Rock Band 2 News

Yet another survey for Rock Band 2 has been leaked, and Rock Band 2 will feature Aussie band AC/DC.  This is a huge score for Rock Band 2 as AC/DC is a band that has been highly requested for Rock Band and Guitar Hero but they’ve been elusive thus far.

The survey also mentions that Rock Band 2 will feature “120 of the biggest rock anthems from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s”.

The survey also mentioned other details, including improvements in “instruments, character creation, and online play”.  The survey said that the drums would also be improved but it did not specify the areas of improvement.

Much like Guitar Hero: World Tour, Rock Band 2 will also allow the player to “develop and personalize artwork and apparel in the game, which you can then order as actual merchandise to be mailed to you.”

How cool would it be to personalize your own skins and buy them.

Source: Kotaku - Rock Band 2 To Get A Jolt of ACDC, Survey Says

We mentioned earlier this month that Norwegian band Turbonegro looked like they would be included in Rock Band 2 after an unrelated press release mentioned their inclusion.

The Norwegian site Dagbladet soon caught up with Turbonegro band manager Rune Grønn to look into this a little further.

According to Grønn “it is not yet 100 percent confirmed” but that they “have been in dialogue with the manufacturers”.

According to the article, Turbonegro have also been in contact with the publishers of the Guitar Hero and SingStar franchises as well.

“We have cleared the use of the songs” says Grønn, referring to the Turbonegro songs “Do You Dig Destruction” for Rock Band 2, and upcoming releases of Guitar Hero and SingStar.

Turbonegro’s song “High on the Crime” has also been cleared for the SingStar franchise.

We’ve included a link to the article below (note: the article is in Norwegian)

Source: Dagbladet - Turboneger kan bli kongene av musikkspill

Funcom, the makers of the game ‘Age of Conan’ have let it slip that Norwegian band Turbonegro will appear in Rock Band 2.

This newest Rock Band 2 information comes from a press release from Funcom announcing the soundtrack for ‘Age of Conan’.

Describing Turbonegro in the press release, Funcom mentions that Turbonegro appear in “the game Rock Band 2″.

Whether this was supposed to be announced or not is currently unknown, but we’re looking into it and will bring you more news as we get it.

From the press release;

During the last few years, Turbonegro has significantly increased their public appeal, and their fan-club now boasts more than 2600 world-wide chapters! The band has been featured in numerous feature films and TV-series, most notably CSI, Jackass (MTV-series + both feature movies), Wildboyz (title song), Viva La Bam and Dirty Sanchez, as well as the game Rock Band II.

Related Links:
Business Wire - Funcom Announc Age Of Conan Soundtrack

Gaming site Next-Gen sat down with Rob Kay, design director for Harmonix, and he hinted at some plans for the upcoming Rock Band 2.

When asked whether or not the current Rock Band’s DLC content “make it harder to justify new retail versions”, Kay responded in a way that suggests that the DLC’s you’ve already purchased would work in upcoming sequels.

We don’t want you to buy a piece of music in Rock Band and then find a year down the line it doesn’t work any more because people have moved on to something else.

While Kay is not making an all out statement saying that DLC songs purchased for Rock Band will be available to use if you purchase Rock Band 2, it would be a shame it they weren’t available after making such a statement.

Kay also indicated that there may be the option for user-generated content in Rock Band 2, mentioning that “it’s definitely part of Harmonix’s future” and “that’s a long-term goal” but that they are “devoting time to figuring it out.”

Harmonix has been looking into user-generated content for a while now.  With Activision announcing that Guitar Hero World Tour would have the ability for user-generated content, Harmonix will probably realize that Rock Band 2 will require it to stay competitive.

Source: Next-Gen.biz - Interview Rock Brand

Kotaku has a post that says we should expect Rock Band 2 to be released later this year, likely in November.

They say that the information from their “retail buddies” indicates that various databases around the nation are showing a November 2008 release date.

The article also touches on the Bo-Diddley Jupiter guitar for Rock Band 2 we touched on earlier.

Source: Kotaku - Harmonix: Possible Rock Band 2 Art, Release Date

Related Links:
Rock Band 2 News - Rock Band 2 to feature the Billy-Bo Jupiter

Joel Selvin, of the San Franciso Chronicle, recently wrote an article regarding the passing of the legendary Rhythm and Blues musician Bo Diddley. 

Joel mentions that Rock Band 2 will have the “Billy-Bo” Jupiter guitar, pictured above, which is a signature guitar model from Gretsch that was designed by Bo Diddley.

“He recently joined with Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top to create the Billy-Bo-Jupiter Thunderbird guitar for Gretsch, a model based on the instantly recognizable cigar-box shape of Bo Diddley’s classic instrument that will be featured in the impending video game, “Rock Band 2.”

The original guitar the Billy-Bo was modeled on was designed by Diddley in 1959, and was given as a gift to ZZ Top guitarist Billy F Gibbons as a gift.

Gibbons didn’t want to risk damaging the instrument and had a reproduction model made which was then mass produced, with Diddley’s blessing we assume.

“Some time ago, Bo gave me the guitar as a gift. It was during the recent ZZ Top recordings when the engineering crew and I snaked through the guitar vault searching for that ‘certain-something’ guitar and there it was! We didn’t risk subjecting such a rare instrument to the rigors of the road so this new, reproduction model was recreated with some BFG Mojo thrown in for good measure. It’s now the main stage guitar with a groove.” -Billy F Gibbons

We certainly hope that Rock Band 2 will also have a tribute to Bo Diddley in the form of a song or two.

Thanks to Rock Band News reader Scott for the link!

Source: SFGate.com - Bo Diddley, giant figure in rock, dies at 79

Related Links:
Gretsch - Billy-Bo Jupiter Thunderbird

Following up on the Rock Band survey we mentioned last month, we’ve got these concept art box shots for you!

Harmonix is conducting more market research it would seem, and these product shots are the latest to come out.

The newest survey asked the following questions;

• Indicate which of the two covers below would attract you more if you were shopping for a new game in a store.
• Indicate which game box cover you believe is a better fit with the description of the game.

A game description and the second concept art shot after the break. Continue reading ‘Rock Band 2 Box Art Concepts Revealed’

Brett Gurewitz, guitarist for the rock band Bad Religion has posted on his Twitter account indicating that they are in the midst of mixing “Sorrow” for Rock Band 2.

This makes us wonder as Console Hero reported earlier this month that ‘Sorrow’ would be a part of Guitar Hero 4.  Bad Religion’s singer Greg Graffin let it slip while he was receiving a reward that ‘Sorrow’ would be part of an upcoming Guitar Hero.  Perhaps Graffin was mistaken about which game it would be included in.

From Gurewitz’s Twitter account;

Mixing the crap out of some Sorrow stems for Rock Band Two, with Adam and Pete (the sneaky bastard). Good times.

Related Links:
Console Hero - Bad Religion’s “Sorrow” Will Be in Upcoming Guitar Hero Title

There has been an online survey making the rounds lately that indicate we may be hearing more from Harmonix about Rock Band 2.

The first question in the survey comes right out and asks people taking the survey if they would be interested in “purchasing Rock Band 2″.  Seems straight forward enough.

Questions included in the survey were;

•  
  • How interested would you be in purchasing Rock Band 2? 
  • How likely would you be to consider Rock Band Special Edition if it is priced at $199, but included an extra guitar (two wireless guitars, drums and microphone included)? 
  • How likely would you be to consider Rock Band Special Edition if it is priced at $169 (one wireless guitar, drums and microphone included)?
  • How likely would you be to consider Rock Band Special Edition if it is priced at $149 (one wireless guitar, drums and microphone included)?
  • If Guitar Hero released a new game with full band play (guitar, bass, drums, singing) similar to Rock Band, which game would you be most likely to purchase?
  • Now, which game would you be most likely to choose if one were priced slightly lower than the other?

Based on some of the survey questions, Rock Band 2 may have a bundle option that includes 2 guitars in the box?  It also appears that different price points for Rock Band 2 are being considered.  This can only be good news for Rock Band gamers.

The June issue of Guitar World Magazine has an interview with guitar legend Joe Satriani.

In the article, Satriani tells GWM that “Satch Boogie” and “Surfing With the Alien” will appear in upcoming installments or updates of Rock Band and Guitar Hero.

Satriani didn’t say which track would be in which game, nor whether they would be a part of a DLC or a full fledged sequel, but either way it will be a great track for Rock Band.

Source:  Console Hero - Joe Satriani to appear in Guitar Hero and Rock Band