The 2009 Game Developers Conference has, technically, been going on since Monday. But it's mostly mobile games and day-long workshops so far, so we've been staying away from the actual show. But today, we did go out and see some things. After checking out inFamous at Sony and seeing another game that we'll talk more about in the near future that, like inFamous, has me quite excited, we ran off to a Harmonix-run party. Rather than the typical hotel lobby bar schmooze-fest that you'd expect at a function like GDC, this thing was merely Rock Band 2, set up on a stage, right next to a bar. Sure, business cards were exchanged, and hands were shook, but this was much louder.
In addition to letting people play the new Pearl Jam songs hitting along with the reissue of Ten, Harmonix also confirmed that Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" would be coming to the game in the near future.
Yeah, I know we don't normally write about announcements for upcoming music DLC. Frankly, trying to keep on top of that stuff would just kind of make me go crazy. This one's different because Brad and I got to debut the song for the crowd with some fly ladies. Also, we were backed up by some of Harmonix's best, with Alex Rigopulos on drums, John Drake on guitar, and Alex "no, I'm the other Alex" Navarro on bass.
Video shot by friend of the site, Jody Robinson! Thanks Jody!
Remove the Rock Band from the situation and you now know what it's like to hang out with Brad in a bar. Eventually, this song is put on the jukebox, people start thinking of a simpler time, and everyone drunkenly sings their guts out. It's magical.
GDC properly starts tomorrow (or, if you want to get techincal, later today). We'll be out seeing games like Fat Princess, seeing panel discussions where developers talk about their craft, and we'll be recording podcasts with some great guests. Hopefully they won't all show up with astoundingly salty candy like GRIN did today. My taste buds are still totally shot from that, and anything I've had to eat or drink since has tasted uncomfortably salty.
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