Rock Revolution
Encyclopedia
Rock Revolution is a music video game
developed by Zoë Mode
and HB Studios
and published by Konami
. It was first revealed on May 15, 2008, and released on October 15, 2008 for the Nintendo DS
, PlayStation 3
, and Xbox 360
. As with similar titles, the game simulates the performance of rock music
using specially designed drumkit and guitar peripherals.
The Wii
version of this game was released on November 11, 2008.
Rock Revolution was published by Japanese game publisher and developer Konami, who is well known for their Bemani
series of music video games, such as their band simulation games GuitarFreaks
and DrumMania
. Rock Revolution received generally negative reviews due to its overall lower quality in comparison to the Guitar Hero
and Rock Band
games, with GameSpot
's Aaron Thomas noting that the game brought nothing new to the genre of music video games and was considered to have "lousy" gameplay throughout. The game also experienced low sales numbers in its first month in comparison to Rock Band 2
and Guitar Hero World Tour
.
Gameplay in Rock Revolution revolves around players attempting to simulate the playing of rock music
using special instrument shaped controllers. Scrolling notes onscreen indicate the pattern and timing of buttons that must be pushed on the guitar or pads hit on the drumkit. Songs can feature "fill boxes
" and "roll boxes" on drum charts
, and hammer-on
/pull-off
's and "shred boxes" (must be strummed constantly for the duration) on guitar charts. Score multipliers are increased through larger combos, and a temporary bonus period can be activated when the player's lifebar, the "atmosphere meter", is maxed out. For the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the game is played using guitar and drum set peripherals. Konami released a drumkit for the game using a 7-pad layout, but a dedicated guitar was not manufactured for the game. Instead, the game is compatible with Guitar Hero and Rock Bands guitar controllers. Drumkits from the Rock Band series and Guitar Hero World Tour are also compatible with the game, reducing charts down to the correct number of drum pads for their setup.
On the Wii version, instead of the specialized controllers players use the Wii Remote
and Nunchuk for "an air-drum and air-guitar experience", which utilizes gestures and movements performed with the controllers. Guitar and drum controllers for the Wii are not compatible with the game. The DS version utilizes the touch screen and microphone, utilizing gestured movements for guitar play, playing a virtual drumkit on the touch screen itself with the stylus for drums, and the system's internal microphone for vocals. Vocal modes were not included in the console versions of the game, as Konami determined that such modes would "potentially cannibalize the Karaoke Revolution
series", which is developed by Harmonix for Konami.
, the game includes a mode in which players can create their own tracks, along with a free-form mode that lets players experiment with their musical instrument of choice; however, this is not included in the DS version. Online play is also offered on the console versions, including co-op and battle modes.
reported that Konami had filed trademark registration
in the United States on the name "Guitar Revolution" on June 29 - initiating rumors that Konami was planning on creating a competitor to Harmonix's Guitar Hero games, which in turn was inspired by Konami's other guitar simulation series, GuitarFreaks and DrumMania. Rock Revolution was officially announced at a press event in San Francisco on May 15, 2008. A demo build was also presented at the event, featuring songs by Twisted Sister
, Avril Lavigne
, The Ramones, and Quiet Riot
, among other tracks. Guitar and drum controllers for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions were also announced, while the Wii and DS versions would use the stock features of their respective consoles instead, such as the Wii Remote
, microphone, and touch screen respectively. The dedicated drum controller for the game was demoed as well, utilizing a layout with 6 pads (in comparison to the 4 used by the Rock Band games and the 5 used by Guitar Hero World Tour
/DrumMania
) Associate product manager Mondona Akhazan stated that Rock Revolution would be a more "drum-focused" game, in response to other band games putting more focus on the role of the guitarists.
in June, Konami associate producer Keith Matejka commented on the compatibility issues between games for the peripherals employed by Guitar Hero
and Rock Band
:
It was later announced that there would be no specific guitar controller made for Rock Revolution, and that the peripherals utilized by the Guitar Hero and Rock Band series would be compatible with the game. Controllers from Guitar Hero had been previously used in pre-release demonstrations of the game. Michael Shorrock of Sony Computer Entertainment
confirmed that the peripherals utilized by the PlayStation 3
versions of Guitar Hero World Tour
, Rock Band 2
, SingStar, and Rock Revolution would be interchangeable between games where compatible - as the first Guitar Hero game on the console
could not use the controller used by the PS3 version of Rock Band
and vice-versa. Chris Paladino also confirmed that the controllers used by the Xbox 360
versions would also be supported.
all songs are covered by Steve Ouimette
except "Paralyzer" by Finger Eleven and "Given Up" by Linkin Park.
Rock Revolution also features a "recording studio
" mode, where players can create their own songs with various options, such as different guitar and drum styles, chords, fills, and beats. However, unlike the GHMix modes featured from Guitar Hero World Tour
onwards, the recording studio is purely a "sandbox"; songs created in this mode cannot be played as an actual in-game track or be shared with other users online.
. Also, all songs in packs can be downloaded individually. All songs are $1.50 (120 MSP
), and all packs are $5.50 (440 MSP), and available on both PlayStation Network and Xbox Live
unless otherwise noted.
Only two packs have been released, one featuring music by artists from Konami's Bemani
music games, and one featuring music by heavy metal band Pantera
.
reviewer who referred to it as "an abomination that must be destroyed lest it breed and multiply." Most reviews also criticized the game's use of a non-slanted perspective of oncoming notes and a dedicated lane for the bass drum pedal like in DrumMania
, rather than a bar stretching across the length of the note display like in Rock Band. The compatibility of other guitar and drum controllers with Rock Revolution was also noted by some reviewers as a positive feature.
The gameplay and presentation of Rock Revolution was also criticized, with complaints of an "underwhelming" career mode lacking any narrative, the lack of character customization, and lower-quality graphics than its competitors. The lack of vocal-based modes in the console versions of Rock Revolution was also noted as a major flaw. The soundtrack was given mixed reviews, with some considering smaller soundtrack of mostly covers being a step backwards from a push by Guitar Hero and Rock Band to only use master tracks, although IGN considered some of the song choices themselves to be "genuinely good" however. The studio mode was praised by some to be one of the only good parts of the entire game and was also complimented for having more depth than the main game itself, although an IGN reviewer criticized its user interface, saying that it was as "intuitive as a tax form
"
RewiredMind.com's Ken Barnes cited inaccurate controls and the limitations of the Nintendo DS hardware in the vocal sections for a low score in his review of the Nintendo DS version, although the developers were applauded for even attempting to do vocals. The DS version was specifically reviewed by him due to "the prohibitive cost of importing the awful-looking PS3 or Xbox 360 drum 'kit'."
The NPD Group reported that Rock Revolution sold fewer than 3,000 copies in October 2008 in the United States across the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo DS versions in the game's first month of release.
reported on July 10, 2008 that Konami had filed a lawsuit
against Harmonix and Viacom
for patent infringement
over Rock Band
at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
, claiming it infringed on Konami's patents on music simulation games. They also requested cash compensation and an order to stop sales of Rock Band. In February 2009, Harmonix sued Konami for infringing on their patents, which actually cited some of Konami's patents on music simulation games as references.
Konami had licensed their patents to Activision
for use in the Guitar Hero series
.
Music video game
A music video game, also commonly known as a music game, is a video game where the gameplay is meaningfully and often almost entirely oriented around the player's interactions with a musical score or individual songs...
developed by Zoë Mode
Zoë Mode
Zoë Mode is a subsidiary of Kuju Entertainment based in Brighton and London that develops music and party video games. The studio was formed in 2007 when it was rebranded from Kuju Brighton, itself formed from the remnants of Wide Games. On 1 September 2008, Zoë Mode opened a sister studio in...
and HB Studios
HB Studios
HB Studios is a video game development company, founded in July 2000 by Jeremy Wellard, and located in Nova Scotia, Canada.-History:HB's headquarters are located in the small town of Lunenburg on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. The company started with nine developers working on Cricket 2002 for...
and published by Konami
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
. It was first revealed on May 15, 2008, and released on October 15, 2008 for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
, PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, and Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. As with similar titles, the game simulates the performance of rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
using specially designed drumkit and guitar peripherals.
The Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
version of this game was released on November 11, 2008.
Rock Revolution was published by Japanese game publisher and developer Konami, who is well known for their Bemani
Bemani
is Konami's music video game division. Originally named the Games & Music Division, or simply G.M.D., it changed its name in honor of its first and most successful game, Beatmania, and expanded into other music-based games.-Bemani video games:...
series of music video games, such as their band simulation games GuitarFreaks
GuitarFreaks
is a music video game series produced by Konami. The player uses a controller to simulate the playing of an electric guitar. The game consists of music predominantly from rock and roll and J-Pop genres, and is now in its 19th version, GuitarFreaks V8, which was released in March 28, 2011...
and DrumMania
DrumMania
is a music video game series produced by Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., where colored notes travel down the screen which correspond with color coded parts of an electronic drum set...
. Rock Revolution received generally negative reviews due to its overall lower quality in comparison to the Guitar Hero
Guitar Hero
Guitar Hero is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by RedOctane for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It is the first entry in the Guitar Hero series. Guitar Hero was released on November 8, 2005 in North America, April 7, 2006 in Europe and June 15, 2006 in...
and Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
games, with GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
's Aaron Thomas noting that the game brought nothing new to the genre of music video games and was considered to have "lousy" gameplay throughout. The game also experienced low sales numbers in its first month in comparison to Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2 is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems. It is the sequel to Rock Band and is the second title in the series. The game allows up to four players to simulate the performance of popular songs by playing with controllers modeled after musical instruments...
and Guitar Hero World Tour
Guitar Hero World Tour
Guitar Hero World Tour is a music video game developed by Neversoft and published by RedOctane and Activision. It is the fourth main entry in the Guitar Hero series...
.
Gameplay
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
using special instrument shaped controllers. Scrolling notes onscreen indicate the pattern and timing of buttons that must be pushed on the guitar or pads hit on the drumkit. Songs can feature "fill boxes
Fill (music)
In popular music, a fill is a short musical passage, riff, or rhythmic sound which helps to sustain the listener's attention during a break between the phrases of a melody....
" and "roll boxes" on drum charts
Drum charts
Drum charts are musical charts written for drummers. They are used to help guide the drummer through the music. Sometimes they are meant to be read literally and other times they are used as suggestions for what the drummer should play. Drum charts include their own musical vocabulary. The...
, and hammer-on
Hammer-on
Hammer-on is a stringed instrument playing technique performed by sharply bringing a fretting-hand finger down on the fingerboard behind a fret, causing a note to sound. This technique is the opposite of the pull-off...
/pull-off
Pull-off
A pull-off is a stringed instrument technique performed by plucking a string by "pulling" the string off the fingerboard with one of the fingers being used to fret the note.-Performance and effect:...
's and "shred boxes" (must be strummed constantly for the duration) on guitar charts. Score multipliers are increased through larger combos, and a temporary bonus period can be activated when the player's lifebar, the "atmosphere meter", is maxed out. For the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the game is played using guitar and drum set peripherals. Konami released a drumkit for the game using a 7-pad layout, but a dedicated guitar was not manufactured for the game. Instead, the game is compatible with Guitar Hero and Rock Bands guitar controllers. Drumkits from the Rock Band series and Guitar Hero World Tour are also compatible with the game, reducing charts down to the correct number of drum pads for their setup.
On the Wii version, instead of the specialized controllers players use the Wii Remote
Wii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
and Nunchuk for "an air-drum and air-guitar experience", which utilizes gestures and movements performed with the controllers. Guitar and drum controllers for the Wii are not compatible with the game. The DS version utilizes the touch screen and microphone, utilizing gestured movements for guitar play, playing a virtual drumkit on the touch screen itself with the stylus for drums, and the system's internal microphone for vocals. Vocal modes were not included in the console versions of the game, as Konami determined that such modes would "potentially cannibalize the Karaoke Revolution
Karaoke Revolution
Karaoke Revolution and its many sequels are video games for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Nintendo GameCube, Wii, Xbox, and Xbox 360, developed by Harmonix Music Systems and Blitz Games and published by Konami in its Bemani line of music games. The Original Concept for Karaoke Revolution was...
series", which is developed by Harmonix for Konami.
Game modes
Rock Revolution features various modes of play. The career mode follows the career of the player's band, recording albums and playing live shows. Challenges in career mode feature tasks such as reaching specific score levels, performing a song without seeing the notes, avoiding false "poison notes", and completing songs with a limited number of mistakes. As with Guitar Hero World TourGuitar Hero World Tour
Guitar Hero World Tour is a music video game developed by Neversoft and published by RedOctane and Activision. It is the fourth main entry in the Guitar Hero series...
, the game includes a mode in which players can create their own tracks, along with a free-form mode that lets players experiment with their musical instrument of choice; however, this is not included in the DS version. Online play is also offered on the console versions, including co-op and battle modes.
Pre-release and development
On July 10, 2006, GamespotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
reported that Konami had filed trademark registration
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
in the United States on the name "Guitar Revolution" on June 29 - initiating rumors that Konami was planning on creating a competitor to Harmonix's Guitar Hero games, which in turn was inspired by Konami's other guitar simulation series, GuitarFreaks and DrumMania. Rock Revolution was officially announced at a press event in San Francisco on May 15, 2008. A demo build was also presented at the event, featuring songs by Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band from Long Island. Musically, the band implements elements of traditional heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, along with a style that is similar to early glam metal bands...
, Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne
Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more...
, The Ramones, and Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot is an American Heavy Metal band. They are best known for their hit singles "Metal Health" and "Cum On Feel the Noize". They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, under the original name Mach 1, before changing the name to Little Women and finally Quiet...
, among other tracks. Guitar and drum controllers for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions were also announced, while the Wii and DS versions would use the stock features of their respective consoles instead, such as the Wii Remote
Wii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
, microphone, and touch screen respectively. The dedicated drum controller for the game was demoed as well, utilizing a layout with 6 pads (in comparison to the 4 used by the Rock Band games and the 5 used by Guitar Hero World Tour
Guitar Hero World Tour
Guitar Hero World Tour is a music video game developed by Neversoft and published by RedOctane and Activision. It is the fourth main entry in the Guitar Hero series...
/DrumMania
DrumMania
is a music video game series produced by Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., where colored notes travel down the screen which correspond with color coded parts of an electronic drum set...
) Associate product manager Mondona Akhazan stated that Rock Revolution would be a more "drum-focused" game, in response to other band games putting more focus on the role of the guitarists.
Controller compatibility
In an interview with MTV NewsMTV News
MTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
in June, Konami associate producer Keith Matejka commented on the compatibility issues between games for the peripherals employed by Guitar Hero
Guitar Hero
Guitar Hero is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by RedOctane for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It is the first entry in the Guitar Hero series. Guitar Hero was released on November 8, 2005 in North America, April 7, 2006 in Europe and June 15, 2006 in...
and Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
:
It was later announced that there would be no specific guitar controller made for Rock Revolution, and that the peripherals utilized by the Guitar Hero and Rock Band series would be compatible with the game. Controllers from Guitar Hero had been previously used in pre-release demonstrations of the game. Michael Shorrock of Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
confirmed that the peripherals utilized by the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
versions of Guitar Hero World Tour
Guitar Hero World Tour
Guitar Hero World Tour is a music video game developed by Neversoft and published by RedOctane and Activision. It is the fourth main entry in the Guitar Hero series...
, Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2 is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems. It is the sequel to Rock Band and is the second title in the series. The game allows up to four players to simulate the performance of popular songs by playing with controllers modeled after musical instruments...
, SingStar, and Rock Revolution would be interchangeable between games where compatible - as the first Guitar Hero game on the console
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is a music video game, the third main installment in the Guitar Hero series, and the fourth title overall...
could not use the controller used by the PS3 version of Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
and vice-versa. Chris Paladino also confirmed that the controllers used by the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
versions would also be supported.
Soundtrack
Rock Revolution contains 41 songs on the Xbox 360, Wii and PlayStation 3 and 20 songs on the Nintendo DS. The majority of the songs are covers of original recordings;all songs are covered by Steve Ouimette
Steve Ouimette
Steve Ouimette is a rock guitarist. He is known for performing a cover version of the hit song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" for the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, in which the parts played on the fiddle are instead played on an electric guitar...
except "Paralyzer" by Finger Eleven and "Given Up" by Linkin Park.
Console song list
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| "All My Life All My Life (Foo Fighters song) "All My Life" is a song by the American alternative rock band Foo Fighters, released as the first single from their fourth album, One by One... " |
Foo Fighters Foo Fighters Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War... |
| "All The Small Things All the Small Things "All the Small Things" is a song by American pop punk band Blink-182. It was the second single released from the band's third album Enema of the State... " |
Blink-182 Blink-182 Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992... |
| "Am I Evil? Am I Evil? The song was made most famous by Metallica's cover of the song, found on the 1988 re-release and the Japanese version of its debut album Kill 'Em All , though the cover was originally released as a b-side to the "Creeping Death" single in 1984, and was later released on Garage Inc. in 1998... " |
Metallica Metallica Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ... |
| "Are You Gonna Be My Girl Are You Gonna Be My Girl "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" is a song by the Australian rock band Jet, featured on their 2003 album Get Born. It was the first single from the album, released in 2003 in Australia and the UK, and in 2004 in the United States. Written by Nic Cester & Cameron Muncey, the song is often cited for ... " |
Jet Jet (band) Jet are an Australian rock band formed in 2001 while attending St Bede's College Mentone in Melbourne, . The band consists of lead guitarist Cameron Muncey, bassist Mark Wilson, and brothers Nic and Chris Cester on vocals/rhythm guitar and drums respectively... |
| "Bad Reputation" | Joan Jett Joan Jett Joan Jett is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress.She is best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts including their hit cover "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from March 20 to May 1, 1982, as well as for their other popular... |
| "Blitzkrieg Bop Blitzkrieg Bop "Blitzkrieg Bop" is a song by the American punk rock band Ramones. It was released as the band's debut single in April of 1976 in the United States... " |
Ramones Ramones The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group... |
| "Chop Suey! Chop Suey! "Chop Suey!" is the first single from System of a Down's second album Toxicity. The single was released in September 2001 and earned the band its first Grammy nomination. The song's working title was "Suicide"; the band members claim the change was not caused by pressure from their record company... " |
System of a Down System of a Down System of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan... |
| "Cum on Feel the Noize Cum on Feel the Noize "Cum On Feel the Noize" is a rock song originally released by Slade in 1973.Written by Jim Lea and Noddy Holder and produced by Chas Chandler, "Cum On Feel the Noize" was Slade's fourth number-one single in the UK and their first to enter straight at number one... " |
Quiet Riot Quiet Riot Quiet Riot is an American Heavy Metal band. They are best known for their hit singles "Metal Health" and "Cum On Feel the Noize". They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, under the original name Mach 1, before changing the name to Little Women and finally Quiet... |
| "Dance, Dance Dance, Dance "Dance, Dance" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy and the second single from their third studio album, From Under the Cork Tree. Released in late 2005, in the United States it reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 2006, becoming the band's second consecutive top 10 hit single.... " |
Fall Out Boy Fall Out Boy Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008... |
| "Detroit Rock City Detroit Rock City (song) "Detroit Rock City" is a song by the American hard rock group Kiss featured on their 1976 album, Destroyer. The song was written by Paul Stanley and Bob Ezrin and is about a real Kiss fan who was killed in a car accident on his way to a Kiss concert... " |
Kiss KISS (band) Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,... |
| "The Diary of Jane The Diary of Jane -Personnel:Breaking Benjamin* Benjamin Burnley - lead vocals, rhythm guitar* Aaron Fink - lead guitar* Mark James Klepaski - bass* Chad Szeliga - drumsProduction*Produced by David Bendeth*Mixed by Chris Lord-Alge*Music video directed by Ryan Smith-Charts:... " |
Breaking Benjamin Breaking Benjamin Breaking Benjamin is an American rock band from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, currently consisting of Benjamin Burnley and Chad Szeliga. The band has released four studio albums to date and a greatest hits album that was released on August 16, 2011. The group initially went on indefinite hiatus due... |
| "Dirty Little Secret Dirty Little Secret "Dirty Little Secret" is the first single by the rock band The All-American Rejects from their second studio album Move Along. It was released on June 6, 2005, to modern rock radio stations, and later to contemporary hit radio on July 12. "Dirty Little Secret" is an electric pop rock song that... " |
All-American Rejects |
| "Dr. Feelgood Dr. Feelgood (song) "Dr. Feelgood" is a song by the American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. It was released as the first single and is the title track to their fifth album. Although it is the title track, some versions of the album do not include it, such as the Korean edition... " |
Mötley Crüe Mötley Crüe Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil... |
| "The End of Heartache The End of Heartache The End of Heartache is the third studio album by American metalcore band Killswitch Engage. It was released on May 11, 2004 through Roadrunner Records. It is the first album to feature lead vocalist Howard Jones from the mathcore band Blood Has Been Shed after Jesse Leach's departure from the band... " |
Killswitch Engage Killswitch Engage Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer... |
| "Falling Away from Me Falling Away From Me "Falling Away from Me" is a song by American nu metal band Korn. It was released as the first single from their fourth album Issues, where it appeared in an episode of Comedy Central's animated series, South Park, entitled "Korn's Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery"... " |
Korn Korn Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,... |
| "Given Up Given Up "Given Up" is a song by Linkin Park. The song was released as the fourth single from their third studio album Minutes to Midnight. It was released on February 17, 2008 in United Kingdom as a digital download... " |
Linkin Park Linkin Park Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries... |
| "Heading Out to the Highway Heading Out to the Highway "Heading Out to the Highway" is a song by British heavy metal band Judas Priest from their 1981 album, Point of Entry, released as a single later that year... " |
Judas Priest Judas Priest Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,... |
| "Highway Star" | Deep Purple Deep Purple Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre... |
| "Holy Wars...The Punishment Due" | Megadeth Megadeth Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two... |
| "Joker & the Thief Joker & the Thief "Joker & the Thief" is the sixth single from Australian band Wolfmother's debut album Wolfmother. It was released in Sydney, Australia on 28 October 2006 and in the United Kingdom on 20 November 2006... " |
Wolfmother Wolfmother Wolfmother is an Australian rock band from Erskineville, Sydney. Formed in 2000, the group was originally a trio composed of vocalist and guitarist Andrew Stockdale, bassist and keyboardist Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett. Wolfmother released their self-titled debut album in October 2005,... |
| "Kiss Me Deadly Lita Ford Lita Ford is a British-born, American rock musician and singer who was the lead guitarist for The Runaways and achieved popularity for her solo career between the 1980s and late 2000s.-Early life:... " |
Lita Ford Lita Ford Lita Ford is a British-born, American rock musician and singer who was the lead guitarist for The Runaways and achieved popularity for her solo career between the 1980s and late 2000s.-Early life:... |
| "Last Resort Last Resort (song) "Last Resort" is the debut single from Californian rock band Papa Roach's second album, Infest. The song was very popular and a huge success and shot the band into the mainstream. The song charted on many charts around the world and reached number 1 on the U.S. Modern Rock Tracks number 57 on the U.S... " |
Papa Roach Papa Roach Papa Roach is an American rock band from Vacaville, California. Their first major-label release was the triple-platinum album Infest . The group's success continued with their gold album Lovehatetragedy , their platinum album Getting Away with Murder , The Paramour Sessions , and Metamorphosis... |
| "Magic Man Magic Man "Magic Man" is a hit rock song released in 1976 by Heart. It was issued as the second single from the band's debut album Dreamboat Annie. Written by Ann and Nancy Wilson, the song is sung from the viewpoint of a young girl who is being seduced by an older man , much to the chagrin of her mother,... " |
Heart Heart (band) Heart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music... |
| "No One Like You No One Like You "No One Like You" is a song by the German heavy metal band Scorpions, written by band members Rudolf Schenker and Klaus Meine . It first appeared on the band's 1982 album Blackout, and was one of three hits from the album... " |
Scorpions Scorpions (band) Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still... |
| "Our Truth Our Truth "Our Truth EP" is the first single by Italian gothic metal band Lacuna Coil from the album Karmacode. The song was also featured on the soundtrack to Underworld: Evolution. It was a Top 30 Active Rock single on the Billboard Charts... " |
Lacuna Coil Lacuna Coil Lacuna Coil is an Italian gothic metal band from Milan. Formed in 1994, the group has had two name changes since being previously known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal and was inspired by the combination of gothic imagery and music... |
| "Pain Pain (Three Days Grace song) "Pain" is the second single from rock band Three Days Grace's 2006 album, One-X.According to vocalist Adam Gontier, "It's a song about feeling like you're constantly numb to things around you, thanks to your own actions, and it's about being sick of that feeling."-Chart performance:"Pain" has... " |
Three Days Grace Three Days Grace Three Days Grace is a Canadian rock band, formed in Norwood, Ontario, Canada in 1992, originally under the name Groundswell. After a breakup in late 1997, the band regrouped in the same year under its current name and with a line-up consisting of guitarist and lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer... |
| "Paralyzer Paralyzer Paralyzer , also known as the second Shocker, is a fictional character, a mutant in the Marvel Comics Universe.-Publication history:... " |
Finger Eleven Finger Eleven Finger Eleven is a Canadian rock band from Burlington, Ontario, formed in 1989. They have currently released five studio albums, with their album The Greyest of Blue Skies bringing them into the mainstream... |
| "Pull Me Under Pull Me Under -Personnel:*James LaBrie - vocals*John Petrucci - guitar, backing vocals*Kevin Moore - keyboards*John Myung - bass, chapman stick*Mike Portnoy - drums, backing vocals-External links:* http://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/dream_theater/pull_me_under/... " |
Dream Theater Dream Theater Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would... |
| "Round and Round Round and Round (Ratt song) "Round and Round" is a song by American glam metal band Ratt which proved to be the biggest hit of their career, reaching No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. It appears as the third track of their album Out of the Cellar... " |
Ratt Ratt Ratt is an American heavy metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s. The band is best known for songs such as "Round and Round," "Wanted Man," "Lay It Down," "You're in Love", "Slip of the Lip", "Back For More", "Dance", "Body Talk", "I Want a Woman", and "Way Cool Jr." Ratt... |
| "Run to the Hills Run to the Hills "Run to the Hills" was Iron Maiden's sixth single and the first single from their 1982 album The Number of the Beast. The lyrics clearly discuss the violence visited upon Native Americans in the Nineteenth Century. Several lines appear to address the Sioux Wars, a conflict between the Lakota... " |
Iron Maiden Iron Maiden Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six... |
| "Sk8er Boi" | Avril Lavigne Avril Lavigne Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more... |
| "Somebody Told Me Somebody Told Me "Somebody Told Me" is the debut single by American rock band The Killers. The song is featured on the group's debut album Hot Fuss and was written by Dave Keuning, Ronnie Vannucci Jr., Mark Stoermer and Brandon Flowers.... " |
The Killers |
| "The Spirit of Radio The Spirit of Radio "The Spirit of Radio" is a song released in 1980 by Canadian rock band Rush from their album Permanent Waves. The song's name was inspired by Toronto radio station CFNY's slogan. The song was significant in the growing popularity of the band. It is also the first song of the 1980s, since Permanent... " |
Rush Rush (band) Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart... |
| "Spoonman Spoonman "Spoonman" is a song by the American rock band Soundgarden. Written by frontman Chris Cornell, "Spoonman" was released on February 15, 1994 as the first single from the band's fourth studio album, Superunknown . "Spoonman" is often credited as one of the songs that launched Soundgarden's career... " |
Soundgarden Soundgarden Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto... |
| "Still of the Night Still of the Night (song) "Still of the Night" is a single released by Whitesnake, from their hugely successful self titled 1987 album. It reached #16 in the U.K., #18 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks and #79 on the Billboard Hot 100 when it was released on March 9, 1987... " |
Whitesnake Whitesnake Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style... |
| "Stone Cold Crazy Stone Cold Crazy "Stone Cold Crazy" is a song by English rock band Queen from their successful 1974 album Sheer Heart Attack. The song is the eighth track on the album. Although the song was never released as a single, it was played live at almost every Queen concert between 1974-1978... " |
Queen Queen (band) Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor... |
| "Walk" | Pantera Pantera Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as... |
| "We're Not Gonna Take It" | Twisted Sister Twisted Sister Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band from Long Island. Musically, the band implements elements of traditional heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, along with a style that is similar to early glam metal bands... |
| "White Room White Room "White Room" is a song by British "supergroup" Cream. The song was a psychedelic rock number written by bassist Jack Bruce and poet Pete Brown. It originally appeared on the US release of their double album, Wheels of Fire, by Atco Records in July 1968 and was released as a single in September 1968... " |
Cream Cream (band) Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker... |
| "Won't Get Fooled Again Won't Get Fooled Again "Won't Get Fooled Again" is a song by the rock band The Who which was written by Pete Townshend The original version of the song appears as the final track on the album Who's Next... " |
The Who The Who The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction... |
| "Youth Gone Wild Youth Gone Wild "Youth Gone Wild" is the debut single by Skid Row and the lead single from their 1989 eponymous debut album.Its music video received heavy airplay on MTV; however, while the album itself was a major hit and went multi-platinum in the U.S... " |
Skid Row |
Recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
" mode, where players can create their own songs with various options, such as different guitar and drum styles, chords, fills, and beats. However, unlike the GHMix modes featured from Guitar Hero World Tour
Guitar Hero World Tour
Guitar Hero World Tour is a music video game developed by Neversoft and published by RedOctane and Activision. It is the fourth main entry in the Guitar Hero series...
onwards, the recording studio is purely a "sandbox"; songs created in this mode cannot be played as an actual in-game track or be shared with other users online.
Downloadable content
In addition to the 41 songs in the main setlist, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game also support new songs as downloadable contentDownloadable content
Downloadable content is official additional content for a video game distributed through the Internet. Downloadable content can be of several types, ranging from a single in-game outfit to an entirely new, extensive storyline, similarly to an expansion pack. As such, DLC may add new game modes,...
. Also, all songs in packs can be downloaded individually. All songs are $1.50 (120 MSP
Microsoft Points
Microsoft Points are the currency of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Games for Windows - Live Marketplace, Windows Live Gallery, and Zune online stores. The points allow users to purchase content without a credit card and to reduce the number of small credit card transaction fees, which Microsoft would...
), and all packs are $5.50 (440 MSP), and available on both PlayStation Network and Xbox Live
Xbox Live
Xbox Live is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation. It is currently the only online gaming service on consoles that charges users a fee to play multiplayer gaming. It was first made available to the Xbox system in 2002...
unless otherwise noted.
Only two packs have been released, one featuring music by artists from Konami's Bemani
Bemani
is Konami's music video game division. Originally named the Games & Music Division, or simply G.M.D., it changed its name in honor of its first and most successful game, Beatmania, and expanded into other music-based games.-Bemani video games:...
music games, and one featuring music by heavy metal band Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
.
| Title | Artist | Release date | Single / Pack name |
|---|---|---|---|
| "No Pain, No Gain" | The Rock Revolution Band | Single | |
| "She's The Bug" | The Rock Revolution Band | Single | |
| "Death Real" | Des-ROW | Bemani Bemani is Konami's music video game division. Originally named the Games & Music Division, or simply G.M.D., it changed its name in honor of its first and most successful game, Beatmania, and expanded into other music-based games.-Bemani video games:... Track Pack |
|
| "My Only Shining Star" | Naoki remixed by Kuro | Bemani Track Pack | |
| "Model DD8" | Mutsuhiko Izumi | Bemani Track Pack | |
| "Progressive Baby" | Daisuke Kurosawa | Bemani Track Pack | |
| "CHIMERA" | Daisuke Kurosawa | Bemani Track Pack | |
| "5 Minutes Alone 5 Minutes Alone "5 Minutes Alone" is a song by the heavy metal band Pantera from their 1994 album Far Beyond Driven. The song also appears on the bands live album. The song was released as downloadable content for Rock Revolution.-Lyrics:... " |
Pantera Pantera Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as... |
Pantera Track Pack | |
| "Mouth for War Mouth for War "Mouth for War" is a popular song by the heavy metal band Pantera. It was first released on the band's album Vulgar Display of Power and was the first single off that album... " |
Pantera Pantera Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as... |
Pantera Track Pack | |
| "Cemetery Gates Cemetery Gates "Cemetery Gates" is a song by heavy metal band Pantera. The song is the fifth track from Cowboys from Hell, the band's fifth album and second with lead singer Phil Anselmo... " |
Pantera Pantera Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as... |
Pantera Track Pack | |
| "This Love This Love (Pantera song) "This Love" is a popular song by the heavy metal band Pantera. It was first released on the band's best selling album, Vulgar Display of Power, and later on the band's compilation album, The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys' Vulgar Hits!... " |
Pantera Pantera Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as... |
Pantera Track Pack | |
| "I'm Broken I'm Broken "I'm Broken" is a song by the heavy metal group Pantera from the 1994 album Far Beyond Driven. It was the first single issued from the album... " |
Pantera Pantera Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as... |
Pantera Track Pack |
Reception
Rock Revolution has been widely panned by critics for various reasons. Many have criticized the game's drumkit peripheral, criticizing the abnormal layout and design of its pads and the effects of these flaws on typical gameplay, most harshly by an IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
reviewer who referred to it as "an abomination that must be destroyed lest it breed and multiply." Most reviews also criticized the game's use of a non-slanted perspective of oncoming notes and a dedicated lane for the bass drum pedal like in DrumMania
DrumMania
is a music video game series produced by Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., where colored notes travel down the screen which correspond with color coded parts of an electronic drum set...
, rather than a bar stretching across the length of the note display like in Rock Band. The compatibility of other guitar and drum controllers with Rock Revolution was also noted by some reviewers as a positive feature.
The gameplay and presentation of Rock Revolution was also criticized, with complaints of an "underwhelming" career mode lacking any narrative, the lack of character customization, and lower-quality graphics than its competitors. The lack of vocal-based modes in the console versions of Rock Revolution was also noted as a major flaw. The soundtrack was given mixed reviews, with some considering smaller soundtrack of mostly covers being a step backwards from a push by Guitar Hero and Rock Band to only use master tracks, although IGN considered some of the song choices themselves to be "genuinely good" however. The studio mode was praised by some to be one of the only good parts of the entire game and was also complimented for having more depth than the main game itself, although an IGN reviewer criticized its user interface, saying that it was as "intuitive as a tax form
Tax return
A tax return is a tax form that can be filed with a government body to declare liability for taxation in various countries:* Tax return * Tax return * Tax return * Tax return...
"
RewiredMind.com's Ken Barnes cited inaccurate controls and the limitations of the Nintendo DS hardware in the vocal sections for a low score in his review of the Nintendo DS version, although the developers were applauded for even attempting to do vocals. The DS version was specifically reviewed by him due to "the prohibitive cost of importing the awful-looking PS3 or Xbox 360 drum 'kit'."
The NPD Group reported that Rock Revolution sold fewer than 3,000 copies in October 2008 in the United States across the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo DS versions in the game's first month of release.
Patent litigation
BloombergBloomberg L.P.
Bloomberg L.P. is an American privately held financial software, media, and data company. Bloomberg makes up one third of the $16 billion global financial data market with estimated revenue of $6.9 billion. Bloomberg L.P...
reported on July 10, 2008 that Konami had filed a lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
against Harmonix and Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
for patent infringement
Patent infringement
Patent infringement is the commission of a prohibited act with respect to a patented invention without permission from the patent holder. Permission may typically be granted in the form of a license. The definition of patent infringement may vary by jurisdiction, but it typically includes using or...
over Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas is the Federal district court with jurisdiction over the eastern part of Texas and is a part of the Fifth Circuit. The court's headquarters are in Tyler, Texas and has five subdivision offices in Beaumont, Lufkin, Marshall,...
, claiming it infringed on Konami's patents on music simulation games. They also requested cash compensation and an order to stop sales of Rock Band. In February 2009, Harmonix sued Konami for infringing on their patents, which actually cited some of Konami's patents on music simulation games as references.
Konami had licensed their patents to Activision
Activision
Activision is an American publisher, majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA. Its current CEO is Robert Kotick. It was founded on October 1, 1979 and was the world's first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles...
for use in the Guitar Hero series
Guitar Hero
Guitar Hero is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by RedOctane for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It is the first entry in the Guitar Hero series. Guitar Hero was released on November 8, 2005 in North America, April 7, 2006 in Europe and June 15, 2006 in...
.