Rock Band 3 has been revealed in delicious detail and it’s great news for folk who’ve been frustrated by being stuck bashing buttons. The rumoured Rock Band 3 keyboard and pro mode are go with a 25 key MIDI keyboard, a pair of real guitar controllers and an improved drum kit on the way. And while Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock promises 90 tracks, Rock Band 3 will weigh in with an equally mighty 83 song set list…
Rock Band 3 will still let you wield the button based controllers of old but the developers have also revealed the new Pro Mode to USA Today. It will allow you to actually learn how to play properly with realistic musical notation replacing the colour coded notes we’re used to. With the guitar that’ll mean numbers flowing down the screen along the strings to show you where to place your hands and when to strum.
The Rock Band 3 pro guitars also sound like they’ll be a lot more complex than the Guitar Hero 6 controllers we’ve seen. The first is a fully working Fender Squier Strocaster. John Drake of Harmonix says: “It can tell where your fingers are based on technology in the neck and bridge of the guitar. No buttons.” There’ll also be a Fender Mustang Pro controller from Mad Catz with a selection of sensors across each fret that will show your finger positions onscreen.
Drums in Rock Band 3 are also getting an overhaul with three new cymbals alongside four drum pads. Meanwhile the new Rock Band 3 keyboard isn’t a keytar but is a 25-key beast which will actually work as a full MIDI keyboard as well as a game controller. There’ll be coloured buttons for bashing in normal play but you’ll be able to use the full set of keys in pro mode.
Harmonix also revealed that novice and pro players can co-operate in the same band and that there’ll be graduated levels in Rock Band 3 pro mode so you can build up to virtuoso standard. The early Rock Band 3 track listing contains several keyboard heavy songs including Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, Huey Lewis & The News with The Power Of Love and The Doors’ Break On Thorough.
For vocalists, Rock Band 3 will feature the same support for harmonies that we’ve seen in The Beatles: Rock Band and Green Day: Rock Band. Pricing and an exact release date for Rock Band 3 haven’t emerged yet but we can expect more announcements about it next week during E3.
The Rock Band 3 developers say they’re hoping the new game will combat the feeling of “staleness” that surrounds rhythm games right now. Do you think they’ll succeed? Let us know what you make of the plan to bring real instruments to Rock Band 3 in the comments.
Due Winter 2010 | £TBC | Rock Band (via USA Today)
