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Fun with math: Some Rock Band UK packs inconsistently priced on PSN

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 27th 2009 at 3:00PM }

It appears that, in some cases, the PSN Rock Band track packs in the UK are receiving a price hike in comparison to the individually purchased songs. An EU PlayStation forum user notes the discrepancy, which applies no discount to pack purchases, making it cheaper to purchase all of a pack's tracks individually. The issue had previously been contained to packs with over three songs, but next week's update appears to break that trend. However, reviewing previous weeks with track packs of three, it appears that the EU and UK pricing were accidentally reversed for next week, but we won't be able to confirm that until the update goes live.

We've confirmed the pricing anomaly for the UK PSN Store and we're following up with Harmonix to figure out what's going on. Check out examples of the pricing inconsistencies after the break.

[Thanks Si]

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Philanthropic rockers playing 1,000 Rock Band songs for Child's Play

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 27th 2009 at 11:00AM }

We know you've probably already spent an irresponsible amount of dough this morning on hot Black Friday deals, but there's a unique gaming marathon for charity (a charithon?) taking place right now that could use some help meeting its $3,000 donation goal. Check out the web page of Clan of the Gray Wolf, where four gentlemen are attempting to play 1,000 Rock Band songs for approximately 80 hours, all the while collecting money for Penny Arcade's Child's Play Charity.

So, instead of buying that set of Growing Pains-themed salt shakers simply because they're 75 percent off, why not lend a helping hand to four guys who, in 80 hours, are going to have the worst blisters anyone's ever had, ever?

Rock Band Network rolls out fully in early 2010

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 26th 2009 at 1:15PM }

Harmonix's Rock Band Network is still working out the kinks and will launch in "early 2010." In a statement to Kotaku, the developer explained that it's working on getting the public beta tools out "before the end of the year," with the store front to launch sometime at the beginning of next year.

Musicians with ample time and high computer proficiency can begin preparing their tracks now with the creator tools, but the open beta will grant access to the private website where all the RBN community stuff will occur. If you're a musician or programmer (or ... procisian?), let us know what you think about the tools in comments.

Gallery: Rock Band Network

Rock Band Weekly: Nirvana, Night Ranger

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 25th 2009 at 3:20PM }

Ummm ... "Smells Like Teen Spirit." That is all one needs to know about next week's Rock Band DLC. How many of us out there will finally learn the lyrics to the song we mumbled for years every time it popped up on the radio?

Remember radio? Wow, feels like forever ago. Check out the full update after the break.

Select a platform below to view complete DLC listing:

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Rock Band platform now has over 1,000 songs

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 25th 2009 at 2:00PM }

A recent press release has informed us that with the release of today's Rock Band 2 DLC pack, Harmonix has met its goal of having over 1,000 songs on the platform before the holidays. According to the presser, these tracks represent the work of 390 musical artists. The rhythm gaming community has downloaded over 60 million songs from the Rock Band Music Store, which Harmonix has kept alive and kicking with new musical additions for 105 consecutive weeks.

To put this achievement in chronological terms, we'd estimate that the average length of these songs is, oh, about four minutes. By our calculations, a full playthrough of the Rock Band catalog would take you two days, 18 hours and 40 minutes. Not accounting for the number of times you'll inevitably fail out on "Painkiller," of course.

Congratulations, Harmonix, on this rocking accomplishment! Now, get back to work. That Paul Simon track pack isn't going to program itself.

Rock Band Weekly: Tom Petty, Go-Go's, Kelly Clarkson, Pink

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 20th 2009 at 11:30AM }

A live version of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' "Mary Jane's Last Dance" is available next week within the band's Rock Band DLC six-pack. The song may not be everyone's cup of formaldehyde, but it's certainly memorable for conjuring up one of the creepiest music videos of all time. We have no idea what the song is actually about, but it will always be the story of Tom Petty stealing Kim Basinger's corpse from the morgue, dressing her up, and then at the end .... AHHhhHhHHHH!

Check out the full update after the break, no new Rock Band Unplugged DLC next week.

Update: PSN will updated on Tuesday.

Select a platform below to view complete DLC listing:

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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:

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Dhani Harrison: Rock Band 3 will make you better at actual rocking

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 7th 2009 at 1:00PM }

In a recent interview with the Chicago Tribune, Dhani Harrison, The Beatles: Rock Band contributor (and son of the late, great George Harrison), spoke about his involvement in future iterations of the popular rhythm franchise. "I'm working on Rock Band 3 and making the controllers more real so people can actually learn how to play music while playing the game," Harrison explained toward the end of the interview. "Give me a couple years, it's going to happen."

We wish Harrison and the entire Harmonix crew the best of luck in this endeavor, if only so they can finally stymie the infinitely deplorable "why don't you learn how to play a real instrument" contingency. Man, we hate those guys.

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:

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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:

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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:

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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:

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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:

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Ten Queen tracks coming to Rock Band later this month

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 2nd 2009 at 2:29PM }

Say it with us, friends, in a high-pitched, sing-song voice: Queen is coming to Rock Band! A rumor we heard in late August claiming Harmonix is planning to bring a slew of Freddie Mercury-voiced tunes to its rhythm platform is true. In the last week of October, the Music Store will be visited by the following tracks: