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E3 2012: Rock Band - Blitz

In Rock Band: Blitz, Harmonix Music Systems takes away the instruments to present an all-new arcade-style addition to the Rock Band series.

Released on 06/04/2012

Transcript

(intense electronic music)

So Rock Band Blitz was our way to do something

a little bit new

[John] Mmm.

[Eric] With the world of Rock Band.

[John] The format of rhythm, multi track--

[Eric] Rhythm action, yeah.

We wanted to step into the downloadable space.

We wanted to appeal to those people that maybe

haven't played Rock Band in a while.

Say hey guys, we're still here.

Try this out.

But it's an XBLA, PSN, it's an arcade type game.

Yeah.

So that gave us a chance to get a little goofy

with Rock Band.

Yeah.

That we haven't done before.

We got power-ups, things exploding all over the place.

[John] In a great arcade, over the top, explosive,

power-up driven, multi-track,

really fun single player experience.

You compete with all your friends instantly online.

It's a broad game, so the nice thing about Rock Band library

is you can customize the game to what you want it to be.

[Eric] That's right, yep.

[John] So if you don't like, say,

the All-American Rejects, which a lot of people do,

for what it's worth, or Blink-182, which a lot of people do.

[Eric] A lot.

[John] You can get your classic rock metal on.

You can get your Iron Maiden on.

It's really competitive

in a way our other games aren't.

And again, that's like the arcade-y thing that I think

will appeal to that XBLA, PSN crowd.

If you still have instruments, Rock Band Blitz

actually works, all the songs work in Rock Band 3,

so you can play all the songs with instruments if you want,

but instruments are a little gauche.

I think it's time to get back to controllers.

[Eric] No instruments are the new instruments.

[John] My favorite thing is not having to set stuff up.

'Cause I actually love Rock Band, I love the instruments,

but sometimes I don't wanna lug things out.

When I play other games, I don't have to set things up.

I don't have to pull stuff out of my closet.

Basically, you're not putting your instruments

away forever.

In a way, if you're an instrument person,

like Chris Coler, you can play all of the songs

in Rock Band Blitz instantly in Rock Band 3.

Yeah.

No muss, no fuss.

[Eric] As if you didn't even buy Rock Band Blitz.

If you so desire, you can forget the game even exists.

[John] Yeah.

[Eric] And use it as a track pack.

Now, I don't recommend that.

[John] No, let me pitch you on something.

Hey Eric.

[Eric] Yeah.

[John] I love the songs that we've announced

for Rock Band Blitz.

[Eric] Yeah?

[John] Know what, hate the game.

[Eric] Oh really?

Should I buy it?

Yes.

Should still buy it?

Why?

'Cause it's a really affordable track pack basically.

It's a great deal.

It's a good deal.

The greatest deal.

(aggressive electronic music)

Starring: Mike Ruocco, Chris Kohler