Localizing Rock Band in Japan

True rhythm game enthusiasts have been playing tiny instruments for a number of years, dating back to the Guitar Freaks and Drummania games from Bemani. As time went on, Harmonix introduced the Western world to this phenomenon through their Guitar Hero franchise. To make the series more popular, they chose rock songs that Americans and Europeans would recognize.

Well, it seems that Harmonix is doing exactly what they already did, but in reverse. Just as Harmonix took the concept behind Guitar Freaks and swapped in (mostly) English rock songs for Guitar Hero, they are preparing to “localize” Rock Band for the Japanese market. Harmonix is teaming up with Q Entertainment on the project, hoping to add some “eastern appeal” to the game.

More likely than not, this means swapping out the “western” rock songs in favor of more J-pop and J-rock, like the songs that we were already enjoying with Bemani’s Guitar Freaks. Can Rock Band succeed in Japan where they have already long since been playing Dance Dance Revolution, Drummania, Keyboardmania, and countless other rhythm games? Time will tell.

Source: Wii Fanboy

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