Rock Band 4 (PS4, XB1) - 2015

[cdj]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc0RECohAZ0&feature=youtu.be

Harmonix is excited to announce that it is teaming up with Mad Catz to bring Rock Band™ 4 (http://forums.harmonixmusic.com/discussion/257486/were-ready-for-our-encore-rock-band-4-coming-2015), the next generation of the award-winning social and interactive music gaming platform, to PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft®.

Additionally, fans attending PAX East in Boston between March 6 and March 8 can pre-order an exclusive Penny Arcade-themed guitar in person at Harmonix’s booth, #4224.

START A BAND. ROCK THE WORLD.

Rock Band 4 brings the critically-acclaimed franchise to a new generation of consoles, focusing on the features and gameplay that people love, and expanding the franchise in innovative ways that were informed by how fans play and what they want.

“With Rock Band 4, we’re doubling down on the energy and excitement of playing music live with your friends,” says Harmonix Chief Executive Officer Steve Janiak. “Focusing on the core experience that our fans have told us they love allows us to evolve established gameplay in meaningful ways that we can’t wait to share with everyone later this year.”

“We couldn’t be happier to be working with Harmonix and help bring the band back together for the launch of Rock Band 4,” added Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz. “Harmonix possesses unrivalled passion and vision for music gaming and we can’t wait to introduce the next generation music platform to passionate gamers.”

Harmonix will reveal to its fans more details about exciting new features of Rock Band 4 this coming May.

STILL THE MOST MUSIC. PERIOD.

In addition to a killer on-disc soundtrack, Rock Band 4 will support over 2000 tracks released since the 2007 launch of the original Rock Band, accounting for more than 500 of rock music’s most legendary artists.

“Since the beginning, we’ve called Rock Band a music platform. Players responded by downloading hundreds of their favorite tracks, and building a massive library of playable music,” says Rock Band 4 Product Manager Daniel Sussman. “It’s important for us to respect those purchases and enable our fans to bring that content over to the Rock Band platform on new generation consoles.”

Players who’ve purchased or downloaded playable tracks on last-generation consoles will be able to download and play those tracks on their new platforms at no additional charge*. Hundreds of tracks will be available at launch, with more back catalog music – and new tracks – to be added regularly after launch.

CELEBRATE WITH FREE DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT FOR ROCK BAND 3, AVAILABLE NOW

To celebrate the long-awaited announcement of Rock Band 4, Harmonix is offering a free downloadable track. “I Still Believe,” recorded by UK-based songwriter Frank Turner for his fourth EP, Rock & Roll, is available now for download today, free of charge, on PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360®. Playable today in Rock Band 3 and Rock Band Blitz, this is one of the hundreds of songs that will be compatible with Rock Band 4 when it ships later this year for PlayStation®4 and Xbox One!

Rock Band 4 will be available later this year. For more information, head over to http://www.harmonixmusic.com and follow @RockBand on Twitter for updates.

[cdj]

Fans of the critically-acclaimed music platform know that music alone does not make the experience. Alongside the launch of the game, Mad Catz will have a full line-up of new music game controllers (http://madcatz.com/rock-band-is-back/), ready and waiting to rock as hard as you do!

Mad Catz will introduce a Rock Band 4 Band In A Box™ bundle, which includes a copy of the game, a new Wireless Fender™ Stratocaster™ Guitar Controller, a new Wireless Drum Kit and a Microphone! If you just want to rock out with a Guitar Controller, hey, we got you covered as we’ll have a Guitar Controller Bundle which includes a copy of the game and a Wireless Fender Stratocaster Guitar Controller.

Okay, if you’re not already freaking out, remain calm: if you’re visiting PAX East, Harmonix is running a very special promotion just for visitors to the show. To celebrate the announcement of Rock Band 4, Harmonix will offer a PAX East Wireless Stratocaster Guitar Controller featuring custom artwork of “Gabe” from the Penny Arcade web-comic! To get your hands on this extremely limited-edition collectible, you’ll need to pre-order on-site at the Harmonix booth.

Mad Catz has been working hard with Harmonix to make a suite of all-new music game controllers for rocking out with Rock Band 4, which we believe will prove to be the ultimate music platform for the new generation of consoles! We’re convinced that fans of the franchise will love the new controllers we’re cooking. We’ve turned everything up to 11 this time around! We’ve tweaked several features such as the tilt-sensor on the guitar controllers for extra accuracy and sensitivity. Mic response has been tuned, build-quality has been refined, but more about hardware later. Suffice it to say, we think you’ll all be very happy.

[JBHuskers]

I might have to dust off the drums!

[souljahbill]

I still play this game on occasion. I play medium guitar and easy drums.

[JBHuskers]

"In my prime" I was doing hard drums with expert on some songs.

I'm guessing that the old instruments are not going to work.

[souljahbill]

"In my prime" I was doing hard drums with expert on some songs.

I'm guessing that the old instruments are not going to work.

They said its more likely on PS4 than Xbox because the PS3 instruments were USB dongles.

[Rudy]

I hope it uses old instruments although ours were for the Wii. No way I invest in all that for the new game if I can't use the old gear. That stuff all connected via USB so I don't see why it couldn't be used for any system.

[cdj]

Since they are partnered with MadCatz on the peripherals, I'd expect that *if* the old instruments could be used it won't be announced until close to launch (hoping people pre-ordered the new instruments) or that they will 'hear the fans and work tirelessly!' to add that feature sometime (six months?) after release.

I'm probably being too cynical, but Harmonix has to make their new partner happy and announcing/having backwards compatibility with instruments now (or even before launch) isn't good for business.

[souljahbill]

I hope it uses old instruments although ours were for the Wii. No way I invest in all that for the new game if I can't use the old gear. That stuff all connected via USB so I don't see why it couldn't be used for any system.

Yeah, you can give that dream up. No way Wii instruments work on PS4 or Xbox One.

[JBHuskers]

Yup.

[JBHuskers]

http://imgur.com/3aWxksu.jpg

[Escobar]

I can't wait for this. On RB3 I played Hard/Medium Drums, Expert Bass, Hard/Expert Guitar, and Expert Piano. I played a few instruments when I was younger, and make beats now. Once you don't play the drums for a while you lose the timing for the double bass kicks.

[cdj]

Rock Band 4 and instruments will cost $250. (http://www.gamespot.com/articles/rock-band-4-and-instruments-to-cost-250/1100-6428101/)

[CLW]

Rock Band 4 and instruments will cost $250. (http://www.gamespot.com/articles/rock-band-4-and-instruments-to-cost-250/1100-6428101/)

Wow were they that expensive last time?

[JBHuskers]

Wow were they that expensive last time?

I wanna say $150 to $200, but can't remember for the whole big package.

[JBHuskers]

Harmonix has clarified that the bundle with the game and a guitar will be $120

[cdj]

Pre-order the Rock Band 4 Band-In-A-Box or the Rock Band 4 Fender Stratocaster Guitar Software Bundle for PlayStation 4 or Xbox One and get a Song Pack of 34 downloadable tracks playable in Rock Band 4. Customers who pre-order from Amazon.com will get 4 exclusive tracks: • Alabama Shakes “Don't Wanna Fight” • Breaking Benjamin “Failure” • Death From Above 1979 “Trainwreck 1979” • The Pretty Reckless “Follow Me Down.” Code will be emailed within 2 business days after your order ships. Offer limited to items shipped and sold by Amazon.com. Amazon reserves the right to change or terminate this promotion at any time.

Via: Amazon (http://amzn.to/1Ig65v8)

[Escobar]

Are they no longer supporting the piano?

[bdoughty]

Are they no longer supporting the piano?

No piano or pro guitar in RB4.

[souljahbill]

No piano or pro guitar in RB4.

That's disappointing (in terms of piano)

[JBHuskers]

All PS3 instruments will work with Rock Band 4 :up:

For signing up for the Playstation Rewards Visa, the first purchase netted me a $50 PSN card, and they delivered that really quick. So I used it to digitally preorder this since I have a SHIT LOAD of songs purchased that I can carry over. Can't wait to start rocking out again \m/

[bdoughty]

Now if they would just release Rock Band Blitz 2. I can only play with a standard controller but I had a library of 200+ songs for the original.

[JBHuskers]

Now if they would just release Rock Band Blitz 2. I can only play with a standard controller but I had a library of 200+ songs for the original.
Hope so.

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[JBHuskers]

The game is preloading now :hump: my first retail digital preorder ever.

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[JBHuskers]

Less than 12 hours I'll be rocking out with my cock out! :rock:

83 meta so far after 10 reviews:

http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/rock-band-4

[JBHuskers]

So close!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wO-MCRX72pI/VhMb3xzpOoI/AAAAAAAAGhM/Q6ZDajBhbL4/w530-h298-p-rw/20151005195418.jpg

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[JBHuskers]

Fun game, straightforward. Sounds like the career is amazing if you have past DLC, else it gets repetitive, I was waiting to get all of my files transferred over before starting the career. Playing online with friends is the biggest thing missing. I never battled randoms, but playing with friends was something I did a lot on the old games.

[JBHuskers]

Medium is definitely a lot harder than games past as not only do they use chords with the blue fret, but some orange is mixed in there too. Got my first 100% on medium last night with this System Of A Down song....

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uPcwLDKUMJU/Vhv0Kv6vN9I/AAAAAAAAGrU/FBFmW4ukqdI/w958-h539-no/Rock%2BBand.jpg

[bdoughty]

Going to pick this and the Uncharted collection tonight. I have way too much money invested in DLC songs. Guess I will learn to play with the guitar laying down flat. If only Fallout 4 was available to save me from the decisions but I need something new to play.

[JBHuskers]

Going to pick this and the Uncharted collection tonight. I have way too much money invested in DLC songs. Guess I will learn to play with the guitar laying down flat. If only Fallout 4 was available to save me from the decisions but I need something new to play.
I "think" you can use a controller.

I haven't tried but noticed the five keys light up with a button push.

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[bdoughty]

I "think" you can use a controller.

I haven't tried but noticed the five keys light up with a button push.


I tried but do not think it is possible with the controller (only navigating). If you do find a way let me know. Did not take very long for my hand to cramp up with the guitar, so it appears to be a waste of money. Even the Jeff Healey lap method was a dud (http://www.guitarnoise.com/images/features/jeff-healey-978x782.jpg). Not to mention half of the DLC I bought for RB Blitz does not show to be available to download unless I pay again. Add to that another 20 or so titles that I previously purchased are stuck in some space time continuum not allowing me to do anything to get the file.

You are right that medium is harder now. Not only that Easy has blue and orange frets that popped up in a couple of the songs I tried. Really did not like the new solo mode but you do have the option to turn it off or on, at least you can in freeplay. Impulse purchases are my enemy. At least I have the Uncharted collection to run through again.

[cdj]

An upcoming expansion for Rock Band 4 will bring synchronous online multiplayer to the game, developer Harmonix announced today. That expansion will be out sometime during "holiday 2016."

"Synchronous online multiplayer will be like Quickplay, modified to provide a fair and streamlined experience for console friends looking to play Rock Band 4 together online," Harmonix community manager Criss Burki said in a PlayStation Blog post. "We'll be implementing enhancements on the back end to address issues for folks who don't have the same DLC libraries and want a more fluid process for choosing songs together as a band (you all know that one person who would pick a song before you had the chance)."

Courtesy: Polygon (http://www.polygon.com/2016/4/24/11499106/rock-band-4-online-multiplayer-release?utm_campaign=polygon&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter)