News.blog: 'Rock Band' to hit Wii

It's only rock 'n roll, but Wii like it. Harmonix, the game developer acquired by MTV Networks to create the Rock Band videogame, announced on Monday that the software will be available for Nintendo's Wii console in the US and Canada from 22 June. Currently, versions of Rock Band have been created for Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3.

Rumours of a Wii edition of Rock Band first started to circulate early last month. The game was originally released in November amid the soaring popularity of Activision's Guitar Hero franchise, which had a Hollywood-worthy $115m (£57m) opening weekend for its most recent game, Guitar Hero III. MTV's Rock Band puts a spin on the concept by letting participants play bass, drums and vocals in addition to guitar.

Despite the inherent similarities to Guitar Hero, Rock Band has been a huge hit, too.

But, just like a rerun of Behind the Music, the guitar-playing videogame craze has been ridden with drama. Harmonix developed the original Guitar Hero, but MTV Networks acquired it in 2006 to create rival Rock Band and distribute it through gaming mega-publisher Electronic Arts. Meanwhile, guitar manufacturer Gibson Guitar has filed a lawsuit against the manufacturers of both Guitar Hero and Rock Band as well as six major retailers -- according to Gibson, it's held a patent on a guitar-playing videogame since 1999.

So far, none of the gaming console manufacturers -- Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo -- have been targeted by Gibson's suit.

The June Rock Band Wii release will encompass the US and Canada markets, and a core bundle (software, drums, microphone and one guitar) will cost $169.99. Standalone instruments will also be sold. It will feature a lineup of 63 songs, including five exclusive to the Wii.