Rock Band 3 Official Thread

[KentState]

This game is getting a little convoluted with features, a variety of hardware and different DLC pricing. What drum kit should I buy if I plan on playing pro-mode? Would be nice to see some type of compatibility chart.

Secondly, I'm a little disappointed that the Soundgarden and maybe RHCP may not import into 3. I know I play a lot of those songs every time I play

 

[gorcorps]

The pro mode drumset is nothing more than the RB2 set with cymbals. If you have the RB2 set already just buy the $40 cymbal pack.

 

[Pheran]

This game is getting a little convoluted with features, a variety of hardware and different DLC pricing. What drum kit should I buy if I plan on playing pro-mode? Would be nice to see some type of compatibility chart.

Secondly, I'm a little disappointed that the Soundgarden and maybe RHCP may not import into 3. I know I play a lot of those songs every time I play

To be clear, I'm talking about on-disc songs from RB1 and RB2, I don't believe that Soundgarden and RHCP DLC that you purchased will be affected in any way (though it's quite disappointing that already-exported RB1 songs might not be playable). And gorcorps is right about the cymbals, if you already have RB2 drums then just buy the pro cymbal expansion.

 

[KentState]

I need a new drum set as my RB2 ones are beat to hell. I also tried the cymbal expansion pack awhile ago and hated how they felt. I wonder if there will be a RB3 branded set coming out.

 

[KentState]

To be clear, I'm talking about on-disc songs from RB1 and RB2, I don't believe that Soundgarden and RHCP DLC that you purchased will be affected in any way (though it's quite disappointing that already-exported RB1 songs might not be playable). And gorcorps is right about the cymbals, if you already have RB2 drums then just buy the pro cymbal expansion.

Dani California, Black Hole Sun and Spoonman are some of my favorite songs to play. I'm a huge grunge fan so seeing these go is very disappointing.

 

[Pheran]

I need a new drum set as my RB2 ones are beat to hell. I also tried the cymbal expansion pack awhile ago and hated how they felt. I wonder if there will be a RB3 branded set coming out.

The pro cymbal expansion are new cymbals that are supposedly improved over the old ones (though I never had the old ones so I have no basis for comparison). If you need a whole new kit they do offer a RB3 drum set that includes the cymbals as well.

 

[KentState]

The pro cymbal expansion are new cymbals that are supposedly improved over the old ones (though I never had the old ones so I have no basis for comparison). If you need a whole new kit they do offer a RB3 drum set that includes the cymbals as well.

Holy crap, that's a lot of money for a drum kit. Hopefully they are worth the coin.

 

[torpid]

Singing isn't as accurate as it could be. You can get away with a lot of nonsense as a singer. I'm assuming it hasn't gotten better for RB3?

 

[Pheran]

Holy crap, that's a lot of money for a drum kit. Hopefully they are worth the coin.

True, in fact if you have a 360 it might be more economical to purchase an entire Beatles bundle or RB2 bundle which will get you new drums and a guitar controller (and the game). You'd still need the cymbal kit after that though.

 

[Pheran]

Singing isn't as accurate as it could be. You can get away with a lot of nonsense as a singer. I'm assuming it hasn't gotten better for RB3?

Well, there are now 3-part harmonies. But I haven't heard anything about the recognition engine changing. There are limits to how picky they can make it before it starts forcing you into some kind of style, but I do agree that the talkies are pretty darn loose.

 

[Pheran]

Release Day!

The official Rock Band site is still down for the relaunch, but RockBandAide has a report on the Rock Band 2 export details. The export costs $10 (as already announced) and there are 5 songs not included:

AC/DC – Let There Be Rock
Journey – Any Way You Want It
Metallica – Battery
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Give It Away
Soundgarden – Spoonman

The AC/DC exclusion is just odd, especially since you'll still have a live version of Let There Be Rock if you have the AC/DC track pack export. The most surprising and annoying to me is Any Way You Want It, which is a great song. The other three were at least rumored/expected.

Also missing from the export are the 9 songs from Harmonix bands, but Harmonix says that those will be released as a free DLC pack in the future. I'm not sure why they didn't just export them, but perhaps they are planning to update them with some RB3 features which would be nice. They are not listed, but I believe these 9 songs are:

Abnormality - Visions
Anarchy Club - Get Clean
Bang Camaro - Night Lies
Breaking Wheel - Shoulder to the Plow
Libyans - Welcome to the Neighborhood
The Main Drag - A Jagged Gorgeous Winter
Speck - Conventional Lover
The Sterns - Supreme Girl
That Handsome Devil - Rob the Prez-O-Dent

I can hear people cheering about the non-export of Visions already.

Finally, there's no mention in this announcement about the reportedly non-working Rock Band 1 songs Dani California and Black Hole Sun, but they seem likely to stay that way since RHCP and Soundgarden are not exporting. Rumor has it that the reason for RHCP's exclusion is an upcoming Guitar Hero: RHCP game.

So, in summary, you get to export 70 songs for $10 with 9 more coming as free DLC later. That's a pretty good value compared to the $10 Lego export which gave you 45 songs.

 

[Beev]

upcoming Guitar Hero: RHCP game.

/rolls eyes

I like RHCP, but a game devoted to them will sell just as bad as Green Day Rock Band

 

[Pheran]

/rolls eyes

I like RHCP, but a game devoted to them will sell just as bad as Green Day Rock Band

Yes, especially if it's just another shovelware Neversoft release (very likely). I'm still annoyed about Guitar Hero: Van Halen. Now that there are keys, Rock Band desperately needs a good Van Halen pack.

 

[Tom]

a couple of questions..

1. I'm leaning towards the Wii version because we have more instruments and Wiis upstairs and downstairs. Also buy Wii points and don't buy xbox points. So except for graphics and managing DLC, any differences between xbox and Wii versions ?

2. I assume Band Hero instruments will work for non-Pro modes, Wii or xbox, right ? Anyone specifically know how Band Hero drums will work ?

3. i've read a guitar can play the keyboard part, so I guess that means 3 guitar controllers at once ?

btw, pretty foolish for Rockband.com forums to be down on release day..

 

[Jeffg010]

I'm a big time hater on Visions. I hope to never see that POS again. I could never plat that song even on hard. It was the only thing that stopped me form the doing Endless Setlist.

Van Halen set would be nice Jump and Right Now would be fun to play on Keyboards.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

a couple of questions..

1. I'm leaning towards the Wii version because we have more instruments and Wiis upstairs and downstairs. Also buy Wii points and don't buy xbox points. So except for graphics and managing DLC, any differences between xbox and Wii versions ?

2. I assume Band Hero instruments will work for non-Pro modes, Wii or xbox, right ? Anyone specifically know how Band Hero drums will work ?

3. i've read a guitar can play the keyboard part, so I guess that means 3 guitar controllers at once ?

btw, pretty foolish for Rockband.com forums to be down on release day..

my friend has it on wii (got it as a gift), even though he has a ps3.
after seeing RB2 on my ps3, he is trying to find an excuse to rid his Wii version.
graphically, it does not compare. the wii shows why its a $199 system.
obviously, you're invested into the wii already with the instruments but for everyone else, the decision is a no brainer.

 

[KentState]

Seems like the release of the game has been a little rushed. The RB website is still down, the ink isn't dry on the song transfers, still uncertain about certain songs transferring from RB1, some instruments are not released, no instrument/game bundles and so on. Wondering if they will get the online scoring right this time or if it will be permanently broken?

 

[Pheran]

a couple of questions..

1. I'm leaning towards the Wii version because we have more instruments and Wiis upstairs and downstairs. Also buy Wii points and don't buy xbox points. So except for graphics and managing DLC, any differences between xbox and Wii versions ?

2. I assume Band Hero instruments will work for non-Pro modes, Wii or xbox, right ? Anyone specifically know how Band Hero drums will work ?

3. i've read a guitar can play the keyboard part, so I guess that means 3 guitar controllers at once ?

btw, pretty foolish for Rockband.com forums to be down on release day..

If you have a choice between Wii and Xbox go Xbox if you can, though the Wii version isn't as crippled as previous versions of Rock Band since RB3 is supposed to support exports. I don't have much info on that yet though. The other thing you don't get with the Wii is full access to the RBN store.

 

[Tom]

If you have a choice between Wii and Xbox go Xbox if you can, though the Wii version isn't as crippled as previous versions of Rock Band since RB3 is supposed to support exports. I don't have much info on that yet though. The other thing you don't get with the Wii is full access to the RBN store.

What are "exports" ?

 

[Pheran]

What are "exports" ?

The ability to take songs from other games (RB1, RB2, LRB and GDRB) and copy them to your system so you can play them all in one game. To date the Wii has not supported this at all, which has made it pretty much suck for RB compared to the other consoles. Supposedly RB3 for Wii will support this, but it's not known yet exactly how that works and which games will export for Wii.

 

[abaez]

Man, is there anyway to easily see what DLC you've already bought and is already on your HD? We bought a brand new 20gig to use just for Rock Band, but it's just ridiculous how you can't easily see what you've bought versus what's on your HD. All I see on the DLC list when I go into a Purchased song is the option to Download Again... grrrr...

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

The ability to take songs from other games (RB1, RB2, LRB and GDRB) and copy them to your system so you can play them all in one game. To date the Wii has not supported this at all, which has made it pretty much suck for RB compared to the other consoles. Supposedly RB3 for Wii will support this, but it's not known yet exactly how that works and which games will export for Wii.

Speaking of exports, did anyone have any success in exporting their RB2 disc yesterday? I tried using the code redemption option in the RB3 store menu with the code on the back of my RB2 manual and kept getting an error message.

Even without my RB2 tracks, I'm having a lot of fun with the street challenge mode. Being forced to deploy Overdrive in specific circumstances (as often as possible, only at max multiplier, only with full meter) really changes the dynamics of how you try to play songs, even ones you know well.

 

[Termie]

Speaking of exports, did anyone have any success in exporting their RB2 disc yesterday? I tried using the code redemption option in the RB3 store menu with the code on the back of my RB2 manual and kept getting an error message.

Even without my RB2 tracks, I'm having a lot of fun with the street challenge mode. Being forced to deploy Overdrive in specific circumstances (as often as possible, only at max multiplier, only with full meter) really changes the dynamics of how you try to play songs, even ones you know well.

Rock Band 3 site is up, with instructions on how to export RB2 songs.

http://www.rockband.com/support/export-rock-band

I got it to work on my Xbox - went to "redeem code" in the "Get more songs" menu, used the code on the back of the RB2 manual, all caps, no dashes. It then gives you the option to buy the $10 (800 point) export code.

 

[Jeffg010]

Who tried Pro mode for Keyboard? So far it is a bitch to learn. I though It would be pretty easy to learn because I play some keyboard myself but I have to start on easy =(

Two things that would make it much easier for me
1. Having the notes labeled with what they are on the screen C D E F G G sharp E Flat ect... would help a bunch. Seeing an E flat come down the screen would help hell of a lot because I instantly know were an E flat is on the keyboard. This is how I leaned real piano is by the letters. Middle c was first thing I learned and worked off of that.

2. I wish the entire keyboard was on the screen. I know they don't have enough room to do that but it would help a ton.

I went through the pro mode training and they show scales which is cool but it is pretty useless when they don't label the notes. I feel like all I'm trying to do is to just find my placement then what is the actual note is on the keyboard. I got to medium training and started really finding it tough.

 

[Pheran]

Also, I just found that Gameshark (Madcatz's own store) is showing the 360 version of the Mustang as available right now. No one is sure if this is accurate yet, but a few on the RB forums have ordered to see if they get it right away.

Reports are coming in that some Best Buys and Gamestops have Mustangs right now. Availability certainly does vary though.