ShackNews writes:

"Rock Band developer Harmonix has announced nine new tracks for next week's downloadable content update for its Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 stores. The Offspring are headlining next week with a three-track pack, available as a bundle for 440 Microsoft Points ($5.50) or individually for 160 Points ($2)"
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G4tv.com is reporting a rumor that Motley Crue's 'Dr. Feelgood' Album is coming to Rock Band as DLC. Check the link for details on the date and track list.
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MTV2 and Time Warner Cable announced today that NYC-area rock band Lights Resolve won the Rock Battle NYC competition, and as a result they will be the opening act for the November 2nd stop of the Rock Band Live Tour.
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AC/DC comes to Rock Band beginning this November with the worldwide release of AC/DC LIVE: Rock BandTrack Pack by Harmonix. The band's songs will be available on November 2nd in the US. Europe, Australia and New Zealand can expect to see the pack in early December.
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The CutScene writes:

"I may be the only one, but I've been wondering what would happen to all the music in "Rock Band 1" now that "Rock Band 2" is out. Yes, people who own "Rock Band 1" can transfer those tracks to their hard drive and use them in the sequel for $5. But let's saw you are starting your "Rock Band" experience by buying the new #2. You've got 80+ songs on the disc and hundreds available for download. What if you want to get "Blitzkrieg Bop" or "Gimme Shelter?"

I asked MTV and the answer is: buy "Rock Band 1." It and Harmonix plan to keep publishing the first "Rock Band" indefinitely. On the one hand, this is nice, since it keeps all those songs available to people who buy "Rock Band 2" (or future sequels and spin-offs, one would assume). But is it really the best option?"
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HMXSean, a developer from the official Rock Band forums, writes:

"Hey everybody,

We're proud to announce next week's content for DLC - Red Hot Chili Pepper's Blood Sugar Sex Magik full album. One track, Give It Away is available on the disc of Rock Band 2.

Album: Blood Sugar Sex Magik

The Power of Equality
If You Have to Ask
Breaking the Girl
Funky Monks
Suck My Kiss
I Could Have Lied
Mellowship Slinky in B Major
The Righteous & The Wicked
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Under the Bridge
Naked in the Rain
Apache Rose Peacock
The Greeting Song
My Lovely Man
Sir Psycho Sexy
They're Red Hot

The full album of Blood Sugar Sex Magik will be available for $19.99 (1600 Microsoft Points). Each track will also be available for $1.99 individually (160 Microsoft Points). The album will be available on Tuesday, September 30th on Xbox 360, and Thursday, October 2nd on PS3."
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Gameplayer has unearthed an interesting development in the pricing of Rock Band and Guitar Hero this Christmas that could change the way music game fans approach their purchases.
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For anyone that's ever thought "Where the hell am I supposed to put this drum kit?" after a long Rock Band session, Mad Catz has the solution for you. Take away all that plastic that makes the drum kit so bulky (and also allows it to, you know, act like a drum kit) and what you are left with is the drum pads themselves, a kick pedal, and the pseudo-controller. Mad Catz calls this the "Portable Drum Kit". Genius!
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Console Monster writes: "Today's Xbox Live Marketplace update is heavily dominated by new Rock Band tracks (which will also be compatible with Rock Band 2). Don't forget about the Halo 3 title update which is now live and can be obtained by putting in your Halo 3 game disc when connected to Xbox Live. Here is the full Xbox Live Marketplace update for Tuesday 23rd September 2008:

Name: Burnout Bikes Trailer
Price: Free
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions

Name: Rock Band - Stone Roses "Love Spreads"[Track]
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions

Name: Rock Band - Sleater-Kinney "You're No Rock N' Roll Fun"[Track]
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions..."
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ButtonMasher writes: EA have just sent out the official word that Rock Band will in fact be releasing this year. The date (as per the title) is set for October the 31st and it will be releasing on all four platforms, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2 and Nintendo Wii. Also released with the release date is the pricing for the various bundles and additional song packs on the platforms that do not have a download service for the game. The pricing for the full Instrument pack will be $219.99 with the Software selling separately for $99.99 (or $79.99 on the PS2/Wii)
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Almost a year after it's release in the US, Rock Band 1 is finally coming to Australia. "EA confirms Harmonix-developed band simulation game finally making its way down under on November 7"
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HMXSean a dev on the Rock Band forums says,

"Hey everybody,

Looks like the technicals have been taken care of. Rush's "Moving Pictures" comes out for real next week! In addition we have tracks from Bad Religion, The Cult, Hot Hot Heat, Kasabian, Sleater-Kinney, and Stone Roses!

Rush's Moving Pictures Full Album

Tom Sawyer (orig version)
Red Barchetta
YYZ
Limelight (orig version)
The Camera Eye
Witch Hunt
Vital Signs

The full album will be available for $10.99 (880 Microsoft Points) or $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) per track individually.

We are also releasing a bunch of individual tracks:

Bad Religion - Sorrow
The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary
Hot Hot Heat - Bandages
Kasabian - Shoot the Runner
Sleater-Kinney - You're No Rock N Roll Fun
Stone Roses - Love Spreads

Each of these tracks will be available individually for $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points).

All tracks are master tracks."
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According to GameRush.nl a distributor of videogames has listed the yet unknown "Rock Band Song Pack 1" and "Rock Band Song Pack 2". Both these packs will be available on disc.

The first pack will be released on the 25th of september on Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 2 costing 29,99 euro. The 25th is also the day some parts of Europe will finally get their Wii, PS2 and PS3 versions of Rock Band.

The second pack will be released on PS2 and Wii as well, also with a 29,99 pricecard. This is not quite that amazing because both these consoles lack the capacity to save lots of data on a harddisk. BUT... (yes there's a but) there will be a PS3 and Xbox 360 Rock Band Song Pack 2 as well!!

The Rock Band Song Pack 2 is listed with a november 20th release. The PS3 and Xbox 360 version will cost 69,99 euro.
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Console Monster writes: "After yesterday's rather weak content, today includes two new demos to the Marketplace as well as new content for Burnout: Paradise and a free Rock Band track. Here is the full Xbox Live Marketplace update for Thursday 18th September 2008:

Name: Infinite Undiscovery Theme C
Price: 150 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions

Name: Dead Space Isaac Clark Theme
Price: 150 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions except Germany

Name: Gears Of War 2 Trailer - Every Gun
Price: Free
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions except Germany..."
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Brandon Undead of the Destructoid community blog says,

"Today we (Walmart) received some material concerning promotional efforts for the forthcoming AC/DC studio album (sold exclusively at Wally World), 'Black Ice'. In it was a bunch of stuff about selling hats, and t-shirts, and AC/DC branded stadium seats, and- WAIT! What's this!?

An AC/DC Rock Band 2 Expansion Pack? 'AC/DC Live at Donington' ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? I wondered for a long time if they were referring to DLC, and then remembered we can't sell DLC in a Wal-Mart store. Unless someone has come up with something super-flashy that I don't know about, this must be a physical disc.

By virtue of my totally lady-moistening skills of espionage, I have provided super-secret-spy-cam proof of this memo, and so will probably be terminated in short order. I hope you guys appreciate this!"
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Guys who run gaming companies are the kind of people who don't like to let you die wondering. In a classic piece of schoolyard pouting, Activision boss Bob Kotick would like to let you know that Guitar Hero is doing well."We're outselling [Rock Band] 6:1," says Activision boss Bob Kotick.
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Console Monster writes: "It seems strange that new Rock Band content has been released on the Xbox Live Marketplace with the release of Rock Band 2 over in the US but thankfully the content is also compatible with the sequel. There are also some Gamer Pictures exclusive to the UK and they are free! Here is the full Xbox Live Marketplace Update for Tuesday 16th September:

Name: Rock Band - Megadeth "Peace Sells" Album [Track Pack]
Price: 880 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions

Name: Rock Band - Megadeth "My Last Words" [Track]
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions

Name: Rock Band - Megadeth "I Ain't Superstitious" [Track]
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions..."
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The album in question is Megadeth's landmark 1986 record Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?. The thrash metal pioneers are already contributing the title track from this breakthrough recording to Rock Band 2's setlist, so owners of the original Rock Band can only technically download most of Peace Sells. The entire bundle will run for $10.99 (880 Microsoft points), with individual tracks priced at the usual $1.99 (160 Microsoft points). Downloadable songs from the album include:

* "Wake Up Dead"
* "The Conjuring"
* "Devil's Island"
* "Good Mourning / Black Friday"
* "Bad Omen"
* "I Ain't Superstitious"
* "My Last Words"

Joining these relics from metal's formative years are a few of the more modern acts appearing in October's Rock Band Live Tour. As a special promotion this four-pack debuts for a limited-time at $3.99 (320 Microsoft points) for the bundle, and $.99 (80 Microsoft points) individually. The price goes up in mid-October. The Rock Band Tour Pack features the following:

* "One of Those Nights" by the Cab
* "Hands Down" by Dashboard Confessional
* "She's a Handsome Woman" by Panic! At the Disco
* "Natural Disaster" by Plain White T's
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Mike Fahey of Kotaku writes: "They've just released a new free song for Rock Band, featuring a flashback to Stephen's earlier years when he was the front man for Stephen and the Colberts. The band's hit single "Charlene (I'm Right Behind You)" is an epic ballad of unrequited love, more unrequited love, and what a man must do in the face of so much unrequited love, and it is now available for free via Xbox Live."
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The Internets are buzzing about a rumor that Harmonix may be taking a page from the Activision book of one band games.
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