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Rock Band Network Store to offer free song demos
Even if you're not willing to spend 20-40 hours creating an original Rock Band song, the upcoming addition of the Rock Band Network to Rock Band 2 will prove to be a worthwhile experience for all fans of the franchise. A new patch will add the Rock Band Network Store to Rock Band 2 this November, and will grant PS3 and Xbox 360 owners access to a whole new catalog of music that goes well beyond the scope of official Rock Band Weekly releases.To prepare for what could be an overwhelming amount of new content, the new store will offer an even more comprehensive sorting method. Options available in the front menu will grant easy access to the "Top 10," "Harmonix's Picks," "Random," and "Browse." Players will be able to browse music by artist (alphabetically), or by an expansive amount of sub-genres, as eclectic as speed metal and rockabilly.None of the songs on the Rock Band Network will be free, ranging from $1 to $3 in price (set by the artist). However, players are encouraged to try out these user-provided songs through free demos. Every song on the Rock Band Network will offer a free demo lasting one minute or 35 percent of the song's length, whichever is shorter. The songs download to the system hard drive and can be played from the Quick Play menu as any other track. The song will abruptly end when the demo is over, and players will be given an option to quit, purchase the song, or delete it from the hard drive. Purchasing the song will grant immediate access to the full track; there's no need to re-download the entire song.We love being able to try free demos, and we're certain that Rock Band Network will prove to be a new way for people to discover music. However, why keep this feature exclusive to user-created songs? We pressed Harmonix to confirm the expansion of a demo option into licensed DLC releases, but for now, there are no plans to transplant the demo experience into the full Rock Band Store. Boo.%Gallery-71018%
Impressions: Rock Band Network (Creation)
Within seconds, it's clear that Rock Band Network isn't for amateurs. The tools being offered by Harmonix are fully-featured, professional programs that are meant for artists serious about getting their content into Rock Band and, yes, making money. With Harmonix admitting that first-time users will take 20-40 hours to finish a single song "all the way," it's clear that this isn't meant for the average gamers that have a bit of spare time on their hands.There are four main steps in getting a song onto the upcoming Rock Band Network Store. The most important (and most time-consuming) part of the process is creating the note tracks. Harmonix has partnered with Reaper to create a Rock Band-specific plug-in that allows music producers to start creating Rock Band tracks. Caleb Epps demonstrated the program to us, noting, "what you see is what we use at Harmonix."For anyone that's produced MIDI music, the interface should be incredibly familiar. What makes the Rock Band version of Reaper special is how everything is already clearly laid out and labeled: each color of each instrument has its own specific track. Producers simply add notes to each of the tracks, and a separate playback window will show how it will look like in-game. It's a time-consuming process made even more complicated by the fact that new tracks must be created for every difficulty: you won't be able to upload an Expert-only song, for example.%Gallery-71018%
Rock Band Network Store coming to PS3, Wii players out of luck
Aspiring artists that want to publish their songs in the Rock Band Network will have to stick with Xbox 360. The tools, which were developed through Microsoft's XNA program, can't be ported over to Sony's machine. However, PS3 owners will still be able to access a large number of user-uploaded songs through the Rock Band Network Store, which will be patched into Rock Band 2 late this year; most likely in mid-November.Not every song from the Rock Band Network will be available for PS3 owners. The option to bring a song over to the PS3 version of the Store will be offered at Harmonix's discretion, and even then it will be entirely "opt in." Artists will have to do some paperwork to properly port their songs onto the PlayStation Network, a process Harmonix believes no one will refuse. "It's more revenue, right?"Essentially, PS3 owners will have access to the "greatest hits" of the Rock Band Network, while members of the Xbox 360 Creator's Club will be able to play and review every song that passes through the servers. Wii owners, on the other hand, are completely out of luck. "We would love to get it running on the Wii," Harmonix told us. However, the studio doesn't have the ability to patch games on Nintendo's platform. Until Harmonix discovers a workaround, Wii owners can only purchase additional songs officially distributed through Rock Band Weekly.%Gallery-71018%
Rock Band Weekly: Tom Petty, Billy Idol, Jet
Whoops! In case you didn't notice, we let this week's Rock Band Weekly slip -- there were a few more pressing matters to attend to at the time. Alas, dear reader, spread across the various platforms you have a veritable smorgasbord of downloadable music at your finger tips. The premiere of Tom Petty in Rock Band? Got it. How about some Billy Idol? That's here too. Head past the break for a week's worth of Rock Band DLC across all four platforms. Select a platform below to view complete DLC listing: [Image credit]
Rock Band DLC to hit 1000 tracks by holiday with help of Queen, Nirvana & Elton John
Aside from announcing the first three Beatles albums to be released as DLC for upcoming tear-jerker The Beatles: Rock Band, MTV Games and Harmonix today revealed intentions to bring the Rock Band DLC count to 1,000 songs by this holiday. At the current rate Harmonix is releasing songs for the franchise -- without factoring in the Rock Band Network -- that's roughly 500 songs per year.Additionally, the companies have revealed a number of the artists that will be contributing to the holiday goal, including Queen, Nirvana, Tom Petty, Elton John, Iggy Pop, The White Stripes, Pantera, Talking Heads, Korn, and The Raconteurs, as well as the ever elusive "and more." You can always find out what new tracks are coming to Rock Band as DLC (and what's on the way) by using our Rock Band Weekly feature.%Gallery-27156%
Rock Band Weekly: Foo Fighters, Blur, Dropkick Murphys, Blind Melon
So, are we all getting used to Rock Band Weekly across the various platforms being combined in one serving every Friday? No ... um, tough noogies. This is the way it's going to be for the time being. Next week brings a new Foo Fighters pack to the PS3 and Xbox 360, while the Wii gets a whole mess of Red Hot Chili Peppers songs. Meanwhile, Ms. Benatar and Coheed and Cambria make their way to Unplugged. Check it all out after the break.. Select a platform below to view complete DLC listing:
Rock Band Weekly: Gorillaz, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, The Who
Oh my, too many good tracks in next week's Rock Band Weekly to play off of for the basis of this post. Do we ask about breaking off a piece of our heart because of the Janis Joplin track, or do we go ask Alice when she's 10 feet tall? Ask her what? Exactly! A perfect psychedelic question. Now, feed your head by checking out the full list of tracks for all of the various Rock Band games after the break -- oh yeah, there's also the Gorillaz next week. Select a platform below to view complete DLC listing:
Pearl Jam's next album simultaneously arrives at retail, in Rock Band 2
For a site that writes about all things video games, we've written an awful lot about Pearl Jam over the last couple of years. In fairness, Pearl Jam has been making a lot of noise on the rhythm game front, releasing an entire album as DLC for Rock Band 2, eliciting responses from their community on a future "Rock Band project," and now, announcing that their next album is dropping day and date at retail as well as DLC for Rock Band 2. Billboard spoke with the band and confirmed that their next album, titled "Backspacer," will be "available on Rock Band the day it comes out." Additionally, Target will be getting its own version of the album that will come with a code to download various PJ songs in Rock Band -- a tactic that the group's employed in the past. "Backspacer" hits stores and XBLM/PSN on September 20. [Via VG247]
Rock Band Weekly: Spinal Tap, Black Sabbath, Foo Fighters
It appears that Rock Band Weekly and Rock Band Wiikly will be combined into one post every Friday, along with Rock Band Unplugged's DLC, for the foreseeable future. We certainly appreciate being aware of future DLC in one concentrated dose that -- if injectable or smokeable -- would have us waking up on the bathroom floor of our hotel room in a puddle of our own sick. Rock on! Check out the full details after the break. Select a platform below to view complete DLC listing:
Rock Band Weekly: KISS, Motley Crue, Alien Ant Farm
Your regularly scheduled Rock Band Weekly and Rock Band Wiikly will not be seen today, as we interrupt your programming with an amalgamation of the two. Harmonix has announced the latest round of Rock Band DLC and, as post headlines would have you believe, it contains notable amounts of Blink-182, Weezer, and KISS. Don't let your parents know you're downloading any KISS, though. It totally stands for Knights in Satan's Service. Select a platform below to view complete DLC listing:
Sub Pop announces support for Rock Band Network starting this fall
Riding on the coattails of last Friday's Rock Band Network reveal, indie label Sub Pop is the first record company to officially pledge its support for the new DLC initiative. Rolling Stone spoke with Sub Pop A&R exec Tony Kiewel, who said, "This conceivably could be the opening of the floodgates." Sub Pop intends to convert its "entire catalog" -- which includes Sonic Youth, early Nirvana, and The Postal Service -- to playable tracks.Additionally, Kiewel notes that future artists' releases on his label will automatically get the Rock Band treatment. "This'll be another format alongside vinyl and CD." The only difference between buying the newest Shins album from the Rock Band Network versus at the record store? The disdainful look from the Paramore t-shirt-clad cashier on your way out of the record store.
Interview: Shaimus
Shaimus is a band born out of Harmonix, featuring former employees Phil Beaudreau and Johannes "Rash" Raasina, and has been lucky enough to have songs in both Guitar Hero ("All Of This") and Rock Band 2 ("Like a Fool'). They recently launched a new album, and we caught up with them at one of their Los Angeles shows to see what it's like being a rock band in a video game about ... rock bands.Read the interview after the break, and check out one of their free tunes right here.%Gallery-68220%
Rock Band Weekly: Judas Priest, The Dead Weather, Big Dipper
Rock Band Weekly drops three packs of three on thee next week. The "treat" in there -- depending on how snobby the music aficionados are feeling today -- is the three tracks from The Dead Winter. A "new" band, whose debut album Horehound drops next week, is comprised of several known artists from alternative rock bands, they just come from known bands. How about that?! Check it out.Judas Priest Pack (440 / $5.50) "Dissident Aggressor" (Live) (160 / $2) "Eat Me Alive" (Live) (160 / $2) "Prophecy" (Live) (160 / $2) Big Dipper Pack (440 / $5.50) "All Going Out Together" (160 / $2) "She's Fetching" (160 / $2) "Younger Bums" (160 / $2) The Dead Weather Pack 01 (440 / $5.50) "Hang You From the Heavens" (160 / $2) "No Hassle Night" (160 / $2) "Treat Me Like Your Mother" (160 / $2) All tracks are original masters and are available for download next Tuesday and Thursday on Xbox 360 and PS3, respectively.
Rob Thomas knows digital marketing, wants in on Rock Band
Matchbox Twenty front man Rob Thomas, currently promoting his second solo album, told The Cut Scene Blog that he "obviously" wants his music in Rock Band; however, he hasn't been asked. While Thomas admits he isn't much of a gamer, he does have an 11-year-old son who enjoys rocking out to MTV and Harmonix's latest music title."There's something great about watching [my son] playing a Pixies song with me on Rock Band," he said. Thomas added, while Rock Band showcases the familiar world of music to children, the game has the ability to expose younger audiences to a wide "assortment of music." According to Thomas (above, center) -- who has become known for using new technology to promote his work -- he would welcome the opportunity to make the jump into his son's game of choice. We always welcome new music into our music games, but Thomas needs to wait his turn. We're still waiting for Ghostbusters, for crying out loud.
UK music charts want to add rhythm game DLC tracking
UK's aptly named Official Chart Company has a fairly progressive idea for how to more accurately tabulate the sales success of musical artists on its Official Download Chart -- by including the sales statistics for tracks offered as downloadable content for rhythm titles such as Rock Band, Guitar Hero: World Tour and SingStar.To compile and include this data, it would take a great deal of negotiation between the record companies, the Official Chart Company and the game's developers, but we think it's definitely worth the trouble -- if only so we could try to get Stephen and the Colberts on the UK Weekly Top 40.
Xbox Live Top 10: Halo, can anyone hear me?
Xbox Live sure can, Master Chief, as your game Halo 3 was once again the most played title on Xbox Live. For the week ending June 29, many gamers took to the floating rings in space for some first-person combat, knocking down the duo of Call of Duty: World at War and Call of Duty 4 to second and third place, respectively. The rest of the list posted by Major Nelson is pretty run-of-the-mill, save for what came in last place: Rock Band 2. We can't remember the last time Rock Band 2 populated this list. So, good for you, little game-that-could! On the XBLA side, it's all about the Worms 2. Explosive sheep were quite the draw, as the sequel to Team17's fragfest managed to beat out another popular XBLA title, Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalker. We guess Magic: The Gathering is all tapped out. Get it? Hello? Where are you going?
Rock Band Wiikly: Green Day, Mayhem tracks, many others
This week's Rock Band Wiikly was already partially announced with last week's Rock Band Weekly. Green Day and the Mayhem track pack (not in pack form) will be available tomorrow on the Wii's Rock Band Music Store, along with The Presidents of the USA and a bunch of other artists from the back catalog. Check out the full list after the break.
Rock Band Weekly: Green Day and Mayhem Pack
Next week's Rock Band Weekly brings the announced three-pack from Green Day's 21st Century Breakdown album. The tracks are apparently the first offerings from an "exclusive partnership" between Harmonix and Warner Music to bring the band's songs to the platform. Green Day isn't even the angriest band this week ...Green Day Pack (440 / $5.50/ 200 Wii Points apiece) "21 Guns" (160 / $2) "East Jesus Nowhere" (160 / $2) "Know Your Enemy" (160 / $2) Mayhem Pack (1080 / $13.50/ 200 Wii Points apiece) "Conquer All" -- Behemoth (160 / $2) "What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse" -- Black Dahlia Murder (160 / $2) "Hammer Smashed Face" -- Cannibal Corpse (160 / $2) "Empire of the Gun" -- God Forbid (160 / $2) "Embedded" -- Job for a Cowboy (160 / $2) "Disposable Teens" -- Marilyn Manson (160 / $2) "Black Magic" -- Slayer (160 / $2) "This Is Exile" -- Whitechapel (160 / $2) All tracks are original masters and are available for download next Tuesday on Xbox 360 and Wii. They make their way over to PS3 on Thursday.
Rock Band Wiikly: Pearl Jam, Mission of Burma, Offspring and more
Rock Band Wiikly's tap has flowed with massive quantities of tracks for weeks now. Sure, the releases aren't exactly synced with Rock Band Weekly, but the back catalog of Rock Band DLC is certainly being filled in. Our concern that it would take until mid-2010 for the full catalog sync is slowly dissipating. This week's update of 16 tracks to the Wii music store includes the Pearl Jam tracks from a couple weeks back, along with a whole mess of other stuff. Find the full list after the break.
Play Rock Band with bands from the Warped Tour
As part of its sponsorship of the Vans Warped Tour, Harmonix will be giving attendees a chance to play Rock Band with the actual bands performing. The strange thing about Harmonix's post about this promotion is that the developer gives the name of the bands you'll have the opportunity to play with, but not the location of the tour at that time. So, take a look at the list of bands after the break and compare them to the tour stops in your area.
