Rock Band game news

Harmonix & MTV Games Announce Release Schedule for First Wave of Downloadable Content for Highly Anticipated Music Video Game Rock Band™; Tracks Starting at $1.99

Tracks from Metallica, The Police, Queens of the Stone Age, David Bowie, Ramones, The Clash and More Available Before the End of 2007

Harmonix, the worldwide leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a division of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today announced a stellar first line-up of weekly downloadable content available before the end of 2007. The highly anticipated music video game hits retail shelves on Tuesday, November 20th for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. Beginning on November 20th, fans will be able to purchase 3-song packs from Metallica, The Police and Queens of the Stone Age for a suggested retail price of $5.49 per pack or $1.99 per track (440 Microsoft Points per pack and 160 per track for Xbox 360). Individual tracks from Foreigner, Wolfmother and The Runaways, among others, for $1.99 per track (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360).
A variety of song packs, albums and individual tracks will be available for download on a weekly basis. And that’s just through the end of 2007. Fans can expect more music every week through 2008 with suggested retail pricing varying from $.99 to $2.99 per track (The equivalent of 80 to 240 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360), with the vast majority selling for $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360).
“We are excited to unleash some of the most beloved rock songs of all time for consumers to customize their Rock Band game experience - for an amazing price,” said Paul DeGooyer, Senior Vice President of MTV Games. “The overwhelmingly positive response from artists, managers, music publishers and record labels has setup a queue of fantastic tracks that will continue to roll out every week.”
“We are giving consumers a way to experience what is essentially a new game every week with more and more of the songs they love,” said Alex Rigopulos, co-founder and CEO of Harmonix.
In addition to the 58 songs available on the game disc, Harmonix and MTV Games are offering a robust calendar of new downloadable content including packs, full albums and individual tracks to satiate the desire for constantly refreshed Rock Band content, including:

Rock Band DLC Release Schedule – November / December 2007

Week of November 20, 2007:
3-Pack for $5.49 or Individual Tracks for $1.99 Each (160 Microsoft Points per track and 440 per pack for Xbox 360)

Metallica Pack “Ride the Lightning” – Metallica “Blackened” - Metallica “And Justice for All” - Metallica

The Police Pack “Can’t Stand Losing You” – The Police “Synchronicity II” – The Police “Roxanne” – The Police

Queens of the Stone Age Pack “3’s and 7’s” – Queens of the Stone Age “Little Sister” – Queens of the Stone Age “Sick Sick Sick” – Queens of the Stone Age

Individual Tracks for $1.99 Each (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360)
“Fortunate Son” as made famous by Creedence Clearwater Revival * “Juke Box Hero” as made famous by Foreigner * “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” as made famous by T-Rex * “My Sharona” as made famous by The Knack * “Cherry Bomb” as made famous by The Runaways * “Joker & The Thief”- Wolfmother

Week of November 27, 2007
3-Pack for $5.49 or Individual Tracks for $1.99 Each (160 Microsoft Points per track and 440 per pack for Xbox 360)

David Bowie Pack “Moonage Daydream” – David Bowie “Heroes” as made famous by David Bowie * “Queen Bitch” as made famous by David Bowie *

Week of December 4, 2007
3-Pack for $5.49 or Individual Tracks for $1.99 Each (160 Microsoft Points per track and 440 per pack for Xbox 360)

Black Sabbath Pack “N.I.B.” as made famous by Black Sabbath * “Sweet Leaf” as made famous by Black Sabbath * “War Pigs” as made famous by Black Sabbath *

Week of December 11, 2007
3-Pack for $5.49 or Individual Tracks for $1.99 Each (160 Microsoft Points per track and 440 per pack for Xbox 360)

Punk Pack: “Rockaway Beach” - Ramones “I Fought the Law” - The Clash “Ever Fallen In Love” as made famous by Buzzcocks *

Week of December 18, 2007
Individual Tracks for $1.99 Each (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360)
“My Iron Lung” - Radiohead “Buddy Holly” - Weezer “Brass in Pocket” as made famous by Pretenders *

* This is a cover version of a song made famous by the artist indicated. All others are original master recordings.

Rock Band allows 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 including: Solo Tour, Band World Tour, head-to-head competition either locally or online, and from any Quickplay mode. 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 the Xbox 360® will be available for purchase via Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft using Microsoft Points and is downloaded directly to Xbox 360's built in hard drive. Downloadable content for the PLAYSTATION 3 system’s version of Rock Band will be 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.

Distributed by Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), Rock Band is an all-new platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music like never before. The game challenges players to put together a band and tour for fame and fortune – all while learning to master lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals. Built on an unprecedented partnership with artists, record labels and music publishers, the music featured in Rock Band will span the full range of rock music and include original master recordings from the greatest songs and artists of all time.

As previously announced, Rock Band is slated for release on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system on December 18, 2007 in North America. Rock Band will ship in Europe for the Xbox 360®video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system in the first quarter of 2008.

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

EA will serve as the exclusive distribution and marketing partner for Rock Band, managing distribution for the game in US, Europe and Australia.

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