Console Monster writes: "The weekend is officially here and so is some brand new content on the Xbox Live Marketplace. New Lips and Guitar Hero: World Tour tracks appear to be the pick of the bunch. Here is the full Xbox Live Marketplace update for Friday 19th June 2009:

Game Add-Ons

Lips: "Take Back the City"
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Size: 109 MB
Purchase this Premium Song to add "Take Back The City" as performed by Snow Patrol to your Lips library. You'll get the song's track, chart, lyrics, and original video. A Lips game disc is required to play this downloadable content. Once your purchase is complete, go to Get Music in the game, and then add this song to your library. Visit lips.com to check out all the songs you can get, song credits, news, and join the Lips community. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts..."
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NowGamer: Guitar Hero's song pack pricing has faced some criticism in the past, but producer Brian Bright explained to NowGamer the amount of work that goes into producing each track and defended their price.

"It's a lot of work," said Bright. "First of all we need nine streams for all the audio. Then everything gets note-tracked. And just for one guitar-track, it can take a guy a week..."
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Like clockwork, Guitar Hero World Tour is again getting more music for Danny "Phenom" Johnson to set world records to. Today the sixth European Track Pack hits the digital shelves bundled and as singles. Included in this pack are:

Placebo – "The Bitter End" (France)
Loquillo y Trogloditas – "Cadillac Solitario" (Spain)
Finley – "Adrenalina" (Italy)

Then the progressive rock band Phish will make their first appearance in Guitar Hero with three live recordings later this month. Also coming this month to Guitar Hero are three tracks from Ben Harper and Relentless7's debut album, White Lies for Dark Times. The Phish Track Pack will be available on June 25th, while the Ben Harper and Relentless7 Track Pack will be out on June 18th.
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Console Monster writes: "It goes without a doubt that today is one of the best Xbox Live Marketplace updates to date with brand new downloadable content for seven titles including the likes of Call of Duty: World at War, Burnout: Paradise, Saints Row 2 and more. It's probably worth mentioning that a lot of what is on offer is at the very cheap price of free! Here is the full Xbox Live Marketplace update for Thursday 11th June 2009:

Call of Duty: World at War: Map Pack 2
Price: 800 Microsoft Points
Size: 458 MB
Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 2 continues to expand the addictive COD multiplayer experience with four new maps. Battle to control the river bridge in "Banzai" a bright jungle map featuring a waterfall and hidden caves. In "Corrosion" face down your enemy in a shattered train yard, and in "Sub Pens" wipe the monsoon rain from your eyes as you struggle over a bombed-out submarine base. The Zombies return in "Shi No Numa" (Zombie Swamp) featuring Perk machines, the deadly new Wunderwaffe DG-2, new Achievements and flaming Hell Hounds. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts..."
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Gamestop.com is running a huge blowout sale for many different bundles of Rock Band, Rock Band 2 SE, and Guitar Hero.
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Console Monster writes: "The Xbox Live Marketplace rarely receives Xbox Live Arcade titles on Thursdays but today seems to be an exception with Cell Factor: Psychokinetic Wars releasing, alongside a surprise Overlord II demo, a free Guitar Hero: World Tour song and more. Here is the full Xbox Live Marketplace update for Thursday 4th June and Day 4 of E3 2009:

Full Game - CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars
Price: 800 Microsoft Points (Free Trial available)
Size: 310 MB
CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars is a fast-paced first person multiplayer shooter. Choose your side in the battle of technology vs. humanity. Manipulate your environment and kill your enemies with your choice of gunfire and/or telekinetic superpowers. Use your mind to rip objects from the environment and smash them in any direction or use your powers to create a bullet-proof energy shield. Flying, teleporting, and accelerated speed give you countless ways to kill or be killed. Take on the three single player challenge modes (one mode for each character) or battle live enemies throughout the world in one of four multiplayer modes! There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts..."
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lvl2 writes:

"Welcome to the weekly round-up of DLC content expected to hit Xbox LIVE in the week ahead. We have tried our best of compile all the planned updates into one, so if we forgot any, please forgive us. Not much is being released this week, but Fable II fans should be happy at least."
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Today kicks off the first of three solid weeks with the free Ferret/Metal Blade Track Pack features "On Broken Glass" by Chimaira, "Dez Moines" by Devil Wears Prada and "Grave of Opportunity" by Unearth.
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ActiBlizz has announced that Guitar Hero World Tour was the number one best-selling third-party title in the U.S. across all platforms in dollars.

Same in Europe, and thanks to Wii, Guitar Hero World Tour was the number one best-selling third-party title in dollars for the Nintendo system and the only third-party game to rank as a top-five best seller for the platform.

European sales for the Guitar Hero franchise grew 84 percent y-o-y.

The investors call is ongoing, and we will keep up with the goings on for you.
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Buried in today's Elecrtonic Arts earnings call was this amazing revelation from COO John Pleasants: Revenue for music/rhythm games was down 36% during the first quarter of the year and 42% in March, per NPD. As a result, EA has cut the gross sales revenue it expects from its EA Partner division, which distributes "Rock Band" for Viacom.

That's a huge decline. And keep in mind that there weren't any major music game releases during the first quarter of last year, while 2009 saw "Guitar Hero: Metallica" (albeit at the very end of March). As we started to see in late 2008, sales of "Rock Band 2" and "Guitar Hero: World Tour" must be down massively from the original "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero III."

And while EA CEO John Riccitiello said he feels "really bullish" about "Rock Band: Beatles Edition," the fact that the company is expecting $400 million less in sales indicates just how big an impact continued sales of "Rock Band" through last year mattered, and how far "Rock Band 2" is lagging.
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This week music fans should be happy because lots of music will be hitting LIVE this week. Also Fallout 3 fans get their 3rd bit of DLC, out of what is expected to be 4 parts.
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Slashgamer: "Prince is considered to be one of the greatest musicians of our time. Honestly, even if for some reason you can't stand him, it's hard to argue his greatness, just look at his achievements. The artiest has won seven Grammy Awards, one Golden Globe and even an Academy Award for his work on Purple Rain.

Even with his legendary work, comes controversy. Without me getting to much into it, just go to his Wikipedia page and look under 'controversy.' With that said, PBS asked Prince on his thoughts about Guitar Hero. Although he didn't necessarily criticizes the rhythm game, he just doesn't think it should be a substitute for playing an actual guitar."
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"Downloadable Track Pack for Guitar Hero World Tour featuring "Very Ape", "Sappy" and "Stay Away" by Nirvana."
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Metal mavens, pop stars and global invaders can rejoice this May with three new downloadable Track Packs coming to Activision's Guitar Hero World Tour. The eclectic downloadable set list opens with free music from Ferret Music and Metal Blade Records, followed by Pop from P!nk, Angels & Airwaves and OneRepublic, rounded out with three smash-hits from Europe.
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Konami, in collaboration with Raw Thrills and Activision have brought the world wide phenomenon of Guitar Hero to European arcades in conjunction with Electrocoin, who will be the UK Distributors
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The Major has let everybody know that you're now able to get three new songs for Guitar Hero: World Tour from Xbox LIVE Marketplace, featuring the musical styling of classic metal band, Motörhead.
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There are plenty of deals on video games this week, as much as 50% off some games and gear. Guitar Hero games and accessories, as well as PlayStation hardware too. Here's a round-up of various video game deals that are going on this week. You may want to check them out soon, because supplies are limited!

Among the offers are:
$20 off the PLAYSTATION 3 Uncharted Bundle
$20 off LittleBigPlanet
Guitar Hero Aerosmith for free when you buy Guitar Hero Metallica
Resistance Retribution or MLB 09 for free with PSP
Guitar Hero On Tour Guitar Bundles for 50% off
Buy 1 Xbox 360 or PS3 game at Target, get 50% off another
Get $20 off Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars when you purchase a DSi
and more!
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Activision Blizzard has announced that its March quarter net revenues and earnings per share are ahead of previous goals, citing Call of Duty, Guitar Hero and (of course) World of Warcraft as franchises that continue to stay strong despite the economic downturn.
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Console Monster writes: "The last day of the working week is here due to the extended weekend because of Easter, but Microsoft is already treating us to some cracking content. The highlight is the release of the Halo 3 Mythic Map Pack, and having had my hands on it for a while now, I must say it is rather good. There's also new Guitar Hero: World Tour tracks and Sonic Unleashed downloadable content. Here is the full Xbox Live Marketplace Update for Thursday 9th April 2009:

Halo 3 Mythic Map Pack
Price: 800 Microsoft Points
Size: 328 MB
Description: The long-awaited Mythic Map Pack drops into Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Investigate Orbital's abandoned hallways - before it was evacuated, the Quito Space Tether was heralded as the "Civil Engineering Monument of the Millennium." Witness Assembly, where Scarab hulls loom overhead, being decontaminated in preparation for the city-sized Lekgolo colonies that will breathe life into the massive metal husks. An excavation site surrounded by deadly Forerunner defenses, the mysteries of Sandbox are hidden high above, deep below, and right before your eyes. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts..."
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The critically acclaimed and longest-running musical at London's prestigious Dominion Theatre, We Will Rock You - based on the music of Queen - has partnered with Activision's Guitar Hero World Tour to offer patrons the ultimate night of rock. Before and after select performances of the hit musical, which embarks on its first UK tour this month, people will be able to rock with Guitar Hero World Tour to three of Queen's hit tracks, C-Lebrity, Fat Bottom Girls and We Are The Champions, as well as the entire 86-song on-disc set list, with prizes awarded to the best virtual performers. The game will also be featured at regional We Will Rock You preview and launch events, where members of the cast can mingle with press and VIPs.
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