So there you are, hypothetically, playing your swell new copy of Rock Band 2 for the first time ever, enjoying your introduction to the music game genre. You’re having a great time, thrashing your way through the Foo Fighters’ hit single, Everlong. Your drummer glances over and says, “We should play Learn to Fly next; I love that song.” You’re delighted — the Foo Fighters have another song for Rock Band? They’re your very favorite post-grunge alternative rockers ever! Giddy with anticipation, you navigate over to Rock Band 2’s in-game music store, but your smile falters: “Why, there’s no Foo Fighters here at all,” you wonder. “Why would you get my hopes up like that, hypothetical drummer friend?” Your drummer shakes his head, replying, “Oh, sorry — Learn to Fly was in Rock Band 1, so you can’t buy it online.” You blink in confusion. “Really? They’re never going to release those songs individually?” “Nope,” confirms your drummer. “According to a report spotted in Variety, Harmonix and MTV Games intend to keep selling Rock Band 1 ‘indefinitely.’ I’ll tell you more after the break.”
So, after you and your drummer take a little break, you ask for an explanation. “I thought you told me that Rock Band 2 was exactly like Rock Band 1, except with way better features and improved functionality,” you complain. “You said once I owned Rock Band 2, there was pretty much no reason to go back and play Rock Band 1.”
“That’s true,” your drummer nods. “Ever since I started playing RB2, I haven’t felt the need to play RB1 again at all.”
You pout in your hypothetically adorable way. “Well, so now if I want to play the other Foo Fighters song, I need to buy a copy of the original? That seems dumb.” You point to the on-screen music store, still hovering in the gap between Fall Out Boy and (as made famous by) Foreigner. “I mean, I’d pay two bucks for the track. There’s probably a bunch of other good songs from Rock Band 1 I’d be willing to buy individually for the regular DLC price. If they made them available, I’d probably spend more money on them than it would cost me to pick up Rock Band 1 — which I’d almost certainly buy used at this point, making MTV Games no money at all.”
“It does seem a bit backwards and inconvenient,” acknowledges your drummer, “Especially for new players who are starting with the superior Rock Band 2, like you hypothetically did. But it’s probably part of the licensing agreement. Those songs can only be sold as a package, I’m guessing. I don’t know for sure, of course.”
You grumble, checking the contents of your wallet. “Well, I guess I’m out $30 for a used copy of Rock Band if I ever want to play Learn to Fly.”
Your drummer smiles enigmatically, and waves your wallet away. From his gym bag, he produces his own copy of Rock Band 1, and pops it into your console. Fifteen minutes and $5 later, you have access to nearly the entire RB1 library thanks to the game’s export feature, including your prized Foo Fighters track and many more. You’re thrilled, yet confused. “Wait — so there’s nothing to stop me from borrowing or renting the game just long enough to export the tracks? You could, hypothetically, take your copy to everyone’s house and let them perform the export process?”
“Well, sure,” laughs your drummer. “Isn’t that what pretty much everybody is going to do?”
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