Rock Band fans finally have something else to be excited about this fall besides a little side project involving some really old band. This project is known as the “Rock Band Network,” and it will allow anyone – from the unknown local garage band looking to make a name for themselves, to Hootie from the popular 90′s rock band ‘Hootie and the Blowfish’ – to upload their own tracks available to download and sell online.
The intricacies are all explained on the official site, but here are the key points:
- The project is currently in a closed Beta trial, becoming an open Beta sometime in August, and launching officially by the end of the year.
- Prices for tracks will range from $0.50 to $3.00 (the high end seems about right, but no ability to offer a free, or practically free track to generate interest in your band?)
- Bands get a 30% cut of sales.
- The Rock Band Network will initially be kept separate from the current store while they work out the kinks and determine the best way to handle the expected onslaught on submissions.
- Initially RBN will be launching on the Xbox 360, with the PS3 and Wii version of RBN coming eventually.
I’m personally half stoked/half very very afraid for the implications of all of this – I personally love Harmonix’s take on DLC for the Rock Band series over Activision’s “Band Packs” that are coming out seemingly every other month. There is now the potential for a truly limitless catalog of titles to be available. On the other hand, Harmonix has steadily drained my bank account each week with its regular music store, and this is only going to make things worse.
It looks like we’re getting a “Rock Band 3″ this year after all, eh? Even though it’s not on a disc, and there are no new instruments being unveiled, this has me more excited than any other music game offering currently in the pipeline.
Sources:
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i4d0b1b4303c83997ea8bf1f3ea673d95
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August 3, 2009
#1
This is AWESOME! I should totally put some of my band’s music up on there. Although, I get the feeling it’s not going to work out so well…