After its release in the summer of 2021, what was supposed to represent the future of “technical” rhythm games has somehow disappeared from the radar, at least until this recent period: What happened to Rocksmith +like this?
Although there has been no clear communication from Ubisoft, we can make some assessments based on the French company’s financial documents and mid- and short-term plans, which have also been recently scrutinized for a number of counter-trends. include historical, explicit needs and concentrate on the essentials.
Regardless, it looks like Rocksmith+ is finally really coming: Among documents released at Ubisoft’s last financial meeting, the “game” appears in the included quarter. Between July and September 2022so unless there is an error or an oversight in the plans released by the company, we should be really close to its release.
On the other hand, it didn’t have to be a huge effort in terms of development: the foundation is basically a well-established one from 2011 with the significant evolution implemented by the Rocksmith 2014 edition. this is the new iteration. What has changed is above all the overall organization of the content, the monetization plan and frankly the amount of options and additional possibilities for users that should really give rise to a new generation of titles like this.
really play
this “Gameplay” of Rocksmith + promises to be a direct sequel to what was seen in previous episodes, with some enhancements that could further enhance the experience. The core concept of this series starts from a desire that probably arises in many players, after long hours spent on the plastic instruments of Guitar Hero and Rock Band: What if you could associate this type of rhythm game with a rhythm game? use of real tools? The solution proposed by Ubisoft is great, with a direct connection of a guitar or a bass guitar to a PC or console with a simple jack cable, it’s in the meeting between an educational software and a real game to learn how to use an instrument. USB. Rocksmith + offers the same type of interaction, but enriches it in new ways and an extremely large catalog, thanks to the use of a subscription to the service.
Also in the new chapter we are faced with layered software that can appeal to both novice and expert musicians, while automatically adapting to the user’s ability thanks to an even more advanced “reading” algorithm of skills. In this way, Rocksmith+ goes beyond the context of simple video games and places itself in an intermediate space. between the game and the training course, with an approach that remains highly practical and focuses on the use of the tool. Considering that the operation of the software is basically the same as in the previous sections, we can imagine that the work carried out by Ubisoft is primarily focused on improving algorithms and enriching the content exponentially. It’s a reliable release even in the midst of multiple delays that have surfaced recently, which includes the first delay of said title from last September to 2022.
News from the first beta
With the first closed beta available in July 2021, we had the opportunity to test out the innovations proposed by Rocksmith+, which has actually proven to be immature yet and this may have actually resulted in the first delay to date. In any case, while the full subscription-based live service solution is still hotly debated by the community, the potential was already evident with a few good ideas added to the already compelling foundation of Rocksmith 2014. In any case, the new interface is clearer and more modern, and the new algorithm that calibrates the difficulty works very well, the tutorials and the whole area about teaching how to use the tool are much deeper and more comprehensive. the whole package.
The software-linked release of Rocksmith + Connect, the system that should allow acoustic guitars to be used without electrical components, is still somewhat unclear. This uses a specific app to be installed on the smartphone to play the sound via the microphone and transfer it to the main app. Considering that the system is somewhat cumbersome and input lag was one of the main problems of previous versions of the software, such a solution would make the situation worse in this sense, but we are waiting to be able to evaluate it. The improvements were applied based on the unspecified version found in Beta.
Subscription between potential and doubts
Rocksmith immediately represented the door to what has become a true paradise for video game electric guitarists: the ability to play any song on a dynamic and well-structured basis. The Ubisoft “game”, perfected even more with Rocksmith 2014, in itself represents only one part of the experience: As anyone who has followed the evolution of the community associated with the software in question knows, details It then led to a series of mods and titles, obviously through alternative software to be implemented on the PC, going beyond the basic offering to fully exploit the potential of this idea. The problem involves a gray application area and completely uneven uses of the software, not to mention a huge catalog of really illegal songs and backing tracks, but through these systems it was possible to expand the possibilities it offers. rock master 2014.
All this will probably be prevented by the adoption of the law. subscription model By Rocksmith+: Heavy use of DRM tied to an ever-evolving catalog will make it difficult to use alternative software to expand songs that are not entirely owned. This, in addition to the idea of a lively service base that comes from a more traditional nature, often met with a reluctant welcome, is already a voice-over to the community.
In any case, the solution chosen by Ubisoft is the most logical and functional for this type of software, providing a breadth that is difficult to achieve through the traditional system of preset catalog. The real extension, variety and quality of the catalog is still to be seen, given that managing such a service is probably not easy for a video game publisher, and perhaps Ubisoft will have to work hard on it even in the extra period after the delay. .
Beyond the legal management of the catalog, significant technical effort went into making it truly “playable”, that is, playable on guitar and bass: Rocksmith+ uses a new technology based on a system called ARCHI, which the developers reported will be reworked in the form of harmonic lines for the instruments in question. The composition of Chord Lists, defined as a dynamic and layered rearrangement of songs for guitar and bass, that guesses data from songs and tunes to different skill levels.
A powerful tool for learning to play
What has also become quite clear from the updates posted by the developers on the official website is that Rocksmith + is a powerful tool for learning to play To perfect the knowledge of either guitar and bass. With the technical base of the software consolidated in the app, Ubisoft focused on improving the user experience and content, as well as improving the interface and accessories such as customization and demonstration of tools. component learn interactive however, it has drawn particular attention in the new chapter, perhaps due to the awareness that this aspect represents one of the elements of a special taste for the public. Rocksmith + “Lessons” were created with the advice of various music teachers, who are also featured in their introductory videos: they are divided into basic, intermediate and advanced lessons and range from teaching the basics of music and instrumentation to the most specialized and complex.
It all starts with the new algorithm that lets you draw one. “Skill Profile” It is based on the skills the player demonstrates and builds on it a progressive learning path. The software makes an assessment of the user’s ability and knowledge of different sectors of musical technique and thus also recommends how to set up “Rocksmith + Curriculum” to increase one’s skills in the instrument. The whole system is dynamic and scalable, starting from the composition of songs specially designed to learn techniques and to the actual rearrangement of songs to take full advantage of the songs. Based on what has come out so far, the new chapter in the Ubisoft series could even be valuable as software for learning how to play the instrument.
Source: Multiplayer
