Rocksmith
 | |
| Developer(s) | Ubisoft Montreal |
|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | Ubisoft |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 |
| Release | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Microsoft Windows |
| Genre(s) | Music video game |
| Mode(s) | |
Rocksmith is a music video game produced by Ubisoft similar to Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Power Gig: Rise of the SixString and Offbeat Guitarist, and based on the technology in Guitar Rising.[2] The game's main focus is the unique feature that allows players to plug in virtually any electric guitar and play.[3] In North America, it is available on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms, with a Windows release scheduled for December 2011.[4]
Required hardware
Rocksmith includes an adapter that connects the standard 6.35 mm (1⁄4 in) output jack of a guitar to a usb plug that is compatible with PC, PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360. While almost all electric guitars will have the needed jack, some acoustic guitars will need additional hardware, such as a pickup added to be compatible. A bundle that includes the game and adapter, a guitar, strap, and 2 picks is also available for both Playstation 3 and Xbox 360[5]
Soundtrack
As of the day of release, the full list of songs is available on Rocksmith's website.[6]
Radiohead's Bodysnatchers and Lynyrd Skynyrd's Free Bird are included with pre-orders of the game.
In addition, there are 6 tracks from the developers that are unlockable in the journey mode when double encores are reached in a set:
| Song | Artist(s) |
|---|---|
| "Ricochet" | Brian Adam McCune |
| "Boss" | Chris Lee |
| "Space Ostrich" | Disonaur |
| "Jules" | Seth Chapla |
| "The Star Spangled Banner" | Seth Chapla |
| "Six AM Salvation" | Versus Them |
In-game features
Guitarcade
Rocksmith features a "Guitarcade" with mini-games to help players improve their skills:[9]
- Ducks is a game like Galaga that teaches fret placement, keeping things simple with a single string
- Super Ducks is similar to Ducks, but uses all six strings
- Scale Runner focuses on teaching scale patterns
- Quick Pick Dash focuses on the tremolo technique, where the player picks a string as fast as possible
- Big Swing Baseball places the player on home plate, ready to swing. The player hits the ball by playing and bending the correct note on the guitar
- Super Slider is a puzzle game inspired by Nintendo's Dr. Mario. The slide technique is used to succeed here
- Dawn of the Chordead mixes up chord playing with zombie-killing. Play the right chord to kill the zombies
- Harmonically Challenged is a "Simon says" type of game where the player repeats a series of harmonics
Technique Challenge
Technique Challenge highlights specific techniques and even portions of tracks a player may be struggling with. For the technique, the game shows a video highlighting a proper technique and then challenges the player to repeat it on the guitar. The player can also select specific portions of songs and practice them at a slower pace before moving back into full speed.
Amp Mode
Amp Mode essentially turns the respective platform into a custom amp, featuring a wide range of pedals and amp settings. The game defaults to proper amp settings during the main gameplay so songs sound as they should, but through Amp Mode settings can be changed to experiment with different sounds.
Reception
Rocksmith has been released to positive reviews. Curtis Silver of Wired gave the game a 9/10, praising the intuitive nature of the note track and wrote that "Rocksmith is an amazing learning tool for the guitar. The eventual progression of rhythm games was to get to this point, where you are playing real instruments and actually learning how to play, rather than some sort of cartoonish emulation."[10] Ania Kwak of GamingExcellence gave the game a 9.8, stating that "It's rare to find a game that encompasses a teaching tool as effective as Rocksmith, with virtually no negatives to observe, while still being enjoyable to play."[11] Adam Dulge of PlayStation Universe praised the game and gave it an 8.5: "Rocksmith is an absolute must buy for anyone slightly interested in learning how to truly rock."[12] Jordan Mallory of Joystiq, however, gave the game a mediocre review, stating that "...the reality of the situation is that Rocksmith fails as both an educational platform and as a rhythm title, despite its groundbreaking technological foundations.", giving the game 2.5/5.[13]
Downloadable content
A DLC store is in place that features a growing range of songs as well as future additions such as pedals and support for electric bass.
| Song | Artist(s) | Pack | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Freebird" | Lynyrd Skynyrd | Rock Hits 1 | Template:Dtsa |
| "Bodysnatchers" | Radiohead | Rock Hits 1 | Template:Dtsa |
| "Tighten Up" | The Black Keys | Rock Hits 1 | Template:Dtsa |
| "Smoke on the Water" (Temporarily XBL Only Track) | Deep Purple | Rock Hits 1970s | Template:Dtsa |
| "More than a Feeling" | Boston | Rock Hits 1970s | Template:Dtsa |
| "Jessica" | The Allman Brothers Band | Rock Hits 1970s | Template:Dtsa |
| "I Hate Everything About You" | Three Days Grace | Rock Hits 2 | Template:Dtsa |
| "Cousins" | Vampire Weekend | Rock Hits 2 | Template:Dtsa |
Name controversy
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2011) |
When Ubisoft applied for a European trademark on the name "Rocksmith" in March 2011, an official opposition was filed by a band of the same name from Southend, England. The band claims to have been using the name for four years and had it registered for eight.[14][15]
References
- ^ "Release date updates: 'Child of Eden', 'Rocksmith', 'Back to the Future: Ep 2'". The Independent. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
- ^ om een reactie te plaatsen! (2011-08-23). "The Dev Team Explains Their Inspiration For The Rocksmith Project". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
- ^ "Rocksmith". Ubisoft. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
- ^ Davison, Pete (16 March 2011). "Ubisoft Announces 'Real Guitar Game,' Rocksmith". PCWorld. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
- ^ "Rocksmith". Ubisoft. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
- ^ "Rocksmith Track List". Ubisoft. Retrieved October 18 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "String Theory: Ubisoft Announce Rocksmith". Quintin Smith. Retrieved March 15 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Ubisoft's Rocksmith: The Next Guitar Hero?". Craig Hlavaty. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ^ "PS3/X360 Preview - 'Rocksmith'". Worthplaying. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
- ^ "Rocking Out With Rocksmith (Bring Your Own Guitar)". Wired. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ "Rocksmith Review". GamingExcellence. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ^ "Rocksmith Review". PlayStation Universe. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ^ "Rocksmith review: Drop-D minus". Joystiq. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ "Unsigned band fights game corp to keep name". Rock News Desk. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
- ^ "Rocksmith: Ubisoft battles band for game name « GamePron". Gamepron.com. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
External links
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