I don’t like talking in the first person for these articles, but this needs to be said: I, Andrew Vandersteen, have not donated and will not donate money to the Psychonauts 2 campaign. I cannot speak for my fellow writers of this publication.
There’s something unbelievably fishy going on with Fig.co, the platform of choice for the anticipated Psychonauts 2 crowdfunding campaign. We already looked at why Psychonauts 2 shouldn’t be crowd funded, but there seems to be a lot more to the situation than what we first saw. Fig.co might just be the shadiest form of crowd funding ever, an impressive feat considering the already shady dealings of Kickstarter and IndieGoGo. Let’s examine what’s going on, and try to get to the core of this rotten fruit.
The site hit mainstream when the campaign for Psychonauts 2 launched on December 4th, during the Video Game Awards.
There’s something unbelievably fishy going on with Fig.co, the platform of choice for the anticipated Psychonauts 2 crowdfunding campaign. We already looked at why Psychonauts 2 shouldn’t be crowd funded, but there seems to be a lot more to the situation than what we first saw. Fig.co might just be the shadiest form of crowd funding ever, an impressive feat considering the already shady dealings of Kickstarter and IndieGoGo. Let’s examine what’s going on, and try to get to the core of this rotten fruit.
The site hit mainstream when the campaign for Psychonauts 2 launched on December 4th, during the Video Game Awards.
- 12/17/2015
- by Andrew Vandersteen
- SoundOnSight
Image Credit: Engadget and Harmonix
For about two and a half years now, I’ve been learning guitar and have gotten pretty good, learning my deep library of songs, practicing scales and solos and much less often performing for friends and family. Yet there’s still part of me that wants to be a fake rock star again.
Yes, college and high school would not have been the same were it not for the crazy fad that was rhythm gaming and plastic instruments in the form of Rock Band and Guitar Hero. And I was good, thank you very much.
Now you can break those old instruments out of the crawlspace, because Harmonix has announced the return of their flagship franchise in the form of Rock Band 4, set to arrive on Playstation 4 and XBox One later this year.
According to Engadget, all your previously purchased Dlc songs and those on previous games,...
For about two and a half years now, I’ve been learning guitar and have gotten pretty good, learning my deep library of songs, practicing scales and solos and much less often performing for friends and family. Yet there’s still part of me that wants to be a fake rock star again.
Yes, college and high school would not have been the same were it not for the crazy fad that was rhythm gaming and plastic instruments in the form of Rock Band and Guitar Hero. And I was good, thank you very much.
Now you can break those old instruments out of the crawlspace, because Harmonix has announced the return of their flagship franchise in the form of Rock Band 4, set to arrive on Playstation 4 and XBox One later this year.
According to Engadget, all your previously purchased Dlc songs and those on previous games,...
- 3/5/2015
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
"Dance Central" may only just now be coming out, but Harmonix sounds like they're totally prepared to cash in on a sequel if they're called upon to do so. After Kinect users get through shaking their hips to Lady Gaga, M.I.A. and Rihanna, they may want a few more options, and though Dlc is definitely in the cards, "Dance Central 2" is also lurking behind the scenes in the earliest of stages.
"We're looking at basic pre-production for 'Dance Central 2' but are mostly working on Dlc right now," Harmonix project director Kasson Crooker told McV.
"Dance Central" sales will obviously play a key roles in determining if and when the sequel goes into full-fledged production. Kinect adoption will likely be watched closely too. And until that data is available, Crooker's team won't have a crystal clear idea of what they want their motion-controlled dance redux to look like.
"We're looking at basic pre-production for 'Dance Central 2' but are mostly working on Dlc right now," Harmonix project director Kasson Crooker told McV.
"Dance Central" sales will obviously play a key roles in determining if and when the sequel goes into full-fledged production. Kinect adoption will likely be watched closely too. And until that data is available, Crooker's team won't have a crystal clear idea of what they want their motion-controlled dance redux to look like.
- 11/2/2010
- by Brian Warmoth
- MTV Multiplayer
'Rock Band' creator Harmonix is working on a new dance game that uses the Kinect camera on Xbox 360.
By Russ Frushtick
"Dance Central"
Photo: Harmonix
Harmonix was making rhythm games long before the days of "Rock Band," but despite being fans of dance music, the developer has always had a difficult time implementing those kinds of tracks into their games. The solution was to launch an entirely new rhythm-game franchise: "Dance Central."
The key to "Dance Central" was Microsoft's Kinect, a motion-sensing camera that's able to track the precise body movements of anyone standing in front of it. No game pad or controller is required — simply walk up and you're good to go. From there, the jump to making a dance game seemed like a perfect fit.
It's the easy-to-play nature of "Dance Central" that made Harmonix believe they could bring it to the masses. During Microsoft's press conference at...
By Russ Frushtick
"Dance Central"
Photo: Harmonix
Harmonix was making rhythm games long before the days of "Rock Band," but despite being fans of dance music, the developer has always had a difficult time implementing those kinds of tracks into their games. The solution was to launch an entirely new rhythm-game franchise: "Dance Central."
The key to "Dance Central" was Microsoft's Kinect, a motion-sensing camera that's able to track the precise body movements of anyone standing in front of it. No game pad or controller is required — simply walk up and you're good to go. From there, the jump to making a dance game seemed like a perfect fit.
It's the easy-to-play nature of "Dance Central" that made Harmonix believe they could bring it to the masses. During Microsoft's press conference at...
- 6/17/2010
- MTV Music News
After producing peripherals gamers could buy to enhance their fake band prowess, controller company Mad Catz has been granted worldwide rights to create and sell Rock Band peripherals. Yes, Mad Catz has already created several controllers for the series, including a bass that simulates real bass play, but now their instruments will be included in all Rock Band bundles.
In an official announcement, Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos said:
“We are excited to be expanding our relationship with Mad Catz to continue to bring their video game peripheral design and manufacturing expertise to the Rock Band platform. We look forward to partnering with Mad Catz to continue to innovate and lead the music game genre through the Rock Band franchise.”
An interesting decision, but not entirely surprising. Mad Catz has been improving the quality of their third-party peripherals for Rock Band, including that super fancy full size Fender guitar controller that...
In an official announcement, Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos said:
“We are excited to be expanding our relationship with Mad Catz to continue to bring their video game peripheral design and manufacturing expertise to the Rock Band platform. We look forward to partnering with Mad Catz to continue to innovate and lead the music game genre through the Rock Band franchise.”
An interesting decision, but not entirely surprising. Mad Catz has been improving the quality of their third-party peripherals for Rock Band, including that super fancy full size Fender guitar controller that...
- 4/26/2010
- by Trung Bui
- GameRant
Wednesday night, during Gdc week, held a special surprise for fans of Rock Band, providing press with a glimpse of Green Day: Rock Band.
Held at the RockIt Room in San Francisco (with an open-bar courtesy of MTV Games and Harmonix), press and friends were invited to check out the new product and interact with studio heads.
I interviewed both John Drake, Rock Band Network Manager for Harmonix (who sings a mean Eric Cartman version of “Poker Face”), and Harmonix CEO, Alex Rigopulus.
From what we were shown of Green Day: Rock Band, the game will retain an on-tour motif, the gameplay backgrounds were set to a series of on-stage performances – decorated with features you might find at an actual Green Day concert.
Harmonies will return for Green Day: Rock Band as well, so your multiple mic-stand setups will not be left wanting. Character models were very striking and well put together,...
Held at the RockIt Room in San Francisco (with an open-bar courtesy of MTV Games and Harmonix), press and friends were invited to check out the new product and interact with studio heads.
I interviewed both John Drake, Rock Band Network Manager for Harmonix (who sings a mean Eric Cartman version of “Poker Face”), and Harmonix CEO, Alex Rigopulus.
From what we were shown of Green Day: Rock Band, the game will retain an on-tour motif, the gameplay backgrounds were set to a series of on-stage performances – decorated with features you might find at an actual Green Day concert.
Harmonies will return for Green Day: Rock Band as well, so your multiple mic-stand setups will not be left wanting. Character models were very striking and well put together,...
- 3/14/2010
- by Trung Bui
- GameRant
I’m a huge fan of Rock Band, like so many others. Harmonix studios decided to take the next step of their powerhouse fake band music game by introducing the Rock Band Network to players.
What is it, exactly? MTV Gaming Executive, Paul Degooyer, provides a bit of an explanation:
“The Rock Band Network Music Store gives artists at any level the opportunity to reach new fans through our deeply engaging interactive platform. This new pathway for discovery is a huge win for passionate music fans, as well as an opportunity for artists to promote themselves while positively impacting their bottom line.”
The Rock Band Network allows musicians and their labels to directly pipe new music to gamers through Rock Band – where gamers can disover new artists and expand their taste in music.
More or less, it’s a fancy promotion system that lets gamers get access to new music through Rock Band.
What is it, exactly? MTV Gaming Executive, Paul Degooyer, provides a bit of an explanation:
“The Rock Band Network Music Store gives artists at any level the opportunity to reach new fans through our deeply engaging interactive platform. This new pathway for discovery is a huge win for passionate music fans, as well as an opportunity for artists to promote themselves while positively impacting their bottom line.”
The Rock Band Network allows musicians and their labels to directly pipe new music to gamers through Rock Band – where gamers can disover new artists and expand their taste in music.
More or less, it’s a fancy promotion system that lets gamers get access to new music through Rock Band.
- 3/5/2010
- by Trung Bui
- GameRant
Following in the success of The Beatles: Rock Band, Harmonix is now planning to release a standalone Green Day: Rock Band game, which will feature the likenesses of Green Day members Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool, and will contain venues specific to the band’s history. Green Day made this announcement themselves at Spike’s Video Game Awards show which you can see below.
Alex Rigopulos, CEO and co-founder of Harmonix Music Systems added that, “[t]his game will feel like a natural extension of Green Day and their music that will deepen the fans’ connection to the band and their history.”
Even though I have always been a big fan of Green Day’s music, especially their early work, I question whether this is a sound business strategy for Harmonix. The Beatles: Rock Band made sense since most people were familiar with their songs, and they have cross-generational appeal.
Alex Rigopulos, CEO and co-founder of Harmonix Music Systems added that, “[t]his game will feel like a natural extension of Green Day and their music that will deepen the fans’ connection to the band and their history.”
Even though I have always been a big fan of Green Day’s music, especially their early work, I question whether this is a sound business strategy for Harmonix. The Beatles: Rock Band made sense since most people were familiar with their songs, and they have cross-generational appeal.
- 12/15/2009
- by Jason Weissman
- GameRant
Last night at the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards, audiences were shocked when Green Day appeared on the monitors with a special video preview of Green Day: Rock Band.
Now it's official, and Fangoria Musick just got hit with the official press release in the wee hours of this Sunday morning. Check out the full details below, along with the reveal video from the Vga's!
Multi-platinum selling and Grammy® Award winning group Green Day, along with Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (Nyse: Via, Via.B), and Warner Bros./Reprise Records today announced at the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards that they are collaborating on the standalone title Green Day: Rock Band™.
Green Day: Rock Band - Exclusive Debut Trailer | SpikeTV | Spike.com
“We’ve worked with the Rock Band team in the past year to enable our fans...
Now it's official, and Fangoria Musick just got hit with the official press release in the wee hours of this Sunday morning. Check out the full details below, along with the reveal video from the Vga's!
Multi-platinum selling and Grammy® Award winning group Green Day, along with Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (Nyse: Via, Via.B), and Warner Bros./Reprise Records today announced at the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards that they are collaborating on the standalone title Green Day: Rock Band™.
Green Day: Rock Band - Exclusive Debut Trailer | SpikeTV | Spike.com
“We’ve worked with the Rock Band team in the past year to enable our fans...
- 12/13/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (James Zahn)
- Fangoria
Update: Confirming earlier rumors, the final song has been revealed in "The Beatles: Rock Band." Alex Rigopulos, CEO of Harmonix, revealed the final song, "The End," at a GameStop managers convention in Las Vegas. This announcement rounds out the song list for "The Beatles: Rock Band." Check out the complete song list after the break:
"The End"
“Boys”
“A Hard Day’s Night”
“I’m Looking Through You”
“Ticket to Ride”
“Drive My Car”
“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”
“Getting Better”
“Good Morning”
“Hello, Goodbye”
“Hey Bulldog”
“Dear Prudence”
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps”
“Helter Skelter”
“Something”
“Come Together”
“Don’t Let Me Down”
“I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”
“I Me Mine”
"If I Needed Someone"
"Twist and Shout"
"Do You Want to Know a Secret"
"Can't Buy Me Love"
"I Wanna Be Your Man"
"Eight Days a Week"
"Paperback Writer"
"And Your Bird Can Sing"
"Yellow Submarine...
"The End"
“Boys”
“A Hard Day’s Night”
“I’m Looking Through You”
“Ticket to Ride”
“Drive My Car”
“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”
“Getting Better”
“Good Morning”
“Hello, Goodbye”
“Hey Bulldog”
“Dear Prudence”
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps”
“Helter Skelter”
“Something”
“Come Together”
“Don’t Let Me Down”
“I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”
“I Me Mine”
"If I Needed Someone"
"Twist and Shout"
"Do You Want to Know a Secret"
"Can't Buy Me Love"
"I Wanna Be Your Man"
"Eight Days a Week"
"Paperback Writer"
"And Your Bird Can Sing"
"Yellow Submarine...
- 9/2/2009
- by Russ Frushtick
- MTV Multiplayer
Speaking at Gamescom 2009, Alex Rigopulos, CEO of Harmonix, today confirmed release details for the three Beatles albums that will be available for purchase as downloadable content in The Beatles: Rock Band Music Store by the end of this year. Abbey Road will be released on October 20, 2009, followed by the release of Sgt. Pepper.s Lonely Hearts Club Band in November and Rubber Soul in December. Abbey Road (1969)Release Date: October 20, 2009Pricing: $16.98 (or 1360 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for album$1.99 (or 160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for individual tracksTracks:.Come Together..Something..Maxwell.s Silver Hammer..Oh! Darling..Octopus.s Garden..I Want You (She.s So Heavy)..Here Comes The Sun..Because..You Never Give Me Your Money..Sun King..Mean Mr. Mustard..Polythene Pam..She Came In...
- 8/19/2009
- by Hector Cortez
- Monsters and Critics
Media giant Viacom has revealed that it is paying $$300 million (£194 million) to the creators of the Rock Band franchise. Alex Rigopulos, 38, and Eran Egozy, 37, are the founders of developer Harmonix, which makes the music games. After exceeding performance targets, the pair received $$150 million from Viacom during the last quarter and will receive a further $$150 million payment in 2009 as part of the 2006 buyout of their company. Viacom (more)...
- 11/12/2008
- by By Andrew Laughlin
- Digital Spy
Los Angeles, California (X17online) - MTV Games and the company that owns the publishing rights to The Beatles music library are teaming up to create a Beatles-themed video game. It's not a 'Rock Band' game," Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos said, speaking for the MTV-owned studio behind the original "Guitar Hero" and the "Rock Band" series. "It's a new creative exploration of their music and a celebration of their legacy in a way that hasn't been done before." The developer added that it will be a "music-making game. There will be interactive performance of the music and stuff you haven't seen from us before." The game has the full support of Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with the blessing of Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison. "The project is a fun idea which broadens the appeal of the Beatles and their music. I like people having the opportunity to...
- 10/30/2008
- x17online.com
Video game developer Harmonix has told a press conference that the eagerly-awaited Rock Band 2 game will boast 84 tracks on a single disc. Speaking at the opening of the E3 show in Los Angeles, Harmonix boss Alex Rigopulos also revealed that a new single from Guns 'n' Roses album Chinese Democracy will make its debut in the game. Discussing some of the title's features, the games chief said users will (more)...
- 7/15/2008
- by By David Gibbon
- Digital Spy
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