Rock Band 3's Pro mode is exactly what I've been waiting to see rhythm games progress toward. Casual and hardcore players alike have become infatuated with the Rock Band and Guitar Hero franchises, and many have mastered their plastic instruments, and I'm glad Harmonix decided to take people's love of playing music on fake instruments to the next level by letting them play on peripherals that are closer to the genuine article. The reason I got into playing the bass is because of my love for rhythm games. Indeed, gaming, instead of some of the more likely suspects lead me to my love of, and love of playing music. Though it's hard for me to write this without sounding like a music snob, I truly have progressed so far away from the plastic clicking of guitar controllers that made up my humble beginnings that I find it very difficult to go back and play games like Guitar Hero or Rock Band. And I would like for more people to end up in the same boat as me. Rock Band and Guitar Hero are accessible games that just about anyone can get into, but they can also serve as the first stepping stone toward becoming something of a musician, as they set the foundation for some of the rhythmic, and melodic qualities of your typical rock and roll song.
Rock Band 3's Pro Keyboard in action.
That's why I would be extremely excited for Rock Band 3's Pro instruments. Although not quite like the real things, the Pro peripherals are much more genuine representation of what playing those instruments is like. But notice I said "would be" excited. Yes, while the keytar/two octave keyboard, 17 fret six-string guitar, and something close to a full drum set all seem awesome to jam on, and perfect evolutions of their simpler predecessors, there's something missing from that line of peripherals. What could that be?
The bass. As a bassist myself, the fact that a Pro bass peripheral was not listed amongst the others stuck out like a sore thumb. This concerns me because if the guys at Harmonix really wanted to give players a shot at experiencing something close to playing each of these instruments, why would they leave one out? I think the idea of giving folks a shot at playing with instrument peripherals that are very near the real thing with little initial investment is a great idea, as I'm sure many people will get really into it, and might just end up deciding they want to take the plunge and buy real instruments. However, it would be a shame if they weren't given the opportunity to play each of the instruments that are crucial to a rock band. I'm aware of the fact that these peripherals have just been announced, so we may yet see a Pro bass peripheral, but if there ends up not being one, I'll be very disappointed.