NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — MTV has teamed up with video game publisher Electronic Arts Inc. and “Guitar Hero” developer Harmonix to deliver “Rock Band,” a new music game, later this year.
“ ‘Rock Band’ is Harmonix’s most ambitious project to date, and it will take music gameplay to an entirely new level,” Alex Rigopulos, co-founder and chief executive of Harmonix said in a statement. The company has also developed rhythm games “Frequency” and “Amplitude,” as well as the “Karaoke Revolution” series.
The “Guitar Hero” games have been the company’s biggest hit to date.
Partners in the new project said “Rock Band” will surpass those titles with support from major record labels. The game will expand players’ virtual roles beyond lead guitarist to drummer, bass guitarist and lead singer.
EMI Music Publishing and Warner/Chappell Music have pledged unprecedented access to their music catalogs for use in the game. Record labels EMI Music, Hollywood Records, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Enterprises and Rhino Entertainment will supply master recordings by their artists. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
