Rock Band Scores Big-Name Equipment
Your lowly rock outfit will be sponsored by Fender, BOSS and more.
When you're hitting the high notes in EA's music game Rock Band later this year you'll be doing it just like the pros do. Well, sort of.
EA said on Tuesday that it has signed deals with major music instrument and equipment companies Fender, Roland and BOSS to supply virtual gear for budding musicians in its new rhythm game.
Where spiritual predecessor Guitar Hero went with Gibson for guitars, Rock Band will come with a guitar modelled after Fender's classic Stratocaster model - the "weapon of choice" for many of the guitar players on the development team, according to Harmonix's Alex Rigopulos.
The press release states that Fender basses will also appear in the game, though no separate bass controller has been announced.
Rock Band is EA's answer to Guitar Hero created by Harmonix, the developers of Activision's chart-topping series. Rock Band takes the idea further, letting you not only play bass and guitar by sing and play drums too. The game is due on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this Christmas.
Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo
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