Harmonix and MTV Games have revealed the first details about the next phase in their Rock Band Network music authoring service. Rock Band Network 2.0, as it is currently known, will bring a number of new additions and improvements, including a bunch of enhancements specifically designed to take advantage of the new features being introduced in Rock Band 3.
According to a post by RBN senior producer Matthew Nordhaus on the official RBN forums, the new RB3 features that will be supported in the new Rock Band Network are as follows:
Pro Drums: although you can add MIDI information for cymbal gems to RBN1, RBN2 will add the ability to audition with cymbal gems as well as a few enhancements to streamline the audio submixes.
Keys and Pro Keys: full support of our brand new keyboard peripheral will be available; both regular (5-lane) and Pro key authoring.
Vocal Harmonies: three part harmonies. Sing!
All of these features will be optionally supported by RBN2, and each song may implement as many or as few of them as the creators wish.
Audition mode will be updated as well. The exact feature set is not final, however we are planning on supporting the following enhancements:
Practice Sections: full support for named and placed practice sections, plus the ability to check them in Audition mode. Auto generated practice sections will still be an option.
Rewind while you are auditioning a song. YES, WE HEARD YOU.
Custom camera controls to allow you to view specific band members during audition mode (to check animations, lip sync, etc.)
Dramatically improved auto-generation for the venue track.
One of the major RB3 features not being supported by RBN 2.0, at least at this point, is support for Pro Guitar authoring. Nordhaus explained the omission, saying, "This was not an easy decision, as we want RBN to be on parity with DLC as much as possible. We can certainly revisit this decision in 6-12 months, however, at least for now, we aren't supporting Pro Guitar."
Nordhaus went on to say that forgoing Pro Guitar support ultimately came to the following three issues:
Because of the way that Pro Guitar DLC is implemented in RB3, it would have been substantial work to add to the pipeline for both Harmonix and Microsoft.
It is extremely time consuming to author, to the point that it might be just as time consuming to author a Pro Guitar part as it would be to author the rest of the track.
Peer Reviewing any Pro Guitar songs would be problematic due to the fact that we will be building a brand new install base of Pro Guitar players at launch.
Other additions being considered for RBN 2.0 include “skipping to song sections, feedback for audio mixing issues, fixing store audio preview bugs, improved Magma error reporting and MIDI validation, guide audio for vocals, and more.”
Nordhaus also offered up the following tentative timetable for when users can expect to see these RBN 2.0’s features start to roll out:
RBN2 Docs and Reaper Templates released this fall prior to the RB3 ship date (October 26th).
Magma 2.0 and RBN2 Audition mode (added to RB3 360 with a patch) will be released shortly after RB3 ships.
A beta version of creators.rockband.com that handles RBN 2.0 songs will be available for song submissions in early 2011.
RBN2 content will start to appear in the RB3 store at the end of Q1 2011.
Gamasutra are reporting that amazon will no longer be selling Xbox LIVE Arcade game codes.
According to a notice on the Amazon.com website, Xbox Live Arcade game codes for specific Xbox 360 downloads will no longer be sold through the online retailer.
The notice further informs users that Xbox Live points can still be purchased on Amazon.com, and that these can be used with your Xbox 360 console to purchase any of the games that were previously available.
The Amazon store offered consumers the advantage of buying games using exact money -- and sometimes at Amazon-specific discounts -- rather than purchasing them using a Point system as in the Live Arcade interface.
Continuing in the sad tradition of Halo 2 and 3 before it, Halo: Reach has apparently been leaked. Modders at Game-Tut.com found a way to trick Microsoft's servers, which are currently hosting the full game download.
The download is intended for select media and only accessible with a code -- well, until Game-Tut apparently cracked that security measure. The site has yet to openly leak the files to the general public.
It appears that the game is leaking other places as well. At least one video released shows off a tour of Forge in the game's Firefight mode, and spoilers for the game can be found everywhere from Bungie's official forums to NeoGAF (if you really want to see them, you can find them yourself).
While Microsoft and Bungie will be hosting the usual slate of Halo review events around the world in the coming weeks, it appeared as though the companies were relaxing around the usually tightly-controlled media access to the series by uploading the game to Xbox Live. Unfortunately, the system proved vulnerable to the insatiable demand for Halo, which facilitated another early game leak for this high profile franchise.
Update: A Microsoft spokesperson told Joystiq, "We are aware of claims being made regarding a security exploit related to Halo: Reach and are aggressively investigating the matter. We have no further details to share at this time."
Here is the latest list of upcoming content scheduled for release via the Xbox LIVE Marketplace on Xbox 360. Summer of Arcade wraps up this week this week with Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. Also remember that if you purchase all five titles, and you’ll receive 1200 Microsoft Points back.
Don't forget, on August 31st Dead Rising 2: Case Zero (400 Points) will be coming exclusively to Xbox LIVE. Any status and items you earn in Case Zero will carry over to the full game of Dead Rising 2 when it releases next month.
*Current schedule. Subject to change. All content may not be available in all Xbox LIVE regions.
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Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is now available for download from the Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360. The new Lara Croft game will cost you 1200 MS Points and is available in All Xbox LIVE regions.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is the first downloadable, co-op action/adventure game to ever feature Lara Croft.
Content: Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light Price: 1200 Microsoft Points Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions Dash Text: (ONLINE INTERACTIONS NOT RATED BY THE ESRB) Experience the first ever co-op action-adventure game featuring Lara Croft. Team up with a friend or go at it alone as you traverse and solve deadly traps, fight hordes of undead enemies, and collect over 60 artifacts and relics. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light offers fast-paced action and breathtaking visuals shown through an isometric view.
As previously announced, LIVE Co-op support will be coming soon. Plus, when it is comes out later this year, the first DLC pack will be available for the first 30 days for free, exclusively on Xbox 360.
Take-Two Interactive Inc. this week released the "Legends and Killers DLC Pack" for Xbox 360. The new "Legends and Kills DLC" will cost 800 MS Points and is now available for download in all Xbox LIVE regions.
The Legends and Killers DLC for Red Dead Redemption includes nine new multiplayer maps, eight new multiplayer characters from Red Dead Revolver, and a bunch of new Achievements.
Content: Legends and Killers Pack Price: 800 Microsoft Points Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions Dash Text: The massive, action-packed world of Red Dead Redemption gets bloodier with the epic new multiplayer content of the Legends and Killers Pack. Battle it out in nine new map areas, unlock new challenges and achievements, and hone your combat skills with the deadly Tomahawk. Then play as classic characters from Red Dead Revolver -- Red Harlow, Annie Stoakes, Jack Swift, Buffalo Soldier, Shadow Wolf, Pig Josh, Ugly Chris, and Mr. Kelly.
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