister Christian — Night Ranger

1960s-1970s
Bohemian Rhapsody — Queen
Break On Through — The Doors
Crosstown Traffic — Jimi Hendrix

I probably won't get this day 1 unless there is a way to import all previous Rock Band incarnations (including Beatles) into this. Switching discs to play Beatles' songs takes the party out of its groove.

I'm buying this eventually regardless.

PopEsc wrote:

I probably won't get this day 1 unless there is a way to import all previous Rock Band incarnations (including Beatles) into this. Switching discs to play Beatles' songs takes the party out of its groove.

I'm buying this eventually regardless.

You will never be able to import any of the Beatles stuff. Never.

Night Ranger? Sweet!

In a word: Sold.

Also: The Power of Love? Really? lol

Random thoughts:

The Doors will be perfect for the new keyboard. If they release an entire Doors album as DLC, i'll probably get this.

What's the deal with Jimi Hendrix? They released 12 or so songs of his as DLC not long ago, and almost none of his best stuff. I want All Along the Watchtower, Wind Cries Mary, Red House, Purple Haze, etc.

Are my 100+ DLC tracks from the previous games playable in RB3?

I LOVE the new join-on-the-fly feature, and also the ability to change difficulty on the fly. This was badly needed, for those of us who play a mix of hard & expert depending on the song.

Also: The Power of Love? Really? lol

Have you seen some of the DLC they've already released? I mean, I think Miley Cyrus is in the game. They've clearly branched out from just Rock, and are trying to appease a lot of different tastes, and make this more of a broad-appeal party game.

Jeff-66 wrote:
Also: The Power of Love? Really? lol

Have you seen some of the DLC they've already released? I mean, I think Miley Cyrus is in the game. They've clearly branched out from just Rock, and are trying to appease a lot of different tastes, and make this more of a broad-appeal party game.

Oh, I get that. I'm never surprised to see that stuff in DLC releases, I'm just surprised it's listed in their first partial set list reveal for a full game.

And I totally agree about the need to change difficulty on the fly. There are sets in World Tour mode I just won't play (including the final endless setlist) because there are a handful of songs I can't play on Expert (guitar) and I don't want to have to play through a full set on Hard just to get past them.

garion333 wrote:
PopEsc wrote:

I probably won't get this day 1 unless there is a way to import all previous Rock Band incarnations (including Beatles) into this. Switching discs to play Beatles' songs takes the party out of its groove.

I'm buying this eventually regardless.

You will never be able to import any of the Beatles stuff. Never.

Night Ranger? Sweet!

I'm having a hard time imagining a better "it's getting late, we're all drunk, let's do one more!" song than "Sister Christian". It just begs to be howled out by drunken idiots, I can't wait.

Rainbow in the Dark!

ubrakto wrote:

Oh, I get that. I'm never surprised to see that stuff in DLC releases, I'm just surprised it's listed in their first partial set list reveal for a full game.

Power of Love has a heavy keyboard element. I'm sure that's one of the main reasons it was chosen.

The keyboard lane looks like it will be hard to follow while playing 4 player local.

Jeff-66 wrote:
ubrakto wrote:

Oh, I get that. I'm never surprised to see that stuff in DLC releases, I'm just surprised it's listed in their first partial set list reveal for a full game.

Power of Love has a heavy keyboard element. I'm sure that's one of the main reasons it was chosen.

You mean besides the fact that it's an awesome song, right?

I was really ready to dismiss this outright, as I got bored with Rock Band sometime last year.
Then I thought, "well, keyboard could be kind of fun".
Then I saw the setlist and started salivating.

Unfortunately, my apartment is still a crap place to play Rock Band due to cramped quarters and whiny neighbours, so I'll still likely pass, but I think I'll very much enjoy playing it at other people's houses.

We only play Rock Band when I can take over my parents' place, maybe every other month or so. But then it's an all-nighter or two.

Can't wait to do all of these:

Crazy Train — Ozzy Osbourne
Here I Go Again — Whitesnake
I Love Rock and Roll — Joan Jett
Just Like Heaven — The Cure
The Power of Love — Huey Lewis and the News
Bohemian Rhapsody — Queen
Break On Through — The Doors

Probably a day one for me, if they ever get around to releasing the damn thing in Europe. The pro mode sounds super interesting, as I've recently got into playing a real guitar, thanks to Rock Band. It'll probably be really expensive, though, the actual Fender piece.

Oh hell yes. My drum set broke a few weeks ago, so I'm probably going to end up buying the super-duper edition when it comes out.

If they throw some 80's synth-pop in there — Erasure, Depeche Mode, etc. — I will snatch this up faster than you can say "spandex."

First rule of Rock: Don't let the keyboard player write the songs.

DanB wrote:

First rule of Rock: Don't let the keyboard player write the songs.

I would say the first rule of "rock" is "shoot the keyboard player". Piano? Sure. Hammond organ? Sure. Cheesy keyboards? BANG BANG BANG BANG.

lostlobster wrote:

If they throw some 80's synth-pop in there — Erasure, Depeche Mode, etc. — I will snatch this up faster than you can say "spandex."

Agreed. I love those Harmonix guys, so I'll buy this. However, I am not feeling that track list, so far. The Cure and Them Crooked Vultures are the only two that have excited me.

I hope the stringed guitar ends up being worthwhile. I've been waiting for something like this for a while.

lostlobster wrote:

Depeche Mode

As soon as I heard about the keyboard, this was my first thought. Where is my DM? At least there is one Cure song listed so far.

AcidCat wrote:
lostlobster wrote:

Depeche Mode

As soon as I heard about the keyboard, this was my first thought. Where is my DM? At least there is one Cure song listed so far.

+1 for DM, also, throw in some Ladytron and Super Furry Animals

Also, yay for Hendrix, Cure, Doors,

Yeah the Doors will be pretty damn cool to play on Rock Band, hope they end up with plenty of songs in there.

Not only keyboard, but a "pro mode" with a full functioning fender squire strat. This is something I wasn't really expecting, but I'm pretty anxious to try it out. I'm an amateur guitar player at best but playing along and seeing the chords and notes on the screen will definitely get me back into it.

AcidCat wrote:
lostlobster wrote:

Depeche Mode

As soon as I heard about the keyboard, this was my first thought. Where is my DM? At least there is one Cure song listed so far.

My guess is it's not universal enough to make the game, but I would not be surprised to see some DLC down the road...

That said...

HOLY sh*t. Harmony and keyboards have totally sold me. The gameplay video looks awesome, they really did it right, it seems.

Do I even need to say this is a day one purchase for me?

No, I do not.

Jeff-66 wrote:

Are my 100+ DLC tracks from the previous games playable in RB3?

Apparently yes.

Day one purchase for me, too. I admit I'm intrigued by the stringed guitar, and the keyboard opens the door wide open for more of the fun 80's new wave songs, and some of the better prog: Muse is very keyboard heavy, as is Dream Theater's Scenes From a Memory. And, of course, Rush.

The very thought of playing "Subdivisions" in Rock Band has me trembling perilously close to a nerd supernova.

Elysium wrote:

Do I even need to say this is a day one purchase for me?

No, I do not.

You just.... did?

Oh, and if i have enough money for this when it comes out over here in the EU sometime in 2011 (;)) then i'll probably pick up the most expensive version with all the pro-mode stuff.

I knew holding out on all these plastic peripheral games would pay off at some point in the future!

As an actual guitar player - I am excited by the stringed instruments. Also the keyboard looks rad!

RB is >>>>>> GH.

Most likely week 1, if not day 1.

Vodka will be consumed.

Too bad there aren't many Goodjers (i know of only 1) around KC - I would host an S & T.

I don't think there's any way a bundle with a stringed guitar and keyboard and new drums will be less than $250. At that price, you're basically buying a new console. As interesting as this seems to me, not sure I am going to bite as I never play Rock Band anymore except at Rabbitcon.

SallyNasty wrote:

As an actual guitar player - I am excited by the stringed instruments. Also the keyboard looks rad!

RB is >>>>>> GH.

Most likely week 1, if not day 1.

Vodka will be consumed.

Too bad there aren't many Goodjers (i know of only 1) around KC - I would host an S & T.

I'm kind of new to GWJ but I live south of Olathe and work in KC.

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