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Lego Rock Band real, coming Holiday 2009
Click the image for Duplo-sized gallery If you've worried about your youngsters being exposed to the evils of rock music, worry no longer: LEGO Rock Band is coming this holiday season on PS3, 360, Wii and DS to deliver us all from said evil. The game, currently being developed by TT Games and Harmonix, will use all the existing Rock Band and Guitar Hero peripherals.The family-focused version of the game will allow you to customize your "minifigure avatars" along with your road crew and managers. The kid-friendly song list hasn't been fully disclosed, but we know it'll include: Blur: "Song 2" Carl Douglas: "Kung Fu Fighting" Europe: "The Final Countdown" Good Charlotte: "Boys and Girls" Pink: "So What" So, LEGOs or Beatles, who's getting your Rock Band dollar this year?%Gallery-50718%
The sordid history of Scratch: The Ultimate DJ
In the pending lawsuit between DJ Hero publisher Activision and Scratch: The Ultimate DJ co-publishers Genius Products and Numark, all we've heard are each sides' allegations and condemnations of the other. What we haven't heard, however, was the long and messy tale leading up to the current state of things between former Scratch developer 7 Studios (now owned by Activision), Genius Products and, apparently, Brash Entertainment. Yes -- that Brash Entertainment.According to The Cut Scene, Scratch began development in 2007, allegedly by 7 Studios and Brash Entertainment. In summer of the same year, Brash decided to focus on licensed properties and sold off the IP to Genius Products. The piece further alleges that by late last year, Genius Products was having financial problems and was not so much being courted by major publishers (including MTV, EA, Ubisoft and, yes, Activision) as it was trying to sell off a seemingly toxic asset. If The Cut Scene's anonymous sources are to be believed, there's a lot more going on here than it would seem.
The Beatles: Rock Band limited edition bundle priced, detailed
Finally, a few whispers straight from the horse's mouth. While we've heard rumor after rumor regarding the actual hardware to be bundled in with the sure-to-be-hot The Beatles: Rock Band, MTV Games, Harmonix and EA have come forward today with a few succulent tidbits to keep you interested until the 09.09.09 launch. We're told that the Limited Edition Premium Bundle will include the game itself, a Höfner Bass (which will undoubtedly do Sir Paul McCartney and southpaws the world over no favors by being right handed), a microphone, a microphone stand, undisclosed "additional special content" and the real kicker -- a Beatles-inspired and Ludwig-branded Rock Band 2 drums, complete with a classic pearl finish and vintage replica Beatles kick drum head. The whole kit is slated to launch worldwide this September, with USers having to pay $249, Europeans paying €199 and Britons paying £179. Finally, we're told that North American and European fans who pre-order any version of the game will be eligible to join the The Beatles: Rock Band Pre-Order Club and "receive breaking news and access to exclusive game elements including art and behind-the-scenes footage directly from MTV Games and Harmonix." Oh, goody!
Beatles Rock Band features multi-mic support, harmonious performances?
Wouldn't it be great if you and your mop top-clad friends could all sing together in the upcoming The Beatles: Rock Band? According to a rumor found in the latest issue of Game Informer, Harmonix is doing just that: including multiple-microphone support for players to harmonize on the tracks. Not much else is given, but a NeoGAF forum poster who last week claimed to have played an early version adds that three mics were being used -- one for each instrument -- and there was also a new harmony trainer mode to ensure your vocal talents were up to snuff. We'd advise a good bit of skepticism, no matter how much sense it seems to make or how many of you dreams would come true if this turned out legit. In the meantime, you can go back to deciding which of the Fab Four you're gonna pretend to be first when the game launches on September 9.[Via Joystiq]Read - Multi-mic supportRead - Harmony trainer
The Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition bundle to contain replica bass, drums
GameStop just announced details of the Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition Premium Bundle. According to an email sent out to customers, the Bundle will include a a Höfner bass, "The Beatles-inspired and Ludwig-branded Rock Band drums with classic pearl finish, a metal kick pedal and a vintage replica drumhead," a microphone and stand, as well as "additional special content." We're guessing that the drum set's careful description means it'll be an embellished Rock Band 2 drum set, rather than an accurate replica of Ludwig drums. You can get an idea of what it's supposed to look like at the game's website. And we're also guessing that EA couldn't get the rights to a Rickenbacker guitar. Even if it is Paul McCartney's bass, the inclusion of a bass and no guitar seems odd!The email teases an upcoming The Beatles: Rock Band Pre-order Club, which enables members to "receive breaking news and access to exclusive game elements, including art and behind-the-scenes footage." You know, if you're a huge fan of ... pre-ordering.
DISH Network adds seven new Viacom HD channels, cements HD supremacy
If you want your MTV HD you can get it, and BET HD, CMT HD, Comedy Central HD, Nickelodeon HD, Spike TV HD and VH1 HD on DISH Network. Thanks to a new deal with Viacom, all those HD feeds were announced today as available to all subscribers at no extra cost. Also included? Video on-demand and Internet streaming rights that senior VP Dave Shull had no problem claiming as a testament to DISH's "continued HD leadership" while also asserting its HD supremacy. BET HD is available on the Classic Silver 200 HD package and up, while all the rest are on the Classic Bronze 100 lineup.
Rock Band Unplugged detailed, priced and dated
What better way to start the mid-week than with a hefty dose of Rock Band Unplugged info? The game will be available in the US and Europe on June 9, making this the first Rock Band game to be released in both regions during the same six-month period on a Sony system. There's no word on a European price yet, but Americans will need to part with $39.99 in order to grab the game. A limited edition PSP package will also be released on June 9 and will include Rock Band Unplugged, a download voucher for School of Rock, a 4GB memory stick and a Piano Black PSP for $199.99. Rock Band Unplugged will be the first PSP title to have a "fully-featured in-game store," through which several songs -- listed below -- will be made available exclusively for a limited time before being released across the entire Rock Band platform. And yes, your existing PlayStation Network ID will be supported. 3 Doors Down - "Kryptonite" AFI - "Miss Murder" Alice in Chains - "Would?" Audioslave - "Gasoline" Black Tide - "Show Me the Way" Blink 182 - "What's My Age Again" Freezepop - "Less Talk More Rokk" Jackson 5 - "ABC" Tenacious D - "Rock Your Socks" [Update] Also, check out the new trailer after the break. %Gallery-49568%
Resident Evil 5 cinematic director in talks to make Capcom film
Jim Sonzero, the cinematic director who worked on soon-to-be-released Resident Evil 5 told MTV that he's in talks with Capcom to develop a live-action film based on one of the company's properties. No young upstart, Sonzero has worked on commercials and a feature film, Wes Craven's Pulse (presumably, Jim Sonzero's Pulse lacked a little marquee punch).Sonzero's not talking specific IPs, so we'll leave it to you in the comments to speculate. Here, we'll start. Vin Diesel + blue armor + an arm that is a gun = box office gold.
The Beatles: Rock Band launching worldwide on 9/9/09
Okay, so it will be a Rock Band game. Apple Corps LTD., Harmonix and MTV Games have announced that rock music's dream cast, The Beatles, will be reduced to multicolored note charts on 9/9/09, when the "The Beatles: Rock Band" launches worldwide on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii. The "unprecedented, experiential progression through and celebration of the music and artistry of The Beatles" will allow players to tackle a cavalcade of culturally monumental songs via mic, drums and guitars, all included in a Limited Edition Premium bundle for $250 (all platforms) and "modeled after instruments used by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr throughout their career." Standalone guitars will also be available ($100), as will separate game discs ($60, all platforms) for those already surrounded by Instrument Protagonist equipment. According to the press release, The Beatles: Rock Band will be compatible with all prior Rock Band instruments and "other current music-based game peripherals." And now we wait until September. God, we hope the person behind the store counter is named Jude. It's going to be SO funny when we ask for a copy.Update: Speaking to an MTV representative, we confirmed that despite the "collaborative decision" to append the Rock Band brand, The Beatles will remain a "custom, standalone, dedicated game experience." MTV and Harmonix are not willing to discuss matters regarding DLC or song importation yet.
The Beatles come to 'Rock Band,' instruments and all (update)
Do you love the Beatles? Do you love Rock Band? Are you ready to totally lose it? If you said yes, that's good -- because MTV Games and Harmonix have just announced a partnership with Apple Corps, Ltd. to bring the band's music and instruments to the Rock Band universe. According to the PR, the game (which apparently lets you do all kinds of awesome Beatles-related rocking) will also premiere with a set of new hardware "modeled after instruments used by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr throughout their career." Right now they've just got a holder page up with a launch date of September 9th, but as soon as we get our eyes on the gear, we'll let you know.Update: Here's some more information to cleanse your pallet. The game, known henceforth as The Beatles: Rock Band, will be sold software-only for $60 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii (note the extra Hamilton over the usual Nintendo pricing). The standalone guitars will be sold separately for $100, and if you're opting for the Limited Edition Premium Bundle, featuring the game and all instruments, it'll set you back $250. No word on pricing outside of US just yet. Despite the Rock Band branding, it's considered a standalone title and no one is talking right now about any connectivity, downloadable content or transferring of songs between Beatles and other RB games. According to Joystiq, you'll be able to rock out to 45 songs from the band's 1962 to 1969 EMI catalog. Full press release after the break.
Rumor: Ubisoft exec takes job at MTV/Jerry Bruckheimer game venture
Jay Cohen, who recently left his position as North American VP of publishing at Ubisoft, is apparently taking the reigns of MTV and Jerry Bruckheimer's ever-gestating video game initiative. The Cut Scene reports that "numerous sources" have confirmed that Cohen has taken a job at the studio formed by the two media giants.This is actually the first murmuring we've heard about the joint venture since it was announced 15 months ago. No word yet what the next step will be for the studio, but at least they've got a guy at the top who could make Bruckheimer's name mean to games what it does in movies and TV.
Coolest librarians EVER in trouble for playing Rock Band
Imagine, if you will, that you have entered a library. Imagine further that a librarian approaches and, upon meeting you, asks, "Would you like to play Rock Band?" Would you think that this librarian was A) the greatest librarian in the history of librarians or B) wasting taxpayer money? If you chose B, you appear to agree with Omaha, Nebraska's Action 3 News, which recently filed a report about a group of local librarians using state funds to purchase Rock Band for its gaming workshops. Worse still, the librarians even had the audacity to film themselves assembling and playing the game -- during work hours -- and then uploaded the results to YouTube.Indeed, the offense was so egregious that Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley launched an investigation into the matter, the results of which will be looked over by a group appointed by Governor Dave Heineman. To think that a library would purchase video games in order to attract more young people -- something many libraries are starting to do -- and then promote it via YouTube, where plenty of young people are likely to see it, boggles the mind. It's practically unconscionable.Check out the incriminating YouTube video after the break (which also includes a little DDR action).
Harmonix, MTV donate money and Rock Band to Starlight Children's Foundation
Harmonix and MTV have announced plans to donate a minimum of $50,000 to the Starlight Children's Foundation, an organization that helps seriously ill children cope with disease or life-altering injuries (readers may recall Nintendo partnering with Starlight last year). In addition to the cash donation, Harmonix will be donating over 650 Rock Band bundles to the organization for use in partner hospitals and at its Great Escape events, which will give Starlight children and their families "a behind-the-scenes look at Rock Band, a chance to meet the game's creators, a sneak peak at new content and other once-in-a-lifetime experiences." The partnership will also allow Starlight families to attend the Rock Band Tour. Paula Van Ness, CEO of Starlight Children's Foundation, said that the games will provide "distractive entertainment therapy for thousands of seriously ill children" and expects the games to have "a powerful, therapeutic effect."Protip for partner hospitals: Stay away from "In Bloom." That whole "sell the kids for food" thing might not go over very well.
Cable companies work to bring new online content to pay-TV subscribers
In an effort to maintain relevancy during a time when online TV viewing is on the rise, a number of big name cable companies are looking to throw in online companion packages to sweeten the pay-TV equation. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that top cable providers (namely Comcast and TWC) and TV networks are looking to assemble a large swath of online programming -- some of which has been previously unavailable -- and deliver it only to subscribers. As it stands, loads of shows are available right now for free via Hulu and broadcast websites, but some channels without online portals can only be caught via cable. From what we're gathering, it seems that these operators could be working to bring some of that content to the web, essentially providing a means to tune into a Comcast or TWC lineup without having to be in front of the set-top-box. Update: Due to some quotes taken out of context, we have revamped our story above to show a clearer picture of the cable companies' intentions.
Peggle turf war causes 'Peggie' to change its name
After MTV reported yesterday that some low-grade Peggle clone, called Peggie, was being distributed in the iPhone app store, some associates of kingpin PopCap Games decided to step in. Resorting to a simple cease-and-desist order, PopCap had JSeuss Software change the name of its baking soda-based product to Pegs in Space. PopCap Games has made millions off the casual games trade, creating thousands of Zuma whores and Bejeweled babies. The attack on Peggie probably has to do with the cartel's plans to launch Peggle on iPhone within a couple of months. PopCap needs to make sure the addicts keep hitting the good stuff.
MTV's Palladia loads up on Grammy nominees this weekend
It doesn't look like Palladia will be getting any (much-needed) brand new content this weekend, but from Friday at 9 p.m. right up until the 51st Grammy Awards begin Sunday evening at 8, expect programming centered around the various nominees. MTV Live: Kings of Leon and Soundstage: Robert Plant will be airing on the network for the first time, plus a long list of artists you've probably seen repeated many times already. Check after the break for the complete list, if you think you can handle it.
Rock Band Weekly: Thin Lizzy, Pat Benatar, The Pretenders ... Nikko
For next week's Rock Band offerings, Harmonix is doling out a quintet of five classic rock songs from the likes of Thin Lizzy, Pat Benatar and The Pretenders. And hey, if you're too young to know who any of these people are, there are a couple of Nikko songs for ya (no relation to Nico of Velvet Underground fame), from the movie Spectacular!Thin Lizzy 3-Pack (440 / $5.49) "Boys are Back in Town (live)" (160 / $2) "Cowboy Song (live)" (160 / $2) "Jailbreak (live)" (160 / $2) Individual Songs "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" - Pat Benatar (160 / $2) "Precious" - The Pretenders (160 / $2) "Don't Tell Me" - Nikko (80 / $1) "Break My Heart" - Nikko (80 / $1) Videos for these songs can be found after the break. All tracks are masters and will be available for download next Tuesday and Thursday for Xbox 360 and PS3, respectively.
Billboard: Rock Band to have 'as many as 5000' tracks available this year
MTV expects Rock Band to activate overdrive this year and have over 5,000 songs available for play, reports Billboard. Developer Harmonix hit its goal of having over 500 songs, spread across discs and DLC, on the music platform by the end of last year. Although we have no reason to doubt Harmonix's ability to provide content, the math dictates that an average of over 90 songs would need to release every week for the rest of 2009. Even if that figure is mitigated by special discs (like AC/DC) or Rock Band 3 (unlikely), the developer has its work cut out. We've contacted Harmonix to find out if its publisher is being realistic.Update: Full Harmonix statement after the break.[Via GameDaily]
Rock Band Wiikly: Six more tracks, just what we needed
Another week, another bundle of Rock Band DLC oldies for the Wii, which according to the press release should be available now.Individual Tracks (200 Wii points apiece) "Attack" - 30 Seconds to Mars "Gimme Three Steps" - Lynrd Skynrd "Live Forever" - Oasis "Just What I needed" - The Cars "Siva" - Smashing Pumpkins "Tell Me Baby" - Red Hot Chili Peppers Fun fact: the Rock Band series has about 559 songs. At this point, Wii owners have access to 212 of them, leaving 347 songs to go. At 6 songs per week -- not counting any future DLC -- we should see Wii owners catch up to everyone else some time before mid-2010.
NPD: Guitar Hero World Tour outsells Rock Band 2 by 2:1 in 2008
The NPD Group has tallied up all of the SKUs for Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero World Tour -- both multi-instrument packs and separate games -- and found that Activision / Neversoft's rocker came out on top with 3.4 million units sold last year, twice the number achieved by Rock Band 2 (1.7 million). Though the staggered release dates (especially for Wii) didn't help matters, this hardly indicates a terrible loss for EA's side. The Guitar Hero branding is, after all, a powerful force to be reckoned with. We'd be interested to see how the original Rock Band fared last year, given that it's also competing for living room space alongside the other two. And hey, why not throw in some Rock Revolution sales data? We could use a laugh.
