Harmonix is bringing new life to the Rock Band franchise in the form of the Rock Band Network, allowing up and coming bands, and fellow gamers, the chance to put their song IN the Rock Band song catalogue.
This is great news for the Rock Band franchise, and should see the track list of songs jump to an unheard of number of listings. Upon a closer inspection (Joystiq has a a good article on their impressions here), we see that the service to create the first song for your band won’t be as quick of a turnaround as one would like. Most gamers out there will have to put in an average of 20 to 40 hours to create their first track, and some people (myself included) just don’t have the patience for that.
That’s not the only hoop you will have to jump through. Since the Rock Band Network system runs on Games for Windows Live, PC users will be the only ones able to author their own tracks. This completely discriminates Linux and Mac users. For consoles gamers, the Xbox 360 owners out there will be the only console able to create and view every single song that is in the Rock Band Network. The Rock Band Network creator was actually made on the Windows XNA program, so it can’t be used on the PS3. PS3 fans will be able to see most of music tracks included by way of the “Greatest Hits” collection, but music authors will have to fill out a few more pieces of paperwork before their song will appear on the Sony platform. The Wii ends up just sitting out like a fat kid with skinny legs at kickball.
Don’t let all of this bad news and rules from the man let your down. The tools used for creating Rock Band Network tracks are in fact the same tools that Harmonix game developers use to create songs for the disc releases. This means you will be getting the best software out there for recreating your classic cover of “Chocolate Rain” by Tay Zonday into Rock Band.
If you are able to dedicate the 20 to 40 hours to make your song available on the Rock Band Network, just think of being listed next to all of the great artists and classic tracks already listed in the Rock Band catalogue (please do not include Spongebob in there). Not to mention, you’ll be putting your songs out there to the Rock Band gamers that are one of the few remaining demographics that still pay for song downloads.
I’ve never messed around with the Guitar Hero: World Tour track creator, but this has got to be the better WAY! Well, is it?
I think you’re missing the point. Rock Band Network isn’t for the gamer’s to use to create content. Its for musicians/bands who already spend far more than 40 hours composing, arranging and mixing their own music. So adding another 20 or 40 hours of production time to make their song playable on Rock Band doesn’t seem too much. Yea, would be great if it were easier, but good music (or good fun) isn’t an easy thing to slap together in an afternoon..