MTV Games and Harmonix Expand Rock Band Community with Launch of Localized Websites in Support of Rock Band™3

Localised Websites in United Kingdom, Germany, France and Sweden Provide Local News, Community Forums and E-commerce

New York –September 1, 2010 - MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), and Harmonix Music Systems Inc., the world’s premier music video game developer, today confirmed the launch of four websites catering to the European Rock Band™ fan base, in support of the coming release of Rock Band™3. Rock Band 3 will be released 29 October in Europe and 28 October in Germany  for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft (MSRP €59.99/£49.99), PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system (MSRP €59.99/£49.99), Nintendo Wii™ (MSRP €49.99/£39.99) and Nintendo DS™ (MSRP €29.99/£24.99).

“The Rock Band community is one of the most vibrant in the world, and we’re pleased to give European Rock Band fans a localised place to go for news, forum postings and ecommerce,” said Roy Campbell, VP of MTV Games International. “We’re really looking forward to hearing from the international community, in their own voices.”

For the first time, Rock Band information will be available via localised, country-specific community forums for our fans in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and the Nordic region.  Please visit the following sites for localized information on Rock Band 3:

·        www.RockBand3.co.uk 

·        www.RockBand3.de 

·        www.RockBand3.fr 

·        www.RockBand.se 

In addition to Rock Band franchise information and local community forums, the sites also include localised news features and links to an ecommerce store, operated by Mad Catz, where European community members can find Rock Band software, hardware and accessories. 

The new Rock Band local websites are built and maintained by Bastion and the Onevoice Network.  Bastion is a Founding Partner of the Onevoice Network, a group of agencies working within the heart of the interactive entertainment sector and based in every major country. This project involved Bastion based in London, VPCOM in Paris and Agentur Schafer in Heidelberg. For more information on Bastion, please visit www.bastion.co.uk.

With more than 30 awards and nominations following its impressive E3 2010 debut and recent gamescom 2010 appearance, including “Best Rhythmic Game at gamescom 2010” from Jeuxvideo.com and the GameStar Award for “Best of Family & Fun” , Rock Band 3 will feature an incredible 83-song setlist and access to far more music than any other music game, including bands from around the world, like Phoenix, Rammstein, Tokio Hotel, Ida Maria, Juanes, The Raveonettes, Roxette, HIM, Golden Earring and many others, as well as innovative new game play modes and instruments. In addition to guitar, bass, drums and solo vocals, Rock Band 3 adds three-part vocal harmonies and introduces a keyboard peripheral to the band.

Rock Band 3’s deep Career Mode takes the band on a journey to gain new levels of status while the environment around them changes from streets and subways to tour stops and venues. And for those just looking for fun, Rock Band 3 has a streamlined experience, with easy drop-in and drop-out, easier no-fail accessibility and an all-new Party Shuffle. Up to seven players can rock together for the ultimate social gaming experience.

Rock Band 3 will be compatible with all Rock Band™ and The Beatles™: Rock Band™ peripherals, as well as most Guitar Hero® and other authorized third-party music video game peripherals and microphones. Mad Catz is the official peripheral manufacturer and distributor for Rock Band 3 game controllers.  Rock Band Pro Guitar is compatible with the Rock Band 3 Fender™ Mustang™ PRO-Guitar™ Controller and the Rock Band 3 Squier® by Fender Stratocaster® Guitar Controller.

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About MTV Networks

MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products.  The company’s portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 350 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Noggin, The N, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, Atom, Gametrailers and Xfire.

About MTV Games

MTV Games is dedicated to creating, marketing and publishing high-quality, innovative interactive products that are relevant to the MTV audience and complement the core values of the MTV Networks brands.

About Harmonix Music Systems, Inc

Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., based in Cambridge, MA, and established in 1995, is the leading developer of groundbreaking music-oriented videogames. Harmonix was founded by Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy, who formed the company to invent new ways for non-musicians to experience the unique joy that comes from making music and have pioneered music and rhythm gaming in the US. For more information please visit www.harmonixmusic.com.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA™, EA SPORTS™, EA Mobile™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2010, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.7 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million units. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

© 2010 Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Harmonix, Rock Band, Rock Band 2, Rock Band 3, Rock Band Network and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., a MTV Networks company. Rock Band, Rock Band 2, Rock Band 3 and Rock Band Network developed by Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. MTV: Music Television, MTV Games and all related titles and logos are trademarks of MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc. EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile and POGO are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Microsoft, Xbox. Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. "PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Wii and Nintendo DS are trademarks are trademarks of Nintendo. Guitar Hero is a registered trademark of Activision. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.