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Rock Band

Platform(s): PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
Genre: Rhythm
Publisher: EA
Developer: Harmonix

About Rainier

PC gamer, WorthPlaying EIC, globe-trotting couch potato, patriot, '80s headbanger, movie watcher, music lover, foodie and man in black -- squirrel!

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'Rock Band' (ALL) Goes New Wave With Devo and Duran Duran

by Rainier on Aug. 15, 2008 @ 11:59 a.m. PDT

Rock Band delivers four music games in one – challenging rockers to master lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals or play collectively as a whole band, spanning all genres of rock and includes many master recordings from legendary artists.

On August 19, Devo’s “Girl U Want” and “Through Being Cool,” and Duran Duran’s “Rio” and “Girls on Film” will make their music gaming debut.

Considered to be one of the most influential acts in pop music history, Devo originally formed in 1973 but didn’t find commercial success until the 80s with the help of their colorful music videos. Devo re-recorded exclusively for Rock Band, “Girl U Want” from their third studio album, the 1980 release, Freedom of Choice, and the synthpop hit “Through Being Cool” from their fourth studio album, New Traditionalists, released in 1981. These tracks join “Uncontrollable Urge”, from Q: Are We Not Men, A: We Are Devo!, which is featured on Rock Band 2’s disc.

Two-time Grammy winning, New Romantic act Duran Duran joins the Rock Band DLC catalog with original master recordings of “Girls on Film” and “Rio.” “Girls on Film” is from their 1981 eponymously titled, multi-platinum album debut and most notably was one of the most banned music videos of its time. With “Rio” from their 1982 release Rio, Duran Duran found success in the music video age and their second hit in the U.S. One of the most commercially successful bands of the New Wave movement, Duran Duran have had 21 singles in the Billboard Hot 100 and have sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Duran Duran are also among the classic tracks on Rock Band 2’s set list, with their smash hit “Hungry Like the Wolf” standing out from a strong set of 80s songs.

Rounding out the August 19th Rock Band DLC release schedule is the track “Get Your Rock On” from MTV’s The American Mall, an original made-for-TV musical airing this month.

Release date:

  • Tuesday, August 19, 2008 (Xbox Live Marketplace for Xbox 360)
  • Thursday, August 21, 2008 (PlayStation Store)

Tracks:

  • Duran Duran - Girls on Film (master recordings)
  • Duran Duran - Rio (master recordings)
  • Devo - Girl U Want (re-recorded exclusively for Rock Band)
  • Devo - Through Being Cool (re-recorded exclusively for Rock Band)

Price: $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track

Tracks:

  • The American Mall “Get Your Rock On .99¢ (80 Microsoft Points)

Developed by Harmonix, Rock Band is an all-new platform for gamers to experience music, giving players the chance to rock in the shoes of the biggest guitarists, bassists, drummers and singers of all time – as a solo superstar or as part of a hard rocking band.

Rock Band delivers four music games in one – challenging rockers to master lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals or play collectively as a whole band. Built on unprecedented deals with top record labels and music publishers, the music featured in Rock Band spans all genres of rock and includes many master recordings from legendary artists.

Major record labels and leading music publishers have signed on to provide unrivaled access to master recordings and legendary rock artists with hits from the '70s, '80s, '90s and 2000s. Record labels partnering with MTV Games and Harmonix include EMI Music, Hollywood Records, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group's Universal Music Enterprises and Warner Music Group's Rhino Entertainment. Music publishers partnering with MTV Games and Harmonix include EMI Music Publishing and Warner/Chappel Music.

A variety of song packs, albums and individual tracks will be available for download on a weekly basis. And that's just through the end of 2007. Fans can expect more music every week through 2008 with suggested retail pricing varying from $.99 to $2.99 per track (The equivalent of 80 to 240 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360), with the vast majority selling for $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360).

In addition to the 58 songs available on the game disc, Harmonix and MTV Games are offering a robust calendar of new downloadable content including packs, full albums and individual tracks to satiate the desire for constantly refreshed Rock Band content, including:

Rock Band Unlockables :

  • Acro-brats "Day Late Dollar Short"
  • Anarchy Club "Blood Doll"
  • Bang Camaro "Pleasure (Pleasure)"
  • Crooked X " Nightmare"
  • Death of the Cool "Can't Let Go"
  • Flyleaf "I'm So Sick"
  • Freezepop "Brainpower"
  • Honest Bob "I Get By"
  • The Konks "29 Fingers"
  • The Mother Hips "Time We Had"
  • Timmy & The Lords of the Underworld "Timmy & The Lords of the Underworld"
  • Tribe "Outside"
  • VAGIANT "Seven"

Rock Band Set List:

In addition to the 45 tracks listed below, Rock Band will also feature 13 songs ranging from a variety of established bands to up-and-coming independent artists that can be unlocked as you play through the game.

1960s

Rolling Stones "Gimme Shelter"

1970s

Aerosmith "Train Kept a Rollin'"*
The Who "Won't Get Fooled Again"
Boston "Foreplay/Long Time"
Mountain "Mississippi Queen"*
The Police "Next to You"
David Bowie "Suffragette City"
Black Sabbath "Paranoid"*
Blue Oyster Cult "Don't Fear the Reaper"
The Ramones "Blitzkrieg Bop"
Deep Purple "Highway Star"
KISS "Detroit Rock City"
Molly Hatchet "Flirtin' With Disaster"
The Outlaws "Green Grass & High Tides"*
Sweet "Ballroom Blitz"*

1980s

Rush "Tom Sawyer"*
Bon Jovi "Wanted Dead or Alive"
The Clash "Should I Stay or Should I Go"
Faith No More "Epic"
R.E.M. "Orange Crush"
Iron Maiden "Run to the Hills"*

1990s

Foo Fighters "Learn to Fly"
Metallica "Enter Sandman"
Nirvana "In Bloom"
Stone Temple Pilots "Vasoline"
Weezer "Say It Ain't So"
Smashing Pumpkins "Cherub Rock"
Radiohead "Creep"
Beastie Boys "Sabotage"
Hole "Celebrity Skin"
Garbage "I Think I'm Paranoid"
Soundgarden "Black Hole Sun"

2000s

The Hives "Main Offender"
Queens of the Stone Age "Go With the Flow"
The Strokes "Reptilia"
Jet "Are You Gonna Be My Girl"
OK Go "Here It Goes Again"
Nine Inch Nails "The Hand That Feeds"
Pixies "Wave of Mutilation"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Maps"
Red Hot Chili Peppers "Dani California"
Coheed & Cambria "Welcome Home"
Fallout Boy "Dead on Arrival"
The Killers "When You Were Young"
New Pornographers "Electric Version"

* Indicates a cover song, all others songs are original master recordings

Key Features

Unrivaled song library! Major record labels and leading music publishers have signed on to provide unrivaled access to master recordings and legendary rock artists – from punk, metal and alternative to classic and southern rock.

Rock ‘n' Roll Never Dies! Full support for downloadable content delivers never-ending challenges.

Play together in your living room or across the world! Rock Band™ offers deep online functionality, allowing players to rock together whether they're in Rhode Island or Reykjavik.

Create your own rock avatar! Mold a unique rocker using Rock Band's character creator. Chose from gender, body shape, face, hair, clothes, tattoos and signature moves. Don't forget to pick your specialized rockin' instrument. Drumming in the spotlight! Showcase a real drum solo with Rock Band's freestyle drum fill windows featured in each song. Break out your own rhythm and style as anything goes!

Call out the crowd! Vocalists can bring the crowd to their feet during Rock Band's freestyle vocal fill windows. Ad-lib your own words or shout to the crowd to raise the rock intensity of the performance.

Save your mates! Band mates can fail out of a song for poor performance, but the band still plays on. Rescue your failing mate by busting out signature moves and blistering solos to wow the crowd with showmanship.

Boost your bonus! Earn bonus points for your band during Rock Band's Unison Phrase opportunities if everyone plays perfectly. A single mistake blows the phrase for everyone.

Rockband, rated T for Teen, is currently available in North America for $169 on PS3/X360 and Wii, while PS2 gamers can rock out for $159.99. Rock Band is also slated for release in Europe in Q1 2008.


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