Wii will shred 'Rock Band,' starting June 22
It's only rock 'n roll, but Wii like it. Harmonix, the game developer acquired by MTV Networks to create the Rock Band video game, announced Monday that the software will be available for Nintendo's Wii console on June 22. Currently, versions of Rock Band have been created for Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3.
(Credit:
Harmonix/MTV)
Rumors of a Wii edition of Rock Band first started to circulate early last month. The game was originally released in November amid the soaring popularity of Activision's Guitar Hero franchise, which had a Hollywood-worthy $115 million opening weekend for its most recent game, Guitar Hero III. MTV's Rock Band puts a spin on the concept by letting participants play bass, drums, and vocals in addition to guitar.
Despite the inherent similarities to Guitar Hero, Rock Band has been a huge hit, too.
But, just like a rerun of Behind the Music, the guitar-playing video game craze has been ridden with drama. Harmonix developed the original Guitar Hero, but MTV Networks acquired it in 2006 to create rival Rock Band and distribute it through gaming mega-publisher Electronic Arts. Meanwhile, guitar manufacturer Gibson Guitar has filed a lawsuit against the manufacturers of both Guitar Hero and Rock Band as well as six major retailers--according to Gibson, it's held a patent on a guitar-playing video game since 1999.
So far, none of the gaming console manufacturers--Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo--have been targeted by Gibson's suit.
The June 22 Rock Band Wii release will encompass the U.S. and Canada markets, and a core bundle (software, drums, microphone, and one guitar) will cost $169.99. Standalone instruments will also be sold. It'll feature a lineup of 63 songs, including five exclusive to the Wii.
Caroline McCarthy, a CNET News staff writer, is a downtown Manhattanite happily addicted to social-media tools and restaurant blogs. Her pre-CNET resume includes interning at an IT security firm and brewing cappuccinos. E-mail Caroline. 
Wii rock
And I can't use my existing Guitar Hero controller?
I was really looking forward to this. Not any more. Once again, the Wii crows gets YET ANOTHER crappy port that's rushed to market.
- Yes but...
- by gregorytga March 25, 2008 12:02 AM PDT
- Sure, but the Hardware on the Wii is rather meager and the
- Like this Reply to this comment
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(3 Comments)Guitar Hero controllers for the Wii used the WIimote, which
means they're different than the PS2/PS3/Xbox 360 versions,
and currently the Guitar Hero controllers on the PS3 aren't
usable in Rock Band either. As I recall the Wii version supports
the standard USB Guitar Hero controllers found on the
PS2/Xbox360/PC
Considering the Rock Band songs weigh in on average download
of about 35 megs on Xbox live, the Wii could only hold about 14
songs on the internal card, and the Wii store isn't setup for 3rd
part content like Xbox live or Sony's network.
Its as much to blame EA for being lazy as it is Nintendo failing
yet again to have any coherent online strategy, and choosing
such meager internal storage.
Games like RockBand aren't designed for the Wii, but rather its
more robust Sony and Microsoft cousins.