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Developed by Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, Rock Band is an all-new platform for gamers to experience music, giving players the chance to rock in the shoes of the biggest guitarists, bassists, drummers and singers of all time – as a solo superstar or as part of a hard rocking band.

Rock Band delivers four music games in one – challenging rockers to master lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals or play collectively as a whole. Built on unprecedented deals with top record labels and music publishers, the music featured in Rock Band spans all genres of rock and includes many master recordings from legendary artists.

Rock Band will be igniting audiences on the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system and the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system in Holiday 2007.

Gameplay

Guitar gameplay 

• Rock blistering solos to rock’s best tunes! Challenge your rock star status on the screen while strumming a slick guitar that’s modeled after the legendary Fender Stratocaster.

• The ultimate kick for Freddie Mercury wannabe’s. Using a Karaoke-style interface, players’ vocal performance is rated as they sing into the microphone.

Drum gameplay 

• Capture the power, physicality, and sheer fun of real drumming with Rock Band’s custom drum kit controller featuring four pads, kick pedal, and real drum sticks.
• Bass gameplay
• Bust out defying rock rhythm with the bass guitar option, which offers different parts to play in every song, and some unique gameplay twists.

• Master the basics! No need for experience. Pick your weapon of choice and ascend from beginner to rock god using Rock Band’s Tutorial Mode.
• Perfect your tune! Breakdown any part of any song at your preferred speed with Rock Band’s Practice Mode.
• Instant fix of fun! Jump into any unlocked song for some quick jam time either on your own or with other players with Rock Band’s Quickplay Mode. Take it on the road! Pack up your instrument of choice and set out on the open road for a fun and challenging single player career mode with Rock Band’s Solo Tour Mode.
• Conquer the world! Live the ultimate rock band lifestyle when you form a band locally or online and set out on tour. The journey to rock stardom takes you from small town bars to world-renowned venues. Earn fame and fortune along the way to secure rock star necessities with Rock Band’s Band World Tour Mode.
• Key Features
• Unrivaled song library! Major record labels and leading music publishers have signed on to provide unrivaled access to master recordings and legendary rock artists – from punk, metal and alternative to classic and southern rock.
• Rock ‘n’ Roll Never Dies! Full support for downloadable content delivers never-ending challenges.
• Play together in your living room or across the world! Rock Band™ offers deep online functionality, allowing players to rock together whether they’re in Rhode Island or Reykjavik.
• Create your own rock avatar! Mold a unique rocker using Rock Band’s character creator. Chose from gender, body shape, face, hair, clothes, tattoos and signature moves. Don’t forget to pick your specialized rockin’ instrument. Drumming in the spotlight! Showcase a real drum solo with Rock Band’s freestyle drum fill windows featured in each song. Break out your own rhythm and style as anything goes!
• Call out the crowd! Vocalists can bring the crowd to their feet during Rock Band’s freestyle vocal fill windows. Ad-lib your own words or shout to the crowd to raise the rock intensity of the performance.
• Save your mates! Band mates can fail out of a song for poor performance, but the band still plays on. Rescue your failing mate by busting out signature moves and blistering solos to wow the crowd with showmanship.
• Boost your bonus! Earn bonus points for your band during Rock Band’s Unison Phrase opportunities if everyone plays perfectly. A single mistake blows the phrase for everyone.

Songs

Major record labels and leading music publishers have signed on to provide unrivaled access to master recordings and legendary rock artists with hits from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s. Record labels partnering with MTV Games and Harmonix include EMI Music, Hollywood Records, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group’s Universal Music Enterprises and Warner Music Group’s Rhino Entertainment. Music publishers partnering with MTV Games and Harmonix include EMI Music Publishing and Warner/Chappel Music.

Some of the songs that will ship on Rock Band disc include:

The Who
Won't Get Fooled Again
(master)

Mountain
Mississippi Queen
(cover)

David Bowie
Suffragette City
(master)

Black Sabbath
Paranoid
(cover)

Blue Oyster Cult
Don't Fear the Reaper
(master)

Nirvana
In Bloom
(master)

The Hives
Main Offender
(master)

Weezer
Say It Ain't So
(master)