The Week in Rock Band DLC: PAX nerd pack for charity FTW!

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In case you missed the announcement last week, here’s a reminder: the three song Rock Band “PAX Pack” is available for download today from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The pack includes three tracks, each from bands/artists that performed at this past weekend’s Penny Arcade Expo:

  • Jonathan Coulton – “Skullcrusher Mountain”                            
  • MC Frontalot – “Livin’ on the Corner of Dude and Catastrophe”
  • Darkest of the Hillside Thickets – “Shhh…”

Each track will run you $0.99 a piece (80 MS Points) or you can pick up all three for $2.99 (240 MS Points). The Harmonix/MTV Games’ proceeds from the sales of the pack between today and and Holiday 2008 will be donated to the Child’s Play Charity.

Giving makes people feel good, so maybe you should pick up this pack. I played the drum tracks on all three songs this morning and they’re all surprisingly solid, and come highly recommended. 

PlayStation 3 owners will get the tracks on the PlayStation Network this Thursday, as usual. 

ROCK BAND™ DELIVERS FAN FAVORITES WITH “PAX PACK”
 
Proceeds from Expo Themed Downloadable Songs to Benefit Charity

 
Harmonix and MTV Games announced today a very special set of downloadable content to celebrate the three day Penny Arcade Expo. The “PAX 2008 Collection”, launching on September 2, 2008, contains tracks from celebrated nerd-folk artist Jonathan Coulton, nerdcore rapper MC Frontalot, and lovecraftian doomsayers The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets – all of whom will be performing at the gaming fan festival August 27th-29th. Adding to the fan-focused celebration, the Harmonix/MTV Games’ proceeds from the sale of this “PAX Pack” between launch and Holiday 2008 will be donated to the Penny Arcade run Child’s Play Charity in order to help out children’s hospitals around the world. “We’re excited that some of our favorite artists can be featured in Rock Band as a result of this pack,” said Robert Khoo, Show Director for Penny Arcade Expo. “Calling attention to PAX artists and giving back to the community at the same time show why Harmonix is truly a company focused on the music and their fans above all else.” The pack includes “Skullcrusher Mountain” by Jonathan Coulton, the story of a misunderstood genius and the woman he attempts to woo with monstrous creations like a half-monkey, half-pony, “Livin’ on the Corner of Dude and Catastrophe” by MC Frontalot, Inspired by the award-winning webcomic “Achewood” and featuring Brad Sucks, and finally “Shhh….” by Darkest of the Hillside Thickets, a previously unreleased track that the nerd rockers have brought exclusively to Rock Band.
 
Release Date:          
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 (Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360)
Thursday, September 4, 2008 (PLAYSTATION®Store)
 
Tracks:                   
Jonathan Coulton    “Skullcrusher Mountain”                             
MC Frontalot         “Livin’ on the Corner of Dude and Catastrophe”                             
Darkest of the Hillside Thickets    “Shhh….”
 
Price:                     
.99¢ (80 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track                                      
$2.99 (240 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for 3 pack                             

(All three tracks utilize the 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 **

About Child’s Play Charity:
What is Child’s Play Charity? Since 2003, over 100,000 gamers worldwide have banded together through Child’s Play, a community-based charity grown and nurtured from the game culture and industry. Over three million dollars in donations of toys, games, videos, books and cash for sick kids in children’s hospitals across North America and the world have been collected since its inception.  When gamers give back, it makes a difference!

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Nick Chester
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