Yesterday, Warner Bros confirmed that, by Holiday 2009, LEGO Rock Band will be hitting every major console, including the DS. This raises all kinds of questions, but it also sounds like great news for families. Our biggest trouble with the Rock Band series has been the mix of appropriateness in songs for young voices, but this new edition, besides being an unexpected-but-possibly-cool new version, looks to target a younger audience while not alienating the older set. (This isn't Rock Band: Wiggles Edition.)

Plenty of questions remain:

• Will the DS version work with the DSi? Guitar Hero On Tour doesn't, but remember that this is Rock Band, not Guitar Hero.
• Will the track list be 100% family friendly?
• Will the game include venues from the LEGO Universe (Mars Mission, Castle, Exo Force)? (We're guessing not.)
• Will the game include venues from other licensed LEGO games like Indiana Jones, Batman, or Star Wars (or Speed Racer, which has been adapted to LEGO but not a video game)? We hope for hints and would love to play Gotham, Mos Eisley, or the Temple of Doom. (No, we're not optimistic at all about Speed Racer, but consider the possibility for the opening Rock Band cutscene!)
• Will the game include songs reminiscent of LEGO building? (Brick House, anyone?)
• Will the import/export options from other Rock Band games work with this set? (We expect it to.)
• Will we be able to take our existing bands and characters and have them convert to LEGO versions without starting from scratch? (Wouldn't that be cool?)

Right now, we have more questions than answers, but check out the images. Here's the official press release:

WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT, TT GAMES, THE LEGO GROUP,
HARMONIX AND MTV GAMES ANNOUNCE LEGO® ROCK BAND®

Rhythm Based Music Game Snaps Together Best-Selling Franchises to Create
Fun Family-Friendly Experience for All Ages

Burbank, Calif. – April 21 2009 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and TT Games are joining forces with the LEGO Group, Harmonix and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), to merge two of the most popular videogame franchises with the creation of LEGO® Rock Band®. The unique family-friendly music experience is currently in development by TT Games in partnership with Harmonix, and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game, which will allow families, tweens and teens to experience a wild journey to rock stardom where they can “Build a Band and Rock the Universe,” will be available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Wii™ home videogame console. LEGO Rock Band for Nintendo DS™ will be co-developed by TT Games and Harmonix in partnership with Backbone Entertainment, a Foundation 9 Entertainment studio. All versions are scheduled for release holiday 2009.

LEGO Rock Band combines the multiplayer music experience of Rock Band® with the fun, customization and humor of the LEGO videogame franchise packed with brilliant chart-topping songs and classic favorites suitable for younger audiences, including:

Blur: “Song 2”
Carl Douglas: “Kung Fu Fighting”
Europe: “The Final Countdown”
Good Charlotte: “Boys and Girls”
Pink: “So What”

Players will become rockers as they embark on a journey to stardom that the whole family can enjoy as they work their way through local venues, stadiums and fantasy locations on Earth and beyond that mimic the imaginative settings that the LEGO world offers. Also continuing the LEGO “build-and-play” gaming experience, players will be able to create their own LEGO Rock Band style as they customize their minifigure avatars, band and entourage, including roadies, managers and crew. LEGO Rock Band supports Rock Band instruments, as well as other music game controllers.

“LEGO Rock Band combines two compelling properties and creates an experience that family members of all ages will enjoy playing together as a group,” said Tom Stone, Managing Director, TT Games. “Harmonix and MTV Games are the world experts in music gameplay, and we’re genuinely thrilled to bring the unique and humor-filled LEGO experience to their Rock Band universe.”

“We’re thrilled to offer another LEGO branded gaming experience that will deliver humorous and social play for families and friends,” said Henrik Taudorf Lorensen, Vice President, the LEGO Group. “LEGO Rock Band is built around the same values of imagination and family-friendly creative role play that is present in other LEGO videogames. It will deliver innovative new elements of game play that complement the fun of the Rock Band experience.”

“Rock Band is a social game experience that crosses every generation and every genre of rock,” said Bob Picunko, Senior Vice President of Electronic Games for MTV Games. “Harmonix and MTV Games are big fans of the LEGO game franchise and excited to work with TT Games to develop a new take on Rock Band that focuses on great music and LEGO humor that’s fun for the whole family.”