June 2009
39 posts
1 tag
Detailed gameplay analysis
Highlights from this TGR preview: Any of the three singers can sing anything they want at any given time - it’s not necessary to pick a particular vocal track and stick with it. The vocal meter fills as long as you are singing one of the correct vocal lines. In practice this means that all three singers will sing the verses together, and branch off for harmony during the chorus - sort of like...
Jun 28th
1 tag
Another interview
BRB news has been slim lately, but I’m surprised how many blogs are still talking about the animated intro video and the fact that the Beatles actually had input in the game. I’m not sure what is so astounding about that. Still, here’s a semi-candid interview with Chris Foster, lead designer. Highlights: Re: gameplay: “There’s more to it than that, although at E3...
Jun 27th
1 tag
Interview with lead designer
Another interview from GameSetWatch. Highlights: The other thing is that we have a full training mode, much like in Rock Band, where between the tutorials and the practice mode, you can actually go in and hear a guide pitch. You can say, “I want to hear what the notes are for the main lines,” or, “now I want to hear what the notes are for the harmonies.” … I swear...
Jun 22nd
1 tag
Another Rock Band track rumor
This site says they have a reliable source that claims the following three songs will be announced: Twist and Shout Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds Can’t Buy Me Love These are completely realistic. Twist and Shout is sort of a question mark since it’s a cover, but The Beatles (or rather, John Lennon) owned that song so I’m sure Harmonix tried really hard to get the rights.
Jun 17th
1 tag
Oh, it's for sure not the track list
From good ole Joystiq: Update: A Harmonix spokesperson has confirmed to us that this leaked list of songs is definitely not the track list for The Beatles: Rock Band, saying, “The rumored ‘leaked’ list is not the disc track listing for The Beatles: Rock Band. We’ll be announcing more tracks throughout the summer. Stay tuned to thebeatlesrockband.com for the most up to...
Jun 16th
1 tag
Why I Don't think the track list is real
It adds 2 Abbey Road songs (Come Together and Something). Um duh, they’re not going to include any more Abbey Road songs on the game disc because they’ll want people to buy the album as DLC. It includes two lesser known songs from the Beatles For Sale album, but not the hit, Eight Days a Week. Granted, this could simply mean they are focusing on historically accurate concert set...
Jun 16th
1 tag
Rumor - Full Rock Band Tracklist
Thanks to Examiner once again. Surprisingly heavy on Let it Be while 1966-67 are really neglected. Here it is: “I Saw Her Standing There” “Please Please Me” “Twist and Shout” “All My Loving” “I Wanna Be Your Man” “She Loves You” “I Want to Hold Your Hand” “A Hard Day’s Night” “And I Love Her” “Can’t Buy Me Love” “I’m A Loser” “Baby’s in Black” “I Feel Fine” “Help!” ...
Jun 15th
1 tag
Box set prices
Although the box sets still aren’t listed on any retailer’s sites, the Beatles UK store has them listed as £199.99. Which would be what I expected in dollars. But in reality, that’s almost $330. Yeah. An inexplicably, even though there’s fewer discs, the mono box is listed as £209.99 (about $345). Obviously it won’t be $330 because that’s just not a number...
Jun 13th
1 tag
How the harmonies work
Wired has a really nice article about how the harmonies work on Beatles Rock Band. The author sums it up nicely: You don’t need to decide who sings what part. If you want, everyone can sing the lead vocals. Hitting the harmonies is additive, not punitive; if you sing two distinct parts, you’ll get a “Double Fab!” score for that phrase, and if you sing all three you’ll get the coveted “Triple...
Jun 12th
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Jun 11th
1 tag
3 free downloads for pre-ordering Rock Band
This post says that people who pre-order Rock Band from GameStop get 3 free song downloads later. Since I haven’t been able to pre-order the game (I want to be able to pick it up at a store, not wait for a shipment), is this just part of the regular pre-order club, or is it unique to GameStop? Another post states that GameStop shoppers also get access to an in-game photo album.
Jun 11th
1 tag
For the fans of previous Rock Band versions →
Jun 11th
1 tag
A blogger lists her top 10 most wanted BRB songs →
Jun 7th
WatchWatch
Finally video of the full Microsoft E3 presentation. I cannot believe how stupid the guest apperances were. But Paul’s game show joke was pretty funny and deserved more laughs. The drummer doesn’t use the cymbals at all. Are they just for show? It’s subtle, but the Microsoft dude says that more albums will be downloadable later, the first being Abbey Road. Is it possible that...
Jun 7th
Jun 6th
Jun 6th
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Jun 6th
Jun 6th
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WatchWatch
Another interview video from E3. Highlights: One Harmonix dude states that the 3-part harmony is very loose. If you have three mics plugged in, you don’t need to designate who does what part. You can switch between parts. When I play alone, I might just have one mic on Easy (no fail) just so I can switch between parts. Another dude says that Beatles Rock Band will include more moustaches...
Jun 6th
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Jun 6th
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Jun 6th
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More details
From gaygamer.net: They [the game’s dev team] also revealed that all songs and venues will be available in quick play from the start, so you don’t have to spend time unlocking everything before inviting your friends over to jam out.
Jun 6th
1 tag
Get Back hands on video and new pics
Sorry to concentrate so much on the drums, but it looks like the cymbals are optional since this article shows a pic of a dude playing without them. This makes sense for all the Rock Band wimps out there not used to using a more realistic kit.
Jun 6th
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More footage of people playing Beatles Rock Band →
Jun 6th
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Fabulous pics of Rock Band hands-on →
Ok, so the drum thing is settled. There’s two cymbals, which means one extra thing to pound, compared to GHWT. If the cymbals tilt, these guys didn’t do it. It looks so un-ergonomical. But at least they’re there. The guitars look even more amazing than I imagined, especially the Hofner, which appears to have wood grains on the paint. Droooooool…
Jun 4th
Jun 4th
1 tag
My 45 song predictions
The 10 we know are at the top. I did include a couple cover songs (in italics), which are probably the least likely to make an appearance, but I think it would be a disgrace to leave them out. I’d love to also see Long Tall Sally and Rock and Roll Music, but I think they are the least likely of the covers to be on the game. I did not include any additional songs from Abbey Road since we...
Jun 3rd
Not related to 09-09-09, but still Beatles
Another Beatles product I’ve been looking forward to is Beatles Trivial Pursuit, and I just found out it comes out in August. An especially-designed game board features photography of the group, and a unique die features The Beatles’ logo and other icons. The game board will have four special zones: * Come Together Zone: should a player lands on a wedge area, anyone also in this...
Jun 2nd
1 note
Question
Where was Dhani during the E3 demo?
Jun 2nd
The incredibly awkward exchange between Paul,... →
Jun 2nd
1 tag
The only good photo I've seen from the E3 demo →
Jun 2nd
2 notes
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Jun 2nd
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Jun 2nd
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Jun 2nd
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Jun 2nd
Jun 2nd
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Rock Band: What we learned today
Phew, what a day! Here’s the scoop: Songs I Saw Her Standing There I Want to Hold Your Hand I Feel Fine Day Tripper (demoed here) Taxman I Am The Walrus Back In The U.S.S.R. Octopus’s Garden Here Comes The Sun Get Back Venues Cavern Club - I Saw Her Standing There The Ed Sullivan Theater - I Want to Hold Your Hand Shea Stadium - I Feel Fine Budokan - Day Tripper and Taxman...
Jun 2nd
Jun 1st
Beatles Rock Band official site officially updated... →
Jun 1st