Harmonix has finally made it for-really-real official: Rock Band is coming out on the Wii. They announced today that Rock Band will come out for Wii on June 22nd in the U.S. and Canada, in a Special Edition package including drums, a wireless guitar, and a mic, for $169.99. Standalone instruments will also be available.

Rock Band will feature 63 songs, which includes five "bonus songs" -- we don't know what any of the songs are or what it means for some of them to be "bonuses." Songs that are available as DLC on other platforms? Nintendo stuff? No idea. But as long as there are songs in the game for us to play fake instruments to, we kind of don't care. We are down with Waggle Rock.

source (http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/51893)

I think they'll probably have graphics as low or lower than the PS2 version. DLC capabilities will be most-likely extremely limited.

Worse comes to worse, it could be like the rock band knock off in Raymon 2 or just cheap out and use the mii's unchanged.

I think they'll probably have graphics as low or lower than the PS2 version. DLC capabilities will be most-likely extremely limited.

Worse comes to worse, it could be like the rock band knock off in Raymon 2 or just cheap out and use the mii's unchanged.

Or the graphics will be much improved over the PS2 version. Who seriously cares about the graphics in a music game anyways? What do you do, watch the crowd?
I'm excited, I've been waiting for a Wii version for too long now.
I'll have to start saving up, $170 is a lot of money.

Or the graphics will be much improved over the PS2 version. Who seriously cares about the graphics in a music game anyways? What do you do, watch the crowd?


Spoken like a true Wii owner! As a former Wii owner, I would counter to say if you don't care about graphics in music games, why not go the extra step and just play real instruments?

Spoken like a true Wii owner! As a former Wii owner, I would counter to say if you don't care about graphics in music games, why not go the extra step and just play real instruments?

Graphics only matter to me when it comes to the note bands and there isn't much needed there to pull them off. I could care less about what is going on in the background.

Awesome news!!! Thanks!

Or the graphics will be much improved over the PS2 version. Who seriously cares about the graphics in a music game anyways? What do you do, watch the crowd?
I'm excited, I've been waiting for a Wii version for too long now.
I'll have to start saving up, $170 is a lot of money.
Graphics as minute as it seems in such a genre as this adds on to the over all experience of the game.

But regardless of what I say, this is great news to a lot of people.

I think they'll probably have graphics as low or lower than the PS2 version. DLC capabilities will be most-likely extremely limited.

And what gives you the impression that the Wii graphics would be worse than the PS2? Is it because the Wii is about 3 times as powerful as the PS2?

Yes.. that must be it.

Spoken like a true Wii owner! As a former Wii owner, I would counter to say if you don't care about graphics in music games, why not go the extra step and just play real instruments?

That doesn't make sense. :confused:

And what gives you the impression that the Wii graphics would be worse than the PS2? Is it because the Wii is about 3 times as powerful as the PS2?

Yes.. that must be it.



That doesn't make sense. :confused:
I think they'll probably have graphics as low or lower than the PS2 version. DLC capabilities will be most-likely extremely limited.
Please do keep in mind, I'm comparing game versions not system graphics capabilities. I had made no mention of the Wii's graphics capabilities v the PS2 graphics capabilities.

Please do keep in mind, I'm comparing game versions not system graphics capabilities. I had made no mention of the Wii's graphics capabilities v the PS2 graphics capabilities.

I see, my apologies. So do you believe they'll just do a bad job of making it or why do you think that?

I see, my apologies. So do you believe they'll just do a bad job of making it or why do you think that?
What I hope and what is real will most likely be two different things. However, seeing as Harmonix is more focused on the experience rather than the bottom like, I believe that they'll certainly do their best to output a well polished game.

However, if it is EA that is pushing for this to be outputted, then I do not have as high expectations as they're most likely looking to milk the franchise for every single penny they can get.

Spoken like a true Wii owner! As a former Wii owner, I would counter to say if you don't care about graphics in music games, why not go the extra step and just play real instruments?

I do play real instruments. But that's real stuff ,and this is a game. I don't sit down and relax with real instruments.
Hell, as long as you can read the notes, I could care less how the game looks.
Graphics really don't matter to me as a selling point, beyond them being there, and working properly.
I love 2D games, and don't even notice the Wii's (relative lack of) power, but if the frame rates start dropping, that pisses me off.
I'd much rather play Wii games at 480p and a solid 30/60 FPS than PS3/360 games at 720p and dipping frame rates.
I just don't get why so many people are hung up on graphic, of all things. Isn't it much more important how the game plays than how it looks?

Spoken like a true Wii owner! As a former Wii owner, I would counter to say if you don't care about graphics in music games, why not go the extra step and just play real instruments?
Why not play football instead of madden? Why not join the army instead of play Halo? :confused:

great news. cant wait!

I love my wii but I have Rock Band for the 360 so it's pointless to preorder a copy. I'm only sad because it will include a wireless guitar. I HATE wired guitars.

I wonder if guitar hero's controller will work with it....

I wonder if guitar hero's controller will work with it....

I will die a little inside if it doesn't. I love my GH guitar, I'd hate to have the use the RB ones, they feel all funny to me.

source
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080324/nym091.html?.v=99

Wii Will Rock You! MTV Games, Harmonix and EA Announce Rock Band(TM) for Wii on June 22, 2008
Monday March 24, 2:55 pm ET
The number one selling game in February 2008 is coming to Wii!*


CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a division of MTV Networks, which is a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA - News, VIA.B - News), along with distribution partner Electronic Arts, Inc. (Nasdaq: ERTS - News), today announced plans to release the award-winning music video game Rock Band on the Wii(TM) home video game system from Nintendo in the U.S. and Canada on June 22, 2008 for the suggested retail price of $169.99.

Rock Band for Wii will be released as a Special Edition bundle including the software, drums, microphone and a wireless guitar. Stand alone instruments will also be available on June 22nd for people who want to build their band one instrument at a time or want to play the drum versus drum game mode. The game will feature 63 songs including five bonus songs for Wii gamers to enjoy.

"The Wii's success among casual and core gamers of all ages makes it an ideal match for the cross-generational appeal of the music featured in Rock Band," says Bob Picunko, Vice President of Electronic Games and Interactive Products, MTV.

"The social interaction and addictive nature of the Rock Band experience is a perfect fit for the Wii and will undoubtedly be fun for the entire family," says Steve Singer, licensing VP from Nintendo.

Rock Band is an all-new platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music like never before. The game challenges players to put together a band and tour for fame and fortune -- all while learning to master lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals. Featuring the most master recordings of any music game ever by the world's biggest rock artists, Rock Band includes tracks that span every genre of rock ranging from alternative and classic rock to heavy metal and punk. Rock Band has garnered over 40 awards this year including Game Critics Award: Best of Show E3 2007 and three awards at The 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards including Outstanding Innovation in Gaming, Family Game of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack.

Rock Band is rated "T" for Teen (lyrics, mild suggestive themes) by the ESRB.

Rock Band is currently available on the Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and on the PLAYSTATION®2 computer entertainment system.

Aww, that's kind of steep

I read that GH guitars will not work with the WII version as well.

I read that GH guitars will not work with the WII version as well.

I've read that they will, and that they won't. I think there's 2 or 3 different "sources" out on that one. They better work, because I much prefer the GH guitar to RB.
There's no good reason that they're not interchangeable, other than general corporate stupidity. Increasing choice increases buyers. More people will buy and like the game if they can use their preferred instruments.

Preorders are open on Amazon now. Shameless plug:

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?p=10739247

Aww, that's kind of steep

uhhhh.... what?

You get more songs by default than any other platform at the exact same price that the game debuted for all other platforms?... and that's steep?

Walked into a local Blockbuster to rent a movie and they had two of these sitting on the floor by the register. I thought they were empty display boxes but then asked and was told that they just arrived today. I bought one $169.99. Wondering if I should try to wait and see if anyone else has it cheaper this weekend??? Also, do you think they are ever going to release a set of old school songs for this? Even though its called "Rock" Band, that would be nice for some of the less than hard core rockers out there.

Spoken like a true Wii owner! As a former Wii owner, I would counter to say if you don't care about graphics in music games, why not go the extra step and just play real instruments?

Rockband is a party game - I'd like to see you try having as much fun with your friends playing a set of real instruments as you would rockband