When Harmonix released Rock Band last year, I was dying to get it. It was the next step that the Guitar Hero franchise which pretty much dominated the rhythm game segment of the gaming industry when it came out. I had introduced my friends to Guitar Hero two Christmases ago, and despite all of the great games that had been coming out, GH was always the one we would come back to. It's fun, it's challenging, but more importantly, it's one of the most team involving activities one could ask for. Once you hit those notes in unison with your best buddy, to a virtual audience of thousands, there can be few experiences that are as satisfying.
But Guitar Hero only involves two guitarists. Rock Band allows 4 bandmates, incorporating vocals and a drumset to complete that much sought after musical experience: playing in a band. The first time I played Rock Band at a friend's house, it was electrifying. We played to Metallica's "Enter Sandman", and I finally hit that adrenaline surging moment, hitting that famous chorus line, "Off to Never Never Land... BOOM!"
Now Activision has fired off their latest salvo in the rhythm game wars with Guitar Hero: World Tour, and though it's pretty much copied the Rock Band formula, it claims to have improved on it. The drumset has been been reported to be percussion-sensitive, meaning that the harder you pound it, the louder it will sound in the game. The trailer (as shown below), states that you'll be able to create your own characters (just like Rock Band) and be able to hold "Battle of the Bands" (better have a large living room for that), and even more impressive, be able to come up with their own tracks and trade them online (God knows how).
I've been miffed at Harmonix because the Asian release of the game (for XBox 360 consoles in the region) had apparently been discontinued. Activitsion has never had problems selling their games here in Malaysia, so I seriously doubt if they'll have trouble supplying the drum kit over here.
So who'll come out winning the rhythm game wars? Definitely the consumers.
Now Activision has fired off their latest salvo in the rhythm game wars with Guitar Hero: World Tour, and though it's pretty much copied the Rock Band formula, it claims to have improved on it. The drumset has been been reported to be percussion-sensitive, meaning that the harder you pound it, the louder it will sound in the game. The trailer (as shown below), states that you'll be able to create your own characters (just like Rock Band) and be able to hold "Battle of the Bands" (better have a large living room for that), and even more impressive, be able to come up with their own tracks and trade them online (God knows how).
I've been miffed at Harmonix because the Asian release of the game (for XBox 360 consoles in the region) had apparently been discontinued. Activitsion has never had problems selling their games here in Malaysia, so I seriously doubt if they'll have trouble supplying the drum kit over here.
So who'll come out winning the rhythm game wars? Definitely the consumers.
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