Rock Band big in Japan

By Tor Thorsen, GameSpotPosted Jun 2, 2008 3:38 pm PT

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.

84 Comments

  • gundam691

    Posted Nov 29, 2008 7:24 pm PT

    Ya i just cant wait but its taking them a while also songs from animes are not the only things theyll put in if they do it!!!

  • Koto2291

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 10:18 am PT

    i agree with FusionHunterX. it would be awesome to see some J-Rock as DLC. "Buiki Kaesu", "What's Up People?!", "Alumina", "The World", "God Knows", "Lost My Music", just way too many to name

  • FusionHunterX

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 10:53 pm PT

    I would love for the Japanese songs to be available on the Xbox Marketplace and the PlayStation Network. I'm half Japanese, so I would be sooo thrilled. I would like to see Maximum the Hormone, L'Arc-en-Ciel, Kimaguren, Southern All-Stars, UVERworld, Sambo Master, Asian Kung-Fu Generation...man..there's too many to name. I mean the have european bands on there, so why not add some "Ragin' Cajun Asian" flavor to Rock Band?

  • 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.

  • mustangsanders

    Posted Jun 29, 2008 12:29 pm PT

    this will be asome.

  • 98scoutgandia

    Posted Jun 27, 2008 7:29 pm PT

    will there be japanese rock?? theyre cool

  • hoyholyhoy

    Posted Jun 22, 2008 3:00 pm PT

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

  • Commando69

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 1:22 pm PT

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

  • T3h_M3tal_Biggz

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 12:46 pm PT

    wow, lucky for them .

  • FoUDarthBob

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 9:49 pm PT

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

  • 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.

  • TehPickle

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 3:43 pm PT

    Meteos is so under-rated!

  • 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

  • Senor_Kami

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 1:10 pm PT

    Is the 360/PS3 region locked for games?

  • 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.

  • 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!!!

  • decoy1978

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 10:06 am PT

    I would not mind importing RB: Japan

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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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