PixlBit

Forgoing the traditional peripheral-based input, the upcoming downloadable title channels Amplitude and Frequency.

Today, Harmonix officially announced Rock Band Blitz for both Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network. Rather than utilize the peripheral instruments that have made the series a hit, Blitz requires players only have a controller on the ready to play the beat-match title. Just like Amplitude and Frequency, Rock Band Blitz brings multi-track arcade gameplay that has players switching between instruments on-the-fly to replicate the song.

Read more »

Jason analyzes the recent sale of Harmonix, and what it means for the future of rhythm game sales.

A few months ago, Viacom sold off rhythm game developer Harmonix for a reported amount of fifty dollars. The most shocking aspect of this trade is that Viacom originally bought Harmonix for $175 million. Apparently the trade gives Viacom about $150 million in tax benefits, which is quite a hefty number, itself, but still, it seems like this is a major failure on Viacom's part, which reflects as a failure on the part of Harmonix, itself. A little while later, Activision reported that they will not publish a new Guitar Hero or DJ Hero game in 2011 after disappointing sales of the previous entry, simultaneously halting future DLC for the two franchises. The once-popular music gaming genre appears to have come to a screeching halt after oversaturation and the companies' failure to understand the market.

Read more »

Players will be able to enjoy the Aussie rocker's live track pack without purchasing the title at Walmart.

AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack is one of many Rock Band track packs that have been released in standalone form to retail outlets. However, given the exclusivity deal AC/DC has had with the mega-corporation, Walmart, when the game released last November, it was limited to just that chain of stores.

Read more »