Rock Band touring Europe in May, 360 getting it first

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Apr 8th 2008 at 6:36AM }

Electronic Arts has finally announced a release date for fake instrument extravaganza, Rock Band, in the chronically shafted land of Europe. Eurogamer reports that the music-and-rhythmer will launch as a timed Xbox 360 exclusive on May 23rd, with PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2 and Wii versions following "later this summer."

The game will be sold separately from an "Instrument Edition," which is comprised of the drum set, guitar and microphone, priced at GBP 129.99 / EUR 169. Including the cost of the game (we're assuming you want to play something with all that kit), folks in the region are looking to shell out about $360 for tickets to their own concert. Sounds like there'll be less rocking and more wailing among this poor band of gamers. In addition, wireless guitars will be sold separately for GBP 59.99 / EUR 79.99, while the drum kit will go for GBP 69.99 / EUR 89.99.

As a minor consolation, the European version of Rock Band will come with several exclusive tracks from bands such as Oasis, Blur and Muse (you'll find the complete list after the break). If none of those appeal to you, Rock Band's extensive online store will open on May 27th, fully stocked with all existing downloadable tracks. New songs will then become available every week alongside the American releases.

English

"Beetlebum" by Blur
"Rock 'n' Roll Star" by Oasis
"Monsoon" by Tokio Hotel
"Hysteria" by Muse

German

"Hier Kommt Alex" by Die Toten Hosen
"Perfekte Welle" by Juli
"Countdown to Insanity" by H-Block X

French

"Manu Chao" by Les Wampas
"New Wave" by Playmo

Tags: BreakingNews, EA, Europe, Harmonix, MTV, Music, Rock-Band, RockBand

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

DMessenger @ Apr 8th 2008 6:47AM

what a fucking joke, this price is ridiculous, and as a UK gamer I outright refuse to pay that.

And after 6 months of waiting and waiting.

Drew @ Apr 8th 2008 6:49AM

You'll crack. They all do.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Apr 8th 2008 9:39AM

First you bitch that the game isn't in europe yet. Then you bitch that it'll cost more money than you thought.

If you want to get your goods for a lower price, do something about your VAT.

DMessenger @ Apr 8th 2008 10:31AM

Yes because our 17.5% VAT totally makes up for the fact that the game is going to cost 230% of what americans had to pay.

and trust me, if it had been the other way around, the american bitching would of been monumental.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Apr 8th 2008 11:08AM

Oh, I'm sure it has more to do with it than just the VAT. Import fees, manufacturing standards, tariffs, etc. All problems of your own making.

DMessenger @ Apr 8th 2008 11:14AM

Everything gets made in china and is imported from there, manufacturing standards will be largely the same as america (1 year garuntee). and yes, we all expected a price mark up, but of this value? hell no, it's unfair and it's unjust.

colin17 @ Apr 8th 2008 6:42AM

That Hysteria Song is Sweet, when we gonna get that for america? the only good song by muse, come on????

Ludwig Kietzmann @ Apr 8th 2008 6:44AM

The ONLY good song? Sir, you do not deserve any Muse tracks.

colin17 @ Apr 8th 2008 6:51AM

guess your right, but i kinda mean only good song for rock band. don't think songs like assassin, stockholm syndrome fit the bill for rock band. but hey ,thats my opinion

Parsnipzilla @ Apr 8th 2008 6:50AM

Have you SERIOUSLY not listened to... well.... I dunno, their entire back catalogue!

They're Britain's greatest live band for a REASON Captain Ignorance

Sinister Rouge @ Apr 8th 2008 7:30AM

He's right, Hysteria IS the only good Muse track.

The best British live band is Iron Maiden, in case you were wondering ;)

sparki @ Apr 8th 2008 9:32AM

Here's to hoping that when the store opens up in Europe on May 27th... is also the day that these are released stateside in the store

I don't mind EU getting them exclusively on disk (you guys have waited a long time for a great game) as long as we have a shot at picking up these songs.

Hashbrown Hunter @ Apr 8th 2008 2:52PM

Muse owns all. That is a fact.

[.sm0ke.] @ Apr 8th 2008 5:03PM

Knights of Cydonia? Supermassive Black Hole?

Intya @ Apr 8th 2008 6:45AM

I have two guitars for the 360 already, and didn't someone say you can use the XBL headset as a mic? Just need to wait for the price to come down then, since with Smash Bros, GTA4, Mario Kart & Time Crisis 4 all in the next four weeks here, I certainly can't and won't pay that much for Rock Band. If they'd have released it around Christmas when there weren't so many decent games needing purchasing in the UK, they would have had a sale from me. Delay + Extortinate Price = "Benny! SCREEWWWWW YOOOUUUUUU!"

tcc3 @ Apr 8th 2008 9:35AM

The strats are better controllers. Also, the real cost is in the drums. They're subsidizing the drums by selling you the rest. The drums just became available separately here - for $80. If you buy the game and the drums you've almost paid for the whole package.

I was wary of the cost too, but its worth every penny.

peacebyanymeans (AKA: Moorio) @ Apr 8th 2008 1:11PM

The headset as a mic sucks, just buy a USB mic, any one will work.

Jago @ Apr 8th 2008 6:47AM

Ah, I love the smell of assrape in the morning.

:(

170 euros plus the price of the actual game??

*RROD*

jas0n williams @ Apr 8th 2008 6:50AM

You could buy a Wii for the same price as that :s

jsn @ Apr 8th 2008 7:50AM

Rock Band is better than the Wii and all its games. This is a fact.

JakubK666 (Ninja Defence Force) @ Apr 8th 2008 8:20AM

Rockband costs more than a second hand Wii with all it's AAA games. That is a fact too.

Parsnipzilla @ Apr 8th 2008 6:52AM

And I don't suppose they announced a New Zealand release date.....

Drew @ Apr 8th 2008 6:55AM

Nah, but they should. You did give us Flight of the Conchords. It's the least America could do to repay you.

colin17 @ Apr 8th 2008 6:53AM

whoa, whoa, whoa there parnipzilla. watch that title there boy cause you could be busted right here and now!!!

Parsnipzilla @ Apr 8th 2008 7:34AM

Hey, I'm only repeating what the ever-true media tell me with their flashing lights, swirling dials and concert promotions

colin17 @ Apr 8th 2008 5:14PM

yeah yeah yeah, muse is good, but touting the title of greatest live band. no, no thats just not true.....

Sam @ Apr 8th 2008 6:58AM

There must be some sort of regulatory board or something that ensures that europeans dont pay twice the price of americans for the exact same product (in a non-import industry such as video games).

Seriously. That price is a joke.

The even bigger joke is the fact that i'm still going to go and buy it at that price on day one, because i've been waiting 6 months and i'm not waiting any longer.

Unbelievable

william_varrenti @ Apr 8th 2008 7:08AM

your fry says it all

tcc3 @ Apr 8th 2008 9:25AM

Just buy that instead of 100 cups of coffee and you can easily afford it.

Ordeith @ Apr 8th 2008 1:04PM

There is some sort of regulatory board or something that ensures that europeans do pay twice what americans pay.

It's called the EU.

tim_stacey @ Apr 8th 2008 12:35PM

About time.

ScottyGEE32 @ Apr 8th 2008 7:16AM

Aussie Aussie Aussie?

=(

Jake11 @ Apr 8th 2008 8:58AM

oi oi oi...*cries*

Hakobus @ Apr 8th 2008 7:24AM

If the instruments are universal, you could order the game + instruments from the US and then buy just the game in Europe. Would save you 40-50 euros easily (even more if you can get it from the US without VAT+toll).

allwrighte @ Apr 8th 2008 7:32AM

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=130927 Europe have to pay £130 plus £50 for cost of the game???
That's an absolute joke. 6 month wait for the cost of a wii??

I used to like you harmonix.....

Sam @ Apr 8th 2008 7:52AM

Wait, WHAT?!

Fuck that.

I cant believe i'm saying it, but i'm not paying that price.

That HAS to be wrong.

david @ Apr 8th 2008 7:40AM

well aint i glad i imported my ps3 version 6 months ago for 170 quid

Ben Walters @ Apr 8th 2008 10:37PM

Any word yet on when this is going to be released in Australia :o(

Purple Haze @ Apr 8th 2008 11:38PM

They usually release games in Europe and Australia at the same time because they're both PAL territories.

mrlokievil @ Apr 8th 2008 7:47AM

Stop complaining that europeans are paying more in dollars. America is in a recession and the dollar is worth half of what the pound and euro are. You can't do exact conversions on prices anymore. When 1 dollar equals 1 pound/euro again, then you can complain.

It does suck that there is all in one bundle.

DMessenger @ Apr 8th 2008 7:54AM

I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood, we're paying 220% of what you paid, how in ANY world is that fair? And why should we not be allowed to complain, it's not our fault that the dollar is worthless AND the last time I checked I could type what ever the hell I liked.

bloatedfish @ Apr 8th 2008 11:07AM

Well let me put this in perspective for you, you pay $60 for a game the equivalent of £30. We pay £40 for games the equivalent of $80. That means we pay about 133% of what you pay.

Now you pay $170 for rock band with everything including game thats the equivalent of £85. Yet we are paying £170 for everything the equivalent of $340. That means we are paying so we are paying 200% of what you pay which is 70% more than the normal mark up. Do you now see how we are getting screwed. So if we were paying our normal mark up the game including al instruments should cost us £115 ($230) not £170 europe has been seriously arse raped.

If you think that is fair then you sir need your head examined.

Sam @ Apr 8th 2008 7:58AM

In the UK, Rock band will cost more than an Xbox 360 Arcade, and will be the same price as a Wii.

Tell me how that is right.

JakubK666 (Ninja Defence Force) @ Apr 8th 2008 8:24AM

Since I'm a second-hand junkie, I'm certain I could find a cheaper 40gb PS3 or an Elite.

My advice: Buy it off US Ebay.From my own experiences with GH3,the UPS fee will be same as the game's price but you'll still save a couple of Pounds.

Knight Marquise @ Apr 8th 2008 10:46AM

Here's my solution for all you whiners:

Don't BUY THE FREAKIN GAME! That's the only thing that will change situations like this.

But here's the ugly truth: it will sell like hotcakes, and the few vocal minority here bitching about the price will be in vain.

Anyways...Rock Band is overrated, the loud ass drums ruin the experience of the other guitarists & vocalist & I'm sorry I made the purchase over here.

ChooChooCharlie (Brawl: 1504-5357-9285) @ Apr 8th 2008 5:39PM

I'm in America, but I agree with all these unfortunates from overseas. That price is ridiculous.

And Knight Marquise:

How exactly is Rock Band "overrated"?
Is is because it gives the ability to have 4 players enjoying a song all at the time as opposed to GH, which has 2? Or is it the fact that it has an essentially endless tracklist with the steady stream of DLC?

If you were really serious about your comments and aren't just trolling, I have some very easy fixes for your loud drummer problem.

1. Turn up the volume

2. Do the Staples mouse pad silencer mod (it'll only cost you $20 tops)

3. Find a drummer who isn't retarded (i.e. - one who can hit the CENTER of the pad and not the edges with a normal down-tap strength/speed. Hitting the edges and hitting the pad itself too forcefully both cause a lot of unnecessary noise.)

Raitei @ Apr 8th 2008 8:10AM

oh come on, thats just balls

Theres raping our wallets, which im sure were all used to.. but this is more of a clusterf**k of epic proportions

Im sure hoping there was an error here and that we're only paying £130 ( a bitch as it is) or we get something like a lifetime free dlc...