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Button Mashers is a periodic audio podcast covering a range of topics in the gaming industry. This blog was created for myself, Tetsuotrunks, as well as a few guest co-hosts, to contribute our 2 cents on topics that really don't warrant any discussion, or to just express things that we'd like to get off our chests. Check back often, as we update frequently and feel free to leave any feedback.

March 2008
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Home » Archives » March 2008 »
Better late or Never?
By TetsuoTrunks on 03.25.08 at 02:54 AM CST
First and foremost; for the 3 of you who haven't heard,

So MTV and Harmonix have FINALLY announced Rock Band for Wii formally. Not that we didn't know it was coming, but honestly, at this point, its nice to see that we Wii owners will have all the opportunities afforded to our friends who have 360s and PS3s. Namely; Online Leaderboards, World Tour Mode and most importantly, Downloadable Content. Wait, what? You mean we get NONE of that? We're getting a PS2 port? Oh. Well, yeah, that makes a lot more sense. Thats clearly why they delayed it for months. To port the title from PS2. Gee....thanks?

At this point, the honest truth is that I'd just as rather not have Harmonix put the title out on Wii. It doesn't appeal to me NOW. Baring the fact that I could go out and buy the PS3 version with all those nice online enabled extras, what exactly took so long? Removing features? Or those 5 'extra' songs they're giving the Wii version as compensation? And seriously, WHY HASN'T THIS GAME BEEN EVEN ANNOUNCED FOR EUROPE YET? What are they waiting for, the impending release of Guitar Hero 4?

At this point, releasing the title really just feels like they're trying (like everyone else) to cash in on the popularity of the unstoppable sales force that is the Nintendo Wii right now. Personally, with all of these PS2 ports coming to our system, I'm starting to feel that the Wii is less of 'Two Gamecubes Duct Taped Together" and more like a white PS2 that traded in the ability to play DVDs for an IR sensing remote controller. Its lazy and its friggin irritating. Yes, I get it. Nintendo's console can't match the 360 or PS3 in terms of its online infrastructure, its storage capacity or its technical abilities. And I'm sure Nintendo is pushing things like use of Wii-mote function on its developers, but seriously, its getting annoying that all devs seem capable of doing is mini-game collections or titles that were already finished and just need new signed code to run on our little white boxes. Wonder what will happen when the PS2 finally does die. And yet, all devs will do is complain that their titles won't sell on Wii. Maybe its because you're giving us nothing but liquid garbage shovelware and recycled PS2 'Wii-updates' that are just a half step above ports.

In the end, I think Harmonix is making a mistake by releasing Rock Band on Wii. At this point, it might have been more prudent for them to wait for Rock Band 2 to release it. 5 songs for the $10 increase over the PS2 version isn't anywhere close to justified in my book. And this game's appeal to the mass market crowd that Wii is hitting is really more novelty than mainstay. The hardcore gamers all went out and bought this for other systems (occasionally buying other systems for this game) so you won't really appeal to them. And good luck getting casual gamers to shell out $170 for a 'music game'. Since they won't know what features are missing, they're the best bet Harmonix has to not have this title be a total flop. But I think it will indeed flop. I think Rock Band Wii will cost them a LOT of money. And rightfully so. Maybe next time, we'll get it on time. Or without features removed. If there's one positive thing to be said for Harmonix (and there is exactly ONE) its that they are releasing real 'instruments' for the Wii version, not just Wii-mote add ons that will pass for instruments. The GH Guitar was fine. But drums using 2 Wii-motes would have been AWFUL.
Comments

Replies: 1 Comment

By Tetsuotrunks on Tuesday, March 25th:

I should probably point out that the first sentence was supposed to read "For the 3 of you that haven't heard, the Editorials section is now up and running." My bad. Go POST!