I was watching the Nintendo channel last week as I do every Monday on our Wii and saw this (video above). Now I don’t have any buyer’s remorse regarding the decision to go with Rock Band because GH’s guitar peripherals suck, especially on World Tour (aka GH4). However, I’m a tad jealous over this franchise providing unlockable avatars of real rock stars, namely Shirley Manson of Garbage. Then GH’s owners/developers (Activision and Neversoft) once again demonstrate their ability to hit the lowest common denominator by also having avatars of Carlos Santana, Matthew Bellamy (of Muse), Johnny Cash and Kurt Cobain. Must be their desire to attract aging hippies, hipsters and ghouls into playing because the past mediocre song choices weren’t cutting it. They’re getting closer because this is better than dueling against Slash and Tom Morello as if it were Super Smash Brothers.
After all the fuss regarding the Beatles’ Rock Band game dies down, I hope Harmonix and EA raise the bar by making some major refinements to their franchise. My immediate suggestions would be more cities to tour, more clothing/accessory choices and a way to define your band’s sound, thus preventing Shampoo Planet (my band) from having to perform Norm Greenbaum, Linkin Park and Mastadon. If RB does add avatars, they better be people who are still alive and fit the game’s spirit.
Mmmm, Shirley Manson. I met her in person at an MTV awards show once. Teeny Tiny little thing, but I love Garbage and think she’s incredible.