Tiny Diggers – An iPad Construction Truck Game for Kids Age 2-5

We’ve already covered the $5 fee for exporting the Rock Band 1 tracks out into Rock Band 2, but a recent Harmonix press release revealed a few more factoids about the process. This is still only relevant to the 360 version, although there remains no reason to doubt that this will all happen on PS3, albeit at a later date. (EDIT: A Destructoid article quotes a source in the Rock Band forums as saying this patch is hitting the PS3 this week, and also adds Guitar Hero III Les Paul compatibility to the PS3 version of Rock Band.) The straight dope:

- Launched September 4, a 360 game update added an “export” option to the Rock Band menu. This update is required.

- 55 of Rock Band’s original 58 on-disk tracks are exportable. The three that are not are “Paranoid” as made famous by Black Sabbath, “Run to the Hills” as made famous by Iron Maiden, and “Enter Sandman” by Metallica.

- The reason for the $5 / 400 points fee? “to compensate music licensors for expanded use.”

- “The Rock Band 2 game disc will feature 84 tracks. In addition, players will have access to an additional 20 free DLC tracks following the game’s launch.”

84 plus 20 plus 55 equals a sweat-inducing 159 songs, all for the cost of one Rock Band 2 purchase and one pre-existing Rock Band 1 (or rental). Harmonix plans to have over 500 songs available by year’s end, including current DLC, the on-disk songs, and upcoming DLC.

Complete press release after the jump.

Rock BandTM Disc Export Title Update Goes Live

Title Update Allows Owners of the Original Rock Band Disc to Export 55 Tracks From the Game for Play with Upcoming Rock Band 2

CAMBRIDGE, MA – September 4, 2008 – In an industry first, Harmonix Music Systems, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games announced today the release of a title update for Rock Band on the Xbox™ 360™ videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft that will make it possible for owners of the original Rock Band to export 55 tracks from the original Rock Band disc for play in the soon-to-be released Rock Band 2.

Beginning today, September 4th, the title update will add an “export disc” tab under the extras option in the Rock Band menus, allowing owners of the original Rock Band to expand their Rock Band 2 library to include 55 tracks from the original Rock Band track list for the nominal fee of $4.99 (400 Microsoft Points)[1]. In addition, this patch is required for all future downloadable content releases for Rock Band. Previously purchased DLC will not be affected.

The selection of 55 exportable Rock Band tracks joins the weekly downloadable content list of over 200 songs to date and Rock Band 2’s forthcoming setlist of over 100 songs [2] adding to the ever expanding Rock Band Music Library. By the end of 2008, Harmonix has promised an unprecedented 500 songs will be available for the Rock Band platform. For a complete list of Rock Band songs available for purchase and download to date, please go to http://www.rockband.com/dlc.

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

Developed by Harmonix, MTV Games is the publisher of Rock Band. EA is the exclusive distribution and marketing partner for Rock Band.

[1]Online connection required. Nominal fee of $4.99 (400 Microsoft points) required for export of Rock Band 1 soundtrack to compensate music licensors for expanded use. The following Rock Band disc tracks will not be available for export into Rock Band 2: * “Paranoid” as made famous by Black Sabbath, * “Run to the Hills” as made famous by Iron Maiden, and “Enter Sandman” by Metallica. In addition, the title update will also be released simultaneously in Europe. Tokio Hotel’s “Through the Monsoon” from the European disc release of Rock Band will not be available for export into the future European release of Rock Band 2. (* Indicates a cover song, all other songs are original master recordings.)

[2]The Rock Band 2 game disc will feature 84 tracks. In addition, players will have access to an additional 20 free DLC tracks following the game’s launch. Online connection required.