Rock Band DLC priced, detailed

Bundle options and release schedule explained for the upcoming download-driven rhythm game from MTV and Harmonix.

Since Rock Band was first announced by Harmonix and MTV Games in March, the developers have made no secret of their ambitious plans for downloadable content. As the game's release has drawn closer, information about those plans has trickled out. At the E3 Media and Business Summit, Harmonix said it would be offering full downloadable albums from artists like The Who, with more tracks from Metallica, The Grateful Dead, and The Ramones among those that gamers could add on to the retail game.

With Rock Band set for release next Tuesday, Harmonix today finally took the wraps off its downloadable content model today. The studio has apparently heard complaints regarding the mandatory three-song bundles and $6.25 price point adopted by the Guitar Hero franchise's downloadable content, and is giving gamers a bit of a break.

Rock Band will still feature preselected three-song packs for download, but they will instead cost $5.49 (440 Microsoft points on Xbox 360). Songs will also be available individually for $1.99. Harmonix has said future songs will be sold individually for as little as $.99 (80 Microsoft points), and as much as $2.99 (240 points). However, "the vast majority" will come in at the standard $1.99 price point. The developer did not say how much full-album downloads would be, or when the first albums would be released.

Harmonix also detailed its release schedule for the first five weeks after Rock Band launches. The opening week will be highlighted by track packs from Metallica, The Police, and Queens of the Stone Age, with individual songs from Creedence Clearwater Revival, Foreigner, T-Rex, and more. Downloaded tracks will be integrated into all of the game's modes, and will be playable online only if all players have purchased the songs.

Week of November 20, 2007: (*--asterisk denotes a cover version)
Metallica Pack
"Ride the Lightning"--Metallica
"Blackened"--Metallica
"And Justice for All"--Metallica

The Police Pack
"Can't Stand Losing You"--The Police
"Synchronicity II"--The Police
"Roxanne"--The Police

Queens of the Stone Age Pack
"3's and 7's"--Queens of the Stone Age
"Little Sister"--Queens of the Stone Age
"Sick Sick Sick"--Queens of the Stone Age

Individual Tracks
"Fortunate Son" as made famous by Creedence Clearwater Revival *
"Juke Box Hero" as made famous by Foreigner *
"Bang a Gong (Get It On)" as made famous by T-Rex *
"My Sharona" as made famous by The Knack *
"Cherry Bomb" as made famous by The Runaways *
"Joker & The Thief"--Wolfmother

Week of November 27, 2007
David Bowie Pack
"Moonage Daydream"--David Bowie
"Heroes" as made famous by David Bowie *
"Queen Bitch" as made famous by David Bowie *

Week of December 4, 2007
Black Sabbath Pack
"N.I.B." as made famous by Black Sabbath *
"Sweet Leaf" as made famous by Black Sabbath *
"War Pigs" as made famous by Black Sabbath *

Week of December 11, 2007
Punk Pack:
"Rockaway Beach"--Ramones
"I Fought the Law"--The Clash
"Ever Fallen In Love" as made famous by Buzzcocks *

Week of December 18, 2007
Individual Tracks
"My Iron Lung"--Radiohead
"Buddy Holly"--Weezer
"Brass in Pocket" as made famous by The Pretenders *

544 Comments

  • ADZ06

    Posted Apr 25, 2008 2:09 pm PT

    yeah, it came out last november in america. The reason why it says 2008 is because this is the UK gamespot review and it's just saying the date and year it comes out in europe.

  • kvnthegod

    Posted Mar 24, 2008 8:09 pm PT

    The game is out now beeker. it came out last november lol.

    Sorry bud. But do get it, it's awesome. The Best Buy near me has lots of extra bundles.

  • Beeker1

    Posted Mar 20, 2008 4:14 am PT

    Wait when is Rock Band coming out because gamespot got a review, won a few awards but yet its coming out Q3 2008 what the !$*&

  • RoC1909

    Posted Feb 5, 2008 6:29 pm PT

    Absolutely agree with you Death_Masta187!!

    I remember when game devs GAVE AWAY added content to show appreciation to the people who shelled out their hard earned cash on the game. Now I understand that music type of games like GH3 and Rock Band are on the cusp on what can be given away since they are using "other" people created content (i.e songs) but they can still give the people a break by pricing the content appropriately AND still give away a few songs here and there for free. XBox is becoming sort of a joke anymore. We pay to play games online (in the old days we never had to and PC gamers still don't outside of MMORPG's). People also have to pay for content that 90% of the time should have been included with the game. How often do you see free stuff outside of the occasional gamer pic or theme?!?! A joke is what has become. If you want us to pay a premium for games, make it free to play OR lower the price AND THEN charge a monthly fee.

  • ImajinMyFX

    Posted Jan 17, 2008 9:01 am PT

    those who are complaining about the price and about how we are being milked for our money don't know any thing about the real world other then video games. harmonix has to pay tens of thousands of dollars to the producers/writers/performers of the original songs plus work the songs into games which requires a team. you can't give songs for free b/c harmonix will get sued b/c songs are license. its just like itunes. i wouldn't pay $.99 for a song but i've dled all the rock band dlc since day one. why? b/c it adds replay to the game. i'm at 101 songs for rock band . if you don't feel like paying just stick with the 50 or so songs rock band comes with

  • cowmaster2k3

    Posted Jan 13, 2008 11:30 am PT

    o wow I need to get My Sharona... o yea and everyone read feudemonj00 comment... its fantastic

  • Death_Masta187

    Posted Jan 11, 2008 4:16 am PT

    lol games like this are made to milk people of their money... All of the downloadable content should have been in the game in the first place... So one pays 180 bucks to just have to pay more for more songs? What ever happen to giving back to your fan base? This is one reason im a PC gamer first console gamer second.. PC games are free to play online( excluding most MMOs) and take unreal Tournament 2004 for example over 100 maps where made after the release date and give out for free... adding to the already over 100 maps that launched with the game.. Im not even counting the 1000s of user made maps.... Dead Kennedy's said it right the first time "MTV get off the air"
    Call me cheap if you want too im just sick of them trying to rip me off so they can make even more money.

    ok im done with my rant...

  • shadowfox96792

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 6:45 pm PT

    Where the hell is AC/DC? c'mon now shook me all night long, back in black, and T.N.T.!!!!!!!! what more can u ask 4?

  • xtremeguy893

    Posted Jan 2, 2008 10:00 pm PT

    where's the tool or APC?

    gotta show them some love

  • zypher315

    Posted Jan 2, 2008 5:30 pm PT

    feudemonj00 has a point. But the songs they put in have to be at least slightly entertaining for all the parts of your 'Rock Band' as well. It can't be a 16 minute song with 3 amazing guitar solos and the only vocals in the song are 'Ooooo' and 'Aaaaah'. Also, when you purchase DLC, the creators are looking for profit. The younger generation know of hit songs from the 60s, 70s, and so on. But not as many parents, these days, know the hit songs of the present. They're always looking for the bigger profit.

  • IHeartCloud

    Posted Dec 29, 2007 9:13 pm PT

    yay, the Kill made it!!! and for $1!!!

  • feudemonj00

    Posted Dec 27, 2007 6:14 pm PT

    Maybe you all don't know how this works, but they can't just "put songs in the game". Each song has to be licensed, meaning that they have to pay the artist to use the song. If any of the following happens, the song isn't in the game.

    1. Developer doesn't want to use the song.
    2. Band doesn't want their song in the game.
    3. Band wants too much money from developer to put song in game.
    4. Record label doesn't want developer to use song.

    There are a few examples of why they can't just "put" your favorite song in the game. Those songs are other people's property (even though you all probably have no problem stealing music on sharing sites), and Harmonix and crew have to have licensing rights to all songs used in the game. If they can't get a deal made, the songs don't get used. It's not just a matter of what they do and do not want to put in the game. Hope that clears some questions up. It's not that they don't want to put your favorite songs in the game. You would probably have better luck emailing the artists and their record labels to have their song show up in Rock Band than badgering Harmonix over it.

  • mikefoy

    Posted Dec 23, 2007 7:14 am PT

    Tribute

  • THEJAMES25

    Posted Dec 22, 2007 10:08 pm PT

    i dont understand how they dont have any system of a down on gh3 or rb.

  • Sam_Lowery

    Posted Dec 22, 2007 5:13 pm PT

    I need more! classic 80's 90's and metal like ramstein and Dimmu Borgir.

  • Sam_Lowery

    Posted Dec 22, 2007 5:09 pm PT

    I need more! classic 80's 90's and metal like ramstein and Dimmu Borgir.

  • xxwizkidxx

    Posted Dec 22, 2007 9:49 am PT

    man what this game needs is some dir en grey, system of a down, disturbed and HIM. then i would be even more satisfied =[

  • IHeartCloud

    Posted Dec 21, 2007 11:03 pm PT

    The Kill would be amazing. I love 30STM.

  • lexx_co

    Posted Dec 21, 2007 12:36 pm PT

    yes, MUSE please!!!! i thought GH3 would do more with them, but after a while i gave up on them releasing any new tracks for the game for the next few months...so i bought RB with the (high)hopes that they'll do something with MUSE

  • lweeks816

    Posted Dec 18, 2007 8:08 pm PT

    I'd love to have "The Kill" by 30 secounds to mars.. "Dead" by My Chemical Romance wouldnt be bad either..

  • LeviHarris

    Posted Dec 17, 2007 7:16 pm PT

    There's a problem with incubus...it's not music. Nor does it rock. Unless you're talking S.C.I.E.N.C.E.

  • gilo1012

    Posted Dec 16, 2007 11:26 pm PT

    it will be great to have muse!!
    like stockholm syndrome, supermassive black hole, assassin, knights of cydonia or time is running out

  • K62

    Posted Dec 16, 2007 9:51 pm PT

    Alright, I think we can all agree we need some Jimi Hendrix.

  • MGSolid86

    Posted Dec 16, 2007 7:13 pm PT

    I'd love to see:
    "Slither" and "Fall to Pieces" by Velvet Revolver
    "Hysteria", "Assassin" and "Starlight" by Muse
    "1000 Julys" by Third Eye Blind
    "Mr. Brightside" and "Smile Like You Mean It" by The Killers
    "Jesus of Suburbia" by Green Day (a great 9+ min song)
    Sorry to all of the classic rockers, I love my modern rock.

  • sandwichking91

    Posted Dec 16, 2007 11:45 am PT

    we need more RHCP

  • Arch649

    Posted Dec 15, 2007 4:55 pm PT

    I'd like to see a decent Van Halen song soon

  • Arch649

    Posted Dec 15, 2007 4:55 pm PT

    I'd like to see a decent Van Halen song soon

  • tengu7667

    Posted Dec 15, 2007 9:45 am PT

    Where the hell are The Beatles? AC/DC? And whoever said "Freebird", is my new hero.

  • TannerChu123

    Posted Dec 13, 2007 2:08 pm PT

    I'd love to see some more indie rock. It would be great promotion for them, and introduce people to some great new bands. Also, I agree with the poster below: Incubus would be perfect with the full band set-up. "Sick, Sad Little World" anyone?

  • dmish82

    Posted Dec 13, 2007 12:31 pm PT

    FREE BIRD!!!!

  • Maazer

    Posted Dec 13, 2007 11:57 am PT

    how bout some incubus???

  • Peng33

    Posted Dec 6, 2007 1:19 pm PT

    I wonder how it would be to play something like My Bloody Valentine or Flying Saucer Attack or The Jesus and Mary Chain in this game....because a lot of that is filled with distortion and seems to be only one or two notes repeated over and over. Not saying it wouldn't be fun....just wondering how it would work.

  • Shinobi1234

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 9:42 pm PT

    dragonforce

  • kiwiman69

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 4:35 pm PT

    they need to have RATM

  • bassbulldozer

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 10:36 am PT

    UK release any 1 ?????

  • IHeartCloud

    Posted Nov 30, 2007 9:50 pm PT

    Where's the Alexisonfire? I mean, come on, they should atleast put This Could Be Anywhere on there. Rock band needs to add a little screamo to the mix.

  • Comic-Relief

    Posted Nov 27, 2007 11:07 pm PT

    Can I not download the new songs packs untill its released in canada--
    I ordered it from the states and have been rockin out- but i want some CCR and Forigner!

  • grimjack352

    Posted Nov 27, 2007 7:11 pm PT

    they need more metal - pantera, coc, slayer, etc. This cries out for some harder stuff. i'd also like to see some old in flames, into eternity, children of bodom - stuff like that. Alice in chains would be great too

  • oral867202

    Posted Nov 27, 2007 12:40 pm PT

    No im not I had yet to see anyone post the song as one on the list of songs, and at the time i had yet to unlock it .I was happy to see it there when i did unlock it

  • diablobasher

    Posted Nov 26, 2007 7:38 am PT

    Better be more maiden by the time Rock Band hits the UK, would love to see Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Back in the Village.

  • oral867202

    Posted Nov 24, 2007 11:54 pm PT

    I would like to see more hard core metal and thrash in the downloads not from the same bands that are already in the game bands like sepultura or soulfly or even the cavalera brothers new band inflikted . maybe some anthrax to replace the beasty boys messup that should have never been in there maybe some slayer would be nice too for old school stuff i would like to see some iron maiden i cant believe they arent in it yet and some old korn would be nice too. and maybe even some danzig's mother??

    I think you should also be able to remove songs from the play list like those you dont like its stupid to have to keep playing it when it pops up in random fans choice. if you dont like the song

  • Lokar

    Posted Nov 24, 2007 9:49 pm PT

    Looks awesome. I can't wait to get this game.

  • teknojunkie666

    Posted Nov 24, 2007 1:45 am PT

    does anyone else think dire straits money for nothing would be a great song for this game, with the awesome riff and simple drums, im not a dire straits fan but i think this song on this game just makes sense.

  • joebob522

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 8:14 am PT

    I personally would like to see some Motley Crue in Rock Band. Kickstart my Heart, Dr. Feelgood. Imagine playing Rock band @ a party and you just bust into Home Sweet Home, a huge ballad. Now there may not be a keyboard to play the open piano line; but you get the idea.

  • KDawg599

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 4:35 am PT

    yes shoeman12 u can use the gh3 contoller, and gh2 controller also

  • shoeman12

    Posted Nov 22, 2007 7:54 pm PT

    wonder if you can use a guitar hero 3 controller for it. if so i may pick up the game alone, maybe a drum set.

  • KDawg599

    Posted Nov 21, 2007 12:34 pm PT

    Man I got really bummed when I heard that the guitar part isn't supposed 2 be that hard. Like between gh1 and gh2, i thought gh2 was pretty good difficulty like i could beat it on expert but it was still a challenge. But gh1 is just really easy, and i've only played a little gh3 but it seemed a hell of a lot harder than gh2. I think if they had like gh2-gh3 difficulty, but i still think itll be awesome.

  • CyberStud69

    Posted Nov 21, 2007 7:38 am PT

    Too much to pay for DLC, in my opinion.

    I'm not cheap, I just don't think it's worth that much per song.

    Canadians have it even worse; packs cost $6.49 and songs cost $2.99.

    That means some songs will cost $3.99. For one song...way too much.

    If every song included in the retail edition of Rock Band cost the same as DLC, it would cost about $174...not including peripherals.

    MTV and Harmonix are going to make a fortune off this; I just hope no other companies follow this dangerous precedent. I also hope enough people be patient and hold off on DLC and wait for the price to drop - let the companies know you don't want to pay that much.

    Even if the price doesn't bother you, imagine if more and more game companies use this strategy. With games costing much more to create, companies might see expensive DLC as an answer to maintain profits; an answer that could cost us gamers dearly and could harm the integrity of the gaming industry.

  • Tripwolf

    Posted Nov 20, 2007 10:26 pm PT

    Awesome! Songs that should already be in a $170 dollar game and I have to pay extra! Sweet!

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