MTV Announces Wal-Mart Exclusive AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack

Publisher MTV Games and developer Harmonix has announced AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack, a multiplatform Rock Band standalone retail game due November, featuring live songs from the seminal hard rock group, and being published only by U.S. retail giant Wal-Mart in North America. According to an official announcement debuting today, the Harmonix-developed release will debut for the Wii, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, and Xbox 360 in the U.S. in November -- with retail prices at $29.98 for the PS2 version and $39.98 for the other versions. European, Australian, and New Zealand releases will follow in early December. The deal is closely allied with retailer Wal-Mart, according to the New York Times article. The game will debut alongside AC/DC's new album, Black Ice, which will also be Wal-Mart, WalMart.com and Sam's Club-exclusive in North America. (Though MTV's official press release did not mention that the retail game title is also Wal-Mart exclusive in North America, Gamasutra followed up with PR reps who confirmed that it indeed is.) Wal-Mart intends to create a designated area in each store that will display the new album and the new game with the band's CDs, DVDs, T-shirts, and other licensed clothing. MTV and Wal-Mart are also considering setting up temporary shops to sell the album and the game in Manhattan and Los Angeles, where the retailer currently has no stores. All tracks from the the game will also be available for play in Rock Band and Rock Band 2 -- which was released for the Xbox 360 earlier this month -- by entering an export authentication code for the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 versions. Says MTV's SVP of Electronic Games and Music Paul DeGooyer, “We're excited to be part of AC/DC’s and Columbia's global plan for the release of their new album, DVD and now, videogame. Being the first to present these revered songs in interactive form, exclusively on the Rock Band platform is a true honor."