A-Ha! ESRB Outs Lips: I (Heart) the ’80s [Esrb]

Yes, yes, simmer down, I know you were all dying for another installment of konsole karaoke. Happily, the ESRB issued another of its fabulous spoiler alerts, letting us know we’ll be wailing along with one-hit wonders sometime soon. It’s rated T for “Lyrics, Mild Violence, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco,” but any objectionable content seems to come from the accompanying music videos. Let’s read the certificate and see if we can pick out the songs: “Music videos include depictions of men and women in revealing outfits performing provocative choreography; for example, women in negligees, black bras, panties dancing inside a classroom [Van Halen: "Hot for Teacher" or J. Geils Band "Centerfold"?] ; large amounts of exposed cleavage, some grinding dance moves; and background images of storefronts/signs reading “25 cent Peepshows,” “Live Sex Theatre,” and “Topless Girls Dancing.” [Madonna: "Open Your Heart?"] Some videos depict people smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol (beer, champagne, ale, etc.). A video depicts two claymation-style armies wielding swords, striking each other, losing limbs in battle; another video briefly shows a woman with a pistol shooting a man. [I should know both of these. They escape me.] Song lyrics may contain references to sexuality (e.g., “Ménage à trios,” “She’s a very kinky girl,” “I really love to taste her,” and “You don’t have to sell your body to the night”) [The last three are "Superfreak" by Rick James; "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" by Bryan Adams, and "Roxanne" by The Police.] No clue when this releases, so you’re going to have to be satisified with wailing “Take on Me” in the shower a little while longer. Lips: I (Heart) the ’80s Rating Certificate [ESRB]

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A-Ha! ESRB Outs Lips: I (Heart) the ’80s [Esrb]

Entire Song List for Lips: Part Classics Revealed by Microsoft

Available and March 2nd in the U.S., “Lips: Party Classics” features 40 tracks on-disc that bring the songs everyone loves to belt out in front of friends right into the living room. With the full artist roster revealed today for the final lineup.

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Entire Song List for Lips: Part Classics Revealed by Microsoft

Lips: Party Classics Sings It’s Way to Stores March 2, 2010

The latest title in the “Lips� singing franchise that features the songs everyone loves to sing, will be available on February 26, 2010 in select countries in Europe and on March 2, 2010 in North America, exclusively for the Xbox 360.

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Lips: Party Classics Sings It’s Way to Stores March 2, 2010

Next Week’s Rock Band Update Brought To You By The Letter N [Harmonix]

N is for Nirvana, who gave teen spirit a smell. N is for Night Ranger without “Sister Christian”, what the hell? It’s coming up on Thanksgiving weekend in the states, so Harmonix has gotten next week’s Rock Band Music Store additions announcement out of the way so the team can get down to the serious business of eating until they can’t move. Next week brings three new Nirvana tracks to Rock Band, including the Nirvana track, along with a strangely crippled 3-pack debut for 80’s icons Night Ranger. Nirvana Pack 02 comes complete with “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” which is the one Nirvana song everybody knows, as well as the Live at Reading version of “Lithium” and the MTV Unplugged version of “Come As You Are,” the latter of which is strangely available for LEGO Rock Band as well. Night Ranger’s 3-pack consists of “(You Can Still) Rock in America,” “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me,” and “You’re Gonna Hear It From Me,” all three of which can be purchased in both normal and LEGO Rock Band. A lovely selection, but without Sister Christian this track pack is dead to me. Dead I tell you! You’re motorin’!

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Next Week’s Rock Band Update Brought To You By The Letter N [Harmonix]

Rock Band: 1,000 Songs And Growing [Harmonix]

Harmonix and MTV Games promised more than 1,000 songs for Rock Band by the year 2010, and they have delivered with more than a month to spare. Today Harmonix and MTV Games proudly announced reaching and surpassing the goal they set back in August, with more than 1,000 songs from from nearly 400 different artists available for purchase and play between the Rock Band Music Store and the songs included on the Rock Band and Rock Band 2 discs. This week also marks the 105th consecutive week of new Rock Band DLC releases. Impressive! “When we launched Rock Band two years ago, we made a promise to create a music gaming experience that delivered on a weekly basis more songs and artists than ever imagined,” said Alex Rigopulos, co-founder and CEO of Harmonix Music Systems. “We’re extremely proud to pass this remarkable milestone of over 1,000 songs in Rock Band and will continue to innovate and bring more of the best music to Rock Band players all over the world.” With the impeding launch of the Rock Band Network Music Store, which will allow bands to upload their own music for purchase, expect that number to explode in the coming months. Enjoy the milestone while you can, cause we’re more than likely going to leave it in the dust real soon.

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Rock Band: 1,000 Songs And Growing [Harmonix]

Rock Band: 1,000 Songs And Growing [Harmonix]

Harmonix and MTV Games promised more than 1,000 songs for Rock Band by the year 2010, and they have delivered with more than a month to spare. Today Harmonix and MTV Games proudly announced reaching and surpassing the goal they set back in August, with more than 1,000 songs from from nearly 400 different artists available for purchase and play between the Rock Band Music Store and the songs included on the Rock Band and Rock Band 2 discs. This week also marks the 105th consecutive week of new Rock Band DLC releases. Impressive! “When we launched Rock Band two years ago, we made a promise to create a music gaming experience that delivered on a weekly basis more songs and artists than ever imagined,” said Alex Rigopulos, co-founder and CEO of Harmonix Music Systems. “We’re extremely proud to pass this remarkable milestone of over 1,000 songs in Rock Band and will continue to innovate and bring more of the best music to Rock Band players all over the world.” With the impeding launch of the Rock Band Network Music Store, which will allow bands to upload their own music for purchase, expect that number to explode in the coming months. Enjoy the milestone while you can, cause we’re more than likely going to leave it in the dust real soon.

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Rock Band: 1,000 Songs And Growing [Harmonix]

MTV: Rock Band Network To Be Fully Launched In Early 2010 [Rock Band]

When last we covered details of MTV Games and Harmonix’s ambitious Rock Band Network, we reported that the service would go live in November. It’s not there yet. Today, MTV provided Kotaku an update. The Rock Band Network is a service that allows people to turn listenable music into music that is playable in Rock Band, empowering any musician or fan with the proper rights to expand the Rock Band music library and make some money off sales to gamers of the songs they work on. The Network is currently in closed beta. The November launch of the service on the Xbox 360 that was suggested by Harmonix to Kotaku this past summer isn’t happening. An MTV Games spokesperson broke down the current roll-out plan: “We’re working hard to get the Rock Band Network open public beta release of tools up before the end of the year, with our RBN storefront launching in early 2010. Exact dates still TBD. The tools necessary for bands to start authoring and prepare their content for review are already live on Creators.rockband.com/tools/download . The open beta launch will add access to the currently private website where all of the RBN community activity and peer reviewing of tracks will take place. People who join the Rock Band Network (bands, fans or otherwise) will be able to play and preview any song before it hits the store, so they should stay tuned for the official launch.” So the closed beta continues and it sounds like it will open up to the rest of the public by New Year’s. If you want to buy the songs people are coding, however, you’ll need to wait until 2010. The RBN is planned for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Originally, the 360 version was supposed to launch first. There was no word today about whether that is still the plan. [ PIC ]

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MTV: Rock Band Network To Be Fully Launched In Early 2010 [Rock Band]

LEGO Rock Band Review: Redefining The Rock Block [Review]

The LEGO video game craftsmen at Traveller’s Tale set their sights on an entirely new genre with LEGO Rock Band , the ultimate block party for the whole family. Like Activision’s recently-released Band Hero, LEGO Rock Band seeks to be the E for Everyone answer to the band-based rhythm genre, delivering songs that parents don’t have to explain to their children while blushing profusely. Unlike Band Hero, however, LEGO Rock Band has the power of one of the world’s most popular toy lines behind it. There’s really no doubt that the familiar red logo on the front of the case will attract game buying parents like moths to a flame. Will they get burned? Loved Rock Band’s Gameplay: It’s the same Rock Band gameplay we’ve all come to know and love, plastic instruments and all. Cosmetic changes aside, there’s nothing stopping anyone who has played previous Rock Band titles from picking up the mic, drumsticks, or guitar and rocking out. LEGO Charm: If you don’t find the LEGO video games charming on some level, you might as well treat LEGO Rock Band as a giant, $50 track pack. If you do find the LEGO-brand cuteness adorable, then the game has plenty for you to gush over, from the LEGO block notes on the highway to the ridiculous hijinks your band and crew get up to during jam sessions. New venues are opened up by unlocking new, increasingly absurd LEGO vehicles, with each new location loaded with cute little touches that you’ll only notice if you are watching someone else play. Once again, Traveller’s Tales manages to squeeze refreshing water from a LEGO block. Rock Challenges: While they aren’t particularly challenging, LEGO Rock Band’s Rock Challenges do split up the monotony of playing song after song after song. These special stages have specific goals, like blowing up a building with the power of rock, or ridding a haunted mansion of ghosts. In single player you simply play through the song presented as per normal, but with a friend the action is broken up, giving each player a bit of solo time to accomplish their goals. Again, not all that challenging, but a welcome distraction. Plus, the Ghostbusters challenge features some of the most adorable moments in gaming this year. To quote my girlfriend, “Cutest. Thing. Ever.” Eclectic Selections: Despite its family-friendly theme, LEGO Rock Band has managed to gather together a nicely varied list of music that might not have seen the light of day in any other Rock Band title. The introduction of my favorite band, Counting Crows, to the Rock Band universe was almost worth the game’s $50 price tag for me, while songs like “Kung-Fu Fighting,” “Ghostbusters,” and “Walkin’ on Sunshine” are exactly the sort of light-hearted fare that other Rock Band games lacked. It’s A Brick House: Like other LEGO games from Traveller’s Tales, LEGO Rock Band is all about collecting bits, and once you’ve collected those bits you can use them at the in-game store to buy new outfits, instruments, staff members, and even decorations for your LEGO headquarters. Your headquarters acts as the main menu for the game, so being able to add your own personal touch is kind of nice. This is really the feature that separates the game from the rest of the Rock Band lineup, even if it doesn’t allow for in-depth customization of your pad. Super Easy: A new addition to the standard Rock Band difficulty settings, Super Easy means even your most uncoordinated friends can pick up a guitar and play, as long as they have even the most rudimentary grasp of the concept of rhythm. Just push any button and strum, or hit any drum pad. We don’t care which, just pound the damn thing. There, now you’re playing Rock Band. Perfect for those singers in your group who are afraid of the plastic instruments. Export Business: If all else fails, LEGO Rock Band functions as a 44 song track pack. A code included with the game allows you to export the songs on the disc to regular Rock Band for $9.99, meaning that if you’d like to play “Accidentally in Love” with your friends without worrying about LEGO Rock Band’s lack of online multiplayer, you still have another option. Hated Skimpy Track List: Three years ago we would have been perfectly happy with 44 songs, but these days that’s around half of what we generally expect. The songs might be a nice collection of tunes, but when you have to play them over and over again throughout your career in order to progress, they wear thin rather quickly. In one venue I played through two songs I wasn’t particularly fond of, only to have both of said songs show up in the mystery set list I played next. That’s not fun. That’s annoying. Offline Only: I suppose stripping away the online play from previous Rock Band titles was one way of making LEGO Rock Band more family friendly, but its presence is definitely missed. LEGO Rock Band makes several painful trade-offs in order to present a game that can be considered family friendly, and your enjoyment of the game hinges on whether or not you can handle the changes. You get half as many songs as a normal Rock Band release and no online multiplayer, in exchange for a rhythm game that’s brimming with unique LEGO personality and music you won’t find anywhere else, until Harmonix releases the tracks as paid DLC for the regular versions. Plus, LEGO Rock Band is by far the most accessible of the Rock Band titles, with a lower level of difficulty making it an excellent gateway game. There’s a lot to love in LEGO Rock Band, as long as you don’t try and take it too seriously. LEGO Rock Band was developed by Harmonix and Traveller’s Tales and published by EA for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii. Retails for $49.99 USD. A copy of the game was given to us by the publisher for reviewing purposes. Played through complete career mode on the Xbox 360 version both alone and with a friend. Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ .

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LEGO Rock Band Review: Redefining The Rock Block [Review]

WE SING: NOW LIVE

Karaoke on the Internet as Nordic Games launches all-singing website, full songlist – including Pussycat Dolls, Spice Girls, Amy Winehouse, Lilly Allen, Kaiser Chiefs and Duran Duran – revealed

Eager karaoke fans desperate to hear the entire tracklist from forthcoming Nintendo Wii exclusive We Sing can do so now – as Nordic Games reveals the final line up on the game’s brand new official website at www.wesinggame.com.

Crank up the sound, as the 30 songs and artists are revealed for the first time within a virtual jukebox which allows browsers to scroll through and play selections from the game’s blockbuster soundtrack.

We Sing – the first karaoke title ever to allow four players to sing simultaneously – is already topping the Wii pre-order charts with several online retailers ahead of its release on November 20th.

The website offers a host of downloadable content with which to customise your PC’s desktop. Community features include a forum for users to discuss the game and suggest songs for any subsequent versions of We Sing, and an informal blog which will be the first place news is announced.

Repeat visits are essential: as well as being the game’s official news channel, the site will offer stacks of competitions and giveaways for loyal readers. Currently, three pairs of astonishing SHURE earphones are up for grabs, worth £100 each.

The site complements We Sing’s social networking presence on Twitter and Facebook, both of which will also be used to push promotions and drive consumer interaction.

“The reception to the game from both consumers and retail alike has already exceeded our expectations”, says Nik Blower, Sales & Marketing Director, Nordic Games Publishing AB. “We’re delighted to unveil what will emerge over time to become the home for Nintendo Wii karaoke fans on the Internet. This is just the start as we seek to encourage and grow a community of fans who will become gaming’s most vocal fans.”

We Sing will be available exclusively for Nintendo Wii from November 20th 2009. Suggested retail prices start from £29.99.

The full setlist is as follows:

Amy Winehouse – Tears Dry On Their Own
Aqua – Barbie Girl
Blondie – One Way Or Another
Charles and Eddie – Would I Lie To You?
Chesney Hawkes – The One And Only
Coldplay – Viva La Vida
Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
Duffy – Mercy Duran Duran Hungry Like The Wolf
Elton John with Kiki Dee – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart
James Morrison & Nelly Furtado – Broken Strings
John Denver – Take Me Home, Country Roads
Kaiser Chiefs – I Predict A Riot
Kylie Minogue – Loco-Motion
Lady GaGa – Poker Face
Lily Allen – The Fear
Madness – Our House
Meatloaf – I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)
Moloko – Sing It Back
One Republic Featuring Timbaland – Apologize
Pussycat Dolls – Don’t Cha
Roxette – It Must Have Been Love
Shampoo – Trouble
Spice Girls – Wannabe
Sugababes – Girls
Tasmin Archer – Sleeping Satellite
The Automatic – Monster
The Police – Every Breath You Take
Tom Jones – Delilah
UB40 – Red Red Wine

To request more information or reserve your review pack (including disc and microphones) please email harry.cole@premierpr.com. A hands-on review event is taking place all day tomorrow in Central London – email for more details.

Click on a thumbnail below to download Exclusive We Sing Artwork.

FOR PRESS ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT:
Harry Cole
PREMIER PR
91 Berwick St
Soho
London W1F 0NE

Tel: 020 7292 7396
Fax: 020 7292 8333
harry.cole@premierpr.com

Rebecca Mayes Invites Gamers to Star in her next Escapist Video.

http://www.gamepeople.co.uk/audioblog_rebeccamayes_8.htm

Rebecca Mayes, hot on the heals of her recent GameCity live performance with the glitterati of games journalists, wants to invite gamers everywhere to contribute videos for her next song production.

“After getting so many suggestions and ideas from you all for my songs and what to review, I thought I’d open the floodgates – just a crack – to see what comes tumbling through.”

“But I don’t want just your ideas for my next video, I want you. I’m looking for some clips of you guys playing Guitar Hero. So all you gamer men-folk and girl-folk who love to play music get your groove on and film me a clip.”

More details available on Rebecca’s weekly blog at Game People: http://www.gamepeople.co.uk/rebeccamayes_blog.htm

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