[Multiplatform] Rock Band: Soon to be available for thirty billion Euros

Originally Posted by Slayer X

Rock Band -ALL (delayed till 12/20/07)

Hey, at least you're getting it this year still, quit whining. I still have no fucking clue when this is arriving in the UK, Q1 2008 is all that's been said so far. That's what I call bullshit. I honestly don't understand why they'd miss the Christmas market with this one. Bastards, and fools.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Slayer X

Finally, GH3 has the best soundtrack of any music game to date in my personal opinion.

Almost any reviewer would say something similar to what I've just said.

Well, no, no they wouldn't, because it's your personal opinion. Given the rather subjective nature of music preference it is obvious, and by your own words, that it will vary from person to person based on the individual opinion.

There's also the distinction to be made between a soundtrack that makes for a good music game and a good soundtrack.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Slayer X

GH is still the better solo game (songs not being the single deciding point).

Originally Posted by Slayer X

GH3 has the best soundtrack of any music game

Now I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure those two sentences mean entirely different things.

Yes, reviewers are tending to say that Guitar Hero is a better solo experience, mainly because it's built around a solo experience. Rock Band was never going to be about the solo aspect, and picking songs that have good parts for all 4 elements was guaranteed to mean that the strength of each individual element was going to be as strong as the guitar focus of Guitar Hero.

But anyways, rather than worrying about how someone takes your words, how about you write what you mean in the first place.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

So Europe finally gets a release date and price - well, for the 360 version anyways - and it's not pretty. As I would have guessed, though really hoped wouldn't be the case, Europe gets royally fucked:

Quote:

Electronic Arts will be releasing the Xbox 360 version of Rock Band in Europe on 23rd May.

[ source ]

Quote:

Europe, unlike the US, will not get all of the instruments bundled together with the game.

Instead, you will have to fork out for an Instrument Edition at GBP 129.99 / EUR 169 - comprised of the drum kit, guitar and microphone - then buy the game separately for GBP 49.99 / EUR 69.99.

Anyone after the whole lot will be looking at a total of GBP 180 / EUR 240, then. That's rather more than in the US, where you can buy the game and all the instruments for USD 169 - equivalent to around GBP 85 / EUR 107.

[ source ]

EA: Please, kindly, with all due respect, go fuck yourselves raw and then don't bother stopping until you die horribly bloody deaths. Thank you.

As much as I want this game, I flat out refuse to buy it until it's a reasonable price. I'm not waiting 6 months for a game only to be over-charged in such a bullshit manner.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

You can import the PlayStation 3 version, as that will work. The 360 one, not so much, given the 360 features region locked games (I'm pretty sure I read someone saying they tried to import Rock Band 360 with no success).

The thing is, there's next to no argument about the hardware manufacturing, because I'd be willing to bet these things are plastered with 'Made in China' labels. Even so, the cost of shipping over here doesn't justify a doubling in price.

As Q said, this pretty much kills it as a brand in Europe. Some retards will still buy it, and if it drops enough in price I'll consider it, but just out of principle EA can take a running jump.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by russ

Omagnus, you should be able to just buy the stand alone game and the stand alone drum kit if that is available over there, since the Guitar Hero guitars work fine for Rock Band (or at least, the bundled guitar from GH3 on 360 does).

Don't care. I'm not paying £120 for the drums and game when that's at the top-end of what I was willing to pay for the whole kit and caboodle. It's just a joke, plain and simple. I'm going to actively dissuade anyone who was considering this from getting it now.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Dennis Franz

... there'd be a possibility that they took the support for it out of the PAL version if they never intended to release the peripheral here.

That would be entirely pointless. What a lot of people seem to not realise is that removing things from software can be just as costly as trying to add something to it (and potentially more dangerous). They just didn't see a market for the stick over here, with likely pricing and feasbility of it selling, etc.

As for Rock Band, they have no real argument because their tax/shipping bullshit falls apart as soon as you compare the price of guitar+game to Guitar Hero 3, which is a wireless guitar and game. Roughly the same size, I imagine similar weights, similar packaging sizes, etc. There was a rumour of a European price retraction/drop, though that hasn't happened and I don't see it happening. They've dug their heels in too much to budge now and lose face. Evidently they'd rather lose sales.

FELIPE NO

As a final kick in the teeth to Europe, EA and Harmonix are releasing the 'exclusive' European tracks as DLC this week, the same week as the European release. So the US will actually get the 'exclusive' tracks before the game hits over here.

I return to my original stance: EA can go fuck themselves. Never before has my excitement and interest in a title gone from so high to non-existent, so well done to all the clever marketing and sales people responsible for this.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Having got to play this out in the US, annoying I do want to pick it up. I still refuse to pay crazy moneys for it though, and there's no way I'm splashing out on the full pack. For now I'm thinking I might, at the very least, pick up the game solus, since I have two guitars and technically a mic. If I can get a good game + drums deal, then I might give that a go. I venture forth after work today to see what I can get.

As for the Japanese release, this should be interesting. I wonder if any songs will be available as DLC, because that would be rather cool (and not out of line on the singing front, given they've lumped French and German songs on the Euro release, so if you're playing the UK version you might have to sing one of those songs in the random set lists).

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by russ

Yeah, I figured that after playing it you would want to pick it up. When you pick it up, you, Iwata, and I need to get together for some online band play. It will be awesome.

I have it now (the full kit and caboodle), so yeah, I'm game for an online session at some point, for sure.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I see Australia is getting the Europe pricing model, with extra shitty release schedule. It's such complete bollocks.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Seems it might be a case of no Rock Band for you aussies after all:

Quote:

Australians love the rock music just as much as the inhabitants of any other country, but did you know that they've yet to receive Harmonix's rock star simulator, Rock Band? According to an unidentified retail tipster on IGN, Aussies may remain Rock Band-less indefinitely -- it seems retailers are hesitant to transport and shelve the bulky bundles, especially since the title is nearly a year old. The same tipster also disclosed that Australian stores are much more likely to sell the cheaper and newer Guitar Hero: World Tour when it drops later this year.

[ source ]

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by nuttyturnip

True, but how come the Rock Band 2 bundle is $189, whereas the Rock Band 1 bundle was released at $169 (and can be found for $149 or lower now)? I shouldn't complain in light of the PAL release, but what's changed that they're charging $20 extra?

$20 extra. Boo fucking hoo. Once you start getting stung with real rip-off prices, not to mention shitty release dates, then you can complain. Until then, get out with your fucking $20 more.

I was speaking idiomatically.

OK, so Rock Band 2 finally hit in the UK on Friday and my copy turned up yesterday. Got to say, game is pretty awesome. They've taken RB1 and tweaked and refined it and it's all the better for it. Being able to tour even when you haven't got mates round, and being able to play with a band online is brilliant. The challenges and battle of the bands stuff is a nice addition, and all in all it just feels better. Songs are also good (from those I've encountered so far).

So, anyone up for doing some online band shizzle at some point?

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Nope, you just have to back out to the menu, turn off the controller you were using (or unplug it) and then plug the new instrument in. You only get into trouble if you try plugging one in before you've disconnected the other.

FELIPE NO

Things are slightly different on the 360 purely because the signed in profile (the one associated with your gamertag, achievements, save games, Xbox Live, etc) gets tied to one of the player slots. So if you're connected and signed in on slot 1 and then start using a controller on slot 2 it won't be associated with the right profile. So you can either sign out on slot 1 and re-sign in on slot 2, or you can get it so the new controller is picked up on the same slot (if any of that makes sense).

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?