MTV expects Rock Band to activate overdrive this year and have over 5,000 songs available for play, reports Billboard. Developer Harmonix hit its goal of having over 500 songs, spread across discs and DLC, on the music platform by the end of last year.
Although we have no reason to doubt Harmonix's ability to provide content, the math dictates that an average of over 90 songs would need to release every week for the rest of 2009. Even if that figure is mitigated by special discs (like AC/DC) or Rock Band 3 (unlikely), the developer has its work cut out. We've contacted Harmonix to find out if its publisher is being realistic.
Update: Full Harmonix statement after the break.
[Via GameDaily]
Full Harmonix statement:
There has been a lot of discussion over a recent article that stated "MTV said it plans to increase the number of available songs this year to as many as 5,000."
In an effort to clarify and put some context around that number, please see the original quote on ArsTechnica.com from an interview with Alex Rigopulos, CEO and co-founder of Harmonix, during this year's CES.
In that article, Alex stated:
"That said, one of the great promises of the (Rock Band) catalog moving forward, as the catalog expands from 500 songs to 5,000 songs or whatever in the coming years, is that we're going to be less constrained from a genre standpoint, and I think you will see us starting to branch out into... whether it's country or R&B and jazz or funk, or things of that sort. With the critical mass of the "rock" core covered, of course we'll keep expanding it, but the critical mass is covered, so now we can start to branch off in ways that haven't made sense in the past but will make sense moving forward."
Reader Comments (68)
Posted: Jan 28th 2009 1:29PM (Unverified) said
Yeah, but Monkey Wrench sucks. I demand you redo your list with my personal taste taken into consideration!
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Posted: Jan 28th 2009 1:35PM MacGyver10 said
while i love me some Emery, Anberlin and even softer bands like Switchfoot and FM Static, you're talking about a MUCH MUCH MUCH smaller demographic for purchases than bands like Foo Fighters, Steve Miller Band and Grateful Dead. and in the end, Rock Band is about making money.
besides, Harmonix has already given us Kutless, Underoath, Mute Math and The Myriad if you like your music with a Christian perspective, and Mute Math alone is one of the most fun songs to play on drums in the entire game.
and no, Harmonix will NEVER put "praise music" or anything like Casting Crowns or Jeremy Camp on Rock Band. not gonna happen.
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besides, Harmonix has already given us Kutless, Underoath, Mute Math and The Myriad if you like your music with a Christian perspective, and Mute Math alone is one of the most fun songs to play on drums in the entire game.
and no, Harmonix will NEVER put "praise music" or anything like Casting Crowns or Jeremy Camp on Rock Band. not gonna happen.
Posted: Jan 28th 2009 1:43PM EdgeOne said
I didn't mean there weren't already 100 good tracks - I just want 100 more! I was thinking quality over quantity I just didn't word it right.
Roy Orbison, Jimmy Buffet, The Cars, The Police, Boston, Steve Miller Band, Knack, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rush, Bon Jovi, RHCP, Blondie, Duran Duran, Beastie Boys, STP, Weeszer, etc, etc. all good songs to jam to.
I was just thinking with however many songs are to be released (1000, 5000, whatever), it would be a smart business decision to make a version or DLC for Christian organizations too.
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Roy Orbison, Jimmy Buffet, The Cars, The Police, Boston, Steve Miller Band, Knack, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rush, Bon Jovi, RHCP, Blondie, Duran Duran, Beastie Boys, STP, Weeszer, etc, etc. all good songs to jam to.
I was just thinking with however many songs are to be released (1000, 5000, whatever), it would be a smart business decision to make a version or DLC for Christian organizations too.
Posted: Jan 29th 2009 9:46AM (Unverified) said
Fair enough. ;)
It wouldn't surprise me to see them eventually dip into the catalogue of religious-themed artists, but you'd be more likely to get something that's a little more mainstream sounding and a little less religion-focused lyrically.
I have relatives who are quite into the Christian Rock scene, and there are quite a number of bands/songs I've heard that I've liked -- and none of them came across as "preachy".
Speaking from a quality perspective, I've got everything, and there are only perhaps a dozen songs that I've regretted purchasing so far (some that I'm on the fence about were only a buck, so I still don't regret them even if I don't play them that often).
ymmv, clearly. :)
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It wouldn't surprise me to see them eventually dip into the catalogue of religious-themed artists, but you'd be more likely to get something that's a little more mainstream sounding and a little less religion-focused lyrically.
I have relatives who are quite into the Christian Rock scene, and there are quite a number of bands/songs I've heard that I've liked -- and none of them came across as "preachy".
Speaking from a quality perspective, I've got everything, and there are only perhaps a dozen songs that I've regretted purchasing so far (some that I'm on the fence about were only a buck, so I still don't regret them even if I don't play them that often).
ymmv, clearly. :)
Posted: Jan 29th 2009 12:59AM (Unverified) said
They misquoted them, they aren't going to have 5000 song by the end of the year..
They meant to say 9001.
They meant to say 9001.
Posted: Jan 28th 2009 12:46PM (Unverified) said
So if rock band continues to release 6 songs a week on the will take 833 weeks or 14 years wii owners to catch up the dlc library.
Posted: Jan 28th 2009 12:47PM (Unverified) said
Also this is complete bull no way in hell that HMX are going to release that many songs by the end of the year.
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Posted: Jan 28th 2009 1:24PM (Unverified) said
This could only be true if they started releasing albums every week, song packs ever day and the odd special disk every month for certain artists like what GH is doing with metalica and ac/dc etc.
Posted: Jan 28th 2009 9:12PM lockheede said
I think 5,000 songs might actually be too many songs for the 360 Hard Drive...
Posted: Jan 28th 2009 1:47PM Dano said
I just threw up in my mouth. IMO, these "faux rock star" games are a blight on gaming.
Posted: Jan 28th 2009 2:08PM DarkJ3JB said
Really I'm surprised but its amazing If its ture.
Posted: Jan 28th 2009 2:12PM The1stMJC said
Why do the people at Rock Band wanna rape my wallet so much?
Posted: Jan 28th 2009 3:05PM Deck said
5000? No way. I'd say they would be pushing it to even get to 1500-2000. Though that would be amazing.
Whatever they do, just keep the DLC coming! Its wonderful!
Whatever they do, just keep the DLC coming! Its wonderful!
Posted: Jan 28th 2009 5:09PM (Unverified) said
It's a wrong quote, so spread the news:
http://www.gbx.at/?p=1687
since it's german, here is an official statement:
http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1882959#post1882959
http://www.gbx.at/?p=1687
since it's german, here is an official statement:
http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1882959#post1882959





