Harmonix, the world's premier music video game development company, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today announced the rock-pop pioneers of No Doubt will bring 13 tracks to the Rock Band® music catalog of downloadable content expanding the Rock Band library to include more than 500 songs!
» Read More 

HMXHenry, a Harmonix developer, writes on the official Rock Band forums:

"I thought you RB.com forum regulars may be interested to know that the fine folks at Energizer have decided to give away DLC with their new Advanced Lithium Batteries.

This deal applies to both XBox Live and the Playstation Store, so if you're in need of new batteries and some new DLC then this should work out nicely for everyone.

You can track down the batteries at most major electronic retailers: Meijer, Circuit City, Kroger, SAMs Club and, you know, other places that sell batteries."
» Read More 

Rock Band Gets No Doubt Hits Harmonix has announced that thirteen of ska pop band No Doubt's greatest hits will be making their way to Rock Band. The new song pack will be available for download on Tuesday, December 9th on Xbox Live and Thursday, December 11th on PSN.
» Read More 

MTV Multiplayer writes: "We broke the news that the highly regarded microphone bundled with Microsoft's "Lips" karaoke game would not work with "Guitar Hero" or "Rock Band" at launch.

Harmonix and MTV Games have now addressed gamers' concern over the lack of compatibility, and there's good news to be shared."
» Read More 

Nyko Technologies announced today the Metal Pedal, a heavy-duty drum pedal attachment plugs directly into the standard drum set for use with Rock Band 1 and 2, or Guitar Hero: World Tour on all consoles.
» Read More 

That Gaming Site Writes: "I play real Guitar and Guitar Hero.

Being a fan of both, I've been subject to numerous arguments over and over about how playing Guitar Hero or Rock Band is a waste of time and that 'nerds' should try picking up a real instrument and do something productive for a change. It was in this week's edition of NME (a British Indie Music Publication) that brought me this comment, in an article that........"
» Read More 

MCV: The Guardian sticks up for gaming following attack from music mag NME
» Read More 

In a video blog entry on metal outfit Megadeth's official site, shaggy-haired frontman David Mustaine has described those who refuse to embrace new digital publishing methods as "old ****ing dinosaur bands."

Megadeth, naturally, considers itself pretty forward-thinking in this regard: its album Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? has been released as Rock Band DLC.
» Read More 

Tracks:

Children of Bodom - Are You Dead Yet
Finley - Tutto E' Possibile
Platero y Tu - Hay Poco Rock N Roll
Squeeze - Tempted
Tokio Hotel - Ready, Set, Go
The All-American Rejects - Real World

All above tracks are $.99 (80 Microsoft Points) for a one month limited time window.

Miranda Cosgrove - Headphones On
This track is totally free!

Naked Brothers Band - Body I Occupy
Naked Brothers Band - I Don't Want to Go to School
Both Naked Brothers Band tracks are permanently $.99 (80 Microsoft Points)

DLC is released on Xbox 360 on Tuesday 12/2 and PS3 Thursday 12/4. All tracks are masters.
» Read More 

Quote:

"The Singles Collection to be released for Rock Band
Posted by IGA on Nov 20, 2008 | Comments (1) | Views: (728)

On December 9th, Rock Band will release No Doubt's The Singles
Collection. Fourteen tracks will be available for download on the Rock Band site ( http://www.rockband.com/music ) for $19.99 or single songs"
» Read More 

HMXHenry, a dev on the Rock Band forums says,

"Ready for this week's DLC announcement? This week you've got a 3 Pack from The Killers, a 3 Pack from Yngwie Malmsteen, 2 singles from Soundgarden, and 1 single from Lamb Of God! We're not too far away from 500 tracks now.

The Killers 3 Pack!

Mr. Brightside
Smile Like You Mean It
Spaceman

Yngwie Malmsteen 3 Pack!

Caprici Di Diablo
Damnation Game
Red Devil

Soundgarden Singles!

Jesus Christ Pose
Pretty Noose

Lamb of God Single!

Laid To Rest

Each track is available for $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) or $5.49 (440 Microsoft Points) for the complete three packs.

All tracks are masters.

This DLC will be available on 11/25 for both Xbox360 AND the PS3 (thanks to the holiday next Thursday)."
» Read More 

As part of the "New Xbox Experience," as Microsoft is calling it, the company has made it possible to view downloadable content in terms of user popularity.

It's not as robust or scientific as the Nintendo Channel and MTV Multiplayer doesn't know how long it's been tracking these statistics, but it does provide some insight into gamer habits.

So, what are the top five downloads for gamers who are playing "Rock Band 2," "Guitar Hero: World Tour," "BioShock," "Halo 3? and "Gears of War"?
» Read More 

Console Monster writes: "With the New Xbox Experience launching tomorrow, some of today's content could be the first of many you download via the PC Xbox Live Marketplace. Here is the full Xbox Live Marketplace update for Tuesday 18th November 2008:

Name: Mirror's Edge Launch Trailer
Price: Free
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions

Name: NFS Undercover TV Spot (Post-Launch)
Price: Free
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions

Name: Shaun White Snowboarding Hang with Your Friends Theme
Price: 150 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions..."
» Read More 

The spirit of competition between Activision and Harmonix's respective rhythm franchises is still very much alive and well -- shortly after Activision announced that a trio of tunes from post-punk darlings The Killers would be making their way onto Guitar Hero: World Tour as DLC, MTV let it slip to Wired that they would be adding their own Killers triple-pack to the Rock Band Music Store on the very same day (Nov. 25). Man, what a bizarre coincidence!

Two of the three songs which are about to be thrust into Harmonix's already intimidating music library are relative oldies: "Mr. Brightside" and "Smile Like You Mean It" -- but a title from the Killers' new album, Day & Age, will also make an appearance: "Spaceman". The article on Wired mentioned nothing of pricing details -- though it's probably safe to assume they'll match the $2.00 (160) per song/ $5.50 (440) per pack price point we've all come to know and love over the past year.
» Read More 

HMXHenry, a Rock Band developer, writes:

"Hey gang,

Here's this week's DLC announcement! You have your choice of three different 3 packs, and one single.

Dead Kennedys 3 Pack:
California Uber Alles
Holiday In Cambodia
Police Truck

Mission Of Burma 3 Pack:
Mica
That's How I Escaped My Certain Fate
That's When I Reach For My Revolver

Century Media Girls of Metal 3 Pack:
In This Moment - Forever
Lacuna Coil - Closer
Lacuna Coil - Swamped

Crooked X Single:
Crooked X - Gone

Each track is available for $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) or $5.49 (440 Microsoft Points) for the complete three pack... EXCEPT for the Crooked X Single, which is only $0.99 (80 Microsoft Points).

All tracks are masters.

This DLC will be available on 11/18 on Xbox and 11/20 on PS3."
» Read More 

Viacom Inc., controlled by Sumner Redstone, will pay the creators of the ''Rock Band'' video-game bonuses exceeding $300 million as part of the 2006 acquisition of their company.

Harmonix founders Alex Rigopulos, 38, and Eran Egozy, 37, received $150 million last quarter for exceeding performance targets, New York-based Viacom said in a Nov. 3 regulatory filing. A final payment in 2009 will exceed $150 million, the company said.
» Read More 

Todd Hargosh of GiN writes:

"It's no surprise: I'm a Rock Band addict. Sure, I'm currently in the process of testing out Guitar Hero World Tour, and am enjoying it quite a bit (despite a bum orange crash cymbal that will require a tuning kit). But I've always been partial towards Harmonix's music masterpiece.

Of course, with the release of Rock Band 2 last September (on the 360 at least, the PS3 and Wii would have to wait a month longer) MTV wanted to promote the Rock Band franchise even further, and in doing so they announced the Rock Band Live tour. I had a chance to attend last Friday's live concert at the Patriot Center in downtown Washington D.C., and despite not knowing a lot about most of the bands in attendance, I was able to enjoy myself.

The main headliners in the show included Dashboard Confessional and Panic at the Disco, whom I remember from playing their song "Nine in the Afternoon" on Rock Band 2. In addition, both the CAB and the Plain White T's performed in the opening acts, and all proved to be quite entertaining for the crowd in attendance at the arena.

But of course the show was not just about the four bands that performed, it was also a chance for fellow Rock Band aficionados to get together and partake in the game they enjoy playing. Around the venue were several Xbox 360 stations set up to play all the songs from Rock Band 2, complete with the new line of instruments, including the new Fender Precision Bass guitar."
» Read More 

This Sunday the Boston Globe will name Harmonix, developer of Rock Band, one of the top places to work in Massachusetts.

The rankings were based on a survey collected by an independent company of around 70,000 employees in the state. Harmonix managed to grab the #11 spot on the overall list, #5 on the list of "best small workplaces," and came in at #3 of the "most inclusive" company. If all the rankings were averaged together, Harmonix would earn a solid #2 in the overall "best small inclusive workplace" list.
» Read More 

GamingShogun writes, "Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom's MTV Networks, (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along with distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced plans to ship Rock Band® Track Pack Volume 2 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the Wii home video game console from Nintendo on November 17, 2008..."
» Read More 

Over at the official Rock Band forums, Harmonix has announced that the DLC for 11/11 will be the much anticipated Foo Fighters Album "The Colour and the Shape". Tracks include:

1. "Doll"
2. "Monkey Wrench"
3. "Hey, Johnny Park!"
4. "My Poor Brain"
5. "Wind Up"
6. "Up in Arms"
7. "My Hero"
8. "See You"
9. "Enough Space"
10. "February Stars"
11. "Walking After You"
12. "New Way Home"

The Colour and the Shape will be available for download starting November 11, 2008, for the Xbox 360 and November 13, 2008, for the PS3. Pricing will be $19.99 (1600 Microsoft Points) for the album, or $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) per track. All tracks are masters.
» Read More