Rock Band Relesase Date and Price ... Brace Yourself!

[Zaxgod]

EU Rock Band Priced and Dated
Good news for rich 360 owners, not so great if you're poor or have a PS3.
by Alex Simmons, IGN UK

UK, April 8, 2008 - Electronic Arts has at long last settled on an official European release date for Rock Band. However, don't get too excited unless you're an Xbox 360 owner – the May 23 launch on Microsoft's console will doubtless please 360 owners, but those hoping to jam on PlayStation 3, PS2 and Wii will have to wait until later in the summer. Initially it will only be available in the UK, France and Germany too, with other European territories to follow.

Perhaps more disappointing is the price: unlike the US, which received a Special Edition that includes the game, a Fender Strat guitar, the drum kit and a mic, all for $169 – Europe will only get an Instrument Edition priced £129.99 / 169 Euros, including the three peripherals but not the game – which, bought separately, will set you back £49.99 / 69.99 Euros. So, if you want the proper Rock Band experience, the minimum you're going to have to shell out is around £180 / 240 Euros.

Quite why EA has decided to release the Instrument Pack without the game is anyone's guess, although it's likely retailers will bundle the two together, if not at launch then hopefully shortly after. In addition, wireless guitars will be available separately for the princely sum of £59.99 / 79.99 Euros, with standalone drum kits setting you back £69.99 / 89.99 Euros.

There is some good news though. In addition to the 58 songs featured in the US game, Europe will get eight news tracks from English, French and German bands, all bundled on the disc:

- Beetlebum (Blur)
- Rock 'n' Roll Star (Oasis)
- Hysteria (Muse)
- Manu Chao (Les Wamaps)
- New Wave (Playmo)
- Hier Kommt Alex (Die Toten Hosen)
- Perfekte Welle (Juli)
- Countdown to Insanity (H-Block X)

What's more, the 70-plus downloadable tracks already available in US will be waiting for European rockers come May 27, priced 160 MS points each. Plus, US players can get their mitts on the eight European tracks around the same time. Quick recap then: if you want to the ultimate Rock Band experience, with two guitars and every song at your fingertips, be sure to put aside £330 / 430 Euros. On a positive note, going forward, Europe will have access to new downloadable songs at the same time as the US.



Source : http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/864/864831p1.html

I really want this but don't know if I can justify paying so much! I was planning on going halves with my little brother but it'd still break the bank!

[Terbinator]

OMG - im sure EA are becoming the new microsoft. arent there regulations against this? its just a back hand version of monopolising, the fact you dont get the game with it aswell is surely breaking some EU trade policies?

[jigglybean]

Wow not cheap!

[Zaxgod]

It's ridiculous isn't it!? Hopefully the price will drop before christmas :p

[Terbinator]

i dunno, fifa is still £40 aswell as most other ea games

[Renegade]

I have very little doubt that my purchase of this game has just been shifted from 'definite' to 'unlikely'.

[BlueHoopedMoose]

OMG - im sure EA are becoming the new microsoft. arent there regulations against this? its just a back hand version of monopolising, the fact you dont get the game with it aswell is surely breaking some EU trade policies?

Regulations against what? EA charging what THEY want for THEIR product and IP?

I'm pretty sure ala Guitar Hero you can play the game without the accessories so they aren't technically doign anything wrong.

Simplest way to make them drop the price is to just not buy it.

[Roadpog]

Try and tell the average consumer with a 12 year old kid that :p

[Terbinator]

Regulations against what? EA charging what THEY want for THEIR product and IP?

I'm pretty sure ala Guitar Hero you can play the game without the accessories so they aren't technically doign anything wrong.

Simplest way to make them drop the price is to just not buy it.

but they wont be advertising it with a controller in someones hands will they. they'll make sum gay excuse that u wont get the full experience without having the peripherals futher spurring that you need the accessories. opinions aside, surely u think its overpriced?

[BlueHoopedMoose]

but they wont be advertising it with a controller in someones hands will they. they'll make sum gay excuse that u wont get the full experience without having the peripherals futher spurring that you need the accessories. opinions aside, surely u think its overpriced?

Of course it's overpriced (But then so are houses. And cars. And DVD's. And CD's) - but the typical reaction of "OMFG! CALL IN THE REGULATORS!" just drives me bonkers.

People in this country are relying more and more on someone else sorting out their "problems" when a simple solution is to just not buy it. It will soon drop in price. EA are charging this much because they know there are mugs out there that will play it.

/rant

[Bushmouseone]

They will drop in price after a catastrophic first month on the shelves

[jodahunter]

You can't play it with just a controller. Well not the ps3 version at least. :?

[xXMFx Massacre]

piss off i really wanted to get this f**k EA time to boycott--has anyone also heard that GTA IV might be delayed due to EA's take overbid for "TAKE TWO"..

[eliteb]

http://www.play.com/Games/Xbox360/4-/5399427/Rock-Band-Standalone-Drum-Kit/Product.html

You can also buy the game stand alone for 40 pounds, it's still not cheap but people only looking for the drums should defo take a peek.

[Infidel]

piss off i really wanted to get this f**k EA time to boycott--has anyone also heard that GTA IV might be delayed due to EA's take overbid for "TAKE TWO"..

lol, i believe it was Patcher who suggested that IF EA's takeover bid of T2 was successful, which is fairly unlikely until after GTA has come out anyway, then they MIGHT delay GTA to the more profitable Holiday season. Funny how pure speculation from an analyst turns into accepted rumour so quickly.

[DinnyHoon]

I'm sure even EA are not dumb enough to delay GTAIV. People would be killed. However, if EA ever manage to buy T2, then say goodbye to the greatest franchise in modern gaming.

[Renegade]

Dinny - people thought that about Burnout, after EA were announced as new publishers. And look how that turned out - Paradise is the best yet.

[DinnyHoon]

I think there are a lot of flaws with Paradise. I reckon the perfect Burnout would have been Revenge, but with Takedown-style menus. I don't like all that horizontal business. That said, you are right, they haven't killed the Burnout series.

Need for Speed, now that's another story.. :p

[Renegade]

True, Need for Speed hit its sweet point with the release of the Fast and the Furious movies - chavmobiles and ricers. After that, the want for new NFS games waned.

I still think Burnout Paradise is the best yet - it's much, much bigger and longer lasting. Like an adventure game featuring fast cars and enormous crashes. The online is absolutely king too.

[Jack Frost 10]

ive managed to pre order the instruments for £100 and the game £40 off play.com, i dont think its over priced just look at guitar hero and how well thats done

[Renegade]

Guitar Hero has the option of coming with the guitar for full price, or without the guitar for a cheaper price though. I think people are objecting to having to purchase both, which in turn gives the publishers a chance to charge maximum for both.

On the other side - it's extremely smart by the publishers to sell the game on it's own. Imagine the sales - had the game only retailed with instruments it would only have sold to people that know about it and have wanted it for a while. At standard game price of £49.99, they open themselves up to the 'I want a 360 game, dunno what to get' market too.

[Zaxgod]

After seeing the price quoted on the news article i was quite put off getting the game but seeing it for £140 altogether on play.com seems like a much more realistic prospect and puts it back up there with a chance a buying :D

[Renegade]

I do agree - I was expecting around 130 to 150, so £140 puts it back in there. It's still a heck of a lot of money for what is effectively still Guitar Hero Plus.

[Zaxgod]

Yeah it is, the whole drums thing its whats keeping me hooked though cos i used to play the drums. Although guitar hero has made me seriously look into buying a guitar :p