...in order to "deflect all curiosity" about the project.

Harmonix knew that they had something big on their hands with the Rock Band Network, a public track development system which may produce a huge expansion in content available for the game. So big was it, that in order to keep it under wraps, they had to give it a name that nobody would be interested in.

That's where Nickelback comes in.
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Console Monster writes: "It's a fairly weak start to the week for content on the Xbox Live Marketplace, with most of the hype surrounding the new dashboard update. Nevertheless, today's Marketplace Update will make you feel good, as it sees new Rock Band content from the likes of Gorillaz and The Who, as well as new backgrounds for Xbox Live Arcade title: Magic: The Gathering.

Rock Band: Gorillaz Pack 01
Price: 440 Microsoft Points
Size: 116 MB
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: Gorillaz Pack 01. This pack includes "Clint Eastwood," "Feel Good Inc.," and "Re-Hash" by Gorillaz. PLEASE NOTE: Rock Band game disc is required to play song game tracks. This song game track pack includes three song game tracks at a discounted rate over individual purchases. Many Rock Band songs are available as both a multipack and as a single game track. These songs are exactly the same (unless expressly noted as a special version or remix). Be aware that it is possible to download the same song twice so please carefully consider your purchases. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts..."
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Though developers and publishers may be allured by the mass-market potential in making a music game, Activision-Blizzard admitted yesterday that the genre is facing tough times.

Last night during its earnings call Activision Blizzard admitted that the music game genre is "down significantly".
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Console Monster writes: "Tuesday has arrived, along with the regular array of Rock Band tracks, which this week comes from Spinal Tap. The only other content is a Call of Duty: World at War premium theme. Here is the full Xbox Live Marketplace update for Tuesday 4th August 2009:

Rock Band: "(Funky) Sex Farm"
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Size: 32 MB
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: "(Funky) Sex Farm" -- Spinal Tap. PLEASE NOTE: Rock Band game disc is required to play song game tracks. Many Rock Band song game tracks are available as both a multipack and as a single game track. These song game tracks are exactly the same (unless expressly noted as a special version or remix). Be aware that it is possible to download the same song game track twice so please carefully consider your purchases. For music credits, visit www.RockBand.com. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts..."
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Kotaku:

Harmonix continues to jam as much Pearl Jam into Rock Band as they possibly can, with the band's 9th studio album, Backspacer, available for download on the day it's released.

Pearl Jam is releasing their 9th album without any major record label assistance on September 20th, but they've got a pretty strong support system in place, which includes Harmonix, MTV Games, and Target. The entire album will be available on Rock Band on the same day the album hits store shelves, with Target offering a special edition that comes with codes to download the tracks for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
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Harmonix and MTV Games today announced they will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the theatrical release of This is Spinal Tap, by making available newly recorded versions of the song s featured in the cult classic film and its 1984 soundtrack album. The songs will be available in the Rock Band Music Store of Downloadable Content (DLC) next week on the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 and Wii.
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BeefJack writes: "I hate music journalism, maybe it's just me (or more likely music journalism) but I find it far too opinionated, with other forms of media critics seem to judge the film, book or video game etc based upon facts and industry standards rather then personal preference. So it's ironic that each week I become as close to a music journalist as I've ever been when I write these sections, and I find out that it's actually pretty hard to write about music you have no favour for."
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Viacom, parent company to MTV Games and Rock Band developer Harmonix, said sales of its music game suffered during the quarter "due to the soft retail environment", helping to drive a decline in revenues for the company.

For the fiscal quarter ended June 30, revenues in Viacom's Media Networks division, which houses MTV Games, dropped 8 percent to $1.97 billion. Viacom attributed the decline to "a 41 percent decline in ancillary revenues driven by lower sales of the music video game Rock Band."
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Console Monster writes: "After a lack of Xbox Live Marketplace updates last week, the feature returns this week with some great new content. The long-awaited Gears of War 2 downloadable content is now available, alongside some free Fight Night Round 4 content. There are also some trailers and an array of Rock Band tracks from the likes of Blink-182 and Weezer. Here is the full Xbox Live Marketplace update for Tuesday 28th July 2009:

Gears of War 2: Dark Corners Multiplayer Map Pack
Price: 1200 Microsoft Points
Size: 489 MB
This downloadable content pack features 7 new Gears 2 multiplayer maps and a bonus deleted single-player chapter, "Road to Ruin," from the Gears of War 2 campaign. In "Road to Ruin," Marcus and Dom navigate the treacherous Locust highway, choosing stealth or blazing action to survive. For multiplayer fans, the 7 maps include a new War Machine, the much-requested Gears 1 map; Allfathers Garden, a heavy-weapons battle at a COG landmark; Highway, a fight deep in the Locust Hollow; Memorial, a battle at the Tomb of the Unknowns; Nowhere, a firefight in an old motel; Way Station, an unpredictable battlefield with parallel paths; and Sanctuary, a reimagined favorite from Gears for Windows. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts..."
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BeefJack writes: "Bit of a miss mash this week, with Rock Band throwing out some classics as Kiss and Weezer then sticking in pop punk gone emo Blink 182, still the Rock Show isn't a bad tune. Guitar Hero follows their suit for this month with another collection of songs from a record label, luckily this time with less emo."
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Take a look at what tracks will be coming to both the Xbox Live Marketplace and PSN next week for Rock Band. With tracks from Blink-182, KISS, Weezer and Damone.
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411mania talks about this week's game releases. Highlights include Little King's Story, Katamari Damacy Tribute, Shatter, and Wii Sports Resort.
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BeefJack writes: "Just like last time, Rock Band devs, and Pepsi, want you to become the next big star in rock music. And just like last time, you can grab all the glamorous details here:"
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BeefJack writes: "With the announcement of user uploaded songs this weekly news update may soon become history but for now we find ourselves at the tail end of another week and on the tip of a new one full of brand new tracks."
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Harmonix and MTV Games today announced that indie rockers Kings of Leon and punk rockers Rancid will make their Rock Band debuts with three packs of songs that will be added to the Rock Band Music Store of Downloadable Content (DLC) next week, as will a three pack from Rise Against and a single from Lush, for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3.
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Console Monster writes: "With no Xbox Live Marketplace update yesterday, Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th July's Marketplace updates come together as one. Three Xbox Live Arcade titles feature, as well as new Rock Band tracks and some new trailers. Here is the full Xbox Live Marketplace update for Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th July 2009:

Tour de France 2009 - The Official Game
Price: 800 Microsoft Points (Free trial available)
Size: 271 MB
Tour de France 2009 is the most famous cycling race's official simulation game. Choose one of the 18 official teams and lead it through 2009 edition's 21 official legs by interacting directly on you riders. Early breakaways, fights for jerseys, sprints are some of the possible behaviors that are particularly specific to the sport. Race up to 4 players, wheel to wheel, on Live Arcade to lead your team to the highest step on the podium. This game requires the Xbox 360 hard drive or 512 MB memory unit for storage. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/Live/accounts. This game requires the Xbox 360 hard drive or the 512MB Memory Unit for storage. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts..."
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The Rock Band franchise receives a "surround sound" update. Harmonix prepared a little list with all the latest musical updates for the popular series.
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Harmonix and MTV Games today announced that three packs from new power group The Dead Weather, metal legends Judas Priest and indie rockers Big Dipper will be added to the Rock Band Music Store of Downloadable Content (DLC) next week for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3).

Additionally, back-catalogue tracks from The Pixies, Foreigner, The Killers, Spinal Tap and more will be available in the Wii Rock Band Music Store, and tracks from Radiohead and Killswitch Engage will be available for Rock Band Unplugged.
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Beefjack writes: Where would music games be these days without downloadable content? The continuous stream of new content and gameplay keeping the games new and relevant every week. It's like if Sonic The Hedgehog or Super Mario Bros were given a selection of brand new levels every week, you'd never really need to buy another game.

With that we've come to yet another week full of new tracks for all the best musical games on the market, including tracks from Judas Priest for those who might think there aren't enough tracks on Rock Band by them already. Eagles Of Death Metal for Guitar Hero and then Lips actually coming away with the best line up….. Well there's a first for everything.
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BeefJack writes: "Rock Band devs, and Pepsi, want you to become the next big star in rock music.

While you're deciding which song to unleash your wicked headbanging skills to, you can win a $20 Rock Band giftcard, right here."
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