Rock Band to perform on PS2, hits Europe in 2008

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Aug 22nd 2007 at 4:35AM }

Harmonix and MTV Games have announced that 2008 will see the release of a PlayStation 2 version of their musical peripheral extravaganza, Rock Band. The non-HD concert will take place alongside the launch of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions in Europe, both of which will feature "extensive localized music content" on-disc and for download in order to make up for missing a now much quieter Christmas.

Publisher EA also revealed ten new master tracks to be featured on Rock Band:

"Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones
"Highway Star" by Deep Purple
"Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash
"Epic" by Faith No More
"Cherub Rock" by Smashing Pumpkins
"Creep" by Radiohead
"Sabotage" by Beastie Boys
"Are You Gonna Be My Girl" by Jet
"Here It Goes Again" by OK Go (We'll be playing this one on a treadmill.)
"The Hand That Feeds" by Nine Inch Nails

You'll find a full list of confirmed songs after the break.

1960s
"Gimme Shelter" by The Rolling Stones

1970s
"Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who
"Mississippi Queen" by Mountain (non-original recording)
"Suffragette City" by David Bowie
"Paranoid" by Black Sabbath (non-original recording)
"Don't Fear the Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult
"Blitzkrieg Bop" by The Ramones
"Highway Star" by Deep Purple

1980s
"Tom Sawyer" by Rush (non-original recording)
"Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi
"Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash
"Epic" by Faith No More

1990s
"Learn to Fly" by Foo Fighters
"Enter Sandman" by Metallica
"In Bloom" by Nirvana
"Vasoline" by Stone Temple Pilots
"Say It Ain't So" by Weezer
"Cherub Rock" by Smashing Pumpkins
"Creep" by Radiohead
"Sabotage" by Beastie Boys

2000s
"Main Offender" by The Hives
"Go With the Flow" by Queens of the Stone Age
"Reptilia" by The Strokes
"Are You Gonna Be My Girl" by Jet
"Here It Goes Again" by OK Go
"The Hand That Feeds" by Nine Inch Nails

[Via EA press release]

Tags: BreakingNews, EA, Harmonix, LGC07, MTV, Music, Peripherals, RockBand

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

HyperOnion @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:45AM

Gimme Shelter is an official OH FUCK YES.

That song alone trumps everything Guitar Hero 3 has.

Mr Slavio @ Aug 22nd 2007 10:10AM

Paint it Black?

Anam @ Aug 22nd 2007 12:49PM

I personally like Gimme Shelter more than Paint It Black, but Paint It Black would probably be a better song for just guitar.

Both games made the right decisions on Rolling Stones' songs.

Triforceowner @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:22PM

Gimme Shelter rules Paint It Black, no question.

Christopher7xii @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:47AM

So... Cherub Rock is going to be on both Guitar Hero 3 and Rock Band as a master track? Sucks.

Guess it'll be a moot point which I buy, since the drums won't be played by me.

Probot @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:58AM

By my count, there are at least three songs that will be on both games. Cherub Rock, Sabatoge and Mississippi Queen.

I believe "Tom Sawyer" is by Rush, unless they are are recording a cover of a song by this guy:

http://www.sfmuseum.net/hist10/sawyer.html

ronald.raygun @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:48AM

ahem this would be a great time to announce your ps2 port for the wii version harmonix

ronald.raygun @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:49AM

too bad, i too wish i could play drums like jimmy chamberlain (sp?)

NecronomiconUK @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:51AM

Don't Fear the Reaper? Please please use the sensor in the mic for MORE COWBELL!

Some NIN action makes this a more certain purchase than it already was.

Purple Haze @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:56AM

I'm pretty sure Tom Sawyer is by Rush. So far the song list for rock band is owning Guitar Hero 3, not to mention the fact that Rock Band will have downloadable albums once a week and be a lot more fun anyway.

OnimushaSoki @ Aug 22nd 2007 6:52AM

first off... nice screen name. :]

As for RockBand... I was seriously thinking about buying it; but now, I'm *convinced*. I guess my next paycheck's going toward reserve/payoff of the game and instruments. :d

rokerovakero @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:57AM

I don't think there will be a wii version until next christmas... by that time there will be a second title for the Hd consoles...

sqwarlock @ Aug 22nd 2007 5:12AM

I'm not liking that songs that are on both GH III and Rock Band. I feel that means I'm not rocking out at full potential. What I mean is that I'm buying both, and I doubt I'll play the songs that are on both on anything but Rock Band. That means there's songs that will get no play time on GH III after I beat them for career mode. Oh well...such is life in rhythm games.

unseen514 @ Aug 22nd 2007 6:41AM

I don't know what people were talking about saying that Guitar Hero III had a better list. This list is pretty awesome except for picking the wrong songs imo for some bands (learn to fly, enter sandman, hand that feeds). Throw that in with album downloads and it's looking nice. Guitar Hero on the other hand has been getting progressively worse I think. Guitar Hero II wasn't so bad, but then they put out Rock the 80s which given the material they were working with, could've selected much cheasier/fun/etc. songs. Guitar Hero III though is just pathetic.

megaStryke @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:04AM

Tenacious D. I win.

phattie @ Aug 22nd 2007 7:20AM

This is nuts, PStwo going for $129, rockband going for $200. I guess its still cheaper than a real rockband. But, dang, games costing more than the console they're played on.

This should help PStwo sales for another xmas.

shivr @ Aug 22nd 2007 10:49AM

Nothin' wrong with saving a few hundred bucks overall by not having to get a next gen system for a rhythm game though :) Especially something as non graphically intense as this one

generic @ Aug 22nd 2007 8:15AM

Woo! Go With the Flow!

Also... BLACK Oyster Cult?

Ludwig Kietzmann @ Aug 22nd 2007 8:21AM

Oops, that was a remnant of Black Sabbath right above it. :D

sheppy @ Aug 22nd 2007 8:19AM

I know what you're saying, KMO. I mean, how dare video game companies treat the third largest video game market like the third largest video game market. The sheer brass of such moves. Not to mention all the languages and publishing rights games like this and RPGs have to go through while being translated ON TOP of conforming their game signal to a standard that the two largest video game regions avoid. It's absolutely inexcusable.

Well, okay, not really. Look... it's simple math. You are, as stated earlier, the third largest video game region in the world. Not to mention you're also the region with the longest list of requirements before a game can be released. And to top this shit off, your Standard Definition TV format is at a different resolution and HDTV has not penetrated to the point where you can rely on that factor. So you're essentially stuck, because of all the issues mentioned above, getting delays on your game releases.

Plus, seriously, did you forget the GH fiasco already? As in your couldn't find the game to save your life due to short supplies? And you want to stretch that across two regions? Rock Band, this holiday season, will be like trying to find god in a Denny's restroom. And supplies will be limited all around. Just imagine if they added another region to that... ugh.

baby sea tuna @ Aug 22nd 2007 8:33AM

Oh shit, Epic! Looks like I'll be fish flopping around on my living room floor like Mike Patton at the VMAs.

Kyera @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:36AM

Haha wow, I was putting together a list of songs I hoped would be in the unknown twenty-four last night at work, and six of them are on this list. Nice.

DarthDavid @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:43AM

Radiohead + Rock Band = SOLD......I can't wait, RADIOHEAD!!!

Charron @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:47AM

My only gripe is they went with Creep for Radiohead, instead of something like Optimistic or Electioneering. Something that really captures their style instead of their Nirvana-esque hit.

shivr @ Aug 22nd 2007 10:47AM

man... Electioneering would be so fun. Creep is the most popular though so I suppose they have to go with that... :(

Radiohead anything just seems kinda weird to me in a rhythm game though >_>

jynxycat @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:53AM

Epic ftw.

Kyera @ Aug 22nd 2007 10:08AM

You know, even though I think they could have picked better songs for some artists, I'm happy they're onboard, because that means we might get a bigger song library from them as DLC. :D

BeckRokk @ Aug 22nd 2007 10:12AM

I like that GHIII and RB are both using some songs. It'll be nice to see the comparison of each note chart side by side and figure out which company did it better (Harmonix).

Sean @ Aug 22nd 2007 10:29AM

super boner

blooh @ Aug 22nd 2007 11:02AM

well they got a radiohead song, but it's not paranoid android :(

benjibross @ Aug 22nd 2007 12:10PM

paranoid android requires something like three guitars, and i think a bass. not to mention vocals.

but i agree - paranoid android would absolutely rock. i figure something like 2+2=5 or Street Spirit would be more plausible, though.

Charron @ Aug 22nd 2007 12:54PM

Paranoid Android could work, though you'd have to merge guitar lines at times and just ignore some notes.

Listening again, Let Down would work pretty well too, if it weren't a darker song. Knives Out could work too....

Basically, what I'm getting at is, why Creep? Even Radiohead isn't too fond of that song, they don't play it much anymore.

bounchfx @ Aug 22nd 2007 11:32AM

the hand that feeds is by far the worst song they could have picked for NIN.. hopefully this will be like metallica where they put a popular song on the list and have an album for download.. here's hoping for more

HAL9000isonline @ Aug 22nd 2007 12:44PM

I agree with you bounchfx and your NIN "worst song eva" comment... with putting "Creep" on RB, they're setting themselves up to put the entire "OK Computer" album up for download at a later date. which is ok by me. has anyone tried the radiohead versions on Frets on Fire? they kick my ass...

aC @ Aug 22nd 2007 11:45AM

I still want "Burn" by Deep Purple... it's weak on vocals, but christ that'd be at the top of the lead guitar and drums tiers.

You've got Deep Purple, just give me some "Burn" damnit! ;)

Marc @ Aug 22nd 2007 12:25PM

Ignoring the (perhaps not so) casual racism going on in the comments here... It does kinda suck that rock band is getting delayed by an undetermined ammount of time during its trip over the atlantic, when most of the other major titles this winter are going for (more less) simultaneous global launches...

(To be honest, only Nintendo are really bad with european delays these days, which is kinda odd when they launched the Wii here at the same time as everywhere else.)

But that "localised" content could be interesting, as long as it doesn't replace other (potentially better) american songs of course

That track listing is looking mighty fine though,
it should be worth the wait.

spongebolton @ Aug 22nd 2007 12:33PM

I think Epic completely seals the deal, hearing people try to sing like Mike Patton is easily worth the (purported) $200 price tag.

Isak? @ Aug 22nd 2007 5:12PM

I completely agree with you. Epic sung by drunk, or sober idiots trumps GH3, plus the new CD's every week. I think that there is way too much similaritys between the games for GH to win this. Rock band is doing more original stuff, they both have either all the same songs, or artists, and GH3 is doing what they have done before, which while good, is still old. They have battle mode? Rock band has the ability to play drums or openly mock your vocally challanged friends. No contest.

HAL9000isonline @ Aug 22nd 2007 12:44PM

Does anyone know if the GH3 guitars will work with RB?

Anam @ Aug 22nd 2007 12:45PM

Yes! Are You Gonna Be My Girl is one of the songs that I've really been wanting to play, plus Gimme Shelter rocks! And I have one less reason to purchase a 360! ...actually, I'm not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing, oh well.

I'm happy to see Nine Inch Nails in there, since they're my second-favorite band, but I'd rather see something other than The Hand That Feeds.

Still, great news!

Triforceowner @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:02PM

Oh... Yes... The single song I would pick to represent everything rock'n'roll is on the list: Gimme' Shelter.

Kangstarr @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:45PM

There's a very simple reason why the UK and Europe will get the game 6 months later. Money.

The day when Europe controls 70-80% of the game market, video game manufacturer's will be more then happy to sell you the game first. Unfortunately we live in the real world where those numbers do not exist.

EA wants to take full advantage of their retail sales in the largest market in the world making sure all their favorite retailer's demands are met. In order to fulfill order requests the UK and other countries have to be sacrificed.

EA is not racist. EA does not hate the UK. EA just loves money and wants to make as much as possible.

elmer @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:53PM

I'm afraid evidence shows this won't happen.
Nintendo already controls more than half of every market in the world, and Developers remain content to ignore them. I don't see the Europe issue as being any different.

WhatIsThatThing @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:57PM

So OK Go is in there, get some TMBG going! I throw my money at whichever game has They Might Be Giants in it.

AceMilo @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:08PM

Joystiq, you just made my day. I've been hoping beyond hope that someone would add a NIN song. I am a diehard fan, I was buying it anyway, but I don't think I'm going to be able to put it down! First I get to play bioshock today, now NIN on rock band. Best day ever?

elmer @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:51PM

@ Sheppy

Sorry but No.

Here in Britain there are NO translation problems. The movement to pixel shading means everything is rendered per pixel and scales resolution against framerates. Moreover every European TV support NTSC signals. HDTV formats are pretty much standard Internationally. Worst of all, we pay Fuck loads more for our games. I mean, if we're gonna pay more we should at least have it in good fucking time.

MOST importantly, we are not the third region. The European Market is the second largest. Yes it's true that Western developers totally ignore Japan as well, but I want everyone here to know there are more European Gamers than Japanese Gamers. In fact the market is nearly as big as the US market. What pisses me off is that Europe may represent something like 45% of developers markets, yet games are developed with Europeans in mind about 5% of the time.

Geoff @ Aug 22nd 2007 7:34PM

@elmer

Uh... you contradicted your arguement here.

If you are going on the assumption that we (I'm in the UK too) don't need a translation because the UK is English-speaking, then you can't say that "the European Market is the second largest" - it might be, but if so, then you need to account for translations into many different languages. The UK, taken on its own, is certainly not a larger market than either the US or Japan.

Also, my TV is not NTSC compatible. Sucks, but we really DON'T all have HDTV. In fact, the UK government, if you've been reading the papers, is starting to crap itself over the analogue-to-digital handover, given the news that places like Dixons are STILL selling 50Hz analogue-only TVs.

Sheppy's right, boyo.

Abscissa @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:11PM

Damnit! We finally get a Nine Inch Nails song, but they had to go and choose the absolute WORST song Reznor's ever made! I was tired of that song the second time I heard it. Man give us ANYTHING off of Broken, Downward Spiral, Fragile, Year Zero, heck, even Purest Feeling...There's even a couple With Teeth songs I'd put up with - just NOT Hand That Feeds... Aaarrggh!

Most of the rest of those songs are awesome choices though. And I'm REALLY excited to see there's a PS2 version - I wasn't going to get this game before (as I don't plan on shelling out for a 360 or PS3 anytime soon), but now maybe I will get this game.

It'd be nice if we COULD get downloadable extra songs though on the PS2 version (Or a reduced price to make up for the loss). I *do* have a hard drive and network adaptor on my PS2, after all. Or, better yet, have a Wii version that does song downloads AND accepts PS2 guitars hooked up to the GC ports via one of those PS2->GC adaptors that I already have.