2008.07.14 - GunsNRoses.com - GN'R to get "Revenge" on Rock Band 2

Harmonix, the world's premier music video game development company, and MTV Games, a division of Viacom's MTV Networks, along with marketing and distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc., today revealed at the 2008 E3 Media & Business Summit new features for the next evolution of the groundbreaking music platform, Rock Band 2. With the original Rock Band title providing millions of players with a new way to interact with the music and artists they love, Rock Band 2 builds upon its core band foundation to offer an unparalleled, deeper, dynamic gameplay experience.

Rock Band 2 raises the bar in music gaming innovation with new features to rock the world:

* Local and global online modes to connect the entire Rock Band community

* World Tour mode, now online, simplifies the best of gameplay from the original Rock Band by fusing Solo Tour and Band World Tour modes and cranks it up a notch with an all new collection of opportunity gigs, challenges, cities, venues and hirable staff

* Tour Challenges that offer rockers a chance to play through mini-campaigns focused on the best songs by instrument, decade, genre, artist, album and more Battle of the Bands mode challenges players to go head to head against other bands in constantly refreshed contests* created by Harmonix (*Internet connection required)

* Quickplay makes it easier than ever to get in and jam without hassle while allowing for new prefab characters or customized characters that can play on any instrument plus lets you make your own set lists and organize your song lists in a variety of categories (genre, era, etc.)

* Customizable Set Lists keep the music rolling and your band rocking in Quickplay mode

* Drum Trainer mode gives players the fundamentals of different beats and fills, translating gameplay into real drumming skills

* Character Creator completes your look with all new choices in clothing, accessories, tattoos, hairstyles, instruments and more to keep your unique rock avatar playing the full rock part

* Backwards compatibility with all Rock Band downloadable music content released to date

* Disc Export Feature gives owners of the original Rock Band the ability to export most of the Rock Band disc tracks and upgrade them into Rock Band 2 gameplay — the first time ever in videogame history!

Rock Band 2 features the largest music catalogue of any music-based videogame to date including:

* The Rock Band 2 soundtrack will feature over 100 songs — with over 80 songs on disc plus an additional 20 bonus tracks which will be made available for free download this fall .

* Unrivaled Blend of Classic, Developing and Emerging rock acts including PEARL JAM, METALLICA, ALLMAN BROTHERS, MOTÖRHEAD, DEVO, JANE'S ADDICTION, MEGADETH, PARAMORE, MODEST MOUSE and more.

* Rock Band 2 is the first and only video game to feature the music of AC/DC. It includes their epic rock anthem, "Let There Be Rock"

* After 14 years since GUNS N' ROSES last official music release, Axl Rose selects Rock Band 2 to debut official new track, "Shackler's Revenge" from the highly anticipated album "Chinese Democracy"

* For the first time ever, music from American music icon Bob Dylan is featured in a video game with "Tangled Up In Blue"

With ongoing weekly DLC releases including individual tracks, track packs and full albums, the Rock Band music library will feature more than 500 songs by year's end!

From the solid officially licensed Rock Band 2 instruments to the expanded third party options, Rock Band 2 introduces new and improved choices that promise to deliver unsurpassed realism. In addition, Harmonix and MTV Games have become the first companies to officially support third party instruments and accessories in a music videogame.

Achieve ultimate stardom with the upgraded functionality and smooth new look of the official Rock Band 2 instruments.

* Fender Stratocaster Controller takes on a new authentic look plus adds a reinforced strum bar, quieter buttons, wireless functionality and a built in calibration tool that automatically sets your AV setup to an ideal setting for maximum rock.

* Drum set goes wireless while also featuring quieter, velocity sensitive drum pads and a metal reinforced pedal.

* Microphone showcases authentic styling and weight.

Kick up the intensity with officially licensed third party instruments from Mad Catz:

* Fender Telecaster Controller features soft buttons with lower action to help you shred faster than ever.

* Fender Bass Controller, the first bass guitar controller ever, takes the shape of the Fender P-Bass with extended length, tuning pegs and a split strum bar to replicate finger-bass style picking.

* Full-sized Squire Stratocaster Guitar Controller multiplies the authentic guitar experience by featuring a controller built into an actual Squire Stratocaster body.

* Cymbal Expansion Pack is a straightforward but amazing upgrade to the Rock Band 2 drum set featuring add-on cymbals.

Take Rock Band 2 instrument authenticity to a whole new level with a high-end peripheral from ION:

* ION Drum Rocker, a real electronic drum kit that functions as a game controller, brings the Rock Band fantasy to life featuring a simple substitution that takes the drum kit from a controller to a real instrument.

Rock Band 2 will make its debut on Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft this September and have an exclusive launch window in North America. Rock Band 2 will be available for additional platforms later this year. Rock Band 2 will be available for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment systems and Wii later this year.

As previously revealed today, Rock Band will ship with an exclusive launch window on the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft in Italy, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland and Benelux July 24, and on other platforms this Fall.

The Rock Band online music store recently surpassed 16 million paid downloads since the game's launch in late November 2007. With more than 200 tracks available to date via disc and download purchase, the massive Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks, packs and albums from the vast selection of offerings available as they build their own custom Rock Band library.

"Rock Band 2" track listing:

01. AC/DC - Let There Be Rock
02. AFI - Girl's Gone Grey
03. ALANIS MORISSETTE - You Oughta Know
04. ALICE IN CHAINS - Man in the Box
05. ALLMAN BROTHERS - Ramblin' Man
06. AVENGED SEVENFOLD - Almost Easy
07. BAD COMPANY - Shooting Star
08. BEASTIE BOYS - So Whatcha Want
09. BECK - E-Pro
10. BIKINI - Kill Rebel Girl
11. BILLY IDOL - White Wedding Pt. I
12. BLONDIE - One Way or Another
13. BOB DYLAN - Tangled Up in Blue
14. BON JOVI - Livin' on a Prayer
15. CHEAP TRICK - Hello There
16. DEVO - Uncontrollable Urge
17. DINOSAUR JR. - Feel the Pain
18. DISTURBED - Down with the Sickness
19. DREAM THEATER - Panic Attack
20. DURAN DURAN - Hungry Like the Wolf
21. ELVIS COSTELLO - Pump It Up
22. FLEETWOOD MAC - Go Your Own Way
23. FOO FIGHTERS - Everlong
24. GUNS N' ROSES - Shackler's Revenge
25. INTERPOL - PDA
26. JANE'S ADDICTION - Mountain Song
27. JETHRO TULL - Aqualung
28. JIMMY EAT WORLD - The Middle
29. JOAN JETT - Bad Reputation
30. JOURNEY - Anyway You Want It
31. JUDAS PRIEST - Painkiller
32. KANSAS - Carry On Wayward Son
33. L7 - Pretend We're Dead
34. LACUNA COIL - Our Truth
35. LINKIN PARK - One Step Closer
36. LIT - My Own Worst Enemy
37. LUSH - De-Luxe
38. MASTODON - Colony of Birchmen
39. MEGADETH - Peace Sells
40. METALLICA - Battery
41. MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES - Where'd You Go
42. MODEST MOUSE - Float On
43. MOTÖRHEAD - Ace of Spades
44. NIRVANA - Drain You
45. NORMAN - Greenbaum Spirit in the Sky
46. PANIC AT THE DISCO - Nine in the Afternoon
47. PARAMORE - That's What You Get
48. PEARL JAM - Alive
49. PRESIDENTS OF THE USA - Lump
50. RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - Testify
51. RATT - Round & Round
52. RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS - Give it Away
53. RISE AGAINST - Give it All
54. RUSH - The Trees
55. SILVERSUN - Pickups Lazy Eye
56. SMASHING PUMPKINS - Today
57. SOCIAL DISTORTION - I Was Wrong
58. SONIC YOUTH - Teenage Riot
59. SOUNDGARDEN - Spoonman
60. SQUEEZE - Cool for Cats
61. STEELY DAN - Bodhitsattya
62. STEVE MILLER BAND - Rock'n Me
63. SURVIVOR - Eye of the Tiger
64. SYSTEM OF A DOWN - Chop Suey
65. TALKING HEADS - Psycho Killer
66. TENACIOUS D - Master Exploder
67. TESTAMENT - Souls of Black
68. THE DONNAS - New Kid in School
69. THE GO-GO'S - We Got the Beat
70. THE GRATEFUL DEAD - Alabama Getaway
71. THE GUESS WHO - American Woman
72. THE MUFFS - Kids in America
73. THE OFFSPRING - Come Out & Play (Keep ‘em Separated)
74. THE REPLACEMENTS - Alex Chilton
75. THE WHO - Pinball Wizard