# Rock Band downloadable content **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 21, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262 "2008-03-21T20:43:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/1 "2008-03-21T20:43:57Z")
I’ve bought a lot of great songs for Rock Band so far, but let me just say three words about today’s announcement: Holy. Flurking. Schnit! > **[Rock Band Rivals | Harmonix Music Systems, Inc.](https://www.rockband4.com)** > > In Rock Band Rivals, form your own band, rock the world, and live out your ultimate rock and roll fantasy, with your friends, family, or as a solo act. > [@](#): > > Mega-Ultra-Super Boston SIX (6) pack!! Those who know me know that I’m especially psyched for this announcement. Enjoy! > > “More Than a Feeling” (Master) > “Peace of Mind” (Master) > “Smokin’” (Master) > “Rock & Roll Band” (Master) > “Something About You” (Master) > “Hitch a Ride” (Master) > > Each song can be purchased individually for $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) or all 6 can be purchased as a pack for $9.99 (800 Microsoft Points). They will be available next week through the Xbox Live! Marketplace, and through Sony’s PlayStation Store. I’m not an especially huge Boston fan, but Foreplay/Long Time is my absolute favorite song in Rock Band now, and since it came out I’ve been daydreaming about playing Peace Of Mind and More Than A Feeling, so this pack is going to be freaking AWESOME. 😃 Anyone else pumped? What else are you looking forward to? What have you picked up? ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/2 "2008-03-21T20:48:35Z")
_More Than a Feeling_ should be the main song of this game, if you ask me. It’s got great lead guitar, bass guitar, vocals, and drums. Good choice by Microsoft. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/3 "2008-03-21T20:56:26Z")
Actually, Microsoft has nothing to do with it. They just host the content. Harmonix (the creators of Rock Band) choose the DLC. Probably with MTV have some input as well. This will be a great pack. I’ll be getting at least the first three songs on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/4 "2008-03-21T21:53:39Z")
As someone who bought Guitar Hero on day 1 and all other iterations from both RO and Hmx, just wanted to say that $2 per song is an utterly ridiculous\* price and has turned me off completely from buying songs. Each song should cost 25c at most and should be sold to 8 times or more the number of game owners. Until it happens, this will reach a niche audience instead of the vast masses. Stupid, stupid stupid. Short term greed wins again. \*If you can afford it, it’s totally worth it for the songs you like. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/5 "2008-03-21T22:16:46Z")
Just out of curiosity, Gozu, where do you get 25 cents? Just buying songs digitally is almost universally 99 cents, and that’s just the song, not the note charts for three different instruments at four different difficulties. I’m fine with the $1.99 price. A few other people are too, considering they’ve sold [over six million](http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/03/rock-band-tops.html) tracks so far. And that’s without having a “music store” link in the game itself, which has just been added. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/6 "2008-03-21T23:00:22Z")
[QUOTE=Gozu] As someone who bought Guitar Hero on day 1 and all other iterations from both RO and Hmx, just wanted to say that $2 per song is an utterly ridiculous\* price and has turned me off completely from buying songs. Each song should cost 25c at most and should be sold to 8 times or more the number of game owners. Until it happens, this will reach a niche audience instead of the vast masses. Stupid, stupid stupid. Short term greed wins again. \*If you can afford it, it’s totally worth it for the songs you like. [/QUOTE] You really expect to be able to buy the song, plus the additional game content, for _less_ than you’d pay for just the song from iTunes or similar internet music stores? ---
**Author:** ![Koldanar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@Koldanar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koldanar)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/7 "2008-03-21T23:38:25Z")
[QUOTE=Gozu] As someone who bought Guitar Hero on day 1 and all other iterations from both RO and Hmx, just wanted to say that $2 per song is an utterly ridiculous\* price and has turned me off completely from buying songs. Each song should cost 25c at most and should be sold to 8 times or more the number of game owners. Until it happens, this will reach a niche audience instead of the vast masses. Stupid, stupid stupid. Short term greed wins again. \*If you can afford it, it’s totally worth it for the songs you like. [/QUOTE] Per song, there are 16 ! different game tracks…4 each for drums, guitar, bass, and vocals. I’m thankful they don’t charge more, considering the man hours that go into development. ---
**Author:** ![Robin\_Goodfellow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Robin\_Goodfellow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robin_Goodfellow)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/8 "2008-03-22T00:06:46Z")
I’m pretty impressed by the fact that they not only charge less than Activision does for Guitar Hero songs, but they also feel the need to round to the nearest hundred in Microsoft Points as does Activision. Two dollars for all of us to have a blast on many consecutive nights is a bargain. Also: I _love_ the new music store interface. Being able to preview songs I don’t know to see what feeling they carry will sell Harmonix/EA a ton more, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/9 "2008-03-22T00:41:35Z")
A DRM-free digital song (like those offered by [amazon.com](http://amazon.com)) should cost no more than 5 cents. The $1/song is utterly ridiculous as well (don’t argue with me, argue with Fasttrack, bittorrent, eDonkey and mp3sparks (formerly allofmp3). I base my numbers on the fact that a GH/RB player like myself will gladly buy 200 songs for 50 bucks because it’s so ridiculously cheap I’ll just download them all, just in case a guest likes some particular kind of music. I submit to you that 6 million tracks is a pathetic number and that reducing prices to the ones I suggest would result in 20+ times the sales and ultimately turn in several times more profit in the long term. Two simple reasons: 1- Bandwidth and storage are extremely cheap and make digital distribution of DLC **virtually free** compared to the valuable human labor involved in producing the DLC (musicians and game devs). 2- Each happy user/fan is worth significantly more than the money they spend on your product. It’s called word of mouth and it’s very real and incredibly lucrative. Result? Sell to twice the people at half the price when your increased distribution costs are near 0 will make you the same money and give you twice the free publicity. Now, remember, as I stated earlier, from an individual perspective, it makes sense to spend 2 bucks on a song that you’ll play 10 or 20 times at least (if not hundreds). I know that I could pay 10 bucks a song and still get my money’s worth for many of the songs I love. **I’m not attacking or criticizing the people who buy the songs** , ONLY the business model adopted by MTV and Activision among many others. As far as I’m concerned, I’m angry that, knowing what I know, buying at these prices would leave a bitter taste in my mouth. If you think I’m crazy, then you’re the lucky one so enjoy the DLC songs and rock on. I’ll sit in the corner and cry now. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/10 "2008-03-22T01:01:24Z")
Has anybody tried The Grateful Dead Pack? How awesome is China Cat Sunflower? ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/11 "2008-03-22T01:12:39Z")
[QUOTE=El Cid Viscoso] Has anybody tried The Grateful Dead Pack? How awesome is China Cat Sunflower? [/QUOTE] I haven’t found any of the Grateful Dead stuff too compelling, but I was never into the band. If you want to get an idea about the songs - just search Youtube for whatever title and “expert drums” or “expert guitar.” There are videos showing someone playing through every song on every instrument, probably at every difficulty. Thank you internets. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/12 "2008-03-22T02:34:09Z")
More Than a Feeling is available? Excuse me while I rock out. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/13 "2008-03-22T03:08:16Z")
Must. Get. Guys. In. Dorm. To. Buy. This! My bro’s copy is the PS2 one, so no downloadable content at home. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/14 "2008-03-22T03:40:56Z")
[QUOTE=ArizonaTeach] More Than a Feeling is available? Excuse me while I rock out. [/QUOTE] Almost - comes out Tuesday(360)/Thursday(PS3) next week. Take this time to get stretched out and some refreshments handy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/15 "2008-03-22T05:15:01Z")
My wife informed me of this earlier today. I am pretty damn jazzed, as “Foreplay/Longtime” is also one of my favorites (our little group has adopted “Wanted Dead Or Alive” as our theme song, so that can’t be usurped). Someone correct me if I’m mistaken, but as far as I can recall, “More Than A Feeling” will be the first song from Guitar Hero I/II to make it to Rock Band. I hope this starts a trend because there were a lot of great songs from both of the prior games that I’d love to be able to play as a full band now. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/16 "2008-03-22T09:48:21Z")
[QUOTE=Asimovian] My wife informed me of this earlier today. I am pretty damn jazzed, as “Foreplay/Longtime” is also one of my favorites (our little group has adopted “Wanted Dead Or Alive” as our theme song, so that can’t be usurped). Someone correct me if I’m mistaken, but as far as I can recall, “More Than A Feeling” will be the first song from Guitar Hero I/II to make it to Rock Band. I hope this starts a trend because there were a lot of great songs from both of the prior games that I’d love to be able to play as a full band now. [/QUOTE] No, there’s been a couple of others. One offhand I can think of is ‘War Pigs’ by Black Sabbath. But both songs are covers. ---
**Author:** ![Pithy\_Moniker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8dc957/32.png) [@Pithy\_Moniker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pithy_Moniker)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/17 "2008-03-22T12:14:06Z")
I’m excited about it. Even more so due to the fact that I’ve been taking guitar lessons and “More Than a Feeling” is the most recent song we’ve worked on. The rest are awesome too. Time to buy some more MS points. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/18 "2008-03-22T14:31:05Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] No, there’s been a couple of others. One offhand I can think of is ‘War Pigs’ by Black Sabbath. But both songs are covers. [/QUOTE] Of course! And I’m ashamed because I’ve actually downloaded that one, too. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/19 "2008-03-22T15:17:35Z")
[QUOTE=Pithy Moniker] I’m excited about it. Even more so due to the fact that I’ve been taking guitar lessons and “More Than a Feeling” is the most recent song we’ve worked on. The rest are awesome too. Time to buy some more MS points. [/QUOTE] Ironically, More Than A Feeling is probably harder to play in the game (on expert mode) than on real guitar, especially the verses. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2008, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262/20 "2008-03-24T06:33:45Z")
I agree with Gozu here- for 2 I'll buy a couple songs that I like. For .25 I’ll be much more likely to buy things that I might like, things that guests like, and things that I’ve heard are good. It’s not predatory, I just think that a better business model is out there. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-downloadable-content/442262.md?page=2)