In all honesty, I don't even really like AC/DC, but what I do like to do is speculate (for some reason). So I thought I'd share this with you guys for the people that care.
Basically, I believe that the rumored
AC/DC Live at Donnington expansion pack may only be released as a physical disc instead of as DLC. This would explain why:
1) Wal-Mart would be the leak for what would normally be DLC
2) Why this is being released as a physical expansion disc at all.
So why WOULDN'T they just release this day and date as DLC with the expansion disc? Well, I came across an article called
“iTunes under threat as bands take their business elsewhere” which is basically about how the top selling albums and bands are NOT on iTunes. The toppest of them all being, you guessed it, AC/DC.
So why isn't AC/DC on iTunes? That's basically because they don't like letting people buy individual songs piece-meal (a requisite for selling songs on iTunes) and feel their albums should be experienced as full albums. This isn't new though as they've been resistant to selling singles for years.
So bringing this back around to Rock Band, if
Live at Donnington was released as DLC, it would be available as individual songs just like every other album is for Rock Band (as was promised to us by Harmonix) and obviously AC/DC would be opposed to this considering it's the exact same model as iTunes. So how does Harmonix release it while meeting the bands demands? Well they give them special treatment and release it exclusively as a physical disc where people have to buy the whole album. You could probably rip it to the hard drive and make it just like the other DLC ala the RB1 songs but at that point you've still purchased the entire album instead of cherry picking the ones you want. This keeps AC/DC happy since you now have the whole album, and Harmonix happy because the songs at that point are still integrated in to the game just like any other DLC.
Perhaps putting “Let There Be Rock” on the RB2 disc was part of Harmonix's conditions for doing this and also why “Let There Be Rock” was the song selected as opposed to say “Back in Black” since AC/DC wouldn't want to put up one of their more famous songs (though ironically, I like LTBR more than any of their other songs I've heard).
The only thing I could think of that would negate this theory is the fact that this is pretty much a greatest hits collection as opposed to a crafted album, so maybe they wouldn't care as much about it being sold separately. I don't know though. The very existence of this thing is still technically a rumor so whatever. What do you guys think?
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Meh, I dont care for ac/dc anyway.
Same here. AC/DC has always been a mediocre band to me. They have a few badass songs, but in the end they're overall catalogue is like that of Aerosmith. A few good songs with a bunch of crap. Oh, and let there be rock is boring as hell to play in RB2. Almost as bad as tangled up in blue by Bob Dylan.
Good matlocking nontheless.
Yeah, again I don't even like AC/DC but I thought this was kind of interesting considering it's unprecedented.
Good sleuthing here, gumshoe!
Sorry, that's the best picture I could find of the Chief from Carmen Sandiego. Yeah, that seems perfectly logical with the iTunes comparison. But then again, the video game industry rarely seems to follow logic.
@Usedtabe
Yeah, once is more than enough for "Tangled up in Blue." Worst drums ever.
I'm sprised, I'd figure the first three replies would be people who like AC/DC.
Like me.
And I personally think it'll just get you the DLC for free/early like they've done with Disturbed/Harmonix Pack.
@Char: I haven't seen you online in RB2. You should hit me up. My band is at the point where I get almost 1,000,000 fans per show. So if you need the million fans achievement, come play a couple shows in my band.
@Zserv: Your guitar career score in RB1 took me forever to beat, bro. That was insane. For the moment, I might have the upper hand in RB2 but something tells me you're just idling at the moment, with plans to score a few million soon.
@Cutie Honey
That's entirely possible too. I just think it's weird that it's coming out as a physical expansion.
Not really, I think for a band as big as AC/DC is a physical disc is warranted. They can still sell out arenas within several minutes. This is not the first time DLC was released physically, remember the OXM Disc DLC. It could work just like that.
@Usedtabe
Yeah man, my 360 red ringed a week ago, so I'm stuck in limbo playing DS, PS2, and Dreamcast. Real lame. We still need to finish that Gears run through.
I only get to play Rock Band at my friend's house on the weekends, so maybe I'll be on tonight. If I can be bothered to recover my Gamertag and all that bullshit.
You make a very believable argument. I won't be surprised if this turns out to be true.
Very well researched, Atomik. What you suggested is certainly a possibility. I'd rather have it as DLC, but if this is the only way to get it, I'll take it.
Good argument, I like it. As for the choice of "Let There Be Rock," I would agree that there was probably a deal being made somewhere to secure rights for other songs. See also: "Shackler's Revenge" and all of those fucking new Motley Crue songs no one cares about. People, on the other hand, do care about "Appetite for Destruction" and "Shout at the Devil." I'm just saying is all.
Very good reasoning. Personally, as long as I can get the songs into Rock Band 2 a la Rock Band 1, I don't mind. I mean, part of me will be obsessive and want to grab all the achievements in a physical copy, but if it's just the equivalent of one CD, that shouldn't be too bad.
Good point
I don't know how it's going to work, but I love me some AC/DC.
Either way, good work with the matlocking there.
that's my favorite band but not without show business, ride on the jack or whole lotta rosie and soo many more. not a huge fan of brian johnson, more of a bon scott kinda guy (he actually had a voice,not a screech)