And here we go again: After IGN backtracked on comments that seemed to indicate that Rock Band 2's biggest perceived shortcoming – spreading the rhythm game "platform" onto multiple discs, thereby tossing our precious monolithic library of songs to the wind – would in fact be be addressed by the sequel comes word from GameSpot who say ... well, the exact same thing and ... look at that, they backtracked later as well.

Their original story said that Rock Band 2 "will feature full support for all of the original Rock Band songs, all of the downloadable content" as well as the 80 songs on the RB2 disc. GameSpot evidently got their purportedly faulty information from IGN's piece, and a Harmonix representative tells us that both stories were incorrect (both have been updated).

Even so, that doesn't stop us from dreaming of our perfect solution: You mail in both the Rock Band 1 and Rock Band 2 discs; include $5 for shipping & handling along with three cereal box-tops; wait 4-6 months; get Rock Band 2: MEGA edition back in the mail including all tracks from Rock Band 1 and Rock Band 2 (including bonus Sgt. Slaughter or William "The Refrigerator" Perry action figures). See? Perfect.

[Thanks, Joe]

Rock Band 2 could provide download access to all of the tracks featured on the original Rock Band disc, according IGN Xbox 360 Editor Nate Ahearn. Responding to comments made by a poster in an IGN Insider "Grudge Match" that pits Rock Band 2 against Guitar Hero World Tour, Ahearn writes, "Immediately upon purchasing Rock Band 2 you'll have the ability to download a huge library of songs, as well as all of the songs off of the original disc as a free download."

Ahearn has apparently (and probably wrongfully) answered a long-standing question about the seamless continuity between the two catalogs; from the RB1 disc to the RB2 disc. Many purchasers of the original Rock Band -- marketed as a "platform" by its developers -- had hoped that as the franchise inevitably spawned, there would be no need to swap discs. Supposedly, the solution lies in downloading the first game's disc tracks onto the hard drive. Still, there are at least two important questions that need answering: (1) Can we pick and choose our RB1 songs, or do we download all of them as one "free download?" (2) Can any RB2 purchaser access RB1 songs for free, or do we need to validate our ownership of the first game? Expect the full reveal next week.

Update: According to IGN Xbox Team Editor-in-Chief Hilary Goldstein, "Nate goofed in writing that. He hopes that is allowed. Nothing about this has been announced and Nate's never even seen RB2. Sorry, guys." Honest mistake ... or covering tracks? We'll know next week. [Source - IGN Boards (registration required)]

[Via GameFAQs Boards]

Source - IGN Insider (registration required)

Online mega retailer Amazon.com has listed a standalone wireless drum set and wireless guitar for Rock Band 2 on Xbox 360 for $90 and $70, respectively. Of course, the bundled Xbox 360 guitar with the original Rock Band was tethered to the console and the drums were wired on all platforms, so we're hopeful this means the instruments included in Rock Band 2's big bundle will all be wireless. A Harmonix representative informs us that no prices, shipping dates, colors, astrological signs, or further details concerning Rock Band 2 will be released until next week's E3.

[Via X3F]

Source - Rock Band 2 wireless drums
Source - Rock Band 2 wireless guitar

We've been chomping at the bit for any details about the complete setlist for Harmonix's upcoming sequel to last year's well-received rockstar simulator, Rock Band. We've learned of a few new tracks from a slip-up on G4 and a tip from an anonymous playtester, but even these substantial leaks only make up a drop in Rock Band 2's 80-song bucket. Luckily, two sources who claim to know the near-complete list of tunes included in the title recently posted their findings -- though their own sources don't exactly inspire confidence in the accuracy of their supposed setlists.

Though their information evolved entirely from hearsay, there's quite a bit of overlap between the two lists, lending some amount of legitimacy to this rumor. Some of these overlapping tracks include Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer", The Presidents of the United States of America's "Lump", Talking Heads' "Psycho Killer" (Qu'est-ce que c'est?), and a long overdue "Pump It Up" by Elvis Costello. We've got both lists after the jump -- with a couple of weeks between us and E3, we'll be discovering the correctitude of these tracks soon enough.

Many of us could write entire volumes of songs and bands we'd like to see in one or both of the reigning emperors of the rhythm genre, Rock Band and Guitar Hero -- we'd wager that included in everyone's wishlist is a track or twelve from the legendary early 70s rock outfit Led Zeppelin. Unfortunately, Zeppelin front man Jimmy Page recently hung a definitive "No Stairway" sign on the genre, citing his hesitance to lend game developers the band's valuable master tracks.

The reasons behind Page's apprehension are unknown -- perhaps it has to do with the recent news of the easily misplaceable nature of master recordings. We hope the group's co-founder can be persuaded to part with the recordings before the siren call of "Immigrant Song" swoons the games' developers, forcing them to include earnest but unsatisfying covers of Zeppelin's bigger tracks. Discerning ears know -- there really is no rock-scream like a Robert Plant rock-scream.

Guitar Hero World Tour is going to let players make their own songs, so it only stands to reason that Rock Band 2 will as well, right? Right? Not according to Alex Rigopulos, the CEO and co-founder of Rock Band developer Harmonix.

Speaking to CNN, Rigopulos states that his company "wanted to do [song creation] right." He adds that Harmonix is "taking a radically different approach" to player-created tracks – presumably he means from the way Guitar Hero World Tour dev Neversoft is handling it – and will "take more time to do it." So, Rock Band 3 with a song creator it is then, right? Right?

A second partial Rock Band 2 setlist, supposedly culled from a playtest, popped up on the ScoreHero Forum recently, only to be removed and its author disciplined by a moderator. Lucky for you, a Joystiq tipster (thank you!) slipped a crumpled note into our back pocket with the same list:

• "Man in the Box" - Alice in Chains
• "We Got The Beat" - The Go Go
• "American Woman" - The Guess Who? (or Lenny Kravitz)
• "White Wedding" - Billy Idol
• "Aqua Lung" - Jethro Tull
• "Bad Reputation" - Joan Jett
• "One Step Closer" - Linkin Park
• "Peace Sells" - Megadeth
• "You Oughta Know" - Alanis Morissette
• "Testify" - Rage Against The Machine
• "Spoonman" - Soundgarden

These 11 songs join the nine that were shown in a possible screen grab earlier this week, forming what could be roughly a quarter of the 80 or so master recordings to be featured on the Rock Band expansion sequel disc. Be sure to stretch it out and drink your fluids because the new "Endless Setlist" is shaping up to be a doozie.

A segment on G4's X-Play might have revealed some of the tracks of the upcoming Rock Band 2. The above screen capture (via Score Hero) shows 11 tracks. Two are DLC from the first Rock Band (note the different icon). The other 9:

• "Panic Attack" - Dream Theater (or Finger Eleven)
• "Chop Suey" - System of a Down
• "Give It Away" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
• "Everlong" - Foo Fighters
• "Kids in America" - Kim Wilde
• "Ace of Spades" - Motorhead
• "Hello There" - Cheap Trick
• "Any Way You Want It" - Journey
• "Pinball Wizard" - The Who

The screen shot is unconfirmed, although if true we are very happy to see the Music Store interface integrated into the navigation menu. It's interesting to note that "Everlong" has also been confirmed for Guitar Hero World Tour. Also, "Pinball Wizard" is coming to Rock Band 1 as DLC, is this indicative of song overlap? Update: Our imagination must have been running wild, as Pinball Wizard is not part of the Best of The Who DLC.

[Via X3F]

We didn't have to wait long to find out what tracks would be replacing Who's Next album DLC in Rock Band. The Who Official Band Website has published a press release revealing the 12 song "Best of" collection, featuring 3 songs from Who's Next (Baba O'Riley, Going Mobile and Behind Blue Eyes). All the tracks are presented in their master recordings.

The Best of The Who Rock Band Edition (1600 MS points / $20) -- All songs are also sold individually (160 MS Points / $2)

• "Amazing Journey"
• "Baba O'Riley"
• "Behind Blue Eyes"
• "Eminence Front"
• "Going Mobile"
• "Leaving Here"
• "My Generation" (LIVE)
• "Real Good Looking Boy"
• "Sea & Sand"
• "Summertime Blues" (LIVE)
• "Who Are You"
• "Young Man Blues" (LIVE)

Videos of the songs can be found after the break. The Best of The Who is expected the week of July 15.

While IGN simply reports that Rock Band 2 is "set to ship for Xbox 360 this September and PS3 later in the year," the AP says it will be "available for Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 as well as Nintendo's Wii later in the year." While the two at least agree about the "later in the year" detail, neither answer our biggest question about this arrangement: Is this presumably brief period of Xbox 360-exclusivity a business arrangement – as it was for Rock Band in Europe earlier this year – or simply a development reality?

Sure we've got other questions – like will the PS2 and Wii releases be similar to the watered-down experiences currently available – but with Guitar Hero IV coming out for Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Wii, and PC in late October, details on the nature of the timed exclusive seem paramount. We've asked the hard-rocking folks at Harmonix to let us in on the nature of the arrangement.

Buried on the 11th paragraph on a story about Rock Band 2, The Associated Press reports this morning that 12 tracks from The Who "ranging from 'My Generation' to 'Who Are You' will release for Rock Band on July 15." Neither of those tracks are from the long-awaited album Who's Next, but at least this is something, right?

Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos confirms the rumors that Who's Next's release has been delayed due to missing master tracks. He said The Who's Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey helped get a best-of soundtrack together of what could be found. The songs will be $2 a piece or sold as a pack for $20. We've sent a request to Harmonix for more information and we'll update as soon as we finish putting this brick in the wall ... oops, wrong band.

[Thanks lv99squall]

One of gaming's worst-kept secrets is now official: Rock Band 2 is coming. IGN has the scoop and an interview with lead designer Dan Teasdale, who reveals that all the current and future DLC will be compatible with both versions of Rock Band, as well as the same instrument controllers.

While details were scarce, Teasdale said to expect improvements for band and character customization as well as the navigation system and Band World Tour. Citing the current issues with random set lists, Teasdale said, "Nobody wants to play Green Grass and High Tides in their first random set list." Visually, the few images seen show the game has changed very little from its predecessor (and yes, it turns out the box art from a leaked survey was accurate).

As for what songs to expect, Teasdale said, "we've also secured what I can easily say is the best set list I've ever seen in a music game." He provided no examples, although we wonder if The Beatles fall onto that list. Rock Band 2 is set to debut at E3 next month.

When a few lucky members of Joystiq got their invites to the Rock Band Bash, to be held during E3, the image seemed oddly familiar ... where had we seen that before? Y'know, it strongly resembles one of the designs revealed in a marketing survey asking questions about Rock Band 2 (a copy of which we've placed after the break).

Compare: The drummer, vocalist and bass player are nearly identical while the original image's guitarist has been swapped out for a female, balancing the male/female ratio for this potential RB2 cover (compared to Rock Band's all-male cover). Could it simply be leftover marketing art or a subtle tease of what's to come?

Last week's announcement of The Pixies' Doolittle was a bit premature, but the full album is definitely coming next week. Additionally, three Weezer tracks from the new Red Album (none of which are titled Pork and Beans) are also coming out next week. All songs are master tracks for pristine rocking ability.

Fun Fact: Weezer's Rivers Cuomo cites Pixies as a major influence. They recorded a cover of the song Velouria for the tribute album Where is My Mind?

Weezer Pack (440 MS points / $5.49) -- All songs are also sold individually (160 MS Points / $2)

• "Dreamin"
• "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived"
• "Troublemaker"

The Pixies' Doolittle (1520 MS points / $19) -- All songs are also sold individually (160 MS Points / $2)

• "Crackity Jones"
  
• "Dead"
  
• "Debaser"
  
• "Gouge Away"
  
• "Here Comes Your Man"
  
• "Hey"
  
• "I Bleed"
  
• "La la Love You"
  
• "Monkey Gone To Heaven"
  
• "Mr Grieves"
  
• "No 13 Baby"
  
• "Silver"
  
• "Tame"
  
• "There Goes My Gun"

Videos for Doolittle can be found here. After the break, peep the three Weezer tracks. The songs will be available next Tuesday and Thursday on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 respectively.

Yeah, you read that right: Funcom, the creators of the Age of Conan MMO. The Norway-based studio has name-dropped "Rock Band II," despite there being no official word of the sequel from the folks who develop, publish and distribute the Rock Band franchise. Joining the ranks of two consumer surveys and a Bo Diddley obituary as unofficial bearers of Rock Band 2 news is Funcom's press release for the Age of Conan soundtrack, which proudly touts fellow Norwegian deathpunk rockers Turbonegro (or "Turboneger" as they're known around Oslo) as feature acts on the disc, who, oh by the way, are also in "the game Rock Band II."

And did you hear? Bad Religion has also been linked to the Rock Band sequel. Guitarist-songwriter Brett Gurewitz hit his Twitter watchers with this message last month: "Seven meetings and four executive decisions later, back at Sound City putting the finishing touches on 'Sorrow' for Rock Band 2."

[Via Shacknews]