Gadgets and Video Games

Eleven days ago, Harmonix delivered on a concept many of us had fantasized about since the very first time we ever played Rock Band : It democratized the track-making process. For the first time in the franchise’s history, any schmo off the street with a bit of MIDI engineering experience and a song in their heart could put that song on the Rock Band Store for the world to see (and hopefully purchase). At GDC , Harmonix senior sound designer Caleb Epps and Rock Band Network producer Matthew Nordhouse sat down to speak about the challenges that came with opening up the game to user-generated content, and how its dedicated community has organically evolved the song-sharing process.

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GDC: Harmonix on the ups and downs of creating the Rock Band Network

Hey, Rock Band aficionados! Are you ready to spend your hard-earned Microsoft Points, Wii Points or good old-fashioned cash money on tracks which you’ll never be able to play without injuring your tender, fragile metacarpals? Brace your bones — the Music Store is about to get a healthy dose of Megadeth , in the form of the outfit’s 1990 album “Rust in Peace.” Or, as it’s more commonly known, “The one with ‘ Hangar 18 ‘ on it.” The nine-track album will be available for $14.99 (1200 , bundle not available on Wii), and can also be purchased piecemeal for $1.99 (160 , 200 Wii Points) per track. In addition, the Who’s “Super Bowl S-mashup” medley will be made available on Sunday after the big game for $1.99 (160 , 200 Wii Points). Check out all the songs included in next week’s update after the jump. Continue reading Rock Band Weekly: Megadeth’s ‘Rust in Peace,’ The Who mashed-up Rock Band Weekly: Megadeth’s ‘Rust in Peace,’ The Who mashed-up originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:30:00 EST.

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Rock Band Weekly: Megadeth’s ‘Rust in Peace,’ The Who mashed-up

VideoGamePriceCharts.com , a site that tracks average online prices for video games and consoles, has released its year-end report for 2009 , and if you were buying and selling games speculatively (we all do that, right?), you’ll want to check it out. Okay, so maybe you weren’t picking up the now-discontinued Demon’s Souls Deluxe Edition because you hoped it would get rare, but if so, you’re in luck: That game topped the list, raising in value from an MSRP of $69.99 up to a high of $116. Grand Theft Auto IV’s Lost and Damned retail box (which contained a code for the DLC ) is another big collector’s item, and if you were so lucky as to nab a copy of Bass Pro Shops’ The Strike (with Fishing Rod) for Xbox 360, then reel in the money, because it raised in value over 50%

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Video Game Price Charts reveal biggest resale prices of 2009

MTV Games has confirmed that Harmonix is working on Green Day: Rock Band . The reiteration follows the widespread misinterpretation of a Demiurge Studios designer’s personal blog post , specifically this line: “Not included in the [VGA] announcement was the fact that Demiurge Studios was working on Green Day: Rock Band .” A spokesperson for the publisher told Joystiq in a statement, ” Green Day: Rock Band is being developed by Harmonix in partnership with Demiurge, MK12 and others.” This is not Demiurge’s first time working with Harmonix on Rock Band : the studio had also previously worked on the Rock Band Country Track Pack and the Rock Band Metal Track Pack . Harmonix cooperatively developing Green Day: Rock Band with Demiurge, MK12, others originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Some were disappointed to find out that Harmonix’s follow-up to The Beatles: Rock Band was Green Day: Rock Band . MTV Games’ Paul DeGooyer says the band was heavily demanded on the official Rock Band forums and added that a dedicated game would “satisfy a good amount of the constituency.” DeGooyer, perhaps attempting to appease naysayers, also told Newsarama.com that “it’s of course not going to be our only game this year.” So what is this mystery Rock Band game that DeGooyer is referring to? Most likely, it’s the inevitable-but-not-quite-officially-announced Rock Band 3 . While The Beatles and Green Day will take advantage of vocal harmonies, it seems Harmonix has other significant updates to make for the Rock Band platform.

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Green Day: Rock Band won’t be the only Rock Band in 2010

OK, so next week’s Rock Band DLC doesn’t include “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” (pictured above) — that was included in the previous Tom Petty live anthology pack — but that video is all we can think of when someone mentions Petty. Well, that and the “Don’t Come Around Here No More” video, which had Petty playing The Mad Hatter and is also positively frightening — but that song is in neither pack. Beyond Petty memories of our broken childhood, next week’s update also includes tracks from Phoenix and Silvertide

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Rock Band Weekly: Tom Petty, Phoenix, Silvertide

In simple terms, Green Day and Rock Band are friends. There have already been several Green Day tracks released for Harmonix’s musically inclined baby and it was announced today that even more are on their way later this month. Starting December 15 on the Wii and Xbox 360 – and December 17 on the Playstation 3 – players will be able to grab three new Green Day tracks from the band’s 21st Century Breakdown album: ” Christian’s Inferno ,” ” Last of the American Girls ,” and ”

Harmonix has confirmed to Joystiq that Rock Band Unplugged has “run through [its] planned slate” of DLC. Following two weeks of Rock Band Unplugged DLC being absent from our Rock Band Weekly feature, we decided to check in with the developer to see if this was the end of the road for the portable rhythm game’s downloadable track support. Harmonix stated it is “very pleased with the performance of the Rock Band Unplugged game on PSP, the Rock Band PSP bundle and PSPgo starter kit ” and appreciates Sony’s support of the title, which currently has around 100 tracks via disc and DLC combined.

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Rock Band Unplugged has no more ‘planned’ weekly DLC

We know you’ve probably already spent an irresponsible amount of dough this morning on hot Black Friday deals , but there’s a unique gaming marathon for charity (a charithon?) taking place right now that could use some help meeting its $3,000 donation goal. Check out the web page of Clan of the Gray Wolf , where four gentlemen are attempting to play 1,000 Rock Band songs for approximately 80 hours, all the while collecting money for Penny Arcade’s Child’s Play Charity . So, instead of buying that set of Growing Pains -themed salt shakers simply because they’re 75 percent off, why not lend a helping hand to four guys who, in 80 hours, are going to have the worst blisters anyone’s ever had, ever? Philanthropic rockers playing 1,000 Rock Band songs for Child’s Play originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .

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Philanthropic rockers playing 1,000 Rock Band songs for Child’s Play

Harmonix’s Rock Band Network is still working out the kinks and will launch in “early 2010.” In a statement to Kotaku , the developer explained that it’s working on getting the public beta tools out “before the end of the year,” with the store front to launch sometime at the beginning of next year. Musicians with ample time and high computer proficiency can begin preparing their tracks now with the creator tools , but the open beta will grant access to the private website where all the RBN community stuff will occur. If you’re a musician or programmer (or … procisian?), let us know what you think about the tools in comments.

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Rock Band Network rolls out fully in early 2010