<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
is	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
rhythm	O
games	O
developed	O
by	O
Harmonix	O
,	O
principally	O
for	O
home	O
video	B-Application
game	I-Application
consoles	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Based	O
on	O
their	O
previous	O
development	O
work	O
from	O
the	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
the	O
main	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
games	I-Application
has	O
players	O
use	O
game	B-Device
controllers	I-Device
modeled	O
after	O
musical	O
instruments	O
and	O
microphones	B-Application
to	O
perform	O
the	O
lead	O
guitar	O
,	O
bass	O
guitar	O
,	O
keyboard	O
,	O
drums	O
and	O
vocal	O
parts	O
of	O
numerous	O
licensed	O
songs	O
across	O
a	O
wide	O
range	O
of	O
genres	O
though	O
mostly	O
focusing	O
on	O
rock	O
music	O
by	O
matching	O
scrolling	O
musical	O
notes	O
patterns	O
shown	O
on	O
screen	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
had	O
worked	O
with	O
Red	O
Octane	O
for	O
the	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
series	I-Application
first	O
released	O
in	O
2005	O
;	O
when	O
Red	O
Octane	O
was	O
acquired	O
by	O
Activision	O
to	O
continue	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
in	O
2007	O
,	O
MTV	O
Games	O
,	O
a	O
division	O
of	O
Viacom	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
,	O
acquired	O
Harmonix	O
to	O
expand	O
the	O
concept	O
to	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
and	O
served	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
publisher	O
and	O
manufacturer	O
for	O
the	O
instrument	O
controllers	O
,	O
with	O
distribution	O
handled	O
by	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2009	O
,	O
due	O
to	O
saturation	O
of	O
the	O
rhythm	O
game	O
market	O
,	O
sales	O
of	O
both	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
and	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
dropped	O
;	O
Harmonix	O
's	O
investors	O
were	O
able	O
to	O
buy	O
the	O
company	O
from	O
Viacom	O
and	O
making	O
Harmonix	O
an	O
independent	O
company	O
,	O
giving	O
them	O
more	O
flexibility	O
in	O
options	O
for	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
2013	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
stopped	O
producing	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
(	O
DLC	B-Protocol
)	O
for	O
the	O
current	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
though	O
stated	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
consider	O
its	O
options	O
for	O
the	O
series	O
upon	O
the	O
arrival	O
of	O
the	O
next-generation	B-Application
of	I-Application
consoles	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
Harmonix	O
released	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
in	O
2015	O
for	O
the	O
new	O
consoles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
the	O
game	O
was	O
not	O
as	O
financially	O
successful	O
,	O
a	O
partial	O
cause	O
for	O
Mad	O
Catz	O
to	O
declare	O
bankruptcy	O
and	O
requiring	O
Harmonix	O
to	O
switch	O
production	O
to	O
Performance	B-Application
Designed	I-Application
Products	I-Application
(	O
PDP	O
)	O
for	O
ongoing	O
instrument	O
controller	O
manufacture	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
date	O
,	O
there	O
have	O
been	O
four	O
main	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
two	O
band-specific	O
spin-offs	O
including	O
The	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
and	O
several	O
additional	O
spin-off	O
titles	O
and	O
Track	O
Packs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
has	O
continued	O
to	O
supported	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
through	O
a	O
persistent	O
DLC	B-Protocol
model	O
,	O
with	O
routine	O
releases	O
of	O
new	O
songs	O
on	O
a	O
weekly	O
basis	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
ability	O
for	O
players	O
to	O
import	O
songs	O
from	O
previous	O
games	O
into	O
newer	O
ones	O
,	O
and	O
as	O
of	O
May	O
2020	O
,	O
the	O
latest	O
title	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
supports	O
over	O
2700	O
songs	O
from	O
this	O
approach	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
had	O
also	O
offered	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Network	O
to	O
allow	O
bands	O
and	O
labels	O
to	O
publish	O
their	O
songs	O
as	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
tracks	O
that	O
can	O
be	O
purchased	O
by	O
players	O
,	O
though	O
the	O
service	O
has	O
since	O
been	O
discontinued	O
;	O
at	O
the	O
height	O
of	O
this	O
service	O
,	O
over	O
4,000	O
tracks	O
from	O
1,200	O
artists	O
were	O
available	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
2009	O
,	O
over	O
13	O
million	O
copies	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
titles	O
have	O
been	O
sold	O
netting	O
more	O
than	O
$1	O
billion	O
in	O
total	O
sales	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Prior	O
to	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
and	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
Harmonix	O
had	O
already	O
established	O
itself	O
as	O
a	O
company	O
that	O
made	O
game	O
products	O
that	O
focused	O
on	O
music	O
interactivity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Looking	O
to	O
find	O
a	O
place	O
for	O
this	O
type	O
of	O
game	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
 '	O
founders	O
Alex	O
Rigopulos	O
and	O
Eran	O
Egozy	O
looked	O
to	O
Japan	O
where	O
music	B-Application
games	I-Application
like	O
PaRappa	B-Application
the	I-Application
Rapper	I-Application
were	O
becoming	O
popular	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
led	O
to	O
the	O
creation	O
of	O
Frequency	B-Application
and	O
its	O
sequel	O
Amplitude	B-Application
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
;	O
both	O
games	O
featured	O
the	O
concept	O
of	O
matching	O
notes	O
for	O
specific	O
instrument	O
tracks	O
along	O
lanes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
idea	O
of	O
making	O
an	O
easy	O
connection	O
between	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
the	O
music	O
was	O
used	O
as	O
a	O
basis	O
for	O
their	O
Karaoke	B-Application
Revolution	I-Application
games	O
,	O
which	O
including	O
using	O
avatars	O
singing	O
and	O
dancing	O
in	O
time	O
to	O
the	O
music	O
to	O
strengthen	O
the	O
connection	O
;	O
this	O
series	O
was	O
financially	O
successful	O
and	O
helped	O
grow	O
the	O
company	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
was	O
approached	O
by	O
RedOctane	O
to	O
help	O
develop	O
the	O
software	O
for	O
the	O
first	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
game	O
,	O
itself	O
based	O
on	O
Japanese	O
games	O
like	O
Guitar	B-Application
Freaks	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
used	O
their	O
previous	O
experience	O
in	O
note-matching	O
techniques	O
from	O
Frequency	B-Application
and	O
Amplitude	B-Application
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
lessons	O
learned	O
in	O
developed	O
Karaoke	B-Application
Revolution	I-Application
to	O
create	O
the	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
software	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
would	O
go	O
on	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
major	O
success	O
and	O
found	O
the	O
basis	O
of	O
the	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
series	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
success	O
of	O
the	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
series	I-Application
grew	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
and	O
RedOctane	O
were	O
purchased	O
by	O
MTV	O
Games	O
and	O
Activision	O
respectively	O
,	O
in	O
2006	O
;	O
MTV	O
paid	O
$175	O
million	O
to	O
acquire	O
Harmonix	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
RedOctane	O
continued	O
to	O
publish	O
the	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
bringing	O
Neversoft	O
on	O
board	O
for	O
development	O
duties	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
was	O
contractually	O
committed	O
to	O
completing	O
one	O
final	O
title	O
,	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
Encore	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rocks	I-Application
the	I-Application
80s	I-Application
,	O
during	O
and	O
after	O
the	O
purchase	O
negotiations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
MTV	O
Games	O
,	O
a	O
subsidiary	O
of	O
Viacom	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
took	O
their	O
experience	O
from	O
developing	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
and	O
Karaoke	B-Application
Revolution	I-Application
to	O
create	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
series	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Harmonix	O
Vice	O
President	O
of	O
Product	O
Development	O
,	O
Greg	O
LoPiccolo	O
,	O
the	O
Harmonix	O
team	O
had	O
already	O
envisioned	O
the	O
possibility	O
of	O
different	O
instruments	O
before	O
they	O
were	O
finished	O
with	O
the	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
series	I-Application
;	O
Rigopulos	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
work	O
was	O
only	O
a	O
partial	O
approach	O
to	O
this	O
,	O
limited	O
to	O
what	O
they	O
could	O
do	O
on	O
a	O
"	O
shoe-string	O
budget	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
also	O
embraced	O
the	O
idea	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
as	O
a	O
platform	O
rather	O
than	O
a	O
software	O
title	O
,	O
and	O
took	O
steps	O
to	O
incorporate	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
to	O
extend	O
players	O
 '	O
music	O
libraries	O
without	O
having	O
them	O
need	O
to	O
buy	O
a	O
new	O
software	O
disk	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
was	O
considered	O
a	O
success	O
,	O
leading	O
to	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
sequels	O
and	O
spinoff	O
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
series	I-Application
scored	O
what	O
was	O
considered	O
a	O
major	O
coup	O
by	O
journalists	O
when	O
it	O
successfully	O
negotiated	O
the	O
rights	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
music	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
in	O
a	O
video	O
game	O
,	O
long	O
considered	O
a	O
"	O
holy	O
grail	O
"	O
for	O
music	B-Application
games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
market	O
had	O
become	O
saturated	O
with	O
titles	O
,	O
mostly	O
from	O
Activision	O
's	O
expansion	O
of	O
the	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
and	O
consumers	O
affected	O
by	O
the	O
late-2000s	O
recession	O
were	O
less	O
likely	O
to	O
buy	O
costly	O
instrument	O
controllers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Viacom	O
had	O
already	O
reported	O
significant	O
losses	O
on	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
and	O
sales	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
did	O
not	O
meet	O
their	O
expectation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
,	O
anticipating	O
the	O
slowness	O
of	O
the	O
market	O
,	O
developed	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
with	O
the	O
introduction	O
of	O
several	O
new	O
features	O
,	O
most	O
notably	O
including	O
the	O
capability	O
to	O
connect	O
real	O
MIDI	O
keyboards	O
,	O
MIDI	O
guitars	O
,	O
and	O
MIDI	O
electronic	O
drum	O
kits	O
,	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
"	O
disruptive	O
"	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
ailing	O
rhythm	O
game	O
market	O
by	O
expanding	O
to	O
include	O
real	O
instruments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
shareholder-held	O
company	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
retained	O
the	O
rights	O
to	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
and	O
Dance	B-Application
Central	I-Application
franchises	O
,	O
and	O
continued	O
to	O
support	O
and	O
develop	O
the	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
same	O
month	O
,	O
Activision	O
announced	O
that	O
it	O
abandoned	O
ongoing	O
development	O
of	O
planned	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
titles	O
,	O
which	O
many	O
journalists	O
considered	O
to	O
signal	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
peripheral-based	O
rhythm	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
Harmonix	O
considered	O
the	O
closure	O
of	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
as	O
"	O
discouraging	O
"	O
,	O
they	O
affirmed	O
that	O
they	O
would	O
continue	O
to	O
develop	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
and	O
Dance	B-Application
Central	I-Application
and	O
support	O
their	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
for	O
the	O
immediate	O
future	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
2012	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
affirmed	O
that	O
it	O
had	O
no	O
plans	O
for	O
a	O
fourth	O
major	O
release	O
title	O
within	O
the	O
year	O
,	O
but	O
was	O
still	O
strongly	O
supporting	O
the	O
game	O
through	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
through	O
the	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
early	O
2013	O
,	O
the	O
company	O
stated	O
that	O
while	O
they	O
may	O
come	O
back	O
to	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
at	O
a	O
future	O
time	O
,	O
they	O
were	O
shifting	O
resources	O
to	O
develop	O
new	O
titles	O
,	O
and	O
later	O
announced	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
discontinue	O
its	O
regular	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
for	O
the	O
series	O
after	O
providing	O
over	O
275	O
continuous	O
weeks	O
of	O
such	O
content	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rigopulos	O
stated	O
at	O
his	O
keynote	O
at	O
the	O
2014	O
Penny	O
Arcade	O
Expo	O
East	O
that	O
the	O
studio	O
had	O
plans	O
to	O
bring	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
to	O
eighth-generation	B-Application
consoles	I-Application
"	O
at	O
some	O
point	O
"	O
and	O
with	O
"	O
guns	O
blazing	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
two	O
sets	O
of	O
unexpected	O
DLC	B-Protocol
releases	O
in	O
early	O
2015	O
as	O
a	O
survey	O
sent	O
to	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
fans	O
,	O
the	O
industry	O
started	O
to	O
speculate	O
that	O
Harmonix	O
was	O
looking	O
to	O
revive	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bloomberg	O
reported	O
that	O
Harmonix	O
was	O
currently	O
working	O
on	O
a	O
new	O
version	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
for	O
the	O
next-generation	B-Application
of	I-Application
consoles	I-Application
in	O
late	O
February	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
was	O
officially	O
announced	O
in	O
March	O
2015	O
,	O
for	O
release	O
later	O
in	O
October	O
2015	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
supported	O
nearly	O
all	O
previous	O
content	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
including	O
imports	O
from	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
all	O
prior	O
official	O
DLC	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Initially	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
partnership	O
with	O
Mad	O
Catz	O
for	O
production	O
of	O
the	O
instrument	O
peripherals	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
game	O
did	O
not	O
sell	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
expected	O
leading	O
to	O
a	O
loss	O
for	O
Mad	O
Katz	O
,	O
who	O
subsequently	O
terminated	O
the	O
agreement	O
by	O
June	O
2016	O
and	O
temporarily	O
had	O
entered	O
a	O
period	O
of	O
bankruptcy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
switched	O
to	O
Performance	B-Application
Designed	I-Application
Products	I-Application
(	O
PDP	O
)	O
to	O
continue	O
hardware	O
manufacturing	O
with	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
"	O
Rivals	O
"	O
expansion	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
attempted	O
to	O
crowdfund	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
for	O
personal	O
computers	O
through	O
Fig	O
(	O
which	O
Harmonix	O
's	O
Rigopulos	O
had	O
become	O
a	O
board	O
member	O
of	O
)	O
,	O
but	O
this	O
failed	O
to	O
meet	O
the	O
target	O
goal	O
,	O
though	O
Harmonix	O
had	O
not	O
ruled	O
out	O
other	O
means	O
to	O
bring	O
the	O
series	O
to	O
personal	O
computers	O
through	O
other	O
means	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
continues	O
to	O
support	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
with	O
weekly	O
DLC	B-Protocol
and	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
introduction	O
of	O
its	O
"	O
Rivals	O
"	O
gameplay	O
mode	O
,	O
eight-week	O
seasonal	O
challenges	O
for	O
players	O
to	O
earn	O
new	O
cosmetics	O
,	O
and	O
,	O
supports	O
over	O
2,800	O
songs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
separate	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
VR	O
title	O
was	O
developed	O
for	O
the	O
Oculus	B-Application
VR	I-Application
virtual	B-Application
reality	I-Application
system	O
and	O
released	O
in	O
March	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
has	O
released	O
four	O
mainline	O
titles	O
in	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
series	I-Application
:	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
(	O
2007	O
)	O
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
2008	O
)	O
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
(	O
2010	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
(	O
2015	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
game	O
provides	O
from	O
57	O
to	O
84	O
songs	O
on-disc	O
with	O
support	O
for	O
additional	O
songs	O
to	O
be	O
purchased	O
as	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
premium	O
or	O
upgraded	O
DLC	B-Protocol
content	O
cannot	O
be	O
transferred	O
to	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
October	O
2008	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
MTV	O
Games	O
,	O
announced	O
an	O
exclusive	O
agreement	O
with	O
Apple	O
Corps	O
,	O
Ltd	O
.	O
to	O
produce	O
a	O
standalone	O
title	O
,	O
titled	O
The	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
premise	O
and	O
featuring	O
the	O
music	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
September	O
9	O
,	O
2009	O
,	O
coinciding	O
with	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
remastered	O
collections	O
of	O
the	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
 '	O
albums	O
,	O
and	O
features	O
a	O
visual	O
and	O
musical	O
history	O
of	O
the	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
with	O
United	O
Kingdom-released	O
versions	O
of	O
songs	O
from	O
their	O
albums	O
Please	O
Please	O
Me	O
through	O
Abbey	O
Road	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
also	O
has	O
been	O
supported	O
by	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
,	O
with	O
three	O
full	O
albums	O
,	O
Abbey	O
Road	O
,	O
Sgt	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
branded	O
as	O
a	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
game	I-Application
,	O
the	O
title	O
remains	O
as	O
a	O
standalone	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
on	O
the	O
success	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
Green	B-Application
Day	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
June	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
track	O
list	O
is	O
fully	O
exportable	O
to	O
other	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
August	O
2011	O
it	O
was	O
rumoured	O
that	O
the	O
Pearl	O
Jam	O
related	O
project	O
would	O
be	O
released	O
as	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
,	O
but	O
Harmonix	O
spokesman	O
John	O
Drake	O
later	O
clarified	O
that	O
while	O
a	O
Pearl	O
Jam-based	O
game	O
was	O
deep	O
in	O
development	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
ultimately	O
cancelled	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
band	O
U2	O
,	O
after	O
declining	O
an	O
option	O
to	O
place	O
themselves	O
in	O
a	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
game	I-Application
in	O
2008	O
,	O
were	O
reconsidering	O
their	O
stance	O
after	O
seeing	O
the	O
success	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
according	O
to	O
bassist	O
Adam	O
Clayton	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similarly	O
,	O
Queen	O
were	O
in	O
behind-the-scenes	O
talks	O
about	O
a	O
possible	O
title	O
for	O
their	O
group	O
within	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
according	O
to	O
Brian	O
May	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Even	O
though	O
no	O
game	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
band	O
was	O
released	O
,	O
Lego	B-Language
avatars	O
of	O
the	O
band	O
members	O
appeared	O
in	O
Lego	B-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
Janie	O
Hendrix	O
had	O
stated	O
she	O
allowed	O
for	O
Jimi	O
Hendrix	O
's	O
works	O
to	O
be	O
used	O
for	O
a	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
game	I-Application
to	O
be	O
released	O
in	O
2010	O
,	O
this	O
was	O
later	O
clarified	O
as	O
licensing	O
several	O
full	O
albums	O
from	O
Hendrix	O
to	O
be	O
made	O
as	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
and	O
MTV	O
Games	O
have	O
worked	O
with	O
TT	O
Fusion	O
and	O
Traveller	O
's	O
Tales	O
,	O
developers	O
of	O
the	O
various	O
Lego-themed	O
video	O
game	O
titles	O
such	O
as	O
Lego	B-Application
Star	I-Application
Wars	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Complete	I-Application
Saga	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Warner	O
Bros	O
.	O
Interactive	O
Entertainment	O
to	O
create	O
Lego	B-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
also	O
includes	O
the	O
"	O
fun	O
,	O
customization	O
and	O
humor	O
of	O
the	O
Lego	B-Language
videogame	O
franchise	O
"	O
by	O
allowing	O
players	O
to	O
create	O
their	O
own	O
Lego-style	O
avatars	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
November	O
3	O
,	O
2009	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
consoles	I-Operating_System
,	O
supports	O
all	O
existing	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
instruments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
is	O
able	O
to	O
utilize	O
selected	O
existing	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
for	O
the	O
other	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
games	I-Application
that	O
have	O
been	O
deemed	O
acceptable	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
audience	O
,	O
except	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Nintendo	I-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
had	O
planned	O
to	O
release	O
a	O
spin-off	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
for	O
Japanese	O
audiences	O
in	O
co-development	O
with	O
Q	O
Entertainment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
title	O
,	O
initially	O
announced	O
in	O
2008	O
,	O
would	O
have	O
featured	O
J-pop	O
music	O
,	O
and	O
would	O
have	O
been	O
"	O
the	O
first	O
US-originated	O
rock	O
music	B-Application
game	I-Application
to	O
be	O
heavily	O
localized	O
for	O
the	O
Japanese	O
market	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
has	O
since	O
stated	O
that	O
this	O
project	O
has	O
been	O
discontinued	O
,	O
but	O
have	O
considered	O
the	O
inclusion	O
of	O
popular	O
Japanese	O
music	O
within	O
Rock	B-Application
Bands	I-Application
regular	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Device
Band	I-Device
Blitz	I-Device
is	O
a	O
downloadable	O
title	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
in	O
October	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
similar	O
to	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Unplugged	I-Application
,	O
using	O
gameplay	O
similar	O
to	O
Frequency	B-Application
and	O
Amplitude	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
included	O
25	O
songs	O
(	O
23	O
new	O
to	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
and	O
two	O
that	O
were	O
previously	O
unavailable	O
to	O
export	O
due	O
to	O
licensing	O
issues	O
)	O
,	O
but	O
can	O
use	O
any	O
previously	O
downloaded	O
song	O
in	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
library	O
;	O
the	O
25	O
songs	O
were	O
also	O
available	O
to	O
be	O
played	O
within	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Released	O
alongside	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
a	O
Facebook	O
application	O
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
World	O
,	O
that	O
connected	O
to	O
players	O
 '	O
games	O
,	O
offering	O
challenges	O
and	O
tracking	O
players	O
scores	O
in	O
both	O
Blitz	O
and	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shortly	O
after	O
release	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
Harmonix	O
began	O
work	O
on	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Sessions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
Harmonix	O
had	O
developed	O
a	O
working	O
prototype	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
they	O
found	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
not	O
adapt	O
well	O
to	O
their	O
existing	O
licensed	O
song	O
library	O
and	O
would	O
be	O
difficult	O
to	O
use	O
in	O
future	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
and	O
that	O
they	O
did	O
not	O
feel	O
this	O
was	O
a	O
type	O
of	O
game	O
they	O
could	O
sell	O
to	O
their	O
player	O
base	O
at	O
full	O
price	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sessions	O
has	O
been	O
shelved	O
,	O
though	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
lessons	O
they	O
learned	O
were	O
used	O
to	O
help	O
develop	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
,	O
and	O
may	O
come	O
back	O
to	O
the	O
title	O
at	O
a	O
later	O
date	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
also	O
was	O
involved	O
with	O
BandFuse	B-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Legends	I-Application
,	O
released	O
in	O
November	O
2013	O
,	O
which	O
for	O
a	O
time	O
was	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
"	O
Rock	O
Band	O
3.1	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2015	O
,	O
Oculus	B-Application
VR	I-Application
announced	O
at	O
The	O
Game	O
Awards	O
that	O
they	O
would	O
be	O
partnering	O
with	O
Harmonix	O
to	O
make	O
a	O
virtual	B-Application
reality	I-Application
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
game	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Rift	B-Device
titled	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
VR	O
,	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
in	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
,	O
focused	O
solely	O
on	O
guitar	O
players	O
,	O
uses	O
the	O
Oculus	B-Device
Rift	I-Device
Touch	O
controllers	O
in	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
headset	O
,	O
one	O
which	O
is	O
attached	O
to	O
the	O
guitar	O
controller	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
March	O
23	O
,	O
2017	O
and	O
shipped	O
with	O
60	O
songs	O
on	O
release	O
and	O
has	O
21	O
DLC	B-Protocol
songs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
nominated	O
for	O
"	O
Best	O
Game	O
Audio	O
Article	O
,	O
Publication	O
or	O
Broadcast	O
"	O
(	O
"	O
Steve	O
Pardo	O
:	O
Creating	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
VR	O
"	O
)	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
VR	O
Audio	O
"	O
at	O
the	O
16th	O
Annual	O
Game	O
Audio	O
Network	O
Guild	O
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Unplugged	I-Application
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Backbone	O
Entertainment	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
Portable	I-Operating_System
in	O
North	O
America	O
on	O
June	O
9	O
,	O
2009	O
and	O
later	O
that	O
year	O
in	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
uses	O
the	O
PSP	B-Operating_System
's	O
Wi-Fi	O
capabilities	O
to	O
provide	O
an	O
online	O
store	O
for	O
additional	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
from	O
music	O
providers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
gameplay	O
is	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
previous	O
Harmonix	O
games	O
Frequency	B-Application
and	O
Amplitude	B-Application
,	O
with	O
the	O
player	O
using	O
the	O
face	O
buttons	O
on	O
the	O
PSP	B-Operating_System
to	O
match	O
notes	O
;	O
after	O
completing	O
a	O
length	O
of	O
a	O
phrase	O
on	O
a	O
given	O
instrument	O
,	O
that	O
instrument	O
will	O
then	O
play	O
by	O
itself	O
for	O
a	O
while	O
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
switch	O
to	O
another	O
instrument	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
DS	B-Device
versions	O
of	O
Lego	B-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
and	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
use	O
a	O
similar	O
gameplay	O
system	O
to	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Unplugged	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
mobile	B-Application
phone	O
version	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
was	O
developed	O
by	O
EA	O
Mobile	B-Application
to	O
work	O
with	O
various	O
phones	O
;	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
to	O
Verizon	B-Application
users	O
on	O
September	O
16	O
,	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
features	O
many	O
of	O
the	O
same	O
modes	O
as	O
the	O
main	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
including	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
play	O
with	O
other	O
users	O
through	O
the	O
software	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
offers	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
play	O
any	O
of	O
the	O
four	O
instruments	O
on	O
25	O
songs	O
selected	O
from	O
the	O
existing	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
library	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
version	O
simply	O
titled	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
for	O
iOS	B-Operating_System
was	O
also	O
released	O
in	O
October	O
2009	O
,	O
with	O
gameplay	O
described	O
as	O
similar	O
to	O
Tap	B-Language
Tap	I-Language
Revenge	I-Language
and	O
allowing	O
up	O
to	O
four	O
people	O
to	O
play	O
together	O
with	O
Bluetooth	B-Protocol
connections	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Operating_System
Band	I-Operating_System
Reloaded	I-Operating_System
was	O
released	O
on	O
December	O
2	O
,	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
games	I-Application
are	O
score-based	O
music	B-Application
video	I-Application
games	I-Application
that	O
combine	O
elements	O
of	O
two	O
of	O
Harmonix	O
 '	O
previous	O
efforts	O
:	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
and	O
Karaoke	B-Application
Revolution	I-Application
,	O
allowing	O
up	O
to	O
four	O
players	O
to	O
play	O
on	O
lead	O
and	O
bass	O
guitar	O
,	O
drums	O
,	O
and	O
vocals	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
expands	O
this	O
number	O
to	O
seven	O
,	O
including	O
a	O
keyboardist	O
and	O
two	O
harmony	O
vocalists	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
titles	O
 '	O
gameplay	O
and	O
on-screen	O
interface	O
use	O
a	O
combination	O
of	O
elements	O
from	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
and	O
Karaoke	B-Application
Revolution	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
has	O
up	O
to	O
three	O
tracks	O
of	O
vertically	O
scrolling	O
colored	O
music	O
notes	O
,	O
one	O
section	O
each	O
for	O
lead	O
guitar	O
,	O
drums	O
,	O
and	O
bass	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Along	O
the	O
top	O
of	O
the	O
screen	O
is	O
the	O
vocals	O
display	O
,	O
which	O
scrolls	O
horizontally	O
,	O
similar	O
to	O
Karaoke	B-Application
Revolution	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
introduces	O
three-part	O
harmonies	O
using	O
three	O
separate	O
microphones	B-Application
,	O
a	O
feature	O
later	O
carried	O
over	O
into	O
Green	B-Application
Day	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
and	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
cooperative	O
play	O
as	O
a	O
band	O
,	O
all	O
players	O
earn	O
points	O
towards	O
a	O
common	O
score	O
,	O
though	O
score	O
multipliers	O
and	O
"	O
Overdrive	O
"	O
(	O
an	O
accumulated	O
bonus	O
that	O
is	O
the	O
equivalent	O
of	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
's	O
"	O
Star	O
Power	O
"	O
)	O
are	O
tracked	O
separately	O
for	O
each	O
player	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
players	O
can	O
deploy	O
Overdrive	O
independently	O
of	O
each	O
other	O
(	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
games	O
prior	O
to	O
World	B-Application
Tour	I-Application
require	O
players	O
in	O
Co-Operative	O
mode	O
to	O
deploy	O
Star	O
Power	O
simultaneously	O
)	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
collect	O
additional	O
Overdrive	O
while	O
it	O
is	O
deployed	O
and	O
draining	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
band	O
member	O
can	O
choose	O
the	O
difficulty	O
at	O
which	O
they	O
play	O
(	O
spanning	O
Easy	O
,	O
Medium	O
,	O
Hard	O
,	O
and	O
Expert	O
;	O
a	O
"	O
Super	O
Easy	O
"	O
difficulty	O
is	O
also	O
present	O
in	O
Lego	B-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
for	O
younger	O
players	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Furthermore	O
,	O
with	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
players	O
can	O
select	O
the	O
Pro	O
mode	O
of	O
their	O
instrument	O
if	O
they	O
have	O
the	O
appropriate	O
controller	O
for	O
it	O
;	O
Pro	O
mode	O
challenges	O
guitar	O
,	O
bass	O
,	O
drums	O
,	O
and	O
keyboards	O
to	O
play	O
their	O
controllers	O
closer	O
to	O
the	O
real-life	O
instrument	O
,	O
note-for-note	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Select	O
songs	O
end	O
with	O
a	O
special	O
"	O
Big	B-Application
Rock	I-Application
Ending	I-Application
,	O
"	O
which	O
gives	O
the	O
players	O
a	O
chance	O
to	O
improvise	O
and	O
earn	O
extra	O
points	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
each	O
player	O
successfully	O
plays	O
the	O
final	O
notes	O
of	O
the	O
song	O
following	O
the	O
freestyle	O
portion	O
of	O
the	O
"	O
Big	B-Application
Rock	I-Application
Ending	I-Application
,	O
"	O
the	O
band	O
earns	O
all	O
of	O
the	O
"	O
Big	B-Application
Rock	I-Application
Ending	I-Application
"	O
points	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
performance	O
's	O
star	O
rating	O
will	O
influence	O
the	O
monetary	O
reward	O
and	O
number	O
of	O
fans	O
for	O
the	O
song	O
within	O
the	O
various	O
game	O
modes	O
,	O
or	O
in	O
the	O
case	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
the	O
number	O
of	O
fans	O
earned	O
and	O
speed	O
progress	O
towards	O
the	O
virtual	O
band	O
's	O
Career	O
Mode	O
goals	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
features	O
instrument	O
controllers	O
designed	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
and	O
other	O
companies	O
have	O
attempted	O
to	O
provide	O
compatibility	O
between	O
competing	O
instrument	O
controllers	O
and	O
music	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
allowing	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
to	O
be	O
playable	O
without	O
use	O
of	O
specific	O
controllers	O
,	O
and	O
to	O
reuse	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
controllers	O
in	O
other	O
music	B-Application
games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Prior	O
to	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
most	O
instrument	O
controllers	O
were	O
made	O
by	O
MTV	O
Games	O
and	O
Harmonix	O
,	O
with	O
several	O
third-party	O
vendors	O
supply	O
alternate	O
versions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
4	O
,	O
2008	O
,	O
video	O
game	O
peripherals	O
manufacturer	O
Mad	O
Catz	O
announced	O
it	O
had	O
reached	O
an	O
agreement	O
with	O
MTV	O
and	O
Harmonix	O
to	O
produce	O
peripherals	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
agreement	O
also	O
gives	O
MadCatz	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
bundle	O
and	O
sell	O
their	O
products	O
with	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
game	I-Application
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mad	O
Catz	O
continued	O
to	O
support	O
the	O
series	O
for	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
in	O
2015	O
,	O
but	O
in	O
early	O
2016	O
announced	O
financial	O
difficulties	O
due	O
to	O
weak	O
sales	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
subsequently	O
announced	O
that	O
starting	O
in	O
2016	O
,	O
Precision	O
Designed	O
Products	O
will	O
be	O
producing	O
and	O
supporting	O
instrument	O
hardware	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
guitar	O
controller	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
modeled	O
after	O
a	O
Fender	O
Stratocaster	O
,	O
is	O
used	O
for	O
lead	O
guitar	O
and	O
bass	O
guitar	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
special	O
effects	O
switch	O
can	O
be	O
used	O
to	O
toggle	O
between	O
five	O
different	O
guitar	O
effects	O
during	O
solos	O
and	O
Overdrive	O
periods	O
(	O
ranging	O
from	O
wah-wah	O
,	O
flange	O
,	O
chorus	O
,	O
echo	O
,	O
distortion	O
,	O
doubler	O
,	O
slap	O
back	O
echo	O
,	O
medium	O
echo	O
,	O
and	O
long	O
echo	O
)	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
this	O
switch	O
was	O
removed	O
from	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
edition	O
of	O
the	O
guitar	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
games	I-Application
allow	O
players	O
to	O
apply	O
a	O
"	O
Lefty	O
Flip	O
"	O
setting	O
,	O
supporting	O
left-handed	O
guitar	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
second	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
controller	O
,	O
distributed	O
with	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
introduced	O
quieter	O
fret	O
buttons	O
,	O
a	O
more	O
reliable	O
strum	O
bar	O
,	O
and	O
optical	O
sensor	O
and	O
microphone	B-Application
to	O
help	O
the	O
player	O
calibrate	O
the	O
video	O
and	O
audio	O
output	O
from	O
their	O
television/stereo	O
system	O
's	O
setup	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
introduces	O
"	O
Pro	O
Mode	O
"	O
to	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
franchise	O
for	O
both	O
guitar	O
and	O
bass	O
players	O
,	O
where	O
players	O
finger	O
specific	O
strings	O
and	O
frets	O
instead	O
of	O
colored	O
buttons	O
in	O
Easy	O
to	O
Medium	O
mode	O
,	O
while	O
on	O
Expert	O
mode	O
players	O
are	O
required	O
to	O
play	O
the	O
actual	O
guitar	O
chords	O
and	O
solos	O
,	O
note	O
for	O
note	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
lowered	O
position	O
,	O
the	O
guitar	O
strings	O
wo	O
n't	O
be	O
muted	O
and	O
therefore	O
lets	O
the	O
strings	O
ring	O
out	O
for	O
normal	O
guitar	O
playing	O
outside	O
of	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
game	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tuning	O
this	O
specialized	O
guitar	O
is	O
not	O
necessary	O
for	O
playing	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
as	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
the	O
guitar	O
functions	O
in	O
MIDI	O
mode	O
and	O
the	O
guitar	O
's	O
sound	O
comes	O
from	O
sound	O
files	O
of	O
the	O
actual	O
guitar	O
playing	O
in	O
the	O
songs	O
painstakingly	O
designed	O
from	O
audio	O
master	O
stems	O
of	O
each	O
song	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
drum	O
set	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
features	O
four	O
rubber	O
drum	O
pads	O
and	O
a	O
bass	O
pedal	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
second	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
controller	O
,	O
distributed	O
with	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
introduced	O
quieter	O
,	O
"	O
velocity	O
sensitive	O
"	O
drum	O
pads	O
,	O
a	O
reinforced	O
bass	O
pedal	O
,	O
wireless	O
capabilities	O
,	O
and	O
compatibility	O
with	O
separately	O
sold	O
cymbals	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Pro	O
mode	O
for	O
drums	O
was	O
introduced	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
requiring	O
players	O
to	O
equip	O
the	O
existing	O
drum	O
set	O
with	O
up	O
to	O
three	O
cymbal	O
units	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
microphone	B-Application
is	O
a	O
standard	O
USB	B-Protocol
microphone	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
can	O
use	O
most	O
other	O
USB	B-Protocol
microphones	B-Application
,	O
while	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
users	O
can	O
substitute	O
their	O
console	O
's	O
headset	O
if	O
they	O
wish	O
,	O
though	O
the	O
option	O
to	O
use	O
a	O
headset	O
over	O
a	O
microphone	B-Application
is	O
absent	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
The	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
sections	O
without	O
vocals	O
will	O
display	O
circle	O
notes	O
,	O
allowing	O
for	O
the	O
microphone	B-Application
to	O
be	O
used	O
as	O
a	O
tambourine	O
and	O
cowbell	O
by	O
tapping	O
it	O
or	O
making	O
vocal	O
cues	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Overdrive	O
for	O
singers	O
can	O
be	O
deployed	O
by	O
making	O
a	O
brief	O
sound	O
through	O
the	O
microphone	B-Application
during	O
sections	O
of	O
songs	O
,	O
denoted	O
by	O
yellow	O
artwork	O
in	O
the	O
background	O
of	O
the	O
vocals	O
interface	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
keyboard	O
instrument	O
was	O
introduced	O
with	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
keyboard	O
unit	O
is	O
not	O
necessary	O
to	O
play	O
non-Pro	O
keyboard	O
parts	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
as	O
any	O
compatible	O
guitar	O
controller	O
can	O
also	O
be	O
used	O
;	O
similarly	O
,	O
the	O
keyboard	O
can	O
be	O
used	O
to	O
play	O
any	O
non-Pro	O
guitar	O
or	O
bass	O
parts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
primary	O
mode	O
of	O
play	O
in	O
both	O
games	O
is	O
a	O
"	O
Band	O
World	B-Application
Tour	I-Application
"	O
mode	O
(	O
renamed	O
"	O
Tour	O
"	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
)	O
;	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
this	O
was	O
limited	O
to	O
a	O
band	O
of	O
two	O
or	O
more	O
players	O
playing	O
locally	O
,	O
but	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
expanded	O
this	O
to	O
any	O
number	O
of	O
players	O
,	O
locally	O
or	O
online	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
introduced	O
two	O
new	O
modes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
"	O
Challenges	O
"	O
include	O
those	O
based	O
on	O
songs	O
on-disc	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
through	O
additional	O
songs	O
from	O
the	O
first	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
or	O
from	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
features	O
a	O
more	O
traditional	O
"	O
Career	O
"	O
mode	O
for	O
a	O
single	O
player	O
on	O
either	O
lead	O
guitar	O
,	O
drums	O
,	O
or	O
vocals	O
,	O
dividing	O
the	O
on-disk	O
songs	O
into	O
nine	O
tiers	O
arranged	O
by	O
difficulty	O
of	O
the	O
song	O
for	O
that	O
instrument	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
was	O
removed	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
for	O
the	O
improved	O
"	O
Tour	O
"	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
more	O
complete	O
"	O
Drum	B-Application
Trainer	I-Application
"	O
mode	O
was	O
added	O
to	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
to	O
help	O
players	O
learn	O
basic	O
drum	O
patterns	O
and	O
drum	O
fills	O
at	O
various	O
speeds	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
(	O
The	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
versions	O
and	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
do	O
not	O
have	O
this	O
feature	O
.	O
)	O
</s>
<s>
Bands	O
themselves	O
can	O
create	O
their	O
own	O
logo	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
players	O
can	O
assign	O
any	O
generated	O
character	O
to	O
"	O
stand	O
in	O
"	O
for	O
parts	O
that	O
are	O
not	O
presently	O
being	O
played	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
players	O
are	O
able	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
official	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
website	O
to	O
create	O
physical	O
merchandise	O
of	O
their	O
characters	O
and	O
band	O
,	O
including	O
posters	O
,	O
T-shirts	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
six-inch	O
tall	O
figurines	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Customization	O
features	O
were	O
overhauled	O
for	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
adding	O
additional	O
details	O
to	O
facial	O
customization	O
as	O
opposed	O
to	O
having	O
access	O
only	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
previous	O
small	O
selection	O
of	O
preset	O
head	O
models	O
,	O
and	O
changing	O
the	O
method	O
of	O
unlocking	O
clothing	O
,	O
instruments	O
,	O
and	O
other	O
accessories	O
to	O
the	O
completion	O
of	O
several	O
Career	O
Goals	O
which	O
are	O
typically	O
score-based	O
and	O
range	O
across	O
the	O
variety	O
of	O
instruments	O
(	O
including	O
Pro	O
Mode	O
)	O
,	O
game	O
play	O
modes	O
,	O
and	O
songs	O
from	O
the	O
RB3	O
release	O
,	O
previous	O
titles	O
,	O
and	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
featured	O
soundtracks	O
containing	O
58	O
,	O
84	O
,	O
83	O
,	O
and	O
65	O
songs	O
,	O
respectively	O
,	O
spanning	O
many	O
genres	O
of	O
rock	O
music	O
from	O
the	O
1960s	O
to	O
2010s	O
,	O
and	O
including	O
licensed	O
music	O
from	O
both	O
well-known	O
artists	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
independent	O
groups	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
majority	O
of	O
songs	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
are	O
master	O
recordings	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
handful	O
of	O
cover	O
versions	O
(	O
mainly	O
used	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
's	O
early	O
stages	O
)	O
,	O
while	O
all	O
the	O
music	O
from	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
onwards	O
are	O
master	O
recordings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
also	O
supports	O
migration	O
of	O
content	O
across	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
enables	O
players	O
to	O
access	O
music	O
that	O
was	O
featured	O
in	O
other	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
titles	O
within	O
a	O
single	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
currently	O
supports	O
content	O
imported	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
Lego	B-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Green	B-Application
Day	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
allows	O
players	O
to	O
not	O
only	O
access	O
these	O
songs	O
but	O
content	O
exported	O
from	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
as	O
well	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Lego	B-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
and	O
Green	B-Application
Day	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
allow	O
players	O
to	O
export	O
the	O
full	O
soundtrack	O
from	O
each	O
game	O
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
loses	O
three	O
songs	O
from	O
its	O
soundtrack	O
(	O
four	O
in	O
the	O
European	O
version	O
)	O
during	O
the	O
export	O
process	O
due	O
to	O
licensing	O
restrictions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
likewise	O
,	O
will	O
not	O
allow	O
players	O
to	O
export	O
fourteen	O
of	O
the	O
eighty-four	O
songs	O
offered	O
on	O
the	O
disc	O
(	O
however	O
nine	O
of	O
these	O
missing	O
songs	O
were	O
offered	O
as	O
a	O
free	O
download	O
following	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Two	O
additional	O
songs	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
export	O
were	O
previously	O
unavailable	O
within	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
however	O
they	O
have	O
since	O
been	O
returned	O
to	O
availability	O
through	O
a	O
patch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Two	O
further	O
songs	O
which	O
were	O
released	O
on-disc	O
in	O
the	O
European	O
version	O
are	O
unavailable	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
regardless	O
of	O
whether	O
the	O
songs	O
were	O
obtained	O
through	O
a	O
disc	O
export	O
or	O
through	O
purchase	O
as	O
DLC	B-Protocol
(	O
for	O
the	O
North	O
American	O
region	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Due	O
to	O
the	O
licensing	O
agreement	O
with	O
Apple	O
Corps	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
does	O
not	O
allow	O
any	O
exporting	O
of	O
its	O
content	O
whatsoever	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Device
Band	I-Device
Blitz	I-Device
shipped	O
with	O
twenty-five	O
songs	O
on	O
its	O
soundtrack	O
(	O
twenty-three	O
of	O
which	O
are	O
new	O
,	O
two	O
of	O
which	O
were	O
offered	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
but	O
not	O
exportable	O
to	O
3	O
)	O
and	O
all	O
twenty-five	O
songs	O
are	O
cross-compatible	O
with	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blitz	O
itself	O
is	O
also	O
able	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
full	O
range	O
of	O
content	O
offered	O
on	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
catalog	O
(	O
including	O
future	O
content	O
,	O
previous	O
imports	O
,	O
and	O
RBN	O
songs	O
)	O
,	O
integrating	O
the	O
existing	O
charts	O
into	O
its	O
own	O
gameplay	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
is	O
working	O
to	O
assure	O
that	O
as	O
much	O
as	O
a	O
player	O
's	O
existing	O
song	O
library	O
will	O
be	O
playable	O
within	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
within	O
the	O
same	O
console	O
family	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
aimed	O
to	O
provide	O
a	O
wide	O
range	O
of	O
music	O
to	O
players	O
through	O
additional	O
content	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
is	O
a	O
music	O
platform	O
for	O
discovering	O
music	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
developer	O
released	O
new	O
songs	O
,	O
compatible	O
with	O
both	O
games	O
,	O
through	O
regular	O
weekly	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
(	O
DLC	B-Protocol
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Downloadable	O
songs	O
are	O
compatible	O
with	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
and	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
portion	O
of	O
the	O
downloadable	O
song	O
catalog	O
is	O
also	O
compatible	O
with	O
Lego	B-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
songs	O
 '	O
appropriateness	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
family-friendly	O
content	O
rating	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
The	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
also	O
supports	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
,	O
the	O
game	O
does	O
not	O
share	O
such	O
content	O
with	O
the	O
other	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
nor	O
can	O
it	O
use	O
content	O
from	O
the	O
other	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Green	B-Application
Day	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
does	O
not	O
have	O
its	O
own	O
catalog	O
of	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
but	O
a	O
select	O
number	O
of	O
songs	O
from	O
the	O
21st	O
Century	O
Breakdown	O
album	O
were	O
released	O
to	O
the	O
Music	O
Store	O
prior	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
songs	O
integrate	O
with	O
Green	B-Application
Day	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
enabling	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
play	O
the	O
complete	O
21st	O
Century	O
Breakdown	O
album	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
released	O
on	O
or	O
after	O
October	O
26	O
,	O
2010	O
is	O
restricted	O
for	O
use	O
with	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
Rock	B-Device
Band	I-Device
Blitz	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
while	O
content	O
released	O
on	O
or	O
after	O
October	O
6	O
,	O
2015	O
is	O
restricted	O
for	O
use	O
with	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
only	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Downloads	O
are	O
available	O
through	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Network	I-Device
,	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Nintendo	B-Application
WFC	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
music	O
can	O
be	O
purchased	O
either	O
directly	O
from	O
the	O
console	O
's	O
online	O
store	O
,	O
or	O
through	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
games	I-Application
directly	O
via	O
its	O
own	O
"	O
Music	O
Store	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
allows	O
users	O
to	O
preview	O
the	O
music	O
prior	O
to	O
purchase	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
versions	O
of	O
both	O
games	O
support	O
downloading	O
;	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
also	O
has	O
this	O
feature	O
,	O
and	O
Harmonix	O
has	O
re-released	O
existing	O
downloaded	O
content	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
over	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wii	B-Operating_System
users	O
are	O
only	O
able	O
to	O
purchase	O
songs	O
through	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
Music	O
Store	O
,	O
and	O
not	O
through	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
Shop	O
Channel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
introduction	O
of	O
new	O
features	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
DLC	B-Protocol
includes	O
support	O
,	O
where	O
appropriate	O
,	O
for	O
vocal	O
harmonies	O
,	O
keyboards	O
,	O
and	O
Pro	O
drums	O
and	O
Pro	O
keyboards	O
,	O
and	O
remain	O
at	O
the	O
same	O
price	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Furthermore	O
,	O
the	O
Pro	O
guitar	O
portion	O
of	O
DLC	B-Protocol
costs	O
extra	O
,	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
complexity	O
of	O
charting	O
,	O
which	O
Harmonix	O
has	O
said	O
takes	O
as	O
long	O
as	O
authoring	O
the	O
rest	O
of	O
the	O
song	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Older	O
DLC	B-Protocol
can	O
be	O
upgraded	O
by	O
Harmonix	O
to	O
include	O
newer	O
features	O
,	O
but	O
which	O
songs	O
will	O
be	O
a	O
function	O
of	O
licensing	O
,	O
band	O
cooperation	O
,	O
and	O
players	O
 '	O
preferences	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
there	O
were	O
over	O
2,000	O
songs	O
from	O
over	O
250	O
different	O
artists	O
available	O
for	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
series	I-Application
through	O
on-disc	O
songs	O
,	O
imported	O
track	O
packs	O
,	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Network	O
and	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
,	O
including	O
21	O
complete	O
albums	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Over	O
100	O
million	O
downloadable	O
song	O
purchases	O
have	O
been	O
made	O
through	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
music	O
store	O
service	O
through	O
May	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
list	O
included	O
The	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
,	O
The	O
Who	O
and	O
Red	O
Hot	O
Chili	O
Peppers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
popular	O
fan-requested	O
bands	O
,	O
including	O
Guns	O
N	O
 '	O
Roses	O
and	O
Muse	O
,	O
were	O
difficult	O
to	O
obtain	O
the	O
proper	O
licensing	O
for	O
and	O
could	O
not	O
get	O
additional	O
songs	O
into	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
announced	O
that	O
the	O
initial	O
run	O
of	O
regular	O
DLC	B-Protocol
releases	O
would	O
end	O
on	O
April	O
2	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
as	O
the	O
company	O
began	O
to	O
transition	O
to	O
other	O
projects	O
for	O
next-generation	O
consoles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
company	O
did	O
not	O
rule	O
out	O
future	O
DLC	B-Protocol
releases	O
,	O
and	O
starting	O
in	O
January	O
2015	O
,	O
provided	O
one-off	O
releases	O
of	O
new	O
content	O
for	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Harmonix	O
has	O
not	O
committed	O
to	O
a	O
future	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
title	O
,	O
Rigopoulos	O
has	O
stated	O
that	O
reuse	O
of	O
existing	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
on	O
future	O
titles	O
for	O
next-generation	O
consoles	O
will	O
be	O
a	O
priority	O
,	O
stating	O
"	O
that	O
investment	O
that	O
players	O
have	O
made	O
over	O
the	O
years	O
in	O
those	O
libraries	O
is	O
something	O
that	O
we	O
would	O
want	O
to	O
take	O
great	O
pains	O
to	O
protect	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
announcement	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
on	O
March	O
5	O
,	O
2015	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
also	O
added	O
that	O
the	O
majority	O
of	O
existing	O
DLC	B-Protocol
purchases	O
would	O
convert	O
to	O
the	O
next	O
generation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Only	O
legacy	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
is	O
forward	O
compatible	O
from	O
within	O
the	O
same	O
system	O
family	O
(	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
can	O
be	O
claimed	O
on	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
)	O
as	O
long	O
as	O
the	O
user	O
was	O
previously	O
entitled	O
to	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Premium	O
DLC	B-Protocol
content	O
and	O
upgrades	O
are	O
still	O
not	O
transferable	O
to	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
,	O
with	O
no	O
intent	O
to	O
honor	O
those	O
purchases	O
for	O
this	O
entire	O
console	O
generation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
has	O
created	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
Track	O
Packs	O
that	O
contain	O
up	O
to	O
twenty	O
songs	O
previously	O
featured	O
as	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
that	O
can	O
be	O
played	O
as	O
a	O
standalone	O
title	O
with	O
reduced	O
features	O
(	O
such	O
as	O
no	O
character	O
customization	O
and	O
limited	O
game	O
modes	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
titles	O
were	O
initially	O
intended	O
for	O
users	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
on	O
platforms	O
that	O
lacked	O
network	O
capabilities	O
,	O
specifically	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
and	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
the	O
second	O
Track	O
Pack	O
was	O
made	O
available	O
for	O
all	O
four	O
console	O
systems	O
,	O
and	O
allows	O
users	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
to	O
download	O
these	O
songs	O
for	O
use	O
in	O
the	O
main	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
Track	O
Packs	O
have	O
included	O
songs	O
not	O
yet	O
available	O
through	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
,	O
though	O
Harmonix	O
has	O
released	O
the	O
exclusive	O
tracks	O
from	O
the	O
Country	O
Track	O
Pack	O
and	O
the	O
Metal	O
Track	O
Pack	O
in	O
Music	O
Store	O
for	O
purchase	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Network	O
is	O
a	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
service	O
designed	O
by	O
Harmonix	O
and	O
Microsoft	O
to	O
allow	O
artists	O
and	O
labels	O
to	O
author	O
(	O
"	O
chart	O
"	O
)	O
their	O
own	O
songs	O
for	O
play	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Network	O
will	O
augment	O
the	O
songs	O
added	O
by	O
Harmonix	O
as	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
for	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Network	O
became	O
publicly	O
available	O
to	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
players	O
on	O
March	O
4	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
with	O
all	O
of	O
the	O
songs	O
immediately	O
available	O
to	O
the	O
Network	O
Store	O
for	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
certain	O
selections	O
of	O
songs	O
available	O
to	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
major	O
update	O
of	O
the	O
Network	O
was	O
released	O
early	O
in	O
2011	O
,	O
after	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
release	O
,	O
to	O
including	O
authoring	O
tools	O
for	O
normal	O
and	O
Pro	O
keyboards	O
and	O
vocal	O
harmonies	O
,	O
but	O
will	O
not	O
initially	O
support	O
Pro	O
guitar/bass	O
authoring	O
until	O
Harmonix	O
is	O
able	O
to	O
judge	O
the	O
support	O
required	O
for	O
these	O
tools	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
also	O
plans	O
to	O
better	O
support	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
through	O
this	O
iteration	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Due	O
to	O
lack	O
of	O
interest	O
and	O
difficulties	O
with	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
's	I-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
storefront	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
has	O
discontinued	O
making	O
Network	O
songs	O
available	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
players	O
will	O
still	O
be	O
able	O
to	O
create	O
and	O
add	O
songs	O
to	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Network	O
following	O
the	O
April	O
2	O
,	O
2013	O
end	O
of	O
regular	O
DLC	B-Protocol
,	O
but	O
Harmonix	O
has	O
stated	O
that	O
while	O
these	O
mechanisms	O
are	O
generally	O
automated	O
,	O
they	O
are	O
based	O
on	O
third-party	O
technology	O
like	O
Microsoft	B-Device
XNA	I-Device
,	O
and	O
should	O
those	O
services	O
cease	O
,	O
so	O
will	O
the	O
functionality	O
of	O
the	O
Network	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
release	O
of	O
Network	O
songs	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
require	O
Harmonix	O
to	O
be	O
fully	O
involved	O
,	O
no	O
further	O
Network	O
songs	O
will	O
be	O
available	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
after	O
April	O
2	O
,	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Network	O
songs	O
are	O
incompatible	O
with	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
at	O
launch	O
;	O
however	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
has	O
stated	O
they	O
will	O
explore	O
the	O
logistics	O
of	O
bringing	O
RBN	O
songs	O
into	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
after	O
completing	O
the	O
transition	O
of	O
all	O
official	O
DLC	B-Protocol
,	O
packs	O
,	O
and	O
disc	O
exports	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
RBN	O
content	O
was	O
delisted	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
platforms	O
in	O
February	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
2018	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
announced	O
that	O
they	O
have	O
secured	O
licensing	O
for	O
a	O
portion	O
of	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Network	O
library	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
as	O
regular	O
DLC	B-Protocol
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
;	O
however	O
,	O
entitlements	O
for	O
re-released	O
RBN	O
content	O
are	O
not	O
supported	O
due	O
to	O
technical	O
and	O
licensing	O
restrictions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
has	O
influenced	O
the	O
music	O
culture	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alex	O
Rigopulos	O
and	O
Eran	O
Egozy	O
,	O
the	O
founders	O
of	O
Harmonix	O
,	O
were	O
together	O
named	O
in	O
Time	O
Magazine'''s	O
list	O
of	O
the	O
100	O
most	O
influential	O
people	O
of	O
2008	O
for	O
their	O
creation	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
article	O
,	O
guitarist	O
Steven	O
Van	O
Zandt	O
claims	O
,	O
"	O
in	O
the	O
history	O
of	O
rock	O
'	O
n	O
 '	O
roll	O
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
may	O
just	O
turn	O
out	O
to	O
be	O
up	O
there	O
with	O
the	O
rise	O
of	O
FM	O
radio	O
,	O
CDs	O
or	O
MTV.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
were	O
awarded	O
the	O
2009	O
Game	O
Developers	O
Choice	O
Pioneer	O
Award	O
for	O
their	O
influence	O
on	O
music	B-Application
video	I-Application
games	I-Application
culminating	O
with	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
2010	O
USA	O
Network	O
's	O
"	O
Character	O
Approved	O
"	O
Award	O
for	O
New	O
Media	O
in	O
2010	O
for	O
the	O
impact	O
that	O
their	O
vision	O
and	O
leadership	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
has	O
had	O
on	O
the	O
social	O
nature	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
reality	O
television	O
show	O
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
:	O
The	O
Stars	O
,	O
was	O
created	O
by	O
VH1	O
,	O
featuring	O
several	O
players	O
performing	O
and	O
being	O
eliminated	O
by	O
judges	O
Alice	O
Cooper	O
and	O
Sebastian	O
Bach	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Pennsylvania-based	O
band	O
,	O
The	O
Jellybricks	O
,	O
released	O
a	O
viral	O
video	O
of	O
their	O
song	O
"	O
Ruin	O
Us	O
"	O
which	O
is	O
overplayed	O
on	O
footage	O
from	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
using	O
avatars	O
resembling	O
the	O
band	O
members.Rock	O
Band	O
appeared	O
briefly	O
in	O
the	O
"	O
Whale	O
Whores	O
"	O
episode	O
of	O
the	O
South	B-Application
Park	I-Application
animated	O
TV	O
series	O
,	O
where	O
Cartman	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
Kyle	O
and	O
Kenny	O
,	O
sang	O
to	O
Lady	O
Gaga	O
's	O
"	O
Poker	O
Face	O
"	O
;	O
about	O
5	O
months	O
after	O
the	O
airing	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
announced	O
"	O
Poker	O
Face	O
"	O
with	O
vocals	O
by	O
Cartman	O
would	O
be	O
available	O
as	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
for	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
other	O
Lady	O
Gaga	O
songs	O
featuring	O
her	O
vocals	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
episode	O
of	O
the	O
sitcom	O
The	O
Office	O
,	O
"	O
The	O
Chump	O
"	O
,	O
alluded	O
to	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
:	O
Billy	O
Joel	O
,	O
to	O
which	O
Entertainment	O
Weeklys	O
Darren	O
Franich	O
commented	O
that	O
"	O
let	O
’s	O
hope	O
never	O
actually	O
exists	O
ever	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Los	O
Angeles	O
Times	O
suggests	O
that	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
particularly	O
The	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
has	O
influenced	O
many	O
of	O
the	O
contestants	O
in	O
the	O
preliminaries	O
for	O
the	O
9th	O
season	O
of	O
American	O
Idol	O
to	O
use	O
songs	O
that	O
have	O
appeared	O
in	O
these	O
games	O
for	O
their	O
auditions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
terms	O
of	O
sales	O
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
trailed	O
the	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
selling	O
only	O
4	O
million	O
units	O
in	O
2007	O
compared	O
to	O
Guitar	O
Heros	O
11.8	O
million	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2008	O
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
was	O
the	O
third	O
highest	O
brand	O
,	O
trailing	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
and	O
the	O
Mario	B-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
with	O
$662M	O
in	O
total	O
sales	O
for	O
the	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Regardless	O
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
did	O
not	O
generate	O
profits	O
for	O
Viacom	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
cost	O
of	O
developing	O
and	O
selling	O
the	O
instrument	O
peripherals	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
result	O
,	O
Viacom	O
,	O
MTV	O
Games	O
,	O
and	O
Harmonix	O
shifted	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
series	I-Application
into	O
one	O
that	O
focused	O
on	O
selling	O
songs	O
through	O
additional	O
software	O
discs	O
and	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
,	O
letting	O
others	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Activision	O
,	O
handle	O
the	O
creation	O
of	O
the	O
game	B-Device
controllers	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sales	O
of	O
downloadable	O
songs	O
have	O
been	O
in	O
favor	O
of	O
hard	O
rock	B-Application
bands	I-Application
;	O
Mötley	O
Crües	O
single	O
"	O
Saints	O
of	O
Los	O
Angeles	O
"	O
,	O
debuting	O
as	O
a	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
track	O
at	O
the	O
same	O
time	O
as	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
album	O
of	O
the	O
same	O
name	O
,	O
saw	O
48,000	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
downloads	O
and	O
14,000	O
iTunes	B-Operating_System
downloads	O
during	O
its	O
first	O
week	O
of	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rushs	O
alternate	O
version	O
of	O
"	O
Working	O
Man	O
"	O
released	O
only	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
was	O
met	O
with	O
so	O
much	O
praise	O
from	O
players	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
that	O
the	O
group	O
released	O
the	O
song	O
for	O
download	O
through	O
iTunes	B-Operating_System
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
considered	O
making	O
full	O
albums	O
available	O
,	O
which	O
they	O
in	O
turn	O
did	O
when	O
they	O
released	O
their	O
album	O
Moving	O
Pictures	O
in	O
full	O
on	O
the	O
platform	O
soon	O
after	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Guns	O
N	O
 '	O
Roses	O
had	O
delayed	O
their	O
long-awaited	O
album	O
Chinese	O
Democracy	O
so	O
often	O
,	O
many	O
doubted	O
it	O
would	O
ever	O
be	O
released	O
;	O
however	O
,	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
debut	O
of	O
the	O
song	O
"	O
Shackler	O
's	O
Revenge	O
"	O
was	O
thought	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
precursor	O
to	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Chinese	O
Democracy	O
;	O
the	O
album	O
was	O
indeed	O
released	O
in	O
November	O
2008	O
and	O
was	O
later	O
made	O
available	O
as	O
a	O
downloadable	O
album	O
for	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
games.Rock	O
Band	O
's	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
has	O
been	O
given	O
away	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
promotions	O
tied	O
in	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
summer	O
of	O
2009	O
,	O
customers	O
of	O
specially	O
marked	O
Pepsi	O
products	O
had	O
a	O
chance	O
to	O
win	B-Application
a	O
token	O
to	O
select	O
one	O
downloadable	O
track	O
out	O
of	O
about	O
300	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
in	O
addition	O
to	O
other	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
related-prizes.Rock	O
Band	O
and	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
have	O
been	O
stated	O
to	O
provide	O
significant	O
benefits	O
for	O
music	O
labels	O
and	O
artists	O
through	O
exposure	O
of	O
their	O
songs	O
to	O
new	O
,	O
younger	O
audiences	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Released	O
Year	O
Title	O
Platform360PS3PS2WiiPSPNDSiOSMobilePS4XBOWin	O
Main	O
Games	O
2007	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2008	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
2010	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
2015	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
Band-Centric	O
Games	O
2009	O
The	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
2010	O
Green	B-Application
Day	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
Spin-offs	O
2009	O
Lego	B-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
2012	O
Rock	B-Device
Band	I-Device
Blitz	I-Device
2017	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
VR	O
Portable	O
Games	O
2009	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Unplugged	I-Application
2009	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Mobile	I-Application
2009	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
(	O
iOS	B-Operating_System
)	O
2010	O
Rock	B-Operating_System
Band	I-Operating_System
Reloaded	I-Operating_System
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Track	I-Application
Packs	I-Application
2008	O
Vol	O
.	O
</s>
