Rock Band features Timmy and the Lords of the Underworld as a bonus track, makes irony laugh

For those who haven’t seen it, the full track listing for Rock Band, including bonus tracks, has been released at IGN. The bonus tracks include songs from Harmonix-staffed bands and Harmonix staple Freezepop’s “Brainpower.” One of the lesser known artists supplying bonus tracks is Timmy and the Lords of the Underworld. As far I’m aware, this is a band with just one, self-titled song, so it wouldn’t be surprising if you didn’t know who they are.

Also in case you weren’t aware, South Park recently aired an episode about Guitar Hero that has Stan and Kyle living a somewhat stereotypical rock band rise to stardom in Guitar Hero form.

In other news, sweet irony laughed and laughed and laughed…

Xbox Live’s Fifth Anniversary Party

Microsoft launched the Xbox Live for the original Xbox console On Nov. 15, 2002. Now Microsoft is celebrating XBL’s fifth anniversary with a number of special events for 360 owners. Xbox Live will be hosting the events which include playing against the dev teams from your favorite games on Nov. 15 like Halo 3, Gears of War, Guitar Hero III and even Halo Wars in a Halo 3 match. Also as part of the big fifth birthday celebration, XBL is also kicking off a huge Play & Win Sweepstakes where you could score some great prizes just by playing online. Register your gamertag before midnight (ET) on November 15, 2007, to be eligible to win.

Get your chance to play with the developers on November 15 at 9 A.M. Pacific and ends at 8:30 P.M. Pacific time. We’ve got the lineup of developers ready to kick your Ass:

• Halo Wars Dev Team: Look for the creators of this upcoming strategy game playing Halo 3 from 9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.
• skate Dev Team: Get ready for some serious boarding with the developers of skate. from 11:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.
• Ghost Recon Dev Team: Get ready for intense squad-based multiplayer with the developers of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighterâ„¢ 2 from 11:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.
• Rainbow Six Dev Team: Take to the streets of Vegas with the makers of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas® from 12:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M.
• ProStreet Dev Team: The Need for Speedâ„¢ ProStreet developers will be ready to race from 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
• Medal of Honor Airborne Dev Team: Jump into battle with the creators of Medal of Honor Airborneâ„¢ from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
• Guitar Hero Dev Team: Get ready to rock with the creators of Guitar Heroâ„¢ III: Legends of Rock from 3:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.
• Valve Dev Team: Pick your class and get ready for battle in Team Fortress 2 from 3:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.
• Ace Combat US Team: Take to the skies against the developers of ACE COMBAT® 6: Fires of Liberationâ„¢ from 4:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.
• NBA Live Dev Team: Hit the hardwood with the makers of NBA Live 08 from 5:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.
• Forza Dev Team: Race to the finish against the creators of Forza Motorsportâ„¢ 2 from 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
• Madden Dev Team: The masterminds behind Madden NFL 08 are ready to take the field from 5:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.
• NBA 2K Dev Team: Tip off the basketball season with the devs from NBA 2K8 from 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
• NCAA Football - Tiburon Studio: Join the developers of NCAA Football 08 for some college action from 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
• Tony Hawk Dev Team: Shred with the makers of Tony Hawk’s Project 8 from 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
• Bungie Dev Team: Get ready to play against the creators of the mega-hit Halo® 3 (time TBD).
• Gears of War Dev Team: The developers from Epic will be on hand to play Gears of War® (time TBD).
• PGR Dev Team: Race the streets of Gotham against the creators of Project Gotham Racing® 4 (time TBD).

Mass Effect Exclusive Debut On SCI FI Channel

Microsoft, Yahoo! and SCI-FI Channel celebrate the upcoming release of the new action role-playing game with two weeks of exclusive special programming and events. The SCI FI Channel will also be celebrating the launch of “Mass Effect” with the debut of a 30-minute special entitled “Sci vs. Fi: Mass Effect.” Scheduled to air at 11 p.m. Eastern and Pacific Tuesday, Nov. 20.

As the Nov. 20 launch date for “Mass Effect” for Xbox 360 draws nigh, the threat of an alien rogue force looms ever closer. To help unlock some of the secrets and mysteries of the vast universe in the highly-anticipated action RPG, Microsoft and Yahoo! will debut the exclusive television trailer for the upcoming game on Thursday, Nov. 8. On Monday, Nov. 12, the SCI FI Channel and Microsoft will continue its countdown for the retail release of “Mass Effect” by premiering the all-new, two-hour extended episode of “Battlestar Galactica: Razor” in select movie theaters. For those lucky enough to attend the Seattle premiere, Jamie Bamber, who plays Apollo in “Battlestar Galactica,” and show creator and executive producer Ronald D. Moore will be in attendance.

On Tuesday, Nov. 20, the SCI FI Channel will celebrate the launch of “Mass Effect” with the debut of a 30-minute special entitled “Sci vs. Fi: Mass Effect.” Scheduled to air at 11 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, the special will feature more in-depth information about the game, exclusive interviews and exciting behind-the scenes footage.

In conjunction with the special, fans are encouraged to go to the SCI-Fi “Mass Effect” web site to find all the show times and sign up for the “Mass Effect” sweepstakes, starting Nov. 13, for a chance to win the coveted limited collector’s edition of “Mass Effect.” Also fueling anticipation for the game is the new “Mass Effect” micro-site on Xbox.com, which launched today.

The micro-site offers a wealth of “Mass Effect” content in one convenient portal, including the latest news and events on the game, as well as screenshots and special promotional items that no space traveling enthusiast should be without. Music fans will also find the “Mass Effect” Original Game Soundtrack, now available for presale and at retailers on Nov. 20.

From the creators of the critically-acclaimed “Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic” and “Jade Empire” comes an epic space saga exclusively for the Xbox 360 that spans the entire galaxy. Combining a rich and engaging narrative with intense sci-fi tactical combat, “Mass Effect” features an immersive and cinematic gameplay experience rarely seen before in video games.

EA Confirms EA Chicago is Closing

EA Chicago has closed! Shacknews.com has confirmation from EA that they are indeed closing their Windy City studio, which employed some 150 people. This comes as part of a planned restructuring by the publisher.

“Within the EA Games Label, we are committed to running each franchise and facility as a city/state, teams with unique creative identities as well as responsibility for product quality, ship dates and profitability….Unfortunately, EA Chicago hasn’t been able to meet that standard….Closing EA Chicago is the toughest decision I’ve made in my career - one that in no way reflects on the talent and dedication of the people who work there.”

EA Chicago was responsible for titles like Def Jam, Fight Night, and the Marvel fighting game. No big loss when it comes to game titles, but wow EA should really look at its CEO bonus structure to cut before slashing the people that can make the games.

Guitar Hero III Generates $115 Million In First Week

Activision announces that the release of Guitar Hero III has generated over $115 million in revenue in the game’s first week in stores, making it the fastest selling game in Activision’s history. Specific unit sales for each version have not been revealed. This month, Xbox 360 and PS3 owners of the game will get three downloadable song packs for Guitar Hero III, each pack featuring three songs.

Activision, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI) announced today that consumer sell through for Guitar Hero® III: Legends of Rock™ exceeded $115 million within seven days of the game’s North American release, making it the largest single product launch in the company’s history. The game was released on October 28, 2007, and will launch in Europe on November 23, 2007.

The Guitar Hero franchise has remained the #1 best-selling franchise in the U.S. through September, according to the NPD Group. The franchise has sold more than six million units worldwide to date, according to The NPD Group, Charttrack and Gfk.

Microsoft Windows Home Server Launched

Microsoft announces that the Windows Home Server software has officially launched, as the company pushes out their latest entry to make an easy server product for families. The first product specifically designed to use Windows Home Server, the HP MediaSmart Server, will launch later in November. Here is a snip:

Windows Home Server is a “stay-at-home” server that delivers the benefits of powerful server technology used by many people at work within a simple, easy-to-use solution for the home. It automatically backs up Windows XP-based and Windows Vista-based home computers each night, provides a central place to organize digital documents and media, and includes a free Windows Live Internet address to access the home server from virtually anywhere and share content with friends and family. It also monitors the health and security status of home computers and can stream media to other devices in the home, such as Xbox 360, allowing people to enjoy digital music, photos and videos on their television.

The HP MediaSmart Server, powered by the AMD LIVE! solution, was designed for the Windows Home Server platform. It provides consumers with easy, more secure access to all their movies, photos, music and documents through any broadband Internet-connected PC. The product also includes HP Photo Webshare software for consumers to easily and more securely share photos with select friends and family. The MediaSmart Server is offered in a 500GB version for $599 (U.S.) and a 1TB model for $749 (U.S.).

Devil May Cry 4 Collector’s Edition Announced

Capcom Entertainment, today announced the contents of the Devil May Cry 4 Collector’s Edition package, which includes volume 1 of ADV Films’ Devil May Cry: The Animated Series, a Steelbook case and a bonus DVD filled with extras. The $79.99 Devil May Cry 4 Collector’s Edition will be available February 5, 2008, for both the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

The Devil May Cry: The Animated Series anime disc will be packed with the Steelbook case, and will include the first four episodes of the 12 episode anime series. Volume one of the four-disc DVD anime series will be available from ADV Films at the same time the game launches. Inside the case will be a second bonus DVD alongside the game that users can slip into their computers. The bonus DVD will contain a “making of” feature on the game, music from the Devil May Cry 4 soundtrack, a digital art book with images and sketches from the development team, wallpapers, icons and screen savers.

The highly anticipated Devil May Cry 4 immerses gamers in a gothic supernatural world, where a new protagonist clashes with series mainstay Dante. As new leading man Nero players will be able to unleash incredibly powerful and stylish attacks and non-stop combos using a combination of the Devil Bringer arm and the Exceed system, both of which are new gameplay mechanics for the series. Fans of Dante won’t be disappointed as he too will be playable during the course of the game.

Devil May Cry 4 is an epic story where the lines between good and evil are constantly blurred. Taking full advantage of the advanced graphical and processing power of the next-gen systems and Windows PC it draws gamers into the rich and highly detailed world of Fortuna and its surrounds with more enemies than ever before and some of the most breath-taking bosses ever conceived.

Devil May Cry 4 includes the following features:
• From the producer of the original Devil May Cry® and Resident Evil® 4
• 2 playable characters – take control of both Nero & Dante
• High-definition visuals moving at 60 frames per second
• Blend of familiar and new: newcomer Nero clashes with veteran Dante plus appearances from Trish, Lady and others from the DMC series
• Exceed System allows Nero to easily charge up his sword with a throttle effect, revving up to three levels with powerful and varied attack options
• Deep combo system rewards stylish dispatching of enemies
• Unique “Devil Bringer” arm opens up a range of never seen before combo options
• Distinct set of weaponry and moves for Nero and Dante
• New active style change system for Dante allows him to switch styles and weapons on the fly, producing crazy combo possibilities
• Numerous new characters and environments
• Signature blend of guns and swordplay

Devil May Cry 4 Collector’s Edition contains the following extras:
• Volume 1 of ADV Film’s Devil May Cry: The Animated Series on DVD, including four complete episodes of the anime (a retail value of $29.99)
• Unique Steelbook™ metal case
• Bonus DVD
o Making of Devil May Cry 4
o Music from the soundtrack
o Digital artbook
o PC content (screen savers, wallpapers, icons)

Turok heading to PC

Previously, Turok was planned to be a next gen console title only, Touchstone today announced that it ill also be coming to the Windows PC. The console version by Propaganda Games is expected on February 8th, 2008 with the PC version which is being handled at Aspyr Studios to come later.

LONDON, England — (November 2, 2007) — Turok, the epic, sci-fi first person shooter, will be released in spring 2008 for Windows PC, Touchstone announced today. Touchstone previously announced that Turok, one of next year’s most anticipated games, will be available for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. Developed by Propaganda Games, Turok for consoles will be available at retail stores on February 8th, 2008.

“First person shooters have a rich history on the Windows PC platform and are known for having enthusiastic, dedicated fans,” said Josh Holmes, vice president and general manager, Propaganda Games. “Turok will be an unforgettable experience ideal for the Windows PC platform when it becomes available in 2008.”

Turok is an epic, story-driven first-person shooter set on a dark, mysterious planet in the future. Players take on the role of Joseph Turok, a former black ops commando, now part of an elite special forces squad, known as Whiskey Company, which is on a mission to take down a war criminal – Turok’s former mentor, Roland Kane. Set on a planet inhabited by Kane and his Mendel-Gruman Corporation soldiers, Turok must use his elite military training to elude Kane’s well-trained army and the ravenous, unpredictable dinosaurs, huge insects and other massive creatures that populate the environment.

Brought to Windows PC by Aspyr Studios, Turok will feature an engaging, story-driven single player experience and multiplayer modes for up to 16 players per game

Alone In The Dark CentralPark Trailer

What a fitting day to release a new Alone In The Dark CentralPark trailer:

We have been requested to remove this until we can provide the age detection. 2007-11-01

BOO!!

Upcoming Xbox Live Arcade Games Announced

Microsoft has sent over a list of games that will be made available to download for Xbox 360 owners in the near future from their Xbox Live Arcade service. The press release did not have specific release dates for these games, some of which have been announced before. Not much on this list is very impressive if you ask me.

• “N+”(Slick Entertainment and Metanet Software) – Play as an acrobatic ninja in this addictive action-puzzle platformer. N+ features inadvertently homicidal robots, stylish graphics, a level editor and intense multiplayer awesomeness.
• “Screwjumper!” (THQ) – Players take the plunge in “Screwjumper!” and free-fall into the depths of the chaotic underworld as a Screwjumper, driving aliens back to their home world by destroying their precious mining equipment.
• “SHREK-N-ROLL” (Activision) – Gamers join “Shrek,” “Fiona,” “Donkey,” “Puss in Boots” and 20 other twisted fairy tale friends in this hilarious puzzle game designed for ogres of all ages.
• “SpongeBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam” (Nickelodeon and THQ) – In this quick and fun game, players search the kitchen of the Krusty Krab, the Flying Dutchman’s ship and the Armoury of Atlantis for 99 pairs of underpants.
• “Switchball” (Sierra Online) – Based on real-world physics, “Switchball” is an intricate puzzle game set in a stunning 3-D world where players control an ever-changing ball along a narrow, winding course suspended in midair.
• “Undertow” (Chair Entertainment Group) – This fast-paced action-shooter sends gamers underwater as they battle up to 16 players for control of the oceans! Players race to upgrade their units as they engage in non-stop conquest-style battles through multiple levels of combat action with some of the most stunning graphics ever seen in an Xbox LIVE Arcade title.
• “Word Puzzle” (InterServ International) – The classic pen-and-paper word search game is brought to a new level of excitement on Xbox LIVE Arcade, complete with combos, high-score achievements and the ability to compete against others online.