<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
is	O
a	O
2010	O
music	B-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
developed	O
by	O
Harmonix	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
third	O
main	O
game	O
and	O
the	O
6th	O
major	O
console	B-Device
installment	O
in	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
the	O
previous	O
titles	O
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
allows	O
players	O
to	O
simulate	O
the	O
playing	O
of	O
rock	O
music	O
and	O
many	O
other	O
subgenres	O
using	O
special	O
instrument	O
controllers	O
mimicking	O
lead	O
and	O
bass	O
guitar	O
,	O
keyboard	O
,	O
drums	O
,	O
and	O
vocals	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
expands	O
upon	O
previous	O
games	O
by	O
including	O
three-part	O
vocal	O
harmonies	B-Library
—	O
previously	O
used	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
and	O
Green	B-Application
Day	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
(	O
up	O
to	O
3	O
singers	O
on	O
a	O
song	O
)	O
—	O
plus	O
support	O
for	O
MIDI-compatible	O
keyboards	O
,	O
electronic	O
drumkits	O
,	O
and	O
even	O
use	O
of	O
a	O
real	O
guitar	O
in	O
"	O
Pro	O
"	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Distinguishing	O
it	O
from	O
all	O
previous	O
rhythm	O
music	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
features	O
"	O
Pro	O
"	O
mode	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
designed	O
to	O
accurately	O
mimic	O
playing	O
of	O
real	O
instruments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Existing	O
game	O
content	O
,	O
including	O
prior	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
and	O
songs	O
from	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Network	O
,	O
carry	O
forward	O
into	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
full	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
library	O
reaching	O
2,000	O
songs	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
of	O
game	O
launch	O
(	O
surpassing	O
4,000	O
songs	O
by	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
October	O
2012	O
,	O
almost	O
a	O
year	O
after	O
its	O
re-release	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
is	O
designed	O
as	O
a	O
platform	O
to	O
take	O
advantage	O
of	O
players	O
 '	O
existing	O
libraries	O
by	O
providing	O
user-created	O
set	O
lists	O
and	O
challenges	O
and	O
tools	O
to	O
easily	O
search	O
and	O
select	O
songs	O
from	O
the	O
library	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
initially	O
released	O
worldwide	O
during	O
the	O
last	O
week	O
of	O
October	O
2010	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
,	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
and	O
Nintendo	B-Device
DS	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
is	O
cited	O
by	O
some	O
to	O
be	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
greatest	O
games	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
while	O
also	O
considered	O
a	O
pinnacle	O
of	O
the	O
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
also	O
the	O
last	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
game	O
to	O
be	O
distributed	O
by	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
as	O
Mad	O
Catz	O
signed	O
on	O
to	O
produce	O
future	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
allows	O
for	O
1	O
–	O
7	O
players	O
,	O
either	O
locally	O
or	O
through	O
online	O
game	O
services	O
,	O
to	O
use	O
various	O
instrument	O
controllers	O
to	O
accurately	O
simulate	O
the	O
playing	O
of	O
music	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
supporting	O
the	O
four	O
Basic	O
instrument	O
controllers	O
from	O
previous	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
games	O
(	O
lead	O
guitar	O
,	O
bass	O
guitar	O
,	O
drums	O
and	O
vocals	O
)	O
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
adds	O
support	O
for	O
two	O
additional	O
microphones	O
for	O
singers	O
to	O
provide	O
backup	O
vocal	O
harmonies	B-Library
(	O
previously	O
found	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
and	O
Green	B-Application
Day	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
)	O
,	O
an	O
electric	O
keyboard	O
as	O
a	O
new	O
instrument	O
(	O
or	O
any	O
MIDI-compatible	O
keyboard	O
)	O
,	O
plus	O
support	O
for	O
a	O
specially	O
made	O
102-button	O
MIDI	O
bass	O
,	O
and	O
an	O
actual	O
Squier	O
guitar	O
by	O
Fender	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3s	I-Application
gameplay	O
in	O
Basic	O
mode	O
is	O
very	O
similar	O
to	O
that	O
of	O
previous	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
it	O
does	O
introduce	O
a	O
new	O
gameplay	O
mechanic	O
designed	O
to	O
make	O
fast	O
sections	O
such	O
as	O
trills	O
,	O
tremolo	O
picking	O
,	O
and	O
drum	O
rolls	O
easier	O
to	O
play	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Necessary	O
sorting	O
options	O
include	O
filters	O
based	O
on	O
Pro	O
mode	O
support	O
,	O
keyboard	O
or	O
vocal	O
harmony	B-Library
support	O
,	O
variable	O
difficulty	O
settings	O
,	O
music	O
genre	O
,	O
decade	O
,	O
numbers	O
of	O
times	O
played	O
,	O
leaderboard	O
positions	O
,	O
and	O
when	O
the	O
player	O
acquired	O
the	O
song	O
;	O
any	O
numbers	O
of	O
these	O
filters	O
can	O
be	O
applied	O
to	O
fine-tune	O
the	O
sort	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
selecting	O
all	O
"	O
moderate-difficulty	O
metal	O
songs	O
from	O
the	O
'	O
80s	O
that	O
support	O
keys	O
and	O
harmony	B-Library
vocals	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
rating	O
system	O
also	O
allows	O
Harmonix	O
to	O
suggest	O
new	O
songs	O
to	O
players	O
in	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
store	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
are	O
also	O
able	O
to	O
create	O
,	O
save	O
,	O
name	O
,	O
and	O
design	O
art	O
for	O
custom	O
set	O
lists	O
which	O
they	O
can	O
share	O
through	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
online	O
services	O
or	O
through	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
website	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
"	O
Battle	O
of	O
the	O
Bands	O
"	O
mode	O
featured	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
in	O
which	O
Harmonix	O
created	O
daily	O
and	O
weekly	O
themed	O
challenges	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
library	O
of	O
songs	O
,	O
extends	O
into	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
but	O
allows	O
players	O
to	O
create	O
the	O
challenges	O
themselves	O
from	O
within	O
the	O
game	O
or	O
the	O
website	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
type	O
of	O
challenges	O
,	O
what	O
instrument(s )	O
it	O
is	O
aimed	O
for	O
,	O
and	O
how	O
long	O
to	O
allow	O
the	O
battle	O
to	O
run	O
,	O
then	O
advertise	O
them	O
through	O
social	O
media	O
services	O
like	O
Twitter	B-Application
and	O
Facebook	B-Application
.	I-Application
</s>
<s>
The	O
official	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
website	O
was	O
updated	O
to	O
reflect	O
these	O
new	O
features	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
allowing	O
players	O
to	O
track	O
their	O
own	O
bands	O
or	O
friends	O
 '	O
bands	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
career	O
mode	O
includes	O
over	O
700	O
career	O
goals	O
,	O
similar	O
to	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
Achievements	O
or	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
Trophies	O
,	O
which	O
helps	O
to	O
drive	O
players	O
to	O
progress	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Road	O
challenges	O
"	O
combine	O
features	O
of	O
the	O
Tour	O
mode	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
and	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
with	O
Mario	B-Application
Party	I-Application
concepts	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
Teasdale	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
based	O
on	O
feedback	O
from	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
playing	O
modes	O
are	O
wrapped	O
in	O
an	O
"	O
overshell	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
allow	O
players	O
to	O
sign	O
in	O
or	O
out	O
of	O
game	O
console	B-Device
profiles	O
,	O
manage	O
players	O
in	O
the	O
band	O
,	O
and	O
jump	O
in	O
or	O
out	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
with	O
any	O
available	O
instrument	O
at	O
any	O
point	O
,	O
including	O
while	O
playing	O
a	O
song	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
attempts	O
to	O
provide	O
the	O
option	O
of	O
a	O
local	O
"	O
All	O
Instruments	O
"	O
quick	O
play	O
mode	O
where	O
all	O
five	O
parts	O
are	O
used	O
allowing	O
the	O
full	O
seven-member	O
band	O
to	O
play	O
;	O
to	O
side	O
step	O
system	O
limitations	O
the	O
vocals	O
are	O
not	O
assigned	O
to	O
a	O
console	B-Device
player	O
but	O
instead	O
are	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
input	O
,	O
if	O
present	O
,	O
from	O
Wireless	O
USB-connected	O
microphones	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
vocal	O
results	O
are	O
not	O
scored	O
along	O
with	O
the	O
other	O
playing	O
members	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
"	O
includes	O
support	O
for	O
using	O
pre-made	O
and	O
custom	O
avatars	O
to	O
represent	O
band	O
members	O
on	O
stage	O
during	O
performances	O
,	O
as	O
in	O
previous	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
custom	O
characters	O
have	O
been	O
a	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
series	O
from	O
the	O
start	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
wants	O
players	O
to	O
feel	O
more	O
connected	O
with	O
their	O
characters	O
and	O
band	O
within	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
was	O
achieved	O
through	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
improved	O
shaders	O
that	O
gave	O
the	O
appearance	O
of	O
realistic	O
surfaces	O
but	O
with	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
stylized	O
art	O
aesthetic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
aimed	O
to	O
provide	O
something	O
that	O
was	O
in	O
between	O
the	O
complex	O
creation	O
tool	O
for	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
and	O
the	O
simple	O
set	O
of	O
tools	O
for	O
Miis	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
custom	O
character	O
creator	O
allows	O
for	O
more	O
direct	O
customization	O
of	O
the	O
character	O
's	O
facial	O
looks	O
,	O
using	O
a	O
combination	O
of	O
pre-made	O
face	O
styles	O
(	O
including	O
those	O
already	O
from	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
)	O
,	O
facial	O
components	O
such	O
as	O
noses	O
or	O
chins	O
,	O
and	O
adjustment	O
sliders	O
to	O
change	O
size	O
,	O
position	O
,	O
and	O
other	O
details	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
premium	O
T-shirts	O
with	O
real-life	O
bands	O
are	O
being	O
sold	O
as	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
for	O
the	O
players	O
 '	O
created	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
is	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
series	O
(	O
or	O
any	O
previous	O
rhythm	O
game	O
)	O
to	O
include	O
"	O
Pro	O
"	O
mode	O
,	O
which	O
can	O
be	O
used	O
simultaneously	O
in	O
conjunction	O
with	O
"	O
Basic	O
"	O
mode	O
(	O
which	O
has	O
been	O
standard	O
in	O
every	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
(	O
According	O
to	O
Harmonix	O
's	O
Dan	O
Sussman	O
,	O
there	O
were	O
about	O
60	O
to	O
80	O
songs	O
specifically	O
made	O
for	O
the	O
trainer	O
section	O
,	O
and	O
they	O
were	O
only	O
available	O
for	O
that	O
mode	O
;	O
but	O
Harmonix	O
placed	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
full	O
songs	O
onto	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Network	O
at	O
a	O
later	O
date	O
.	O
)	O
</s>
<s>
(	O
Existing	O
"	O
5	O
button	O
"	O
guitar	O
controllers	O
from	O
previous	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
and	O
other	O
compatible	O
games	O
(	O
such	O
as	O
Guitar	O
Hero	O
)	O
can	O
still	O
be	O
used	O
interchangeably	O
with	O
real	O
Pro	O
instruments	O
for	O
non-Pro	O
parts	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
but	O
not	O
vice	O
versa	O
.	O
)	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
use	O
in	O
gaming	O
mode	O
,	O
each	O
Mustang	O
controller	O
can	O
only	O
be	O
used	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
console	B-Device
it	O
is	O
designed	O
for	O
(	O
except	O
unofficially	O
if	O
you	O
connect	O
through	O
a	O
MIDI-Pro	O
Adapter	O
,	O
then	O
any	O
console	B-Device
's	O
Mustang	O
can	O
be	O
used	O
with	O
any	O
console	B-Device
for	O
Pro	O
mode	O
game	O
play	O
,	O
although	O
direction	O
pad	O
buttons	O
,	O
overdrive	O
detection	O
and	O
Basic	O
5-button	O
game	O
play	O
will	O
be	O
disabled	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fender	O
made	O
an	O
even	O
further	O
step	O
up	O
by	O
turning	O
an	O
actual	O
full-sized	O
,	O
6-string	O
Squier	O
Stratocaster	O
guitar	O
into	O
a	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
Pro	O
mode	O
real	O
guitar	O
game	O
controller	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Squier	O
is	O
"	O
console-neutral	O
"	O
:	O
instead	O
of	O
having	O
to	O
buy	O
a	O
console-specific	O
guitar	O
,	O
players	O
need	O
only	O
purchase	O
the	O
MadCatz	O
MIDI	O
Pro-Adapter	O
made	O
for	O
their	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
or	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
console	I-Operating_System
,	O
then	O
simply	O
plug	O
any	O
Squier	O
Stratocaster	O
Guitar	O
And	O
Controller	O
into	O
that	O
for	O
in-game	O
use	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
You	O
Rock	O
guitar	O
can	O
be	O
put	O
into	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Pro	O
mode	O
by	O
simultaneously	O
pressing	O
the	O
"	O
Game	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Guitar	O
"	O
buttons	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
existing	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
and	O
other	O
compatible	O
controllers	O
continue	O
to	O
work	O
for	O
Basic	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
April	O
2010	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
and	O
game	O
controller	O
manufacturer	O
Mad	O
Catz	O
entered	O
a	O
multi-year	O
deal	O
to	O
allow	O
Mad	O
Catz	O
to	O
produce	O
and	O
sell	O
its	O
controllers	O
alongside	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
standalone	O
game	O
and	O
controllers	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
and	O
MadCatz	O
released	O
a	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
bundle	O
package	O
which	O
includes	O
the	O
Basic/Pro	O
RB3	O
keyboard	O
controller	O
and	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Licensing	O
prevented	O
this	O
bundle	O
from	O
being	O
sold	O
to	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
users	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
but	O
Harmonix	O
worked	O
with	O
vendors	O
to	O
offer	O
a	O
"	O
soft	O
bundle	O
"	O
of	O
the	O
standalone	O
game	O
and	O
keyboard	O
at	O
the	O
same	O
cost	O
as	O
the	O
bundle	O
,	O
and	O
to	O
honor	O
existing	O
pre-orders	O
for	O
the	O
bundle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
bundle	O
came	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
itself	O
,	O
a	O
voucher	O
for	O
complementary	O
downloadable	O
song	O
content	O
,	O
and	O
choice	O
of	O
Mustang	O
Pro-Guitar	O
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
Stratocaster	O
Basic	O
,	O
or	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
Fender	O
Precision	O
Wireless	O
Bass	O
(	O
Basic	O
)	O
controller	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Existing	O
"	O
5	O
button	O
"	O
Basic	O
guitar	O
controllers	O
from	O
previous	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
games	O
and	O
other	O
compatible	O
games	O
(	O
such	O
as	O
Guitar	O
Hero	O
)	O
can	O
still	O
be	O
used	O
interchangeably	O
with	O
real	O
Pro	O
instruments	O
for	O
non-Pro	O
parts	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
(	O
but	O
not	O
vice	O
versa	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
the	O
(	O
Basic	O
)	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
Wireless	O
Fender	O
Precision	O
Bass	O
Controller	O
features	O
,	O
as	O
the	O
actual	O
guitar	O
it	O
is	O
modeled	O
after	O
–	O
a	O
thumb	O
rest	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
Wireless	O
Fender	O
Telecaster	O
Player	O
's	O
Edition	O
replica	O
guitar	O
controller	O
features	O
quieter	O
more	O
responsive	O
buttons	O
to	O
replicate	O
the	O
feel	O
of	O
frets	O
plus	O
allow	O
easier	O
sliding	O
chords	O
,	O
an	O
upgraded	O
strum	O
bar	O
,	O
and	O
touch	O
activated	O
overdrive	O
directly	O
above	O
the	O
strum	O
bar	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
Wireless	O
Stratocaster	O
Guitar	O
Controller	O
replica	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
November	O
2011	O
and	O
is	O
an	O
upgrade	O
to	O
the	O
original	O
version	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Wooden	O
Stratocaster	O
Replica	O
was	O
released	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
and	O
is	O
basically	O
,	O
a	O
full-size	O
actual	O
wooden	O
guitar	O
body	O
with	O
all	O
of	O
the	O
tuning	O
keys	O
,	O
bridge	O
,	O
metal	O
parts	O
and	O
fittings	O
of	O
the	O
actual	O
guitar	O
left	O
intact	O
;	O
but	O
instead	O
of	O
strings	O
,	O
it	O
has	O
Basic	O
5-button	O
premium	O
buttons	O
built	O
into	O
the	O
neck	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Existing	O
drum	O
kits	O
from	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
Guitar	O
Hero	O
,	O
and	O
other	O
games	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
ION	O
electronic	O
drum	O
kits	O
,	O
can	O
be	O
used	O
for	O
Basic	O
mode	O
play	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
MadCatz	O
and	O
other	O
manufacturers	O
already	O
produced	O
a	O
cymbal	O
add-ons	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
drum	O
kits	O
,	O
but	O
introduced	O
a	O
new	O
version	O
with	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
existing	O
ION	O
drum	O
kits	O
will	O
work	O
in	O
Pro	O
mode	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
introduced	O
keyboard	O
parts	O
for	O
songs	O
for	O
the	O
first	O
time	O
in	O
a	O
rhythm	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Any	O
USB-compatible	O
microphone	O
can	O
be	O
used	O
for	O
the	O
vocal	O
parts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
USB	B-Protocol
hub	O
can	O
be	O
used	O
for	O
up	O
to	O
three	O
microphone	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
does	O
not	O
require	O
the	O
vocalists	O
to	O
be	O
signed	O
in	O
on	O
the	O
console	B-Device
's	O
systems	O
;	O
this	O
allows	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
to	O
surpass	O
the	O
usual	O
limitation	O
of	O
four	O
local	O
players	O
that	O
exists	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Vocal	O
harmonies	B-Library
cannot	O
be	O
performed	O
by	O
separate	O
players	O
over	O
networked	O
connections	O
due	O
to	O
latency	O
issues	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Nintendo	B-Device
DS	I-Device
version	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
follows	O
the	O
gameplay	O
format	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Unplugged	I-Application
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
Portable	I-Operating_System
and	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Device
DS	I-Device
version	O
of	O
Lego	B-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
are	O
no	O
special	O
instrument	O
attachments	O
;	O
instead	O
,	O
gameplay	O
is	O
designed	O
around	O
matching	O
notes	O
using	O
the	O
face	O
buttons	O
on	O
the	O
DS	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
of	O
the	O
25	O
songs	O
,	O
a	O
subset	O
of	O
the	O
songs	O
available	O
on	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
disc	O
for	O
other	O
consoles	O
,	O
are	O
presented	O
as	O
a	O
set	O
of	O
four	O
tracks	O
,	O
one	O
for	O
each	O
instrument	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
player	O
able	O
to	O
move	O
between	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
DS	B-Device
version	O
includes	O
a	O
single-player	O
career	O
mode	O
and	O
both	O
cooperative	O
and	O
competitive	O
play	O
modes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additional	O
features	O
that	O
were	O
present	O
in	O
Unplugged	O
also	O
are	O
included	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
for	O
the	O
DS	B-Device
,	O
but	O
have	O
been	O
renamed	O
to	O
match	O
changes	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
console	B-Device
modes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
the	O
"	O
Band	O
Survival	O
"	O
mode	O
from	O
Unplugged	O
,	O
requiring	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
keep	O
all	O
the	O
instruments	O
going	O
without	O
any	O
respite	O
after	O
successfully	O
completing	O
a	O
track	O
section	O
,	O
is	O
called	O
"	O
Pro	O
Mode	O
"	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
for	O
the	O
DS	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
previous	O
success	O
of	O
rhythm	O
games	O
,	O
the	O
genre	O
as	O
a	O
whole	O
saw	O
nearly	O
a	O
50%	O
drop	O
in	O
revenues	O
in	O
2009	O
;	O
sales	O
of	O
top-tier	O
titles	O
The	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
and	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
5	I-Application
were	O
significantly	O
off	O
from	O
initial	O
projections	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
designing	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
Harmonix	O
sought	O
to	O
capture	O
the	O
playing	O
experience	O
that	O
"	O
really	O
started	O
this	O
whole	O
phenomenon	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
place	O
"	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
project	O
director	O
Daniel	O
Sussman	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
's	O
CEO	O
,	O
Alex	O
Rigopulos	O
,	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
Our	O
ambition	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
really	O
to	O
re-energize	O
and	O
reinvigorate	O
the	O
(	O
music	B-Application
game	I-Application
)	O
category	O
and	O
advance	O
it	O
and	O
move	O
it	O
forward.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
introducing	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
journalists	O
at	O
a	O
closed	O
media	O
event	O
about	O
a	O
month	O
prior	O
to	O
the	O
2010	O
Electronic	O
Entertainment	O
Expo	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
called	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
a	O
"	O
disruptive	O
title	O
"	O
for	O
the	O
music	B-Application
game	I-Application
industry	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Another	O
aspect	O
that	O
Harmonix	O
considered	O
was	O
"	O
a	O
ground-up	O
rebuild	O
of	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
platform	O
"	O
and	O
how	O
players	O
could	O
interact	O
better	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
music	O
library	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
Sussman	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
keyboard	O
functionality	O
was	O
"	O
designed	O
basically	O
to	O
answer	O
that	O
staleness	O
factor	O
"	O
that	O
has	O
been	O
seen	O
in	O
music	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
as	O
said	O
by	O
Sussman	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
gameplay	O
for	O
Basic	O
keys	O
was	O
designed	O
so	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
party-accessible	O
,	O
simple	O
,	O
and	O
easy	O
for	O
existing	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
players	O
to	O
learn	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sussman	O
commented	O
that	O
the	O
combination	O
of	O
existing	O
and	O
new	O
gameplay	O
modes	O
provides	O
"	O
an	O
experience	O
that	O
is	O
both	O
accessible	O
to	O
players	O
who	O
are	O
just	O
getting	O
into	O
this	O
thing	O
,	O
and	O
builds	O
something	O
for	O
the	O
hard-core	O
player	O
who	O
is	O
maybe	O
a	O
little	O
bored	O
with	O
where	O
music	B-Application
games	I-Application
are	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
distributed	O
by	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
after	O
the	O
two	O
companies	O
reached	O
a	O
continued	O
agreement	O
for	O
distribution	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
initially	O
set	O
to	O
expire	O
in	O
March	O
2010	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
final	O
EA-distributed	O
title	O
to	O
have	O
been	O
Green	B-Application
Day	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
evidence	O
that	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
would	O
include	O
keyboards	O
came	O
from	O
a	O
teaser	O
image	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
Green	B-Application
Day	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
demo	O
,	O
released	O
in	O
late	O
May	O
2010	O
;	O
the	O
image	O
showed	O
5	O
icons	O
,	O
4	O
representing	O
the	O
existing	O
instruments	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
the	O
fifth	O
showing	O
a	O
keyboard	O
layout	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
2010	O
E3	O
Game	O
Critics	O
Awards	O
awarded	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
for	O
the	O
"	O
Best	O
Social/Casual	O
Game	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
included	O
both	O
the	O
new	O
keyboard	O
and	O
the	O
Pro	O
guitar	O
peripherals	O
as	O
"	O
Best	O
Hardware	O
"	O
nominees	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
also	O
awarded	O
the	O
title	O
of	O
"	O
Best	O
Music	B-Application
Game	I-Application
"	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
being	O
nominated	O
for	O
"	O
Most	O
Innovative	O
"	O
by	O
GameTrailers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
preordering	O
the	O
game	O
through	O
Amazon.com	B-Application
or	O
Best	O
Buy	O
received	O
immediate	O
access	O
to	O
a	O
unique	O
in-game	O
guitar	O
for	O
their	O
avatars	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
continued	O
to	O
support	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
not	O
only	O
through	O
additional	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
,	O
but	O
by	O
continually	O
updating	O
the	O
core	O
software	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
owners	O
,	O
addressing	O
critical	O
issues	O
and	O
incorporating	O
new	O
features	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
included	O
adding	O
support	O
for	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Network	O
Audition	O
mode	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Network	O
2.0	O
(	O
supporting	O
the	O
unique	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
feature	O
set	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
,	O
due	O
to	O
high	O
demand	O
from	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
fans	O
,	O
unofficial	O
support	O
for	O
the	O
light-and-fog	O
stage	O
kit	O
device	O
previously	O
developed	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Official	O
support	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
ended	O
with	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
six	O
downloadable	O
songs	O
in	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
I	O
Still	O
Believe	O
"	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
free	O
while	O
all	O
other	O
songs	O
were	O
priced	O
with	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
's	O
standard	O
pricing	O
scheme	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
full	O
soundtrack	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
features	O
83	O
songs	O
,	O
including	O
a	O
mix	O
of	O
tracks	O
that	O
made	O
use	O
of	O
the	O
new	O
keyboard	O
peripheral	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Nintendo	B-Device
DS	I-Device
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
features	O
a	O
26-song	O
subset	O
of	O
the	O
consoles	O
 '	O
setlist	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
released	O
new	O
downloadable	O
songs	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
each	O
week	O
,	O
starting	O
launch	O
week	O
with	O
a	O
set	O
of	O
twelve	O
songs	O
from	O
The	O
Doors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Downloadable	O
songs	O
since	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
include	O
,	O
when	O
appropriate	O
,	O
keyboard	O
and	O
vocal	O
harmony	B-Library
support	O
within	O
the	O
base	O
cost	O
of	O
the	O
song	O
(	O
normally	O
about	O
US$2	O
per	O
song	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Downloadable	O
songs	O
released	O
by	O
Harmonix	O
after	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3s	I-Application
release	O
are	O
not	O
compatible	O
with	O
previous	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
due	O
to	O
changes	O
in	O
the	O
song	O
format	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
majority	O
of	O
songs	O
from	O
previous	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
games	O
,	O
including	O
both	O
on-disc	O
songs	O
and	O
songs	O
offered	O
as	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
,	O
are	O
playable	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
which	O
led	O
to	O
more	O
than	O
2,000	O
songs	O
already	O
being	O
available	O
when	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Network	O
can	O
also	O
be	O
played	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
,	O
unlike	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
they	O
can	O
be	O
played	O
in	O
all	O
game	O
modes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
new	O
version	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Network	O
,	O
called	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Network	O
2.0	O
,	O
allowed	O
songs	O
to	O
be	O
authored	O
with	O
harmonies	B-Library
,	O
Basic	O
and	O
Pro	O
keys	O
,	O
and	O
Pro	O
drums	O
,	O
but	O
did	O
not	O
support	O
Pro	O
Mode	O
real	O
guitar	O
and	O
bass	O
charting	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
complexity	O
of	O
authoring	O
those	O
parts	O
and	O
a	O
lack	O
of	O
qualified	O
users	O
able	O
to	O
test	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
received	O
universal	O
acclaim	O
from	O
gaming	O
journalists	O
who	O
considered	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
major	O
jump	O
from	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
a	O
pinnacle	O
of	O
the	O
rhythm	O
game	O
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ben	O
Kuchera	O
of	O
Ars	O
Technica	O
commented	O
that	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
"	O
This	O
is	O
the	O
new	O
state	O
of	O
the	O
art	O
for	O
rhythm	O
games	O
,	O
and	O
it	O
's	O
hard	O
to	O
find	O
fault	O
with	O
what	O
's	O
being	O
offered.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Joystiq	O
's	O
Griffin	O
McElroy	O
asserted	O
that	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
"	O
is	O
the	O
greatest	O
rhythm	O
game	O
ever	O
made	O
,	O
and	O
quite	O
possibly	O
the	O
only	O
rhythm	O
game	O
you	O
need	O
to	O
own	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Chad	O
Sapieha	O
of	O
The	O
Globe	O
and	O
Mail	O
said	O
that	O
with	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
"	O
we	O
are	O
just	O
a	O
hair	O
's	O
breadth	O
away	O
from	O
moving	O
beyond	O
make	O
believe	O
"	O
while	O
the	O
[ [ 	O
New	O
York	O
Times|New	O
York	O
Times'''s ] ]	O
Seth	O
Schiesel	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
Harmonix	O
has	O
brilliantly	O
torn	O
down	O
the	O
wall	O
between	O
music	B-Application
games	I-Application
and	O
real	O
music	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
's	O
Hilary	O
Goldstein	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
keyboard	O
addition	O
allows	O
Harmonix	O
to	O
expand	O
the	O
types	O
of	O
songs	O
that	O
one	O
would	O
previously	O
have	O
never	O
expected	O
to	O
appear	O
in	O
a	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
game	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Warren	O
Zevon	O
's	O
"	O
Werewolves	B-Application
of	I-Application
London	I-Application
"	O
or	O
any	O
Elton	O
John	O
song	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
new	O
Pro	O
mode	O
was	O
critically	O
acclaimed	O
as	O
the	O
primary	O
feature	O
that	O
distinguished	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
from	O
other	O
music	B-Application
games	I-Application
in	O
the	O
field	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nina	O
Shen	O
Rastogi	O
of	O
Slate	O
commented	O
that	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3s	I-Application
training	O
modes	O
helps	O
to	O
overcome	O
the	O
discouraging	O
early	O
period	O
of	O
trying	O
to	O
learn	O
guitar	O
as	O
"	O
the	O
gaming	O
elements	O
will	O
mask	O
the	O
rote	O
,	O
homeworklike	O
nature	O
of	O
the	O
guitar	O
training	O
process	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Chris	O
Kohler	O
of	O
Wired	O
described	O
the	O
experience	O
he	O
and	O
a	O
friend	O
had	O
where	O
after	O
playing	O
through	O
Devo	O
's	O
"	O
Whip	O
It	O
"	O
on	O
Pro	O
guitar	O
and	O
keyboard	O
,	O
they	O
were	O
able	O
to	O
retain	O
enough	O
muscle	O
memory	O
to	O
play	O
their	O
respective	O
parts	O
on	O
real	O
instruments	O
,	O
albeit	O
not	O
perfectly	O
;	O
Kohler	O
summarized	O
his	O
experience	O
that	O
"	O
Just	O
playing	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
taught	O
us	O
a	O
little	O
bit	O
of	O
actual	O
music	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Metro	O
noted	O
that	O
if	O
one	O
does	O
not	O
purchase	O
any	O
of	O
the	O
additional	O
hardware	O
controllers	O
,	O
"	O
it	O
's	O
not	O
much	O
different	O
to	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kuchera	O
considered	O
the	O
set	O
list	O
to	O
be	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
in	O
any	O
music	B-Application
game	I-Application
,	O
"	O
spanning	O
decades	O
and	O
genres	O
and	O
bringing	O
a	O
wide	O
variety	O
of	O
songs	O
to	O
suit	O
any	O
taste	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Initial	O
sales	O
figures	O
from	O
the	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
showed	O
that	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
two	O
days	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
available	O
,	O
only	O
about	O
7,400	O
units	O
were	O
sold	O
across	O
all	O
platforms	O
,	O
placing	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
as	O
the	O
26th-best-selling	O
title	O
during	O
the	O
week	O
ending	O
October	O
30	O
,	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
an	O
interview	O
with	O
Edge	O
after	O
the	O
holiday	O
season	O
in	O
February	O
2011	O
,	O
Alex	O
Rigopulos	O
stated	O
that	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
had	O
n't	O
"	O
yet	O
sold	O
to	O
the	O
level	O
we	O
hoped	O
it	O
would	O
out	O
of	O
the	O
gate	O
"	O
,	O
but	O
believed	O
that	O
there	O
would	O
still	O
be	O
significant	O
potential	O
in	O
the	O
title	O
,	O
in	O
considering	O
the	O
then-recent	O
discontinuation	O
of	O
the	O
Guitar	O
Hero	O
series	O
and	O
then-pending	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
Fender	O
Squier	O
PRO	O
guitar	O
unit	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
exact	O
numbers	O
had	O
not	O
been	O
revealed	O
by	O
Harmonix	O
,	O
Rigopulos	O
did	O
state	O
that	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
had	O
trailed	O
Harmonix	O
's	O
other	O
game	O
,	O
Dance	B-Application
Central	I-Application
,	O
also	O
originally	O
released	O
in	O
2010	O
,	O
which	O
had	O
reportedly	O
sold	O
1.2	O
million	O
units	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
by	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
2010	O
holiday	O
season	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
the	O
eve	O
of	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
in	O
October	O
2015	O
,	O
1.2	O
million	O
units	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
had	O
been	O
sold	O
,	O
with	O
400,000	O
of	O
those	O
units	O
sold	O
after	O
Mad	O
Catz	O
had	O
taken	O
over	O
publication	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2012	O
,	O
after	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
holiday	O
season	O
following	O
the	O
2011	O
re-release	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
released	O
a	O
statement	O
saying	O
they	O
were	O
pleased	O
with	O
the	O
continued	O
performance	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
and	O
its	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Regular	O
DLC	B-Protocol
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
discontinued	O
in	O
April	O
2013	O
,	O
though	O
special	O
packs	O
were	O
released	O
just	O
prior	O
to	O
Harmonix	O
 '	O
announcement	O
of	O
Rock	O
Band	O
4''	O
in	O
early	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
