While the PS2 and Wii versions of Rock Band may be horribly gimped compared to their properly networked, digital-delivery-enhanced brethren, that doesn't mean Harmonix isn't planning to sell you albums worth of extra content. Rock Band Track Pack Volume 1 will be the game's first physically-distributed expansion pack, and should arrive in stores July 15th.
For $30, your existing Rock Band will have access to an "electrifying mix of classic hits and current favorites," consisting of 20 songs already available to download on PS3 and Xbox 360. The set list does a pretty decent job of spanning the existing DLC, and at a decent price as well. Considering each DLC song currently retails at $2 ($10 for a 6-pack) -- and EA is footing the bill to publish a boxed retail title -- no matter how you slice it you're getting a deal.
Here's hoping they labeled it Volume 1 for a reason; what with all the recent gaming prostitution, it's almost criminal not to give us a crack at Roxanne.
After their purchase on or after June 22nd, Wii Rock Band owners will have their expansion less than a month after; PlayStation 2 owners have been languishing since December 2007.
UPDATE, 3:55PM: This just in, courtesy Game|Life: the "expansion pack" doesn't actually require a Rock Band disc to run... it's a full, 20-song game. So, you could theoretically buy an incredibly barebones version of the game for $20 less than retail.
In a nutshell,
Press release:
Cambridge, MA – May 5, 2008 - Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a division of MTV Networks, which is a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along with distribution partner Electronic Arts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced plans to release Rock Band™ Track Pack Volume 1 for the Wii™ home video game console from Nintendo and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The 20-Track Pack features an electrifying mix of classic hits and current favorites, including songs by Boston, Nine Inch Nails, Stone Temple Pilots, and All American Rejects. The Rock Band™ Track Pack Volume 1 will be available on July 15th, 2008 for a MSRP of $29.99. Complete details are as follows:
Release date: Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Tracks:
30 Seconds to Mars The Kill
All American Rejects Move Along
Blink – 182 All the Small Things
Boston More Than a Feeling
David Bowie Moonage Daydream
Faith No More We Care A Lot
Grateful Dead Truckin’
The Hives Die, All Right!
KISS Calling Dr. Love
Lynyrd Skynyrd Gimme’ Three Steps
Nine Inch Nails March of the Pigs
Oasis Live Forever
Paramore Crushcrushcrush
The Police Synchronicity II
Queens of the Stone Age Little Sister
Ramones Teenage Lobotomy
Smashing Pumpkins Siva
Stone Temple Pilots Interstate Love Song
Weezer Buddy Holly
Wolfmother Joker & the Thief**All 20 tracks utilize original master recordings**
** All tracks are available as DLC on competing platforms**Price: $29.99 MSRP
July 13th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Roxanne is on the RB disc. No need for any expansion pack for it.
July 13th, 2008 at 9:44 am
so this kind of sucks really... you want to toss an RB party at your house and have to swap CDs in and out depending on what everyone wants to sing, and we all know how nice and slow Wii loads discs as we wait... and wait... and wait...
October 25th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
roxanne isnt on the playstation 2 version