Drake: Yes that's good isn't it... maybe they will come after us!

Related

You don't let people record their own tracks, unlike the latest version of Guitar Hero, what's your take on this?

Teasdale: The whole thing for us, our reason for making games, is to give people the experience of creating music. I think that expressing... player expressivity is definitely something that we're going to be focussing on in the future. But we want to do it properly, we don't want to go out half-assed. We want lyrics... we don't want just another bullet on the back of the box. We want it to add something meaningful, not just to pad the game, but add something to everything people do in the game.

So it will be added in the future?

Teasdale: We're going to be exploring stuff like that in the future, yes.

You were the first game to introduce full band line-ups - any other peripheral plans? A keyboard perhaps? Decks?

Teasdale: [Laughs] Well... everyone has there favourites... but I'm not sure I can really tell you mine because as the lead designer, I'm the most empowered to make it happen!

I think it's one of those things where we've focussed on our core experience, which is guitar-based, and I think as things go on we'll be expanding and giving people more scope to express themselves in those roles. But... our focus right now, is that we don't want to add things for the sake of it, we want an authentic feeling.

I read a report the other day that said games are now the number two selling genre, which is incredible when you think there's only two or three big series'. What is your take on the genre's growth?

Drake: It's been only been a few years since 1 first came out, too...

Has the phenomenon surprised you?

Teasdale: Its amazing... it's very rewarding to see. We've been making music games for over a decade... at the start we were making games like Amplitude, there was barely enough music audience to support us. Where as now there aren't enough music games! We love that the audience is there now....

Drake: I think it's the social side, too, the aspect of Rock Band... if you go to a friends house, we know the controllers are expensive in Europe, but when you play it you realise that it's totally worth it. You have a good time, and you can see why everyone wants it.

Teasdale: Its about getting new people into the game... people who play it for the first time really get it, and they say they must have it.

There's a certain leaning towards rock music with Rock Band... how about a Jazz Band... or... Brass Band?

Teasdale: I think one of the things about the music store is that not only can we go deeper into a particular artist's catalogue, we can also go wider... different styles. So, it might be hard to justify on the disc, but there's a massive audience for it, so people really like it. I think there's opportunities to move out, but at the same time we'll stay true to the core audience as well.

Drake: We've already confirmed that there are some country tracks on the way, and that's now public knowledge, so we can, we will broaden our reach... you know, hip-hop bands like the Roots could be played on our existing controllers, so we're happy to widen things where appropriate...

What's changing from a visual perspective?

Teasdale: We've done a lot of polishing, there's a more authentic experience. If you look at the AC/DC pack we're showing today, and then Rock Band 2, you can see side-by-side that Rock Band 2 is much more realistic. It feels like you're watching live concert footage. Its a great feeling has put together. We've also made changes in World Tour, there's more richness, a lot more happening... it feels raw. Real.

And... can you tell us any more on what's happening beyond Rock Band 2?

Teasdale: Beyond rock Band 2 we are working on a game with the Beatles, that'll be out in 2009...

Are Paul and Ringo in the game?

Drake: I'm not sure we're talking specifics, but all the families, and Paul and Ringo are involved in the creative process, they are working with us on the game. Plus we've got Giles Martin as the music producer...

What kind of gameplay can we expect?

Teasdale: It feels like a whole new experience... its not a Rock Band game. Its entirely new...

Any changes over Rock Band planned?

Teasdale: We'll be making gameplay that's authentic to the Beatles... I can't talk about specifics, as to what that is right now... but its not a track pack, its not just songs, its a real experience.

Which feature of Rock Band 2 are you most proud of?

Teasdale: All of them! I'm really proud of how we've polished things... the feel, it's a really great feeling... [Luke's dictaphone descends into a caucophany of drums and guitars].

Are you the lead designer on the Beatles game, then?

Teasdale: Actually, no. I'm working on another new project that I can't tell you about yet.

[More laughs, more guitars]

Thanks for your time guys.

Thank you....

By Luke Guttridge

  • Rock Band 2
  • Platform: Xbox 360
  • Publisher: TBA
  • Developer: Harmonix
  • Release Date: TBA