Disney Interactive Studios has announced that it will be bringing a new music experience to the Wii and Nintendo DS. Ultimate Band is described as “the only all-inclusive music video game experience.”

Currently in development by Fall Line Studio in Salt Lake City, Ultimate Band is scheduled to be released during the 2008 holiday season. It is interesting to note that Ultimate Band was the first project the team began working on when Fall Line Studio was formed by Disney in November 2006.

Join in the jam session

Ultimate Band lets gamers of all ages jam alone or build their own band. The game does not require peripherals and gamers will use only the Wii controllers and the DS stylus to rock on the guitar, bass, drums or as the front man. It will feature an extensive selection of current hits, rock favourites and familiar classic, thanks largely to Disney working with “the very biggest names in rock, alternative, popular, emo and indie rock music” including Radial Music, London-based music consultants.

“Ultimate Band invites kids, tweens and teens to join in the jam session,” said Craig Relyea, senior vice president, global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. “And whether they choose guitar, drums, bass or front man, members don’t need to buy costly, single-function peripherals to play their way through Ultimate Band’s deep song list, dynamic venues, and customizable characters. The Wii Remote and DS stylus are the only tools they’ll need to reach rock stardom in Ultimate Band.”

“Radial worked closely with Disney to compile the perfect song list for Ultimate Band,” said David Hill of Radial Music. “With iconic songs from every decade since the 60s, these games feature music for everyone.”

The Wii and DS version unraveled

The Wii version will sees players starting their music careers in a garage as they endeavour to perform at a world famous venue before an international audience. Players will use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to play the drums, bass guitar, lead guitar or step into the shoes of the front man. The game also enables players to create and customize characters to reflect personal attributes and personalities. New songs, venues and accessories for band members can also be unlocked as players progress through the game.

The DS version is described as a “rhythm-based music game with a built-in recording studio.” Players will be able to jam to songs using the drums, lead guitar, bass guitar or rhythm guitar. You will be able to create original songs using the DS touchscreen and stylus by selecting tracks for each instrument before using creative mixing effects. Thanks to the DGamer functionality players will be able to engage with other jammers via their DS (Wi-Fi or ad hoc) or computer.