'Rock Band' is coming to PC as long you help crowdfund it
Well, that was unexpected.
Harmonix hasn't ever released a Rock Band game for PC, but that's going to change if a just-launched Fig campaign generates $1.5 million in crowdfunding. It won't be a totally new, but rather Rock Band 4 with an assortment of PC-specific features added in.
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"We've been planning, scheduling, scoping and preparing this PC version since the day after we launched on console back in October," the crowdfunding page reads.
"And we're now ready to launch this Fig campaign to ask for your help to make this happen; and also provide you an opportunity to invest and get something back in the process."
If you're unfamiliar with Fig, it's similar to Kickstarter but with one significant difference: backers that buy in at a high enough level stand to receive actual monetary returns. Like any investment, getting some kind of return depends on how the product performs (or doesn't) after it's released.
The PC version of Rock Band 4 includes all the same features as the console release, plus a significant focus on welcoming user-created content. A Steam release allows Harmonix to bring back features from Rock Band 3 that allowed musicians to insert their own songs into the game.
Using tools offered by a paid subscription to the "Rock Band Network," users were able to upload a song's audio to a server and make it playable -- even sell it -- in Rock Band 3. The service was difficult to maintain and eventually shut down, but Steam Workshop (and the forward march of technology) makes it easy to bring the feature back for PC users.
"We're updating the authoring tools and documentation to help anyone with a song in their heart (and multi-track audio recordings, and some time ... ) to create playable Rock Band songs," the Fig listing reads.
"Then, using Steam Workshop, you can submit those files to us -- we'll do a quick check to make sure they play properly and include music you own, and then put them into the game via the Rock Band 4 in-game store. Steam Workshop makes sure you get your cut of the revenues when they sell."
Before any of that can happen, Rock Band 4 for PC needs to pass the crowdfunding test. Is there enough lingering interest in plastic instrument games among console-free households to generate $1.5 million in crowdsourced funds?
We'll find out over the next month. The Fig campaign concludes on Apr. 5.
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Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
