Details on the new Rock Band 3 were announced confirming early leaks and some suprises.

Rather then drag on, I’ll give the you the featured rundown.

• New innovative 25 button Keyboard designed to be held like a guitar, used on your lap or table.
• 100% compatibility with all past Rock Band DLC, Rock Band, Rock Band 2, Lego and Green Day content
• new “Pro Mode” that utilizes real instruments with strings, designed to teach players how to read and play real music.
• 3 part vocal harmony
• Steam-line menus designed to minimize  loading and maximize playtime.
• New Campaign designed around telling the narrative over a night rather then weeks.
• Social Networking tools for use with Twitter and Facebook
• A drop in and out Party mode (think Guitar hero 5′s title screen)

New Instruments:

This Midi adapter, avalable on all consoles, allows users with real Midi drums and keyboards to use there actual instruments in the game. The Device uses the midi outputs and coverts the information into something that the game can use and understand. It even is able to adapt to many Midi controllers onboard controls so you can navigate the menus without shuffling for the adapter.

The new Pro Guitar is meant to emulate using a real instrument. It features all the standard features of a regular Rock Band Guitar plus 6 strings and 102 buttons. The Guitar also has a Midi out port so it can be used as a Midi controller for regular music devices

This is the fabled new keyboard controller. It sports a 24 button configuration with strap and handle so it can be held as Keytar or placed on a table or lap and used as a tradition keyboard. Like the Pro Guitar, this also sports a Midi out option. Its already confirmed that  not all songs will feature the keyboard, but Harmonix has also designed a system to let users play converted guitar or bass parts of a song rather than omit use of the instrument. It’s still unclear though whether or not Harmonix will go back and re-chart past dlc songs that could benefit from this controller, It seems like a crime to me to let songs from Boston go keyboardless.

The game features 83 songs, some epic tracks announced so far include:

• Dio – Rainbow in the Dark
• Huey Lewis and the News – The Power of Love
• Ida Maria – Oh My God
• Jane’s Addiction – Been Caught Stealing
• Jimi Hendrix – Crosstown Traffic
• Joan Jett – I Love Rock and Roll
• Juanes – Me Enamora
• Metric – Combat Baby
• Night Ranger – Sister Christian
• Ozzy Osbourne – Crazy Train
• Phoenix – Lasso
• Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
• Rilo Kiley – Portions of Foxes
• Smash Mouth – Walkin’ on the Sun
• Spacehog – In the Meantime
• Stone Temple Pilots – Plush
• The Cure – Just Like Heaven
• The Doors – Break On Through
• The Vines – Get Free
• The White Stripes – The Hardest Button to Button
• Them Crooked Vultures – Dead End Friends
• Whitesnake – Here I Go Again

Activison was not available for comment but we can guess it went down something like this: Video

Rock Band 3 will be released for the Wii, 360, PS3, and DS, pricing and dates haven’t been officially announced, But GameStop currently has the Rock Band 3 with Keyboard bundle set for a October release for $129.99 and the stand alone game for the normal 60 dollars

Look for more Rock Band 3 and other awesome things with our E3 coverage

Source: USA Today