We all thought the guitar style game died when we heard news that Activision was pulling the plug on Guitar Hero. Many of us were happy to hear the news and thought the genre that fostered the ridiculous guitar playing house parties had run it’s course and that average guys could not and would not ever be like Led zeppelin playing a colorful plastic guitar. But alas, Ubisoft a little late to the game has decided to wade into the waters of this ever so struggling game genre. The new game has been dubbed “RockSmith” and will feature a full functioning electric guitar and songs by Nirvana, The Rolling Stones, and David Bowie.
Ubisoft, well aware of the troubled genre doesn’t want gamers to view Rocksmith as they did Guitar Hero or Rockband. “Guitar Hero is a Party game,” explained Tony Key, VP of Marketing at Ubisoft, “Rocksmith is a music experience,” he continued. And to that point, it’s been rumored that Ubisoft is trying to partner with Gibson and other guitar manufacturers to foster a realistic experience of how to learn to play an instrument rather than just mimic one like in past games. Too add to this realistic effect, the game will also feature an add-on module with an input jack so players can actually hook up their own electric guitars or most other manufacturer guitars to their console. This is something we have never really seen before on a full scale.
Now, aspiring musicians can not only enjoy playing songs by iconic artists like Nirvana, The Rolling Stones, and David Bowie but also delve into the intricacies of learning to play an instrument. And the best part chords seamlessly fit into this narrative, offering players the opportunity to explore and master the genuine chords that make up the backbone of the songs they love, marking a significant evolution in the world of guitar gaming.
It is hoped that Rocksmith will capture the dreams of many young adults who don’t want to just play a game but who want to actually learn how to play an instrument. As Tony Key said, “We will create a new generation of game players,” and in that spirit they hope to revitalize the whole genre into something more and to reintroduce players to what guitar gaming should be. A music learning experience.
Ubisoft is looking to launch Rocksmith this September and don’t expect it to feature any fan favorites from Rockband or Guitar Hero. This game is suppose to be completely unique with a whole slew of different artists being featured. Let’s just wait and see if players take the bait of the developers vision and like the game. Time will tell.
Thanks to the The Hollywood Reporter for breaking the story.
