Rocksmith 2014

Last updated

Rocksmith 2014
Rocksmith 2014 cover.jpg
Developer(s) Ubisoft San Francisco [lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s) Ubisoft
Director(s) Paul Cross
Producer(s) Nao Higo
Series Rocksmith
Engine Gamebryo [1]
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
OS X
PlayStation 3
PlayStation 4
Xbox 360
Xbox One
ReleaseMicrosoft Windows, OS X, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
  • NA: October 22, 2013
  • AU: October 24, 2013
  • EU: October 25, 2013
  • IND: October 25, 2013 [2]
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
  • NA: November 4, 2014
  • EU: November 7, 2014 [3]
Genre(s) Music video game
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Rocksmith 2014 is a music video game produced by Ubisoft. It is a followup to the 2011 game Rocksmith , but has been described as a replacement to the original game rather than a sequel. Like its predecessor, the game allows players to plug in virtually any electric guitar or bass guitar and play along via the use of a USB adapter – removing the need for any proprietary controller like other music games such as Guitar Hero . The game comes with 66 songs on disk, with over a thousand more available to download as paid DLC. It was announced at Ubisoft's 2013 E3 presentation and was released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC/Mac in October 2013, with versions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One releasing in November 2014.

Contents

Rocksmith 2014 was released to generally positive reviews from critics who praised the game's improvements over its predecessor. The game continued to receive new DLC song packs weekly until March 2020. The game was succeeded by Rocksmith+ , a music education-based subscription service based on the previous Rocksmith games, which was released on September 6, 2022. [4]

Rocksmith 2014 was removed from all digital storefronts on October 20, 2023, due to the game's music licenses expiring, with downloadable tracks being delisted separately as their respective licenses expired. [5] [6]

Gameplay

Rocksmith 2014 recommends the use of the "Hercules" adapter, a USB cable that connects to the standard 14 in (6.35 mm) output jack of most electric and bass guitars. Other guitars, such as acoustic guitars, may require additional hardware, such as a pickup. [7]

Rocksmith 2014 offers three different development paths for lead, rhythm, and bass guitar respectively. It now includes the ability to set song difficulty, rather than having to play the song starting at the lowest difficulty, as in Rocksmith. [8] The game includes a Session Mode, which enables players to perform in jam sessions with the in-game musicians. Other new modes include an enhanced Master Mode to help with memory-playing and new Guitarcade minigames. [9] New missions have been added as a way to challenge and direct players towards areas they need to improve upon. [8]

Rocksmith 2014 is intended to be more of a teaching tool than the original game, featuring more than 85 lessons covering bends, accents, slides, and more. A new finger positioning tool has also been added. [8] Rocksmith 2014 also features a mode for colorblind players. [10]

Development

On why the publisher chose the name Rocksmith 2014 as opposed to Rocksmith 2, senior vice president of sales and marketing Tony Key explained it was to encourage those who had not played the first game yet to buy and play the second one, without needing to invest in a previous installment of the franchise. He compared it to foreign language learning courses: "This is not the second step in guitar playing. Some people might interpret it that way. If you see Spanish 1 and then Spanish 2, you think that you need to learn Spanish 1 first." He described Rocksmith 2014 as a "replacement" for the original game rather than a sequel, and argued that its new songs, modes and improvements justified the purchase for people who had already bought the original Rocksmith. [11]

Rocksmith 2014 Edition — Remastered

On August 26, 2016, Ubisoft announced Rocksmith 2014 Edition — Remastered, an updated version of the game to be released on October 4, 2016. The new version includes "a customizable learning curve, expanded practice tools, stat tracking, improved menus and more". The Remastered version is a free update to existing versions of the game, but was also released at retail for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One with six additional songs. These six bonus songs have been released as DLC for all other users. [12]

On December 13, 2016, Ubisoft released an additional patch for Rocksmith 2014 Edition — Remastered, which added two new capabilities that removed the requirement for the Real-Tone Cable. [13] The first capability added to the software was Microphone Mode, which allowed players to use USB microphones and input devices that could simulate microphones for both players of acoustic guitars, and electric guitar players using non-Real-Tone cables. While this mode allows for note detection with the software, it disables the Rocksmith 2014's Authentic Tone capabilities, and players are limited to the "clean" guitar sound captured by the software. The second capability added to the software allows players to play along with the note tracks without note detection enabled.

In April 2020, it was announced that Rocksmith 2014 would receive no further DLC after the Opeth song pack, as focus was shifting to a new project. [14]

Track list

The game initially contains 66 playable tracks with over a thousand more available as DLC. [15] [16] "Cherub Rock" by the Smashing Pumpkins was a free DLC giveaway with pre-orders of the game. Rocksmith 2014 is capable of importing most songs from the original Rocksmith, with a few exceptions due to licensing issues. [8]

SongArtist(s)Release yearLead Tuning
"Self-Destruct" (Unlockable Song)Aching Head2013E Standard
"Walk This Way" Aerosmith 1975E Standard
"No More Mr. Nice Guy" Alice Cooper 1973E standard: A447
"Stone" Alice in Chains 2013Eb drop Db
"R U Mine?" Arctic Monkeys 2012E standard
"Bat Country" Avenged Sevenfold 2005Drop D
"Ultra Soul" B'z 2001E standard: A444
"Snarling of Beasts" (Unlockable Song)Bedowyn2013D standard
"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" Bob Dylan 1973E standard
"Peace of Mind" Boston 1977E standard
"Machinehead" Bush 1994E standard: A447
"Don't Stop" (Unlockable Song)Crimson2011E standard
"Stuck on a Wire Out on a Fence (Orange)" The Dear Hunter 2011E standard
"Pour Some Sugar on Me" Def Leppard 1987E standard
"My Own Summer (Shove It)" Deftones 1997Eb drop Db
"Sea to Swallow" (Unlockable Song)Disonaur2013E standard
"Wasteland"EarlyRise2011Drop D
"Chompers" Fang Island 2012Drop D
"Everlong" Foo Fighters 1997Drop D
"Brand New Kind of Blue" Gold Motel 2012E standard
"X-Kid" Green Day 2013E standard
"Eight-Ball, Coroner's Pocket" (Unlockable Song) Hail the Sun 2013E standard
"The Trooper" Iron Maiden 1983E standard
"Sixteen Saltines" Jack White 2012E standard
"Stay In" JAWS 2012E standard
"Satch Boogie" Joe Satriani 1987E standard
"Desolate Motion" (Unlockable Song)KarawanNAE standard
"You Really Got Me" The Kinks 1964E standard: A461
"Rock and Roll All Nite" Kiss 1975Eb standard
"Love That's Gone" La Sera 2012E standard
"Black Magic" Magic Wands 2012E standard
"Blood and Thunder" Mastodon 2004D standard
"On Top of the World" (Unlockable Song)Matt Montgomery, Brian McCune, Brendan West2013E standard
"Cold Company" Minus the Bear 2012E standard
"Sweet Mountain River" Monster Truck 2013D standard
"Knights of Cydonia" Muse 2006E standard
"Heart-Shaped Box" Nirvana 1993Eb drop Db
"Don't Look Back in Anger" Oasis 1996E standard: A451
"Cemetery Gates" Pantera 1990E standard: A434
"Now" Paramore 2013Drop D
"Sore Tummy" PAWS 2012E standard
"Self Trap" (Unlockable Song)Playground Kings2007E standard
"Every Breath You Take" The Police 1983E standard
"We Are the Champions" Queen 1977E standard
"Losing My Religion" R.E.M. 1991E standard
"Paranoid Android" Radiohead 1997E standard
"Blitzkrieg Bop" Ramones 1976E standard
"Round and Round" Ratt 1984Eb standard
"Wires" Red Fang 2011Drop D
"Savior" Rise Against 2009Eb standard
"Paint It Black" The Rolling Stones 1966E standard
"The Spirit of Radio" Rush 1980E standard
"Monochromic (Unlockable Song)"Sabaka2013Drop D
"Rotten Apple" Screaming Females 2012E standard
"For a Fool" The Shins 2012E standard
"War Ensemble" Slayer 1990Eb standard
"The Chimera" The Smashing Pumpkins 2012Drop D
"All I Wanna Do" Splashh 2013E standard
"Hypnotize" System of a Down 2005Eb drop Db
"Go Further" Tak Matsumoto 1999E standard
"Mary Jane's Last Dance" Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 1993E standard
"Rocksmith 2012 Theme" (Unlockable Song) Ubisoft 2012E standard
"Impossible Dreams" (Unlockable Song)Versus Them2012E standard
"Say It Ain't So" Weezer 1994Eb standard
"Thunder Kiss '65" White Zombie 1992E standard
"My Generation" The Who 1965E standard

Downloadable content

All Rocksmith DLC songs are forward-compatible with Rocksmith 2014, but DLC songs released on or after October 22, 2013, are compatible only with Rocksmith 2014 and will not play on the original version of Rocksmith. [17] As of January 3, 2017, there are 835 songs and 209 song packs available to download from the Rocksmith store. [18] Ubisoft San Francisco announced in April 2020 that they would be stopping development of further DLC for Rocksmith 2014 as they transitioned to a new project, after delivering 383 weeks of DLC content. [19]

In addition to the DLC for Rocksmith 2014, owners of the original Rocksmith are able to purchase a Disc Import Tool that will import 52 of the 57 songs available on the original Rocksmith. [20] The tracks that do not carry over are:

Artist(s)SongYear
Chris LeeBoss2011
Cream Sunshine of Your Love 1967
Eric ClaptonRun Back to Your Side2010
Seth ChaplaJules2011
Seth ChaplaThe Star Spangled Banner2011

Reception

Rocksmith 2014 was released in the US on October 22, 2013, to mostly positive reviews. Aggregating review website Metacritic rated the PC version 89/100, [21] the PlayStation 3 version 86/100, [22] and the Xbox 360 version 87/100. [23]

Lee Cooper of Hardcore Gamer praised the game and its general improvement over 2011's Rocksmith, saying, "Every facet of gameplay has been given a nice thick coat of improvement in Rocksmith 2014, issues that the original title was known for have either been removed entirely, or overhauled beyond recognition." [26]

Notes

Related Research Articles

<i>Lumines: Puzzle Fusion</i> 2004 puzzle video game

Lumines: Puzzle Fusion is a 2004 puzzle game developed by Q Entertainment and published for the PlayStation Portable by Bandai in Japan and by Ubisoft elsewhere. The objective of the game is to arrange descending two-colored 2×2 blocks to create 2×2 squares of matching color. A vertical line known as the "time line" sweeps across the field, erases completed squares, and awards points. Each stage has a skin that affects the background, block colors, music, and the speed of the time line.

<i>Tom Clancys Splinter Cell: Conviction</i> 2010 video game

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction is a 2010 stealth action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Microsoft Game Studios and Ubisoft. The game is a sequel to Splinter Cell: Double Agent and part of the Splinter Cell series. Key members of the Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas team, such as creative director Maxime Béland worked on the game. It released for Windows and Xbox 360 in April 2010. Gameloft released a handheld version for Apple's iOS in May/July 2010. There are also versions available for Android, Windows Phone and Bada, as well as a side-scrolling 2D version for mobile phones.

<i>Uno</i> (video game) Video game adaptation of the card game

Uno is a video game based on the card game of the same name. It has been released for a number of platforms. The Xbox 360 version by Carbonated Games and Microsoft Game Studios was released on May 9, 2006, as a digital download via Xbox Live Arcade. A version for iPhone OS and iPod devices was released in 2008 by Gameloft. Gameloft released the PlayStation 3 version on October 1, 2009, and also released a version for WiiWare, Nintendo DSi via DSiWare, and PlayStation Portable. An updated version developed by Ubisoft Chengdu and published by Ubisoft was released for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in August 2016, Microsoft Windows in December 2016 and for the Nintendo Switch in November 2017.

<i>Lips</i> (video game) 2008 video game

Lips is a 2008 karaoke video game for the Xbox 360. Lips was developed by iNiS and published by Microsoft Game Studios. The game features the use of motion sensitive wireless microphones and supports the use of songs already owned through a Zune or iPod. Lips has spawned three sequels: Lips: Number One Hits, Lips: Party Classics, and Lips: I Love the 80's. Localized versions of the game and sequels have been released in several countries, including Lips: Canta en Español, and Deutsche Partyknaller.

<i>Assassins Creed II</i> 2009 video game

Assassin's Creed II is a 2009 action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montréal and published by Ubisoft. It is the second major installment in the Assassin's Creed series, and the sequel to 2007's Assassin's Creed. The game was first released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in November 2009, and was later made available on Microsoft Windows in March 2010 and OS X in October 2010. Remastered versions of the game and its two sequels, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood and Assassin's Creed: Revelations, were released as part of The Ezio Collection compilation for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on November 15, 2016, and for the Nintendo Switch on February 17, 2022.

<i>Assassins Creed III</i> 2012 action-adventure video game

Assassin's Creed III is a 2012 action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is the fifth major installment in the Assassin's Creed series, and a direct sequel to 2011's Assassin's Creed: Revelations. The game was released worldwide for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, beginning in North America on October 30, 2012, with a Wii U and Microsoft Windows release in November 2012. A remastered version of the game was released in 2019 for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, and in 2021 for Google Stadia.

<i>Assassins Creed: Brotherhood</i> 2010 video game

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is a 2010 action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is the third major installment in the Assassin's Creed series, and the second chapter in the "Ezio Trilogy", as a direct sequel to 2009's Assassin's Creed II. The game was first released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in November and December 2010 and was later made available on Microsoft Windows in March and June 2011. A remastered version of Brotherhood, along with Assassins's Creed II and its sequel, Assassin's Creed: Revelations, was released as part of The Ezio Collection compilation for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on November 15, 2016, and for the Nintendo Switch on February 17, 2022.

<i>Rocksmith</i> 2011 video game

Rocksmith is a music video game produced by Ubisoft, released in October 2011 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 platforms in North America. Rocksmith was released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 during September 2012 in Australian and European markets and October 2012 in Japan. A Windows version was released on October 16, 2012, after several delays. The game's main feature is that, unlike other rhythm games such as Guitar Hero that require proprietary controllers to play, Rocksmith instead allows players to plug in virtually any electric guitar and play along via a USB adapter.

<i>Sniper Elite V2</i> 2012 video game

Sniper Elite V2 is a 2012 third-person tactical shooter stealth video game developed and published by Rebellion Developments. It is the sequel to its 2005 predecessor Sniper Elite, which takes place in the same timeframe and location—the Battle of Berlin in April–May 1945—but with an altered narrative. The game's story follows an American OSS officer who must eliminate a group of scientists involved in the German V-2 rocket program before the Red Army captures them. Another sequel named Sniper Elite III was released in 2014. A remastered version for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One was released on May 14, 2019.

<i>Rayman Legends</i> 2013 video game

Rayman Legends is a platform video game developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and published by Ubisoft. It is the fifth main title in the Rayman series and the direct sequel to the 2011 game Rayman Origins. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and PlayStation Vita platforms in August and September 2013. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions were released in February 2014, with a Stadia version released in November 2021. A Nintendo Switch port, titled Rayman Legends Definitive Edition, was released in North America, Europe and Australia on September 12, 2017.

<i>Just Dance 4</i> 2012 video game

Just Dance 4 is a 2012 music rhythm game developed and published by Ubisoft as the fourth main installment of the Just Dance series. Announced at E3 2012 by Flo Rida and Aisha Tyler, it was released on the Wii, the Wii U, the PlayStation 3, and the Xbox 360. The Wii, PlayStation Move and Kinect versions were released on October 2, 2012 in Europe and Australia and on October 9, 2012 in North America, The Wii U version was released on November 18, 2012 in North America and on November 30, 2012 in Europe and Australia, as a launch title for the console.

Just Dance is a rhythm game series developed and published by Ubisoft. The original Just Dance game was released on the Wii in 2009 in North America, Europe, and Australia.

<i>Just Dance 2014</i> 2013 video game

Just Dance 2014 is a 2013 dance rhythm game developed and published by Ubisoft. The fifth main installment of the Just Dance series, it was announced at Ubisoft's E3 2013 press event, and released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and Wii U on 9 October 2013, and for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as a launch title on 15 November and 22 November 2013 respectively.

<i>Just Dance 2015</i> 2014 video game

Just Dance 2015 is a 2014 dance video game developed and published by Ubisoft. The sixth main installment of the Just Dance series, it was announced at Ubisoft's E3 2014 press event on 9 June 2014 alongside Just Dance Now—a web-based spin-off of the franchise. It was released for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii, and Wii U on 21 October 2014 in North America, 23 October in Europe, 24 October in the UK and 25 October in Asia.

<i>Tetris Ultimate</i> 2014 video game

Tetris Ultimate is a puzzle video game developed by American studio SoMa Play and published by Ubisoft. Ubisoft partnered with The Tetris Company to develop the game to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Tetris franchise.

<i>Rock Band 4</i> 2015 music video game

Rock Band 4 is a 2015 rhythm game developed by Harmonix. The game was initially published by Mad Catz, who also developed new instrument controllers for the game, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 6, 2015. Performance Designed Products (PDP) took over manufacturing of instrument controllers and publishing of the game by 2016. It is the fourth main installment and the ninth console release in the Rock Band series.

Watch Dogs is an action-adventure video game franchise published by Ubisoft, and developed primarily by its Montreal and Toronto studios using the Disrupt game engine. The series' eponymous first title was released in 2014, and it has featured three games in total, the most recent being 2020's Watch Dogs: Legion. Several tie-in books and comic book miniseries set in the games' universe have also been published.

<i>Assassins Creed III: The Tyranny of King Washington</i> DLC for the 2012 video game Assassins Creed III

Assassin's Creed III: The Tyranny of King Washington is a downloadable content (DLC) expansion pack developed and published by Ubisoft for the 2012 action-adventure video game Assassin's Creed III. Set after the events of the base game, it follows its main playable character, Ratonhnhaké:ton / Connor, as he awakens in what appears to be an alternate reality where the game's events involving him have never happened. He is tasked to find and defeat a fictionalized version of George Washington, who is empowered but mentally corrupted by an otherworldly artifact. After crowning himself King of the newly-founded United States of America, Washington began to enslave the population of the American frontier and massacre those who resist his tyranny. Connor gains new mystical abilities over the course of the pack's narrative as he attempts to stop Washington and return to his original timeline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocksmith+</span> Music education software

Rocksmith+ is a subscription-based music education service from Ubisoft focused on learning guitar, bass, and piano. It was released September 6, 2022 on PC and June 9, 2023 on Android and iOS and follows Rocksmith 2014. It was updated on December 5, 2023 to include piano and keyboard learning.

References

  1. "Gamebase Announces Reach3dx Closed Beta Test". Gamebryo. July 22, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  2. Desai, Sameer. "Rocksmith 2014 price, release date for India announced". MCV India. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  3. "Rocksmith 2014 hits PS4 and Xbox One in November". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  4. Leane, Rob (September 6, 2022). "Rocksmith Plus review: Become a guitar hero for real". Radio Times. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  5. "ROCKSMITH 2014 LEAVING STORES". www.ubisoft.com. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  6. Smith, Graham (October 24, 2023). "Rocksmith 2014 has been removed from sale ten years after release, and its DLC will follow". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  7. "Rocksmith". Ubisoft. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Blevins, Tal (August 16, 2013). "Rocking out with Rocksmith 2014" . Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  9. "Rocksmith 2014 Edition announced for October". shacknews.com . June 10, 2013. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  10. Campbell, Colin (October 3, 2013). "Rocksmith 2014 Edition changes its hues for Colorblind Mode". Polygon . Vox Media . Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  11. Goldfarb, Andrew (July 1, 2013). "Ubisoft Discusses Rocksmith, Just Dance 2014". IGN. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  12. "Rocksmith 2014 Remastered is a game coming out in 2016". Polygon. Vox Media. August 25, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  13. "Rocksmith Now Supports Acoustic Guitars - UbiBlog - Ubisoft®". UbiBlog - Ubisoft. December 13, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  14. "Rocksmith announces New Project, end of Rocksmith Remastered DLC". April 3, 2020.
  15. "Rocksmith Track List". Ubisoft. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
  16. "The Music – ROCKSMITH 2014 EDITION". Ubisoft. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  17. "Rocksmith® 2014 Edition | Official US Site | Ubisoft®". Rocksmith+.
  18. "Rocksmith® - Song List & Downloadable Content (DLC) | Ubisoft® (US)". rocksmith.ubisoft.com. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  19. Good, Owen (April 4, 2020). "Rocksmith's DLC ends after 383 weeks". Polygon . Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  20. "Rocksmith® FAQ - Guitar Lessons at Your Level | Ubisoft® (US)". rocksmith.ubisoft.com. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  21. 1 2 "Rocksmith 2014 Edition for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  22. 1 2 "Rocksmith 2014 Edition for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  23. 1 2 "Rocksmith 2014 Edition for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  24. "Rocksmith 2014 Edition for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  25. "Rocksmith 2014 Edition for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  26. "Review: Rocksmith 2014 - Hardcore Gamer". October 29, 2013.