Rock Band 3 Fans to Play Songs From 'The Piano Man' Himself As Billy Joel's Music is Added as Downloadable Content

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Harmonix Music Systems Inc., the world's premier music video game developer, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today proudly confirmed that, as reported in USA Today, Billy Joel will bring his music exclusively to the Rock Band platform, among the first to be released as Rock Band™3 downloadable content. 

"The addition of the keyboard made me interested in bringing my music to Rock Band," said Billy Joel. "The game introduces music to an enthusiastic audience in a powerful way, and now also helps players get a grasp on the fundamentals of the keyboard."

"We are very excited to count Billy Joel's celebrated songs among the first downloadable content available for Rock Band 3," said Paul DeGooyer, senior vice president of electronic games, music and programming for MTV Networks. "The moment our fans heard we were adding keyboard game play, they have been clamoring for music from The Piano Man.  We are delighted to be working with Billy to allow our fans to play his killer arrangements in Rock Band – especially the fantastic keyboard parts."

Billy Joel has won six Grammy® Awards since his first hit in 1973. He has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, is a member of the Songwriters' Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and beginning Dec. 14, some of Billy Joel's most-loved songs  including "Big Shot," "Captain Jack," "It's Still Rock N Roll to Me," "Movin' Out," "Only The Good Die Young," "Piano Man," "Pressure," "Say Goodbye to Hollywood," "The Entertainer," and "The Stranger" will be available as Rock Band 3 downloadable content and will include Keys and Pro Keys parts.

To date, Rock Band fans have downloaded more than 75 million songs from the Rock Band Music Store, and the Rock Band Network Music Store. With more than 2,000* tracks available in the Rock Band platform, Harmonix and MTV Games stand next to none as the leading providers of downloadable content for rhythm video games. Rock Band pioneered offering content in a variety of ways, through on-disc game play, game export, downloadable content and the Rock Band Network. The Rock Band platform allows fans to interact with their favorite music in a unique and hands-on way, and also gives artists the ability to reach fans through a whole new channel.

Highly anticipated this holiday season, Rock Band 3 delivers the deepest Rock Band experience yet with an incredible 83-song setlist and the addition of keyboards, vocal harmonies and the all-new Pro Mode. The game will be available Oct. 26, in North America and Oct. 29 in the rest of world for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Nintendo Wii™ and Nintendo DS™.

Developed by Harmonix, published by MTV Games and distributed by Electronic Arts Inc. (Nasdaq: ERTS), Rock Band 3 will be compatible with all Rock Band™ and The Beatles™: Rock Band™ peripherals, as well as most Guitar Hero® and other authorized third-party music video game peripherals and microphones. Pro Mode requires Rock Band Pro-compatible instrument controllers.  Mad Catz is the official, licensed peripheral manufacturer and distributor for Rock Band 3 game controllers.  Rock Band Pro Guitar mode is compatible with the Rock Band 3 Fender™ Mustang™ PRO-Guitar™ Controller and the Rock Band 3 Squier® by Fender Stratocaster® Guitar Controller (manufactured and distributed by Fender). Find more information on how to pre-order Rock Band 3 today here.

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).

*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.

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.

SOURCE MTV Games

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