Rock Band 2 update debuts Audition mode

By Tom Magrino, GameSpotPosted Sep 25, 2009 4:32 pm PT

Harmonix's rhythm game gains song-upload functionality for 360's upcoming Network initiative; wireless mics, background DLC downloading, more.

In July, Harmonix announced the next evolution of its popular rhythm game platform Rock Band, taking the lid off of the Rock Band Network. Not entirely unlike the Music Studio mode that Activision debuted in Guitar Hero World Tour, the Rock Band Network will let musicians create playable versions of their own songs as part of Microsoft's XNA Creators Club and then sell those tunes as downloadable content for Rock Band 2.

Get this man a wireless mic!

While the Rock Band Network is still in closed beta testing, Harmonix took a big step today toward rolling out the full service as part of a substantial update to Rock Band 2. As part of the update, Xbox 360 gamers can now have access to Audition mode, letting them upload and test their songs created on a PC. The Rock Band Network is expected to be available for the PlayStation 3 and Wii, following its Xbox 360 debut in November.

Harmonix's update also included a number of other tweaks to Rock Band 2. Notably, Xbox 360 gamers can now use wireless microphones with the game, namely Microsoft's proprietary mic used in its karaoke rhythm game Lips. Players will also now be able to sort by star level in Quickplay mode, and Harmonix has implemented the same chord hammer-on/pull-off mechanism seen in The Beatles: Rock Band.

With the Rock Band platform having accrued more than 60 million downloads, Harmonix has also introduced the ability to queue up song downloadable content, removing the wait time between purchasing and receiving new content. Lastly, the update adds velocity sensitivity to the limited-edition Ion Drum kits for drum fills and Drum Freestyle mode.

For more on Rock Band 2, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

53 Comments

  • chano7

    Posted Oct 24, 2009 4:04 pm PT

    The power of the Rock

  • ArielAguayo

    Posted Sep 29, 2009 3:12 pm PT

    that's a cool update

  • okassar

    Posted Sep 28, 2009 2:08 pm PT

    Rock Band pwns,I just feel it's "cleaner" than Guitar Hero,I have no idea why,lol.

    Both are fun though,don't get me wrong.

  • Platinumfish

    Posted Sep 28, 2009 7:26 am PT

    We use wireless mics for RB2 since we got hold of them on PS3 - no update was necessary.

  • finaleve

    Posted Sep 27, 2009 6:01 pm PT

    Jshaw71 > Honestly, by the time WT came out, I had most of the songs on the setlist on RB either by RB2 or by DLC. I think there was only 1 song I really want from that setlist, Rooftops by Lost Prophets and thats because I love their music.

    Was wondering what the update was. Do not recall the last update they had for this game.

  • maxgrandpiggy

    Posted Sep 27, 2009 11:16 am PT

    This will be great theres been endless times I have wanted to play well anything I got bored of the rockband tracklist very quickly now I can just upload some new songs and go sick on the drums

  • Jshaw71

    Posted Sep 27, 2009 9:29 am PT

    sounds interesting, but micrsoft can throw all the bells and whistles in the game they want to, but unless the tracklist is great, it will be another game not played, rb2 imo had a bad tracklist, ghwt,'s was superior, yet, i bought both games, and sometimes find myself playing rb2, but not as much as ghwt, oh well...

  • dr_taffin

    Posted Sep 27, 2009 2:39 am PT

    This is the sort of thing that solidifies Rock Band's position as the rhythm game of choice for the discerning lady or gentleman. Let the slatterns and ragamuffins have their Guitar Hero.

  • tawagivercetti

    Posted Sep 26, 2009 9:25 pm PT

    Rockband 2 is awesome I'm so happy that its region free as it still hasn't been released from its red tape in Australia.

  • raahsnavj

    Posted Sep 26, 2009 8:48 pm PT

    "Sort by star level" - what does this mean? By difficulty? by previous score? At first I was hope this was a way to sort by 'favorites'... Customers to Harmonix: "I have a ton of songs... I want to have quick access to the songs I LIKE to play above all the rest. Please let me rank my songs and sort by my ranking... that is all".

  • theholyemu

    Posted Sep 26, 2009 6:21 pm PT

    Sweet. I have a ion and didnt like how it didnt read how soft or hard you hit it like with the regular RB2 set.

  • heroickid93

    Posted Sep 26, 2009 4:55 pm PT

    wow you have to pay for the songs people made?...not surprising they love taking money from rockband people

  • Narutofan30

    Posted Sep 26, 2009 4:25 pm PT

    Well Harmonix hasent let me Down........ yet there bringing the Update to PS3! now lets just hope they keep up with that Beatles DLC!

  • ohjtbehaaave

    Posted Sep 26, 2009 4:18 pm PT

    Good. I have the ION Drum kit and was wondering what the deal was there! You can really hear the difference when pounding the snare or hitting the crash cymbal with the sensitivity working on fills, and at the end of songs with the 'Big Finish'.... and of course free style mode.

  • Babywarrior5

    Posted Sep 26, 2009 2:58 pm PT

    Criterion and Harmonix are the two best game studios around! Fan support FTW. *Eagerly waits for the PS3 patch*

  • Mister__Awesome

    Posted Sep 26, 2009 2:21 pm PT

    Rockband is attempting to do away with Guitar Hero, and quite frankly i think it'll be done soon.

  • Fryboy101

    Posted Sep 26, 2009 2:20 pm PT

    may seem like a small thing, but the hammer-on/pull-off chord mechanism from B:RB is a great tweak to the gameplay. i feel the hammer-on chords were done perfectly in B:RB

  • mrklorox

    Posted Sep 26, 2009 1:12 pm PT

    @vetookie: It's not only that, but one also needs an even more expensive XNA creators club account.

    However I'm sure they'll allow silver (free) Live members to buy the final tracks.

  • mrklorox

    Posted Sep 26, 2009 1:09 pm PT

    True dedication that Neversoft has Nevershown.

  • chesed

    Posted Sep 26, 2009 12:51 pm PT

    Now this is how updates should be!

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