I do not currently own any consoles, but Rock Band 3 looks so appealing for me that I am considering buying a console solely for that game. Discounting Nintendo DS, the game supports PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii.Naturally I've been looking at the cheapest console - the Wii - as the leading option; however I've heard that it behaves differently in regard to downloadable songs than the other two, so I would really love to hear the pros and cons of different consoles regarding this specific game. Is there a difference in image/sound quality? Do the instruments behave the same?
Rock Band 3 also adds a suite of social networking tools to the game so fans can engage friends and fellow rockers over Facebook, Twitter and more. Whether players want to jump in for a quick song or take their band to the top, Rock Band 3 has a mode for everyone.
How are DLCs managed? Etc.Additionally, my country is covered neither by nor by; does it affect downloadable songs distribution? Is digital distribution through the Wii also limited by country?EDIT: I also know there's a variety of different Xbox models. Is there any concrete difference in how these models will play Rock Band 3?EDIT 2: I would like to stress that whether it's possible to somehow connect to the online network is important for me. I've also seen some consoles sold with very small storage capability - 4GB or even 256MB; Are those sufficient for playing the game + getting some DLC songs? I'll try and tackle all parts of your question in the order that they were listed.
Hardware capabilities:Graphics: In this respect, the PS3/Xbox 360 are better as both consoles support resolutions up to 1080p, while the Wii is capable of a mere 480p (and that's SD as opposed to HD). Resolution aside, the PS3/Xbox 360 also have superior processors which obviously allow for better looking games. With Rock Band 3 in mind, just compare (PS3/Xbox screenshot, as the game looks more or less the same on both) with (Wii screenshot).Sound: Other than the hands-on differences mentioned in Jason's answer, consider the following fact: Both PS3 and Xbox 360 are capable of digital audio output, while the Wii is, as far as I understand, only capable of Stereo output (not owning a Wii, I rely on, specifically pages 6 and 8, and stating the console is capable of simulated surround sound). Instruments:This is something I know very little of, but browsing through the makes it look like there are plenty controllers available on all platforms, all looking more or less the same, at least physically. DLC:All consoles are capable of downloading additional songs (see the official instructions for the, and ).
The only consideration is storage space, so I wouldn't recommend something with just 256 MB of it, as I assume (couldn't find specifics) that new songs will weigh about as much as they did in previous games (40 MB).I read on the official site (though the link eludes me) that songs on the Wii are stored in SD cards, so there's no need to worry about the Wii's limited storage capabilities.Just remember that the region of the game you purchase (NTSC/PAL) will most likely force you to buy DLCs with a corresponding region. I know this for a fact on the PS3, and imagine it is the same on the other consoles.Finally, I don't know whether all song DLCs will be available on all platforms, but I doubt anyone knows that for a fact. Installation:I do not know if Rock Band 3 requires any sort of installation before playing, but even if it did it could only be mandatory on the PS3, as Xbox 360 should never have mandatory installs (as there were models that had no storage at all. I am unaware if that policy has changed, however) and the Wii hardly has any storage capacity to make an install worthwhile.Assuming a mandatory install on the PS3, I have never seen one go beyond 5GB, roughly. Online Service:Using PSN or Xbox live is not a real issue even in countries which do not support it (more so if all you want is to buy DLC, but multiplayer should also work).
In both cases, simply lie about where you live in order to get yourself registered to the service. Most of my reply will be based on Rock Band 2, since I haven't had the chance to play Rock Band 3 yet.First of all, there is a graphical and sound difference between the Xbox 360/PS3 versions and the Wii version. Personally, I don't care about the graphics in a rhythm game, but others might, and obviously the Wii does not have the graphical output that the other systems have.The sound difference is not in the song, but in the additional sounds in the song. In the Xbox 360/PS3 version, when you are doing well, you can hear the crowd start singing along with the song. In the Wii, all you hear is the song exactly as it was recorded. Whether that bothers you or not is a personal preference.The gameplay between all the versions is identical. However, a deficiency with the Wii is that the controllers are not cross compatible with Guitar Hero, so you are stuck playing only the Rock Band series.Finally, with regards to DLC, one disadvantage on the Wii is that you cannot copy songs from other versions of Rock Band in order to create a single library of songs to play.
If you want to play the Rock Band 1 or Rock Band 2 songs, you have to actually play the older game.I'm afraid I don't know anything about whether access to Xbox Live or PSN is required for downloading songs. On the Wii, it is all handled from inside the game, but it does require you to have Nintendo Points, so you will need access to the Wii Shop Channel to redeem those.
From my understanding, Rock Band 3 is basically the same on both the PS3 and Xbox 360.One downside regarding the Wii version is that the Wii has very limited storage space available. It has 512MB built in (not all of which is usable, IIRC), and while you can buy SD cards to use for storage (up to 2GB), I don't know if Rock Band can load songs directly from an SD card or not.IMO, I would suggest getting either the PS3 or Xbox 360 version.
As for which, I'd say look at other games you'd want to play that are only available on one console or the other, and go with that one. I have only owned Rock Band 2 on the Wii, but a major gripe I have is a lack of available content and hardware.For content: the Wii does not have access to new Rock Band Network songs as they are released. Most of my enjoyment of Rock Band comes from playing the songs that I know. But when Jonathan Coulton, for instance, releases new songs I'm out of luck and can only hope that they'll some day get ported to the Wii.Source:For hardware: maybe this is just my experience and/or region, but I cannot find Rock Band Wii hardware in stores or online.
It was a major battle to purchase the set in the first place, and I have given up trying to find an extra vanilla Rock Band guitar. By contrast I see Xbox guitars on shelves all the time.So my experience suggests that Wii is a second-class citizen when it comes to Rock Band and although I don't currently own an Xbox 360 I am strongly considering buying one just for Rock Band 3. I am of course making the assumption that my current experience with the Rock Band franchise and the Wii will not change much in the near future. Since I imagine my frustrations are ultimately due to business and manufacturing decisions, I think that's a reasonable assumption. Typically you choose the console based on the exclusive titles, and buy any non-exclusive titles for a console you already own, so you're basically going about this backwards. Granted, there are other things to consider as well, but we'll stick with the exclusives for the moment.
Are you planning on getting any of the Uncharted or InFamous titles? Since you're looking primarily at RB3, this is obviously less of an issue.Specifically for RB3, the PS3 will be as good or better than the 360, which will easily be better than the Wii both in terms of graphics and sound. Differences between the 360 and PS3 will be small, and typically imperceptible.Next thing to consider is value propositions. The Wii is the least powerful of the three consoles, and can't do HD. Also, motion controls aren't exclusive to the Wii anymore. XBox Live Gold, which is required for many features like Netflix streaming and online play, cost something on the order of $60/year. If you're fine with the PS3 exclusive library (which has improved a fair amount in the past couple of years) and can live without XBox 360 and Wii exclusives, it offers some of the best bang per buck.
Netflix streaming doesn't require anything beyond a Netflix subscription, and does it in 1080p (soon if not now), and has a built in BluRay player. Online play is free (for now), and graphics are as good or better than the 360.
Finally, the harddrive is a standard laptop SATA drive. The only real downside that I can pin against the PS3 is that Sony has been removing feature through software for existing owners (no other OS anymore) and hardware for new buyers.To sum up, Wii for exclusive titles and if you don't care about HD, PS3 if you don't already own a BluRay player or want to play online for free, otherwise, get a 360.
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February 2023
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