Even though I don't create any more than like 3 characters... thank you finally I was tired of that old limited character creating engine finally we have more options and decisions
Rock Band 3 Update - Character Creator
We make a trip to Harmonix to see what's going on with the new character creator.
It doesn't matter what kind of Rock Band player you are. Whether you play just to be around friends or you play for the music, part of the appeal is that the game makes you feel like a rock star. Up until now, your alter ego onscreen was a randomly generated rocker, with crazy hair and outfits that most likely don't exist in your closet. In Rock Band 3, you'll find all the familiar faces from previous games, but Harmonix decided to give you more options to customize your onscreen avatar, which now gives you the opportunity to create an idealized version of yourself. In a recent trip to Harmonix's studio in Cambridge, Massachusetts, we sat down with the lead artist, Pete MacDonald, to go over the new character creator.
For those who still have sentimental ties to their previous Rock Band personas, all the faces that you've come to recognize are still available to choose from. What has been added is that you can now customize different portions of your face, so you can try to make a stylized version of yourself or make the ugliest character possible. MacDonald told us that they weren't aiming to make an editor that would allow you to make an exact replica of yourself but that it would be something in between the character creator for Mass Effect and your Mii.
When customizing your new head, you can rotate the camera to get a good look at your side profile. You can edit details like your eye color and move your eyes around (which quickly goes from normal to slightly creepy). Other parts, such as your eyebrows, cheekbones, nose, mouth, chin, and jawline, can be tweaked within reason. Your height, weight, and muscle tone are adjusted with sliders, giving you more options than before. Certain skin tones look much better now with the new lighting and skin shaders. Plenty of glasses are available to choose from, and more "normal" hairstyles are included so that you don't have to go with the wacky hairdos. If you're a redhead or have a receding hairline, just know that Harmonix has thought of you as well. Another change is the interface for applying tattoos. You're not limited to applying a tattoo in one spot anymore; you can move tattoos around your body to cover a wider range if you like.
More outfits and accessories have been added, as well as new boutiques to help categorize the clothing, making shopping a bit easier. The interface has been changed so that you can easily swap boutiques with the push of the X button and then go through the assortment of tight pants and cool tops. Depending on your style, you could spend a reasonable amount of time in Ms. Kitty's Stage Wear, going through the vast array of clothing selections that feature spandex. Whether you're wearing some Eternal Glamnation pants, or a tape deck strapped to your chest with speakers on your back, there's a little something for everyone. Most items are not available from the beginning, but accessories are constantly unlocking as you make your way through the game.
Rock Band 3 looks to be packed with tons of new features and content for everyone, musically inclined or not. For details on the Pro modes, read our preview here. The game is set to be released on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and Nintendo DS on October 26.
40 comments
I'm already seeing people play this on the full release... What in the BBQ is going on with these mom & pop shops?
i love how in depth they're going with interaction with the characters. you no longer see them just on stage or in little still pictures. you actually see them moving to different venues, and gearing up for a tour. it adds a level of connectivity that i'm so happy they worked so hard on.
@ lehoang15tuoi Tony Hawk's Underground 1 (the last good game of the series) had a feature where you could send in a picture, and they'd give you a code for a character that looked just like you. I can tell you, it worked perfectly for me. 2003. We had that feature back then, haven't seen it since
" Certain skin tones look much better now with the new lighting and skin shaders" Beating around the bush. He means the black skins. They looked funky in RB 1 & 2, thank god for a fix.
I wish for a game which uses a cam to take a picture of my head, from which I can create a more realistic idealized version of myself :( It'd rather see a mini-me with long hair and heavily tattooed body rather than that dull-looking-3D-doll. Seriously.
I just hope that there are more chances to play in music videos or a studio or something. I loved when those would happen in the first 2 Rock Bands and when Rock Band: Beatles came out they really brought that to the next level. I hope we see more of those things in RB3.
I was hoping they would give us an option to turn off the characters they already have in game because i like to make my own characters based in real musicians, so far i've made kurt cobain, bob marley, marilyn manson, axl rose, michael jackson, slash and many more i even made Jesus and God. It looks really fun when i'm playing quickplay and one of these guys get picked by the computer, i just don't want to see the characters created by harmonix.
Rockband vet, hoping to get this one, if it weren't for all the expensive things. Especially since a cymbal port broke on my RB2 set and the cymbals themselves register two hits instead of one. @Wam11, with you all the way one that.
why are a lot of people kissing the Beatles butt...don't get me wrong they have great stuff but the band's longevity, only a decade, limited their catalogue and also limited their musical exploration. The accomplishments of the members after they left the band added great weight to the band's legacy but to me that's not enough to deem them the "best band of all time". Anyways, Rock Band 3 will be on my game radar. I hope it does well.
i hate rock band and guitar hero graphics...why couldn't they just make the people look realistic?
@albertCmoon Yes you are so right in so many ways! The Beatles are the greatest band of all time but don't say all bands on Rock Band 3 are bad because John Lennon's Imagine is on it. Also Elton John, Queen, and The Doors are better than most bands. How incredible would The Beatles Rock Band 2 be. Edit- Crap! I just looked up the full track list and The Beach Boys, The Police, Jimi Hendrix, and The Who are also in the game. I am so excited for John Lennon, The Beach Boys, and The Police. (Good taste for a teenager right?)
i am the kind who makes characters and are attached to them. to have them do random things would be pretty friggin sweet
At least you can actually fine tune your look. RB2 features were good but this ups the detail. I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Tripwolf I guess you didnt notice pro mode or the enhanced band career mode. I mean, you must be done with madden games too, since its also the same thing year after year.
Why does the bottom pic look like a toy... it looks so plastic, and I'm starting to be afraid of it 'cause it looks like it can stare into the very depths of your soul D:
I don't care for any of the crap bands on here, only Beatles rock band, best game ever and it needs more albums like revolver or please please me
Amazing idea. I'm one of those gamers who put a LOT of work into my characters, and to see them walking around and doing stuff is gonna be great. :)
that's awesome. so glad they updated the character creation with more stuff like hairstyles. it felt really limited in RB1 and 2
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Game Info
- Release Date: Oct 26, 2010 (US)
- ESRB: TTitles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older.
Rock Band 3
- Publisher(s): MTV Games
- Developer(s): Harmonix Music Systems
- Genre: Puzzle
- Release:
- ESRB: T
Rock Band 3 Navigation
