GameSpot reports that the NPD Group has released the overall sales data for both Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero: World Tour for 2008 and World Tour has come out on top. Breaking it down, across all SKUs and every platform, Guitar Hero: World Tour managed to sell 3.4 million copies in North America, while Rock Band 2 sold 1.7 million copies. It's important to remember that Rock Band 2 had a staggered release schedule, hitting each platform at different times, while Guitar Hero: World Tour landed on each platform simultaneously.

Furthermore, the numbers don't take into acount the sales of the original Rock Band, which can be had at a lower price than the sequel (an important consideration in today's economy).

[Via Joystiq]

Earlier in the week, Forbes writer Peter C. Beller became the industry's latest whipping boy after taking ironic (and comical) shots at Harmonix for knocking off Activision's Guitar Hero to develop Rock Band. Calling Rock Band "a shameless knockoff of Guitar Hero," many chalked the remarks up to a journalist swallowing public relations fluff, often served to the gaming unaware in hopes to strike a cord with the readership of an unrelated industry publication.

Surprisingly, Beller has come to the defense of his statements saying, "If you define knockoff as "a copy or imitation of someone or something popular" the way Merriam-Webster does, then I think Rock Band fits the bill nicely." Beller continued, explaining he is aware Harmonix was the development team behind both titles but made the statement to outline that Activision has strong competition regardless of how profitable its franchises are. Unfortunately, in the statement made to GameDaily, Beller failed to explain why his editorial was so slanted. In fact his statement failed to explain anything, really.

Harmonix just released a list of next week's Rock Band downloadable content and be warned, it's a musical mix that's full of variety. Listed below are all eight Rock Band tracks that'll be releasing to the XBLM on Tuesday, January 20th for 160 Microsoft points apiece. Take note of the Steve Miller Band's "Joker". It's a good tune.

• "Space Cowboy" by Steve Miller Band
• "Take the Money and Run" by Steve Miller Band
• "The Joker" by Steve Miller Band
• "I Stand Alone" by Godsmack
• "Feed the Tree" by Belly
• "Wind Me Up" by Ghost Hounds
• "Typical" by Mute Math
• "War Zone" by Rob Zombie

"Authenticity of the musical experience was one of the key design goals in Rock Band" Harmonix co-founder Alex Rigopulos told The New York Times. "I do think that during the coming years we will continue to try to bridge the gap between simulated musicianship and real musicianship" he added, admitting that the level of "complexity/difficulty explodes rapidly" with a more authentic experience. Something team Harmonix will have to manage and balance to keep their games accessible while being as authentic as possible.

[Via CVG]

Today being Rock Band downloadable content Tuesday, Harmonix just added six new tracks to the Rock Band Music Store library, most of them from one Lenny Kravitz. Check after the fold for a complete breakdown of all the new Kravitz tracks as well as two 80 MS point value-priced songs from Megasus and Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives. Keep on rockin'.

• "Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz
• "Freedom Train" by Lenny Kravitz
• "Let Love Rule" by Lenny Kravitz
• "Mr. Cab Driver" by Lenny Kravitz
• "Megasus" by Megasus
• "Entangled" by Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives

Yesterday, during a keynote speech at Billboard's "Digital Music Live," conference, Harmonix co-founder and CEO Alex Rigopolous (center-right) revealed the developer will not release a sequel to Rock Band 2 in 2009.

"We've actually made a choice to break out of the annual release cycle for Rock Band this year," Rigopolous announced at the conference. The Harmonix CEO cited a partial reason for decision was because, "annual cycles place limits on the choices [a developer] can make" and Harmonix would like to think long-term with its music platform.

According to Crispy Gamer, when asked about EA's reaction to the promise of not releasing Rock Band 3 this year, Rigopolous confirmed they were understanding of the decision. "They know how important this series is and they're willing to give it the time it needs," he said.

Currently, Harmonix is hard at work developing a new title based on The Beatles catalog of music and indicated with that license sewn-up, the developer would like to work on bringing Led Zeppelin into the genre, in the future.

[Thanks, Patrick Y.]

Supposedly, during a Radio One interview, a UK Traveller's Tales employee confirmed that they're working on a new LEGO game and that it's releasing in 2009, but exact specifics were withheld. That game being LEGO Rock Band, or so says videogaming247 and their sources who claim their information is "100 percent correct." LEGOs and Rock Band? It's an odd mix, but it could be tasty. Kinda like potato chip and peanut butter sandwiches.

[Via Joystiq]

In this instance, the rumors were true. Harmonix just confirmed that Roy Orbison and six of his musical melodies will be added to the Rock Band Music Store next Tuesday, January 6th. As is the norm, each song will be purchasable for 160 Microsoft points or a six song track pack for a cool 800 points. List-o-songs from "The Big O" are below ... don'tcha know.

• "Claudette"
• "In Dreams"
• "Mean Woman Blues"
• "Oh, Pretty Woman"
• "Ooby Dooby"
• "You Got It"
  

[Thanks, Firecatman]

Set for release to the XBLM next Tuesday, December 30th will be four 160 Microsoft point songs that are mostly classic rock with a splash of Scottish alt. You know, Deep Purple, Jethro Tull and others. Shift your eyes to the bullet list below to view next week's upcoming Rock Band music.

• "Space Truckin'" by Deep Purple
• "Funk #49" by James Gang
• "Hymn 43" by Jethro Tull
• "Take Back the City" by Snow Patrol
  

[Thanks, Firecatman]

Sounds like hardcore rock rockers will have to learn to embrace their new country DLC Gods, because country tracks are here to stay.

[Via Joystiq]

If you thought the Rock Band holiday tracks were the only musical goodness coming to the Marketplace next week, you were wrong and are denied your weekly allotment of hot cocoa. Harmonix just revealed that on next Tuesday, December 23rd they'll be adding three Foo Fighters tracks to the Rock Band library. Each song is priced at 160 Microsoft points and the three song pack will be available for 440 points. Also, DOA should be an insta-buy.

• "DOA" by Foo Fighters
• "Times Like These" by Foo Fighters
• "This Is A Call" by by Foo Fighters