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Viacom suing former Harmonix stockholders for over $131 million
Viacom is suing a group of former Harmonix stockholders, seeking a refund of over $131 million that it paid out, which it calls a "contractual overpayment." According to court documents, Viacom paid stockholders a total of $149,770,149 in 2007, based on an estimate of earnings; it then said that the real amount due was $131 million less than that, and asked for the remainder back, claiming that the payments were made "on account." Harmonix shareholders brought their own suit against Viacom last year on a related topic. They actually claimed Viacom owed more in earn-out payments from the sale of Rock Band games. Both parties can't be right!
Mad Catz fully responsible for relaunch of Rock Band 3
When Mad Catz re-releases Rock Band 3 this holiday, it'll be acting as sole financier on the Xbox 360-only publishing deal. "They're actually doing the retail distribution as well as marketing support, etc. They're acting as de facto publisher for the title," Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos explained to me in an interview session late last week at the Tokyo Game Show. That makes Rock Band 3 one of the first retail Xbox 360 game to be published by Mad Catz, a long-time peripheral manufacturer who is now getting into publishing on Microsoft's console. The company's second title, appropriately named War Wings: Hell Catz, is due to arrive on PCs some time in 2012. It has yet to be announced for the Xbox 360. Additionally, Mad Catz has a rugby title due out later this year. Rigopulos also noted that the relaunch is aimed at a variety of people, from new audiences who haven't ever played a Rock Band title, to "people who are still playing Rock Band 2 or Guitar Hero players who haven't even entered the genre yet." Rock Band 3 will relaunch with Mad Catz branding and peripherals for the Xbox 360 some time this holiday season.
Rock Band Weekly: Nirvana 4-pack, 10 pro guitar upgrades
Rock Band "celebrates the twentieth anniversary" of Nirvana's Nevermind album next week by releasing four tracks off ... a different album. Three of the DLC songs are from the band's In Utero album, and the other is "You Know You're Right." Plus: There ten Nirvana pro guitar/bass upgrades.
Rock Band Weekly: Weezer, Janis Joplin
Next week's batch of Rock Band DLC includes a fourth track pack from Weezer and "Me and Bobby McGee" from Janis Joplin. That Bobby McGee sounds like such a nice boy, type of guy you want to travel the country with, visit Salinas.
Rock Band Weekly: Cheap Trick, EMF
Next week's Rock Band DLC songs want you to want them. No, they need you to need them! They'd love you to love them. Beg you to beg them. It's a cheap trick.
Rock Band Weekly: Red Hot Chili Peppers 8-pack
Consume the Red Hot Chili Peppers' new album, I'm With You, next week and wash it down with this eight-pack of Rock Band DLC. It includes three tracks off the new album and five of the band's most requested songs.
Rock Band Weekly: Incubus three-pack
Did you ever look at your Rock Band music collection and think "Incubus, I wish you were here"? Of course you didn't, because that is really corny. But for those of you who felt similarly without resorting to awful references, three Incubus tracks will be available as Rock Band 3 DLC next week.
Rock Band adds a dash of Red Hot Chili Peppers on August 30
Your Rock Band catalog lacking in spice? Come Tuesday, August 30, a total of eight new Red Hot Chili Peppers songs will be available for download, spanning the group's more recent albums -- including the band's upcoming I'm With You. If you're looking for older Chili Peppers tunes, then you can just download some of the band's classic offerings, already available. Hit the jump for the full track list.
Rock Band Weekly: Fall Out Boy and Deep Purple
Nxt wks RB DLC ftrs Fall Out Boy 3-pck. Insprd by "Thnks fr th Mmrs", w'v rmvd most vowls frm ths pst. Also, thr's 1 trck frm Dp Prpl. Hmm, tht's not ez to ndrstnd wthout vowels. Lk after th brk.
Mad Catz re-releasing Rock Band 3 with its peripherals
When our review called Rock Band 3 "the only rhythm game you'll ever need," we didn't know it'd be taken quite so literally. Mad Catz announced today that it would be releasing a follow-up to the Harmonix masterpiece ... in the form of Rock Band 3. Yes, the peripheral powerhouse has taken over publishing duties and will put the game back on shelves this holiday season. The re-release may seem like an unconventional deal (and it is) but it's easy to see the logic. For starters, the game's original publisher, MTV Games, doesn't exist any more. Plus, Mad Catz is getting more involved with the publishing world and is already the official manufacturer of Rock Band instruments. Mad Catz says it will bundle the game with its various instruments including the Fender Mustang guitar/controller hybrid, though not the drum kit as far as we can tell. We're also looking into platforms -- thus far, we know only that Mad Catz has a publisher license agreement for Xbox 360. We've reached out for comment and will let you know what we hear back. Update: For the moment, 360 is the only platform Mad Catz will confirm the rerelease for. Specific bundle details are still to come.
Rock Band Weekly: Def Leppard 6-pack
Pour some shook-up rameeeeeen, when you need a lot. Pour some shook-up rameeeeen. Shook-up ramen?
Rock Band Weekly: Beastie Boys, Heart, James Brown, Rufus
Next week's Rock Band DLC is all over the place, featuring a diverse variety of artists covering a wide spectrum of musical tastes. It's like Harmonix's DLC offering hit the shuffle button. If you're super bad, head on past the break for details.
Rock Band hits 3,000 tracks, Harmonix giving away 3,000 songs
With the release of some Yes! tracks this week, the Rock Band song catalog has reached a milestone of 3,000 songs. To celebrate this accomplishment, Harmonix is hooking up 30 Americans (sorry, international rockers) with 100 songs of their choosing each on either Xbox 360 or PS3. The mathemagicians out there have probably already figured this out but ... that's 3,000 songs total. Get it? There are a few different ways to enter, (sorry anti-social folks): Twitter, Facebook or the Rock Band forums. Sorry, there is no option to sit at home with the lights off, shades drawn, until an envelope magically shows up on your nightstand. The full list of rules can be found on the Source link below. If you're thinking about entering, act fast -- the entry period closes at 11:59pm ET on Thursday, July 28.
Rock Band Weekly: Yes 5-pack
Listen up, maggots! Next week's Rock Band DLC is a five-pack of Yes. You'll have to work as a cohesive unit of musical precision to get through songs like "Starship Trooper". Do you get me? Now, head on past the break if you would like to know more.
Stellar: Incubus track pack heading to Rock Band in August
Please, pardon us while we potentially spoil some of the Rock Band DLC offerings for August, but Incubus manager Steve Rennie already went ahead and did that on his Twitter feed. Responding to a fan request for info on Incubus tracks coming to Rock Band 3, Rennie replied, "August. 5 tracks 'Megalomaniac,' 'Pardon Me,' 'Stellar,' 'WYWH,' 'Adolescents.'" Harmonix weighed in on its own forums, which pegged the DLC as a three track pack instead, including "Adolescents," "Pardon Me," and "Wish You Were Here." The post added, "Not sure where those other two tracks came from (we may be talking with them about licensing them) but they're not part of the pack in August and they're not on the DLC spreadsheet in the near future." Fans will no doubt be happy to hear the news, as this will (bizarrely) be the first Incubus track pack for a Rock Band title. Previously, only "Drive" was available through Guitar Hero: World Tour., and "Dig" is in Lego Rock Band (exportable). We've reached out to Harmonix for pricing info and release date, but expect it to be around $5.50, given past pricing for three-song track packs. [Thanks Lewis and Sean!]
Rock Band Weekly: Soundgarden
Soundgarden will add a six-pack of tracks to Rock Band's DLC music store next week. The songs hail from the band's Superunknown, Badmotorfinger and Down on the Upside albums.
Rock Band Weekly: Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Erasure, P.O.D.
Next week's Rock Band DLC delivers metal from P.O.D. and two of the majors from the '80s UK synth-pop scene. Always remember: Frankie says, "Relax."
Rock Band Weekly: R.E.M., System of a Down, Buffalo Springfield, The Vapors
Eclecticism, thou art next week's Rock Band DLC. The selection of individual tracks includes fun party songs like R.E.M.'s "Man on the Moon" and The Vapors' "Turning Japanese."
Rock Band Weekly: Poison, 3 Doors Down
Separated by a generation, this week's two Rock Band 3 DLC music groups couldn't be more different -- except for when it comes to drunken sing-along-ability, that is. Both Poison and Three Doors Down have that going for them in spades, making each a perfect fit for the world of Rock Band.
Pac-Man Fever infects Rock Band Network today
As was promised so many, many moons ago, it's time to take your pre-emptive dose of Dayquil and prepare for full-on Pac-Man Fever. Four of the album's eight tracks are available on the Rock Band Network today, allowing all to achieve a level of public embarrassment previously unseen on this Earth for only $2 -- unless your estimated value of $2 exceeds everyone's, of course. Additionally, another Super Meat Boy track is currently available: dB Soundworks' "Betus Blues (Retro Remix)." Hit the jump for the full list of today's additions.
