<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
a	O
2008	O
music	B-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
developed	O
by	O
Harmonix	O
,	O
published	O
by	O
MTV	O
Games	O
and	O
distributed	O
by	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
sequel	O
to	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
and	O
is	O
the	O
second	O
title	O
in	O
the	O
series	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
can	O
play	O
the	O
lead	O
guitar	O
,	O
bass	O
guitar	O
,	O
and	O
drums	O
parts	O
to	O
songs	O
with	O
"	O
instrument	O
controllers	O
"	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
sing	O
through	O
a	O
USB	B-Protocol
microphone	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
features	O
improved	O
drum	O
and	O
guitar	O
controllers	O
,	O
while	O
supporting	O
older	O
controllers	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
84	O
songs	O
included	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
disc	O
and	O
20	O
free	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
songs	I-Protocol
,	O
over	O
1400	O
additional	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
songs	I-Protocol
have	O
been	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
,	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
versions	O
,	O
with	O
more	O
added	O
each	O
week	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
of	O
these	O
songs	O
,	O
existing	O
and	O
future	O
,	O
are	O
compatible	O
with	O
all	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
software	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
on	O
September	O
14	O
,	O
2008	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
individual	O
instrument	O
peripherals	O
,	O
and	O
later	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
on	O
October	O
19	O
,	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
software/hardware	O
bundles	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
were	O
made	O
available	O
on	O
October	O
19	O
,	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Versions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
and	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
platforms	O
were	O
released	O
on	O
December	O
18	O
,	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
received	O
highly	O
positive	O
reviews	O
from	O
critics	O
upon	O
release	O
and	O
sold	O
1.7million	O
copies	O
through	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
considered	O
to	O
be	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
greatest	O
games	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
according	O
to	O
critics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
core	O
gameplay	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
mostly	O
unchanged	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
offers	O
single-player	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
gameplay	O
for	O
lead	O
guitar	O
,	O
bass	O
guitar	O
,	O
drums	O
,	O
and	O
vocals	O
,	O
allowing	O
for	O
any	O
combination	O
of	O
parts	O
to	O
play	O
as	O
a	O
band	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
lead	O
and	O
bass	O
guitar	O
,	O
players	O
play	O
their	O
notes	O
by	O
holding	O
down	O
colored	O
fret	O
buttons	O
on	O
the	O
guitar	O
peripheral	O
and	O
pushing	O
the	O
controller	B-Device
's	O
strum	O
bar	O
;	O
for	O
drums	O
,	O
players	O
must	O
strike	O
the	O
matching	O
colored	O
drumhead	O
,	O
or	O
step	O
on	O
the	O
pedal	O
to	O
simulate	O
playing	O
bass	O
drum	O
notes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Overdrive	O
is	O
individually	O
collected	O
by	O
players	O
during	O
select	O
portions	O
of	O
a	O
song	O
by	O
successfully	O
playing	O
all	O
white	O
notes	O
(	O
or	O
yellow	O
notes	O
for	O
vocals	O
)	O
within	O
that	O
section	O
(	O
or	O
by	O
using	O
the	O
guitar	O
controller	B-Device
's	O
whammy	O
bar	O
during	O
white	O
sustained	O
notes	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
peripherals	O
are	O
compatible	O
with	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
for	O
the	O
same	O
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similarly	O
,	O
the	O
newly	O
designed	O
peripherals	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
are	O
backwards	O
compatible	O
with	O
the	O
original	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
guitar	O
is	O
nearly	O
identical	O
to	O
the	O
original	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Stratocaster	O
in	O
terms	O
of	O
gameplay	O
,	O
featuring	O
ten	O
colored	O
fret	O
buttons	O
,	O
a	O
strum	O
bar	O
,	O
a	O
whammy	O
bar	O
,	O
and	O
an	O
effects	O
switch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
bundled	O
drum	O
controller	B-Device
is	O
also	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
one	O
featured	O
in	O
the	O
original	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
's	O
USB	B-Protocol
microphone	B-Application
instrument	O
is	O
identical	O
to	O
the	O
microphone	B-Application
from	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
phoneme	B-Language
detection	O
system	O
used	O
for	O
atonal	O
vocal	O
parts	O
has	O
been	O
completely	O
replaced	O
with	O
a	O
new	O
,	O
more	O
lenient	O
engine	O
,	O
and	O
songs	O
imported	O
from	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
and	O
pre-existing	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
will	O
be	O
converted	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
new	O
phoneme	B-Language
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
Ion	O
Audio	O
is	O
selling	O
a	O
"	O
Premium	O
Drum	O
Kit	O
"	O
that	O
not	O
only	O
works	O
within	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
but	O
can	O
also	O
be	O
expanded	O
into	O
an	O
electronic	O
drum	O
kit	O
through	O
the	O
purchase	O
of	O
a	O
separately	O
sold	O
drum	O
brain	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
peripherals	O
and	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
World	I-Application
Tour	I-Application
peripherals	O
are	O
cross-compatible	O
with	O
other	O
music	B-Application
games	I-Application
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sony	O
originally	O
announced	O
that	O
instrument	O
peripherals	O
would	O
be	O
universally	O
compatible	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
;	O
and	O
on	O
November	O
24	O
,	O
2008	O
,	O
a	O
patch	O
was	O
released	O
to	O
allow	O
the	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
:	I-Application
World	I-Application
Tour	I-Application
drums	O
to	O
be	O
properly	O
recognized	O
by	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
has	O
also	O
stated	O
that	O
instruments	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
will	O
be	O
compatible	O
between	O
the	O
two	O
games	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
Rock	B-Application
Revolution	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
edition	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
compatible	O
with	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
drums	O
and	O
guitar	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
and	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
World	I-Application
Tour	I-Application
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
guitar	O
for	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
drum	O
and	O
guitar	O
peripherals	O
do	O
not	O
work	O
with	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
Guitar	O
Hero	O
games	O
prior	O
to	O
Guitar	O
Hero	O
5	O
,	O
although	O
the	O
microphone	B-Application
does	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
which	O
segregated	O
the	O
single-player	O
Solo	O
Tour	O
mode	O
and	O
the	O
multiplayer	O
Band	O
World	O
Tour	O
mode	O
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
features	O
a	O
single	O
"	O
Tour	O
"	O
mode	O
that	O
makes	O
no	O
distinction	O
of	O
the	O
number	O
of	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
the	O
band	O
chooses	O
to	O
"	O
Start	O
Tour	O
"	O
,	O
they	O
will	O
enter	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
equivalent	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Rock	B-Application
Bands	I-Application
Band	O
World	O
Tour	O
mode	O
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
band	O
to	O
play	O
gigs	O
and	O
tour	O
a	O
virtual	O
representation	O
of	O
the	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
New	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
songs	I-Protocol
will	O
be	O
integrated	O
into	O
this	O
mode	O
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
creation	O
of	O
new	O
challenges	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
final	O
option	O
from	O
the	O
band	O
's	O
"	O
practice	O
space	O
"	O
is	O
"	O
Battle	O
of	O
the	O
Bands	O
"	O
,	O
only	O
available	O
for	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
versions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
songs	O
will	O
not	O
be	O
limited	O
to	O
those	O
on	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
disc	O
and	O
will	O
include	O
ones	O
that	O
use	O
songs	O
off	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
disc	O
and	O
downloaded	O
content	O
;	O
it	O
is	O
expected	O
that	O
challenges	O
centered	O
around	O
downloadable	O
albums	O
will	O
also	O
be	O
made	O
available	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
the	O
original	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
players	O
can	O
designate	O
custom	O
characters	O
as	O
"	O
stand-in	O
musicians	O
"	O
for	O
their	O
band	O
members	O
on	O
a	O
specific	O
instrument	O
,	O
which	O
will	O
appear	O
when	O
the	O
instrument	O
in	O
question	O
has	O
no	O
player	O
instead	O
of	O
a	O
random	O
preset	O
character	O
made	O
by	O
Harmonix	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Also	O
included	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
a	O
"	O
Training	O
"	O
mode	O
,	O
which	O
will	O
help	O
players	O
learn	O
how	O
to	O
play	O
each	O
instrument	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Within	O
this	O
mode	O
is	O
the	O
"	O
Drum	O
Trainer	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
will	O
help	O
players	O
improve	O
on	O
the	O
drums	O
through	O
a	O
"	O
Beat	O
Trainer	O
"	O
(	O
with	O
dozens	O
of	O
drum	O
beats	O
to	O
practice	O
)	O
,	O
"	O
Fill	O
Trainer	O
"	O
(	O
which	O
will	O
teach	O
players	O
how	O
to	O
perform	O
better	O
drum	O
fills	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
"	O
Freestyle	O
Mode	O
"	O
(	O
which	O
will	O
allow	O
player	O
to	O
freeplay	O
the	O
drums	O
,	O
or	O
play	O
over	O
MP3	B-Application
songs	O
on	O
their	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
or	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
console	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
"	O
Extras	O
"	O
menu	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
allows	O
"	O
modifiers	O
"	O
to	O
be	O
activated	O
;	O
some	O
of	O
these	O
include	O
"	O
No	O
Fail	O
Mode	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
will	O
allow	O
playing	O
through	O
songs	O
without	O
anyone	O
being	O
able	O
to	O
fail	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
"	O
Breakneck	O
Speed	O
"	O
mode	O
,	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
Hyperspeed	O
mode	O
in	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Legends	I-Application
of	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
which	O
doubles	O
the	O
track	O
's	O
scrolling	O
speed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
"	O
Score	O
Duel	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Tug	O
of	O
War	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Quickplay	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
Tutorial	O
"	O
modes	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
are	O
also	O
retained	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
the	O
original	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
players	O
can	O
create	O
and	O
customize	O
their	O
own	O
in-game	O
character	O
,	O
complete	O
with	O
adjustable	O
hair	O
,	O
body	O
physique	O
,	O
clothing	O
,	O
tattoos	O
,	O
piercings	O
,	O
onstage	O
movements	O
,	O
and	O
instruments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
same	O
character	O
is	O
usable	O
to	O
play	O
any	O
of	O
the	O
instruments	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
unlike	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
where	O
a	O
character	O
was	O
fixed	O
to	O
one	O
specific	O
instrument	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
 '	O
characters	O
created	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
cannot	O
be	O
transferred	O
to	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
although	O
all	O
of	O
the	O
customization	O
options	O
from	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
are	O
present	O
,	O
allowing	O
characters	O
to	O
be	O
recreated	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
version	O
has	O
character	O
customization	O
as	O
well	O
,	O
though	O
features	O
like	O
custom	O
tattoos	O
,	O
face	O
paint	O
,	O
body	O
paint	O
,	O
make-up	O
,	O
and	O
instrument	O
art	O
are	O
not	O
included	O
an	O
upgrade	O
from	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
which	O
used	O
pre-rendered	O
video	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
version	O
uses	O
aforementioned	O
pre-rendered	O
video	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Before	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
website	O
was	O
redesigned	O
for	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
players	O
were	O
able	O
to	O
interact	O
with	O
their	O
virtual	O
characters	O
and	O
band	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
website	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
sequel	O
to	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
had	O
been	O
reported	O
as	O
in	O
development	O
for	O
release	O
in	O
late	O
2008	O
in	O
a	O
Wired	O
blog	O
by	O
Chris	O
Kohler	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Kohler	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
was	O
working	O
on	O
improving	O
the	O
instrument	O
controllers	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
current	O
controllers	O
would	O
be	O
forward	O
compatible	O
with	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kohler	O
's	O
piece	O
also	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
would	O
likely	O
include	O
similar	O
features	O
as	O
announced	O
for	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
World	I-Application
Tour	I-Application
,	O
also	O
planned	O
for	O
release	O
in	O
late	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Band	O
World	O
Tour	O
mode	O
allows	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
,	O
in	O
addition	O
to	O
on-disc	O
tracks	O
,	O
and	O
there	O
are	O
several	O
new	O
solo	O
play	O
modes	O
that	O
"	O
not	O
only	O
provide	O
new	O
ways	O
for	O
you	O
to	O
experience	O
your	O
music	O
library	O
,	O
but	O
also	O
new	O
ways	O
for	O
you	O
to	O
make	O
the	O
transition	O
from	O
Expert	O
to	O
real	O
instruments	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eric	O
Brosius	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
's	O
Audio	O
Director	O
,	O
described	O
the	O
process	O
of	O
selecting	O
songs	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
as	O
organic	O
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
set	O
list	O
to	O
grow	O
as	O
needed	O
with	O
influence	O
from	O
fans	O
 '	O
reaction	O
to	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
but	O
without	O
any	O
specific	O
vision	O
of	O
the	O
final	O
list	O
,	O
and	O
knowing	O
that	O
tracks	O
that	O
failed	O
to	O
make	O
the	O
main	O
disc	O
content	O
would	O
end	O
up	O
as	O
content	O
for	O
download	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
often	O
licensed	O
several	O
songs	O
from	O
a	O
single	O
group	O
,	O
and	O
then	O
selected	O
one	O
that	O
would	O
be	O
the	O
most	O
satisfying	O
for	O
all	O
players	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
;	O
additional	O
songs	O
not	O
used	O
in	O
the	O
main	O
set	O
list	O
will	O
likely	O
appear	O
as	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
in	O
the	O
future	O
,	O
though	O
the	O
initial	O
twenty	O
songs	O
to	O
be	O
made	O
available	O
immediately	O
after	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2s	I-Application
release	O
featured	O
new	O
bands	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
final	O
setlist	O
features	O
songs	O
with	O
harder	O
drum	O
and	O
vocal	O
parts	O
compared	O
to	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
in	O
consideration	O
that	O
a	O
"	O
second	O
generation	O
"	O
of	O
players	O
now	O
exist	O
who	O
are	O
familiar	O
with	O
the	O
instruments	O
on	O
the	O
first	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
officially	O
announced	O
by	O
EA	O
Games	O
on	O
June	O
30	O
,	O
2008	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
presented	O
at	O
the	O
2008	O
E3	O
conference	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
premiered	O
exclusively	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
on	O
September	O
14	O
,	O
2008	O
,	O
as	O
a	O
result	O
of	O
a	O
marketing	O
agreement	O
with	O
Microsoft	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
other	O
versions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
versions	O
,	O
were	O
released	O
later	O
in	O
the	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
version	O
supports	O
Trophies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
promised	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
"	O
more	O
competitive	O
product	O
"	O
compared	O
with	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
as	O
stated	O
by	O
Wireds	O
Chris	O
Kohler	O
after	O
speaking	O
with	O
Harmonix	O
at	O
the	O
E3	O
conference	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
version	O
supports	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
and	O
the	O
same	O
multiplayer	O
modes	O
as	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
version	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
version	O
does	O
not	O
have	O
these	O
features	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
release	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
originally	O
exclusive	O
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
console	O
for	O
a	O
one-month	O
period	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
"	O
Special	O
Edition	O
"	O
bundle	O
packaging	O
the	O
game	O
software	O
and	O
peripherals	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
October	O
19	O
,	O
2008	O
,	O
when	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
software	O
was	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
special	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
premiere	O
event	O
at	O
the	O
2008	O
E3	O
conference	O
was	O
held	O
on	O
July	O
16	O
,	O
2008	O
,	O
featuring	O
a	O
performance	O
by	O
surprise	O
special	O
guest	O
The	O
Who	O
,	O
in	O
conjunction	O
with	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
"	O
The	O
Best	O
of	O
The	O
Who	O
"	O
pack	O
as	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
"	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Live	O
"	O
concert	O
tour	O
toured	O
North	O
America	O
in	O
October	O
and	O
November	O
2008	O
,	O
and	O
featured	O
bands	O
such	O
as	O
Panic	O
!	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
acts	O
featured	O
during	O
the	O
tour	O
included	O
songs	O
available	O
as	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
for	O
the	O
game	O
prior	O
to	O
the	O
tour	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mark	O
Burnett	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
MTV	O
,	O
sponsored	O
an	O
"	O
Ultimate	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Experience	O
"	O
in	O
Los	O
Angeles	O
,	O
California	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
launch	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
offering	O
the	O
chance	O
for	O
any	O
four-member	O
set	O
of	O
players	O
to	O
participate	O
in	O
the	O
competition	O
;	O
it	O
was	O
speculated	O
that	O
this	O
would	O
be	O
the	O
basis	O
for	O
a	O
new	O
reality	O
television	O
show	O
,	O
although	O
no	O
such	O
show	O
was	O
produced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
early	O
public	O
showing/demo	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
attended	O
by	O
lead	O
designer	O
Dan	O
Teasdale	O
and	O
other	O
Harmonix	O
Music	O
Systems	O
personnel	O
took	O
place	O
on	O
September	O
2	O
,	O
2008	O
,	O
at	O
Ground	O
Kontrol	O
,	O
a	O
video	O
arcade	O
in	O
Portland	O
,	O
Oregon	O
,	O
that	O
puts	O
on	O
weekly	O
"	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Tuesdays	O
"	O
events	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
84	O
tracks	O
included	O
with	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
game	O
disc	O
utilize	O
the	O
songs	O
 '	O
master	O
recordings	O
;	O
75	O
of	O
these	O
are	O
featured	O
tracks	O
in	O
the	O
main	O
setlist	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
other	O
9	O
tracks	O
are	O
"	O
bonus	O
songs	O
"	O
by	O
independent	O
or	O
lesser-known	O
bands	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
bands	O
made	O
up	O
of	O
Harmonix	O
employees	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Featured	O
songs	O
include	O
"	O
Ace	O
of	O
Spades	O
"	O
by	O
Motörhead	O
,	O
"	O
Any	O
Way	O
You	O
Want	O
It	O
"	O
by	O
Journey	O
,	O
"	O
Everlong	O
"	O
by	O
Foo	O
Fighters	O
,	O
"	O
Let	O
There	O
Be	O
Rock	O
"	O
by	O
AC/DC	O
,	O
"	O
My	O
Own	O
Worst	O
Enemy	O
"	O
by	O
Lit	O
,	O
"	O
Pinball	B-Application
Wizard	I-Application
"	O
by	O
The	O
Who	O
,	O
"	O
Psycho	O
Killer	O
"	O
by	O
Talking	O
Heads	O
,	O
"	O
Spoonman	O
"	O
by	O
Soundgarden	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
White	O
Wedding	O
"	O
by	O
Billy	O
Idol	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
full	O
album	O
was	O
later	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
series	B-Application
as	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
55	O
of	O
the	O
58	O
songs	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
game	O
disc	O
can	O
be	O
exported	O
to	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
console	O
hard	O
drive	O
and	O
used	O
within	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
disc	O
export	O
feature	O
was	O
made	O
available	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
via	O
a	O
title	O
update	O
on	O
September	O
4	O
,	O
2008	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
cost	O
of	O
400	O
MS	O
Points	O
(	O
US	O
$4.99	O
)	O
required	O
to	O
purchase	O
a	O
transfer	O
license	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
feature	O
is	O
also	O
available	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
owners	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
there	O
are	O
presently	O
no	O
plans	O
for	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
owners	O
to	O
do	O
the	O
same	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Three	O
songs	O
from	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
are	O
not	O
transferable	O
:	O
"	O
Enter	O
Sandman	O
"	O
by	O
Metallica	O
,	O
"	O
Run	O
to	O
the	O
Hills	O
"	O
as	O
made	O
famous	O
by	O
Iron	B-Application
Maiden	I-Application
,	O
and	O
"	O
Paranoid	O
"	O
as	O
made	O
famous	O
by	O
Black	O
Sabbath	O
are	O
unavailable	O
for	O
transfer	O
in	O
all	O
versions	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
and	O
"	O
Monsoon	O
"	O
by	O
Tokio	O
Hotel	O
is	O
non-transferable	O
in	O
the	O
European	O
release	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
song	O
had	O
to	O
be	O
relicensed	O
for	O
use	O
within	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
majority	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
songs	O
on-disc	O
can	O
be	O
exported	O
for	O
use	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
for	O
a	O
nominal	O
fee	O
using	O
a	O
code	O
on	O
the	O
back	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
manual	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nine	O
of	O
the	O
songs	O
by	O
bands	O
fronted	O
by	O
Harmonix	O
employees	O
were	O
not	O
exportable	O
;	O
however	O
,	O
the	O
songs	O
were	O
released	O
as	O
free	O
DLC	B-Protocol
on	O
January	O
4	O
,	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Five	O
other	O
songs	O
"	O
Let	O
There	O
Be	O
Rock	O
"	O
by	O
AC/DC	O
,	O
"	O
Any	O
Way	O
You	O
Want	O
It	O
"	O
by	O
Journey	O
,	O
"	O
Battery	O
"	O
by	O
Metallica	O
,	O
"	O
Give	O
It	O
Away	O
"	O
by	O
Red	O
Hot	O
Chili	O
Peppers	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
Spoonman	O
"	O
by	O
Soundgardenare	O
not	O
exportable	O
(	O
however	O
,	O
"	O
Spoonman	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Give	O
it	O
Away	O
"	O
are	O
included	O
in	O
the	O
soundtrack	O
for	O
Rock	B-Device
Band	I-Device
Blitz	I-Device
,	O
which	O
also	O
allows	O
the	O
music	O
to	O
be	O
used	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
;	O
both	O
songs	O
were	O
eventually	O
released	O
as	O
individual	O
downloads	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
the	O
remainder	O
of	O
Blitz'''s	O
setlist	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
,	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
versions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
players	O
can	O
download	O
additional	O
songs	O
on	O
a	O
track-by-track	O
basis	O
,	O
with	O
many	O
of	O
the	O
tracks	O
digitally	O
bundled	O
together	O
in	O
"	O
song	O
packs	O
"	O
or	O
complete	O
albums	O
at	O
a	O
discounted	O
rate	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
existing	O
and	O
forthcoming	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
songs	I-Protocol
are	O
cross-compatible	O
between	O
both	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
supports	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
,	O
and	O
all	O
existing	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
will	O
be	O
made	O
available	O
to	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
users	O
over	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
stated	O
that	O
30	O
existing	O
songs	O
would	O
be	O
available	O
at	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
launch	O
,	O
but	O
on	O
December	O
24	O
,	O
2008	O
,	O
issued	O
a	O
statement	O
that	O
the	O
launch	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
music	O
store	O
will	O
be	O
delayed	O
until	O
early	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
DLC	B-Protocol
finally	O
became	O
available	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
on	O
January	O
13	O
,	O
2009	O
,	O
with	O
50	O
tracks	O
available	O
at	O
launch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Songs	O
can	O
be	O
stored	O
to	O
both	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
's	O
internal	O
memory	O
and	O
to	O
an	O
SD	O
card	O
,	O
and	O
songs	O
on	O
the	O
SD	O
card	O
will	O
be	O
streamed	O
off	O
the	O
card	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
promote	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
20	O
free	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
songs	I-Protocol
were	O
released	O
soon	O
after	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
launch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
of	O
November	O
24	O
,	O
2009	O
,	O
there	O
are	O
now	O
over	O
1,000	O
songs	O
available	O
on	O
disc	O
and	O
for	O
download	O
in	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Music	O
Store	O
for	O
all	O
consoles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
is	O
also	O
releasing	O
a	O
series	B-Application
of	O
"	O
Track	O
Pack	O
"	O
standalone	O
games	O
that	O
are	O
sold	O
in	O
retail	O
stores	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
volume	O
contains	O
several	O
tracks	O
available	O
as	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Seven	B-Application
track	I-Application
packs	I-Application
have	O
been	O
released	O
so	O
far	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
"	O
Track	O
Packs	O
"	O
except	O
the	O
first	O
(	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
limitations	O
of	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
and	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
)	O
allow	O
their	O
track	O
listings	O
to	O
be	O
exported	O
to	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
console	O
hard	O
drive	O
for	O
use	O
in	O
any	O
main	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Support	O
for	O
new	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
ended	O
with	O
the	O
launch	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
on	O
October	O
26	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
due	O
to	O
changes	O
in	O
the	O
songs	O
 '	O
file	O
format	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
Music	O
Systems	O
with	O
the	O
help	O
of	O
Microsoft	O
to	O
allow	O
musical	O
artists	O
and	O
record	O
labels	O
to	O
make	O
their	O
music	O
available	O
as	O
playable	O
tracks	O
for	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
series	B-Application
of	O
rhythm	O
video	O
games	O
,	O
starting	O
with	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
designed	O
to	O
allow	O
more	O
music	O
to	O
be	O
incorporated	O
into	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
than	O
Harmonix	O
themselves	O
could	O
produce	O
for	O
the	O
games	O
,	O
and	O
it	O
is	O
seen	O
as	O
a	O
way	O
to	O
further	O
expand	O
the	O
games	O
 '	O
music	O
catalog	O
into	O
a	O
wide	O
variety	O
of	O
genres	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
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
received	O
a	O
title	O
update	O
in	O
late	O
2009	O
to	O
add	O
support	O
for	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Network	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Network	O
store	O
was	O
launched	O
on	O
March	O
4	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
for	O
users	O
in	O
US	O
,	O
Canada	O
,	O
UK	O
,	O
France	O
,	O
Italy	O
,	O
Germany	O
,	O
Spain	O
,	O
Sweden	O
,	O
and	O
Singapore	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
users	O
are	O
able	O
to	O
download	O
free	O
demos	O
of	O
songs	O
,	O
lasting	O
for	O
either	O
60	O
seconds	O
or	O
1/3	O
of	O
the	O
song	O
's	O
length	O
,	O
whichever	O
is	O
shorter	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Songs	O
are	O
exclusive	O
to	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
Live	O
for	O
30	O
days	O
,	O
after	O
which	O
they	O
can	O
be	O
ported	O
to	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
or	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
RBN	O
store	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
was	O
launched	O
on	O
April	O
22	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
with	O
5	O
songs	O
added	O
weekly	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Support	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
began	O
on	O
September	O
21	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
with	O
6	O
to	O
10	O
songs	O
added	O
each	O
week	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
RBN	O
songs	O
were	O
directly	O
released	O
to	O
the	O
in-game	O
music	O
store	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
since	O
the	O
console	O
does	O
not	O
support	O
title	O
patches	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Support	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
platform	O
ended	O
on	O
January	O
18	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
due	O
to	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
small	O
online	O
install	O
base	O
,	O
limited	O
demand	O
for	O
the	O
songs	O
and	O
the	O
significant	O
amount	O
of	O
work	O
needed	O
to	O
port	O
songs	O
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Network	O
support	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
ended	O
when	O
RBN	O
2.0	O
went	O
live	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
prior	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
RBN	O
was	O
shut	O
down	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Support	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
ended	O
on	O
February	O
15	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
with	O
ports	O
to	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
platform	O
ending	O
on	O
June	O
14	O
,	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
RBN	O
1.0	O
songs	O
can	O
still	O
be	O
played	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
1UP.com	O
likened	O
it	O
to	O
a	O
"	O
system	O
update	O
"	O
rather	O
than	O
an	O
entirely	O
new	O
game	O
,	O
describing	O
it	O
as	O
"	O
a	O
collection	O
of	O
interface	O
tweaks	O
and	O
non-earth-shattering	O
new	O
features	O
designed	O
to	O
make	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
experience	O
more	O
enjoyable	O
and	O
less	O
frustrating	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
the	O
third	O
best-selling	O
game	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
during	O
September	O
2008	O
,	O
selling	O
363,000	O
copies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
and	O
also	O
has	O
an	O
average	O
critic	O
review	O
score	O
of	O
92%	O
on	O
Metacritic	O
,	O
tying	O
it	O
for	O
the	O
11th	O
highest-rated	O
game	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
the	O
7th	O
highest-rated	O
game	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
version	O
continued	O
to	O
sell	O
more	O
than	O
119,000	O
copies	O
in	O
October	O
2008	O
,	O
while	O
a	O
similar	O
number	O
of	O
units	O
were	O
sold	O
of	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
version	O
following	O
its	O
October	O
debut	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
sold	O
1.7	O
million	O
units	O
across	O
all	O
platforms	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
in	O
2008	O
,	O
about	O
half	O
as	O
many	O
as	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
World	I-Application
Tour	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
praised	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
version	O
for	O
including	O
features	O
like	O
online	O
play	O
and	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
that	O
were	O
missing	O
from	O
the	O
platform	O
's	O
edition	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
saying	O
"	O
the	O
sequel	O
more	O
than	O
makes	O
up	O
for	O
the	O
original	O
's	O
problems	O
.	O
</s>
