Harmonix and PDP have announced that they will be shipping a kick pedal and double bass pedal adaptor pack for $24.99. The pedal is compatible with all iterations of Rock Band (every console), as well as Guitar Hero: Metallica and Guitar Hero: World Tour.

This is great for those who are either really good at the drums, or those who like to be frustrated by even greater difficulty. It’s a good deal considering that you might have had to shell out for a new drum kit to play the Expert+ mode in GH:Metallica. Oh, and don’t forget, folks, Guitar Hero:Metallica has the Zungre Seal of Approval™.

Other than Rise of the Argonauts and Rock Band 2, looks like another dull week of game releases. The DS keeps getting piles of crappy games that I’ve never heard of and, well, the PSP is no where to be seen on this list. Hit the jump for my pick of the week and full list of new releases.

Pick of the Week: Rise of the Argonauts (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

Xbox 360

• Rise of the Argonauts

PS3

• Rise of the Argonauts

Wii

• Deer Drive
• Neopets Puzzle Adventure
• Rock Band 2
• Rock Band 2 Special Edition (Rock Band 2, Wireless Guitar,Wireless Drum Set, Microphone)

PS2

• Rock Band 2

DS

• Burger Island
• Candace Kane’s Candy Factory
• Cate West: The Vanishing Files
• Dreamer Series: Horse Trainer
• Dreamer Series: Puppy Trainer
• Learn Math
• Matchstick
• Mystery P.I. Portrait of a Thief

PC

• Rise of the Argonauts

EA, Harmonix and MTV Games have announced a new expansion for Rock Band in the form of Rock Band Track Pack Volume 2. Filled with 20 songs previously offered as DLC, this disc will be offered up for Wii, 360, PS3, and PS2. The disc can be played as a standalone game, or 360 and PS3 users can import the content into their hard drive similar to the process of bringing original Rock Band songs into Rock Band 2.

Hit the jump for pricing and full song list.

1. Avenged Sevenfold – Afterlife

2. Blondie – Call Me

3. Weezer – El Scorcho

4. Devo – Girl U Want

5. Maximo Park – Girls Who Play Guitars

6. Disturbed – Indestructible

7. Angels & Airwaves – It Hurts

8. The Cars -Just What I Needed

9. The Police – Message in a Bottle

10. Pixies – Monkey Gone to Heaven

11. Duran Duran – Rio

12. Mötley Crüe – Saints of Los Angeles

13. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Simple Man

14. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Snow ((Hey Oh))

15. Nine Inch Nails – The Perfect Drug

16. Fall Out Boy – This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race

17. Papa Roach – Time Is Running Out

18. Garbage – Why Do You Love Me

19. Judas Priest – You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’

20. Smashing Pumpkins – Zero

The pricing is set at $29.99. A pretty cool deal if you don’t already have all or most of the songs. Anyone here planning on running out and grabbing a copy November 17th?

We previously reported that The Beatles would be coming to Rock Band 2 based on what the Wall Street Journal Online deemed information from “several people familiar with the matter”. Unfortunately, those individuals apparently weren’t familiar enough.

The reality of the situation is still pretty cool for gamers and hardcore fans of the group, as a deal for an undisclosed amount has been struck between MTV and Apple Corps. Ltd. to create a stand-alone Beatles game due to come out during next years holiday season.

While an exact amount was not revealed, Martin Bandier, CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing shared the following:

“We signed a deal that would be considered very rich by the videogame company but fair for the artists. It will have online implications that will be enormous.”

This marks the first official digital licensing of the groups catalog, so one can assume that it didn’t come cheap, and Variety reports that discussions between all parties involved began over 17 months ago.

No comment was made regarding the potential remastering of the tracks, which are said to have not been touched in over 20 years. What is known at this time, is that developers will be able to select 45 songs for inclusion into the Beatles game.

When asked for comment, Apple Corps CEO Jeff Jones, did little outside of confirm that the game was already under development.

“The game is in development … We don’t want to talk about how it will turn out a year from now. We’re in the process of creating the game.”

This is great news. I’m thinking “Rock Band: The Beatles Edition”. Now if only someone could convince Zeplin to drink some video game Koolaid.

Source: Variety

Seriously, who thought four grown men wearing pink dress shirts and white boxers sock sliding across a hardwood floor was a good way to market Guitar Hero: World Tour?

What type of Rock Band Group are Tony Hawk, Alex Rodriguez, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Phelps forming? A sissy band that caps off a long night of underwear performances in their living room with a pillow fight? Maybe they can call their band the “Old News Pretty Boy Ski Lodge Olympic Mike” Band. Why Mike? Who told you to do this commercial?

Activision, please hear my plea. Fire your ad agency. The quadruple piano intro is to testosterone as Kryptonite is to Superman.

Afterthought: Does anyone actually like these commercials? Does this make you want to buy Guitar Hero over Rock Band 2?

For those of you that hope to observe rocking out to Billy Idol’s White Wedding with a plastic remote as a hobby by the end of this year, you should probably just tape your Wiimote to the Xbox 360 Fender- rumour has it that Harmonix & EA are delaying Rock Band 2 for Wii until early in 2009.

According to Destructoid and their GameStop tipsters, it seems that the Wii version of Rock Band 2 could possibly be delayed until January 2009. GameStop’s inventory apparently shows Jan. 6th, 2009 as the new shipping date for the game, which completely disregards Harmonix’s guess at a December release.

But fret not, mon frêre! As Destructoid points out, there’s always Wii Music, for those who would rather bob their heads to the smash hit Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, which I’m told gets all of the kids at the playground dancing.

I don’t know what your stance on Sarah Palin is, but whatever it may be, you’ll still find this pretty funny. Someone has created a Palin look-alike in their copy of Rock Band 2. It looks exactly like her. I guess nobody wants to cut it with the Sarah Palin jokes. But hey, I don’t mind.

If you’re a “six-pack Joe” or a “hockey mom”, you can still rock with Palin. There are two more images of Palin in the band after the jump.

Source: Sarah Palin in Rock Band 2

If you grew up listening to Red Hot Chili Peppers like I did, then the headline will make sense to you — if not, here you go.

Rock Band 2 owners will be able to power up their Xbox 360 and download the entire Blood Sugar Sex Magik DLC for 1,600MS Points from XBL. In other words — what XBL got “you got to get it put it in you.” Yeah, I know that song isn’t from BSSM, but I wanted to say it anyway.

So many great tracks in this one album like “Breaking the Girl”, “Under the Bridge”, and a favorite of one of my ex girlfriend’s, “Sir Psycho Sexy”. I wonder if she was trying to tell me something…

Hit the jump for the full track list.

• “The Power of Equality”
• “If You Have to Ask”
• “Breaking the Girl”
• “Funky Monks”
• “Suck My Kiss”
• “I Could Have Lied”
• “Mellowship Slinky in B Major”
• “The Righteous & The Wicked”
• “Blood Sugar Sex Magik”
• “Under the Bridge”
• “Naked in the Rain”
• “Apache Rose Peacock”
• “The Greeting Song”
• “My Lovely Man”
• “Sir Psycho Sexy”
• “They’re Red Hot”

If you’ve been paying close attention, you’ve probably noticed that I haven’t posted here in a while. (You haven’t? Ah well.) But put down your pitchforks, because I have a legitimate excuse, my friends. I have been spending time digging through couches, panhandling the Texas freeways, and even turning tricks outside of the local 7-11 so that I can afford the Rock Band 2 bundle. That $9999 price tag is too hefty for me to just pull it out of my wallet and be on my way. Confused? You should be.

According to Circuit City, the Rock Band 2 bundle was originally priced at $9999.99, but because they’re kind souls who wish nothing more than to give you a fair price, they dropped the price 98% to a modest $189.99. What a bargain, am I right? Better get to your nearest Circuit City before they’re all gone, because you know how frugal we gamers can be.

No really, go. What are you still doing here? Get the hell out of your chair and go!

(Thanks, naia-the-gamer!)

Attention all rock star and Sith Lord wannabees! Rock Band 2 and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed are finally hitting stores this week, so get your fake rock instruments and light sabers ready.

Not into the rock scene or using force powers? There are plenty of other fun games coming out this week including Dragon Quest IV, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, Crysis Warhead and Pure, just to name a few.

On the download tip, look out for one of my favorite NES games ever, Mega Man 2 which hit the Virtual Console today, along with Strong Bad Episode 2: Strong Badia the Free for the WiiWare.

Pick of the Week: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Xbox 360:

• Armored Core: For Answer
• Battle Fantasia
• Pure
• Rock Band 2
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

PS3:

• Armored Core: For Answer
• Pure
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Nintendo Wii:

• Kidz Sports: Crazy Golf
• Igor
• Mega Man 2 (VC)
• Potpourrii (WiiWare)
• Rebel Raiders
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
• Strong Bad Episode 2: Strong Badia the Free (WiiWare)
• TNA Impact!
• Zoo Hospital

PS2:

• Namco Classic Fighter Collection
• Naruto Ultimate Collection
• Pac-man Power Pack
• Speed Racer
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

PSP:

• B-Boy
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
• Yggdra Union

Nintendo DS:

• Animal Paradise
• Di-Gata Defenders
• Dragon Quest IV
• Drawn to Life: SpongeBob SquarePants Edition
• Happy Cooking
• Igor
• Imagine: Fashion Designer New York
• Line Rider 2 Unbound
• My Secret World By Imagine
• Unsolved Crimes
• Red Bull BC One
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

PC Games:

• Cooking Academy
• Crysis Warhead
• Discover
• Everlight
• Hell’s Kitchen
• Line Rider 2 Unbound
• Pure
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky
• The Price is Right
• The Settlers VI Gold
• The Witcher Enhanced Edition
• Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning

Little known fact; I play the drums. Another little know fact: I play the drums poorly.

As sure as I am that playing Rock Band as often as I can won’t help improve my drum skills, Harmonix intends to prove me wrong by adding a new ‘Drum Trainer’ mode to Rock Band 2, for those of you who are sick of hearing “GO PLAY REAL DRUMS” and not being able to do so.

The mode in Rock Band 2 is intended to help you improve your actual drumming skills by introducing you to basic drumming vernacular, intermediate drumming skills, and some of the more complicated repetitions of beats you’d be playing in an actual band. Hit the jump for the full details on Rock Band 2’s Drum Trainer mode, as well as some videos of the mode in action.

Though the Rock Band 2 Drum Trainer is a mode in itself, Harmonix decided to go all Matryoshka doll on us and have several modes inside of the mode itself. The modes are  Beat Trainer, Fill Trainer, and Freestyle Mode, and they each have a different intention.

The first mode is Beat Trainer, which will offer up 75 different beats for you to learn, ranging from easy beats such as “Surfin’ on 2 Hands”, which only uses the red & yellow pads, to Fast Punk, which varies in use from the pads to the bass pedal. So you’re not just jumping in head first to a difficult beat, you can select your rhythm from a section on the right using the kit’s D-Pad, and you can preview your selection as well. On the left side of the screen is a secion where you can adjust the speed of the beats using the up & down arrows. The Beat Trainer will also let you know when you’ve mastered a section of the trainer by flashing 100% on the screen. At that point, the beat will just loop until you quit the mode.

If you don’t enjoy the sound that the Beat Trainer gives you, pressing the Select/Back button will allow you to change the sound between 6 different kits: Standard, Roomy, Electric, Trashy, Vintage, and Rock Band 1.

The second mode in the Drum Trainer is the Fill Trainer, which focuses on the multicolored sections that you’d bash nonsensically to activate Overdrive in Rock Band. Fill Trainer gives you 45 different fills, as well as the ability to change the sound and tempo, just like Beat Trainer. For the most part, the fills are pretty easy, but it also requires you to master the beats you’re given before you complete fills.

The very last mode in the Drum Trainer is the Freestyle Mode, which I think has the most potential. Like the actual trainers, you will be given 6 different kits to choose from, as well as a metronome, though you can opt out of that if you want to. Freestyle Mode gives the player the ability to do what they’ve always wanted and to play their own music as they want, but it comes with a catch.

To do so, you have to open up the custom soundtrack option via the Xbox 360’s dashboard and choose an MP3 to play along with. The catch in this case is that the game doesn’t create notes for you, you just wail on the pads as you want. Though I’m sure that this will prove to be fun for most people, it will seem a bit confusing to most. You’d also have to time it well to start the song as you start drumming, which could be a hassle. According to Harmonix, its likely that the PS3 will also support the custom soundtrack option in RB2, but its not confirmed as of yet.

Though nothing has been confirmed for the Wii and PS2 versions of the game, the Drum Trainer in all of its glory will be hitting the PS3 and 360 versions on launch day when the game hits this fall.

According to Kotaku, a “friendly retail tipster” sent them a few photos of what appears to be their retail screens — showing off the release dates for the Rock Band 2 game on each console.

The images point to the 360 version hitting stores 9/14, PS3 on 10/19, and Wii on 11/18.

Of course, all of this information (if true) is subject to change at any time. What likely won’t change anytime soon is the trend of corporations buying timed exclusives. I personally hate it, but I guess it’s good business to slit the throats of your competition.

Source: Kotaku

Rock Band 2 is the perfection to Rock Band 1’s innovation, according to the Harmonix development plan. Even the start menu is way more hardcore, with a snarly white tiger and slithering snakes.

We’ve been hearing Rock Band 2 tidbits for a while now–84 songs on the Rock Band 2 disc, 500 total in the playlist by the holidays (”The Moby Dick of playlists,” says PR Coordinator John Drake, who took the stage to demonstrate for us), the first Guns ‘n Roses track in 14 years (”But is it a good song?” — “That’s a great follow-up question!” Drake teased), full compatibility for downloadables and your original Rock Band instruments. The focus of today’s demo was showing off new modes, but we also got a quick strum on the Sunburst guitar.

First up, Quickplay has been revamped to look like the Rock Band store. You’ll see the whole list on the right, with the selected track’s artist, album, year, and difficulty ratings for all the instruments on the left. Holding down the sort button pops up a menu of headers (genre, for instance) which make navigation much easier, a must, since the track list is only getting longer.

The new set list creation feature makes Quickplay a lot more seamless, since you can fit “more [songs] than you could play without going to the bathroom” and play them without always going back to the menu. Any of the sorting headers can be selected to play all the songs in that cateogry, so if you have an urge to play all the A songs, or have a Bowie marathon, or throw an 80s night party, it’s easy to set up.

World Tour (solo or band) has also been upgraded with new cities and venues, and– the best part– online bands. You can also hire staff for your tour this time around, which sort of act like accessories in an RPG–they’ll boost certain aspects of your score, whether it’s how much money you make or how many fans you win. Your Mom is the stand-by, but you can also hire a street team, a (drunk) publicist, an intern, or a tattoo artist.

Distinct from the regular Tour Mode is Tour Challenge, which is pure tiered progression with a lot of different ways to proceed. It’s designed to give the best experience possible for each instrument, so you’re not stuck stumming the same three notes on a stellar drum track. Events are unlocked as you go based on difficulty, but will also appear when you acquire new DLC.

Probably the most exciting feature for the true rock band maniacs is Battle of the Bands. This mode pits your band against first your local friend list scene, and then the world, as you compete in new battles everyday. Yes, so if you can’t pull ahead of the pack in a battle to master a certain album, maybe you can beat them at this new song, or at abstaining from star power, or at any of the daily new challenges that the designers devise.

Bands from all over the world put up scores during the limited time (the one they showed us had 13 days to go) and if you get passed up, the game sends notification or you can even get e-mails via rockband.com.

Drummers will be stoked for the included drum lessons–a whole mode just to teach you proper vocabulary, beats, tempos, and fills, while those who have partied too hard to play Rock Band anymore can let their characters jam on their own in Jukebox mode. Lots of new features that are worth exploring.

My exploration began today when I briefly wielded the Sunburst stand-alone guitar. Unfortunately I was too pussy-footed to land the premium drum set, but it seems a lot sturdier than the pack-in, and of course, as we already know, it can function as an actual electronic drum set (if you buy the add-on module and an amp).

For my part, on the guitar, I felt like the strum bar was a compromise between the clicking (which I prefer) of Guitar Hero 3 and the super-padded original Rock Band version. We played Mountain Song by Jane’s Addiction, and got to hear the Rock Band fellows do Cheap Trick’s “Hello There.”

Whether you can afford all the new instruments or not, the disc, at least, is pretty much mandatory for Rock Band players. We’re hoping to get some more time with it on the show floor, and will update this post with drum impressions if we get the shot.

Not sure if you have ever done any hard core drugs in your life, but the reality is that most rock stars have. WIth that in mind, it seems that the second installment of EA’s popular Rock Band franchise, has got you covered. New psychedelic animations, which seem to be the effect of a “unicen bonus” displayed on-screen, are almost enough to make you want to rush off stage for a few groupies and a bottle of jack.

So flip the switch on your black lights if you got em’ and check the video out yourself.