Fender Powers Rock Band
Just as the headline says, the iconic instruments will be your tools to rock the eff out. BOSS and Roland too!
Published: May 8, 2007
Though it could have easily done it with a knockoff axe, including a Gibson SG guitar controller in Guitar Hero and even more brands in the sequel just helped sell the whole idea that you were part of a big sponsored tour (or at least a virtual rise from obscurity to a Stonehenge-rocking mega-band). Guitar Hero, however, is a thing of the past now for original developer Harmonix Music Systems (Tony Hawk developers Neversoft have taken over now after Activision bought out GH publisher RedOctane), and they've graduated to providing more than just flaming frets.
Rock Band, for the uninitiated, takes all that was good about Guitar Hero -- including two-player dual guitar co-op play, adds in vocals (something Harmonix knows all about after kicking out quite a few Karaoke Revolution games for Konami) and drums. Yes, you can play as a full band now, and it's coming to the PS3 in time for Christmas. But being bought out by brand-heavy MTV and having a publishing deal with EA has only strengthened the desire to incorporate licensed music equipment into the game, which is where a trio of familiar names come in.
Fender, BOSS and Roland have all jumped aboard the Rock Band hype train, providing their amps, pedals and electronics (can you say "electric drum set?") for the budding virtual garage band. But it's not all ones and zeroes; Jimi's weapon of choice, the Fender Stratocaster will be used as the game controller this time around, and Harmonix has teased that the mini-Strat will be more than just a clone of the Guitar Hero controller (which in turn was a beefed-up Guitar Freaks controller with more buttons and a whammy bar) this time around.
In true press release fashion, everyone is ready to gush about the deal.
“The Stratocaster has been the weapon of choice for many of the world’s legendary guitarists. Giving players the opportunity to rock out using a guitar peripheral modeled after the Strat really adds to the authenticity of the experience,” beamed Alex Rigopulos, president and co-founder of Harmonix. “Many of the staff here at Harmonix play Fender and Roland instruments and use BOSS effects pedals in their own bands, so we are thrilled to be able to work with these companies.”
“Like the Fender Stratocaster, BOSS effects pedals have a long distinguished history,” BOSS U.S. President Paul Youngblood boasted. “We’ve worked with Fender on many projects in the past and we’re honored to be sharing this experience with them. Having the Strat in Rock Band is going to take the virtual world by storm and when it does, we’ll be proud to have the BOSS name and pedals right there with it.”
“Fender is pleased to be part of Rock Band and the exciting opportunity it offers passionate music fans and gamers,” giggles Fender CEO Bill Mendello. “Our friends at Harmonix have done an amazing job of capturing the power and style of legendary Fender products within the virtual gaming experience and delivering it all in the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.”
"Part of Roland's mission is to bring people closer to the music they love. Rock Band certainly fulfills that goal by bringing a deeply interactive music experience to the world, and having Roland featured in the game is a great honor," added Dennis Houlihan, Roland's President and CEO.
So eeeeverybooody's happy. And why shouldn't they be? If the buzz surrounding the game and the insane success of Harmonix's previous efforts are any indication (and yes, we totally count FreQuency and Amplitude in there, dammit), companies are going to be begging to have their names attached. Should more of them pop up (and it's entirely possible), we'll make sure we let you know.
Rock Band, for the uninitiated, takes all that was good about Guitar Hero -- including two-player dual guitar co-op play, adds in vocals (something Harmonix knows all about after kicking out quite a few Karaoke Revolution games for Konami) and drums. Yes, you can play as a full band now, and it's coming to the PS3 in time for Christmas. But being bought out by brand-heavy MTV and having a publishing deal with EA has only strengthened the desire to incorporate licensed music equipment into the game, which is where a trio of familiar names come in.
Fender, BOSS and Roland have all jumped aboard the Rock Band hype train, providing their amps, pedals and electronics (can you say "electric drum set?") for the budding virtual garage band. But it's not all ones and zeroes; Jimi's weapon of choice, the Fender Stratocaster will be used as the game controller this time around, and Harmonix has teased that the mini-Strat will be more than just a clone of the Guitar Hero controller (which in turn was a beefed-up Guitar Freaks controller with more buttons and a whammy bar) this time around.
In true press release fashion, everyone is ready to gush about the deal.
“The Stratocaster has been the weapon of choice for many of the world’s legendary guitarists. Giving players the opportunity to rock out using a guitar peripheral modeled after the Strat really adds to the authenticity of the experience,” beamed Alex Rigopulos, president and co-founder of Harmonix. “Many of the staff here at Harmonix play Fender and Roland instruments and use BOSS effects pedals in their own bands, so we are thrilled to be able to work with these companies.”
“Like the Fender Stratocaster, BOSS effects pedals have a long distinguished history,” BOSS U.S. President Paul Youngblood boasted. “We’ve worked with Fender on many projects in the past and we’re honored to be sharing this experience with them. Having the Strat in Rock Band is going to take the virtual world by storm and when it does, we’ll be proud to have the BOSS name and pedals right there with it.”
“Fender is pleased to be part of Rock Band and the exciting opportunity it offers passionate music fans and gamers,” giggles Fender CEO Bill Mendello. “Our friends at Harmonix have done an amazing job of capturing the power and style of legendary Fender products within the virtual gaming experience and delivering it all in the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.”
"Part of Roland's mission is to bring people closer to the music they love. Rock Band certainly fulfills that goal by bringing a deeply interactive music experience to the world, and having Roland featured in the game is a great honor," added Dennis Houlihan, Roland's President and CEO.
So eeeeverybooody's happy. And why shouldn't they be? If the buzz surrounding the game and the insane success of Harmonix's previous efforts are any indication (and yes, we totally count FreQuency and Amplitude in there, dammit), companies are going to be begging to have their names attached. Should more of them pop up (and it's entirely possible), we'll make sure we let you know.