Disney plans own version of Rock Band

Disney Interactive Studios has announced it will be releasing a Rock Band-style game for the Wii and DS.

Entitled Ultimate Band, it wil be written by Brian Michael Bendis…no wait. Due out around Christmas, Ultimate Band will be making use Nintendo’s unique hardware. Instead of using “costly, single-function peripherals” that people enjoy the hell out of, Ultimate Band will employ the Wii controller and DS stylus so that people can pretend to have instruments. That’s called Imagineering (copyright 1952 Walt Disney Productions). The DS version is a rhythm music game that will allow gamers the ability to play popular songs or create their own, while the Wii version will let folks “live the life of a rock star, by advancing their music careers and popularity from playing in a neighborhood garage to performing in front of an international audience at a world famous venue.” So you’ll go from playing in a parking garage to performing in front of the U.N. at Carnegie Hall, just like the Foo Fighters.

According to the press release, “Disney is working with some of the very biggest names in rock, alternative, popular, emo and indie rock music,” presumably so that no one over the age of 13 will want to play any of the songs. As if to drive home the point, Senior V.P. Craig Relyea added, “Ultimate Band invites kids, tweens and teens to join in the jam session.” To be fair, Disney does promise to feature “iconic songs from every decade since the 60s,” so there is some hope for a solid set list, or maybe just all Electric Light Orchestra tracks. Don’t bring me down…Groos!