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Konami staging Rock Revolution this fall

Japanese publisher taking on Rock Band, Guitar Hero with "most realistic" instruments for PS3 and Xbox 360, air guitar/drumming for Wii, vocals, and "stylus gestures" for DS.

Trucker Hats are still in, apparently...

Trucker Hats are still in, apparently...

When Guitar Hero first appeared on the market, some hardcore gamers accused it of ripping off Konami's guitar-peripheral-based rhythm series Guitar Freaks. Many of those same detractors cried foul again with the emergence of Rock Band, which featured a drum kit eerily reminiscent of that used with another Konami game, DrumMania. However, such criticism didn't stop the Guitar Hero franchise from generating over $1 billion and Rock Band moving 3 million units and 10 million song downloads.

Now, nearly 10 years after the first Guitar Freaks game hit the market, Konami is getting back into the instrument-game act. Two years after it trademarked "Guitar Revolution," the publisher of Karaoke Revolution and Dance Dance Revolution will release Rock Revolution on DS, Wii, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.

...as are those straw cowboy hats.

...as are those straw cowboy hats.

The PS3 and 360 editions of Rock Revolution sound much like Rock Band, as it will sport a guitar peripheral and a "realistic" drum kit designed by real musicians. The game will come with 40 tracks on it, with more being offered via the Xbox Live and the PlayStation Store. Konami promised the game would encompass "a broad range of music styles."

When GameSpot previewed the game at a press event last night in San Francisco, the version on hand had selections from Twisted Sister ("We're Not Gonna Take It"), Motley Crue ("Dr. Feelgood"), Quiet Riot ("Cum On Feel the Noize"), and even Avril Lavigne ("Sk8er Boi"). Some selections, such as The Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop" and Jet's "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" are already featured in Rock Band. Unlike Rock Band and later Guitar Heros, all songs in Rock Revolution will be cover versions.

Rock Revolution will also sport a variety of features similar to those included in the upcoming Guitar Hero 4. It will feature a virtual music studio, which lets players create songs that include up to eight tracks, as well as a "jam mode" that will let users experiment with and record free-form performances on the fly. Besides a career mode, the game will offer online and offline versus, Co-op and Band Battle multiplayer modes, as well as a variety of venues and characters.

Rather than Rock Band or Guitar Hero, the Wii version of Rock Revolution sounds more like Sega's upcoming Samba de Amigo. Instead of instruments, it will use the Wii Remote to offer "an air-drum and air-guitar experience," letting players use motion to have their characters perform scissor kicks, smash their guitars, or light their instruments on fire. It will have the same modes and recording options as the PS3/360 edition, but will not support vocals.

Last but not least, the DS Rock Revolution will use stylus gestures for "rhythm matching" to allow players to play drums, bass, or guitar. Konami says the game will also have a "vocal" option, but its control scheme is unclear. The game will have more than 20 songs and will support a variety of modes, including single-player Career and wireless multiplayer Co-op and Battle mode.

For more on Rock Revolution, which is set to ship this fall, check out GameSpot's hands-on preview from Konami's Gamers' Day.

189 Comments

  • VenomRitual

    Posted Sep 27, 2008 11:55 am GMT

    in the end, all 3 games will be essentially the same. it'll be up to reviewers to let us know which versions have the best music and replayability. But GH 4 and RB 2 have an advantage. most people have the peripherals already. no one would buy konami's vrsion if it meant haveing to repurchase the same hardware. unless im totally wrong and konami's game will be compatible with GH's and RB's drums and guitars.

  • fishayyy

    Posted Aug 7, 2008 12:47 am GMT

    No harm intended to all who worked on this game or think this looks fun, but I feel this game is a HUGE disappointment. The way the notes appear makes me feel dizzy, the songs seem too easy (and lets face it, they sound ridiculously bad), and the graphics and movement just makes it seem too... old school, Konami-ish, if you may. I am sorry, but this is a game that should not even be released.

  • Jshaw71

    Posted Jul 31, 2008 1:12 pm GMT

    cover versions of rock aonga is a serious turn off, i may have to rent this for my wii before i get it, thanks for the article GS

  • Beeker1

    Posted Jun 20, 2008 3:48 pm GMT

    Rock Band ripoff

  • Warghost2k

    Posted May 19, 2008 12:44 pm GMT

    Sorry to sound jaded, but there's no way this game can dethrone Rock Band. First off, cover songs SUCK! If all of these songs are cover versions, it will fail. I admire Konami for adding the "make your own song" feature, but there's seriously NO way this can be a used to make the types of songs most people will want. The technology just isn't there yet. There's nothing wrong with being over-ambitious, but no one will be able to make really good songs in a videogame. Not yet, anyway. I see yet another Rock Band clone that will try to slip in under the price of Rock Band (by saving on royalties), and will subsequently be an inferior product. Besides, am I really supposed to be excited about a couple new songs released every week, when those songs aren't even original?? I mean, would Konami expect us to pay the same amount we pay for true originals of Rock Band songs? And, woul they even be able to release as many songs weekly as Harmonix can? They'd have to hire a full-time cover band to churn out that many songs a week. And what kind o band could do a decent Megadeth cover, and then a decent Avril Lavigne cover? Sorry, but this project is full of bad ideas.

  • necronaux

    Posted May 19, 2008 10:59 am GMT

    Wonder if you'll be able to use 2 (drumstick shaped) stylus's on the DS...

  • TacoJelly

    Posted May 19, 2008 8:45 am GMT

    Finally somebody is doing the obvious and using air guitar/drumming for Wii. 1. This is completely natural, and no matter how much we like to kid ourselves, we all do it
    2. This uses the defacto controller on Wii which makes for cheaper games and less annoying, proprietary controllers
    3. It differentiates RR from the existing music games. With GH4 and RB becoming more and more similar, they need to offer something new in order to stand out.

  • Mr_Manikin52

    Posted May 18, 2008 4:24 pm GMT

    So are they done with DDR???? My sister loves that game.

  • peetowser

    Posted May 18, 2008 2:30 pm GMT

    @ chrono_wind : Cause people are ignorant, some can't be blamed for presuming the first game they played of any genre was the very first, they just don't know better or care to do a little research.

    I'm glad they are back making music games but as others said, the songlist is the most important thing, and for now I don't see any song that makes me want to buy it... which isn't a good sign for me.

  • Neoyamaneko

    Posted May 18, 2008 1:51 am GMT

    Wow....Konami is back with a bunch of original songs that no one wants to play. Yay.

  • Mortal_Medic

    Posted May 17, 2008 10:17 pm GMT

    I don't see why the Wii should only have the air guitar option. One would think that there are still many gamers out there who want to actually hold the instrument in their hands. It removes a bit of the feeling of some of the songs/game.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted May 17, 2008 8:50 pm GMT

    Kinda Ironic now.

    Konami who pioneered the Guitar peripheral is just now getting into the peripheral music scene.

  • chrono_wind

    Posted May 17, 2008 3:28 pm GMT

    Why do people say Konami is copying? Do some research, and Guitar Freaks pops up like mad and in much earlier fashion too. I've seen the game in action in local arcades in the US. Ignorance is bliss, but many Arcade machines in the US feature Japanese games. Guitar Freaks is one of them, along with many other rhythm games including a piano one.

    Come to California, especially in the Rowland/Walnut area to see for yourself. You'll hear the blazing sounds of J-Pop and J-ROCK altogether. I may not appreciate the ideas, but sure as heck, Konami is one of the originals. (3 button guitar, opposed to the 5 button GH one..The drum set AND the CO-OP mode of GF and Drum Mania....Etc.)

    This iteration? It won't separate Konami at all. Release a GF and hope it can be released as its Japanese form...With its foreign songs, it would be the only way people will not complain about it being a rip off as much..

  • pearlpunx85

    Posted May 17, 2008 2:08 pm GMT

    ghost867 your argument is totally flawed. how can rock band be a rip off of guitar freaks or drum mania? because they are rhythm based video games? so since halo and call of duty 4 are first person shooters they are rip offs of wolfenstein (or whatever the hell came first)? PGR4 is a game with motorcycles in it so it is a rip-off of excite bike? burger king ripped off mcdonalds.... all it is, somebody improved an idea. thank god for people that "rip off" ideas. i dont want to be playing the same tony hawk BS because somebody is too afraid to make skate.

  • ghost867

    Posted May 17, 2008 10:31 am GMT

    @ dukerav

    Oh really, you played them back in the day huh? So you're telling me you either lived in Japan and played them in Japanese only arcades, owned a Japanese PS2 and the Japanese only versions of the game and instruments, or you imported a Japanese PS2 and the Japanese and imported the Japanese only game and instruments?

    Yea, nice try buddy. Next time, admit when you've made a fool of yourself and did or said something wrong, rather then trying to cover it up. You claim that Rock Revolution and Guitar Hero 4 are rip offs of Rock Band, when the publisher behind Rock Revolution, Konami, came out with Guitar Freaks and Drum Mania back in early 1999. More then 8 years before Rock band came out, and more then 6 years before Guitar Hero came out. The idea, the gameplay, and the instruments are complete rip offs of GF and DM.

    So really, just admit you were wrong and let it go. Don't try and cover it up and make an even bigger fool of yourself.

  • Shattered-Sun

    Posted May 17, 2008 6:52 am GMT

    This prolly isn't gonna do well

  • SStrunks14

    Posted May 17, 2008 2:22 am GMT

    Im amaze at how ignorant some people here are...Konami pretty much is the pioneer for these music games with guitar freaks and beat mania, these games came out so long ago, so don't even go around pointing fingers at Konami calling them posers and what not. If it wasn't for Konami GH and RB would never be as successful as it is. Saying that GH and RB is the original is just pure ignorant and as stupid as you can get.

  • Suyomizzle_

    Posted May 17, 2008 12:31 am GMT

    @ MatthewNintendo

    Are you kidding me? Not well established? Were you born in the last 4 years? Konami has been the creator and innovator of the rhythm game genre since day one. Anyone who enjoys rhythm games is aware of their impressive catalog of titles, and incredible amount of innovation they've brought to the genre. Quite frankly, Guitar Hero and Rock Band wouldn't exist had it not been for Konami's Bemani line of games, and even today Guitar Hero and Rock Band fail to have the staying power, spectacularly balanced competitive gameplay, and ingenuity of Guitar Freaks, Drum Mania, or many of Konami's other rhythm titles. GH and RB are shallow as a puddle in summer rain compared to the ocean of gameplay, depth, and polish offered by the Guitar Freaks and Drum Mania series. CHECK YOURSELF!

  • MatthewNintendo

    Posted May 16, 2008 5:55 pm GMT

    Do they really think they can convince people to buy yet more instruments? I highly doubt it. Why are people gunna go out and spend money on instruments for a game that isn't very well established (and seems really lame) when they could buy RB or GH which they know is of good quality.

  • nibble_couz

    Posted May 16, 2008 4:52 pm GMT

    As far as crap hitting the fan this game is near there.

  • mrt103090

    Posted May 16, 2008 4:38 pm GMT

    Avril Lavigne??? This game just reeks of FAIL!

  • ALLoY1717

    Posted May 16, 2008 4:38 pm GMT

    I saw a video of this over at gametrailers and, I love Konami and all, but this looks terrible. Because the notes scroll vertically your eyes are constantly scanning the screen up and down and it is a real strain. On top of that all the songs are covers!?? I don't think that GH or RB have anything to worry about with this one.

  • Dogar230

    Posted May 16, 2008 2:21 pm GMT

    needs keyboard

  • eagidni

    Posted May 16, 2008 1:35 pm GMT

    mmm... doesn't look very promising. and as a wii owner, i actually feel... insulted? i don't know if i have the right to, but... still. i was disappointed enough when i realized downloadable content just isn't going to happen for gh3 or rock band, but it's understandable, given the whole "no hard drive, we're really not kidding" situation. but air guitar and air drums? no, thank you! i stopped playing with baby toys at least... a... couple months ago...

  • Merl57

    Posted May 16, 2008 1:20 pm GMT

    Ok competition is great but PLEASE for the love of god I better not see another lawsuit

  • LinkRemembered

    Posted May 16, 2008 1:08 pm GMT

    All the songs are covers? ALL of them? That's incredibly bad.

    Oh, and including Avril Lavigne is another epic fail.

  • taj7575

    Posted May 16, 2008 12:56 pm GMT

    AWESOME! i love it when developers challenge each others game; in the end a better one is always made!

  • cd19

    Posted May 16, 2008 12:47 pm GMT

    Yes David Nkiffin, people still play Guitar Freeks in Japanese arcades. Okay, so it's not as popular as Tekken or the Gundam Pods, but people stil play it. Your not the only one who has lived in Japan. I'm just tired of people saying GH started this craze, they blatantly copied Konami. I'm also tired of people saying Konami will fail. They already won a long time ago folks, it's just that arcades weren't / aren't popular in the states.

  • Land-0-Funk

    Posted May 16, 2008 12:45 pm GMT

    wow..so now I have to buy 2 more fake drum kits?...pass

  • steve04

    Posted May 16, 2008 12:38 pm GMT

    I agree with everyone. this is just going to die out. i mena, everybody already has a favorite. either rock band or guitar hero. andsuddenly this third game wants some action. GH4 and RB2 are already in the works. This game cant compete.....

  • usedtype

    Posted May 16, 2008 12:32 pm GMT

    It's hard to say that Konami is copying GH/RB with this since, as the article points out, they did it first with GuitarFreaks and DrumMania. Those could also be linked, giving three people the option to play together on guitar, bass, and drums. Still, this just seems too little, too late. If it had come out before Rock Band it would be big, but now..... While GH and RB are going out of their way to get the real tracks, covers just aren't goin' to make up for it. Also, if someone already has RB or gets GH4, will they want to buy another set of instruments? Sorry Konami, you were the first, now you're last.

  • KahnArtizt

    Posted May 16, 2008 12:25 pm GMT

    this is gonna flop. rock band and guitar hero already have experience and the next iterations of the two already sound amazing. theyre too late to the game. why dont they just try to make a good DDR game instead. they havent done so since extreme came out which is why i quit the series.

  • Mj-Healy

    Posted May 16, 2008 12:09 pm GMT

    Isin't three rhytm games with instruments enough.

  • Zerosumgame

    Posted May 16, 2008 11:56 am GMT

    Finally the one appears! off the posers!

  • MichelobGolden

    Posted May 16, 2008 11:52 am GMT

    The only way they're getting people to buy this is if they put Zeppelin in it. A long shot.

  • sharpsh0t

    Posted May 16, 2008 10:55 am GMT

    Looks like they are just trying to cash in. I think it will be a failure in my book

  • ngboy

    Posted May 16, 2008 10:54 am GMT

    they're all cover songs? pass. i'll stick to rock band thank you very much

  • UFO2012

    Posted May 16, 2008 10:54 am GMT

    I wonder how extremely overpriced this baby is gonna be here in Europe. I already have to sell a kidney for Rockband.

  • DJCUEBALL

    Posted May 16, 2008 10:48 am GMT

    Are you serious? Copying the other 2 now? What the hell is revolutionary about that?

  • solidusScott

    Posted May 16, 2008 10:23 am GMT

    With crappy songs like that its no wonder why Guitar Hero and Rock Band are more popular.

  • toyota22

    Posted May 16, 2008 10:05 am GMT

    yes finaly this come, i have been waiting for it for long:-)

  • jazilla

    Posted May 16, 2008 9:53 am GMT

    we just want to cash in! buy our games!

  • blaskowicz

    Posted May 16, 2008 9:42 am GMT

    Seems like World War II gave way to a "Battle of the Bands".

  • Hvac0120

    Posted May 16, 2008 9:17 am GMT

    It's like an infection taking over the game industry. Everyone wants to get in on the band game action. Sorry, but the first two are going to be the gems for a while. I understand that they are just reaching out to the lowest common denominator with these clones, but it really floods the market with unnecessary crap that makes it harder for the good IP's (GH & RB) to bring in enough money to continue to being the best. It's like how Sony put out that "Buzz" game with the controllers that resembled the "Big Button" controllers that came out on the Xbox360 version of SceneIt. Sony was cutting in on the buzz (pardon the pun) about the SceneIt game and offered something similar for PS2 owners who couldn't afford a 360. Oh well, that's the retail market for you.

  • TrueProphecy22

    Posted May 16, 2008 9:02 am GMT

    There are only so many Band games that can be successfully on the market... I mean, these games cost upwards to 200USD a pop, and once you get one of them, you probably are not going to get a different version.

    And LordShodan, the problem isn't that we don't like to discover good original songs, it is that Cover songs are NOT original, they're copies. It is the exact same song sung and played by a different group of people.

    I don't have a problem with the large section of unlockable songs from unknown artists, it is the covers of original songs that can range from good to pathetic.

  • lordshodan

    Posted May 16, 2008 8:52 am GMT

    I do not care for the songs as long as gameplay offer something unique. It might be a success in Japan/Europe but not in North America as most people want to hear their popular music instead of discovering original songs.

  • yoyoman10

    Posted May 16, 2008 8:51 am GMT

    how cares about this when metal gear solid 4 is on our heels? and with GTA 4 out, who cares about yet another guitar hero wannabe? bad timeing konomi

  • klugenbeel

    Posted May 16, 2008 8:35 am GMT

    You know, i was interested until they mentioned all music will be "Cover bands". That is WICKED lame. How dumb! Everyone I ever met enjoys playing the song to the real band, than some cover band. Konami, you have been just getting Lamer and Lamer over the years, bring Contra back or something, because you guys are starting to really suck.

  • Krazykraz01

    Posted May 16, 2008 8:26 am GMT

    It also has Chop Suey by SOAD, Last Resort by Papa Roach and a Blink-182 song...I'll just stick to GH and RB I think.

  • Taegre

    Posted May 16, 2008 8:23 am GMT

    I know Konami already had similar games in arcades before Rock Band and Guitar Hero, but... outside of the premise and playing with friends, they weren't very fun games. They better reaaaally try to make that "realistic" edge as good as it sounds, or they're just wasting time and money.

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