Rock Band 3 gets a bit more realistic, adds keyboards to the mix

www.techrockstar.com

Consoles, Games, Gaming Gear - Thursday, June 10th, 2010

First off, the new “new thing”: Rock Band 3 will be adding a keyboard controller to the mix, bringing the number of band members to seven (that’s for guitar, bass, drums, three vocals, and the keyboards).

The new keyboard controller is a compact 25-key, fully-functioning MIDI keyboard that can be laid flat on a table or strapped on as a keytar… okay, strapping on a keytar might not be as hot as it was in the 80’s, but if you can rock the keys, Mad Catz will also come out with a MIDI Pro adapter kit that’ll let you plug in any keyboard controller.

Rock Band 3 gets a bit more realistic, adds keyboards to the mix Rock Band 3 keyboard

But the realism won’t be stopping with the keyboard: Rock Band 3 will feature a new Pro mode that basically challenges you to play the instruments note for note (a big change from the normal simplified control paths), which is something that advanced musicians might appreciate.

For the Pro mode, Mad Catz will be coming out with the new Fender Mustang Pro Guitar controller that simulates six strings and 17 frets, and a drum kit that adds a new set of cymbals—a set that should make your Rock Band band closer to an actual rock band. Depending on how everything gets presented (Harmonix will be showing off the full set at the E3 Expo next week in LA), the set might just be the first Band game to show up on our “we-most-definitely-have-to-own-this” list.

Here’s a video preview by USA Today:

Due for a release this fall for the PS3, Wii and Xbox 360, Rock Band 3 will feature 83 songs by 83 artists. Some of the songs included in the set:
Metric, “Combat Baby”
Rilo Kiley, “Portions of Foxes”
Them Crooked Vultures, “Dead End Friends”
The Vines, “Get Free”
The White Stripes, “The Hardest Button to Button”
Phoenix, “Lasso”
Ida Maria, “Oh My God”
Juanes, “Me Enamora”
Jane’s Addiction, “Been Caught Stealing”
Smash Mouth, “Walkin’ on the Sun”
Spacehog, “In the Meantime”
Stone Temple Pilots, “Plush”
Dio, “Rainbow in the Dark”
Huey Lewis and the News, “The Power of Love”
Joan Jett, “I Love Rock and Roll”
Night Ranger, “Sister Christian”
Whitesnake, “Here I Go Again”
The Cure, “Just Like Heaven”
Ozzy Osbourne, “Crazy Train”
Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Jimi Hendrix, “Crosstown Traffic”
The Doors, “Break On Through”