March madness will be rocking fans and living rooms early this year with the announcement of an all-new nine song mega pack for Activision Publishing, Inc.’s Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock and the Guitar Hero music library.

Available now and featuring tracks such as “Supermassive Black Hole” from GRAMMY Award winners Muse, “Sorrow” from punk rock legend Bad Religion and “Headstrong” from Trapt’s platinum-selling, self-titled debut album, the Modern Hits Mega Pack will have Guitar Hero fans around the globe shredding, drumming and wailing long after the shot clock runs out.

The Modern Rock Mega Pack, available beginning today, features the following songs:

• “Sorrow” by Bad Religion
• “Sic Transit Gloria… Glory Fades” by Brand New
• “She’s A Genius” by Jet
• “Supermassive Black Hole” by Muse
• “Psycho” by Puddle Of Mudd
• “Little Sister” by Queens Of The Stone Age
• “Always” by Saliva
• “Hands Open” by Snow Patrol
• “Headstrong” by Trapt

The Modern Rock Mega Pack is available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 for 1320 Microsoft Points, on the PlayStation Store for PlayStation 3 for $16.49 and for Wii for 1650 Wii Points.  All songs in the Modern Rock Mega Pack are also available as downloadable singles for the Xbox 360 for 160 Microsoft Points, PlayStation 3 system for $1.99 and Wii for 200 Wii Points each.  In addition to the in-game music store and Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360, Xbox 360 owners can expand their Guitar Hero music library using the Guitar Hero VIP Pass Music Store, available exclusively on Xbox LIVE.

Headline anthems from Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock – Megadeth’s “Sudden Death” and Soundgarden’s “Black Rain” – have been nominated for Best Metal Performance and Best Hard Rock Performance, respectively, at the 53^rd Annual GRAMMY Awards.  Inspired by, composed exclusively for, and debuted in the game, “Sudden Death” marks the first time an original track created for a videogame has been nominated by The Recording Academy for the prestigious awards.

To commemorate these exciting nominations, Guitar Hero is offering a free MP3 of Soundgarden’s “Black Rain,” the previously recorded song that was finished for inclusion in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, exclusively to all of its over two million Facebook fans.  The free download  begin Friday, 14^th January, 2011, at 05:01 am GMT and end Sunday, 16^th January, 2011, at 16:59 pm GMT.  For more information on the free download, please visit facebook.com/guitarhero.  “Black Rain,” which debuted in a big way on both the band’s first new album in over ten years, Telephantasm, and in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock simultaneously, marked the first time an album has received RIAA platinum certification upon the day of its release. 

“From the first time I played Guitar Hero in Paris several years ago until recently getting my ass handed to me playing at an Activision event in San Francisco, this has been the most fun and most rewarding track I have ever written,” said Dave Mustaine of Megadeth.

“We congratulate and are honoured to have worked with the metal legends of Megadeth and rock icons Soundgarden on their GRAMMY nominated songs, which were both uniquely integrated with Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock,” said Tim Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs, Activision.  “From reuniting the Sex Pistols with their re-record of “Anarchy in the UK” to delivering Metallica’s smash-hit Death Magnetic as downloadable content day and date with the record’s release, Guitar Hero continues to be the preeminent interactive music platform, pioneering the music gaming space by bringing new, exclusive content to axe shredders, drummers and fearless frontmen around the world.”

After their on disc appearance with “Wish” in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock , industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, are adding their unique sound to the Guitar Hero music library this month with the inclusion of three songs in the January Mega Pack.  The pack contains “Head Like A Hole,” the band’s first major single off their debut album, Pretty Hate Machine, “The Hand That Feeds,” the lead single off their 2005 album With Teeth and “Closer,” the second single from their 1994 album, The Downward Spiral.

Also appearing in the January Mega Pack are three tracks from American rock band A Day To Remember. The pack includes “All I Want” and “2nd Sucks” off the bands fourth studio album, What Separates Me from You, and “The Downfall Of Us All” from their third studio album, Homesick.

Rounding out this month’s mega pack are select singles from four shredtastic bands, The Damned Things, Hawthorne Heights, HIM and The Used. “We’ve Got A Situation Here,” the lead single off The Damned Things debut album, Ironiclast, joins “Rescue Me” from Hawthorne Heights’ third studio album, Fragile Future, “Wings Of A Butterfly,” by HIM and “Buried Myself Alive,” off The Used 2002 self titled debut album.

The January Mega Pack is available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 for 1440 Microsoft Points, on the PlayStation Store for PlayStation 3 for $17.99 and for Wii for 1800 Wii Points.  All songs in the January Mega Pack are also available as downloadable singles for the Xbox 360for 160 Microsoft Points, PlayStation 3 system for $1.99 and Wii for 200 Wii Points each.  In addition to the in-game music store and Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360, Xbox 360 owners can expand their Guitar Hero music library using the Guitar Hero VIP Pass Music Store, available exclusively on Xbox LIVE online entertainment network.

For more information about Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock and the entire line-up of downloadable songs and disc imports, visit www.guitarhero.com

When playing ROCK BAND on select Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphones, consumers will be able to rock out with their friends like never before – wherever they are hanging out.

Debuted during the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), ROCK BAND will be coming to select 4G smartphones from Verizon Wireless later this year.  Verizon Wireless; EA Mobile, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (Nasdaq: ERTS); Harmonix Music Systems Inc., the world’s premier music video game developer; and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) announced the new ROCK BAND game today.

Packed with favorite hits, ROCK BAND will be ideal for music lovers looking to rock out on guitar, bass, drums and vocals.  A Quick Play mode will provide casual jam sessions, and players can hit the road to rock sold-out stadiums in Tour Mode.  Buddy Lists, a feature exclusive to ROCK BAND on select Verizon Wireless 4G LTE devices, will allow players to join games, locate others they have recently played with and search for friends.  EA Mobile worked directly with Verizon Wireless to optimize ROCK BAND for Verizon Wireless’ fast 4G LTE network.

“By bringing ROCK BAND to Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network, EA continues to innovate and change the way mobile gamers experience the popular music franchise,” said Travis Boatman, vice president of worldwide studios for EA Mobile.  ”ROCK BAND is all about great music and having fun with your friends.  With the integration of multiplayer over Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE mobile network, you will be able to play your friends anywhere they are, anytime you want, from your favorite Verizon Wireless 4G LTE device.”

“We’ve worked with EA for years to bring exciting games to our customers, and ROCK BAND on the 4G LTE network takes it up a level and will deliver even more fun and entertainment on mobile phones,” said Marni Walden, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless.  ”Our 4G LTE network gives leading game developer and publisher EA the freedom to flex its creative muscles to give consumers new and innovative ways to play.”

ROCK BAND for select Verizon Wireless 4G LTE devices will feature 20 popular songs, including:

• “Attack,” 30 Seconds to Mars
• “Girls Not Grey,” AFI
• “Sabotage,” Beastie Boys
• “All the Small Things,” blink-182
• “Hanging on the Telephone,” Blondie
• “Learn To Fly,” Foo Fighters
• “Everlong,” Foo Fighters
• “Bad to the Bone,” George Thorogood and the Destroyers
• “Hymn #A43,” Jethro Tull
• “Bad Reputation,” Joan Jett
• “Simple Man,” Lynyrd Skynyrd
• “Ace of Spades,” Motorhead
• “Give It All,” Rise Against
• “Lazy Eye,” Silversun Pickups
• “Cherub Rock,” Smashing Pumpkins
• “Take the Money and Run,” Steve Miller Band
• “Debaser,” The Pixies
• “Move Along,” The All American Rejects
• “We Got The Beat,” The Go Go’s
• “Ladybug,” The Presidents of the United States of America

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network, launched in December 2010, is the fastest, most advanced 4G network in the United States, providing speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon Wireless’ 3G network.  Consumer devices with a wide range of applications, including ROCK BAND, are expected to be available later this year.  Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network currently reaches one-third of all Americans, with plans to expand the network to the company’s entire 3G coverage area over the next three years.

More details about the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network are available during CES in Verizon Wireless’ booth (#35216 in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center).

Harmonix and MTV Games announced that Johnny Cash will make his Rock Band debut next week with an eight pack of his greatest hits beginning Jan. 4 in the Rock Band 3 Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3  and Wii.  Nine songs featured previously in Rock Band games will also be available for free for the Xbox and PlayStation 3.

Rock Band provides the deepest and best selection of artists, songs and albums through the Rock Band music platform, which features more than 800 artists and more than 2,000 tracks via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at www.rockband.com/songs). Rock Band’s gigantic music library dwarfs that of any other rhythm video game on the market. To date, more than 75 million songs have been sold through the Rock Band Music Store since its launch Nov. 20, 2007.

Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Wii
Known as The Man in Black, Johnny Cash’s career spanned half a century over an array of musical genres. He holds numerous Country Music Association Awards, Grammy Awards and other awards, is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and next week Johnny Cash will make his long-anticipated debut on the Rock Band platform when eight of his most loved songs will be available for download and play in Rock Band 3.

Johnny Cash Pack 01 will feature classics like “Cry, Cry, Cry” and “Folsom Prison Blues”, as well as “I Walk the Line” and “Tennessee Flat Top Box”, both of which feature Pro Guitar/Pro Bass upgrades.

Additionally next week, a nine pack of songs from an array of bands representing across punk, rock, metal and indie genres will also be available for free on Xbox and PlayStation 3. Rock Band Free Pack 01 features songs that were on previous Rock Band titles, including Abnormality, Anarchy Club, Bang Camaro and The Main Drag.

As always, songs available as downloadable content for Rock Band 3 feature five-button guitar and bass parts, drums, Pro Drums, and keys, Pro Keys and harmonies, where applicable. Some songs also feature Pro Guitar and Pro Bass upgrades available for an additional $0.99 upgrade download.

Available on Xbox 360, Wii and PlayStation 3 system (Jan. 4):

Johnny Cash Pack 01

• “Cry, Cry, Cry”
• “Don’t Take Your Guns to Town”
• “Five Feet High and Rising”
• “Folsom Prison Blues”
• “I Got Stripes”
• “I Walk the Line” X
• “Tennessee Flat Top Box” X
• “The Ballad of Ira Hayes”

Available on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system (Jan. 4):
Rock BandFree Pack 01

• Abnormality – “Visions”
• Anarchy Club – “Get Clean”
• Bang Camaro – “Night Lies”
• Breaking Wheel – “Shoulder to the Plow”
• Libyans – “Welcome to the Neighborhood”
• The Main Drag – “A Jagged Gorgeous Winter”
• Speck – “Conventional Lover”
• The Sterns – “Supreme Girl”
• That Handsome Devil – “Rob the Prez-O-Dent”

(All tracks are original master recordings)
(These tracks will be available in Europe on PlayStation 3 system Jan. 5)

These tracks will be available for purchase as individual tracks and as “Johnny Cash Pack 01” on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Wii, and as “Rock Band Free Pack 01” on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system. Tracks marked with “X” will include Pro Guitar and Pro Bass expansions for $0.99 per song.

Price: $1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points) per song
$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points™) per song
$0.99 USD (100 Wii Points/80 Microsoft Points), £0.59 UK, €0.79 EU per song for eligible Pro Guitar/Pro Bass upgrade
$13.49, £6.69 UK, €9.99 EU (1080 Microsoft Points, 1,350 Wii Points) for Johnny Cash Pack 01

FREE on Xbox and PlayStation 3 for Rock Band Free Pack 01

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock and DJ Hero 2 are giving the gift that will keep fans rocking and mixing with new downloadable content from two of the world’s best-selling artists KISS and Linkin Park.

Gene Simmons, who voiced the Demi-God of Rock in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock , is back this holiday season and has brought the boys of KISS with him. Beginning today Guitar Hero aficionados can celebrate the holidays KISS style with a KISS-mas trio of tracks featuring everyone’s favorite KISS songs. The KISS-mas Track Pack contains one of the bands biggest hits and possibly one of the greatest rock songs of all time, “Rock And Roll All Nite,” along with two other hit KISS tracks, “Detroit Rock City” and “Calling Dr. Love.”

Linkin Park are no strangers to the remix realm, having collaborated on crossover tracks with everyone from hip-hop icon JAY-Z to world-renowned DJ Hero remixer and consultant Z-Trip. Now, two Linkin Park tracks off of their 2010 number one selling album A Thousand Suns have received the exclusive DJ Hero remix treatment as downloadable content for DJ Hero 2 , including “The Catalyst (Does It Offend You, Yeah? Remix)” and a mashup of “When They Come For Me” by legendary turntablist, producer and DJ Hero alumni, Diplo.  Available beginning today, and rounding out the three track Linkin Park Mix Pack, is a mashup of “Pts.OF.Athrty” from the band’s 2002 remix album, Reanimation.

The KISS-mas Track Pack for the Guitar Hero Music Library will be available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360e for 440 Microsoft Points, on the PlayStation Store for PlayStation 3 for $5.49 and for Wii for 550 Wii Points.  All songs in the KISS-mas Track Pack will also be released as downloadable singles for the Xbox 360 for 160 Microsoft Points, PlayStation 3 system for $1.99 and Wii for 200 Wii Points each.  In addition to the in-game music store and Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360, Xbox 360 owners can expand their Guitar Hero music library using the Guitar Hero VIP Pass Music Store, available exclusively on Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network.

The Linkin Park Mix Pack for DJ Hero 2 will be available on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360 for 640 Microsoft Points; and on the PlayStation Store for PlayStation 3 for $7.99.  All mixes will be released as downloadable singles for Wii for 300 Wii Points.

Harmonix and MTV Games  announced that two packs of songs from legendary rock band Queen, featuring both songs new to the Rock Band platform as well as harmonies, keys and Pro Guitar/Bass upgrades to previously released songs, will be available Dec. 7 in the Rock Band 3 Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3  and Wii.

Rock Band provides the deepest and best selection of artists, songs and albums through the Rock Band music platform, which features more than 800 artists and more than 2,000* tracks via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at www.rockband.com/songs). Rock Band’s gigantic music library dwarfs that of any other rhythm video game on the market. To date, more than 75 million songs have been sold through the Rock Band Music Store since its launch Nov. 20, 2007.

Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Wii
Queen, composed of Brian May, John Deacon, Roger Taylor and quintessential frontman Freddie Mercury, formed in England in 1970. The group has released 15 studio albums and was known for their epic live concerts. Queen was featured in LEGO Rock Band and as DLC for Rock Band 2. Their quintessential rock anthem, “Bohemian Rhapsody” was featured on the on-disc soundtrack for Rock Band 3, and beginning next week, fans can download even more Queen for Rock Band gameplay. Queen released The Singles Collection: Volume 4 on Oct. 19, featuring a box set of remastered originals spanning 1989 to 1999.

Beginning next week, fans will be able to play their Queen songs in a variety of ways on Rock Band. Fans who purchased Queen DLC previously will have the option to purchase Pro Guitar/Pro Bass additions for those tracks, as well as the option to purchase Rock Band 3 versions that include harmonies and keys where applicable. Additionally, five songs new to Rock Band will also be available as Rock Band 3 downloadable content, featuring Pro Guitar/Pro Bass upgrades as well.

These two packs are broken into “Queen RB3 Enhanced Pack,” which features updated Rock Band 3 versions of “I Want It All,” “I Want to Break Free,” “Killer Queen,” “One Vision,” “Somebody to Love” and “Under Pressure;” and “Queen Extravaganza Pack 01,” which features Rock Band 3 versions of “We Are the Champions” and “We Will Rock You,” which originally appeared in LEGO Rock Band, as well as “Hammer to Fall,” “Keep Yourself Alive,” “Now I’m Here,” “Tenement Funster” and “Play the Game,” which are new to Rock Band.

As always, songs available as downloadable content for Rock Band 3 feature five-button guitar and bass parts, drums, Pro Drums, and keys, Pro Keys and harmonies, where applicable. Some songs also feature Pro Guitar and Pro Bass upgrades available for an additional $0.99 upgrade download.

Available on Xbox 360, Wii and PlayStation 3 system (Dec. 7):

Queen Extravaganza Pack 01

• “Hammer to Fall” X
• “Keep Yourself Alive” X
• “Now I’m Here” X
• “Play the Game” X
• “Tenement Funster” X
• “We Are the Champions” (RB3 version)
• “We Will Rock You” (RB3 version)

Queen RB3 Enhanced Pack

• “I Want It All” (RB3 version) X
• “I Want To Break Free” (RB3 version) X
• “Killer Queen” (RB3 version) X
• “One Vision” (RB3 version) X
• “Somebody To Love” (RB3 version) X
• “Under Pressure” (RB3 version) X

(All tracks are original master recordings)
(These tracks will be available in Europe on PlayStation 3 system Dec.

These tracks will be available for purchase as individual tracks, as well as “Queen RB3 Enhanced Pack” and “Queen Extravaganza Pack 01” on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii. Tracks marked with “X” will include Pro Guitar and Pro Bass expansions for $0.99 per song.

Price: $1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points) per song
$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points^TM) per song
$0.99 USD (100 Wii Points/80 Microsoft Points), £0.59 UK, €0.79 EU per song for eligible Pro Guitar/Pro Bass upgrade
$9.99, £4.99 UK, €7.99 EU (800 Microsoft Points, 1,000 Wii Points) for Queen RB3 Enhanced Pack
$10.99, £5.99 UK, €8.99 EU (800 Microsoft Points, 1,100 Wii Points) for Queen Extravaganza Pack 01

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change. **

*Available on-disc, via download and disc export. Internet connection and export key purchase required. Wii has more than 1,500 song tracks available for purchase on the Rock Band platform on-disc, via song import, and download. Not applicable to Nintendo DS

Metallica has partnered with Activision Publishing, Inc. to headline the Call of Duty: Black Ops launch event on November 4 at Santa Monica Airport’s Hangar 8.  The event will feature a performance by the GRAMMY-Award winning band, honor the six branches of the Armed Forces and raise $1 million for The Call of Duty Endowment, a non-profit, public benefit corporation founded by Activision Blizzard that helps soldiers with the transition to civilian life and help them establish jobs and careers. Call of Duty: Black Ops will release worldwide on November 9.

“We are honored to have Metallica partner with us to pay tribute to the brave servicemen and women who have risked their lives at war only to return home to find their biggest challenge is searching for a job,” stated Robert Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard.  ”Today, the unemployment rate for veterans is 21% higher than the rate for all Americans, with veterans’ unemployment topping 500,000.  We believe that the business community can and should do more.  Through The Call of Duty Endowment, we are committed to raising millions of dollars for job assistance and training programs for veterans and raising public awareness for this serious issue.”

Formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, Metallica have become one of the most influential and commercially successful rock bands in history, having sold more than 100 million albums worldwide and playing to tens of millions of fans the world over.  They have scored several multi-platinum albums, including 1983′s Kill ‘Em All (3x), 1984′s Ride the Lightning (5x), 1986′s Master of Puppets (6x), 1988′s …And Justice For All (8x), 1991′s Metallica (also known as “The Black Album” – 15x), 1996′s Load (5x), 1997′s ReLoad (3x), and 2003′s St. Anger (2x).  Their latest album, Death Magnetic, was certified platinum just six weeks after it debuted atop the Billboard Top 200 Album chart in October 2008.  The band released a groundbreaking Guitar Hero edition of Death Magnetic, which was the largest selling download album on the platform at the time.  They also released Guitar Hero: Metallica in 2009 with Activision.  Metallica have also garnered numerous awards and accolades, including nine Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, and multiple MTV Video Music Awards, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum last year.

The free pack, which is available only through the Rock Band 3 in-game Music Store, includes “Light My Fire,” “Riders on the Storm” and “Touch Me,” and incorporate five-button guitar and bass, Drums, Pro Drums and Keys, Pro Keys and harmonies, where applicable, as well as a free expansion that will add Pro Guitar and Pro Bass parts.

As previously announced, The Doors also released an additional nine-pack of songs today, available for purchase and download in the Rock Band Music Store(2).  And soon, Rock Band 3 players can expect new downloadable tracks from legendary artists, including Billy Joel, John Lennon and Bon Jovi!

To coincide with the launch of Rock Band 3, RockBand.com has been completely redesigned by the team that brought you the Webby Award-winning The Beatles™: Rock Band™ website. The new site goes live today and, among other additions, now features the ability for fans to share their Rock Band 3 experiences with others through the click of a button. When players link their RockBand.com accounts to their Rock Band 3 profiles, all their gameplay goals and achievements will be published to a personalized “My Gameplay” page on RockBand.com. Players can then share their exploits with friends over Facebook, Twitter, email and more. When players use RockBand.com to create setlists and battles, these can also be shared with friends via Facebook, Twitter, other social networks and email. Additionally, the 700-plus goals available in Rock Band 3 have been integrated into players’ RockBand.com personal profile, so they can track goals, as well as career progress, via the web.

Rock Band 3 delivers the deepest Rock Band experience yet with an incredible 83-song soundtrack featuring the music of Avenged Sevenfold, Paramore, John Lennon, Jane’s Addiction, Phish, Anthrax, The Cure, Def Leppard, Ozzy Osbourne, Bob Marley, Foreigner and many more. Rock Band 3 also gives players immediate access to more than 2,000 songs(3) in the ever-growing Rock Band Music Library and support for most existing Rock Band songs(4).  In addition, Rock Band 3 adds three-part vocal harmonies and introduces a keyboard peripheral to the band, allowing up to seven players to rock together for the ultimate social gaming experience.

Rock Band 3 also marks the debut of Rock Band Pro Mode, which bridges the world of gaming and real musicianship through a collection of new instrument controllers, trainers and gameplay options that open the door to real-world guitar, bass, keyboard and drum skills.

Rock Band 3 offers something for everyone.  The game’s deep Career Mode takes the band on a journey to gain new levels of status while the environment around them changes from streets and subways to tour stops and mega-venues. For the serious player, the revamped Career Mode features more than 700 goals and rewards and seamless leaderboard integration for an endlessly deep campaign experience. The game also features easy drop-in and drop-out, easier No Fail accessibility and an all-new Party Shuffle. Rock Band 3 also adds a suite of social networking tools to the game, including the ability to create, save and share playlists online or on the console, so fans can engage friends over Facebook, Twitter, email and more. Check out those tools and more at the newly launched RockBand.com.

Developed by Harmonix, published by MTV Games, and distributed by distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc. (Nasdaq: ERTS), Rock Band 3 is compatible with all Rock Band™ and The Beatles™: Rock Band™ peripherals, as well as most third-party instrument and microphone controllers. Rock Band 3 Pro Mode requires Rock Band Pro-compatible instrument controllers. Mad Catz, the official peripheral manufacturer and distributor for Rock Band 3 game controllers, has released Pro Mode compatible controllers including the Rock Band 3 Fender™ Mustang™ PRO-Guitar™ Controller, Rock Band 3 Wireless Keyboard, Rock Band 3 PRO-Cymbals™ Expansion Kit and the Rock Band 3 MIDI PRO-Adapter™.

Harmonix has also teamed with Fender to create the Rock Band 3 Squier® by Fender Stratocaster® Guitar Controller, a full-sized, six-string electric guitar that also functions as a game controller that will be compatible with Rock Band 3 Pro Mode.  The Rock Band 3 Squier Stratocaster will be available in early 2011.

Pricing for Rock Band 3 is as follows:

• Rock Band 3 Software for Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 system: US MSRP $59.99, continental Europe MSRP euro 59.99, UK MSRP 49.99 pounds Sterling
• Rock Band 3 Software for Wii: US MSRP $59.99, continental Europe MSRP euro 49.99, UK MSRP 39.99 pounds Sterling
• Rock Band 3 Software for Nintendo DS: US MSRP $29.99, continental Europe MSRP euro 29.99, UK MSRP 24.99 pounds Sterling
• Rock Band 3 Software and Keyboard Bundle for Xbox 360: US MSRP $129.99, continental Europe MSRP euro 129.99, UK MSRP 109.99 pounds Sterling
• Rock Band 3 Software and Keyboard Bundle for Wii: US MSRP $129.99, continental Europe MSRP euro 109.99, UK MSRP 99.99 pounds Sterling
• Rock Band 3 Mad Catz Wireless Keyboard for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Wii: US MSRP $79.99
• Rock Band 3 Mad Catz Wireless Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar Controller for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii: US MSRP $149.99
• Rock Band 3 Mad Catz Wireless PRO-Cymbals Expansion Kit– Universal: US MSRP $39.99
• Rock Band 3 Mad Catz MIDI PRO-Adapter for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Wii: US MSRP $39.99

Rock Band 3 is rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, suggestive themes) by the ESRB. Music downloads are not rated by the ESRB.

Raising the bar once again for interactive music games with the addition of groundbreaking new features that include keyboards, vocal harmonies and Rock Band Pro Mode, Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., the world’s premier music video game developer, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks  announced that Imagine, the timeless album from John Lennon, will be among the first albums released as Rock Band™ 3 downloadable content.

“The songs on John Lennon’s Imagine run the gamut from beautiful piano-driven ballads like ‘Jealous Guy’ to all-out guitar rockers like ‘Gimme Some Truth’,” said Paul DeGooyer, senior vice president of electronic games, music and programming for MTV Networks. “It’s an incredible musical statement, and a real workout on keyboard, guitar and vocals in Rock Band 3. We’re very excited to confirm it as one of the first downloads for our new game, and to help our fans celebrate John’s 70th birthday with its release.”

As previously announced, The Doors will kick off Rock Band 3 downloadable content Oct. 22, but Harmonix and MTV Games have quite a line-up to follow that debut. Adding to an already impressive catalog of more than 2,000 songs available on the Rock Band platform, music from John Lennon, The Doors, Bon Jovi and Billy Joel will also be among the first available for download through the Rock Band 3 Music Store after the game launches Oct. 26 in the United States and Oct. 29 in the rest of the world.

In addition, fans that purchase Rock Band 3 and play online during the first week the game is available (Oct. 26 – Nov. 1) can download a free three-pack of songs from The Doors that feature Pro Guitar and Pro Bass upgrades. The free pack, which is available only through the Rock Band 3 in-game Music Store, includes “Light My Fire,” “Riders on the Storm” and “Touch Me,” and incorporates five-button guitar and bass, Drums, Pro Drums and Keys, Pro Keys and harmonies, where applicable, as well as a free expansion that will add Pro Guitar and Pro Bass parts. A nine-pack of songs from The Doors will also be available for download that week. This includes some of the classic rockers’ most-loved songs, like “Hello, I Love You,” “L.A. Woman,” “Love Her Madly” and “Roadhouse Blues,” all featuring Drums, Pro Drums, five-button guitar and bass parts and, where applicable, harmonies and Keys/Pro Keys parts.

In the coming weeks, packs of some of the greatest hits from both Billy Joel and Bon Jovi will also be added to the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content. Be sure to stay tuned to RockBand.com for more information.

To date, Rock Band fans have downloaded more than 75 million songs from the Rock Band Music Store, and the Rock Band Network Music Store. With more than 2,000* tracks available in the Rock Band platform, Harmonix and MTV Games stand next to none as the leading providers of downloadable content for rhythm video games. Rock Band pioneered offering content in a variety of ways, through on-disc game play, game export, downloadable content and the Rock Band Network. The Rock Band platform allows fans to interact with their favorite music in a unique and hands-on way, and also gives artists the ability to reach fans through a whole new channel.

Highly anticipated this holiday season, Rock Band 3 delivers the deepest Rock Band experience yet with an incredible 83-song setlist and the addition of keyboards, vocal harmonies and the all-new Pro Mode. The game will be available Oct. 26, in North America and Oct. 29 in the rest of world for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Nintendo Wii™ and Nintendo DS™.

Developed by Harmonix, published by MTV Games and distributed by Electronic Arts Inc. (Nasdaq: ERTS), Rock Band 3 will be compatible with all Rock Band and The Beatles: Rock Band peripherals, as well as most Guitar Hero® and other authorized third-party music video game peripherals and microphones. Pro Mode requires Rock Band Pro-compatible instrument controllers.  Mad Catz is the official, licensed peripheral manufacturer and distributor for Rock Band 3 game controllers.  Rock Band Pro Guitar mode is compatible with the Rock Band 3 FenderMustang PRO-Guitar Controller and the Rock Band 3 Squier by Fender Stratocaster® Guitar Controller (manufactured and distributed by Fender). Find more information on how to pre-order Rock Band 3 today here.