In the course of my interview with Rock Band 3 project lead Daniel Sussman, he dropped news about all the new controllers and peripherals — some which we already knew about, and some that we did not. (And there’s even more we didn’t know about the game.) Here’s the full lineup, courtesy of MTV Games’ partnership with Fender, and their new partnership with Mad Catz.
Rock Band 3 Squier By Fender Stratocaster Guitar Controller
price TBA
Yeah, that’s a mouthful. I suspect we’ll just be calling it “the Squier.” But I figured I’d include the full title just this once. This is the one peripheral we know of being made by Fender; the rest come via Mad Catz. Anyway, details:
- Fully functional, full-sized, stringed, electric guitar
- Technology built into the neck and fingerboard tracks finger positions
- Transmits strum data for each of the six strings
- MIDI output
Rock Band 3 Wireless Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar Controller
$149.99
- 17 frets, 6 buttons per neck
- 6-string strumming area allows for discrete picking of each string
- Touch-sensitive string box allows players to mute or cut off notes
- MIDI output
Rock Band 3 Wireless Keyboard Controller
$79.99, $129.99 with Rock Band 3 included
- Two-octave keyboard (C3 to C5)
- Velocity-sensitive keys (non-weighted)
- MIDI output
- Can also be used to play the lead guitar or bass
- Playable flat or strapped over the shoulder
- Includes touch strip for as-yet-undetermined purpose
Rock Band 3 Wireless PRO-Cymbals Expansion Kit
$39.99
This is one I haven’t mentioned before. It’s basically a replacement for the currently available cymbal kits. Here’s the feature rundown:
- Three-cymbal set
- Compatible with all wireless Rock Band drum kits and all Rock Band software
- Quieter sound with noise-dampening rubber covering the full surface area
- Enhanced responsiveness
- Cymbals now permanently rest at a 10-degree angle
- Also available in the “Rock Band 3 Wireless Drum and Cymbal Kit” — details forthcoming
Rock Band 3 MIDI PRO-Adapter
$39.99
- Use a real MIDI keyboard or MIDI drum set in Rock Band 3
- Velocity sensitive adjustment for MIDI drums designed to reduce cross-talk during play
- Ships with a removable clip, allowing it to be attached to a belt
The Future
And then there’s this interesting quote:
To be formally announced in due course, Mad Catz will be offering updated versions of the guitar and drum peripherals from prior versions of Rock Band, as well as improved microphones in support of the Rock Band 3 vocal harmony feature.
Intriguing, no? Especially the bit about a new drum kit. Here’s hoping for quieter operation. …Not that I’ll need to drop another chunk of change on a new controller.
Those MadCatz folks had BETTER NOT hose us PS3 peeps on the real guitars this time!!! I can’t wait.
Oh man oh man oh man. I just keep getting more and more excited. Is it sad that I’m going to buy both the key tar and the midi box to use my own keyboards?
Getting Pretty Pricey for this video game franchise… I like the route they are going with the peripherals , but not so good for this econemy. Plus I am hesitant on paying big money for anything MadCats puts out…
I think I’m going to be in a persistent state of freak-out until I can actually buy some of this stuff. I think I need to lie down, but I have to go to work…
Oh! A proper official drum module for e-drum kits!! Soooo awesome. I’ll be able to get velocity and full cymbal recognition from my kit rather than my bodged up RB1 drum module with MIDI interface kit wired onto it.
The MIDI adapter looks interesting, any word if the ION drum kit will work directly without any issues? I already have 4 pads and 3 cymbals for it, in theory it should ‘just work’, no?
Finally! I don’t want to learn to play real guitar, I just want updated versions of the old peripherals. I will get the new drums, and keyboard, though.
The only thing that really worries me is the worldwide availability of these funky toys…. it’s fine for you guys that side of the pond, but finding any madcatz stuff in the uk is a challange – I’ve seen a couple of packs of drum silencers, and once I saw a second hand p-bass – and that’s it.
If I’m forced to pick up my instruments online I’m not going to be particularly happy.
On the other hand – all midi pro instruments?!?!?!? That’s just mindblowingly epic…
@Tom, Here’s what the press release says about instrument compatibility: “Rock Band 3 will be compatible with all Rock Band and The Beatles: Rock Band peripherals, as well as most third-party instrument and microphone controllers.”
They’re not revamping the drums, so I don’t imagine it’ll be a problem. I just hope Ion didn’t cut any corners when developing their kit — if they just replicated the RB2 kit with better hardware, I can’t imagine why it wouldn’t work.
Okay that Squier looks awesome but I’m terrified to know the price for one of those…
anyone know if the squier or the mustang pro will work as bass?
so are they bringing out a new style/layout of drums or just doing the same thing the did with the drums for rb:beatles (change the colour)?
Well, there go my hopes of just being able to plug in the Squire Strat I already own, if this new-fangled one has all these fancy electro-whatsits and cyber-doodads in the neck that it needs to function properly. *sigh* Guess I better start saving up. -_-
Finally a game when i can beat all those fat losers that play guitar hero, I know its not everyone who plays it really just the people I know. Though I wish they had a MIDI adapter for a real guitar so I can use my Gibson Les Paul.
you say the squier is a real instrument, but will it just work in a standard amp or only with all that computer music making stuff?
@benhodgson92, Absolutely a real instrument. In fact, you can plug it into an amp while you’re playing Rock Band and have it playing actual sounds while it’s connected to the game via MIDI.