Kotaku

Rock Band Survey Hints At Sequel, New Pricing

Reader "shroom" wrote to us recently to let us know that he'd taken part in an online survey that asked his opinion on a number of Rock Band related topics, including questions that hinted at new pricing structure possibilities for the current release and a "full featured sequel." Describing Rock Band 2 as "similar to full featured sequels you see released by other big video game franchises, such as Need for Speed, Devil May Cry, Final Fantasy" adding new capabilities on par with a "Guitar Hero to Guitar Hero II" iteration, the survey simply asks how interested one would be in purchasing Rock Band 2.

That couldn't be more devoid of details, sadly. More interesting is the survey's data gathering on alternate pricing schemes, indicating that EA and MTV Games may be looking at giving you more Rock Band for your buck.

European Rock Band Tracks Coming To US

Were you drooling over Europe's Rock Band track list, but ultimately happier that you didn't need to buy peripherals separate from the game for an astronomical price? Yeah, we were too. But MTV Games has confirmed that the UK-exclusive tracks will actually be reaching US Xbox 360s and PS3s through optional DLC. A price, a date and just how the powers that be are going to divide up the 9-track list have yet to be divulged. But we're betting that we'll see typical 3-track packs for standard prices.

Hit the jump for the list of tracks that you may or may not be buying.

Harmonix Gets Bonus For Big Results

Thanks to the immense success of Rock Band, Harmonix has received a $208.7 million bonus in "performance based earnouts" from MTV Games and parent company Viacom. According to Viacom's most recent financial statement, Harmonix was set to receive a bonus in the event of exceeding the expectations of MTV Games. The condition was a part of MTV Games' acquisition agreement with Harmonix back in 2006. Since MTV Games payed $175 million for Harmonix, I'm thinking that they've definitely made their money's worth on both sides of the deal.

Harmonix Earns $208.7 Million Bonus From Viacom [Gamasutra]

Rock Band Songs Get Patched

Classic Tracks Come To Rock Band This Week

Harmonix has announced the week in Rock Band downloadables, bringing a trio of classic tracks to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 via each platform's service. The trio of tracks, which contain "Complete Control" by the Clash, "Truth Hits Everybody" by the Police and "Teenage Lobotomy" by the Ramones, can be snapped up individually for $1.99 each (or 160 Microsoft Points) or bought bundled for $5.49 (440 Microsoft Points). Not a bad deal, considering they're all master tracks.

Expect the tunes to hit Xbox Live on Wednesday, then a day later on the PlayStation Store. Do want!

Rock Band Confirmed For Wii And Q2 European Release

Rock Band Standalone Drums, Guitars Get Prices, Dates

Harmonix and MTV Games have finally released concrete street dates and retail prices for individual Rock Band instruments, IGN reports today, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 versions of the game. PlayStation 3 owners (and Xbox 360-types without an already functioning Guitar Hero controller) will be able to finally get their back-up guitarist up and rocking on April 1, as the Fender Stratocaster controller arrives for $59.99. That's an uncomfortably long wait.

The individual drum controller arrives much earlier on February 12, but at a $79.99 price point. Cold comfort there.

Rock Band Instruments Priced, Dated [IGN]

Rock Band Gets Oasis, New Rush, Smashing Pumpkins This Month

Rock Band PS2 Port Loses More Than Just Online Play

GameSpot got its hands on the PlayStation 2 version of Harmonix's Rock Band, due to ship next week, and found that it's a very scaled back affair compared to the already released version. While it's no surprise that online play is nowhere to be found on the PS2 port, as is the potential for downloadable content, it seems that a handful of other aspects have been left on the cutting room floor. According to the preview, the last gen version of Rock Band features a much simpler, more linear World Tour mode. Character customization is gone, as is the dynamic of accruing cash and amassing a fan base.

Outside of online play, these aren't the kind of core elements that will keep most players coming back to Rock Band, so I doubt these downgrades will sow much consumer rage. The lack of downloadable content may, but I wouldn't be surprised to see MTV Games and Harmonix issue expansion packs of songs that aren't included in the original.

Rock Band Hands-On—The PS2 Edition [GameSpot]

Pirates Steal $170K Worth Of Rock Band Stuff

Getting your hands (and your good kick pedal foot) on a copy of Rock Band this holiday just got a bit trickier, thanks to some sticky-fingered types. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that a bunch of stinking pirates hijacked a truck in the area of the City of Industry that was transporting a thousand copies of Harmonix and MTV Games multiplayer rhythm hit. That, for the mathematically challenged, is about $170,000 worth of gaming goods.

The thieves, if caught, may be hit with kidnapping charges that could warrant a life sentence.

If anyone in the southern California area is approached by a man in a van, offering to sell you a budget priced copy of Rock Band, just be aware that it could be "hot." But if the price is right, grab me one, will you? I need a second guitar.

'Rock Band' a victim of old-school piracy in heist [LA Times]

Activision Blocks Rock Band Patch, Kills GHIII Guitar Support

That Rock Band update that would have added Guitar Hero III controller support for the PlayStation 3 version of the game isn't coming—at least, not until Activision says so. The mega-publisher has taken its figurative ball and is going home, according to Harmonix, indicating to Sony that it certainly does not want to share its controllers with Rock Band. While it's quite clear that RedOctane considers supporting its competition a "headache" and an "open standard" for music controllers a "crock," that's not going to sit very well with the thousands of PlayStation 3 Rock Band rockers who find themselves bassist-less.

Harmonix reps broke the bad news to PS3 owners of Rock Band on the official community forums this morning.