Codex Gamicus
Register
Advertisement
Rock Band
Rock band
Developer(s) Harmonix Music Systems
Publisher(s) MTV Games, EA
Release date X360 & PS3
November 20, 2007 (US)
December 18, 2007 (CA))
PS2
December 18, 2007 (US & CA)
Genre Music/Rhythm
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer
Age rating(s) ESRB: T
Platform(s) PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Template:Infobox/media Template:Infobox/input

Credits | Soundtrack | Codes | Walkthrough


Rock Band is a music-based rhythm game for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 2. It was developed by Guitar Hero creators Harmonix Music Systems and published by Electronic Arts and MTV Games.

The game is available in two configurations: one is simply the game itself; since (at least on Xbox 360) Guitar Hero guitars work with it, those who have already purchased Guitar Hero can simply pick up the game. The second is a Special Edition which includes one guitar (wired on Xbox 360 and PS2, wireless on PS3), the drum kit, a microphone, and a 4-port USB hub to connect all of the peripherals to the system. This still leaves the buyer one guitar short if they wish to take advantage of the game's four-player setup (since the fourth player would be the bass guitarist).

On-disc setlist

The following tracks are available on the game disc itself. Tracks marked with ^ are "as made famous by" — in other words, cover versions; all others are "as performed by".

1960s

  • "Gimme Shelter" — Rolling Stones

1970s

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

1980s

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

1990s

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

2000s

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

Bonus tracks

The following tracks are unlocked through playing the game.

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

Downloadable content

Main article: Rock Band downloadable content

While Guitar Hero II for Xbox 360 famously promised to have "more online content than anyone has ever seen in a game to this date"[1], a statement which quickly came back to bite publisher Activision, Rock Band has easily surpassed that which is available for its' rival. Weekly updates typically consisting of three to six songs have occurred since the game's US launch, with content available on both Xbox 360 (usually on Tuesdays) and PlayStation 3 (on Thursdays, when the PlayStation Store is updated) for approximately the same price. Individual song prices range from US$0.99 (80 Microsoft Points) to $1.99 (160 Points), with three-song theme packs going for $5.49 (440 Points). The latest content released is listed below; for a full listing, see Rock Band downloadable content. Tracks marked with ^ are cover versions.

Template:Latest Rock Band content

Activision/Harmonix feud

Rock Band developer Harmonix formerly developed the Guitar Hero series of games, in cooperation with RedOctane, who provided the guitar peripherals. In May 2006, RedOctane was purchased by GH publisher Activision, and in September of that year, Harmonix was purchased by MTV Games. After completing Guitar Hero II for Xbox 360 and Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s, Harmonix broke ties with RedOctane, and development of Guitar Hero III was handed to Tony Hawk developers Neversoft, while Harmonix continued work on Rock Band.

In the run-up to the game's release, Harmonix and MTV stated multiple times that existing Guitar Hero guitars, and new guitars for Guitar Hero III, should work with Rock Band. This is indeed the case on Xbox 360. However, on PlayStation 3, the guitar from GHIII does not work with Rock Band.[2] On December 12, 2007, Harmonix stated that a compatability patch had been developed and certified by SCEA, but Activision was blocking its' release.[3] The following day, Activision shot back, claiming that Harmonix/MTV "are unwilling to discuss an agreement with Activision [about the use of our technology in Rock Band]".[4] Many took this to mean that Harmonix and MTV were unwilling to pay to license the technology necessary for interoperability. Sony, for their part, claimed neutrality, stating that an issue "needs to be resolved...regarding Intellectual Property...We encourage MTV, Harmonix and Activision to discuss this among themselves so there can be an amicable resolution in the best interest of the consumer.[5] As of early January 2008, no public progress has been made on the issue.

References

External links

Wikipedia
Wikipedia has an article about:
Advertisement