Music Game Masterpiece Rock Band™3 Available Today in North America and Worldwide This Friday

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Harmonix, the world's premier music video game developer, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today announced that Rock Band™3, the next generation in the ultimate social and interactive music gaming platform, is available today in North America and will be available Oct. 29 in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other territories for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Wii™ and Nintendo DS™.

Early critical acclaim from around the world for Rock Band 3:

Joystiq.com – 5 out of 5

"Rock Band 3 is the greatest rhythm game ever made, and quite possibly the only rhythm game you need to own…"

G4TV - 5 out of 5

"The best music video game I've ever played. While no game can be all things to all people, Rock Band 3 comes close. It is both a great party game and an entirely hardcore music game experience."

Destructoid.com - 9.5 out of 10

"With its new additions and ingenious interface tweaks, Rock Band 3 is undeniably the finest and most refined music game the market has ever seen."

UK's Xbox World 360 - 9.5 out of 10

"Rock Band 3 is as close to perfection as any game is ever likely to get. It's the definitive rhythm-action title of choice: a platform for music gaming so far ahead of the competition it's not even fair."

Official XBOX Magazine - 9.5 out of 10

"Keyboard is a fantastic addition"

Game Informer – 9.25 out of 10

"The new pro-guitar system is remarkable."

@Gamer - 4.5 out of 5

"An amazing achievement for the series, and the music genre as a whole."

PlayStation: The Official Magazine - 9 out of 10

"Rock Band 3's greatest achievement may be that it's not just another Rock Band game; it's an ambitious step forward for the genre."

To kick off downloadable content for Rock Band 3, the legendary band, The Doors, will be the first of several high profile artists featured in the Rock Band Music Store.  A three-pack of The Doors' songs is available for free to fans that purchase Rock Band 3 and play online during the first week of launch (Oct. 26-Nov. 1).  The free pack, which is available only through the Rock Band 3 in-game Music Store, includes "Light My Fire," "Riders on the Storm" and "Touch Me," and incorporate five-button guitar and bass, Drums, Pro Drums and Keys, Pro Keys and harmonies, where applicable, as well as a free expansion that will add Pro Guitar and Pro Bass parts.

As previously announced, The Doors also released an additional nine-pack of songs today, available for purchase and download in the Rock Band Music Store(2).  And soon, Rock Band 3 players can expect new downloadable tracks from legendary artists, including Billy Joel, John Lennon and Bon Jovi!

To coincide with the launch of Rock Band 3, RockBand.com has been completely redesigned by the team that brought you the Webby Award-winning The Beatles™: Rock Band™ website. The new site goes live today and, among other additions, now features the ability for fans to share their Rock Band 3 experiences with others through the click of a button. When players link their RockBand.com accounts to their Rock Band 3 profiles, all their gameplay goals and achievements will be published to a personalized "My Gameplay" page on RockBand.com. Players can then share their exploits with friends over Facebook, Twitter, email and more. When players use RockBand.com to create setlists and battles, these can also be shared with friends via Facebook, Twitter, other social networks and email. Additionally, the 700-plus goals available in Rock Band 3 have been integrated into players' RockBand.com personal profile, so they can track goals, as well as career progress, via the web.

Rock Band 3 delivers the deepest Rock Band experience yet with an incredible 83-song soundtrack featuring the music of Avenged Sevenfold, Paramore, John Lennon, Jane's Addiction, Phish, Anthrax, The Cure, Def Leppard, Ozzy Osbourne, Bob Marley, Foreigner and many more. Rock Band 3 also gives players immediate access to more than 2,000 songs(3) in the ever-growing Rock Band Music Library and support for most existing Rock Band songs(4).  In addition, Rock Band 3 adds three-part vocal harmonies and introduces a keyboard peripheral to the band, allowing up to seven players to rock together for the ultimate social gaming experience.

Rock Band 3 also marks the debut of Rock Band Pro Mode, which bridges the world of gaming and real musicianship through a collection of new instrument controllers, trainers and gameplay options that open the door to real-world guitar, bass, keyboard and drum skills.

Rock Band 3 offers something for everyone.  The game's deep Career Mode takes the band on a journey to gain new levels of status while the environment around them changes from streets and subways to tour stops and mega-venues. For the serious player, the revamped Career Mode features more than 700 goals and rewards and seamless leaderboard integration for an endlessly deep campaign experience. The game also features easy drop-in and drop-out, easier No Fail accessibility and an all-new Party Shuffle. Rock Band 3 also adds a suite of social networking tools to the game, including the ability to create, save and share playlists online or on the console, so fans can engage friends over Facebook, Twitter, email and more. Check out those tools and more at the newly launched RockBand.com.

Developed by Harmonix, published by MTV Games, and distributed by distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc. (Nasdaq: ERTS), Rock Band 3 is compatible with all Rock Band™ and The Beatles™: Rock Band™ peripherals, as well as most third-party instrument and microphone controllers. Rock Band 3 Pro Mode requires Rock Band Pro-compatible instrument controllers. Mad Catz, the official peripheral manufacturer and distributor for Rock Band 3 game controllers, has released Pro Mode compatible controllers including the Rock Band 3 Fender™ Mustang™ PRO-Guitar™ Controller, Rock Band 3 Wireless Keyboard, Rock Band 3 PRO-Cymbals™ Expansion Kit and the Rock Band 3 MIDI PRO-Adapter™.  

Harmonix has also teamed with Fender to create the Rock Band 3 Squier® by Fender Stratocaster® Guitar Controller, a full-sized, six-string electric guitar that also functions as a game controller that will be compatible with Rock Band 3 Pro Mode.  The Rock Band 3 Squier Stratocaster will be available in early 2011.

Pricing for Rock Band 3 is as follows:

• Rock Band 3 Software for Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 system: US MSRP $59.99, continental Europe MSRP euro 59.99, UK MSRP 49.99 pounds Sterling
• Rock Band 3 Software for Wii: US MSRP $59.99, continental Europe MSRP euro 49.99, UK MSRP 39.99 pounds Sterling
• Rock Band 3 Software for Nintendo DS: US MSRP $29.99, continental Europe MSRP euro 29.99, UK MSRP 24.99 pounds Sterling
• Rock Band 3 Software and Keyboard Bundle for Xbox 360: US MSRP $129.99, continental Europe MSRP euro 129.99, UK MSRP 109.99 pounds Sterling
• Rock Band 3 Software and Keyboard Bundle for Wii: US MSRP $129.99, continental Europe MSRP euro 109.99, UK MSRP 99.99 pounds Sterling
• Rock Band 3 Mad Catz Wireless Keyboard for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Wii: US MSRP $79.99
• Rock Band 3 Mad Catz Wireless Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar Controller for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii: US MSRP $149.99
• Rock Band 3 Mad Catz Wireless PRO-Cymbals Expansion Kit– Universal: US MSRP $39.99
• Rock Band 3 Mad Catz MIDI PRO-Adapter for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Wii: US MSRP $39.99

Rock Band 3 is rated "T" for Teen (lyrics, suggestive themes) by the ESRB. Music downloads are not rated by the ESRB.

For Rock Band 3 art and video assets, please visit http://www.rockband.com/press.

Follow Rock Band on Twitter (http://twitter.com/rockband) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/rockband).

About MTV Networks

MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products.  The company's portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 350 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Noggin, The N, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, Atom, Gametrailers and Xfire. 

About MTV Games

MTV Games is dedicated to creating, marketing and publishing high-quality, innovative interactive products that are relevant to the MTV audience and complement the core values of the MTV Networks brands.

About Harmonix Music Systems, Inc

Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., based in Cambridge, MA, and established in 1995, is the leading developer of groundbreaking music-oriented videogames. Harmonix was founded by Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy, who formed the company to invent new ways for non-musicians to experience the unique joy that comes from making music and have pioneered music and rhythm gaming in the US. For more information please visit www.harmonixmusic.com.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA™, EA SPORTS™, EA Mobile™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2010, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.7 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million units. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

© 2010 Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Harmonix, Rock Band, Rock Band 2, Rock Band 3, Rock Band Network and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., a MTV Networks company. Rock Band, Rock Band 2, Rock Band 3 and Rock Band Network developed by Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. MTV: Music Television, MTV Games and all related titles and logos are trademarks of MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc. EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile and POGO are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Microsoft, Xbox. Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. "PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Wii and Nintendo DS are trademarks are trademarks of Nintendo. Guitar Hero is a registered trademark of Activision. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

(1) Available on-disc, via download and disc export.  Internet connection and key purchase required. Wii has more than 1,500 song tracks available for purchase on the Rock Band platform on-disc, via song import, and download.  Not applicable to Nintendo DS.  

(2) Beginning Nov. 2, The Door's Rock Band downloads will be available for purchase only as individual songs or in a bundle of all 12 songs.

(3) Available on-disc, via download and disc export.  Internet connection and key purchase required. Wii has more than 1,500 song tracks available for purchase on the Rock Band platform on-disc, via song import, and download.  Not applicable to Nintendo DS.  

(4) Rock Band 3 supports most existing tracks from Rock Band and Rock band 2 discs, downloaded songs, Rock Band Network songs, track packs, AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack, LEGO® Rock Band and Green Day: Rock Band.

SOURCE MTV Games

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