EA: No Rock Band for you (maybe)
by Alisha Karabinus 
{ Jan 2nd 2008 at 7:00PM }
Is there a possibility that we'll someday see Rock Band on the Wii? Maybe, but for now, EA doesn't seem very interested in bringing the title to our console of choice. Last year, Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos seemed excited about seeing Rock Band on "every important platform," and on the Wii in particular, but despite the Wii's amazing sales records, we can only guess that, at this point, it's not important enough. After all, EA's Bryce Baer told the good folks at GamePro that there's nothing in the cards at this time. At least, nothing's been announced -- which we knew -- but it didn't seem very enthusiastic, either. We'll try not to be bitter.We'll probably fail.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DraftRough @ Jan 27th 2008 4:10PM
Hey who cares now guys? Dont get mad, we dont need Rock Band its inferier. Besides we have GUITAR HEROE baby! The mack daddy of Rocking games. Whos to say Gutair Heroe doesnt bring a silly drum perpherile out for GH4 that is actually nice and built sturdy and good? I really could do without a mic though seeing as 99% of people cant sing and id like to enjoy the music not have my ears bleed. So dont fret we have the genre standard so rock on Wii players!
Rocketboy @ Jan 2nd 2008 7:08PM
Unless the Wii gets some sort of external storage beyond SD cards, we'll never see Rock Band. EA is too intrested in the cash cow that DC is, and as of yet, DC is not a major part of the Wii.
Mr Khan @ Jan 2nd 2008 7:24PM
@ Rocketboy
There is the PS2 version, which, while lacking the title's seminal online mode, also lacks that DLC feature
Wii could, of course, beat the other consoles by having the maximum capacity for instruments, between the 4 GC ports, 4 BlueTooth channels, and 2 USB slots
Rocketboy @ Jan 3rd 2008 10:29AM
True, but the development cost for the PS2 version was probably already factored into the cost of development for the PS3 version. I doubt it added too much to their bottom line. But the Wii version would be a new build of the software = more bux. More bux - DC = No Rock Rock Band for You.
vidGuy @ Jan 2nd 2008 7:33PM
Visuals would have to be downgraded. The controller setup would have to be figured out (can the Wii's USB even be used for controllers right now?). DLC would be near absent. Online mode would likely need tweaking for wireless and "friend codes". Etc, etc. All to develop a new version of a ~$200 game that would likely sell few units on the 'casual' Wii.
In terms of reaching a few more consumers, they may still go after it, but there's probably more involved than we think.
thethirdmoose @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:06PM
boogie's microphone is USB
ArmorForVictor @ Jan 2nd 2008 7:39PM
Sucks they don't want to put it on the wii ,but most people have ps2's so just buy it for that. By the way have it for the ps3 and it's really addictive. Also just started the purple coin challenges in super mario galaxy and they make me want to rip out my hair :(
Yishai08 @ Jan 2nd 2008 7:44PM
Any argument againsta Wii version pretty much falls flat because there's the PS2 version. At any rate, maybe their waiting for a storage solution... fine by me.
Calvin @ Jan 2nd 2008 7:46PM
I think there waiting for Wii Ware and to see if DLC comes out for GH3, which, if it does, expect to see RB out for the Wii IMO.
Russ Carroll @ Jan 2nd 2008 7:50PM
Guitar Hero 3 sold best on Wii out of the next-gen consoles.
Since Rock Band could easily be a PS2 to Wii port, not taking it to the Wii just means leaving lots of cash on the table. If EA doesn't bring Rock Band to the Wii it will be a sign of their management really not knowing anything about what Wii gamers want. (I can just see the EA exec saying "Trust me, Wii gamers want games like Boogie, not Rock Band.")
B3astofthe3ast @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:31PM
Actually, Gh3 sold best on the 360.
Russ Carroll @ Jan 3rd 2008 12:32AM
GH3 did sell best on the 360 in October, but in November it was bested by the Wii, and between the two months I believe Wii took over the top spot. (clearly it is won on attach GH3 attach rate, but I believe it also won in total sales)
Links to Oct and Nov NPD (notably GH3 isn't in the top 10 for Nov, I think it was #11, will have to check at work for the exact numbers)
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=16270
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=16640
Matt @ Jan 3rd 2008 9:40AM
GH3 for total units sold best on PS2 followed by the 360. The Wii version is in a close 3rd. Let's wait and see what the final December numbers are, though.
Dopple Boppler @ Jan 2nd 2008 8:27PM
Yeah, you'd think after Guitar Hero 3's success on the Wii that EA would be jumping all over this. I quit buying stuff for my PS2, at least games with peripherals like Guitar Hero and whatnot, so there's no way I'd buy the PS2 one of Rock Band. Oh well, I'll probably have a 360 by the time a Wii Rock Band ever materializes, if it ever even does.
Seth @ Jan 2nd 2008 8:43PM
While at first glance, I thought EA was being unreasonable about this (as Yishai says, it could basically be a PS2 port), I'm starting to understand that this isn't a software issue, it's a hardware issue.
Sure, they could port it for the Wii pretty cheaply, there are several games that have done just that, and all those license titles pretty much prove that simultaneous development for multiple platforms is possible. But they'd have to start from scratch for the hardware design and re-tool everything to plug into/communicate with remotes.
Unless they decided to make the instruments plug in to the GC ports, in which case I would think it's just a matter of adapting the PS2 version. They could even just make a GameCube version and let Wii owners buy that one, and therefore open up the huge GC market as well.
Egon @ Jan 2nd 2008 8:59PM
I heard from a relative of a Harmonix employee (so take it with as much of a raised eyebrow/grain of salt as I did) that the Wii version is a lot closer than you think... But that's all I've got for you.
Blue_Falcon @ Jan 2nd 2008 9:08PM
Truthfully, I'd like to see something different...something unique for the Wii, in regards to music games.
Let's see a Saxophone...or a Harmonica. Maybe a kazoo will do.
sn1per @ Jan 3rd 2008 11:28AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vBfzPfOq2I
Harmonica hero, anyone?
Spekkio @ Jan 2nd 2008 9:58PM
The simple fact is that EA doesn't take the Wii seriously, despite its success. I don't think they ever will, either. EA has gotten so big, powerful, and arrogant that they think they can control the market. To some extent, they're right - a console without Madden is likely doomed.
Just_a_guy @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:35AM
and then you find out that madden is just another one of those sports games which you buy to get the latest team lineups and the one new gimmick every year, when you could have gotten a system without this game, that is clearly winning the console war.
sn1per @ Jan 3rd 2008 11:29AM
...but the wii HAS madden.
tiamat1990 @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:24AM
What the hell!! The Wii version of Guitar Hero is the second best selling, only behind to the PS2 which was a MUCH larger install base. It would obviously do well on the fucking console!
Lasher702 @ Jan 3rd 2008 3:36AM
My first inclination is to damn EA for not taking the Wii more seriously. All we have seen from EA for the Wii are ports with lazily added Wii controls thrown on top. Frankly all third part developers are doing this. My first inclination is to hate on Activision for sending us mono only discs when clearly marked on the box is Dolby ProLogic II. Acting strictly from the gut I would slap each and every third party developer as they all have implemented a Wii strategy that optimizes financial return over product development costs. Yet there is one glaring problem. Nintendo hasn't discouraged this. They allow these developers to do this without regard to product quality because of a fear of not having third party development at all. Unfortunately this isn't new anyone old enough will remember the junk Nintendo allowed towards the end of the NES life cycle and the weak port of Mortal Kombat on the SNES.
While Nintendo has been innovators within their own development house they haven't encouraged third parties to embrace the same level of commitment to their visions.
Maybe I'm just rambling but blame lies on all sides. A year into the next gen systems and it is disappointing what the Wii is becoming and sad at thinking of what it could be.
My suggestion to Nintendo add USB hard drive. Enable developers to patch software. Embrace DLC. Fire Reggie, he's an idiot, no one wants to download, delete, download again, rinse and repeat. Encourage original IPs that use the capabilities of the Wii completely and not just a crappy port of a PS2 game (this is most needed I hate looking at a PS2 port when I see a clean game like SMG or Metriod). Show developers how to implement Wii controls correctly.
Oh well we'll see what happens in the new year.
As far as Rock Band goes, EA is definitely missing a large user base that grows exponentially every day.
ALH @ Jan 3rd 2008 5:38AM
wouldnt a wii version involve slotting a wiimo0te into every instrument? That works fine with something like guitar hero because everyone already has one wiimote, but rockband has more instruments, we cant expect everyone to go out and buy extra wiimotes as well as shelling out for rock band itself.
Shadow31 @ Jan 3rd 2008 9:29AM
First of all, the mic would not need a Wii remote, and the drums wouldn't necessarily, but most likely. Second, you don't have to pay for an entire bundle. You can buy the game by itself and just one accessory, then just build on that if you so choose. If you already have GHIII, you have one or two guitars, just make those compatible.
Also, please note, Rock Band is pretty much a party game, being most fun with multiple players. Wii is a party system. And maybe you don't have that many Wiimotes, but those of us who bring it to parties constantly have to have four Wiimotes.
Last, sure, you'll shell out slightly more... BUT THE SYSTEM IS CHEAPER IN THE FIRST PLACE!!! You can buy a Wii and three extra remotes for less than the price of a PS3 or even a 360. My friend went out and within a week bought himself a PS3, the Guitar Hero III bundle, the Rock Band bundle, and a few more games and accessories. That's well over a thousand right there. Sure, I think he's insane, but enough proof right there, even if you won't buy it, PEOPLE WILL.
holmes @ Jan 3rd 2008 7:39AM
i have to say, i'm sorta happy rock band isn't coming to the wii. i REALLY love guitar hero 3. one of the main reasons is because it was so affordable. i really can't see shelling out $170 to buy a whole rock band set of instruments.....that's simply too expensive.
not only that, but EA has really disappointed me with its efforts on the wii. i will never stop complaining about how awful madden 2008 is on the wii. the 2007 incarnation was fine, but 2008 is riddled with mistakes, and the online lag in controlling players is unacceptable. additionally, tiger woods could've been a fantastic franchise but it seems as though EA took short cuts. boogie? give me a break. SSX blur is the one game that's sorta fun to me, and even a year later i get frustrated with the controls some time.
they need to focus on releasing a better madden this year, a better tiger woods this year, and overall better games. i'd rather be playing other fun EA games that they spend more time on and polish up, rather than see them rush out yet another title that isn't completely finished.
just my two cents.
Shadow31 @ Jan 3rd 2008 9:33AM
To everyone who thinks it would be so incredibly hard to port hardware-wise...
Do you not realize guitar controllers and mics already exist for the Wii? Meaning all they have to do is make a compatible drum controller. Everything else is already engineered for them. Porting it software-wise would be no problem. And GHIII promised DLC in 2008. So yes, Rock Band could do such a thing.
jgodden @ Jan 3rd 2008 9:40AM
If they put it out on the Wii, i know at least 10 people who would buy it. Hell, I'd buy two!
mark @ Jan 3rd 2008 9:59AM
Its just as Shadow31 said, there are USB mics already out for High School Musical Sing It! and Boogie (they actually use the same mic) and Logitech just released a white Wii colored mic (again the same mic but different color). The GH3 guitars are mapped to the controls of a classic controller (its been verified as early as 1 week after the release of the game by several websites using a connection to the PC to see what the GH guitar was outputting for controls).
EA would need to only program the drums, the PS2 version of the game is far inferior to both the PS3 and 360 edition so to say it could not move to the Wii is a fanboy lie. I have the PS2 edition and all the game background graphics are pre-rendered movies (its real time on the PS3 and 360 but not the PS2), the only thing that is real time is the board where the notes come down.
The Wii would be able to go online with ease (as was shown by GH3) and the Wii version was the 2nd best selling behind the PS2 version of GH3, so to say that a $160 game bundle would not sell when over 200,000 copies of $79 Konami's Wii DDR and over 1 million units of the $90 Wii GH3 have sold is again just fanboy nonsense.
sn1per @ Jan 3rd 2008 11:40AM
I really hope they don't port the ps2 version over. I'm really, really hoping that EA's just waiting to see how DLC works on the wii, because the the wii has decent online capability, and it can definitely do real time background graphics (it handles them fine in GH3). If rock band on the wii ends up being a straight port of the ps2 version, I'll have a much harder time spending $170 on it.
shadowchaoscontrol @ Jan 24th 2008 6:45PM
i would say, after comparing everything, the wii version of GH3 was just a port of the PS2 version, but with NWC
lou @ Jan 4th 2008 1:46PM
F U EA
Kim @ Feb 10th 2008 9:31PM
If Rock Band came out for the wii, it would definately sell just fine! We only have a ps2 and the wii, and I went crazy trying to find the ps2 version to have it before christmas. Yes, I am one of those crazy moms who are more addicted to Rock Band than my kids! I work hard for my money, but I didn't think twice about paying extra for wii remotes either. Considering we are very disappointed with the ps2 version for Rockband, I am hoping they come out with a wii version that is better. Again this is coming from a mom who knows nothing about technology, but I would buy it!
On another note- can anyone offer advice:
1. Our Guitar Hero wireless guitars wont always work on the rock band ps2. Should they? One is a GH1 and the other GH2. Why won't they work?
2. If we bought another game system, should we get an xbox or ps3?
3. We cant get rid of the lag on the ps2 rockband. All the kids complain when they come play at our house! help!