mtv-games posts (Subscribe to this feed)

Rock Band Weekly: AFI, The Bangles

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 13th 2009 at 12:30PM }

AFI will be available next week in a Rock Band DLC five-pack of ... oh wow, The Bangles' "Walk Like an Egyptian" is there too! Hey guys, it's "Walk Like an Egyptian!" So, all you foreign types with hookah pipes better do the sand dance, don't you know?

Check out the full update after the break, along with Rock Band Unplugged's new DLC.

Select a platform below to view complete DLC listing:

Continued →

Beatles: Rock Band 'Sgt. Pepper's' DLC debuts Nov. 17

by Xav de Matos { Nov 13th 2009 at 10:15AM }

In a move no doubt inspired by the Movember Movement, Harmonix and MTV Games have revealed that the second DLC album for The Beatles: Rock Band, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, will release the week of November 17. Tracks from the British sensation's eighth studio album, as featured in the DLC release, include:

"Fixing A Hole"
"She's Leaving Home"
"Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!"
"Within You Without You"
"When I'm Sixty-Four"
"Lovely Rita"
"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)"
"A Day In The Life."

Xbox 360 and Wii owners can purchase the DLC on Tuesday, November 17. The tracks will be available as a complete Track Pack for 1080

($13.50) or 160

($2.00) individually on Xbox 360; and 200 Wii Points ($2.00) per track on Wii. PlayStation 3 players get a few extra days to grow out their glorious mustaches when the pack lands on PSN on Thursday, November 19 for $13.49 (or $1.99 per track).

As previously revealed, Beatles fans can look forward to next month when 1965's Rubber Soul will become available as the game's third full-album DLC.

Harmonix employees harmonize during a cappella Paramore song performance

by Ben Gilbert { Nov 9th 2009 at 7:02PM }

Since only a fraction of Joystiq is headquartered out of Boston, MA we unfortunately aren't eligible to be honored with "Top Places to Work" awards like Beatles: Rock Band developers Harmonix, nonetheless host a company-wide singing contest. If we could though, we'd like to think our singing chops would at least match the five gentlemen (four from audio and one engineer) found singing Paramore's "That's What You Get" after the break.

Winning first "among mid-size companies" and third overall in The Boston Globe's "Top Places to Work" survey, the 320 employee-strong music/rhythm-game studio was praised for its studio-wide a cappella singing competition. "I would do a lot to stay here," says senior writer Helen McWilliams. "It's really hard to imagine going from this company to any other company." That whole "making successful games" thing probably doesn't hurt either.

(Thanks, DarkArchon)

Continued →

Rock Band Weekly: The White Stripes, The Damned, Kasabian

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 6th 2009 at 11:20AM }

Forget that Jack White finds it "depressing" that kids are learning about music through rhythm games -- there's gold in them thar virtual hills! Next week's Rock Band DLC adds a pack of songs from The White Stripes, with tracks off of three different albums.

We've also added this little guy to Rock Band Weekly:

. He indicates tracks that are considered "family-friendly" enough for Lego Rock Band. Such marked songs will be available in LRB's music store, as well as appearing in the regular Rock Band music store. [Thanks to our friend Dustin Burg for the Lego head!]

Check out the update after the break, along with what Rock Band Unplugged players can expect for DLC next week.

Select a platform below to view complete DLC listing:

Continued →

Viacom: The Beatles: Rock Band sales strong, overall RB growth slow

by David Hinkle { Nov 4th 2009 at 8:29PM }

Even though John, Paul, George and Ringo have been rocking the disc tray of your favorite console with The Beatles: Rock Band, its expectation-exceeding sales haven't helped boost overall Rock Band sales. Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman told USA Today the "economics of our Rock Band franchise are improving, though not as quickly as we'd like." There's still hope that Rock Band could at least break even or show a small profit, though Viacom CFO Tom Dooley said that will depend entirely on the franchise's performance this holiday season.

Despite tanking sales, the music genre still remains one of the best in the industry and The Beatles: Rock Band shows us that the right approach could still determine financial success in the space. Its September debut was very fortuitous and it even managed to best Guitar Hero 5 in the US -- which not only came with a free game, but is also one of the most recognizable brands to the mainstream.

Source - USA Today
Source - Viacom earnings report

Rock Band Weekly: Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Joan Jett

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 30th 2009 at 11:30AM }

Next week's Rock Band DLC could have been a little Dave Grohl fiesta, offering up tracks from his days back in Nirvana and now with Foo Fighters, but it turns out that he wasn't with the genre defining grunge band until after Bleach, which happens to be part of next week's DLC. But, we're pretty sure Grohl was with Foo Fighters during the time they recorded the tracks that make up the band's third DLC pack for the music game.

Completely unrelated to Grohl (maybe there's a six degrees of separation in there?), there will also be one track from Ms. Joan Jett thrown in the mix. Check out the update after the break, along with what portable players can expect from Rock Band Unplugged's DLC.

Select a platform below to view complete DLC listing:

Continued →

New LEGO Rock Band trailer will brick your screen

by David Hinkle { Oct 26th 2009 at 10:00PM }

At this point, many of you have likely already formed your Final Opinion™ on the blocky cousin to your regular, run-of-the-mill Rock Band: LEGO Rock Band. This latest trailer should then either excite you or induce a lifeless "meh." For us, it's the former, with the best part of this trailer obviously being the brief look at Chuck Norris rocking the guitar, right around the 58-second mark.

Oh, and a little "Final Countdown" certainly doesn't hurt.

Rock Band Weekly: Rob Zombie, Wolfmother and ... 'Daisy of Love'

by JC Fletcher { Oct 23rd 2009 at 11:45AM }

Harmonix and MTV are billing next week's Rock Band DLC update as a spooky, Halloween-themed selection, mostly due to the inclusion of some Rob Zombie classics and a new Wolfmother set (zombies and wolves are scary, right?). Right? But the really scary part, for us, is the addition of two tracks from Morningwood -- now you'll be able to play the Daisy of Love theme song. Creeeeeepy.

Also, we have to raise a very important issue: How can you have a Halloween music store update with no "Monster Mash?" How is "Monster Mash" not in the Rock Band Store right now? And whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?

Select a platform below to view complete DLC listing:

Continued →

Here comes the trailer for Abbey Road from The Beatles: Rock Band (do do do)

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 20th 2009 at 2:00PM }

For those of you ready to Carry That Weight and swing Maxwell's Silver Hammer, Harmonix and MTV Games released the full "Abbey Road" album download today for The Beatles: Rock Band. Rather than simply release the songs, the DLC comes with new animations for the four British gents and, in some cases, new "dreamscapes" (the pseudo-psychedelic animations tripping our your friends while you play songs).

The trailer above offers a medley sampling of the whole album, should you not be acquainted with it. But then, we must ask, what planet are you from where "Abbey Road" is an unfamiliar album?

Gallery: The Beatles: Rock Band: Abbey Road DLC

Beatles: Rock Band bests Guitar Hero 5 in U.S. Sept. sales

by James Ransom-Wiley { Oct 20th 2009 at 12:30PM }

The Beatles: Rock Band's initial U.S. tour at retail has proven boast-worthy for its promoters. Following two promising platform appearances in NPD's top 10 software sales chart for September, MTV Games and Harmonix have declared B:RB "the top selling music video game in the U.S. for September." The Beatles–only game (released September 9) outsold Guitar Hero 5 (released September 1) with 595,000 units to 499,000 units in total U.S. sales for the month, according to a statement released by the NPD*. Additionally, charity-driven purchases of the "All You Need Is Love" DLC track exceeded 100,000 downloads on Xbox 360 in September.

The makers of B:RB have also rubbed in a few seemingly noteworthy facts; namely, (1) U.S. purchases of GH5 in September were eligible for a free mail-away copy of Guitar Hero: Van Halen, and (2) GH5 is available on one additional platform, PS2. Of course, Van Halen isn't exactly the American equivalent of The Beatles, and the PS2 is no longer the dominant platform to stage one's acts upon. Still, despite the staggering odds stacked against its success, B:RB managed to capture the mindshare of U.S. gamers. (And we all know that Americans like to speak their minds with their monies.)

The sales de-feat must feel good for MTV Games and Harmonix -- what with B:RB being burned in the sales competition with GH5 by the kingdom that birthed the band (see: Chart-Track UK September sales rankings posted after the break). What was it? Right: Guitar Hero 5 supposedly outsold The Beatles: Rock Band "2-to-1 in the UK."

So, score a victory for B:RB in the battle of the bands fought in U.S. retail last month. But let's not forget there's a bigger, "World War of Rock" being waged, as well. And our wallets are the oft-unreported collateral damage.

Continued →

The Beatles: Rock Band 'Abbey Road' album DLC detailed

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 19th 2009 at 3:30PM }

The Beatles: Rock Band will have the entire Abbey Road album available for download this Tuesday on Xbox 360 and Wii, followed by PS3 on Thursday. The full album won't be lonely for long, as Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band will arrive in November, with Rubber Soul walking onto the scene in December.

The full Abbey Road DLC setlist and pricing details can be found after the break.

Continued →

Rock Band Weekly: A killer Queen pack

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 16th 2009 at 11:42AM }

We've known for quite some time that Queen DLC was to grace Rock Band Weekly. Yes, we've dubbed it the "All The Good Ones Except for Bohemian Rhapsody" Track Pack, but that doesn't make the offering any less exciting. Next week's update will have living-room bands cringe as their respective vocalists attempt with all their might to sing like Freddie Mercury. Then again, if the kids of Glee can sing "Somebody to Love" together, then maybe everyone in the band should pitch in.

Check out the full Rock Band Weekly update, along with the update for Rock Band Unplugged, after the break.

Select a platform below to view complete DLC listing:

Continued →

Brian May thinks Queen: Rock Band 'may happen'

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 13th 2009 at 11:20AM }

In a recent interview with the BBC, Queen guitarist Brian May commented on his inclusion in Lego Rock Band, calling his brickification "the ultimate accolade." Shortly thereafter, the conversation got a bit more fascinating. May mentioned that there had been discussion "going on behind the scenes" about the possibility of a Queen: Rock Band akin to the Beatles-dedicated title, which dropped last month. He later added, "yes, we're into it, I think it may happen."

Queen's a great band. A really, really, really great band. However, Beatles: Rock Band was successful because of the immense cultural significance of the band upon which the game was based. We're not sure that Queen possesses enough historical relevance to work quite as well. Also, 10 of their best songs are hitting the Rock Band Music Store at the end of the month, meaning a dedicated title would probably dip into their weirder catalog. What say you, readers? Are you psyched about the prospect of rocking out to "The Invisible Man?"

[Via CVG]

Rock Band Weekly: Brutal Legend pack, Black Tide, Blink-182, Satriani, Kansas, L7

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 9th 2009 at 10:40AM }

Corporate synergy is well at work when the Brütal Legend pack rolls its way into next week's Rock Band DLC update. The track grouping includes Mötorhead, Tenacious D and Testament. To wash all that metal down, there are also individual songs from Kansas and Blink 182. For those upset by all of this: you can pull a "Jeremy" in front of the class*, which joins Unplugged next week.

*Yeah, don't do that.

Check out the full Rock Band Weekly update, along with the update for Rock Band Unplugged, after the break.

Select a platform below to view complete DLC listing:

Continued →

Report: More Motorhead coming to Rock Band

by David Hinkle { Oct 9th 2009 at 1:00AM }

During an interview with Public Radio International, Harmonix co-founder Eran Egozy spoke about his current musical inspirations and walked listeners through a tour of his offices. While making his way through the cubicles and sacrificial chambers that undoubtedly inhabit the offices that rawk built, the PRI host stumbled upon one employee playing something that sounded a bit familiar -- something that sounded a lot like Mötorhead.

"I was working on '(We Are) The Road Crew,' which is an upcoming DLC track," the Harmonix employee responded to inquiries about the track. Of course, Lemmy and his pals are no strangers to Rock Band or games in general; Mötorhead is featured in the upcoming Metal Track Pack, frontman Lemmy has been immortalized in Guitar Hero: Metallica and he was almost Eddie Riggs in the upcoming Brütal Legend.

[Via Plastic Axe]