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Report: Microsoft readying 'Woodstock' music service for Xbox 360, to debut at E3
When you think modern, digital music, your mind probably immediately jumps to 30-plus-year-old music festivals. Microsoft clearly understands this, as the company is allegedly preparing a relaunch/rebranding of its Xbox 360 Zune music service to be debuted at E3 2012, dubbed "Woodstock." The Verge's report comes from "sources familiar with the company's plans;" said report paints Woodstock as functional across a variety of platforms beyond the 360: Windows 8, iOS, and Android. Despite an E3 introduction, the service isn't planned for launch until this fall when Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 arrive.iTunes Match-esque functionality is also said to be part of Woodstock which will upload your library and match it with anything you've snagged from Woodstock. The report calls the service, "Spotify-like," with Facebook integration intended to allow collaboration on playlists and let users share tracks between libraries. We've asked Microsoft for a response to the report, but aren't expecting much beyond a wordy "no comment." We'll update this post if we hear anything else.Update: Shock! Microsoft reps tell Joystiq, "Microsoft does not comment on rumors or speculation." Back to listening to our Woodstock live album for now.
LotRO musicians prepare for Weatherstock 2011
With summer almost upon us, the fair free folk of Middle-earth are gearing up for the largest player-organized in-game event of the year: Weatherstock 2011! Lord of the Rings Online adventurers from around the world will flock to the summit of Weathertop in the Lone-lands on the Landroval server to hear nine excellent outfits perform in an epic Battle of the Bands. A Casual Stroll to Mordor has all of the essential details for this event, which runs from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday, June 18th. Among those contributing to the concert are The Green Hill Music Society, The Breakfast Club, and The Blackheart Pirates. Each band will perform a trio of songs (plus a possible encore) in an effort to take home one of three awards. Weatherstock is made possible by LotRO's unique music system, which allows players to compose and perform songs with a variety of instruments. This is always a fun event, and the LotRO Lorebook has additional information for those attending (hint: turn off names!). Mark this on your calendar so that you don't miss the excellent tunes!
Weatherstock '10 takes the stage in LotRO this Saturday
You know how your hippie relatives are forever bragging about how they went to Woodstock during the Summer of Free Love, and how your generation will never experience something that historical and muddy? Well, now you can get all up in their faces and say, "Yeah, but were you at Weatherstock in Lord of the Rings Online, dealing with lag and hobbits underfoot? I thought not!" Weatherstock has become a tradition on the US Landroval server, a yearly gathering of bands and music lovers at the summit of Weathertop (aka Amon Sul) in the Lone-lands. Where once Frodo and Aragorn fought off the Nazgûl, these grounds now will be covered in song and spirits. Organized by the Lonely Mountain Band kinship, Weatherstock will feature three hours of music as 10 bands face off to win prizes. However, only one group will be chosen by the crowd and declared the best. The player-run event is very organized, with "Freakout Zones" and cheap goodies available. If you play on another server and want to check Weatherstock out, lowbie characters will be protected by event security, who are tasked with beating down enemy mobs on the road to the summit. You can surf the crowd at Weatherstock on Saturday, June 12th, 7pm EST on the Landroval server.
Peanuts + Crimson Skies = Snoopy Flying Ace
What's this? Charlie Brown's beagle, Snoopy, in a game that actually looks like fun? Snoopy Flying Ace looks a little hardcore for the Peanuts crowd, pitting Snoopy against the Germans in World War I. You play as Snoopy, the flying ace, and it doesn't look like he's just fighting the Red Baron anymore, he's taking on all comers. While it's not clear if Charlie Brown, Linus, or any of the others will be showing up, Woodstock is definitely in there.Smart Bomb Interactive is developing this title, and it's doing it a bit backwards: without a publisher. The developers secured the license for the game on their own, and they're hoping someone will want to get it on shelves once it's finished... in 2010 (!). It looks like an updated version of their own Snoopy vs. The Red Baron, which Namco Bandai published a couple of years ago, and is slated to appear on "the usual consoles" according to their press release.Since we've yet to see another Crimson Skies title, this might fill the gap until we do. Especially if there's a Lucy vs. Snoopy: No Holds Barred mode.
