April 9, 2008

Gamers Rocked By Rock Band Pricing April 9, 2008

Read more Consoles , Entertainment , Games , Gizmodo UK , Xbox

rock band.jpg The much anticipated Rock Band game is going to launch first on the Xbox 360 on May 23, with other consoles to follow in the summer. That’s the good news. The bad, and downright shameful, news is that it is being priced at £180.

That’s right, £180. Everyone was expecting it to cost more than the US version but no one was expecting to lose their shorts in the transaction too. Even considering the hardware components of the game – guitar, drum, microphone etc. – it is vastly more expensive than the US version and almost as expensive as buying an Xbox 360 console.

In the US, Rock Band is listed on Amazon for $148 - £75. The game is the next step up from Guitar Hero and it won the best game award at last year's E3 show.

Continued...

The Internet is hopping today with the angry cries of shocked gamers and game developer, Harmonix, has tried to quell some of the ire by pointing out that VAT and higher consumer electronics costs here played a role. It still doesn’t explain why UK and European gamers are being asked to shell out £105 more than US gamers.

Predictions are that the game will sell strongly but I think those involved are ripping off gamers.-Martin Lynch

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Comments

Shocking. You could almost buy a US XBOX and a US copy for the UK price. My advice is shop around. Cheapest I can find the UK version (Instruments and game) is £133. Still ridiculous, but not as bad as £180. The annoying thing is, it'll still sell out in the UK. We should vote with our feet. Or this will keep happening.

posted-by Rik | April 9, 2008 11:59 AM

Seems to be £99 at Play, but then they reckon the RRP is £130 so perhaps that's not the same product?

http://www.play.com/Games/Xbox360/4-/5397984/Rock-Band-Band-In-A-Box/Product.html

posted-by Andy Jones | April 9, 2008 12:10 PM

You have to buy the game separately, so it's still expensive

posted-by Rich | April 9, 2008 12:35 PM

That doesn't include the game though. Just the instruments.

posted-by Carl | April 9, 2008 12:42 PM

why not just join a band?

posted-by cee | April 9, 2008 12:45 PM

Jesus you can get a 360 for £159 now. I could hire Status Quo to do a gig in my front room for that. Wouldn't be as entertaining but still.

posted-by shoddy | April 9, 2008 1:47 PM

And call the band '180 quid'.

posted-by Garth | April 9, 2008 2:13 PM

Just another example of the 'rip-off' pricing applied to people that live in the UK. Send the distributors a meesage by voting with your feet and dont buy it. Like thats going to happen.

posted-by The kevster | April 9, 2008 10:44 PM

@cee

Can't play any instrument yet still want to have fun with friends?

Sry. I hate "go play a real instrument" snobbery.

posted-by Styx | April 11, 2008 8:50 AM