Tuesday 25 September 2012

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Ubisoft and HMV support Teenage Cancer Trust with Rocksmith

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,
OK, so console games have moved on, you can get fit with them, you can control characters in game with your body and now you can learn to play the guitar with Rocksmith (available on Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and PC on the 28th September 2012) by Ubisoft.

But wait thats not all, we've just had a spectacular announcement from our friends at HMV and Ubisoft who've let us know this:

"Today, Ubisoft, in partnership with retailer HMV and their nominated charity Teenage Cancer Trust, has announced that, from the launch of Rocksmith™ for Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 systems on 28th  September 2012 (and 19th October for PC), until Christmas, with every purchase of the game in the UK, £5 will be donated to the charity. Ubisoft and HMV will each contribute £2.50 from every sale. Rocksmith is the first and only game where consumers can plug in ANY real electric or bass guitar and learn whilst playing, with gameplay that automatically adjusts to personal ability, and innovative game design that makes playing music visually intuitive.

“We are exceedingly excited to be launching Rocksmith in the UK this week,” said Rob Cooper, Managing Director, Ubisoft UK. “The game literally provides real-life benefits by teaching people how to play an actual guitar, and we hope to inspire the next generation of rock stars in the UK and beyond. Moreover, I couldn’t be more pleased to be partnering with HMV to raise much-needed funds for Teenage Cancer Trust.”

Teenage Cancer Trust, founded over 20 years ago, is a charity devoted to improving the lives of teenagers and young adults with cancer. They are the only UK charity dedicated to improving the quality of life and chances of survival for the six young people aged between 13 and 24 diagnosed with cancer every day. To date, Teenage Cancer Trust has funded, developed and opened 22 specialist units within NHS hospitals across the UK, which are supporting young people and their families.

HMV Product Manager for Games & Technology, Vicky White, adds: “We’re delighted to be partnering in this special promotion that enables us to support the launch of Ubisoft’s fantastic Rocksmith, while also raising funds for our wonderful nominated charity, Teenage Cancer Trust.  All three parties have a natural connection through music and gaming, so this feels like a great fit.”    


Game Blurb:
Introducing the next stage in the evolution of the guitar game. Rocksmith is the first and only game where you can plug ANY real guitar into your console and actually LEARN while you PLAY.
Nothing plastic. Nothing fake. Just the most authentic guitar experience in music gaming. By plugging your electric guitar into your console, you’ll develop real skills and real styles while playing real music.

Featuring gameplay that automatically adjusts to your personal ability, and innovative game design that makes playing music visually intuitive, Rocksmith will engage experienced musicians as well as those who have never picked up a guitar before in their life.

You’ll unlock mini games to hone specific skills. You’ll be able to choose from a large catalogue of songs in different styles. And you’ll experience it all with an actual guitar. Nothing compares to playing a real guitar. Except playing Rocksmith.

The game will include the brand new Bass mode, offering players the opportunity to play bass guitar on all supported on-disc and downloadable songs.

Not only can players play the bass parts of songs, but bassists of all experience levels can also improve their skills with dedicated bass technique challenges and tutorial videos. Players can even use any 6-string guitar to emulate a 4-string bass. Tracking their learning has never been easier as bass progression is tracked separately from guitar progression.

Last but not least, all songs can be played in multiplayer with one person playing the bass part and the other the guitar part.

Key Features
  • When we say any guitar we mean any guitar: Whether it’s the guitar sitting in your attic that you have forgotten about up till now, or the guitar you are yet to buy, Rocksmith lets you plug any guitar into your console or computer. Electric guitar or electro-acoustic, as long as your guitar has a jack, you can play. And get plugged in right away as Rocksmith comes with a unique quarter-inch jack to USB cable!
  • Get Plugged In: Rocksmith will include a unique quarter-inch to USB cable that is the first of its kind, and will allow users to plug any real guitar with a quarter-inch jack directly into their Xbox 360®, PlayStation 3®, or PC. Developed exclusively for Rocksmith, this guitar cable is 11.25' and turns the guitar’s signal from analog to digital, allowing it to be recognised and played through video game consoles for the first time.
  • Real time adjustment levels: from beginner to rock god!: You love a challenge, but hate being overwhelmed. Rocksmith understands this, and knows exactly how far to push to keep you entertained. With addictive gameplay that adapts continuously to your personal skill level, you will automatically progress from single notes to complex chords at your own pace. Eventually you’ll be playing 100% of the actual guitar parts from the songs and the game will challenge you to step away from the notes on screen and play songs from memory. Imagine that. A video game that will get you stage-ready.
  • Bursting with Hits: One of the most satisfying moments for any guitar player is hearing yourself play your favourite song for the first time. Rocksmith has amassed an amazing library of songs from different music genres allowing players to experience those moments first hand. Whether you like classic rock bands such as The Rolling Stones, The Cure, Lynrd Skynrd or if you’re more into current chart-toppers such as The Strokes, Muse, Radiohead and The XX, we have you covered. And with our growing tracklist from metal to indie rock available for download, you will always find a song that suits your mood.
  • There’s always a way to develop your guitar skills and overcome your difficulties: Having troubles with the solo of your favourite song? The riff-repeater option is your saviour. It will isolate the song part of your choice, and let you repeat it over and over … until you eventually ace it! Want to improve your finger dexterity? Learn chords? Improve scales? For all of these and more, there’s a specific mini-game that will help you get it in Guitarcade. Rocksmith will turn your guitar into a controller, for instance, while shooting ducks in the Ducks mini-game you’ll actually be learning how to shift from fret to fret without even realising!
  • Turn your TV or computer into an amplifier: No need for an amplifier anymore, with Rocksmith your TV or your computer IS your amplifier and will let you try and play with loads of in-game pedals, amplifiers and cabinets. String pedals together with nearly infinite combinations and tweak your sound until you’re satisfied. Whether it’s a crunchy distortion, a vintage tremolo or a psychedelic reverb, we have it covered to make sure you can achieve the sound you’re looking for.
  • Play in multiplayer: Plug in a second guitar to go head-to-head with friends to see who can earn the highest score, or have fun playing cooperatively as lead and rhythm guitars. Also, all songs can be played in multiplayer with one person playing the bass part and the other the guitar part.
  • Brand new Bass mode: The game will include the brand new Bass mode, offering players the opportunity to play bass guitar on all supported on-disc and downloadable songs. Not only can players play the bass parts of songs, but bassists of all experience levels can also improve their skills with dedicated bass technique challenges and tutorial videos. Players can even use any 6-string guitar to emulate a 4-string bass. Tracking their learning has never been easier as bass progression is tracked separately from guitar progression.
Tracklist
  • Best Coast - When I'm with You
  • Blur - Song 2
  • Cream - Sunshine of Your Love
  • Dan Auerbach - Want Some More
  • David Bowie - Rebel Rebel
  • Eric Clapton - Run Back to Your Side
  • Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
  • Incubus - I Miss You
  • Interpol - Slow Hands
  • Jarvis Cocker - Angela
  • Jenny O.Well - Ok Honey
  • Kings of Leon - Use Somebody
  • Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way
  • Little Barrie - Surf Hell
  • Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama
  • Muse - Plug In Baby
  • Muse - Unnatural Selection
  • Nirvana - Breed
  • Nirvana - In Bloom
  • Pixies - Where Is My Mind?
  • Queens of the Stone Age - Go with the Flow
  • Radiohead - High and Dry
  • Rapscallions - California Brain
  • Red Fang - Number Thirteen
  • Sigur Ros - Gobbledigook
  • Silversun Pickups - Panic Switch
  • Soundgarden - Outshined
  • Spoon - Me and the Bean
  • Stone Temple Pilots - Vasoline
  • Stone Temple Pilots - Between the Lines
  • Taddy Porter - Mean Bitch
  • The Animals - House of the Rising Sun
  • The Black Keys - I Got Mine
  • The Black Keys - Next Girl
  • The Boxer Rebellion - Step Out of the Car
  • The Cribs - We Share the Same Skies
  • The Cure - Boys Don't Cry
  • The Dead Weather - I Can't Hear You
  • The Horrors - Do You Remember
  • The Rolling Stones - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
  • The Rolling Stones - Play with Fire
  • The Rolling Stones - The Spider and the Fly
  • The Strokes - Under Cover of Darkness
  • The White Stripes - Icky Thump
  • Titus Andronicus - A More Perfect Union
  • Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Good Enough
  • Velvet Revolver - Slither
  • White Denim - Burnished
  • Yellow Moon Band - Chimney

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