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[DuckRacer]

Old? RB AC/DC obviously and unsurprisingly will not have online play, but it will also not come with a RBified Angus Young, or other miscellaneous AC/DC clothing for generic characters.

Oh and AC/DC's exclusivity deal with Harmonix isn't permanent, but that, again, is a little obvious. And there's other minor, new info too.

One thing the AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track won't have is a virtual version of guitarist Angus Young jumping around in his trademark schoolboy uniform. "AC/DC's likeness are not used as characters or avatars in the game," a MTV Games rep told GameSpot. "AC/DC LIVE Rock Band Track Pack is like Rock Band and Rock Band 2 in that it is completely focused on the music while giving people the opportunity to live out their rock star fantasies as themselves rather than playing as digitized versions of the artists."

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6198346.html

-AC/DC is now exclusive to "Rock Band" for "a term." No idea how long that term is. But just as Aerosmith is exclusive to "Guitar Hero" for a while after its eponymous game, MTV has a similar deal with AC/DC. That deal has resulted in this expansion pack and also the inclusion of "Let There Be Rock" in "Rock Band 2." No word on whether there will be future AC/DC songs for the "Rock Band" platform, either on discs or available to download, as part of the exclusive deal.

-Unlike "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Edition," you don't play as the band. You're covering AC/DC, just as you do every other group in "Rock Band." "There are some custom graphics," explained DeGooyer, "but we really don't think people are looking for little avatars and that's why it's not a $59 game." (It's a $39 game on 360, PS3 and Wii, $29 on PS2).

-The game will feature some, but not all, of the functionality from "Rock Band " and "Rock Band 2." All four instruments (guitar, bass, drums, mic) are used, you can "tour" through all 18 songs on your own or in a group, there are score duels and tug of war. However, there's no online capability. If you want to play with your friends, you have to be in the same room. In addition, there's no character creator. I would assume there are set characters you can choose from instead.

-All 19 tracks can be transferred onto a PS3 or 360 hard drive free of charge in order to import them into "Rock Band" or "Rock Band 2." Then they show up like any other downloaded tracks and can be played with all of the game's modes, online or offline.

But this can only be done once per disc. That's MTV"s way of preventing someone from sharing a disc with friends, or re-selling it, and essentially engaging in piracy. Seems reasonable to me. Given that songs cost $2 to download online, 18 tracks for $40 is just slightly more than it would cost to buy them online. Not the best deal ever, but not a rip-off either.

-DeGooyer says that AC/DC members chose to put the "Live at Donington" songs in the game and that MTV enthusiastically agreed. "To us it hung together more than cherry picking master recordings," he said. "It really is an experience. You put the disc in and you play through a live set."

-No specific word on whether there will be more expansion tracks along these lines. But launching a game like this in concert with an album as part of a big retail promotion fits in with MTV's strategy of integrating "Rock Band" into the overall music business so that a videogame component becomes a natural part of any product launch or marketing push.

"This is a huge statement about our platform and how meaningful it has become," DeGooyer commented "We want to be an authentic component of the music business. If a band is trying to get something done, if they've got a great new record or are going on tour, we'd love to be working with them. It could be a DLC pack or something more like this, which is all the bells and whistles."

-Not sure of the answer to my favorite question after dealing with the one major annoyance of "Rock Band 2": Do you have to play through the tour to unlock all the songs? Or are they all available as soon as you turn the game on? Update: I got the answer. All the songs on the disc are immediately available. They don't need to be unlocked.

http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2008/09/acdc-now-exclus.html

 

[ahoyhoy]

No Bon Scott... no deal

 

[Affeinvasion]

Given that songs cost $2 to download online, 18 tracks for $40 is just slightly more than it would cost to buy them online. Not the best deal ever, but not a rip-off either.

DOES NOT COMPUTE

 

[Johnkers]

God, and people thought Aerosmith was a rip off? This is terrible

 

[BobFromPikeCreek]

Just rent it day one and do the export. 18 songs for like 5 bucks.

 

[Belgand]

OK, first off is that, as others have mentioned, this is most definitely a rip-off. None of the other packs have cost this much and BSSM is 16 tracks for $20. So yeah, this is just plain raping. It's also incredibly half-assed. They throw out a cut-down version of the game onto the disc just so you can play the songs on it and they can pretend that it's not just a disc full of songs. Failing to include an instrument means it won't draw in players who don't already have RB meaning this basically has two potential markets: people who have GH exclusively that they think want a rip-off version of RB rather than just buying the software and getting a ton more for their money or people who already have RB and don't mind getting screwed for a track pack.

This is, quite possibly, one of the worst spin-offs I've seen yet. Even the horrible-sounding Country spin-off that GH has planned probably isn't going to be a rip-off like this.

I also find it odd that it's one-use-only and they're changing their position radically from where they were with the RB1 export.

 

[vatstep]

This is definitely a rip-off. Thankfully, I don't give a fuck about AC/DC, so I don't even have to give it a second thought.

 

[Christoff Yurievich]

Just rent it day one and do the export. 18 songs for like 5 bucks.

as has been mentioned: can't rent from Wal-Mart.

 

[DuckRacer]

God, and people thought Aerosmith was a rip off? This is terrible

I know, right? For $20 more you got actual band interviews, character models mimicking the band members, other artists, 22 more songs from Aerosmith and a variety of bands, etc. I mean, shit, I hate Aerosmith (ignoring Dream On and TKAR), but god, HMX has made a scam look like a deal.

Just rent it day one and do the export. 18 songs for like 5 bucks.

Walmart exclusive! No renting.

OK, first off is that, as others have mentioned, this is most definitely a rip-off. None of the other packs have cost this much and BSSM is 17 tracks for $20.

BSSM has 16 songs without Give it Away.


I guess what pisses me off is the fact that they could've went for the studio recordings, yet they went for the live at donington versions "because you get to experience the famous concert!!!" Yeah, by not recreating Angus in the game? Awesome. And I get to play Back in Black (Live), botched vocals and everything.

 

[FrenchMovieTheme]

who the fuck does AC/DC think they are? their songs suck balls for the most part. i guess they have a couple songs i might be interested in if they were individual downloads, but what is this live crap for $40? gtfo of here harmonix. i don't even know if i would pay $40 for 18 songs by my favorite band.

makes the whole operation look like garbage. i thought MTV was there to BRIDGE the gap between record labels and harmonix so bullcrap like this didn't happen. this should be DLC and it should be $20. are you kidding me?

 

[saunderez]

I know, right? For $20 more you got actual band interviews, character models mimicking the band members, other artists, 22 more songs from Aerosmith and a variety of bands, etc. I mean, shit, I hate Aerosmith (ignoring Dream On and TKAR), but god, HMX has made a scam look like a deal.

Totally agreed. GH:A was a game that stood by itself. New venues, new instruments, new characters, new customisation options for existing characters on top of the songs. This is nothing but a $40 track pack.

 

[Belgand]

BSSM has 16 songs without Give it Away.

Oh fuck, that piece of shit is on the disc!?! Ewww... do not want!

Also this habit of releasing "full albums" by bands with a song already in the game, as Dave (mainly) and others have complained about is a cheap, assy thing to do. They probably would have charged the same price for the album DLC, but by including it on the disc they're ever so slightly dicking you. If you want to release the album just release the album and find another song to put on the disc. Almost all of the large packs have been done in this way. The only ones that haven't are The Cars, Screaming for Vengeance, and The Grateful Dead.

At the same time do I want to have albums cut off just because they put a track on the disc? Not likely, but this is pretty transparent and something they obviously planned to do well in advance. At least Texas Flood will get away from this.

 

[BigBlackGamer]

I will buy the disc. Only because I have every GH & RB that has been released on 360 so far. count me in.

 

[Belgand]

makes the whole operation look like garbage. I thought MTV was there to BRIDGE the gap between record labels and harmonix so bullcrap like this didn't happen. this should be DLC and it should be $20. are you kidding me?

MTV is there to bridge the gap between Harmonix and money and promotions for shitty bands nobody wants to hear. They haven't had anything to do with music since around 1994 or so. For reference: Nirvana Unplugged was November '93 and probably the last significant thing MTV aired. Headbanger's Ball went off in '95. MTV2 started in '96. 120 Minutes somehow managed to last until '00, but I was amazed. I thought it had ended around the same period. Obviously I'd need a bigger fan to stipulate exactly when it went into a nosedive.

They have always, of course, been devoted to selling out and promoting things regardless of whether they're good or not if they think it'll make them money.

 

[Struct09]

The ACDC pack would be easier to swallow at $30, but I won't be able to resist :-/

 

[Flynn]

I guess what pisses me off is the fact that they could've went for the studio recordings, yet they went for the live at donington versions "because you get to experience the famous concert!!!" Yeah, by not recreating Angus in the game? Awesome. And I get to play Back in Black (Live), botched vocals and everything.

Not to mention the concert is from 1991 -- well past the band's prime.

But here's the thing. AC/DC may be on Columbia (Sony) but they own their masters. They call every fucking shot. They're already filthy rich and this whole new marketing push with the new record, etc. will only make them filthy richer. So they get to do things their way. And if they feel like pushing live material, saving Back in Black (their crown fucking jewels) for a later date there's nothing Harmonix/MTV can do.

They've got to play ball with AC/DC if they eventually want to get those awesome albums and original records. And that means putting stuff like this out under less-then perfect circumstances.

It won't always be this way. Mike Patton had absolutely no control over FNM songs getting into Rock Band. He said he barely knew it was happening. That's because Warners owns that music lock stock and barrel.

As we start to see more of the really, big, legendary bands hit these games we're going to see more and more situations like this. Do you honestly think the Beatles or Zeppelin are going to be a download of the week next to the Plain White Ts?

 

[quest]

Not to mention the concert is from 1991 -- well past the band's prime.

But here's the thing. AC/DC may be on Columbia (Sony) but they own their masters. They call every fucking shot. They're already filthy rich and this whole new marketing push with the new record, etc. will only make them filthy richer. So they get to do things their way. And if they feel like pushing live material, saving Back in Black (their crown fucking jewels) for a later date there's nothing Harmonix/MTV can do.

They've got to play ball with AC/DC if they eventually want to get those awesome albums and original records. And that means putting stuff like this out under less-then perfect circumstances.

It won't always be this way. Mike Patton had absolutely no control over FNM songs getting into Rock Band. He said he barely knew it was happening. That's because Warners owns that music lock stock and barrel.

As we start to see more of the really, big, legendary bands hit these games we're going to see more and more situations like this. Do you honestly think the Beatles or Zeppelin are going to be a download of the week next to the Plain White Ts?

QFT

We have been bitching for big time bands for a long time. The big bands set the rules all the game developers can do is play along or say no. I am just happy as hell to have a choice in this. I will purchase this because I will have a great time with it. If another preson thinks it is a rip off I understand. This will probably be the price we will have to pay for the big iconic bands. I would pay the same for zeppelin,beatles and other of the all time greats bands.

 

[saunderez]

This will probably be the price we will have to pay for the big bands.

If thats the case then to me it's unacceptable. Why does AC/DC deserve more money per track than *Insert my favourite band here*?

I won't be buying any out of protest.

 

[Belgand]

The Who had a great pack containing some of their best work (and "Real Good Looking Boy" which only got put in because it's from that fake new album) and also even played a show at E3. I think that's the template of how to do it. Great price, great music, and one of the all-time legends of rock.

The only disappointment is not doing windmills and scissor kicks when I play it before smashing my guitar at the end.

Oh and I really would have liked "A Quick One While He's Away" over hmm... "Sea and Sand" or "Leaving Home".

 

[Ten-Song]

This will probably be the price we will have to pay for the big iconic bands. I would pay the same for zeppelin,beatles and other of the all time greats bands.

Well, guess I won't get any of the "big iconic" bands in my game then. This whole deal would have been just fine as DLC, but as a higher cost one time only disc export that I can only get from a store that's filled with the worst humanity has to offer? Eh, I'll pass.

 

[AMUSIX]

It should be remembered that Harmonix has been trying to get AC/DC into a game since Guitar Hero. It sucks that Angus & Co. is making them jump through obscene hoops to do it, but that's how it goes. Hopefully we'll see more, better, and properly priced content later.

 

[Johnkers]

Hopefully we'll see more, better, and properly priced content later.

Glass half full!

Glass half empty: Other bands and their labels see this, decide fuck these games we charge what we charge.

 

[saunderez]

Glass half empty: Other bands and their labels see this, decide fuck these games we charge what we charge.

That's the situation most likely to happen IMO. Why would (for example) Fallout Boy settle for $1 a song when AC/DC are selling for $2.20 a song?

 

[Ten-Song]

Glass half empty: Other bands and their labels see this, decide fuck these games we charge what we charge.

Meh, I imagine only artists like AC/DC will get away with this. Harmonix and Neversoft are opposite of where they were years ago, and now instead of bands going "you want to use our music in what?" you have them actually seeking the two sides to put music into these games. I'm sure Activision and Harmonix have a crap ton of stuff they're sitting on already for music, they're not really hurting for new content.

The only way AC/DC gets away with this is just because they're AC/DC, they know they make a good selling point on the back of a box.

And truth be told, if this is the price I have to pay to get older big name artists, then I just won't play their songs.

 

[Johnkers]

Meh, I imagine only artists like AC/DC will get away with this. Harmonix and Neversoft are opposite of where they were years ago, and now instead of bands going "you want to use our music in what?" you have them actually seeking the two sides to put music into these games. I'm sure Activision and Harmonix have a crap ton of stuff they're sitting on already for music, they're not really hurting for new content.

The only way AC/DC gets away with this is just because they're AC/DC, they know they make a good selling point on the back of a box.

And truth be told, if this is the price I have to pay to get older big name artists, then I just won't play their songs.

Maybe I'm just ignorant but are AC/DC THAT big of a deal? Sure I get they're big enough to reject the regular deals, but big enough that Harmonix would bend over and take it?

Surely Metallica would have set the standard for the "big" bands so far.

 

[saunderez]

Surely Metallica would have set the standard for the "big" bands so far.

You'd think so, but Death Magnetic wasn't that bad a deal provided you were alright with buying the whole album in the first place.

 

[The Jer]

Metalli-who?

 

[saunderez]

Metalli-who?

You know, the dudes who take responsibility for closing down Napster.

 

[Version 3.0]

As bad as this AC/DC deal is, I might've bent my principles and bit if it were master tracks. Live tracks, though...no thanks.

 

[Eggo]

So only one export off the CD. What are you supposed to do when your 360 red rings? I was excited about this pack, but for $40 and only one export, no custom animation or costumes... I think I'll pass. I don't want to have to be signed into Live to play these tracks as DLC in case my 360 kicks the bucket.

 

[Xater]

Which instruments do you play?

I try to play all of them.

 

[CzarTim]

How do you unlock Tangled Up In Blue? I've been doing challenges all night with no luck.

 

[Johnkers]

So only one export off the CD. What are you supposed to do when your 360 red rings? I was excited about this pack, but for $40 and only one export, no custom animation or costumes... I think I'll pass. I don't want to have to be signed into Live to play these tracks as DLC in case my 360 kicks the bucket.

If it is DLC you can do the DRM transfer tool (which they should do for you when they fix your RROD) so that's not a problem.

If it's not... I never thought about that. What happens now if I export RB1 songs and I delete them. Can I export again without paying the 400 points? I guess it would work however that worked

 

[saunderez]

If it's not... I never thought about that. What happens now if I export RB1 songs and I delete them. Can I export again without paying the 400 points? I guess it would work however that worked

Well people have exported them multiple times because they've had failures etc, so I'd say that particular export is just dependent on you having the Export ticket in your DRM store.

 

[Johnkers]

Should be all good then

 

[Knox]

Kind of a lame way to do it, but I'll admit if it was Zep or Beatles I'd still be all over it. I imagine it'll be the same for AC/DC fans.

 

[Johnkers]

Kind of a lame way to do it, but I'll admit if it was Zep or Beatles I'd still be all over it. I imagine it'll be the same for AC/DC fans.

I'm glad it's not them! I can't imagine that not being hugely successful. Hopefully AC/DC are on the fringe of making this a borderline failure compared to their other products or DLC.

Please.

 

[Aaron]

I'm an AC/DC fan and I'm not touching this. Led Zep is the only band period I'd suffer this sort of extortion. Though I might pick it up when the 'game' drops in price. That's one advantage over pure DLC.

 

[TheGreatDave]

Would it really have harmed them to put some more songs on the AC/DC disc? By anybody other than AC/DC? I mean, seriously. The idea of releasing songs on a disc only is nothing new (lol platform) but for it to be such a ridiculous rip off and such a lazy product, I tip my hat. I didn't think Harmonix had it in them.

AC/DC are not worth the bad press they're gonna get for this. Live AC/DC especially sounds like a shitty parody of

 

[BigBlackGamer]

Would it really have harmed them to put some more songs on the AC/DC disc? By anybody other than AC/DC? I mean, seriously. The idea of releasing songs on a disc only is nothing new (lol platform) but for it to be such a ridiculous rip off and such a lazy product, I tip my hat. I didn't think Harmonix had it in them.

AC/DC are not worth the bad press they're gonna get for this. Live AC/DC especially sounds like a shitty parody of

I was just listening to Giant Bomb and when they brought it up everyone seemed fine about it. I don't think the press will be as bad as you think. I wouldn't be surprised if it was huge success either.

 

[Ten-Song]

I was just listening to Giant Bomb and when they brought it up everyone seemed fine about it. I don't think the press will be as bad as you think. I wouldn't be surprised if it was huge success either.

I think it'll be more of a collective "meh".

 

[Johnkers]

Which is funny because people shat all over Aerosmith! If (when) this doesn't get the same treatment then !

 

[TheGreatDave]

Which is funny because people shat all over Aerosmith! If (when) this doesn't get the same treatment then !

Pretty much. I dunno, if three disc releases in a year, with each disc containing exclusive songs you can't get anywhere else, is OK, I have no idea why stuff like GH:Aerosmith got such a load of shit from people. I'm going to guess it's because people are nothing but apologists for everything Harmonix ever does wrong. Oh, and because having to switch discs and wait 2 minutes max to play a song is just an unbearable sin that can't be tolerated.

 

[BigBlackGamer]

hey I bought GH: Aerosmith.....

 

[saunderez]

I added a bunch of you guys to my friends list so I have someone to compare BotB with. So if you see a friends request from saunderez you know who it is (as if it wasn't obvious enough already).

 

[TheGreatDave]

hey I bought GH: Aerosmith.....

It's pretty good! But I don't think anybody ever praised it for it's value. This kinda makes me worried about bands like The Beatles or Led Zep (unlikely as they are), because I don't want either game maker ever telling a band that it's OK to charge $40 for 18 songs. I have no objection to stuff being disc based, but at least pad the disc out a bit and make it more than a track pack.

 

[Xater]

The value for it sucks but it's fucking AC/DC! They are awesome!

I also think people here underestimate how populr they are. Pretty much everyone knows songs from them, they have alot of classics.

I own Live At Donington on Blu-ray and I would love to play those songs.

 

[Johnkers]

I have no problem with the lack of content when there's the export option. I imagine the only reason it is a disc is to get the extra retail sales and presence. I imagine the number of people buying it who don't own RB1/2 is gonna be pretty low.

It's all the ridiculous price for me.

 

[BigBlackGamer]

It's pretty good! But I don't think anybody ever praised it for it's value. This kinda makes me worried about bands like The Beatles or Led Zep (unlikely as they are), because I don't want either game maker ever telling a band that it's OK to charge $40 for 18 songs. I have no objection to stuff being disc based, but at least pad the disc out a bit and make it more than a track pack.

I guess your right. I've already said GH:A was pretty damn good. I mean if your gonna do standalone products thats probably the way to do it.

HMX was bound to screw up anyway.

 

[Johnkers]

Oh by the way BBG, I don't think I'm going to be playing Shiver with you anytime soon. I'm passing on GH:WT and going RB2. I've already invested all the DLC to not get it and since the majority of time I spend playing this is with friends, they're picking up GH.

Viva La Vida for RB DLC!