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Rock Band big in Japan

Harmonix strikes deal with Lumines dev Q Entertainment to help develop a "heavily localized" version of its popular multi-instrument rhythm game across the Pacific.

Around the turn of the century, Konami helped establish the instrument-based rhythm genre by releasing two games--Guitar Freaks (1999) and Drummania (2000)--in Japan. Now, after nearly a decade since Taiko titles reigned supreme, the island nation is getting a new wave of rock-and-roll-centric rhythm games.

Less than a month after Konami announced its re-entry in to the sector with Rock Revolution, Harmonix announced a "heavily localized" version of its triple-platinum-plus-selling Rock Band, cryptically titled Rock Band: Japan. According to Harmonix, the game is the first Western-developed rhythm title to be reworked for Japan, and will feature many Japanese acts. No release date or platforms have yet been announced.

Even more interesting is the company that is partnering with Harmonix to ensure Rock Band's award-winning gameplay doesn't get lost in translation. That would be none other than Q Entertainment, the independent developer founded by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, famed designer of groundbreaking rhythm game Space Channel 5. The studio, founded in 2003, was behind the wildly popular Lumines puzzle series and the less popular Meteos, Ninety-Nine Nights, and Every Extend Extra Extreme.

81 Comments

  • IceDefenseGod

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 8:50 pm PT

    We'd better get some Japanese songs. Most American's are too ignorant to realize the pwnage of J-Rock.

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  • mustangsanders

    Posted Jun 29, 2008 12:29 pm PT

    this will be asome.

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    • 1 of 1 users agree
  • 98scoutgandia

    Posted Jun 27, 2008 7:29 pm PT

    will there be japanese rock?? theyre cool

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  • hoyholyhoy

    Posted Jun 22, 2008 3:00 pm PT

    HOLY CRACK! Japan AND Rock!? This is a dream!!!

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    • 1 of 2 users agree
  • Commando69

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 1:22 pm PT

    That's some pretty heavy stuff. Those people are soooooo lucky!!

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    • 1 of 1 users agree
  • T3h_M3tal_Biggz

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 12:46 pm PT

    wow, lucky for them .

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    • 1 of 1 users agree
  • FoUDarthBob

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 9:49 pm PT

    over/under on how many people in the us will try to get this game

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    • 1 of 1 users agree
  • TreyTable

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 4:50 pm PT

    At least it will have better songs than what was included on the Rock Band disc.

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    • 1 of 5 users agree
  • TehPickle

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 3:43 pm PT

    Meteos is so under-rated!

    • Login to rate this comment
    • 1 of 1 users agree
  • blazewind191

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 2:17 pm PT

    news for the actual game on release for the wii would be nice rather than "news" about the game in some other country

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    • 0 of 2 users agree
  • Senor_Kami

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 1:10 pm PT

    Is the 360/PS3 region locked for games?

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    • 1 of 2 users agree
  • aerisISalive

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 12:08 pm PT

    Brooooo we have to get that. I would freakin love to play it. But the vocals would be tough.

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    • 1 of 1 users agree
  • 4lic

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 11:15 am PT

    OMG... I have to see how this is going to be..
    Singing Gackt, the Gazette, Dir en grey songs would be awesome!!!

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    • 2 of 3 users agree
  • decoy1978

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 10:06 am PT

    I would not mind importing RB: Japan

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  • FX102

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 10:05 am PT

    Being a fan of Japanese music, I hope this is region free as I'll probably import it; the peripherals of course I'd pick up in-country.

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    • 1 of 2 users agree
  • okassar

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 10:02 am PT

    LLLLOOOOLLZZ,Rock Band Japan,I guess that's good for marketing strategy though because Japanese people tend to buy domestic products and although RB isn't domestic for them,Rock Band Japan might work out.Rock Revolution,by the way,looks pretty cheap.I doubt it will compete,what the hell,keep it to GH and RB.

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  • MasterEIC

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 8:48 am PT

    Personally, I'd love to grab a copy or Rock Band: Japan myself.

    Japan has it's own taste in music, and the rock scene over there is quite big. Big names include "L'arc en Ciel", "X Japan" and (cringe) "Gakt". Acts like "BEAT CRUSADERS" and "Asian Kung-Fu Generation" have gotten international exposure through their songs that are featured in animes, and "the pillows" had their music be the entire soundtrack for one. Also consider indie bands, like the "Sparta Locals". Look up these bands to get a feel for their sound.

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  • Pedro7_2000

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 8:41 am PT

    "and the less popular Meteos, Ninety-Nine Nights, and Every Extend Extra Extreme." These were still good games though.

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  • klugenbeel

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 5:47 am PT

    And you thought listening to Europeans signing in this was bad, wait till you hear the 12 year old Japanese kids sing Celebrity Skin! lol

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  • otanikun

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 5:13 am PT

    Spiffy, wish I could get my hands on that version of RB

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    • 0 of 0 users agree
  • David_Kniffin

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 5:05 am PT

    DrCLos, you're right. A lot of Japanese people love American songs, so I'm sure there will be some demand to get our music as DLC. I hope EA/MTV/Harmonix realizes how much both sides of the world want to be exposed to each other's music and provides us all with the option to get our hands on the imports.

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  • David_Kniffin

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 4:55 am PT

    I live in Japan, but I don't want to buy a Japanese PS3 to play this. I really hope these songs become available as DLC for us, like the European songs already have.

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  • Kool212

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 3:52 am PT

    Would be nice if the songs could be downloaded over here.

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    • 1 of 2 users agree
  • Jedilink109

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 1:58 am PT

    Well heck, this would be cool over here too! I hope they've got some Hyde in there.

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    • 0 of 0 users agree
  • salamancecool

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 1:31 am PT

    Lets hope the songs come out over DLC so I dont have pay loads to import.

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    • 4 of 4 users agree
  • SonicTheMonkey

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 11:08 pm PT

    Hmm, Rock Band Filled with J Pop? I kinda want to import this game now...

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    • 0 of 0 users agree
  • finaleve

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 10:53 pm PT

    I was wonderwing when they would be bringing Rock Band across seas...about time.

    I would love to see a guitar hero of japanese bands. I've heard some songs I'd love to play...

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    • 3 of 3 users agree
  • MoonMarvel

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 10:07 pm PT

    Hope this comes out here! Would be fun rocking out to Japanese bands! Never heard any before so I am open to them!

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    • 3 of 3 users agree
  • vashkey

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 9:59 pm PT

    Wouldnt it be somthing if Harmonix brought Rockband: Japan to the US? I'd buy it.

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    • 2 of 2 users agree
  • Zidaneski

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 9:55 pm PT

    WHOOOOOO!!!!!! FINALLY!!! My sister has been nagging me forever for this! I'm not sure if this game would do well on Xbox though, but it probably depends on when it comes out.

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    • 2 of 3 users agree
  • LordelX

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 9:47 pm PT

    I'm not sure Rock Band will do well over here...small Japanese apartments + alot of noise + alot of eqipment and peoplewill be a hard sell. It should be tested in arcades first here...arcades are still alive and kicking over here...then based on that a home release should be considered. If they are going to bring it to consoles in Japan it should come to all consoles...on time. A decent Wii version would be the most important release, followed by PS2, PS3 and an Xbox360 version as a thank you to all the Japanese fans that have stuck with them.

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    • 3 of 4 users agree
  • funsohng

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 9:25 pm PT

    put cant beat airman
    it will be awesome

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    • 0 of 0 users agree
  • TTouchdown51

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 9:21 pm PT

    God, I hope Maximum the Hormone is in it. Is "What's Up, People?" or "Zetsubou Billy" make the cut, I will literally kick someone in the face for this.

    Also, I'm predicting 90% of the soundtrack will feature songs and bands from Ouendan, as well as anime themes.

    If so, this will be the best game EVER.

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    • 1 of 2 users agree
  • dulun19

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 9:08 pm PT

    Japan, a place where Karaoke is the norm.. i'm sure Rock band will do well there.. giving that they have JPN songs instead of English..that is

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  • dmfreak

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 9:04 pm PT

    and then the japanese people will say, "it's a guitar freaks & drummania ripoff" once it's released there.

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  • Meko_Gear_Solid

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 8:58 pm PT

    RockBand is awesome maybe my thai buddy will look at it now haha and i dont think they are guna have different songs.. maybe extra japanese songs for download but i still doupt it RB is rockin all ova da globe hehe screw a guitar hero it was dead after #2... Harmonix all the way baby...

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  • Mercenary-X

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 8:58 pm PT

    heh, I hope that the J-Rock songs get put up in the other regions, just like the European ones did.

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    • 2 of 2 users agree
  • Fanible

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 8:41 pm PT

    Oh, please let the Japanese songs be available for download for the rest of us...

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    • 2 of 2 users agree
  • roll450

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 8:22 pm PT

    Nice now, Harmonix needs to find good jappenese songs.

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    • 0 of 0 users agree
  • FinalsoulX

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 7:42 pm PT

    jap song in rock band? rock on

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    • 3 of 4 users agree
  • IpodHero176

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 7:37 pm PT

    It would be great if the localization for Japan is DLC for the US and Europe. I hope L'Arc~en~Ciel are in it.

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    • 1 of 2 users agree
  • allmybase

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 7:32 pm PT

    The news that Q Entertainment is working on Rock Band's Japanese localization isn't necessarily as surprising as it may sound. Mizuguchi and Alex Rigopolous of Harmonix have actually had a pretty lengthy work relationship which dates back to Rez's development, if I recall correctly, so this may just be the fruition of the duo's friendship. Having said that, I personally can't think of a better developer to give the game the right attention which it deserves in that market. As long as MTV is also backing the endeavor again to get the right names into that version of the game, too, I think this could do very well over there.

    As a side note, I'm among the people who would consider importing this version if the soundtrack is good. I don't know too much about J-Rock, but I imagine Rock Band: Japan would serve as a very good primer to it.

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    • 2 of 3 users agree
  • Ton77

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 7:31 pm PT

    what isnt big in japan haha

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    • 1 of 2 users agree
  • musicaz70

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 7:06 pm PT

    Dear lord, just no Dir En Grey... I saw that band live and it was just bleh... Other than that this could turn out cool although I won't really see the effect because I own 360 RB.

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  • Senor_Kami

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 7:03 pm PT

    "Even more interesting is the company that is partnering with Harmonix to ensure Rock Band's award-winning gameplay doesn't get lost in translation."

    Huh? Wouldn't the only difference be japanese songs and everything is written in japanese? This is cool, I wonder if it will eventually be setup where anyone can download a song from anywhere (assuming they also offer song downloads). The install base of US Rock Band users who want japanese songs is small, but it is there. Would it really cost them additional money to make that a possibility?

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    • 1 of 2 users agree
  • FAcorp

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 6:57 pm PT

    Every one like Rock Band it's like karaoke but with out
    the alcohol!

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    • 2 of 3 users agree
  • DrCLos

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 6:15 pm PT

    I would love getting some of their region's tracks and I am sure some Japanese would love getting some US hits. Let's get some kinda trade for the best tracks going.

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    • 2 of 3 users agree
  • ronnoc10

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 5:51 pm PT

    Too bad everyone else is gonna want to play that version, and Japans gonna want to play everyone elses'. You can't get away with making new note charts, and not sharing.

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    • 0 of 1 users agree
  • ocdog45

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 5:51 pm PT

    LOVE THE ROCK BAND! i actualy hate it, but you can't stop the madness like macho man.

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    • 3 of 5 users agree
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