Rock Band 2

Showing posts with label Rock Band 2. Show all posts

Monday, January 05, 2009

Roy Orbison tracks added to Rock Band music store

One of the most influential pioneers of rock and roll, Roy Orbison, has been added to the Rock Band Music Store catalog of downloadable content. Grammy Award-winning Roy Orbison was a singer, songwriter and performer whose distinctive sound scored him an astounding nine Top 10 hits in four years in the early 1960s. Orbison’s historic career began in the 1950s and saw a huge resurgence in the late 1980s, when he became a prominent influence on artists like Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Bono, k. d. lang and Traveling Wilburys.

The “Roy Orbison Pack 01” will include “Oh, Pretty Woman,” “Ooby Dooby,” “In Dreams,” Claudette,” “Mean Woman Blues” and “You Got It.” All six songs will be available for download as individual tracks as well. These six songs featured are hits from Orbison’s incredible legacy of albums including the recently released definitive box set Roy Orbison: The Soul of Rock And Roll (2008) which contains 107 recordings spanning Orbison’s entire career.

“When I was a kid, my world evolved around a black vinyl record," said Barbara Orbison. "How times have changed! Rock Band and Harmonix have given us a new way to experience music and now everyone can belong to a band. How much more fun could you have, than to play the opening riff of Oh Pretty Woman and try to sing like Roy Orbison?"

These tracks will be available starting January 6, 2009, for the Xbox_360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and January 15, 2009 for PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. Each individual track will be available for $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) and $9.99 (800 Microsoft Points) for the 6-pack.

Release Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2009 (Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360)

Thursday, January 15, 2009 (PlayStation Store)

Tracks:

1. “Claudette”
2. “In Dreams”
3. “Mean Woman Blues”
4. “Oh, Pretty Woman”
5. “Ooby Dooby”
6. “You Got It”
(All tracks are original master recordings)

Price: $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track
$9.99 (800 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for the 6-pack

Locations: Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360 and PlayStation Network

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Rock Band add new songs by Snow Patrol, Deep Purple, James Gang and Jethro Tull for the new year.

The addition of four new tracks to the Rock Band Music Store catalog of download content from bands Snow Patrol, Deep Purple, James Gang and Jethro Tull.

Scottish alternative band Snow Patrol makes its debut in the Rock Band music catalog offering their first single “Take Back the City” from their new album A Hundred Million Suns (2008).

In addition, the Rock Band music catalog will expand its collection of Deep Purple tracks, giving players access to the classic rock band’s single Space Truckin from the influential album Machine Head (1972). Deep Purple’s “Highway Star” was featured on the original Rock Band soundtrack.

Next week’s offering also includes the classic rock single “Funk No. 49” from the album James Gang Rides Again (1970) featuring Joe Walsh, Dale Peters and Jimmy Fox.

The Jethro Tull single“Hymn 43” will become the second Tull track in the Rock Band music catalog, joining “Aqualung” which was featured on the Rock Band 2 soundtrack. Both songs are from the band’s fourth studio album Aqualung (1971).

These tracks will be available starting December 30, 2008, for the Xbox_360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and January 8, 2008, for PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. Each individual track will be available for $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points).

Release Date: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 (Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360)
Thursday, January 8, 2008 (PlayStation Store)

Tracks:

Snow Patrol “Take Back the City”
Deep Purple “Space Truckin’”
James Gang “Funk No. 49”
Jethro Tull “Hymn 43”
(All tracks are original master recordings)

Price: $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track

Locations: Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360, PlayStation Network

Monday, December 08, 2008

Rock band goes country with Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Dixie Chicks to download

Rock Band is set to give fans a taste of country music for the first time with the addition of the “Going Country” 5-pack to the Rock Band Music Store catalog of downloadable content. The impressive lineup of renowned country artists includes Grammy Award winner Brad Paisley with “Mud on the Tires,” the honky- tonk country classic duo Brooks & Dunn with “Hillbilly Deluxe,” and all-American trio Dixie Chicks with “Sin Wagon.”

Rock Band country lovers can also look forward to Dierks Bentley’s No1 single “Free & Easy (Down the Road I Go)” and Miranda Lambert’s standout single “Gunpowder & Lead.”

Each track will be available starting December 16, 2008, for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and December 18, 2008, for PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. Each individual track will be available for $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) and $8.49 (680 Microsoft Points) for the 5-pack.

Release Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 (Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360)
Thursday, December 18, 2008 (PlayStation Store)

Tracks:

Brad Paisley “Mud on the Tires”
Brooks & Dunn “Hillbilly Deluxe”
Dierks Bentley “Free & Easy (Down the Road I Go)”
Dixie Chicks “Sin Wagon”
Miranda Lambert “Gunpowder & Lead”

Price: $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track
$8.49 (680 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for the 5-pack

(All tracks are original master recordings)

Rock Band pass 500 Songs as it adds No Doubt's - 'The Singles 1992-2003' Pack to the Rock Band Music Catalog

MTV Games and Harmonix Give Rock Band Fans Access to 13 of the Most Popular No Doubt Tracks Including "Just a Girl," "Bathwater," "Spiderwebs" and More!

the rock-pop pioneers of No Doubt will bring 13 tracks to the Rock Band music catalog of downloadable content expanding the Rock Band library to include more than 500 songs!

No Doubt’s: ‘The Singles 1992-2003’ pack will include 13 master tracks from the band’s 2003 album The Singles 1992-2003, which featured a compilation of hits from No Doubt’s previous albums Tragic Kingdom, Return of Saturn, and Rock Steady. The album sold more than 2.2 million copies in the United States alone. The No Doubt tracks included in the pack are listed below. Pricing will be $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) per track or $19.99 (1600 Microsoft Points) for the pack. The tracks will be available for download starting December 9, 2008, for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and December 11, 2008, for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system.

1. "Just a Girl"
2. "It’s My Life"
3. "Hey Baby"
4. "Bathwater”
5. "Sunday Morning"
6. "Hella Good"
7. "Underneath It All"
8. "Excuse Me Mr.”
9. "Running"
10. "Spiderwebs”
11. "Simple Kind of Life”
12. “Don’t Speak”
13. “Ex-Girlfriend”

“Thanks to all at Harmonix and MTV Games, who, along with our artist, management, label and publishing partners, put an incredible amount of work into achieving this milestone,” stated Paul DeGooyer, Senior Vice President of Electronic Games and Music for MTV. “Now there can be ‘No Doubt’ that the Rock Band music platform offers the deepest and most diverse collection of songs available to gamers and music fans alike.”

Rock Band continues to satisfy music fans’ and gamers' voracious appetite for rock with more than 28 million paid downloads since its launch on November 20, 2007. The Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks and packs from the vast selection of offerings available to date without ever leaving the game as they build their own custom Rock Band library. See the attached document for a list of the more than 500 songs included in the Rock Band music catalog. To view a complete list of tracks go to www.rockband.com/music

Rock Band and Rock Band 2 allow online play and features that expand the boundaries of music gaming. Rock Band downloadable content is playable and integrated into setlists in all game modes. In order to play downloadable content for head-to-head matches or multiplayer online, all players must own the same downloadable track. Downloadable content for Xbox 360 is available for purchase via Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360 using Microsoft Points and is downloaded directly to the hard drive of Xbox 360. Downloadable content for the PLAYSTATION 3 system's version of Rock Band is available for purchase on the PlayStation Store through the free PlayStation Network and is downloaded directly to PLAYSTATION 3 system's built in hard drive.

Rock Band 2 for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 system is now available nationwide and supports all previously downloaded content. The groundbreaking music platform that forever changed the face of music video games is committed to taking gaming to the next level with the evolution of the franchise. Rock Band 2 will be available for additional platforms later this year.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Mad Catz Ships Premium Rock Band Accessories

Mad Catz, a leading third-party interactive entertainment accessory provider, today announced that it has begun shipping its range of premium licensed accessories designed for use with Rock Band and Rock Band 2 videogames for the Xbox 360 console across selected European territories.

Published by MTV Games and developed by Harmonix Music Systems, Rock Band 2 has quickly emerged as the preferred platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music, challenging users to master the lead and bass guitar, drums and vocals as solo artists or cooperatively as part of their own band.

Timed to coincide with the launch of Rock Band 2 which begins shipping across Europe for the Xbox 360 videogame system on November 14th 2008, each product in the officially licensed range has been designed and engineered with Mad Catz’ renowned attention to detail, and promises to elevate the Rock Band and Rock Band 2 experience to ever greater heights.

Products expected to ship across key European territories are as follows:

• The first and only official bass guitar available for Rock Band and Rock Band 2, the Fender Precision Bass Guitar delivers a staggeringly authentic bass experience. Incorporating all the features of the standard guitar, including Solo Keys, Whammy, and Overdrive Mode, the Fender Precision Bass is at home when used to play lead guitar as it is when playing bass guitar portions of a selected track. The unique Mad Catz Split Strum Bar allows gamers to strum and pluck notes faster and with more precision, vital for fast tempo tracks. To respect the accuracy of the bass, Mad Catz has engineered whammy compatibility by discreetly incorporating it into the volume knob of the bass, providing gamers with essential functionality when playing either lead or bass guitar portions of the track while preserving the timeless authenticity of the original design.
• Designed exclusively for the Rock Band 2 Wireless Drum Kit, the Cymbal Expansion Pack from Mad Catz provides gamers with a stunningly authentic percussion experience, adding up to three realistic cymbals to their existing Drum Kit. Sold either in a Single, Twin or Triple configuration, the Cymbal Expansion Pack allows gamers to grow their game play at the same level as their skills. Attaching quickly and simply, each Cymbal Expansion Pack contains all necessary brackets and leads needed to add a choice of crash, ride or hi-hat Cymbals to their Drum Kit. Velocity sensitive, each Cymbal reacts realistically in game, outputting a louder noise the harder you hit.
• Freeing percussionists from the confines of the living room, the Portable Drum Kit is small on size but big on quality. The compact form factor combined with highly durable build quality provides a discrete and highly flexible solution allowing bands to tour without the need of a roadie! Each color-coded Drum Pad comes equipped with a tactile backing, reducing slippage when used on a variety of surfaces and the Foam-Tipped Drum Sticks (included in the kit) dampen external noise when in use. The Portable Drum Kit comes complete with a durable Foot Pedal and Control Unit providing access to the full complement of controls needed to navigate in-game menus.
• The Rock Band Premium M.I.C. (Microphone with Integrated Controller) offers budding vocalists a device of superior quality and functionality. The Premium Microphone features a full complement of Action Buttons with the D-Pad and Xbox LIVE button allowing for quick and easy navigation of in-game menus without the need for a separate controller. A convenient Locking Switch prevents accidental access to Action Buttons, and the premium Soft-Touch Finish and high-profile Wind Shield combine to deliver a microphone ideal for sustained jamming sessions.

Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz commented, “The Rock Band franchise has proven to be an international phenomenon that is set to continue to grow with the imminent debut of Rock Band 2 into the European market. We have worked tirelessly to continue to introduce accessories that make both Rock Band and Rock Band 2 even more entertaining while upholding the interactivity and authenticity that Rock Band players have come to expect. We’re confident that gamers and music fans alike will be delighted with our range of officially licensed accessories and look forward to expanding the range throughout 2009 and beyond.”

The Mad Catz Xbox 360 licensed Rock Band accessories are expected to be available across key European territories beginning mid November 2008.

Further products in this range and products for additional videogame platforms are expected to be launched early 2009.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Rock Band special edition for PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii

MTV Games and Harmonix give fans an early holiday present with new pricing for the No 1 Best-Selling Title of 2008 Making it Even Easier to Start a Band and Rock the World This Holiday Season.

Just in time for the holidays, Harmonix, the world’s leading developer of music-based games, MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks, and distribution partner Electronic Arts today announced that the original Rock Band Special Edition Bundle is available for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and Nintendo Wii starting at $99.99. The Rock Band Special Edition Bundle is also available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and starting at $139.99.

A must have-gift for any music or game fan, Rock Band is an all-new way for people to connect with the music they love in a social, interactive environment. The Rock Band Special Edition Bundle gives families and friends everything they need to start their own band - a microphone, Fender Stratocaster-modeled guitar controller and drum controller. Rock Band features an awe-inspiring line up of the most-loved rock music of all time - from classic rock and alternative to southern rock and metal including artists such as Rolling Stones, Metallica, The Police, The Clash, Foo Fighters, Radiohead and More.

Rock Band is the No 1 title of 2008 year to date [2] by revenue according to NPD. Rock Band has garnered over 40 awards including the Game Critics Award: Best of Show E3 2007 and three awards at The 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards including Outstanding Innovation in Gaming, Family Game of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack.

Rock Band is rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, mild suggestive themes) by the ESRB.

Rock Band 2, is also now available on the Xbox 360 the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, and will be available soon on the PLAYSTATION 2 computer entertainment system and the Wii. Rock Band Special Edition Bundle instruments are fully compatible with Rock Band 2. In addition, 55 of the 58 songs from the original Rock Band game disc are exportable into consumers Rock Band 2 song library.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Rock Band 2 video game for Xbox 360 coming to Europe

Rock Band 2 will begin shipping in Europe for the Xbox 360 video game entertainment system from Microsoft beginning this November 14th. With an exclusive launch window in Europe, the award-winning Rock Band 2 software will make its debut on Xbox 360 in the UK on November 21st. Pricing for Rock Band software for Xbox 360 in continental Europe is €69.99 and £49.99 for UK. In addition, Rock Band 2 standalone hardware will be available at retail beginning in December.

Rock Band 2 revolutionizes music gaming with the ability to export most of the songs from the original Rock Band disc , Online World Tour, daily Battle-Of-The Band Tournaments, Auto-Calibration to eliminate TV lag, wireless drums, quieter, velocity sensitive drum heads, support for up to three drum cymbals (sold separately), No Fail Mode, and a real Drum Trainer. Rock Band 2’s massive list of innovations also includes the ability to export your in-game band avatar to the internet and order custom Rock Band merchandise including apparel and figures.

Rock Band 2 features the largest music catalogue of any music-based videogame to date including over 100 songs on the Rock Band 2 soundtrack with an unrivaled blend of classic and new artists including AC/DC, Guns ‘N Roses, Bob Dylan, Pearl Jam, Motorhead and more! With the addition of complete and immediate backwards compatibility for songs purchased from Rock Band’s ever-expanding online music store and the ability to export most songs from the original Rock Band disc, the Rock Band music library will feature more than 500 songs by year’s end.

The Rock Band online music store has surpassed 25 million paid downloads since the game’s launch in late November 2007. With more than 400 tracks available to date via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at www.rockband.com/music), the massive Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks, packs and albums from the vast selection of offerings available as they build their own custom Rock Band library.

Rock Band 2 is rated 12+ by PEGI.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Rock Band 2 video game twenty free tracks to download

Emerging Artist Lineup Includes All Genres of Rock Including Underoath, Hollywood Undead, Opiate for the Masses, Lesley Roy, Between the Buried and Me and more!

Harmonix, the world’s premier music video game development company, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks announced details today regarding 20 free DLC tracks that will be made available to Rock Band 2 [1] owners starting November 4, 2008. The lineup ranges across all genres of rock from up-and-coming artists that the industry has recognized as new to thriving rock bands with a quickly growing fan base.

“The Rock Band platform is an unparalleled destination for music discovery – offering a broad cross section of rock, from iconic rock artists to emerging bands,” stated Paul DeGooyer, MTV’s Senior Vice President of Electronic Games & Music. “With the addition of the 20 new songs we’re announcing today, owners of Rock Band 2 will have the ability to experience music from over 100 artists - ranging from the acts they already know and love to up-and-coming bands we think they will like.”

Featuring artists across the globe from the US, United Kingdom and Australia to Norway, Japan and Ireland, the 20 free DLC tracks are available exclusively to Rock Band 2 owners and can be accessed by using the DLC redemption code [2] located within the game’s retail packaging.

20 Free Rock Band 2 DLC Set List:

Artist Song

The 88 “Sons and Daughters”
Authority Zero “No Regrets”
Between the Buried and Me “Prequel To The Sequel”
The Cab “Bounce”
The Chevelles “Get It On”
The Cocktail Slippers “Give It To Me”
Dealership “Database Corrupted”
Endeverafter “I Wanna Be Your Man”
The Ghost Hounds “Ashes To Fire”
Hollywood Undead “Young”
Kutless “The Feeling”
The Len Price 3 “If I Ain’t Got You”
Lesley Roy “I’m Gone, I’m Going”
Opiate for the Masses “Burn You Down”
Semi-Precious Weapons “Magnetic Baby”
Shaimus “Like a Fool”
Thenewno2 “Crazy Tuesday”
Tickle Me Pink “The Time Is Wrong”
Underoath “Desperate Times, Desperate Measures”
X Japan “I.V.”

Rock Band 2 features the largest music catalogue of any music-based videogame to date. The 20 free tracks listed above combined with the 84 tracks already available on the game disc make for a total of 104 songs on the Rock Band 2 soundtrack, which features an unrivaled blend of classic and new artists including AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Bob Dylan, Pearl Jam, Motörhead and more! With the addition of complete and immediate backwards compatibility for songs purchased from Rock Band’s ever-expanding online music store and the ability to export most songs from the original Rock Band disc, the Rock Band music library will feature more than 500 songs [3] by year’s end.

The Rock Band online music store recently surpassed 25 million paid downloads since the game’s launch in late November 2007. With more than 400 tracks available to date via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at http://www.rockband.com/dlc), the massive Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks, packs and albums from the vast selection of offerings available as they build their own custom Rock Band library.

Downloadable content for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft is available for purchase via Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360 using Microsoft Points and is downloaded directly to the hard drive of Xbox 360. Downloadable content for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system's version of Rock Band is available for purchase on the PlayStation Store through the free PlayStation Network and is downloaded directly to PLAYSTATION 3 system's built in hard drive. Downloadable content for the Nintendo Wii home videogame console from Nintendo is available for purchase through the in-game Rock Band music store using Nintendo Wii points that can be purchased through the Wii Shop Channel. Additional storage in the form of an SD card may be necessary for Rock Band track downloads to the Wii system.

All Rock Band posts on gamezplay.org here...

Monday, October 20, 2008

Nirvana tracks added to Rock Band download music store

Harmonix and MTV Games announced today the addition of seven new tracks to the Rock Band Music Store catalog of downloadable content. This week’s mammoth lineup features seven master recordings from legendary, alternative grunge band, Nirvana, including, “Breed,” “Lounge Act,” “On a Plain,” “Polly,” “Something in the Way,” “Stay Away,” and “Territorial Pissings.” These tracks join “In Bloom” from the original Rock Band soundtrack and “Drain You” featured on the Rock Band 2 soundtrack to make for a total of nine Nirvana songs available in the Rock Band music catalog.

Each Track will be available starting October 21, 2008, for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and October 23, 2008, for PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. The cost is $1.99 per track (160 Microsoft Points) or $10.99 (880 Microsoft Points) for the Nirvana 7-pack.

Release date: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 (Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360)
Thursday, October 23, 2008 (PlayStationStore)

Tracks: Nirvana Breed

Nirvana Lounge Act
Nirvana On a Plain
Nirvana Polly
Nirvana Something in the Way
Nirvana Stay Away
Nirvana Territorial Pissings

Price: $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track
$10.99 (880 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for the Nirvana 7-pack

(All tracks are original master recordings)

All Rock Band posts on gamezplay.org here...

Friday, October 17, 2008

Rock Band 2 video game Nintendo Wii questions answered

“Rock Band 2″ owners get to export their “Rock Band” songs for a small fee. As a Wii owner, can I do that, too?

Nope. That feature was added post-release as a patch on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Nintendo doesn’t allow patches, which means that functionality can’t be added to “Rock Band.” Maybe next time, but don’t count on it.

Grr, okay. Fine. How is Harmonix handling downloadable content on Wii?

It will follow the same weekly release pattern as seen on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. After the Wii version launches, the releases will be the same on all three platforms. The only difference is Wii owners can’t buy song bundles.

Wait, no song bundles?! Why not? Does that mean we’re not getting full albums, too?

Slow down, buddy. The reason Harmonix isn’t producing song packs for “Rock Band 2″ on Wii is because of how Nintendo handles content on their store. Nintendo doesn’t allow multiple versions of the same content, so everything will be sold as singles — including full albums. Essentially, Wii owners will miss out on bundled song savings. This could change if Nintendo’s policy does.

Okay, phew. That makes me feel better. But how am I going to buy the songs?

You’ll purchase them through the in-game store featured in the other versions of “Rock Band 2.” The only difference is that Nintendo won’t allow Harmonix to funnel Wii Points transactions through “Rock Band 2.” You need to purchase Wii Points outside of “Rock Band 2″ first. The in-game store will recognize those.

That sounds reasonable. Here’s a trickier question: “Rock Band” on Wii didn’t have downloadable songs. Will Harmonix have that back catalog at launch?

No. However, Harmonix wants entire “Rock Band” downloadable content back catalog online for Wii users. At launch, Harmonix will release 30 “fan favorite” downloadable songs. Harmonix wasn’t able to point out specific songs just yet. From there on out, Harmonix will be releasing the regularly scheduled weekly music, as well as slowly filling up the Wii’s missing songs.

Let’s say I decide to start stocking up on all these downloadable songs. My Wii is going to fill up pretty fast. What do I do when the internal memory is full?

Good question. “Rock Band 2″ on Wii supports streaming from an SD card. When a Wii’s internal memory fills up, “Rock Band 2″ looks for a SD card to download songs to. All of the songs can stream off the card, so there’s no fretting over what is or isn’t actually filling your Wii’s limited memory space.

Harmonix really seems to have it together with this version. Did they find a way to get around Nintendo’s confusing Friend Codes system for multiplayer?

Sadly not. Friend Codes are a Nintendo requirement. You can’t get around that.

Source: MTV

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Rock Band 2 video game price on PS3 PS2 and Nintendo Wii

Rock Band 2 for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system will be available on October 19, 2008. In addition, Rock Band 2 for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and the Nintendo Wii home videogame console from Nintendo will ship in December 2008.

In addition, the Rock Band 2 Special Edition Bundle for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft will also be available on retail shelves October 19, 2008.

Rock Band 2 Shipping and Pricing Information:

October 19, 2008

Rock Band 2 Special Edition Bundle (Xbox 360 and PS3) $189.99
Rock Band 2 Standalone Software (S3 system) $59.99
Rock Band 2 Standalone Drums (PS3 and PlayStation 2) $89.99
Rock Band 2 Standalone Guitar (PS3 and PlayStation 2) $69.99

December 2008

Rock Band 2 Standalone Software (PlayStation 2) $49.99
Rock Band 2 Standalone Software (Nintendo Wii) $49.99
Rock Band 2 Standalone Drums (Nintendo Wii) $89.99
Rock Band 2 Standalone Guitar (Nintendo Wii) $69.99
Rock Band 2 Special Edition Bundle (Nintendo Wii) $189.99

Rock Band 2 for Wii, developed by Pi Studios under the direction of Harmonix, will be fully featured with online modes including World Tour and Battle of the Bands, an innovative character creator, weekly downloadable content and more! With more than 100 songs [1] on the Rock Band 2 Wii soundtrack and an additional 30 downloadable tracks [2] available for purchase at launch, Rock Band 2 Wii owners will have access to the most impressive music catalogue for a music-based videogame on the console. In addition, fans can expect a roll-out of the current downloadable content offering every week until the entire back catalogue is available.

In addition, Rock Band 2 owners (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Wii) will have the ability to export their in-game band avatars to RockBand.com to use as profile images as well as order custom Rock Band merchandise including apparel and figurines.

Rock Band 2 for Xbox 360 was released on September 14, 2008, and has received numerous editor’s choice awards and a combined metacritic score of 93. Rock Band 2 has revolutionized music gaming with the ability to export most of the songs from the original Rock Band disc [3], Online World Tour, daily Battle-Of-The-Bands Tournaments, Auto-Calibration to eliminate TV lag, wireless drums, quieter, velocity sensitive drum heads, support for up to three cymbals (sold separately), No Fail Mode, and a real Drum Trainer.

Rock Band 2 features the largest music catalogue of any music-based videogame to date including over 100 songs [4] on the Rock Band 2 soundtrack with an unrivaled blend of classic and new artists including AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Bob Dylan, Pearl Jam, Motörhead and more! With the addition of complete and immediate backwards compatibility for songs purchased from Rock Band’s ever-expanding online music store and the ability to export most songs from the original Rock Band disc, the Rock Band music library will feature more than 500 songs [5] by year’s end.

All Rock Band posts on gamezplay.org here...

The Rock Band online music store recently surpassed 21 million paid downloads since the game’s launch in late November 2007.

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Rock Band create your own Band members, Posters, Clothes and more

Transform Your Rock Lifestyle Fantasy Into Reality With Fully Customizable Merchandise for Rock Band 2 Now Available at RockBand.com

Outfit Your Rock Lifestyle By Creating Apparel, Posters and More Featuring Your Band Photo or Logo with the new Merch Booth Tool!

Design and Order Bandmates — Personalized Figurines that Resemble Your In-Game Characters!

Create Customized Game Quality 3D Images for RockBand.com Personal Profiles

Harmonix, the world’s premier music video game development company, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV, announced today the opening of a new specialty shop at RockBand.com where Rock Band 2 enthusiasts can create and order customized merchandise featuring their in-game Rock Band characters and bands.

“The products we will be offering through the Rock Band store go far beyond standard videogame fare and encourage Rock Band players to live in the real world of rock,” says Ryan Lesser, art director at Harmonix. “Just like with real bands, Rock Band bands need their own schwag too, so we’re giving Rock Band musicians a chance to order personalized t-shirts, posters, bumper stickers and more that are sure to keep any fan happy.”

The new Photo Creator, designed by Harmonix, makes it easy to create images of your Rock Band 2 characters and bands; just simply pose your characters, add back drops and visual effects, shoot the photos and assign the game-quality 3D images to your band pages and personal profile on RockBand.com. In addition, MTV Games and Harmonix have partnered with Zazzle, a company that specializes in on-demand customizable printing for apparel and accessories, to offer players the opportunity to use images captured with the Photo Creator tool and upload them using the Merch Booth tool onto a variety of T-shirts, posters, stickers and more!

MTV Games and Harmonix have also partnered with Z Corporation, a company that specializes in 3D printing and manufacturing, to offer collectible Bandmates—detailed 6” figurines automatically generated from players’ personalized in-game avatars. Using the Bandmate Creator tool, designed by Harmonix, players can customize their character’s pose before ordering the figurine. Pricing for individual Bandmates is $69; a great value at nearly half the price of other made-to-order figurines available on the market.

Pricing details for customized Rock Band 2 merchandise are as follows

Bandmates (Detailed 6” Figurines) - $69
T-Shirts - $29
Posters - $14
Stickers (sheet of 6) - $5
Bumper Sticker - $4
Key Chain - $3
Button - $2

**Shipping and handling not included in prices above

The RockBand.com store will also offer a large selection of band gear and clothing that features original art from Rock Band’s surreal shell design; merchandise that is only worthy of a touring Rock Band musician.

Released on September 14, 2008 for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Rock Band 2 has revolutionized music gaming with the ability to export most of the songs from the original Rock Band disc [1], Online World Tour, daily Battle-Of-The Band Tournaments, Auto-Calibration to eliminate TV lag, wireless drums, quieter, velocity sensitive drum heads, support for up to three cymbals (sold separately), No Fail Mode, and a real Drum Trainer.

Rock Band 2 features the largest music catalogue of any music-based videogame to date including over 100 songs [2] on the Rock Band 2 soundtrack with an unrivaled blend of classic and new artists including AC/DC, Guns ‘N Roses, Bob Dylan, Pearl Jam, Motorhead and more! With the addition of complete and immediate backwards compatibility for songs purchased from Rock Band’s ever-expanding online music store and the ability to export most songs from the original Rock Band disc, the Rock Band music library will feature more than 500 songs [3] by year’s end.

Rock Band 2 is rated “T” for Teen with descriptors of lyrics and suggestive themes by the ESRB.

Rock Band 2 is now available on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft with an exclusive launch window in North America. Rock Band 2 will be available for other platforms later this year.

For more information on Rock Band and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.com.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

AC/DC Live - Rock Band track pack in November

Set List from Legendary Live AC/DC Performances Come to Life in Rock Band for Global Release Beginning November.

AC/DC comes exclusively to Rock Band beginning this November for the worldwide release of AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack by Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks, (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B). This exclusive deal with Columbia Records and AC/DC marks the first time ever the band has included an entire album for video game play, with 18 live tracks from their prolific live performances becoming available in one electrifying, standalone game. The AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack allows players to experience this amazing set list with Rock Band, Rock Band 2 or other compatible music game peripherals. Full of the band’s classic songs, the game will be available this November in the US and throughout Europe, Australia and New Zealand beginning in early December.

“When MTV first launched in 1981, we promised that people would ‘never look at music the same way again’ and, with Rock Band, we continue to fulfill this commitment," stated Paul DeGooyer, MTV’s Senior Vice President of Electronic Games & Music. “We're excited to be part of AC/DC’s and Columbia's global plan for the release of their new album, DVD and now, videogame. Being the first to present these revered songs in interactive form, exclusively on the Rock Band platform is a true honor. For those about to rock with the AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack, we salute you!"

"AC/DC fans can now experience performing live, on stage with the band," said Columbia Records co-Chairman Steve Barnett. "An unforgettable concert is now an ultimate at-home entertainment experience with the AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack."

AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack will feature the master recordings from the best of the band's live performances. The live recording was specially remixed for Rock Band by Mike Fraser. The game features 18 tracks, with more than 99 minutes of game play for each instrument:

"Thunderstruck"
"Shoot to Thrill"
"Back in Black"
"Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be"
"Heatseeker"
"Fire Your Guns"
"Jailbreak"
"The Jack"
"Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap"
"Moneytalks"
"Hells Bells"
"High Voltage"
"Whole Lotta Rosie"
"You Shook Me All Night Long"
"T.N.T."
"Let There Be Rock”
"Highway To Hell”
"For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)”

All tracks from the AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack will also be available for play in Rock Band and Rock Band 2 [1] by entering a special export authentication code for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system versions. As previously announced, AC/DC’s anthem “Let There Be Rock” is featured in Rock Band 2 – the first time the group has been included in a music-based video game. In addition, look for the epic Rock Band 2 TV commercial featuring the studio version of AC/DC’s rock anthem “Let There Be Rock” that premiered during the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards at www.rockband2.com.

The AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack will be available in the U.S. on November 2nd on Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and on November 16th for Wii™. Pricing for AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack on Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 and Wii is MSRP $39.88 and MSRP $29.88 for the PlayStation 2. The AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack will also be available at most major retailers in Europe, Australia and New Zealand in early December on Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, PlayStation 2 and Wii. In the UK, AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack will be MSRP £29.99 for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 and Wii and MSRP £19.99 for the PlayStation 2. In the rest of EU, the AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack will be MSRP €39.99 for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 and Wii and MSRP €29.99 for the PlayStation 2. In Australia, AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack will be MSRP $49.99 for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, Wii and PlayStation 2.

AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack follows the release of AC/DC’s first album of all-new material in eight years. The album, "Black Ice," features 15 new tracks from brothers Angus and Malcolm Young, Brian Johnson, Cliff Williams, and Phil Rudd. "Rock 'n' Roll Train," the album's first single, was released on August 28. “Black Ice” will be available in the US exclusively at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club retail locations and Web sites Oct. 20 for $11.88, as well as on the band's Web site, www.acdc.com.

Released first on Xbox 360 on September 14th, Rock Band 2 features the largest music catalogue of any music-based videogame to date including over 100 songs [2] on the Rock Band 2 soundtrack with an unrivaled blend of classic and new artists including AC/DC, Guns ‘N Roses, Bob Dylan, Pearl Jam, Motorhead and more! The Rock Band online music store recently surpassed 21 million paid downloads since the game’s launch in late November 2007. With more than 300 tracks available to date via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at http://www.rockband.com/dlc), the addition of complete and immediate backwards compatibility for songs purchased from Rock Band’s ever-expanding online music store and the ability to export most songs from the original Rock Band disc, the Rock Band music library will feature more than 500 songs [3] by year’s end.