Crispy Gamer News

The Rock Band Track Pack Volume 2 for Xbox 360, PS3, PS2 and Wii has shipped to retail stores nationwide. Pricing for the game is $29.99 MSRP for all platform versions. Rock Band Track Pack Volume 2 features 20 tracks recorded by multiples artists including Lynyrd Skynyrd and Mötley Crüe to Red Hot Chili Peppers and Duran Duran.

Rock Band Track Pack Volume 2 can be played as a standalone game for all console versions using Rock Band and Rock Band 2 peripherals. Fans who buy the track pack for Xbox 360 and PS3 can also export all 20 songs to their console for play with Rock Band and Rock Band 2 using a free offer from Xbox LIVE or the PlayStation Network.

Get it while it’s hot, kids.

If you aren’t already drinking the Rock Band 2 kool-aid, or are looking for something for that special someone this holiday shopping season, then you might want to check out the freshly released and re-priced Rock Band bundles hitting retail this week. The Rock Band Special Edition Bundle contains all the essentials (if you don’t have them already) including the game, a microphone, Fender Stratocaster-modeled guitar controller and drum controller.

Rock Band Special Edition Bundle is available for PS2 and Wii starting at $99.99, while buying it for Xbox 360 and PS3 will cost you a bit more cash - $139.99.

For those of you that are “so over” the original, read our Rock Band 2 Review.

Harmonix and Electronic Arts have shipped Rock Band 2 to retail outlets nationwide, with an expected street date of September 14. Rock Band 2 standalone wireless drums and guitars will also arrive at retail later in the week.

Rock Band 2 offers new tunes to rock out to, and as previously announced, allows users to import all those tracks from the first game. The game also promises an Online World Tour mode, daily Battle-Of-The Band Tournaments, auto-calibration to eliminate TV lag, wireless drums, quieter velocity sensitive drum heads, support for up to three cymbals (sold separately), advanced voice detection technology, No Fail Mode, a real Drum Trainer, the ability to export your in-game band avatar to the internet and order custom Rock Band merchandise including apparel and figures.

During the week of September 14, EA will release Rock Band 2 Standalone Software (Xbox 360) $59.99 MSRP, Rock Band 2 Standalone Wireless Drums (Xbox 360) $89.99 MSRP and the Rock Band 2 Standalone Wireless Guitar (Xbox 360) $69.99 MSRP. The Mad Catz Rock Band Fender Precision Bass Guitar Controller will be released for $69.99 and the Rock Band ION Drum Rocker will also be released, as well as a drum conversion kit.

Look for all this at retail beginning September 14.

On Saturday, September 6th at House of Blues in Los Angeles, Harmonix will enlist the help of Rock Band Live Tour artists Panic At The Disco and Plain White T’s for special short performances to bring awareness to LIFEbeat’s cause and celebrate the forthcoming launch of Rock Band 2. The Rock Band 2 Party to Benefit LIFEbeat during MTV’s Video Music Awards weekend marks an occasion where stars, the music industry and true fans alike can all take in an admittedly hot show and fight for a cause with proceeds from the show benefiting LIFEbeat - The Music Industry Fights AIDS.

Attendees will rock out with a sneak peek and face time with Rock Band 2 before it hits retail, as well as enjoy musical appearances by Panic At The Disco and Plain White T’s. Tickets for the Rock Band 2 Party to Benefit LIFEbeat are $50.00 for General Admission, with proceeds going to LIFEbeat. Tickets can be purchased at House of Blues Box Office and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Some rockin’ shots from Harmoix and EA’s latest Rock Band game.

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Some more details about Rock Band 2 have been revealed today including new modes, tracks and support for third party peripherals. You may have already heard about some of this from Microsoft press briefing (details here and here), but here is a recap for those that missed it.

Rock Band 2 will feature new local and online game modes that made the first game such a hit. World Tour mode goes online, and simplifies things by combining Solo Tour and Band World Tour modes with new collection of opportunity gigs, challenges, cities, venues and hirable staff. Tour Challenges offer mini-campaigns focused on the best songs by instrument, decade, genre, artist, album and more. Battle of the Bands, an online mode, will let players to go head to head against other bands Other modes include Quickplay (which is just what it sounds like), a Drum Trainer mode and - of course - a Character Creator mode.

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Harmonix, MTV Games and distribution partner Electronic Arts announced today that stand-alone peripherals for the ridiculously popular game Rock Band will start shipping to U.S. store shelves beginning on Feb. 12th.

The Rock Band Drum Kit (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, PlayStation 2) will retail for $79.99 and will be available on Feb. 12, while the Rock Band Wireless Fender Stratocaster Guitar Controller (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, PlayStation 2) will carry a retail price tag of $59.99 and will be available on April 1, 2008. In today’’s announcement, there was no mention of a stand-alone microphone, though any USB-enabled mic will do the trick (like the ones Logitech bundles with Konami’’s Karaoke Revolution games, for example). Learn more at www.rockband.com.