AfterDawn: News

New Rock Band to include keyboards

Harmonix has released the demo for the upcoming Rock Band sequel, Green Day: Rock Band and included is a teaser image that seems to imply that the upcoming game will have keyboard support, an all-new instrument for the popular music game series.

Users can download the two-track demo from the XBL Marketplace and play the songs "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Welcome to Paradise."



The image shows off the four standard icons, (mic, guitar, bass, drums) with the keyboard fifth.

The original game of the series sold over 5 million tracks, and led to a revolution in DLC (downloadable content), selling over 40 million tracks.

Rock Band 2 continued strong sales for the franchise, although reviews were not as great.

Pic via JoyStiq:


Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 25 May 2010 16:37

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• 16 comments

• DoomLight

  a 5 button keyboard LMAO
  

  25.5.2010 21:24 #1

• KillerBug

  Hmmm...if they included a real keyboard, I bet there would be a flood of talented keyboard players in a couple of years.

  25.5.2010 23:34 #2

• NHS2008

  this is getting too much...instead learn an actual music instrument.
  

  
  
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  26.5.2010 09:25 #3

• NHS2008

  this is getting too much...instead learn an actual music instrument.
  

  
  
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  26.5.2010 09:25 #4

• andmill11

  No keytar = no buy
  

  26.5.2010 16:35 #5

• bam431

  Originally posted by NHS2008: this is getting too much...instead learn an actual music instrument. I love Rockband and I can play real guitar and drums but haters gonna hate.
  
  
  

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  26.5.2010 17:04 #6

• bobiroc

  Originally posted by bam431: Originally posted by NHS2008: this is getting too much...instead learn an actual music instrument. I love Rockband and I can play real guitar and drums but haters gonna hate.
  
  Seriously.... Some cannot take these games for their entertainment value. If someone truly believes that it is going to make them a rock star then they are delusional. I mean the same can be said for any game. Like Call Of Duty... Seriously just join the army. Like Need For Speed... Then become a real race car driver. Like Super Mario Brothers...Then become a plumber that gets various power ups and tries to save a princess. It is just entertainment people.
  

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  26.5.2010 18:12 #7

• KillerBug

  "Like Super Mario Brothers...Then become a plumber that gets various power ups and tries to save a princess."
  
  Or just wear red and eat magic mushrooms...that is how I play mario...but I never stomp turtles; that is just barbaric.
  
  Seriously though...wouldn't it be nice if they included a "Pro" mode, with a "pro" keyboard sold as an accessory? Little Johnny is going to pay a whole lot more attention to his piano lessons if the piano sounds like a guitar, and he is playing with his favorite band (or his friends via the internet). The parents will be happier too, as they don't have to pay a tutor, and they can easily check if he has been studying just by going to the game stats...they can even see how well he is doing, without having to listen to his awful playing. Once the keyboard is a hit, they could start including "pro" guitars, drums, etc, etc, etc. They could make billions on the accessories alone!

  26.5.2010 23:42 #8

• hateonhaters (unverified)

  Originally posted by bobiroc: Originally posted by bam431: Originally posted by NHS2008: this is getting too much...instead learn an actual music instrument. I love Rockband and I can play real guitar and drums but haters gonna hate.
  
  Seriously.... Some cannot take these games for their entertainment value. If someone truly believes that it is going to make them a rock star then they are delusional. I mean the same can be said for any game. Like Call Of Duty... Seriously just join the army. Like Need For Speed... Then become a real race car driver. Like Super Mario Brothers...Then become a plumber that gets various power ups and tries to save a princess. It is just entertainment people. edited by ddp, it's not about becoming a rock star, and no one could master the drums on rock band and sit down and play a real drum set. It seems as if you are the delusional one. My wife and I have friends come over and we use it for parties with our kids, its great. Get a clue, games are just that, games!! Meant for entertainment...

  27.5.2010 14:44 #9

• bobiroc

  Originally posted by hateonhaters: Originally posted by bobiroc: Originally posted by bam431: Originally posted by NHS2008: this is getting too much...instead learn an actual music instrument. I love Rockband and I can play real guitar and drums but haters gonna hate.
  
  Seriously.... Some cannot take these games for their entertainment value. If someone truly believes that it is going to make them a rock star then they are delusional. I mean the same can be said for any game. Like Call Of Duty... Seriously just join the army. Like Need For Speed... Then become a real race car driver. Like Super Mario Brothers...Then become a plumber that gets various power ups and tries to save a princess. It is just entertainment people. edited by ddp, it's not about becoming a rock star, and no one could master the drums on rock band and sit down and play a real drum set. It seems as if you are the delusional one. My wife and I have friends come over and we use it for parties with our kids, its great. Get a clue, games are just that, games!! Meant for entertainment... Um.. you are basically agreeing with me so why the childish name calling? I know it is not about becoming a rock star but some people like to relate music games like Rock Band or Guitar Hero/Band Hero to doing the real thing. I was just trying to illustrate that these games are meant for entertainment and using examples of other games that could (or could not) be done in real life. Many people like war games, sports games, or driving games. Doesn't mean they want to join the army or go play a professional sport or go race a car around town or around a track.

  27.5.2010 18:58 #10

• binkie7

  hateonhaters -
  Enough with the name calling. You're an adult right so I really shouldn't need to tell you this.
  

  
  
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  27.5.2010 19:25 #11

• NHS2008

  Hey all who quoted me or like...I have nothing against the game..but this whole 5 button guitar and drums and now keyboard stuff really are waste...why cant I just use my Dual-shock 2?
  

  
  
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  28.5.2010 11:18 #12

• bobiroc

  Originally posted by NHS2008: Hey all who quoted me or like...I have nothing against the game..but this whole 5 button guitar and drums and now keyboard stuff really are waste...why cant I just use my Dual-shock 2? I think it is because it is trying to simulate actual playing. The closest to the real thing (besides the singing of course) is the drums IMO. I have mostly the Guitar/Band Hero series and I play the Guitar, wife on drums, and my sisters and friends come over and we have a few "adult" beverages and have a good time. That's what is all about. I have to admit playing that game has helped my hand eye coordination and I can do things better with my left hand because of it. I started out on Easy and then worked my way up to hard and what a difference.
  
  Oh and I thought you could use an actual controller. I know that in the original Guitar Hero series (Games 1 -2 or 3) you could. They even had an achievment titled "Get a Guitar Already" that you had to use the controller to unlock. Of course this is on XBox. I have little to no interest in the PS3.
  

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  28.5.2010 11:30 #13

• KillerBug

  "I think it is because it is trying to simulate actual playing"
  
  IF they wanted to do that, you would be able to plug in a real guitar...you know, the kind with strings...

  29.5.2010 04:38 #14

• IguanaC64

  Wow...couldn't they just rig up a midi interface and let you use a real keyboard? Would be great for actually learning keyboards.
  
  I'm also kinda surprised they haven't added a feature that lets you hook up your guitar/bass into the microphone jack which would make it more like the singing games...but would give you a more realistic experience (which would be awesome for actually learning these instruments).

  1.6.2010 11:27 #15

• Gnawnivek

  Believe it or not, it's actually harder than the guitar, lol. Anyhow, it's for mindless fun, kids love it and it's a great way to release stress too, it's not meant to take it seriously.
  
  I don't know how the keyboard is going to work, but hey, there got to be something new right? I mean you have the plumber in flat 2D and now he's all over the galaxies :)
  

  Peace!

  1.6.2010 12:46 #16