14 DAY TRIAL // Harmonix might be aiming to make sure that old instruments and songs will be usable in the coming Rock Band 4 but the development team is aiming to make sure fairly significant changes to the structure of the game, with actual role-playing integrated into the story side of the experience.
Alli Thresher, a designer working on the title, tells IGN that a branching structure makes sense because players will evolve from lowly beginnings to become the biggest rock stars on the planet, and it's only nature to choose how they want to use that fame.
Many of the new mechanics are linked to feedback that has accumulated at Harmonix as they released the previous installments in the series, which Rock Band 4 gave them a perfect change to integrate.
Theresher states, "You can take corporate gigs and make a lot of money as a band, you can take a path to pursue your artistic integrity, and along the way, as you make these choices, the game kind of responds to you."
When gamers aim for the money, they will need to step up their performance to make sure that the fans cheer rather than boo them when they are done playing.
Music only matters if the public is interested and satisfied
Fans are a crucial element for the Rock Band 4 experience because their numbers in various regions will unlock new events and special rewards, including a series of Easter Eggs that Harmonix is not yet willing to talk about.
The developers are not saying how many playthroughs are required to get all the events that the new music game will include or whether they will also lock some of the included songs based on gamer choices.
The Harmonix title will focus on the way players can collaborate to boost their song performances while testing out new instrument choices.
The studio is saying that there are sections during tracks where everyone can improvise and that all the DLC that's imported to the new title will be enhanced with new options.
Rock Band 4 is set to be introduced on the Xbox One from Microsoft and the PlayStation 4 from Sony before the end of the year.
Its biggest competitor will be Guitar Hero Live from FreeStyleGames and Activision.