Rock Band Gets SXSW Pack

To celebrate the South by Southwest Festival, Harmonix released today a SXSW DLC pack for Rock Band featuring Shockwave by Black Tide, Crushcrushcrush by Paramore and Serj Tankian's Beethoven C*** for just under $3. You can also buy the songs for $0.99 a pop.

All three bands will be playing at the Hot Topic/Xbox Live/ Rock Band party at Austin's La Zona Rosa on March 13 and March 14. Attendees will also be able to play the game at the part and check out music by other SXSW bands like Flyleaf, Phantom Planet, Chiodos and Drop Dead, Gorgeous.

Full release on the jump.

By: N. Evan Van Zelfden

What if you could go back, start from scratch, and remake E3 in your own image? With EIEIO in Austin, Texas, that's what developer-centric games publisher Gamecock Media is trying to do: Developer demos for the press, live bands and demos for the public, and drinks for all. The event was loosely associated with South by Southwest this year, and both festivals hope to have stronger ties with each other next year.

It started on a Wednesday evening, at the Alamo Drafthouse—a movie theater that serves dinner and a selection of fine beers. 140 developers, partners, press, and Gamecock staff watched a screening of documentary film The King of Kong—which met with great enthusiasm from the audience.

Gamecock's chief executive, Mike Wilson, took the stage beforehand to give a one-and-a-half minute speech, in which he thanked everyone for being there. "It's really awesome to have everyone in Texas for once," he said in reference to the developers who had traveled from Germany, England, California, Chicago, Houston, and other points on the compass. "God knows we've come to all of your homes enough."

"I need all of you in top form for tomorrow," Wilson continued. "There are bulls to be ridden, there are Rollergirls to be boxed, and somewhere in there, we're going to fit in some videogames."

Gamecock's send up of the "death" of E3 last year seems to be evolving, departing from its roots at the Electronic Entertainment Expo and moving to take place in the days leading up to Austin's South by Southwest.

This year's event, still labeled a showcase for independent developers, will take place on March 6 at Stubb's Bar-B-Q and will feature a day of gaming and a night of "Texas hospitality."

"South by Southwest is known as a mecca for indie film makers and musicians and there are a ton of game makers in Austin, so it seems like a natural fit," said founder Mike Wilson.

Gamecock decided to move their Expo For Interactive Entertainment, Independent and Original from Los Angeles' E3 to Austin because Wilson said they feel like SXSW is a better fit for their event.

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