Following the revelation of Rock Band's launch date (for the Xbox 360, at least) this morning, Electronic Arts has confirmed the game's price. It ain't coming cheap.
The standalone game will set you back £49.99/€69.99. Once you've got that, you'll need an instrument peripheral or three to play it with. The 'Instrument Edition', which includes a guitar, drums and microphone - but no copy of the game - will cost you £129.99/€169. That brings your total up to £179.98.
The US bundle, which includes the game, a guitar controller, drum set, and microphone comes at a recommended retail price of $169.99 - £86.30 by today's conversion rate.
Alternatively, you can just buy a standalone peripheral to go with the game. The guitar will cost you £59.99/€79.99, while the drums will set you back £69.99/€89.99. That brings your total up to £109.98 or £119.98, depending on which instrument you favour.
Guitar Hero III with a Les Paul guitar controller will set you back £74.99.
OK. So, we know tax isn't included in the US pricing for the game, but unless the credit crunch has hit the States harder than we thought and its sales tax has gone up to 100%, something is amiss.
SPOnG has contacted EA to find out why we're getting charged more than double what US gamers are paying, but no comment was available at the time of press.
Rock Band will be available in May on the 360. You can find out more here.
Source: MCV
The standalone game will set you back £49.99/€69.99. Once you've got that, you'll need an instrument peripheral or three to play it with. The 'Instrument Edition', which includes a guitar, drums and microphone - but no copy of the game - will cost you £129.99/€169. That brings your total up to £179.98.
The US bundle, which includes the game, a guitar controller, drum set, and microphone comes at a recommended retail price of $169.99 - £86.30 by today's conversion rate.
Alternatively, you can just buy a standalone peripheral to go with the game. The guitar will cost you £59.99/€79.99, while the drums will set you back £69.99/€89.99. That brings your total up to £109.98 or £119.98, depending on which instrument you favour.
Guitar Hero III with a Les Paul guitar controller will set you back £74.99.
OK. So, we know tax isn't included in the US pricing for the game, but unless the credit crunch has hit the States harder than we thought and its sales tax has gone up to 100%, something is amiss.
SPOnG has contacted EA to find out why we're getting charged more than double what US gamers are paying, but no comment was available at the time of press.
Rock Band will be available in May on the 360. You can find out more here.
Source: MCV
Read More Like This
Comments
Showing the 20 most recent comments. Read all 22.
PreciousRoi 8 Apr 2008 15:35
3/22
yeah, what with their patch-block I was looking at Activision as the bad guy...but this pricing scheme is downright extortionate. Were I a PS3 owner, I'd defintely import, you can prolly get it new for USD140, Used...90-125...but it might be missing a few bits (the one I got for 90 was missing the communicator adapters, guitar strap, and hub). Your singstar mic might work though, dun really know though...is it a Logitech USB mic?
I gotta think this is all about EA...HMX don't strike me as quite this mercenary...
I gotta think this is all about EA...HMX don't strike me as quite this mercenary...
deleted 8 Apr 2008 15:44
4/22
Agreed Bentley, Lets break EA`s Legs with the Peoples Hammer, No one seriously in there right mind would buy the kit at that price, OK Guitar hero is expensive enough but at least you get an axe and game for retail of around £59.99 if you shop about.
£44.99 - Les Paul guitar - Play.com
£19.99 - Logitech Vantage™ USB Microphone - Direct from Logitech
Meaning a Charge of £65.01 for the drum kit!
not much of a saving on buying seperate, im with Bentley on this F**k EA!
£44.99 - Les Paul guitar - Play.com
£19.99 - Logitech Vantage™ USB Microphone - Direct from Logitech
Meaning a Charge of £65.01 for the drum kit!
not much of a saving on buying seperate, im with Bentley on this F**k EA!
more comments below our sponsor's message
Horatio 8 Apr 2008 16:37
5/22
Yup, this is one of those cases where bad language is totally forgivable. I've just returned from holiday in New York and had sight of the Rock Band experience in Virgin Megastore on Times Square. It looked fantastic and it was very entertaining to see the "no fear" Americans playing it instore. And the price was a mere $180 plus the sales tax of 8.5% so just less than $200 - the exchange rate I got on my credit card for other purchases was something like $1.93 to £1.00 so I could have had the full thing for about £110... if this UK pricing is true then my failure to purchase is really going to hurt :-(
Joji 8 Apr 2008 17:07
6/22
This is my main gripe with these kinds of games on home consoles, they feel they are a license to print money.
From the moment I heard these games were hitting home consoles, and knowing the nature of music, its all about the DLC.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the occassional DLC for a certain game, but Rock Band and Guitar Hero take it to a new level of greed and exploitation. They'll suck at this well, like leeches, forever.
I totally agree, and while the 360 version might be what I 'd consider, this pack is far too high in price. You can count me out, and if I was in, I'd certainly be importing the pack instead.
On top of all that, is the ridiculous delay to get these simple ass games into U.K/EU stores. These are not sprawling FF epics, with different languages translations needed, just freaking music, and a screen display that even a Wii can pull off. What's up with that?
And if we don't see this for ages, I'm sorry but my money is gonna be going towards proper games.
From the moment I heard these games were hitting home consoles, and knowing the nature of music, its all about the DLC.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the occassional DLC for a certain game, but Rock Band and Guitar Hero take it to a new level of greed and exploitation. They'll suck at this well, like leeches, forever.
I totally agree, and while the 360 version might be what I 'd consider, this pack is far too high in price. You can count me out, and if I was in, I'd certainly be importing the pack instead.
On top of all that, is the ridiculous delay to get these simple ass games into U.K/EU stores. These are not sprawling FF epics, with different languages translations needed, just freaking music, and a screen display that even a Wii can pull off. What's up with that?
And if we don't see this for ages, I'm sorry but my money is gonna be going towards proper games.
johnathon 8 Apr 2008 17:08
7/22
Rock band is going to be an insane game regardless of the price tag. I was fortunate enough to win the rock band tournment at play.com live in london earlier this month so i will be getting my £180 set in the post as a prize for free. But still I feel it is worth every single penny as it is a completely new groundbreaking game! nd will be amazing when it is released to the public!
viva la rock band!
viva la rock band!
PreciousRoi 8 Apr 2008 17:20
8/22
See, I'm quite happy with the DLC pricing structure...$1-$2 a song is quite reasonabvle, considering what you'd pay to hear the song once on an online-capable jukebox...and they have added value to them, beyond the charts, I believe they also have to do some choreography and lighting as well...so I don't see the DLC pricing as being all that out of line.
As well, I'd guess that the reason for the delays, the 360's earlier launch, and possibly the pricing is an inability to produce the required number of peripherals. Perhaps by placing them at a premium EA thinks they'll avoid having a supply problem?
As well, I'd guess that the reason for the delays, the 360's earlier launch, and possibly the pricing is an inability to produce the required number of peripherals. Perhaps by placing them at a premium EA thinks they'll avoid having a supply problem?
Bob Fossil 8 Apr 2008 17:44
9/22
johnathon wrote:
Rock band is going to be an insane game regardless of the price tag. I was fortunate enough to win the rock band tournment at play.com live in london earlier this month so i will be getting my £180 set in the post as a prize for free. But still I feel it is worth every single penny as it is a completely new groundbreaking game! nd will be amazing when it is released to the public!
viva la rock band!
viva la rock band!
LOL! Lucky young Jonathan is luckily getting the game as a free competition prize, but still feels it is worth EVERY SINGLE OF YOUR 18000 PENNIES EA PLANS TO EXTRACT FROM YOU FOR IT.
Thanks for that input there Jonathan...
Alan 8 Apr 2008 17:50
10/22
That is f**king disgusting prices I was expecting in the region of £120 for everything considering the US price. This has been one of my most looked forward to games ever and will defintly not buy it at that price. EA are getting too greedy me thinks, They'll have to drop that price I can't see anyone buying it.
Babyelo 8 Apr 2008 22:41
11/22
What the f**k? I was prepared to pay 100-110 quid at the most - 180 is a f**king joke - correct me if im wrong but you can get an xbox 360 for that!!! Surely, there is no reason why we should be charged so much - and the game on its own is bloody expensive - normaly new ones are withing the 35-39 pound range.... IAN will not be impressed...
Chris Blackmore 8 Apr 2008 23:01
12/22
Electronic Arts has confirmed the game's price
What the hell is that apostrophe doing there?
What the hell is that apostrophe doing there?
Hilarious 8 Apr 2008 23:43
13/22
I just bought a well set-up electric guitar for £40 and an amp with distortion for £21 and I've already got the Stairway to Heaven solo sounding perfect.
Have fun with pressing plastic buttons on a £60 guitar when the pretty colours line up with the line.
Have fun with pressing plastic buttons on a £60 guitar when the pretty colours line up with the line.
deleted 8 Apr 2008 23:44
14/22
Chris Blackmore wrote:
What the hell is that apostrophe doing there?
thats SPOnG choking on there subway as they read the press release.
deleted 8 Apr 2008 23:49
15/22
Hilarious wrote:
I just bought a well set-up electric guitar for £40 and an amp with distortion for £21 and I've already got the Stairway to Heaven solo sounding perfect.
Have fun with pressing plastic buttons on a £60 guitar when the pretty colours line up with the line.
Have fun with pressing plastic buttons on a £60 guitar when the pretty colours line up with the line.
Anyone of us could choose to go out and buy a guitar with am and learn to play if we so wish, but as we a re gamers and are not playing to learn an instrument or entertain an audience we are having some fun lining up pretty colours on the line, by no means the fact you have purchased a real guitar undermine us or make us feel less of a person, in fatc your comment only goes to show the simplistic comments made by people who dont understand what they are talking about, should you play the game you might enjoy it should you not enjooy it then you dont buy it, everyone has a choice and pointing yours out doesnt mean you have a point!
Scott B 9 Apr 2008 09:44
16/22
Rock Band is available for order on play.com for £99.99 for the instruments, and £39.99 for the game....
Not quite as expensive as quoted above but expensive enough for me not to buy.
Not quite as expensive as quoted above but expensive enough for me not to buy.
TimSpong 9 Apr 2008 10:23
17/22
Chris Blackmore wrote:
Electronic Arts has confirmed the game's price
What the hell is that apostrophe doing there?
What the hell is that apostrophe doing there?
The price of the game. To disambiguate from 'games' plural. To indicate that the price 'belongs' to the game.
The building's door.
The cat's miaow.
The grammarian's pedantry.
In the event that more than one game was mentioned, it would be phrased as "the games' prices" (if the games in question had different prices) or "the games' price" (if the same price was applicable to all the games in question).
You could, but I think it's ugly, say, "the games's price(s)"... but that's (that is, contracted) as I say, ugly.
I'll (I will - contracted) stop now as it's (it is - contracted) more than my time's (time is - contracted) worth to look more deeply into this formation and its (it - possessive) possibilities.
Seems pretty straightforward to me. How would you have phrased it?
Cheers
Tim
Kurt Munro 9 Apr 2008 14:45
18/22
Anyone of us could choose to go out and buy a guitar with am and learn to play if we so wish, but as we a re gamers and are not playing to learn an instrument or entertain an audience we are having some fun lining up pretty colours on the line, by no means the fact you have purchased a real guitar undermine us or make us feel less of a person, in fatc your comment only goes to show the simplistic comments made by people who dont understand what they are talking about, should you play the game you might enjoy it should you not enjooy it then you dont buy it, everyone has a choice and pointing yours out doesnt mean you have a point!
I'm not trying to undermine you. I can safely say I'm a bigger gamer than you are.
I've played guitar hero, DDR, Rock Band etc etc. I've even played Frets On Fire (download it for free here - http://fretsonfire.sourceforge.net). They're all rip-offs of each others gameplay, so if you want to spend stupid money on a stupid game then go for it.
TimSpong 9 Apr 2008 15:04
19/22
Hilarious wrote:
I just bought a well set-up electric guitar for £40 and an amp with distortion for £21 and I've already got the Stairway to Heaven solo sounding perfect.
Just bought? Crimey-crikes, I bought my
I actually bought my first bass back in 1976 (oh sweet Jebus) for £40 from Woolworths.
I still don't want to play Stairway to Heaven.
Hilarious wrote:
Have fun with pressing plastic buttons on a £60 guitar when the pretty colours line up with the line.
I will do that. I will do that mainly because the majority of my friends can't play 'real' guitar but do like to play the rock-god and have a good time. They also don't really want to watch me sitting around playing piss poor blues at them.
I can't skateboard but I enjoy skateboard games.
And don't ask me about first-person shooters...
Cheers
Tim
TimSpong 9 Apr 2008 16:21
20/22
Kurt Munro wrote:
've even played Frets On Fire (download it for free here - http://fretsonfire.sourceforge.net). They're all rip-offs of each others gameplay, so if you want to spend stupid money on a stupid game then go for it.
Hiya again, the tutorial in Frets on Fire is in itself one of the most hilarious things I've seen in quite a long time. Brilliant. I'll have to give it a play. Thanks for that.
Cheers
Tim
deleted 9 Apr 2008 17:06
21/22
Kurt Munro wrote:
I'm not trying to undermine you. I can safely say I'm a bigger gamer than you are.
I've played guitar hero, DDR, Rock Band etc etc. I've even played Frets On Fire (download it for free here - http://fretsonfire.sourceforge.net). They're all rip-offs of each others gameplay, so if you want to spend stupid money on a stupid game then go for it.
Wow really you have played DDR!! OMG you must be a gaming god or something ive only dream`t of dreaming about hearing about those games, but infact im not sure how you can safely say that? being you dont know me or have ever met me or even discussed gaming past this forum, and why has whoever is the biggest gamer come up? whats next whos dad is tougher? or whos penis is larger in both width and length but of course yours is because you have played DDR!
and if you read my first posts, you will see i pointed out i am not going to spend stupid money, so in future may i suggest you actually read what people put before critising something that wasnt said!
Percy Pretty Perv 9 Apr 2008 17:23
22/22
Hilarious wrote:
I just bought a well set-up electric guitar for £40 and an amp with distortion for £21 and I've already got the Stairway to Heaven solo sounding perfect.
Have fun with pressing plastic buttons on a £60 guitar when the pretty colours line up with the line.
Have fun with pressing plastic buttons on a £60 guitar when the pretty colours line up with the line.
Your point being?
I play GH with freinds and i play my Guitar for personal pleasure, in fact even my GF couldnt give a s**t about my Guitar playing but shes the first to jump on board with my GH sessions, and being that i work and have quite a decent job i can afford to go out and purchase Rock Band Instruments with Game and i still will have my Gitbox for personal playing pleasure.
Now top of all that i now also have pleasure of knowing that your slightly annoyed (for some strange reason) that people in this world play GH and Rock band but arent interested in playing a Real Guitar, Bass, Drums Or Singing so they go get a video game and do that instead, some people do both and some people are just sad and point out how a real guitar is different to a plastic guitar with coloured buttons i dont know why but they just do.