That is one sweet ad. Perfect song, imagery. I dare say it's better than the haughty Mac ads and on par with the iPod ones. And immeasurably better than that pirate restaurant singer insurance selling commercial.

osteofight

Anyone catch the irony? Near the end of the video it says there are over 500 songs* and then at the very end it promotes the Xbox 360 Arcade which doesn't have an HDD making it unable to get 500 songs. Marking genius.

Quicksilver4648

Um, well I wouldn't' call the commercial "Effing Sweet" it was far from that, but it still gets the message across. I'm still tired from all the controversy about playing real instruments, yadda yadda. It's just a game, have fun.

Still, at 190 a pop, that's really pricey.

Ken Hikari

@VixDiesel:

Yeah, Harmonix clearly favors the Xbox. That's why they released Guitar Hero on the PS2 only, and released Guitar Hero II on the PS2 six months before the 360 version.

Bishmon

I find it quite funny that the system they show doesn't really allow you to download any new songs at that price point.

Torgo

Wow

Brian, I agree with you 100%

I can now live out my dreams of becoming Angus Young... Or at least channeling him

Gotta get it Saturday somewhere, as Sunday = Football :)

NYC Armor Guy

If you notice, Harmonix focus on Xbox 360, While Activision focus on wii. Guess which console sold more?

It doesn't takes a genius to figure out who makes a better quality product and who's the other guy that satisfy customers better.

Jestersage

@mr30gZune: If you don't already have the original RB, it's best to wait for the bundle in Oct. (unless, of course, you are just interested in playing only on instrument.)

DrWorm

I called it! :D Awesome marketing for the 360 right there! Good for them for capitalizing on it!

[kotaku.com]

Here's what I said back on August 4th:
"Very interesting given the fact that the XBox price cut is happening on 9/7/08.

An XBox 360 Arcade ($199) is the cheapest and earliest way to get Rock Band 2 if you don't already have a current gen console.

In fact, the Arcade + Rock Band 2 is actually $30 cheaper than the PS3 alone! "

Rectangle

rotting in hell, it is.

karl_hungus

@gameware:

Nope that was cool. Will you hardass jaded cynics realize that video games in general are "un-cool".

I know it's straight to rip on GH/RB because a bunch of fratboys get drunk and play them, but come on. Grow up. It's just for fun.

bennifer3000

I'm sorry but... that was awful.

Polysics_2004

Harmonix fails for favoring the xbox despite their many, many, many claims that they don't favor any consoles on their forums. They did it even before the first one came out.

Can't say I care too much that I don't get it until October(it's more a matter of principle) since I definitely have other games keeping me busy at the moment.

The commercial was ok, full of cheese but ok.

VixDiesel

I've got a funny feeling I'll be playing a lot of this game come next Sunday.

bennifer3000

@Crankyhobo: There a scene in Lost in Translation where an extra is smoking a cigarette in a Japanese arcade playing Guitar Freaks. That's the closest anyone has ever come.

gameware

I'm a horrible person, and I'm going to rot in hell. I've got no love for that commercial!

TheKnicest

Dear Brian C., you have just confirmed, to thousands of Kotaku readers that I am a horrible person. Thank you. Now, back to our show!

SigmundTheSeaMonster

Was I the only one expecting to see a red ring of death at the start of that video?

Evari

A room full of people, playing with fake instruments.
NICE.

Stalkumi

Yep! :) It's definitely a good mix between mainstream simple yet really cool with the AC/DC song. Only negative for me personally was the 360 biotch slap. But I can't blame them(Microsoft).

jasoncourt

I missed the "effing sweet" part =/

Fluffy22

Yeah, that was horrific. You cannot make rocking out with plastic instruments look cool. end of story.

Crankyhobo

Yeah, and if you buy that $199 360, you sure aren't going to play that entire 500 song library since you're only going to have a 256 meg memory card.

The average size of DLC for Rock Band is 30 megs, which means you'll be able to get a whopping 8 extra songs on the Arcade!

MaxSteele

I like AC/DC, but other than that, no I did not like it at all, now good day good sirs.

NorthernAvengeR

@GlassAdam?: Try spelling stuff correctly next time...

GlassAdam?

That was... absolutely terrible. Jesus Christ.

It'll be one of those hokey gaming commercials that webisites make fun of in Top-10 Worst Videogame Commercials lists a few years from now.

GlassAdam?

Me thinks this game will move many a consoles.

side note:
I read somewhere that October would be the month to pick this up because its going to be cheaper as in bundle form.

can anyone confirm this thanks.

mr30gZune

lame. I honestly didn't think that commercial was anything special. Pretty average. Plus, I'm not a big Rock Band fan, I like Guitar Hero much more. I personally prefer the songs and game mechanics in Guitar Hero.

KingDavid73

"Available first for XBOX 360 now stating $199"
I wonder how Sony will counter....

noesmano

It reminds me of that one episode of Doug where they formed that super-mega-huge band with 3 drummers, 15 guitarists, and Doug strumming on his banjo.

xAnarChisTx

Still waiting for Rock Band 1 over here. Anyone know if Rock Band 2 DLC will work on a copy imported into the UK?

Numanoid

@ 54sec mark

"Over 500 songs available on disc or by download by holiday 2008"

impressive.

"Available first for XBOX 360 now stating $199"

smart marketing blurb.

SAKY

I play guitar and I think music games are the shit. That being said, you know there are tons of musicians watching this commercial and getting REALLY pissed off at watching everyone pretend to do what they do. You know they are. Everyone's a rockstar now. Ha.

(Note: I think I'm still bitter towards musicians from college. A great deal of them are assholes.)

Sakilla

I think you mean "Effin sweet Xbox 360 ad featuring Rock Band 2." That's the message I got at least. xD

Phazonmasher

I've never played a single one of these kinds of games.

DwindleFlip

Hard to believe Rock Band 2 will be playable in just a few days! Can't wait to master the new modes and songs.

gameware

I'm embarrassed to admit how much money I dropped on my arcade style Guitar Freaks controller. After we sold our Guitar Freaks 11th mix machine, I just had the urge to play it at home with the same controller!

gameware

Of course we get excited about commercials, the stuff they advertise actually comes out here.

InfernoT

hmm.. i knew there were reasons i skipped over commercials with tivo

Sorablade

@fire ze missiles: Elitism is cool. Not.

Dalren

America, probably still the only country where people actually get excited about commercials.

fire ze missiles

Horrible... horrible commercial.

Though, I can't wait to not fail at singing!

jackburnt

@gameware: LOL yeah, I remember that part. He almost got me. :p

I've little interest in rhythm/music games, but I did like the commercial. It won't get me to buy it, though.

gigantor21

My guess is that most of the people that do not like this commercial have never seen the music video for "Let There Be Rock".

ckranger11

@KingDavid73: The games are pretty much the same thing. Especially so in Rock Band 2/World Tour, now that GH fixed their HO/PO system.

Dalren

Did you accidentally link to the wrong video? Because there was nothing sweet about that commercial, let along effing sweet.

seafisch

@DrWorm:
Sweet!
Thanks

mr30gZune

@Jestersage: Actually, the ADVERTISERS hype the 360. MTV Games owns Harmonix. MTV has a deal with Msoft. Therefore, advertise with the 360.
Also, they'd be crazy NOT to advertise for the 360. It doesn't even come out for other systems 'till next month!

ImCowman

@osteofight: But it's not as good as that brilliant one with Seinfeld and Gates and edible computers...or whatever.

AC/DC! YEAH!

AngryEddy

@KingDavid73:
Then why did you even post? Your opinion obviously does not mean shit concerning this news post. Now, if you had said..I like rock band, but i don't like this commercial. Then that would of been OK. However, since you are a fan boy then your opinion is worthless here...

Move on and enjoy Guitar hero. I am buying both...BTW...

phunky420

@TheTimeisback: And still cheaper than the cheapest PS3 option.

Rectangle

See ya in hell, guys.

xot

@MaxSteele: Duhh, its a marketing ploy!! Once you get the Arcade what happens after that, you'll get the 60GB, the 120GB, or the 20GB HDD(Used of course). All more money for Microsoft.

Its Just Good Business.

TheTimeisback

@mr30gZune: Sorry! my last comment was aimed at KingDavid73.

Hugoku

And for the record, the original video:

iameleveneight

@Orionsaint: You know that IS a Bon Scott song right?

iameleveneight

@mr30gZune: You mean the game mechanics that Harmonix perfected on GHII and that Neversoft fucked up in GHIII?

Hugoku

@jobble: if you keep kicking that dead horse, you're going to end up ruining your shoes.

iameleveneight

sucks bon scott died. he was a better singer

Orionsaint

This ad takes me back. It's so reminiscent of some of those radical game ads from the eighties. to the max.

Rajio

L2P a real instrument.

jobble

Sorry Crecente, you're too late, I'm already going to hell for actually enjoying the Wii, so it seems, my disdain for this commercial just clinches it.

StarStabbedMoon

@ckranger11: Agreed. Since it's a direct parody of the music video, unless you've seen the music video you wouldn't understand half of what they're trying to do with that commercial.

I thought it was pretty good. It brings in a great classic rock song to catch your attention and they try to make it look like a music video, but then you see everyone's rocking out with plastic instruments.

But then again I might be biased. I've been looking forward to the game ever since they announced it. Next Sunday can't come soon enough.

TeamSakuraKC

The ad is okay, but got old fast when VH1 Classic showed it EVERY commercial break this past weekend.

Kato Katonian

While on the subject of RB2. The developers will be appearing tonight at Sardo's bar in Burbank, CA for a preview of the game with Rock Band 2 Karaoke. In addition. VH1 will be there to check people out for a Rock Band reality show where people will play Rock Band with "Rock Stars" though that probably means Vince Neal or that guy from Warrant.

I've been to Sardo's before, it's a pretty fun little bar (emphasis on little, get their early or plan on getting sqeezed out to the periphery), definitely worth the trip if you are local.

chinasky

Not as good IMHO as the UK ad from a few months ago which totally sold my game-phobic g/f on the idea of cluttering up the living room with a bunch of plastic toy instruments:

+ Watch video

@Numanoid: All formats release day in the UK is this Friday so not long to wait!

tossrStu

I didn't like the commercial, even if I like Rock Band over Guitar Hero, it was not that special. :/

However...

...One more week to play PDA!!! <3

AxelMinami

I know this is not something that you might notice at first but look at the color. It's something very noticeable in this GH/ RB battle. Rock Band loves the blue fading to black (like the Harmonix logo has blue and black) and Guitar Hero has bright orange to black (like Halloween which it has launched on before). It's amazing how both camps incorporate these schemes in everything they do even as much as, say, soda companies like coke or pepsi.

freetyme

@KingDavid73: then, quite frankly, you have no brain.

commercial was just a commercial. it's the game i care about. >=3

MushroomBoy1022

@xAnarChisTx: "It reminds me of that one episode of Doug where they formed that super-mega-huge band with 3 drummers, 15 guitarists, and Doug strumming on his banjo."

I never thought I would be reminded of Doug when reading a Rock Band comment. great cartoon btw

HamlinCornutus

I loved that commercial... the only problme is that nobody looks that cool when they play RB or GH.

Werrick

@jobble:
Original stupid comment. Good job retard.

phunky420

Ik Serry Ifh tihs as splled waird mi eies jest multed!

Wes_Redfield

@freetyme: It's sort of weird: one of the -main- reasons I prefer Rock Band over Guitar Hero is purely an issue of aesthetics. The garish color schemes, ugly characters, and unappealing art style that the Guitar Hero series has apparently chosen just completely turns me off. I understand what they're going for, which is that sort of "overwrought metal album cover" (or at least, the high school math notebook doodle equivalent), but it's just...not attractive at all.

EmpressInYellow

It's weird that after putting together an amazing setlist including Dream Theater, Steely Dan, Metallica, and many more, they'd use the ACDC song in the ad.

kingdong6

@VixDiesel: I remember them saying how Microsoft helped out big time with the development so they gave them timed exclusivity. Microsoft are go-getters, Sony still expects devs to flock to them. You have admit, MS don't sit around waiting for things to happen.

CHU BOI

I like Rock Band and everything but having 500+ songs at the bottom is very misleading to the point where they should get sued. It's an advertisement for RB2, and it makes it look like the game has that many songs, not that you have to pay $1.99 for every songs not in the game.

kylo4

SICK! One more week!

CHU BOI

@Evari: I see what you did there.

TRT-X

@Werrick: Apparently you've never been to the places where I've played RB.

The better the player, the more they can play the song without having to constantly stare blankly at the screen. ;)

TRT-X

Wow thank you Microsoft for finally making a smart marketing decision and saying the console starts at 199.

360's seem to be selling like crazy right now and im curious to see if this trend will continue due to the arcade being priced at 199 or if this will only be a temporary spike.

lifeinthefridge

Bon Scott went straight to hell and is loving every minute of it.

Cell9song

@EmpressInYellow: True dat! But some of the songs in the game are just amazing and they show it by advertising ACDC. I get it, I just don't like it

kingdong6

Oh wow. The sight of thirty geeks slamming out to RB was too much. If I ever see that on TV I'll change the channel. >.>

zoz

@kingdong6: Well, while I'm not an AC/DC fan myself, they're one of the most frequently-requested bands for the series, and they're one of the big "gets" that Harmonix has (to counter Activision's Hendrix/Van Halen/Eagles stuff). Plus, the song itself -is- appropriate.

EmpressInYellow

That was almost nearly as awful the GHWT commercial, and I like Rock Band. The only reason it's not equally awful is the fact that it doesn't feature snotnosed tweens and Lenny Kravitz.

Billkwando

out of all the GH and Rock Band commercials, this would def. be the best one i'd say. All the others were so soooooo lame...like that damn Rock Band 2 for Wii commercial. i HATED it.

DarthMetalHope

yeah that is pretty impressive plus the price data/ early release date isa plus for microsoft

HeyMykie

Is it opposite day?

Garrison Dean, Mr. Privilege

@Sakilla: aw... but i love rockband and... and... I WRITE REAL MUSICS!!1 why don't you love me? T,T

excaleranth

Looks like I am hell rotting on this one, because I thought that was terrible.

nitromic

so when does the actual bundle come out? Has it been confirmed for October? If so, thats balls..... I SAID IT!!!

RazorandBlade

Without the awesomeness of AC/DC, this commercial would look silly and you know it.

sandwiches

hey whatever the kids are into today. what are these old bands gonna do to stay relevant anyway?

Orionsaint

I like the opening video a little more... but this video made me a little wet.

You know, down there...

theuglyteradon

@nitromic: Me too. Damn. I'm still buying the game on Sunday, so maybe that'll save me.

psychobaka

What kind of fanboy of ACDC do you have to be to think this commercial is going to send the unbelievers to hell? I kept waiting for the Effing, and the Sweet, and a glimpse of Effing Sweet, but your endorsement, sir, has disappointed me most completely. I say, good day!

benderbendingrodriguez

That commercial makes me angry, mostly because it reminds me of that shitty, shitty-ass commercial for Guitar Hero On Tour (the DS one). The Xbox fanboyi$m at the end didn't help, either.

MagickBocks

I guess im going rot in hell...

kingme

Wow, a room full of douche bags, how fun! Young hip-teens think they are the shit jamming out on their plastic guitars and their fancy clothing. Seriously, who is the clothing designer for this video, because that person should be shot...multiple times.

Smash88

@Smash88: You sound like a fun-loving guy who has lots of friends! Let's hang out some time!

Toasticus

Ar least it is better than that effin heap of turd of a guitar hero 3 ad

holybarbie

Ok, I'm a horrible human being, I will rot in hell... but I'll say hi to Bon Scott for you Brian...

That commercial destroyed what little faith I had left for humanity, I'm going to ride a nuclear bomb, Strangelove style...

zoesch

Rot in hell, here I go...
I like music games, not a fanboy of either franchises, and I'd like to play RB2.. but I have to say this ad was pretty standard.

It wasn't Guitar Hero DS BAD, but it wasn't good too.

Bokusatsu_Tenshi

In the shortened version they have the guy rocking out on guitar while there is no guitar in the song. Makes it a terrible commercial. But, now that I've seen the full commercial it's not half bad.

Chewbenator

@Sakilla: emo much???

Assassin_Kensei

@TRT-X:

I see what you're sayin'... and yet at the same time no matter how "cool" you make it look you're still playing fake instruments.

Don't get me wrong, I love GH and RB, but, y'know... there it is.

Werrick

Is it just me or is it kinda fucked up to think about Rock Band 2 comming out before they have even released the original Rock Band in Europe to all consols.

So yeah.. Give me Rock Band 2 on my PS3 soon, or it's Guitar Hero: World Tour all the way.

Only way I'll buy Rock Band 2 after that is if they get Machinae Supremacy songs :P

Cragen

Remember when we use to rock out that hard over real instruments?

yeah, me neither

ClACK,CLACK,ClACK,CLACK,ClACK,CLACK,ClACK,
CLACK,ClACK,CLACK,ClACK,CLACK

WHoooo!

Ice-9