by Edgar - 04.22.09
I guess we can have Rock Band anything now, right?
You know what would be awesome? If you could customize your guitar with actual Lego pieces. Imagine if they bundled a guitar with 2000 Legos that you could use to make your own instrument.
Interested in the actual game? The full press release is after the break.
Burbank, Calif. – April 21, 2009 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and TT Games are joining forces with the LEGO Group, Harmonix and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), to merge two of the most popular videogame franchises with the creation of LEGO® Rock Band®. The unique family-friendly music experience is currently in development by TT Games in partnership with Harmonix, and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game, which will allow families, tweens and teens to experience a wild journey to rock stardom where they can “Build a Band and Rock the Universe,” will be available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Wii™ home videogame console. LEGO Rock Band for Nintendo DS™ will be co-developed by TT Games and Harmonix in partnership with Backbone Entertainment, a Foundation 9 Entertainment studio. All versions are scheduled for release holiday 2009.
LEGO Rock Band combines the multiplayer music experience of Rock Band® with the fun, customization and humor of the LEGO videogame franchise packed with brilliant chart-topping songs and classic favorites suitable for younger audiences, including:
Blur: “Song 2”
Carl Douglas: “Kung Fu Fighting”
Europe: “The Final Countdown”
Good Charlotte: “Boys and Girls”
Pink: “So What”Players will become rockers as they embark on a journey to stardom that the whole family can enjoy as they work their way through local venues, stadiums and fantasy locations on Earth and beyond that mimic the imaginative settings that the LEGO world offers. Also continuing the LEGO “build-and-play” gaming experience, players will be able to create their own LEGO Rock Band style as they customize their minifigure avatars, band and entourage, including roadies, managers and crew. LEGO Rock Band supports Rock Band instruments, as well as other music game controllers.
“LEGO Rock Band combines two compelling properties and creates an experience that family members of all ages will enjoy playing together as a group,” said Tom Stone, Managing Director, TT Games. “Harmonix and MTV Games are the world experts in music gameplay, and we’re genuinely thrilled to bring the unique and humor-filled LEGO experience to their Rock Band universe.”
“We’re thrilled to offer another LEGO branded gaming experience that will deliver humorous and social play for families and friends,” said Henrik Taudorf Lorensen, Vice President, the LEGO Group. “LEGO Rock Band is built around the same values of imagination and family-friendly creative role play that is present in other LEGO videogames. It will deliver innovative new elements of game play that complement the fun of the Rock Band experience.”
“Rock Band is a social game experience that crosses every generation and every genre of rock,” said Bob Picunko, Senior Vice President of Electronic Games for MTV Games. “Harmonix and MTV Games are big fans of the LEGO game franchise and excited to work with TT Games to develop a new take on Rock Band that focuses on great music and LEGO humor that’s fun for the whole family.”
Already having RB2 makes this pretty ignorable for me. Might pick it up if I can import these songs into RB2.
Tony - 04.22.09 11:26 pm
This game fails if I can’t make an accurate Lego GOB Bluth.
But honestly, I can understand the idea of making a game like this. Rock Band is quite the juggernaut and I understand the idea behind making a version of the game featuring content with more family/younger-based appeal. But this? This is kind of past that ’sellout’ point. Which is fitting, I suppose, given it’s a common occurrence in the music industry. It seems like there’s almost a bit of intentional irony in the whole thing. That and wads of money.
MisterSmith - 04.22.09 11:37 pm
like this comic from Penny-Arcade
http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2009/20090422.jpg
Edgar - 04.22.09 11:54 pm
Speculation about the specific features of the game so early on seems kinda moot, so I just want to ask one thing - exactly when did they stop making Lego people yellow?
Kyattsuai - 04.22.09 11:58 pm
I think the whole Lego thing is going a bit far but on the other hand I loves me some Rock Band so will probably end up buying it.
@ Edgar, I saw that PA yesterday and laughed but immediately felt guilty for doing so.
Pixel - 04.23.09 4:57 am
A toy guitar made from Lego would cost a lot more than the Rock Band guitar by virtue of the fact that Lego is more expensive than gold.
Shaun Hatton - 04.23.09 9:06 am
Lego… Rock Band… for DS?
How will THAT work?!?!
A.J. - 04.23.09 1:25 pm
Seems awesome to me.
It would be both cool and horribly impractical if you had to build the instruments yourself.
But you could totally smash the guitar when you failed a song.
I hope it has a decent amount of customization / is good, and I can port all the other Rock Band songs in so I can play them with LEGO people.
Simon - 04.23.09 3:18 pm
boycot this shit please
this shit shouldn’t be aloud to be REAL
beez1717 - 04.23.09 11:25 pm
I think this is actually a kind of smart idea. Mainly because one of my biggest complaints about Rock Band is that despite being the kind of game anyone can pick up and play, a lot of the music on Rock Band and Guitar Hero are filled with songs not entirely geared towards younger audience… I mean some have explicit lyrics and so forth even and subject matter not generally kid friendly. The games are rated Teen for this exact reason.
In anycase it’s neat to see a kidified version which for the most part will still likely have fun songs. I mean who cares if the look is lego, the games are about music anyways. It just adds some variety.
The Maverickk - 04.24.09 1:21 am
I think I won’t be a fan of this concept. Oh well, for those who are willing to try this one out. Give us a feedback. Maybe that’ll change our mind.
wowgold - 04.24.09 4:24 am