Bowie Leads Downloadable Rock Band Content

Harmonix and MTV Games have let fly details of downloadable content to be released for Rock Band following its US release on November 20th.

The list includes heavy 'rawk' hitters such as Metallica (Boo!), The Police (Meh), Queens of the Stone Age (Huzza!), David Bowie (Huzza, Boo, Meh, Huzza again), Ramones and The Clash (Yay!). SPOnG's mighty pleased to see that the packs being ordered by artist or theme, as opposed to Guitar Hero II packs, which can seem almost put together at random.

The details are specific to the US at the moment, but having spoken to EA SPOnG understands that the same content should be available in Europe, while pricing has yet to be confirmed.

U.S. gamers will pay $5.49 (£2.69) per pack or $1.99 (£0.98) per track (440 Microsoft Points per pack and 160 per track for Xbox 360).

The list shows that content will be rolled out on a weekly basis through 'til the end of the year – a trend Harmonix and EA say they will continue. Prices will range between $0.99 (£0.49) and $2.99 (£1.47) per track, although the majority will stick with the $1.99 (£0.98) price point.

“We are excited to unleash some of the most beloved rock songs of all time for consumers to customise their Rock Band game experience - for an amazing price", said Paul DeGooyer, senior VP of MTV Games.

SPOnG says, "Cheers Paul... but stop calling it a bloody experience. It's a video game".

“The overwhelmingly positive response from artists, managers, music publishers and record labels has setup a queue of fantastic tracks that will continue to roll out every week", Paul continues, less annoyingly.

“We are giving consumers a way to experience what is essentially a new game every week with more and more of the songs they love”, chimed in Alex Rigopulos, co-founder and CEO of Harmonix.

Alex, mate, it's "Play a new game"... keep it simple says SPOnG.

Anyway, without further ado, here's what U.S. gamers can expect in the run up to Greedmas:

Week of November 20, 2007:

3-Pack for $5.49 or Individual Tracks for $1.99 Each
(160 Microsoft Points per track and 440 per pack for Xbox 360)

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
3s and 7s – Queens of the Stone Age
Little Sister – Queens of the Stone Age
Sick Sick Sick – Queens of the Stone Age

Individual Tracks for $1.99 Each
(160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360)

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

3-Pack for $5.49 or Individual Tracks for $1.99 Each
(160 Microsoft Points per track and 440 per pack for Xbox 360)

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

3-Pack for $5.49 or Individual Tracks for $1.99 Each
(160 Microsoft Points per track and 440 per pack for Xbox 360)

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

3-Pack for $5.49 or Individual Tracks for $1.99 Each
(160 Microsoft Points per track and 440 per pack for Xbox 360)

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 for $1.99 Each
(160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360)
My Iron Lung - Radiohead
Buddy Holly - Weezer
Brass in Pocket as made famous by Pretenders *

*This is a cover version of a song made famous by the artist indicated. All others are original master recordings.