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New Rock Band 3 bundles from Mad Catz include 5 free DLC songs
Rock Band 3 is still alive and kicking, despite everything happening behind-the-scenes, and in an effort to rekindle the world's love for rhythm games and plastic instruments, Mad Catz Interactive has released 5 new instrument bundles for the Xbox 360. Each bundle includes the game, a DLC code for 5 different Red Hot Chili Peppers songs, and your choice of Fender Mustang Pro-Guitar ($150), normal Stratocaster controller($70), or normal Precision Bass controller ($80, available in three designer colors). Absent from these bundles, as you may have noticed, are the microphone and drum kit controllers known and loved by annoying college roommates the world over; a void the used market will undoubtably step in to fill.
Mad Catz shows off line of Rock Band 2 peripherals at E3
We all know that the talent of a musical performer is less important than the instrument through which they channel their rocking energies -- that's why we were pleased as punch to get a look at Mad Catz's impressive line of Rock Band 2 peripherals during E3. Sure, $200 might sound outrageous for a controller, but after viewing their full-sized (and realistically weighted) wireless Stratocaster and Precision Bass guitars, complete with foot pedals for easier "overdrive" activation, the list of things we would rather drop two Benjamins on quickly evaporated.The heavyweight axes will be available Q1 2009, but Engadget got a sneak peek at some of Catz's less publicized periphs, due out this fall. These include M.I.C. ($30), a microphone with built-in buttons from a standard Xbox 360 controller, Portable Drums ($60), which include four flat pads that can be used on any surface, the "Official Cymbals" ($30 for 3 or $15 each), which will plug into three slots on the kit's center console, and the Kick Drum Screen -- though we're not exactly comfortable calling a circular piece of cardboard you apply to the front of your faux drum kit a "peripheral".
Live shots of Mad Catz's full-size Rock Band 2 Fender Stratocaster and Precision Bass controllers
While we love Rock Band 2 as much as the next guy, playing that miniaturized plastic controller will forever look a little dorky (or just make us look like giant men, which is kind of cool). Nothing wrong with looking dorky -- heck, we make a living of it -- but Mad Catz's new full-size Stratocaster and Precision Bass controllers for Rock Band 2 are bringing the cool back. They're exactly what you think they are: actual Fender Squire axes turned into Rock Band 2 controllers, with the size, heft, and weight you'd expect from dad's electric guitar. Of special note was the Precision Bass controller, which has a dual flipper and thumb rest to allow fast pickers to do their thing Entwistle-style. They are also wireless, will come with a foot pedal for overdrive, and the guitar controller will have a whammy bar, of course. Unfortunately, Mad Katz didn't add the optical sensor for display calibration, but we'll forgive them for now. Look for these for $199 in Q1 2009 for both Xbox 360 and PS3. We caught them live at E3, and they look as impressive as they sound. Peep the gallery below if you dare.%Gallery-27952%
