Bloomberg reports that Harmonix and Konami have dropped lawsuits aimed at one another over patents relating to music video games. The original suit by Konami in July 2008 was met with a counter-suit from Harmonix in February 2009.

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In the legal equivalent of a retaliatory glove-slap, Bloomberg is reporting that Harmonix owner Viacom is counter-suing Konami over Rock Revolution.

Konami has long claimed to hold the original rhythm game patents, having pioneered the genre with its Guitar Freaks and DrumMania arcade titles. The publisher sued Harmonix last year, claiming that Rock Band amounted to patent infringement. Read more »

Microsoft has announced that the Xbox 360 editions of Harmonix's Rock Band 2, Neversoft's Guitar Hero World Tour and Zoe Mode's Rock Revolution will feature instrument interoperability, as revealed on Microsoft's Gamerscore Blog.

Citing a similar announcement made yesterday in which Sony revealed that the PS3 editions of the upcoming rhythm titles would see instrument cross-compatibility, Microsoft representative Chris Paladino stated, "For the record, we also do that." Read more »

Sony has brokered an arrangement between the developers of Rock Band 2, Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Revolution to ensure instrument interoperability on the PlayStation 3, Sony Computer Entertainment PR director Michael Shorrock revealed.

"We have been working closely with Neversoft and Activision, Harmonix and Konami to ensure that PlayStation 3 guitars and drum sets will all feature a basic level of gameplay compatibility," Shorrock wrote on the PlayStation.Blog. Read more »

Publisher Konami has issued a truckload of media to accompany today's E3 festivities.

Included in the screenshot explosion are Castlevania Wii and DS, Rock Revolution, Lost in Blue Wii, Silent Hill 5, Time Hollow, New International Track and Field, and more.

Castlevania Judgment (Wii) Read more »

DrumMania and Guitar Freaks publisher Konami today filed suit against Harmonix parent company Viacom over patent violations related to Harmonix's rhythm title Rock Band.

Konami claims that the company's patent for a "musical-rhythm matching game," filed in the United States circa 1999, predates and supersedes Harmonix's 2007 patent filing for a "game controller simulating a musical instrument." Read more »

Brighton-based developer Zoe Mode will open a new studio in London on September 1 of this year, the developer announced today.

Previously branded Kuju Brighton to reflect parent company Kuju Entertainment, Zoe Mode's developed titles include Crush (PSP), the SingStar karaoke series on PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3, and the upcoming multiple-instrument rhythm game Rock Revolution (PS3, 360). Read more »

Following Konami's announcement of Rock Revolution (PS3, X360, Wii, DS), MTV Multiplayer has posted the first picture of the six-pad drum kit used in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions.

Konami says the instrument is "the most realistic drum peripheral on the market." Read more »

Publisher Konami kicked off its 2008 Gamers Day yesterday with the announcement of Rock Revolution (PS3, X360, Wii, NDS), a new multi-instrument rhythm title slated to arrive this October.

The PS3 and X360 versions are being handled by Zoe Mode, with HB Studios developing the Wii and DS editions.

Following its press event last night, publisher Konami has unleashed a bonanza of new media, including screenshots of Hellboy: The Science of Evil (PS3, X360, PSP), Lost in Blue (Wii), and New International Track and Field (NDS).

Be sure to check out the full post for all the goods, as there are so many new assets that we couldn't possibly put them all on our front page. Read more »

Long-time Nintendo programmer Colin Reed has left Nintendo for a position at Microsoft, Shacknews has learned.

During his 11 years at Nintendo, Reed served in many key programming roles, including technical lead on NST's Metroid Prime: Hunters (NDS) and main system programmer on Nintendo EAD's Pikmin (GCN).

Reed will be joining the team at Microsoft responsible for the racing-sim series Forza Motorsport, which is headed up by internal studio Turn 10. Prior to his departure, he was working with NST on an undisclosed project. Read more »

The third downloadable set of new vehicles for Turn 10's customization-heavy racer Forza Motorsport 2 (X360) will be available via Xbox Live Maketplace this Wednesday, March 19, publisher and studio owner Microsoft has announced.

Priced at 400 Microsoft Points ($5), the March Car Pack includes 13 new automobiles, including the 2007 Audi S5, 2007 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, and 2008 Porsche 911 GT2 (997). A complete list of the new cars follows: Read more »

A new downloadable race track is available to owners of Turn 10's Forza Motorsport 2 (X360). Selling for 100 Microsoft Points ($1.25) via the online Xbox Live Marketplace, the Road America Track Pack adds the world-famous Road America raceway to the game.

Located in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, Road America is known to host events for the Champ Car World Series, SCCA, Kohler/Brian Redman International Challenge, AMA Superbike, and now, your living room.