Electronic Arts has announced a whole slew of new information about its upcoming music/rhythm sequel, Rock Band 2, including details about all of its game modes, as well as first confirmation of some of the tracks players can expect to be jamming along to.

Rock Band 2 will include a plethora of features as it tries to outdo its fiercest rival, Guitar Hero. As well as the improved instruments, it will include (deep breath): 80 tracks on the disc, all master recordings; completely customisable characters, with new clothing, tattoos, hairstyles and instruments; mini-campaigns that concentrate on one instrument, genre of music or artist; custom set lists, and the following game modes:

Quickplay
Now easier than ever to get in and jam without hassle.

• New prefab characters
• Your customized characters can now play on any instrument
• Make your own set lists
• Organize song lists by a variety of categories (alphabetical, genre, era, etc.)

World Tour
Solo Tour and Band World Tour join forces to create the ultimate band touring experience!

• World Tour is now online
• No more band leaders! If you need to fire your guitarist but keep the band going, fire away!
• Switch up instruments throughout world tour
• All new collection of opportunity gigs, challenges, cities, venues, and hirable staff

Tour Challenges
Take your band on tour in a whole new way with specific music challenges.

• Focused mini
• campaigns featuring the best songs by instrument, decade, genre or artist

• Automatically generated DLC challenges
• Album specific challenges

Battle of the Bands
Put your band to the ultimate test by competing against other bands, both on your friends list and around the world!

• Dynamic content with regular new contests designed by Harmonix
• Matches up your score against overall competition and friends’ bands
• with REAL TIME feedback

• Get updates on new battles from your Band Profile, as well as notifications when your score has been topped!

Drum Trainer
A true teaching tool that gives players a step-by-step lesson through the basic beat and fill vocabulary any real world drummer would know.

Rock Band 2 will feature music from the 1960s to the present day, and the following are the first to be confirmed:

2000s
Dream Theater “Panic Attack “
System of a Down “Chop Suey”
1990s
Foo Fighters “Everlong”
The Muffs “Kids in America”
Red Hot Chili Peppers “Give it Away”
1980s
Motörhead “Ace of Spades”
1970s
Cheap Trick “Hello There”
Elvis Costello “Pump it Up”
Journey “Anyway You Want It”
1960s
The Who “Pinball Wizard”

How much of all of the above information will make it into the Nintendo Wii build of the game (particularly the online modes, compared to that on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3) is still unknown. Nevertheless, Rock Band 2 will be released in North America for the Nintendo Wii in September 2008.