List of Rock Band Network songs

For main platform downloadable content, see List of downloadable songs for the Rock Band series.

The Rock Band Network in the music video games Rock Band 2 and Rock Band 3 supported downloadable songs for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii veins throughout the consoles' respective online services. The Rock Band Network Store became publicly available on March 4, 2010,[1] for all Xbox 360 players in selected countries (US, Canada, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden, and Singapore).[2] Rock Band Network songs became available on the PlayStation 3 in five song intervals[3][4] through their own Rock Band Network Store[5] on April 22, 2010.[3] Starting on April 12, 2011, up to 10 songs were added weekly to the PlayStation 3 platform until June 14, 2011, when it reverted to five song intervals. Also, starting on June 14, 2011, PlayStation 3 Rock Band Network songs were only compatible with Rock Band 3.[6] Rock Band Network became available on the Wii in six[7] to 10[8] song intervals from September 7, 2010[8] to January 18, 2011.[9] Rock Band Network songs were exclusive to the Xbox 360 for 30 days, after which a selection of songs were made available on the PlayStation 3 and Wii.[1] As of January 18, 2011, no further Rock Band Network songs would be released on the Wii platform due to Nintendo's small online install base, limited demand for the songs and the significant amount of work each song needed to convert to the Wii.[9][10]

Players can download songs (and free demos of the songs if being used on the Xbox 360) on a track-by-track basis. Unlike a song released through the regular music store, there are limitations to where the song can be used. Network songs will not appear as a song within the various "Mystery Setlist" challenges within Tour mode (except on Wii, where they are treated as regular DLC), though users can add Network songs to "Make a Setlist". Users can also use Network songs in Quickplay modes. Network songs cannot be played in the head-to-head modes, as this would require Network authors to also balance note tracks for these game modes.[11] Songs can be practiced through Practice Mode, but unlike Harmonix-authored songs, which include hooks to allow the user to practice specific sections of a song, Network songs are not authored with these phrase hooks and can only be practiced in percentage based segments (i.e. short songs would get 10% increments, longer would get 5%, etc.).[11]

With the release of Rock Band Network 2.0, creators could add songs with harmony vocals, standard and pro mode keyboard tracks, and pro drum tracks, as well as mark specific sections for practicing and the end-of-song breakdown. Support for pro guitar and bass was not included in RBN 2.0 due to the complexity of authoring such tracks and the small base of pro guitar users/testers early on. With the formal launch of RBN 2.0 on February 15, 2011, the previous version of the network was shut down, ending RBN support for Rock Band 2.[12][13]

  1. ^ a b "The Rock Band Network Music Store Goes Live". Harmonix Music Systems. 2010-03-04. Archived from the original on 2010-03-07. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
  2. ^ HMXHenry (2010-03-04). "Rock Band Network World Availability Post". Harmonix Music Systems. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
  3. ^ a b HMXHenry (2010-04-21). "First batch of RBN tracks hitting the PS3 on 4/22". Harmonix Music Systems. Archived from the original on 2010-04-25. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  4. ^ HMXJohnD (2010-04-21). "Additional PS3 RBN Information Post". Harmonix Music Systems. Archived from the original on 2012-10-05. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  5. ^ HMXMister_Game (2010-04-21). "PS3 RBN Store Information Post". Harmonix Music Systems. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  6. ^ Harmonix (2011-06-09). "New to RBN: 6/9/11". Harmonix Music Systems. Archived from the original on 2011-11-17. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  7. ^ Harmonix (2011-01-07). "New to RBN: 12/30/10 & 1/7/11". Harmonix Music Systems. Archived from the original on 2011-01-13. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
  8. ^ a b Harmonix (2010-09-03). "New to RBN: 9/3/10". Harmonix Music Systems. Archived from the original on 2011-08-16. Retrieved 2010-10-22.
  9. ^ a b Harmonix (2011-01-14). "New to RBN: 1/14/11". Harmonix Music Systems. Archived from the original on 2011-01-16. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
  10. ^ Dutton, Fred (2011-01-14). "Harmonix ditches Wii RBN support for RB3". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
  11. ^ a b Brendan Sinclair (2010-03-13). "Harmonix reviews Rock Band Network's opening act". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2010-03-17. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
  12. ^ "Rock Band Network 2.0 Announced". RockBandAide. Archived from the original on August 26, 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ^ "Rock Band Network 2.0 Arriving on February 15th". Rock Band Aide. Archived from the original on January 19, 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)