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Rock Band 2

PS3 version arrives in North America this Sunday; PS2 and Wii follow in December.

CAMBRIDGE, MA – October 16, 2008 – Harmonix, the world’s premier music video game development company, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along with distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced that Rock Band® 2 for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system will be available on October 19, 2008. In addition, Rock Band 2 for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the Wii™ home videogame console from Nintendo will ship in December 2008.

In addition, the Rock Band 2 Special Edition Bundle for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft will also be available on retail shelves October 19, 2008.

Rock Band 2 Shipping and Pricing Information:

October 19, 2008

Rock Band 2 Special Edition Bundle (Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 system) $189.99 MSRP Rock Band 2 Standalone Software (PLAYSTATION 3 system) $59.99 MSRP Rock Band 2 Standalone Drums (PLAYSTATION 3 and PlayStation 2 systems) $89.99 MSRP Rock Band 2 Standalone Guitar (PLAYSTATION 3 and PlayStation 2 systems) $69.99 MSRP

December 2008

Rock Band 2 Standalone Software (PlayStation 2 system) $49.99 MSRP Rock Band 2 Standalone Software (Wii) $49.99 MSRP Rock Band 2 Standalone Drums (Wii) $89.99 MSRP Rock Band 2 Standalone Guitar (Wii) $69.99 MSRP Rock Band 2 Special Edition Bundle (Wii) $189.99 MSRP

Rock Band 2 for Wii, developed by Pi Studios under the direction of Harmonix, will be fully featured with online modes including World Tour and Battle of the Bands, an innovative character creator, weekly downloadable content and more! With more than 100 songs [1] on the Rock Band 2 Wii soundtrack and an additional 30 downloadable tracks [2] available for purchase at launch, Rock Band 2 Wii owners will have access to the most impressive music catalogue for a music-based videogame on the console. In addition, fans can expect a roll-out of the current downloadable content offering every week until the entire back catalogue is available.

In addition, Rock Band 2 owners (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Wii) will have the ability to export their in-game band avatars to RockBand.com to use as profile images as well as order custom Rock Band merchandise including apparel and figurines.

Rock Band 2 for Xbox 360 was released on September 14, 2008, and has received numerous editor’s choice awards and a combined metacritic score of 93. Rock Band 2 has revolutionized music gaming with the ability to export most of the songs from the original Rock Band disc [3], Online World Tour, daily Battle-Of-The-Bands Tournaments, Auto-Calibration to eliminate TV lag, wireless drums, quieter, velocity sensitive drum heads, support for up to three cymbals (sold separately), No Fail Mode, and a real Drum Trainer.

Rock Band 2 features the largest music catalogue of any music-based videogame to date including over 100 songs [4] on the Rock Band 2 soundtrack with an unrivaled blend of classic and new artists including AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Bob Dylan, Pearl Jam, Motörhead and more! With the addition of complete and immediate backwards compatibility for songs purchased from Rock Band’s ever-expanding online music store and the ability to export most songs from the original Rock Band disc, the Rock Band music library will feature more than 500 songs [5] by year’s end.

The Rock Band online music store recently surpassed 21 million paid downloads since the game’s launch in late November 2007. With more than 400 tracks available to date via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at http://www.rockband.com/dlc), the massive Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks, packs and albums from the vast selection of offerings available as they build their own custom Rock Band library.

Rock Band 2 is rated “T” for Teen with descriptors of lyrics and suggestive themes by the ESRB.

For more information on Rock Band 2 and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband2.com and www.harmonixmusic.com.

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About MTV Networks

MTV Networks, a part 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 Pi Studios

Pi Studios is an independent video game developer based in Houston, TX. Best known for its work on Harmonix's award-wining Rock Band® series, the studio was responsible for the Wii and Playstation 2 versions of Rock Band®, Rock Band® Track Packs and the upcoming AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band® Track Pack™. Pi has also contributed to a number of other franchises, including the Halo series and Call of Duty. More information can be found at www.pistudios.com.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EATM, EA SPORTS FreestyleTM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2008, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.67 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. 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.

© 2008 Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Harmonix, Rock Band, Rock Band 2 and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., an MTV Networks company. Rock Band and Rock Band 2 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 All other marks are the property of their respective owners. EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Freestyle and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Microsoft, Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. “PlayStation” and “PLAYSTATION” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Harmonix Media Contact:

Tracie Snitker

Reverb Communications

Tracie@reverbinc.com

(209) 586-1495 x104

MTV Contact:

Jeff Castaneda

MTV

Jeff.Castaneda@mtvstaff.com

(212) 846-6774

EA Contact:

Bryce Baer

Electronic Arts

bbaer@ea.com

(650) 628-5102

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