The headline says it all, but here are the details:

Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a division of MTV Networks, which is a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along with distribution partner Electronic Arts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced plans to release Rock Band™ Track Pack Volume 1 for the Wii™ home video game console from Nintendo and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The 20-Track Pack features an electrifying mix of classic hits and current favorites, including songs by Boston, Nine Inch Nails, Stone Temple Pilots, and All American Rejects. The Rock Band™ Track Pack Volume 1 will be available on July 15th, 2008 for a MSRP of $29.99. Complete details are as follows:
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Hey Infendo readers and Nintendo lovers, it’s Harmonix here, guest writing for the Infendo editorial gang.

Guess what? We really do hate you. We didn’t think your little system was any good when it came out in November 2006, and we thought it was rubbish when we released Rock Band for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 last year, so we ignored you.

Then we sat on our hands for six months and raked in profit from our overpriced DLC. It was all good fun. Until we noticed that Guitar Hero 3 wiped the floor with us! Especially on the Wii! My my my, we fumbled that one.

So here’s what we’re gonna do. We’re going to release the PS2 version with a bunch of white spray painted drum sets and gimp online play. It’s all Nintendo’s fault, of course. Oh, and then we’re going to say you guys get five exclusive songs that are actually downloadable tracks Xbox and PS3 owners have had for a while.

Cheers, and thanks for your $160! $170! Suckers!

For Harmonix, SD cards are not enough — they wanted a Wii HDD. So, as a result of the no Wii hard drive thing, Rock Band for the Wii was gimped.

In an interview with CVG today, Rob Kay, design director at Harmonix, blamed the lack of storage space as the primary reason why Wii Rock Band owners will not be able to download extra songs via DLC. In this day and age everyone is pretty familiar with how hard drives work, I think, so I’m partially with him on that. Nintendo: either allow direct SD access in game, deliver a cheap proprietary HD (because you just know it will be proprietary if its Nintendo branded), or allow users to connect via USB one of their own.

Playing Devil’s Advocate for a moment however, this still doesn’t explain the six month delay in getting Rock Band to the Wii. It’s the same game. Nothing added. Harmonix, you can deflect and distract all you want, it still doesn’t negate the fact that you lost millions upon millions of dollars by not having a Wii version alongside the Xbox 360 and SP3 ones last year.

UPDATE: A good catch, peshue: “You can access sd in games. I think maybe you can’t download directly to the sd though, that’d explain why they couldn’t do it.” My bad on that one.

[A tardy thanks to Lino, who also sent this tip in]

Soon after today’s press release, Kotaku shot Harmonix an email concerning the fate of left out details, including possible online play. Soon after, Harmonix/EA responded with a very saddening statement to Wii owners…

Regarding downloadable content: During Rock Band for the Wii development Harmonix focused on making the core gameplay experience as solid and enjoyable as possible while tailoring it specifically to the strengths of the platform. The Wii version still contains the robust four-player band experience and all the fun at the core of other versions of Rock Band. However, because the Wii’s online capabilities and potential have yet to be fully realized, we wanted to wait before we explored online functionality for Rock Band to ensure that players get the high-quality of online performance they’ve come to expect.
Harmonix/EA

That’s basically a big fat, NO. No downloadable content for other Wii titles might not be such a big deal, but Rock Band thrives off of fresh tracks and a constant flow of new content. Lack of DLC and basic online play makes the $169.99 price tag pretty hard to swallow. Joystiq’s EA pestering gave us a few more details including…

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PRESS RELEASE — Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a division of MTV Networks, which is a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along with distribution partner Electronic Arts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced plans to release the award-winning music video game Rock Band on the Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo in the U.S. and Canada on June 22, 2008 for the suggested retail price of $169.99.

Rock Band for Wii will be released as a Special Edition bundle including the software, drums, microphone and a wireless guitar. Stand alone instruments will also be available on June 22nd for people who want to build their band one instrument at a time or want to play the drum versus drum game mode. The game will feature 63 songs including five bonus songs for Wii gamers to enjoy.

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While I was sleeping last night, apparently news broke that Rock Band is coming to Wii. It was mentioned by an EA executive during a conference call and later confirmed by IGN. Thanks to everyone who sent in this tip.

Has anyone been holding out for this title? Think they’ll have special all-white drums? (Honey, we need to get a bigger apartment.)