ESRB reveals Rock Band 'Classic Rock' track pack
by Jem Alexander 
{ Feb 28th 2009 at 4:03PM }
Example lyrics given by the ESRB reveal three of the track pack's songs: "The Joker" and "Take The Money And Run" by Steve Miller's Band and "Holiday In Cambodia" by Dead Kennedys. All of which have been previously released as DLC. Expect EA to announce the full track list, along with the track pack itself, within the next few weeks.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
B3astofthe3ast @ Feb 28th 2009 4:14PM
So its all already released DLC like the other track packs. Good.
Bakkster @ Feb 28th 2009 4:53PM
And this is better than the other packs. By at least slightly grouping by genre, buyers are more likely to have a higher ratio of songs that they will enjoy. Alternatively, they can skip purchasing it because they don't like the genre.
Cody @ Feb 28th 2009 4:15PM
those songs are already out...
T @ Feb 28th 2009 6:44PM
That's the point. It's a bulk discount for DLC that's already been released. If you don't already have it you can buy the pack and get 20 songs for like a buck or so a piece.
ice~ @ Feb 28th 2009 4:16PM
How about new dlc classic rock track packs...not all the stuff thats already released :/
MowDownJoe @ Feb 28th 2009 4:34PM
The point of these, besides catering the the Wii Owners who own RB1 but don't want RB2, is to give out the DLC at a bulk discount if people didn't pick it up when it first came out.
Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Taylor Swift Defense Force, Gobot in disguise) @ Feb 28th 2009 4:41PM
because then people will be like "OMG THIS IS SOOOO GHEY WHY NOT JUST RELEASE THIS AS DLC YOU IDIOTS IM NEVER BUYING YOUR GAMES AGAIN *CUTS WRISTS*"
ice~ @ Feb 28th 2009 4:51PM
I know but when i saw "Classic Rock" track pack i got really excited, until i read the whole article. Oh well.
The Baron @ Feb 28th 2009 5:47PM
The problem with DLC is that while you can pick up lesser-known songs by artists you like (Rush, Megadeth), the good stuff is saved for full-game releases, e.g. the missing tracks on Nirvana's Nevermind.
Lord of the Patapons (slycooper_rocker) @ Feb 28th 2009 7:38PM
yeah Haggard/Baron got it. hey, i just want some sweet led zeppelin-y goodness in rock band. if harmonix can pull it off, i would buy everything they release from then on. and it's not impossible considering they managed to get the beatles.
Sir Buzz Killington( The Artist formerly known as Jakka) @ Feb 28th 2009 7:51PM
Let's not forget that if it was Guitar Hero, people would be bitching about how Evil Activison will milk your money and cause your mother to starve from poverty by making you pay for the same songs!
ice~ @ Feb 28th 2009 9:02PM
They're not making you :P
Sir Buzz Killington( The Artist formerly known as Jakka) @ Mar 1st 2009 5:03AM
If it was Activision, they would be :P
sea @ Feb 28th 2009 7:23PM
Since when are the Dead Kennedys "classic rock"?
The Baron @ Feb 28th 2009 8:02PM
Well, the early 80's are hardly modern.
Brett @ Feb 28th 2009 8:06PM
Classic Rock? Dead Kennedys? How logical.
isleofred @ Feb 28th 2009 9:31PM
if a Queen track appears on it
am defo getting it
Robert Maynard @ Mar 1st 2009 1:37AM
This is a great idea, whether or not it only includes DLC already released. They should make this a regular thing. Not everyone is comfortable buying DLC through their console, so this is a great way for those people to expand their Rock Band playlists, and sell the actual game.
It's kind of crazy to consider that Rock Band is now releasing the number of songs in Guitar Hero 1 every 15 weeks or so (not including album releases or weeks with more than 3 songs) - but having a great DLC operation doesn't lend much heft to your presence at retailers - most of the local EB Games near me in Australia aren't even displaying Rock Band on the shelves, because it can't compete with Guitar Hero for shelf space - so you either need to go in already aware of it and ask for it, or come across it by chance in a department store. Putting out track packs increases the visibility and perceived brand strength at retail, which is where the game gets sold (duh).
I am assuming that these track packs function just like the AC/DC pack, meaning you can export it off the disc to the console hard drive, and if so, they should aim to put at least one out for every Guitar Hero title, maybe 20-40 songs per pack, and make a point of emphasising that unlike the Guitar Hero releases, (ie. Aerosmith, Metallica), you won't need to swap discs once you install it.
lego91994 @ Mar 1st 2009 6:20AM
All RB track packs have had 20 songs or less so far, for $30 except the AC/DC one which was $40.
Robert Maynard @ Mar 1st 2009 9:44AM
True, but haven't they only done them (besides AC/DC) for the Wii and PS2 at this point?
This seems like it could be a different approach to the old idea.
umm....hello??? @ Mar 1st 2009 4:10AM
what?! they finally ran out of songs to release for DLC? anyways, I already have TheJoker on GH:WT, so I will be passing on this "bargain."
Robert Maynard @ Mar 1st 2009 9:50AM
Texas Flood is out next week, and Pearl Jam's debut is out in late March, so no, they clearly haven't run out. :P
This is merely a different way of selling the existing Rock Band library other than by online distribution.
Zack11190 @ Mar 1st 2009 9:46AM
If Activision did this with Guitar Hero, everyone will complain that they are whoring out the franchise. But since it's Rock Band and Harmonix, it's okay with you people.
Vincent060 @ Mar 1st 2009 9:50AM
Harmonix have been releasing track packs for a while now. They are basically DLC on the disc for people who can't buy it off the store.
Deezul @ Mar 1st 2009 9:53AM
The difference is Harmonix is not calling it a completely new game. That's all GH:A was - GTIII with Aerosmith songs. And Harmonix doesn't charge a full game price for it. Not only that, but Harmonix makes DLC that works with RB1 and RB2.
The smart thing Activision can do with GH:Greatest Hits is make sure that as few as possible of the tracks included are already on RB1 or RB2.
Robert Maynard @ Mar 1st 2009 9:57AM
Nice try. But I don't think we'll have to worry about confirming or disconfirming this allegation, because they've already made their business strategy clear - plaster awkward product placement on their games, strut out mo-capped uncanny-valley celebrities, and flood retailers with subpar, standalone products. Hence, whoredom.
VaultICEE @ Mar 1st 2009 7:14PM
Aren't there a thousand comments on EVERY Rock Band announcement article with people claiming "OH IF THIS WAS NEVERSOFT EVERYBODY WOULD CALL IT WHORING BUT SINCE ITS ROCK BAND ITS OKAY TO YOU GUISE"?
Stop being butthurt and look at what they're actually doing. This isn't Rock Band: Classic Rock, a game priced at 60$ featuring songs that are disc-only. Which is essentially what Neversoft IS selling with Aerosmith, Metallica, and "Greatest Hits".
Robert Maynard @ Mar 1st 2009 10:04AM
If there were an editing option I would have compared the franchise's predilection for mo-capped "legends of rock" to the awkwardness of that memorable Paula Abdul walk-on at the original Wall Street Journal demonstration. xD
If only Harmonix or EA had done something equally phoney and embarrassing with Rock Band, so we could test this accusation of double standards. Hmmm..
Robert Maynard @ Mar 1st 2009 10:04AM
d'oh. This was meant as a reply to Zack11190.. >_>
Xeones25 @ Mar 11th 2009 7:33PM
I'm not big on buying the DLC because I think it is overpriced. I'll definitely be trying to get this on eBay or in bargain bins (bought Track Pack 2 for $7.50). I'm still trying to get the AC/DC track pack for < $15
I hope they have some Deep Purple and Foreigner. It will probably have some songs from The Who album that is already up.