Update: ESRB Does Allow Differently Rated Downloadable Content, If Content Is Optional

Posted by Patrick Klepek on 4/18/08 at 3:12 pm.  On MTV Mulitplayer Blogs.

The Entertainment Software Ratings Board thinks downloadable content is good, but not if the content steps outside of the original product’s rating, we reported Wednesday.

That’s not exactly the case.

The ESRB contacted MTV Multiplayer this morning to provide some clarification on ESRB president Patricia Vance’s comments from the MI6 Conference.

Downloadable content can stray from the original rating, as long as the content is an optional downoad for the user.

“Companies are free to offer downloadable content to their games as long as the pertinent content is the same as the core product. If it isn’t, they have to submit it to the ESRB,” said Vance in an e-mailed statement to Multiplayer. “If the downloadable content earns a more restrictive (higher) age rating, and it is of an optional nature, it must display the new rating prior to the user downloading it. The core product’s rating won’t change, unless the new downloadable content is part of a required patch, as is typically the case with MMOs that must be patched in order to play.”

Some readers had expressed distress over the ESRB’s original statements and the implications for creative restriction, but Vance’s new comments seem to put those concerns to rest. Readers, are you satisfied?

ROCK BAND JOINS CRÜE FEST; TOUR LAUNCHES JULY 1st

(New York, April 15, 2008) – Two of rock & roll’s biggest powerhouses—mega-platinum recording artists Mötley Crüe and revolutionary music video game Rock Band —are joining forces to make history. Harmonix and MTV Games announced today that Mötley Crüe will be the first band to release their brand-new single, "Saints Of Los Angeles," as a downloadable, playable track through Rock Band. The track, released on Mötley Records, will be available for download for $0.99 beginning on April 15th via Xbox LIVE® Marketplace (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) and on April 17th via the PLAYSTATION®Store.

In addition, Rock Band will be joining Mötley Crüe on tour for this year’s much-buzzed-about CRÜE FEST, a 40-city summer blockbuster that will see the Crüe headlining an all-star bill featuring Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Sixx: A.M. and Trapt. At each stop on tour, the fold-out Rock Band Second Stage Experience will give fans the on-site opportunity to become their very own rock star - by trying out the Rock Band game as a bassist, guitarist, drummer, or vocalist! In every tour market, Crüe Fest fans will get the chance to battle it out in their very own Rock Band for the chance to take the Crüe Fest concert stage between acts and become the local Rock Band champion!

Rock Band by MTV Games and Harmonix is an all-new platform for music fans and gamers to interact with and experience music. Currently available for Xbox® 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Rock Band challenges players to put together a band and tour for fame and fortune, mastering lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals. With more master recordings than any other music game, Rock Band features some of the world's biggest rock artists and spans every genre of rock ranging from alternative and classic rock to heavy metal and punk. For more information on Rock Band, please visit www.rockband.com.

DLC for week of 5/13   

This weeks DLC will be 3 songs sold seperatley and will not be available as a pack.  The tracks are as follows:

        Hanging on the Telephone by Blondie

        Train in Vain by The Clash

        Kool Thing by Sonic Youth

All tracks are masters and will have to be downloaded individually for 160 Microsoft Points a piece.

DLC for week of 5/6

This week's DLC is a 3 Pack entitled the Scene Pack . Each song is available at $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) or $5.49 (440 Microsoft Points) for the whole Scene Pack.

The three tracks are as follows:

        “This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race” by Fallout Boy (master)

        “Date With The Night” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs (master)

        “It Hurts” by Angels & Airwaves (master)

This week's DLC will be 2 songs from The Mother Hips and 1 song from Smashing Pumpkins.  The tracks are as follows:

         The Mother Hips - "Red Tandy"

         The Mother Hips - "Time Sick Son of a Grizzly Bear"

         Smashing Pumpkins - "Zero"

All tracks are masters and will have to be downloaded individually for 160 Microsoft Points a piece.