USA Today republishes Rock Band 2 story, says it isn't totally gimped

by David Hinkle { Sep 29th 2008 at 10:52AM }

On Friday, a USA Today article reported that Rock Band 2 for the Wii would be totally gimped, just like the first game. After being contacted by Harmionx PR and writing them back, we didn't hear anything else on the matter. That is, until now. USA Today has republished the article in question and has included some stuff about the Wii version of Harmonix's sequel.

The updated piece now reads that, while "unannounced," MTV games has confirmed that Rock Band 2 for the Wii will "offer the same online functionality -- i.e. song downloads and Internet multiplayer modes -- as the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PS3 versions." We guess that settles it then? Are you ready to give Rock Band 2 another chance, or will it still be Guitar Hero: World Tour for you?

Tags: ea, harmonix, mtv, mtv-games, music, rhythm, rock-band, rock-band-2

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

sn1per @ Sep 29th 2008 11:00AM

It depends. Will I be able to import all the RB1 songs to an SD card or something, or will I actually have to buy that game? If they throw in the RB1 import, and proper band world tour along with the DLC/online play, I'll consider it. Otherwise, its GH:WT for me.

TheDave @ Sep 29th 2008 1:49PM

Good Point about the import / usability of RB1 songs.

ALSO:
Is whoremonix going to get GH instrument cross-compatibility to the same level as the xbox & ps3 versions are getting?

Doubtful.

sn1per @ Sep 29th 2008 3:51PM

Wiki claims that there won't be instrument compatibility, which is another reason I'm leaning towards GH:WT, but that claim has no source to back it up, so I guess I'll have to wait and see.

Lars @ Sep 29th 2008 5:10PM

"whoremonix"??
You do realize that it was Activision that refused to work together with them for compatibility, right? Harmonix always wanted all the instruments to be compatible.

GH:WT is a tempting product, but I'm a little put off by how Activision is handling the franchise. Putting out 30 Guitar Hero SKU's in one year, way over saturating the market with slightly different products when they should have just stuck with less SKU's and more DLC. Their only decent product is GH:WT and that one is just a blatant rip-off of Rock Band.

mikia @ Sep 29th 2008 11:21AM

already pre-ordered GH:WT. rock bands blown it too many times.

Timdogg @ Sep 29th 2008 11:22AM

It is not a question, I am still rolling with World Tour.

Ferco @ Sep 29th 2008 11:23AM

GHWT

Oneiroi @ Sep 29th 2008 11:23AM

There's really not enough information here for me to make a decision.

I hope they do that before October 30th...

eugaet @ Sep 29th 2008 11:31AM

I want to hear it direct from Harmonix that the Wii version is identical to the 360/PS3 version, feature-wise. Not through some third party.

Well, not through USA Today at any rate. I suppose hearing it through Wii Fanboy would be alright. ;)

Still leaning towards GH:WT...heavily.

Adam R @ Sep 29th 2008 11:41AM

I'm with eugaet on hearing from Harmonix directly, but I'm getting psyched up for RB2 later this year. I'm probably the only one wanting RB2 on Wii but I just can't afford another bundle and I prefer RB's aesthetics than GH's.

Sonic_13 @ Sep 29th 2008 11:48AM

After all the complaining that Harmonix did about these features and how there was absolutely no way to implement them (only to have Guitar Hero come right out and say how it is possible), it seems strange to hear that suddenly these features are all present and accounted for.

igorponweed @ Sep 29th 2008 11:51AM

Rock Band 2 still has better drums and better songs in my opinion. And I'll be getting the PS3 one. Besides, the people who will be making songs, won't be making good ones.

MastrCake @ Sep 29th 2008 10:58PM

ummm... how do you really know the rb2 drums are better than ghwt's? and why did you mention the ps3 in this blog? that's just a recipe for disaster...

This reply was made with nothing but a wiimote. It really sucked.

MastrCake @ Sep 29th 2008 11:03PM

I may have misread your comment. better than the original rb, or ghwt?

if i messed up, my apologies.

igorponweed @ Sep 30th 2008 9:30AM

To me, it looks better that GH:WT's. I don't want to have to go up and down. I wish music games would keep it simple, the way they're MEANT to be played.

tmntman @ Sep 29th 2008 11:59AM

I have both GHIII and Rock Band for the Wii so I'm sure I'll end up buying both. Fortunately it looks like the only new instrument I will need is the GH:WT drums.

Orion @ Sep 29th 2008 12:06PM

Still Guitar Hero for me. Even if they have online and DLC, it's still just a cruddy video of gameplay in the background, not real graphics which can be changed with costumes and the like. That and my guitar will work for both GHIII and this. That's all I care about.

tmntman @ Sep 29th 2008 12:09PM

I have both GHIII and Rock Band for the Wii so I'm sure I'll end up buying both. Fortunately it looks like the only new instrument I will need is the GH:WT drums.

It would be nice to get "official" confirmation, but the revision matches with what has been said about the Wii version in the past. My biggest concern/area of interest is whether either games will be making the previously release DLC songs that Wii owners missed out on in RB and GHIII available for the new games.

Fugyfudy @ Sep 29th 2008 12:18PM

I'm sticking to a game that doesn't cost four times more than other games, that is why I got Samba de Amigo.
Sure, I love the Guitar Hero series, but there are just too many Wii games that are coming out and even a bunch that are out that I still need to buy. It also doesn't help that I've only beaten 3 of my 20 games, but I'm almost done with Zack and Wiki so it'll all be alright soon.

VinnieMas @ Sep 29th 2008 12:53PM

My roommate already bought Rock Band Wii, so now at least Rock Band 2 might not suck quite as much, at least in comparison to the 360 version. If I'd never tried that one there would be nothing wrong with Rock Band Wii

HappyFunBall @ Sep 29th 2008 12:59PM

I'll believe it when I see it. Right now, my money would go to GHWT, but RB's DLC on the other systems is just so superior...

I've been on the fence about picking up a 360, so I might end up buying for that platform instead....

Junior Yank @ Sep 29th 2008 1:10PM

I'm leaning towards getting both. There's a lot of song overlap, but both games have great songs that the other doesn't have. I don't care about drums (for now), so getting both won't be too costly, especially since I had been thinking about buying a PS3 or 360 just for these games.

If I had to pick one, I'd go with RB2, due to the massive amount of DLC that's already out there or has been announced.

Since they seem to be building RB2-Wii from the ground up, maybe they'll include support for the Guitar Hero wiitar. Wishful thinking, but cross-compatibility has hit the other consoles, so why not us?

I would not hold my breath on any good news from wii owners from MTV and harmonix.

http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86619

My answers i got was cold as ice. They do not want you wii-wagglers kind around there parts. GH World TouR here i come.

Adam R @ Sep 29th 2008 4:55PM

http://www.rockband.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1341066&postcount=42

Sean from HMX confirms what the USA Today has now said. DLC & Online for Wii.

Won't be "exactly" the same as the 360 version but they're cramming as much as they can onto that disc. They had me at DLC. Next on my wish list is a proper BWT.