LOS ANGELES & CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BandFuse: Rock Legends (working title), the first authentic approach to a video game that combines the fun, challenge and exhilaration of playing the guitar, was announced today by Realta Entertainment’s CEO Stephen Gomes and Relativity’s CEO Ryan Kavanaugh. Letting gamers plug in a real guitar and casually strum along with their favorite songs or master the techniques of the world’s most iconic guitarists, BandFuse: Rock Legends gives players the chance to experience their favorite songs like never before. The game will be released in 2012 and is the first project from Realta Entertainment and Rogue, Relativity’s digital content and interactive studio.
BandFuse: Rock Legends will let gamers play along with the biggest rock songs of all time on a real guitar by using animated tablature (tabs), which will simplify music for novice musicians while allowing advanced gamers to perform songs as the original artists intended. Singers can also belt out the lyrics using a microphone to keep the party jumping with a massive collection of hit songs from today’s top bands and classic rock ‘n’ roll artists including: “Yellow” (Coldplay), “Back From Cali” (Slash), “Sweet Home Alabama” (Lynyrd Skynyrd), “Breaking the Law” (Judas Priest), “Harder to Breathe” (Maroon 5), and “The Bleeding” (Five Finger Death Punch).
Slash, one of the most-iconic, Grammy®-winning rock guitarists and songwriters of all-time, will serve as BandFuse's master guitar instructor; getting novices jamming in minutes and helping advanced players master their instrument. In addition, a number of the world’s most accomplished Rock Legends and new artists such as Five Finger Death Punch - the hard rock band with nine-straight top ten rock singles - will also be integrated into the game to mentor players, with numerous iconic rock idols still to be announced.
Rogue also announced they have a minority stake in Realta Entertainment. Kavanaugh has been an advisor to Realta and has had a long-standing relationship with Realta’s principals. Realta will collaborate with Rogue on all aspects of BandFuse: Rock Legends, including leveraging Rogue's social media platforms and its leading music news website ARTISTdirect.com.
Kavanaugh said, “BandFuse truly offers something for everyone – whether you’re looking for a fun pick up and play experience in your living room, or you’re a serious musician looking to put your skills to the test.” He added, “As a gamer and musician, I was sold after watching a true novice pick up the guitar and strum ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ after just a few minutes playing BandFuse.”
“The music genre is due for a shake up,” said Gomes. “BandFuse: Rock Legends is poised to change the way people think about music gaming and the guitar – we’re working to make it fun and easy for novices to jump in and enjoy a great game while giving experienced players the tools to refine their skills and discover new music. This is not another rhythm game. This is the first true music game for creation, collaboration, and competition.”
To help get beginners playing right away and give serious players depth, BandFuse: Rock Legends’ uses animated tabs to keep perfect time and display notes, fingering and guitar techniques such as bends, hammer-ons and pull-offs. Players will also have the option to slow down the music to practice challenging parts of songs. The game will feature four levels of gameplay for novice, beginners, intermediate and advanced players.
In partnership with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC), BandFuse: Rock Legends will prominently feature the most recognized guitars and musical instrument brands in history. FMIC products such as the iconic Fender® Stratocaster® guitar, will be featured in-game and in marketing programs for the game.
BandFuse: Rock Legends is being published by Mastiff and has not yet been rated by the ESRB. For more information about BandFuse: Rock Legends, please visit the official game website at http://www.bandfuse.com.
ABOUT REALTA ENTERTAINMENT
Realta Entertainment Group, Inc. and Realta Studios are developers of reality-based interactive multimedia, hardware and content for the world’s most popular video game consoles and PCs. Realta melds art and technology into powerful user experiences that expand beyond the typical gaming hardware. Realta Entertainment’s Studio is based in Campbell, CA.
ABOUT ROGUE
Rogue is the digital content and interactive studio of Relativity Media. Rogue is active in digital publishing, including operation of two exciting entertainment websites, iamROGUE.com and ARTISTdirect.com, and The Rogue Network, an advertising network with over 50 million monthly visitors. Rogue also conceives and executes innovative digital marketing initiatives in support of Relativity’s movie releases, including YouTube and other online campaigns for Relativity’s recent hit films Limitless, Immortals, Haywire and the upcoming Act of Valor and Mirror Mirror. In addition, through licensing and partnerships, the Rogue brand is actively being expanded into consumer lifestyle products aimed at the 18-34 year old demographic, including its recently launched Rogue3D line of 3D glasses.
Rogue is a subsidiary of Relativity Media, a next-generation studio engaged in multiple aspects of entertainment, including full-scale film and television production and distribution, the co-financing of major studio film slates, music publishing, sports management and digital media. Additionally, the company makes strategic partnerships with, and investments in, media and entertainment-related companies and assets.
ABOUT FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is the world’s leading manufacturer of guitars, amplifiers and musical instrument accessories and owner of the most recognized musical instrument brands in history. For over fifty years, Fender® products such as the Stratocaster® and Telecaster® electric guitars, and the Precision Bass® bass have been the cornerstone of rock and roll and most other popular musical styles. Other FMIC brands include Squier®®, Guild®, Gretsch®, Jackson®, Charvel® and EVH®. For more information about Fender products, visit www.fender.com.
ABOUT SLASH:
Slash is widely considered one of the greatest rock guitar players of all time. He has received countless accolades and awards including his forthcoming induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame set for April 2012. In 2007, Slash was inducted into Hollywood’s RockWalk (located in front of Guitar Center in Hollywood) alongside his idols Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix. An original member of iconic rock band Guns N’ Roses, the Grammy-winning Slash helped the band create signature sounds like the guitar riff of #1 hit “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and “Welcome To The Jungle.” The band dominated the 1980’s and 90’s music scene selling more than 100 million albums worldwide and ushered in a decade of hard-charging rock music. After leaving the band, Slash went on to critical acclaim in his personal project Slash’s Snakepit, and global success with the supergroup Velvet Revolver. He has been widely sought after by the biggest musicians of all time, performing with everyone from Michael Jackson to Stevie Wonder to Ray Charles. Slash recently landed on the top of the charts with his first true solo album, Slash. In addition, Slash was honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce who named him as an official selection for 2011 to receive a star on Hollywood’s iconic Walk of Fame. In February 2011, he performed at the Super Bowl XLV half time show, seen by more than 106 million people, becoming the most-watched program in U.S. television history (Nielsen Co.). In November 2011, Slash released his first ever live solo album, Made In Stoke 24/7/11, a double-disc CD, with a special-edition 2CD+DVD package (featuring five bonus tracks and an exclusive interview with Slash). Slash is currently in the studio with his band working on his second solo album Apocalyptic Love which is due for release on May 22 of 2012.
About Mastiff
Mastiff is a leading publisher of outdoor action and licensed products for consoles, PC and all mobile platforms. Mastiff has offices in Tokyo, San Francisco and Orlando, Florida. Titles from Mastiff include the just released Heavy Fire: Afghanistan, outdoor hits such as Deer Drive, Remington Great American Bird Hunt, and Shimano Xtreme Fishing as well as the tactical shooting simulation, Reload, the award winning Moon, and the critically acclaimed Gurumin. For more information please visit the Mastiff website www.mastiff-games.com