Rock Band patch adds in-game store

by Andrew Yoon { Mar 20th 2008 at 9:30AM }

Some time this week, Rock Band players will be able to enjoy new features and functionality through a downloadable patch. The most significant addition is the inclusion of an in-game music store. Joystiq describes it as "a fully integrated shop allowing players to preview and purchase tracks without ever leaving the comfy confines of the game." As seen in the image, each song will feature a preview, and a display of difficulty for each instrument.

This is the "only patch planned" at this time, but it seems quite worth it. There are a few other notable improvements, such as:

Increased diversity in Band World Tour song selection.
Improved phoneme recognition
Microphone latency on PS3 improved.
Faster loading of DLC

Also, a sneak peek at the music store reveals that full albums appear to be in the works as Rock Band DLC. This should sound sweet to all the Rock Band fans out there.
[Update: For those looking for PS3 screens, visit Level Up. There's a fascinating rant on why developers still neglect the PS3 as a platform.]

Gallery: Rock Band Music Store

Tags: rock-band

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

LoCuSt @ Mar 20th 2008 9:40AM

Yet another reason that I'm beginning to feel like I chose the wrong game to support.

adolson @ Mar 20th 2008 9:42AM

I can't really get excited about this game anymore, as it seems I can't upgrade my hard drive in my PS3 without losing all of my progress. EA's solution? Send the game back to them, they'll send me an unopened box, and I can return it for a refund to the store I bought it from. Thanks, EA!

Merkley @ Mar 20th 2008 9:44AM

Sure you can... just copy off your save data!

mathab @ Mar 20th 2008 10:06AM

You do know you can back up your hard drive, right? You won't lose a thing.

adolson @ Mar 20th 2008 10:12AM

Yes, I do know that. However, you're wrong. The backup process goes smoothly, but when I try to restore it, it bails out due to the Rock Band copy protection on MY saved game data. EA says that backup and restore is "untested" and therefore unsupported and they have no solution. It's pretty stupid, really.

Justin @ Mar 20th 2008 10:24AM

adolson, you're an idiot. I've done several backups and restores, my Rock Band content (both game saves and DLC) have remained intact and functional.

Aclerok @ Mar 20th 2008 10:24AM

That's very disappointing to hear. I planned on upgrading eventually, but it looks like I will just continue to delete things off as needed until absolutely necessary.

adolson @ Mar 20th 2008 11:19AM

Justin,

I'm glad you managed to restore a backup. It gives me hope that I won't have to start all over, possibly. And if my problem is not Rock Band, then I'm sorry, I would be wrong, and I'll admit it. However, as it stands right now, it's the only saved game data on my system that says it's copy-protected, and when the restore process gets to about 50% or so, it stops saying something like "failed to copy file". If it's not Rock Band, then great, but what is the problem, then?

My hard drives do not have bad sectors on them, unless the 40GB that came in the PS3 has some, but I doubt it.

Either way, after the process aborts, it rebuilts the hard drive database and then I am missing all my game data, demos, and my Rock Band saved game.

I have a question for you though.. Are you on a 40GB model? Or was it 60GB or something else? I know someone else with a 60GB that has had success, and so there is a remote possibility that there's something messed with the 40GB... Or maybe a problem in 2.17 firmware? I really don't know, but it sure doesn't work for me.

I have opened a support request with Sony, so I'll see what they say. I'll retry the backup and restore process tonight and take pictures of what happens for me.

Justin @ Mar 20th 2008 1:03PM

adolson, sorry for getting rough there...but it pains me to see misinformation:

As per your problem:

Are you restoring under the same user ID/PSN account? Because if you're trying to restore as a different user and a non-existent or differnt PSn account, then the DLC copy protection will kick in. May I suggest backing stuff up, turning it on, putting in all you original user info, and then restoring your stuff.

That should solve your issue. If not, call Sony.

For the record, I have a launch 20 GB

adolson @ Mar 20th 2008 1:22PM

Yeah, I only have one user and one PSN account. I know I'm doing it right, just the restore process bails. I'm gonna try again tonight with a third USB drive as the middleman, and I'll snap pics.. It's very strange. The first time I did it, the drive had 11 bad sectors, but the second time the drive was clean, so I don't know why it didn't work. Unless my 40GB has bad sectors, but it's brand new from January and I'm not rough on my gear. But anyhow, other people have reported the same issue, so it's not just me.. Maybe it really is a 40GB issue, I don't know..

I got a reply from Sony and they basically gave a canned response to a question I didn't ask... "How do I backup?" is not the same as "Here is my issue with your backup/restore tool..." Heh.

hola @ Mar 20th 2008 4:19PM

I was getting same error of failing at 50%.. my solution? I stpped using an external HD. I used my 8gb pro duo stick. seems the issue was with the usb HDS. and it wasnt a bad drive. I tested out like 3 of my externals and none worked. so if you have a large falsh or pro duo stick, use that instead. format in ps3 first.

Also if you must erase stuff to make it fit on stick, then erase the games that you can download again from PSN. thats what i did.

Hope this works.

adolson @ Mar 20th 2008 2:30PM

hola,

Thanks for that! I knew I wasn't the only one with the problem.

I just ordered an 8GB stick yesterday too, so I should get it next week. If I can't get it to work, then I'll definitely be trying that out. :)

hola @ Mar 20th 2008 4:24PM

adolson,
Glad to be of help. I know it was a pain for me too. to be safe I just backed up ceratin folders individually on my external HD like Music, Movies, pics.

Then I erased all my demos and games from PSN since you can download again at no extra charge from store. you will need to erase your install files( i.e capcoms 5gb installs)

this should let everything else fit on 8gb stik for HD back Up. :)

Autopsy15 @ Mar 20th 2008 8:07PM

adolson,

I also tried to backup my Rock Band data on my flash drive when I had to get my 20 GB sent in for repairs (broken disk drive). When I tried to save it, no loading bar would come up and it would give me a message that said "Data is Copy Write Protected" or something similar to that nature. I guess EA just doesn't want you going and giving your data to other people for some reason. =P

toefer @ Mar 20th 2008 9:52AM

Good to see some nice improvements, but now they need to start putting out decent DLC to sell in the store, because it's been a while since anything good has come around.

Hoamie @ Mar 20th 2008 10:18AM

i wholeheartedly agree- i was voraciously buying up songs in december and january, but the last several weeks has been pretty uninspiring. when the hell will we see "who's next"?

also, can someone please tell me if the "improved microphone latency on ps3" means that they have reduced the annoying delay between when you sing and when your voice comes out of the speakers? it pretty much forces you to play the game with your vocals turned all the way down. is that what this means?

Aclerok @ Mar 20th 2008 10:23AM

I hope so. That delay is the most annoying thing about that game.

theboy @ Mar 20th 2008 3:43PM

yup, latency is audio terms is the difference in time before input and output, so ya hopefully it fixes it... A LOT

Foolish @ Mar 20th 2008 10:34AM

I was hoping that they would do some type of voice chat within online multiplayer, like after the song or something. it gets annoying that the singer is the only one with voice. But small gripe on otherwise fun game.

FixtSux @ Mar 20th 2008 10:43AM

What about support for "Players Met" in the XMB? I rock out with a couple of people online and want to add their PSN ID but I have to write it down b/c Rock Band doesn't save it anywhere. Or how about in-game chat? I hate playing as the leader online b/c I don't know what everyone wants to play and they end up leaving.These additions are great, but the online play is suffering.

greg.cowtan @ Mar 20th 2008 11:05AM

The store will be a nice addition to an already fantastic game. I'm glad to see that they are unlocking more song selection in the tour; there has been a noticeable difference between playing the multilayer and the solo career.

rothgar @ Mar 20th 2008 11:41AM

What about the stupid 8 players per instrument limit? I have way more than 8 people that want to switch between guitar and bass.
It would also be nice to have our characters be able to play any instrument but I can understand a limit on that a little bit more.

Otherwise I am 100% satisfied with the game.

Khamikazi @ Mar 20th 2008 12:15PM

The changes are pretty nice as far as the store goes. Ironically I own both the PS3 and X360 versions and while I understood why the PS3 didnt have it where you had access to download content ingame (I hate the PS3 online system as it stands right now, so lame), I didnt understand why the X360 didnt either as practically all the games allow you to. I love they allow you to preview the content and even see how hard the individual instruments are. Now just release some good content again, jeez. Also, I never played online with the PS3 version (again, PS3 online may be free but it sucks), but it doesnt allow voice chat at all?!?! Just wow....

Also, I actually find it a little weird (and a tad funny) that you seem to have either a full hard drive or are worried about a full hard drive adolson. 40gb is a nice size (I have 60gb personally). I mean it beats my X360 20gb size hands down, but then again I have no issues at all with memory on it and I dont delete anything unless I dont own the game anymore. I dunno what you got on there that takes THAT much memory lol.

adolson @ Mar 20th 2008 12:27PM

I like to keep demos around to play whenever I feel like, or to show off games to visitors. And haven't you heard? Capcom decided that mandatory 5GB installs for all of their games is an acceptable practice. I also like to keep videos from GameTrailers on my system, and they add up quick.. I started burning them to DVD-R instead, because I have already ran out of room.

Either way, the fact that 40GB is plenty for some people isn't a valid excuse as to why my saved data is copy-protected in the first place, especially without at least a MOVE option as the 360 has. If I can find out what is causing my backup to not restore correctly, then great, there is no issue. But until then, I'm pointing the finger at Rock Band and it makes me mad. Actually, I don't care as much as my wife does, as she's playing the drums in Hard mode and she doesn't want to start all over at the beginning. I don't blame her, either.

Andy @ Mar 20th 2008 1:03PM

This is nice, and I'm sure I'm going to love it, but how about giving the consumer WHAT THEY WANT!?!?!
There's a poll on the Rock Band forums; what would you most like to see changed about the game. The top 3 are currently Switching Instruments (ie. drum avatar playing guitar or what-not), Bass World Tour, and Rhythm Guitar option.

How hard would it be to make bass world tour? You've got the framework already, you've got the parts made, just copy and paste some code and BAM, that's one down.

How about this one from the list, "show character's name online." That one can't be all that hard to do, right?

C'mon, Harmonix. I love you guys, but give us some meaningful updates too. Show us that you still care about the consumer (unlike shitty Activision and their Guitar Hero:Insert-band-here crap)