I wasn't sure to create this thread in Guitar Talk, Random Chat or Games, but in the end I settled under Games because it is for a game after all.

As the title reads, the game publisher EA has just signed Fender to a deal that will feature Fender guitars (in the game as well as the guitar controller) for the new game called Rock Band

Source: http://www.mcvuk.com/news/26960/EA-signs-F...r-for-Rock-Band

Here a copy of the story:

14:15, May 9th 2007 by Ben Furfie

Iconic Stratocaster guitar exclusive to new Harmonix game

EA has signed a deal with prestigious guitar manufacturer Fender that will see its instruments feature exclusively in the upcoming music game Rock Band. In addition, Roland Corporation and Boss have agreed to have their brands featured.

As part of the deal, developer Harmonix will be able to not only use Fender’s iconic Stratocaster guitar in the game, but will also be able to produce a peripheral based on it.

“Fender is pleased to be a part of Rock Band and the exciting opportunity it offers passionate music fans and gamers,” said Bill Medello, CEO of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. “Our friends at Harmonix have done an amazing job of capturing the power and style of legendary Fender products within the virtual gaming experience and delivering it all in the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.”

“The Stratocaster has been the weapon of choice for many of the world’s legendary guitarists. Giving players the opportunity to rock out using a guitar peripheral modelled after the Strat really adds to the authenticity of the experience,” added Alex Rigopulos, president and co-founder of Harmonix.

Rock Band is due out on both the Xbox 360 and PS3 this Christmas.

Ooo interesting....but,

I don't have PS3 or Xbox 360 :huhuhu :swt

hey hey looks like competition for guitar heroes!

watch out Activision... here comes EA

but i cant wait for the guitar heroes 80's version!

the 80's rule!!

Strat, strat, strat!

Jimi Hendrix strat... would be nice.

Okay, So I'm planning to buy the PS3 in the near future...So this IS interesting indeed.
I was already wondering whether there will be another Guitar Game for the PS3 (Guitar Heroes 3?). But now I know for sure there will be a Guitar Game :guitar

Hmm, perhaps I will buy this "Rock Band" game with the Strat Controller...
Because, in that way, I will also own a "Fender Stratocaster" :P

I'm sure there will be Guitar Heroes 3 planned for PS3 & XBox 360 in the future.

This Rock Band will be similar to the Guitar+Beat Mania game in Japan but further extended. I think I read somewhere that Rock Band can be played up to 4 players at the same time, with 2 guitar parts, 1 drum part, and 1 vocal. So basically, it is a combination of guitar game, drum game, and karaoke game all-in-one.

Now That's what I call NEXT-GEN Gaming B)
2 Guitar parts huh? Perhaps one of it would be a Bass :P

Yeah, the 2nd guitar plays the bass part.

hell yah!!

this game sounds awesome...

i wonder what songs are on there??

i wish i can load ur own songs..

^ Most likely just Rock to Hard Rock type.

Wohooo! The first image of the black Fender Stratocaster controller for the new EA's Rock Band game. Check it out. What do you guys think?

Courtesy of Maxconsole

o.O this is sooo cool. but same.. dun have xbox or ps3.. haha dun think i'll get it so ex..

solidsnake.. cant see ur pic of controller :unsure:

err ... ok. Sorry about that. Fixed the guitar controller pic.

dood that guitar looks awesome...

looks like its gonna be much more harder then guitar heroes...

and more sense making too...hitting high and low notes...

LOL!! :blink: Cool......

I want sunburst strat XD Oh....black is fine too lol.

Wooh, This Guitar controller looks much better than those of Guitar Heroes!!

I've read somewhere that real guitar players weren't as good as non-guitar players on Guitar Heroes. So I guess Guitar Heroes was more like a arcade -game thing.
Perhaps this "Rock Band" would come much closer to the real deal. :P

Another new image of Rock Band controllers. This time, it is a magazine scan of the article with the Fender Stratocaster guitar, as well as the drum set.

Another update ... from IGN with screen shots. They've actually played a preview version of the game with the full set of mic, guitars, and drum set. They really like what they saw. Here are some screen shots:


Gameplay screen. As you can see, the horizontal vocal bar at the top (simialr to Karaoke Revolution), The guitar vertical tracks on the two sides (bass on the left, lead guitar on the right, I think) , and the drums in the middle. :guitar


Close up on the character model. You can create your own avatar as well. :green


Look the in-game Stratocaster bass guitar, and it's a rocker girl playing it. :wub:

If you want to read IGN's full preview you can check here:

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/801/801493p1.html

Another update!

At GameTrailers.com, they have videos of live demo of the game with a singer, two guitars, and drums. You can check it out and other videos here:

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/21495.html

this is good...more competition = cheaper game prices...isnt this true?...or am i just full of shit? :D

I doubt it'll be any cheaper because there's like a standard price range. At most perhaps a $5 difference, but that wouldn't sway a person to go for one particular game over another (unless that person is a mom/dad who doesn't know the difference and just go for the cheaper one, but these only make up a very small group)

Wow. This looks pretty cool. Guitar hero has been mentioned a few times around here before, and now this...maybe I should try one of these things out one day. Heh. Sounds pretty expensive though.
It looks kind of challenging too.

Random note: Seems to me that YL is becoming less child-friendly these days...more swearing and no more scolding. :P Not that I care because I must come across swear words 20 times a school day. >__>