Cancel your weekend plans from this October until May 2009 - the tracklist for Rock Band 2 has been released, and it’s huge. This is the real tracklist, not some internet fakery, and it comes straight from the source.

Not only that, but you’ll be able to import the songs (both the downloaded tunes and the stuff that came on the actual disc) from the first Rock Band directly into RB2, so you’ll be able to play something like 500 songs rught out of the box. So even without the inevitable new downloadable content, you’re going to be busy for quite awhile. Check it out:

Rock Band 2 On-Disc Track List:

1.            
 AC/DC
 “Let There Be Rock”
 1970s
 
2.            
 AFI
 “Girl’s Gone Grey”
 2000’s
 
3.            
 Alanis Morissette
 “You Oughta Know”
 1990’s
 
4.            
 Alice in Chains
 “Man in the Box”
 1990’s
 
5.            
 Allman Brothers
 “Ramblin’ Man”
 1970’s
 
6.            
 Avenged Sevenfold
 “Almost Easy”
 2000’s
 
7.            
 Bad Company
 “Shooting Star”
 1970’s
 
8.            
 Beastie Boys
 “So Whatcha Want”
 1990’s
 
9.            
 Beck
 “E-Pro”
 2000’s
 
10.        
 Bikini Kill
 “Rebel Girl”
 1990’s
 
11.        
 Billy Idol
 “White Wedding Pt. I”
 1980’s
 
12.        
 Blondie
 “One Way or Another”
 1970’s
 
13.        
 Bob Dylan
 “Tangled Up in Blue”
 1970’s
 
14.        
 Bon Jovi
 “Livin’ on a Prayer”
 1980’s
 
15.        
 Cheap Trick
 “Hello There”
 1970’s
 
16.        
 Devo
 “Uncontrollable Urge”
 1980’s
 
17.        
 Dinosaur Jr.
 “Feel the Pain”
 1990’s
 
18.        
 Disturbed
 “Down with the Sickness”
 2000’s
 
19.        
 Dream Theater
 “Panic Attack”
 2000’s
 
20.        
 Duran Duran
 “Hungry Like the Wolf”
 1980’s
 
21.        
 Elvis Costello
 “Pump It Up”
 1970’s
 
22.        
 Fleetwood Mac
 “Go Your Own Way”
 1970’s
 
23.        
 Foo Fighters
 “Everlong”
 1990’s
 
24.        
 Guns N’ Roses
 “Shackler’s Revenge”
 2000’s
 
25.        
 Interpol
 “PDA”
 2000’s
 
26.        
 Jane’s Addiction
 “Mountain Song”
 1980’s
 
27.        
 Jethro Tull
 “Aqualung”
 1970’s
 
28.        
 Jimmy Eat World
 “The Middle”
 2000’s
 
29.        
 Joan Jett
 “Bad Reputation”
 1980’s
 
30.        
 Journey
 “Anyway You Want It”
 1970’s
 
31.        
 Judas Priest
 “Painkiller”
 1990’s
 
32.        
 Kansas
 “Carry On Wayward Son”
 1970’s
 
33.        
 L7
 “Pretend We’re Dead”
 1990’s
 
34.        
 Lacuna Coil
 “Our Truth”
 2000’s
 
35.        
 Linkin Park
 “One Step Closer”
 2000’s
 
36.        
 Lit
 “My Own Worst Enemy”
 1990’s
 
37.        
 Lush
 “De-Luxe”
 1990’s
 
38.        
 Mastodon
 “Colony of Birchmen”
 2000’s
 
39.        
 Megadeth
 “Peace Sells”
 1980’s
 
40.        
 Metallica
 “Battery”
 1980’s
 
41.        
 Mighty Mighty Bosstones
 “Where’d You Go”
 1990’s
 
42.        
 Modest Mouse
 “Float On”
 2000’s
 
43.        
 Motorhead
 “Ace of Spades”
 1980’s
 
44.        
 Nirvana
 “Drain You”
 1990’s
 
45.        
 Norman Greenbaum
 “Spirit in the Sky”
 1960’s
 
46.        
 Panic at the Disco
 “Nine in the Afternoon”
 2000’s
 
47.        
 Paramore
 “That’s What You Get”
 2000’s
 
48.        
 Pearl Jam
 “Alive”
 1990’s
 
49.        
 Presidents of the USA
 “Lump”
 1990’s
 
50.        
 Rage Against the Machine
 “Testify”
 1990’s
 
51.        
 Ratt
 “Round & Round”
 1980’s
 
52.        
 Red Hot Chili Peppers
 “Give it Away”
 1990’s
 
53.        
 Rise Against
 “Give it All”
 2000’s
 
54.        
 Rush
 “The Trees”
 1970’s
 
55.        
 Silversun Pickups
 “Lazy Eye”
 2000’s
 
56.        
 Smashing Pumpkins
 “Today”
 1990’s
 
57.        
 Social Distortion
 “I Was Wrong”
 1990’s
 
58.        
 Sonic Youth
 “Teenage Riot”
 1980’s
 
59.        
 Soundgarden
 “Spoonman”
 1990’s
 
60.        
 Squeeze
 “Cool for Cats”
 1970’s
 
61.        
 Steely Dan
 “Bodhitsattva”
 1970’s
 
62.        
 Steve Miller Band
 “Rock’n Me”
 1970’s
 
63.        
 Survivor
 “Eye of the Tiger”
 1980’s
 
64.        
 System of a Down
 “Chop Suey”
 2000’s
 
65.        
 Talking Heads
 “Psycho Killer”
 1970’s
 
66.        
 Tenacious D
 “Master Exploder”
 2000’s
 
67.        
 Testament
 “Souls of Black”
 1990’s
 
68.        
 The Donnas
 “New Kid in School”
 2000’s
 
69.        
 The Go-Go’s
 “We Got the Beat”
 1980’s
 
70.        
 The Grateful Dead
 “Alabama Getaway”
 1980’s
 
71.        
 The Guess Who
 “American Woman”
 1970’s
 
72.        
 The Muffs
 “Kids in America”
 1990’s
 
73.        
 The Offspring
 “Come Out & Play (Keep ‘em Separated)”
 1990’s
 
74.        
 The Replacements
 “Alex Chilton”
 1980’s
 
75.        
 The Who
 “Pinball Wizard”
 1960’s
 
 
 Bonus Artist
 Bonus Song Title
 Decade
 
76.        
 Abnormality
 “Visions”
 2000’s
 
77.        
 Anarchy Club
 “Get Clean”
 2000’s
 
78.        
 Bang Camaro
 “Night Lies”
 2000’s
 
79.        
 Breaking Wheel
 “Shoulder to the Plow”
 2000’s
 
80.        
 The Libyans
 “Neighborhood”
 2000’s
 
81.        
 The Main Drag
 “A Jagged Gorgeous Winter”
 2000’s
 
82.        
 Speck
 “Conventional Lover”
 2000’s
 
83.        
 The Sterns
 “Supreme Girl”
 2000’s
 
84.        
 That Handsome Devil
 “Rob the Prez-O-Dent”
 2000’s
 

Jul 14, 2008

FIFA 09 will feature 10v10 online play on Xbox 360 and PS3. David Rutter, Line Producer on the PS3/360 version told us: “We’ve managed to get 10 v 10 this year online through strength of will and technological nous. [But] we want to make sure the control system for controlling goalkeepers is compelling enough before putting it in, because no game has done it particularly well, if it’s even been in there.

“So we want to make sure it’s good enough before putting it in because the last thing you want to do is say “tada - 11 v 11″… and the goal keepers are rubbish.”

He also told us that they have achieved parity between the two consoles, so there won’t be anything visibly different on either platform. And yes, tech, fans – that means they’ve got anti-aliasing running in full effect on PS3.

The game will feature better collision physics between players, much-improved trapping and first-touch mechanics and even tighter animations, following on from Euro 2008’s commendable tweaks. We’ll bring you much more on this one soon.

Above: Rooney will look just as dashing on PS3 as 360. But you really must see his Mii version on Wii

Codemasters’ elusive war sequel, Operation Flashpoint 2, has reared its head and is looking rather stunning in the pages of the latest PC Gamer UK, on shelves now. PC Gamer calls Codies’ war zone “the most mind-bogglingly vast and mercilessly realistic battlefield gaming has ever known,” which couldn’t be higher praise if they tried, really.

“Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising is the sequel to the best soldier sim ever created,” says PC Gamer. “It’s a game being built to exacting specifications by military obsessives, to simulate the authentic behaviour of battle-hardened troops and push PC’s to their limits.” And by the look of these new screenshots we’ve been supplied, it’s going to push our PCs off the side of the desk and out the window. Here’s hoping the looks and framerates can be equal on 360 and PS3.

The full preview in Issue 190 contains eight pages of new info and details on how Codemasters is pain-stakingly recreating the weapons and maneuvers of a real soldier, including the beefiest-looking assault rifle we’ve ever seen. It’s looking and sounding very promising indeed. You can find the full article on UK newsstands right now, or when we post it on Friday, July 11.

Courtesy of CVG

Jul 3, 2008

How rich are you feeling? Fanatec brought their new Porsche 911 Turbo wheel to the GR offices for a hands-on demonstration… and left us gobsmacked when they told us it costs 300 Euros. That’s over £230 or $470. In other words a LOT of money, or enough to buy an Xbox 360 or Wii on its own.

So we asked the company’s CEO, Thomas Jackermeier, to give us five reasons why the wheel’s worth the money. And this is what he said:

One of his colleagues quickly pointed out he hadn’t mentioned the Porsche license, to which he replied:

“I did not even mention once that the Porsche license is a feature because I don’t want to give the impression that the people will have to pay for that. We are paying a very reasonable amount for this license which definitely will not make the wheel more expensive. You get what you pay for and this is a lot of technology.”

We were given some hands-on (and feet-on) time with the wireless wheel and pedals, and we were impressed with the smoothness of the drive. It does feel like a real car’s steering wheel, if a bit light to turn. However, we do use the official Xbox 360 force feedback wheel a lot and we have to say there isn’t that much of a difference in quality. Nothing that screams “£167 better”, anyway.

The Porsche model is smoother and quieter than the 360 wheel and it’s got the added advantage of a gear stick. Well, actually, two – as you can choose whether you want the H or sequential layout by changing the gear lever. Everything feels solid too and the pedals feel much more like real pedals than the 360 wheel, even featuring a drop-away on resistance in the clutch. Yes, there’s a clutch pedal too. Very nice. 

It’s all wireless, it’s built to last, comes with a non-slip mat and a neat little Porsche-branded USB key for the driver software. It’s clearly a deluxe item. But when its cost is more than a third of the way towards that of a real Porsche on eBay, and easily as much as a regular second-hand car, this one’s probably just for the hardest of hardcore driving fans… or someone for whom money is no object.

The wheel is available now, only through Fanatec’s website.

 
Above: The wheel comes with this optional lap mount, but it’s best when securely fixed to a desk

It’s being reported that a Sony rep has let slip at the GDC Paris event that God of War III will make its debut at E3 next month in Los Angeles.

According to a few different French sites the game’s not likely to be playable at E3, but to be fair, it’s not expected out before the back end of 2009 anyway, so that doesn’t surprise us.

The only official mention of the game in recent months was an ad on the back of the manual for God of War: Chains of Olympus, saying that the game was “coming soon.”

While no further details are available, we’ll be hoping to see some in-game action though, rather than a load of CGI - preferably of Kratos going mental and stabbing a giant Cyclops in the eye with two rusty blades, before ripping his jaw off his face and using it to beat his mother to death.

We’ve contact Sony’s UK office for clarification on what’s actually been said at the Paris event and will update you accordingly.

Courtesy of CVG.

Jun 24, 2008

Representatives of The Beatles estate are in talks with both Activision and MTV Games to include the band’s back catalogue in either Rock Band or Guitar Hero.

The deal could be worth several million dollars and could be reached within a matter of weeks, according to a source for the Financial Times.

Back in March, we reported that a top executive at the music publishing company that owns the Lennon-McCartney copyrights said he’d be interested in a dedicated edition of Guitar Hero for the Beatles.

We’re just going through our memory of what Beatles tracks we think would work in Guitar Hero and to be honest we can only think of three - Back in the USSR, Taxman and Get Back.

Courtesy of CVG.

Jun 23, 2008

David Braben has slammed British gaming degrees, claiming that developers are finding it increasingly hard to find UK graduates looking to enter the industry.

“95% of video gaming degrees are simply not fit for purpose,” Braben told the BBC. “Without some sort of common standard, like Skillset accreditation, these degrees are a waste of time for all concerned.”

Braben’s comments are highlighted in an article claiming that a number of industry jobs are moving from Britain to Canada, which has recently overtaken the UK as the third leading country for games development.

“We are facing a serious decline in the quality of graduates looking to enter the industry,” said Braben. “The death of maths, physics and computer science graduates is hitting us hard.”

The games industry has claimed that the migration to Canada is due to its government allowing its industry to flourish, whilst the UK is still reviewing whether tax breaks for desperate UK-based developers is something it could consider.

Courtesy of CVG.

Jun 23, 2008

The release of Metal Gear Solid 4 and the ongoing success of PSP made it a Sony one-two in Japan last week, as PS3 skyrocketed to the top of the hardware charts.

In the week of June 9 to June 15, 75,311 PS3 were snapped up - a huge increase in sales over the previous week, in which the PS3 sold around 10,000.

Metal Gear did the trick, then, as it trounced the software chart with 465,000 sales, and Mario Kart Wii in second with a comparatively measly 38,000 sales, according to the Media Create figures here.

PSP’s still doing well, too. But how long will Sony’s grip on Japan last?

Here’s the full hardware sales list:

    * PS3: 75,311
    * PSP: 64,675
    * Wii: 45,564
    * DS: 39,201
    * PS2: 7,297
    * 360: 2,163

Courtesy of CVG.

Jun 20, 2008

The complete listing for Guitar Hero: Aerosmith has appeared online and it’s somewhat more varied than the title suggests.

Whilst Aerosmith dominates the list, there’s a few choice tracks from artists like The Clash, The New York Dolls and Stone Temple Pilots.

Here’s the full list:

    * “All the Young Dudes” by Mott the Hoople (cover)
    * Draw the Line” by Aerosmith
    * “Dream Police” by Cheap Trick
    * “Make It” by Aerosmith (re-recorded)
    * “Uncle Salty” by Aerosmith
    * “First Taste of Success” (Max’s Kansas City)
    * “All Day and All of the Night” by The Kinks (cover)
    * “I Hate Myself for Loving You” by Joan Jett
    * “Movin’ Out” by Aerosmith (re-recorded)
    * “No Surprize” by Aerosmith
    * “Sweet Emotion” by Aerosmith
    * “Complete Control” by The Clash
    * “Livin’ on the Edge” by Aerosmith
    * “Love in an Elevator” by Aerosmith
    * “Personality Crisis” by New York Dolls (cover)
    * “Rag Doll” by Aerosmith
    * “Bright Light Fright” by Aerosmith
    * “King of Rock” by Run-D.M.C.
    * “Nobody’s Fault” by Aerosmith
    * “She Sells Sanctuary” by The Cult
    * “Walk This Way” by Run-D.M.C. featuring Aerosmith
    * “Always on the Run” by Lenny Kravitz
    * “Back in the Saddle” by Aerosmith
    * “Beyond Beautiful” by Aerosmith
    * “Dream On” by Aerosmith (re-recorded)
    * “Hard to Handle” by The Black Crowes (cover)
    * “Cat Scratch Fever” by Ted Nugent
    * “Mama Kin” by Aerosmith (re-recorded)
    * “Sex Type Thing” by Stone Temple Pilots
    * “Toys In The Attic” by Aerosmith
    * “Train Kept A Rollin” by Aerosmith
    * “Guitar Battle vs Joe Perry” by Joe Perry
    * “Combination” by Aerosmith
    * “Kings and Queens” by Aerosmith
    * “Let The Music Do The Talking” by Aerosmith
    * “Mercy” by Joe Perry
    * “Pandora’s Box” by Aerosmith
    * “Pink” by Aerosmith
    * “Rats In The Cellar” by Aerosmith
    * “Shakin’ My Cage” by Joe Perry
    * “Talk Talkin” by Joe Perry
    * “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith

Source: Kotaku

Courtesy of CVG.

Jun 23, 2008

After what seems like years of rumour and speculation, Sony has finally spoken about the next major PS3 firmware update. You know, the one every PS3 owner has been waiting for since they bought the console.

We all knew that firmware version 2.40 would deliver that “in-game XMB access” we’ve all been gagging for, so messaging and other options can be done without having to quit your game.

But Sony has also confirmed that the update will include trophies, as well as some other new enhancements. Trophies are thought to be the PS3’s answer to 360’s Achievements system, but Sony is yet to give specific details.

And while all this is good news, Sony hasn’t revealed a time frame for the firmware’s release, which was strongly rumoured to hit consoles this month. “You can expect us to share all of the official details shortly,” it said.

Meanwhile, turn your PS3 on today and you’ll be prompted to install a not-so-exciting firmware 2.36, which improves “system stability when playing select PlayStation format software titles”. Every little bit helps…

Courtesy of CVG.

Jun 18, 2008