Beat Saber has become something of a hit in the rhythm game scene thanks to its clever VR mechanics, and the veterans at Harmonix clearly want to offer their own response. They've unveiled Audica, a VR-only title where you blast the notes instead of slicing or tapping them. You're testing both your aim and your knack for keeping time, really. The soundtrack includes tunes from "some of the world's most popular electronic artists" (no Rock Band-style jams here), and you'll naturally compete against others on global leaderboards. … [Read more...] about Harmonix’s answer to ‘Beat Saber’ is a VR rhythm shooter
Harmonix
Harmonix’s new game Audica looks like Beat Saber with guns
Harmonix has announced a new virtual reality “rhythm shooter” game called Audica, which is launching as an Early Access game for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive on March 7th. Based on the first trailer, it’s a musical shooting gallery reminiscent of AudioShield or Beat Saber, another VR title that turns highly physical combat into a rhythm mechanic. Audica is the latest of several Harmonix VR music games, including its 2017 game Rock Band VR. Its initial version will come with 10 songs and one weapon set. By late 2019, it’s supposed to have 25 or more songs that you can play with several different weapons and environments. According to Game Informer, which previewed the game, Audica focuses on electronic music. Its launch songs include “I Want U” by Alison Wonderland, Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love (Afrojack Remix),” and “Splinter” by Savant. Audica is primarily licensed music, with some custom tracks by Harmonix “friends … [Read more...] about Harmonix’s new game Audica looks like Beat Saber with guns
NCSoft will publish Harmonix’s next game across multiple platforms
Rock Band creator Harmonix Music Systems said that Lineage creator NCSoft will publish its next game as part of a strategic partnership. The companies didn’t say what game that will be and noted it is still in “extremely early stages of development” for the PC and consoles. More details will come later. But while NCSoft specializes in massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), it looks like this one will go beyond that category. It is one more sign of increasing U.S.-Asian collaboration the games business. “This partnership is representative of NCSoft’s ambition to reach beyond the PC and mobile MMORPG space with new and innovative titles,” said Songyee Yoon, president of NCSoft, in a statement. “Harmonix’s decades of expertise at the intersection of music licensing and video game development are second to none, and we can’t wait to introduce their upcoming project to the world.” Harmonix has created a wide … [Read more...] about NCSoft will publish Harmonix’s next game across multiple platforms
Harmonix is bringing back Rock Band Network in Rock Band 4
Harmonix during a recent livestream on Twitch announced plans to bring back Rock Band Network in Rock Band 4. The Rock Band Network arrived in 2010 during the height of the rhythm video game craze. It was essentially a peer-reviewed platform in which content creators could upload and sell their own music to gamers and get a cut of the revenue. The platform allowed Harmonix to continue to grow its ecosystem of tracks without having to massively scale up development resources and was much faster than if Harmonix had to do all the work itself. Support for the network was scaled back in 2013 and by the following year, it shut down completely as Harmonix shifted focus to other projects. The return of the Rock Band Network isn’t without a bit of controversy, however, as purchases made on older systems won’t carry over to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This, according to Harmonix, was a necessity due to royalty agreements and whatnot. Also worth noting is the fact that Harmonix … [Read more...] about Harmonix is bringing back Rock Band Network in Rock Band 4
Harmonix is reviving Rock Band Network in ‘Rock Band 4’
Now the network will reopen its doors inside Rock Band 4 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One (crowdfunding for a PC version never materialized) however, there is some bad news for fans still sticking with the games -- apparently due to royalty agreements, purchases made on older systems won't carry over. Harmonix is apparently prioritizing songs that had been the most popular before on RBN, but it is still taking requests via an online form. … [Read more...] about Harmonix is reviving Rock Band Network in ‘Rock Band 4’