Not everyone wants to play Motorhead and Rage Against The Machine when they fire up Rock Band -- in fact, I'd go as far as to say fans of certain types of music may even feel alienated by the available tracks. Now country fans can finally play something that hits closer to home with the announcement that next's week's DLC will be a country-themed 5 pack.

The tracks available will be Brad Paisley's "Mud on the Tires", Brooks & Dunn's        "Hillbilly Deluxe", Dierks Bentley's "Free & Easy (Down the Road I Go)", the Dixie Chicks' "Sin Wagon" and Miranda Lambert's "Gunpower & Lead". Per the usual you can score individual tracks for $1.99 or the pack for $8.49.

I'm not a country fan myself, but I'm glad to see that there's a wide variety of DLC out there. Anyone going to pick these up, or is country too mellow for your tastes (or the Dixie Chicks too nauseating)?

ROCK BAND® GOES COUNTRY WITH ADDITION OF 5-PACK THAT INCLUDES BRAD PAISLEY, BROOKS & DUNN, DIXIE CHICKS AND MORE COMING TO THE DOWNLOADABLE MUSIC STORE CATALOG
 
Cambridge, Mass. – December 8, 2008 – Harmonix and MTV Games announced today that Rock Band® is set to give fans a taste of country music for the first time with the addition of the "Going Country" 5-pack to the Rock Band® Music Store catalog of downloadable content. The impressive lineup of renowned country artists includes Grammy Award winner Brad Paisley with "Mud on the Tires," the honky- tonk country classic duo Brooks & Dunn with "Hillbilly Deluxe," and all-American trio Dixie Chicks with "Sin Wagon."
 
Rock Band country lovers can also look forward to Dierks Bentley's #1 single "Free & Easy (Down the Road I Go)" and Miranda Lambert's standout single "Gunpowder & Lead."

Each track will be available starting December 16, 2008, for the Xbox®360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and December 18, 2008, for PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. Each individual track will be available for $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) and $8.49 (680 Microsoft Points) for the 5-pack.

Release Date:        Tuesday, December 16, 2008 (Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360)

Thursday, December 18, 2008 (PlayStation®Store)

Tracks:

        Brad Paisley            "Mud on the Tires"

        Brooks & Dunn        "Hillbilly Deluxe"

        Dierks Bentley        "Free & Easy (Down the Road I Go)"

        Dixie Chicks             "Sin Wagon"

        Miranda Lambert    "Gunpowder & Lead"

 

Price: $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track

 $8.49 (680 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for the 5-pack

 (All tracks are original master recordings)
 

Locations: Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360 and PlayStation®Network ** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change **
 
With the addition of these tracks there are now more than 500 tracks available to date via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at www.rockband.com/music). Rock Band continues to fly off shelves and satisfy music fans and gamers' voracious appetite for rock with more than 28 million paid downloads since its launch on November 20, 2007.  The Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks and packs from the vast selection of offerings available to date without ever leaving the game as they build their own custom Rock Band library.
 
Rock Band and Rock Band 2 allow online play and features that expand the boundaries of music gaming. Rock Band downloadable content is playable and integrated into setlists in all game modes.  In order to play downloadable content for head-to-head matches or multiplayer online, all players must own the same downloadable track.  Downloadable content for Xbox 360 is available for purchase via Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360 using Microsoft Points and is downloaded directly to the hard drive of Xbox 360. Downloadable content for the PLAYSTATION 3 system's version of Rock Band is available for purchase on the PlayStation Store through the free PlayStation Network and is downloaded directly to PLAYSTATION 3 system's built in hard drive.
 
Rock Band 2 for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 system is now available nationwide and supports all previously downloaded content.  The groundbreaking music platform that forever changed the face of music video games is committed to taking gaming to the next level with the evolution of the franchise.  Rock Band 2 will be available for additional platforms later this year.

Rock Band and Rock Band 2 are rated "T" for Teen (lyrics, suggestive themes) by the ESRB.

For more information on Rock Band 2 and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband.com  and www.harmonixmusic.com

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About MTV Networks

MTV Networks, a part of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 150 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 300 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

About MTV Games

MTV Games is dedicated to creating, marketing and publishing high-quality, innovative interactive products that are relevant to the MTV audience and complement the core values of the MTV Networks brands.

About Harmonix Music Systems, Inc Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., based in Cambridge, MA, and established in 1995, is the leading developer of groundbreaking music-oriented videogames. Harmonix was founded by Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy, who formed the company to invent new ways for non-musicians to experience the unique joy that comes from making music and have pioneered music and rhythm gaming in the US. For more information please visit www.harmonixmusic.com.
 
About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA™, EA SPORTS Freestyle™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2007, EA posted revenue of $3.09 billion and had 24 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com . More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

 © 2008 Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Harmonix, Rock Band and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., a MTV Networks company. Rock Band developed by Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. MTV: Music Television, MTV Games and all related titles and logos are trademarks of MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc All other marks are the property of their respective owners.  EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Freestyle and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Microsoft, Xbox. Xbox 360 and Xbox Live are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. "PlayStation", "PLAYSTATION" and "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.