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Rock Band Recalibrating With A Host Of New Features
Rock Band is no stranger to updates, but next month the game's not just expanding its track list. The download adds several long-requested additions, including auto-kick drums, full-combo recognition, and improved calibration.
The developer says that it will continue to provide monthly updates of varying sizes.
Here's a look at what's coming on December 8 for free, straight from Harmonix:
- Score challenge features – This is a whole suite of features that is designed to leverage the competitive heart of the game:
- In-game notifications of leaderboard events: Find out at the moment you pass a friend’s score with an all-new in-song indicator.
- Activity feed: This is a main menu log of your leaderboard events and that also allows you to quickly jump to a track to regain your dominance.
- Taunt system from the results screen: Let your friends know you beat their score by sending them a selectable randomized.
- Taunt message. This taunt will appear in his or her Activity Feed. - Improved Calibration – Thanks to your feedback, we’ve implemented some significant improvements. PLEASE NOTE that these changes require you to recalibrate.
- Variable Breakneck Speed – One of the most requested features from the hardcore competitive community, Variable Breakneck Speed will allow players to individually set the Breakneck Speed of their tracks for the first time in a Rock Band title – up to 2X this time!
- Full Combo Recognition & Indicator – The “Full Combo” (a perfect streak, no notes missed or additional strums/hits from start to finish) is one of the competitive player’s greatest achievements. Rock Band games haven’t kept track of this impressive feat in the past, and that all changes with this update. The game will now celebrate and track your FC success, and a subtle new in-song indicator will allow you to know if you’re still on track for an FC or if you’ve broken your streak. We also now indicate FC runs on the leaderboards.
- More Song Results details – Leaderboard info, plus detailed gameplay statistics will now be shown on the song results screen.
- Player Stats – Want to know where you stack against your friends online? Access this new Player Stats screen from anywhere in the game to get a detailed overview of your complete Rock Band gameplay statistics, including cumulative scores, stars, and more.
- New Items in the Rock Shop – We’ve got a handful of new assets in the Rock Shop, including one that celebrates a recent (and very awesome) game launch from a studio that we love.
- Auto-kick mode – One of the most requested Accessibility features, this toggle will allow you to play drum parts by hitting the drum pads only while we automatically hit kick drum notes. This will be available as a toggle in the Options menu.
I've been a Rock Band player from the start, and there are some exciting changes on the way. I remember how much fun people had in the office sending taunts and challenges in Pinball FX, and I love the idea of having more social-oriented features in there – especially since I've been riding the solo circuit since getting the band together isn't as easy as it once was. I haven't gotten a full song combo in a while, but perhaps the calibration tweaks might help me out. At least I'll have one less thing to blame.
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