Rock Band 2, standalone instruments coming next week

by Ross Miller { Sep 10th 2008 at 6:45PM }

Harmonix has announced that the Xbox 360 version of Rock Band 2 has officially shipped to retailers in time for its September 14 release date. The standalone wireless drums and guitar are also shipping sometime next week for $90 and $70, respectively. Also shipping next week are Mad Catz's "Fender P-Bass" wireless guitar controller ($70) and the ION Drum Rocker set (wired; $300).

The press release also reminded us that the RB Music Store had recently surpassed 21 million song downloads since its launch in late November. That's 15 million more since we last heard about it in March and an average of 2.3 million per month.

Gallery: ION Drum Rocker Unboxing and Set Up

Tags: ea, electronic-arts, harmonix, mtv-games, rock-band, rock-band-2

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Moorio - XBL: peacebyanymeans @ Sep 10th 2008 6:51PM

"Nice job scoring this game before it comes out."

Oh man... I wish could be so awesome...

Moorio - XBL: peacebyanymeans @ Sep 10th 2008 6:52PM

I also wish I could remember all my 'I's.

syrik zero @ Sep 10th 2008 7:06PM

If it makes you feel better I read it as if you did put the extra "I" in it

Lionbacker @ Sep 10th 2008 6:53PM

Ross,
You misspelled Rock Band 2 as "Rock Bad 2"

KeenCommander @ Sep 10th 2008 7:27PM

Maybe he's just had a hands-on with the game and it was intentional...

Ross Miller @ Sep 10th 2008 8:45PM

It would more likely then be "Rock Badass"

KVN @ Sep 10th 2008 6:54PM

When next week?Come on harmonix i need to know.Oh and there is also a rumor going around that harmonix is ok if with retailers breaking the street date.http://kotaku.com/5047658/rock-band-2-approves-of-breaking-street-dates

Dark Archon @ Sep 10th 2008 6:54PM

Buahahaha! The ION Drumkit is nothing more than the cheap DD502 drumkit made by noname that you can find for peanuts on Ebay. Even the pedal looks EXACTLY the same. So I'm assuming that I'll be able to remove the brain that comes with that one and just replace it with the ION brain. Also, the 'scoring the game before it comes out' text on the screenshot is priceless.

Odog4ever @ Sep 10th 2008 8:05PM

I would think so seeing as they made specific battle of the bands challenges for people who get the game before Sunday.

superklye @ Sep 10th 2008 7:01PM

Let us know how that works out for you, please!

And, speaking of the ION kit...since their customer support is incapable of responding to my questions about the availability of the kit past the holiday season and their FAQ is completely worthless, does anyone know if the kit is going to be produced indefinitely or is it just a limited run?

This is what their useless FAQ says on it:

Q: I read that the Premium Drums are limited edition. Does that mean you are only making a certain number of them, or are they only available for a certain amount of time (and for how long)?

A: Drum Rocker will be in limited supply for the holiday season; we are making them as fast as we can, but demand has been overwhelming. Your best bet is to preorder Drum Rocker here. We will be shipping units on a first come, first served basis.

They don't answer whether or not it's a limited run sort of thing. Saying "limited supply for the holiday season" is pretty damned vague in terms of whether it just means they expect a lot of orders and a long wait or if they only have a set # made and once those are gone, that's it.

Dark Archon @ Sep 10th 2008 7:52PM

@superklye Two problems with that. 1. I live in the UK. 2. I only own a PS3 so I still need about month and a half to see if that works... and find that PS3 ION brain somewhere...

zuburi @ Sep 11th 2008 12:12AM

"Peanuts on eBay" = $450?!

JohnHeist @ Sep 11th 2008 3:56AM

Sorry, it's not a DD502.

All the pads look nothing like the ION.

It's actually a Simmons SD5K.

That pedal? It's used by a LOT of kits. All Simmons kits, and most notably the Alesis DM5.

By the way; ION? Yeah it's made by ALESIS (who makes a synth, or MADE a synth called the Alesis ION)

I work at Musician's Friend.

Amoveo @ Sep 10th 2008 6:57PM

About damn time. I was almost expecting that Harmonix would never confirm the release date and we'd just have to assume retailers were correct.

Drew @ Sep 10th 2008 8:54PM

Alas, we poor PS3 owners are stuck with no release date.

Sean @ Sep 10th 2008 7:01PM

Whats up with amazon? Look at release date:

http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Rock-Fender-Precision-Replica/dp/B001B156BA/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1221087672&sr=8-1

Vol @ Sep 10th 2008 7:24PM

Which drum set is better, the new Rock Band drums or the Guitar Hero World Tour drum set?

No, I am not spending $300 for ION set.

Amoveo @ Sep 10th 2008 7:48PM

Well the Rock Band 2 drums have four pads and then you have to buy cymbals separately. You can buy anywhere from one to three cymbals and plug them into the Rock Band 2 drums, but they are not charted. Thus yellow cymbal is the same as yellow pad as far as gameplay is concerned. It looks like this http://gear.ign.com/articles/891/891996p1.html

The Guitar Hero drum set by contrast has 3 pads and two cymbals bundled with it. It's cymbals are also charted, but they don't look quite as good as the Rock Band once. It looks like this http://static.gamesradar.com/images/mb/GamesRadar/us/Games/G/Guitar%20Hero%20World%20Tour/Everything%20Else/Guitar%20Hero%204%20-%20Drum%20Render--article_image.jpg

Charlie_Six @ Sep 10th 2008 8:31PM

Survey says Guitar Hero World Tour. If you already have Rock Band 1 drums, there's very little reason to get Rock Band 2 drums. Just wait for GHWT's.

Bakkster @ Sep 11th 2008 10:28AM

@Charlie_Six

Aside from the less noisy, more bouncy, velocity sensitive pads, cymbal expansions, and metal pedal, there's absolutely no reason to buy them.

It's not necessary, but it's definitely still an upgrade.

Chris Wallace @ Sep 10th 2008 7:28PM

When is the bundle for 360 coming out? I've had it preordered at Gamestop, but they say it'll come out late October. I can't wait that long.

straynova @ Sep 10th 2008 7:34PM

Anyone know how the RB drum set is compatible with GH:WT when GH:WT has an extra pad (5 notes on screen + bass)?

John Perkins @ Sep 10th 2008 8:32PM

Supposedly, GH:WT takes one colored note away from the chart and then shares it. Basically, GH:WT takes two colors and merges them into one if you're using the RB drums.

Not sure how well that will work, but that's what I've read.

Aaron @ Sep 10th 2008 7:48PM

Way to suck M$'s cash oozing phallus, Harmonix.

Koenn @ Sep 10th 2008 8:00PM

People are STILL complaining about this? Really?

dark_inchworm @ Sep 10th 2008 8:35PM

Dude, when I find out money comes out of my dick, you boys and girls can say goodbye to me. I'll be strokin'.

deaftly @ Sep 11th 2008 9:30AM

Are you ps3 fanboys even going to bother with this game knowing that MS helped them with it?

Chris @ Sep 10th 2008 8:12PM

I've been playing Rock Band 2 all day with my roommates. Just have to say...wicked :-D

Spirit @ Sep 10th 2008 8:22PM

I don't feel like returning my pedal to Harmonix AGAIN. Anyone know a cheap efficient way to fix it?

Heh @ Sep 10th 2008 10:01PM

As trailer trash as this sounds, duct tape works.

wes @ Sep 10th 2008 11:06PM

Just do a RMA Request for one...they dont even care if you send them back anymore,I have 3 pedals now.

Ignatius @ Sep 10th 2008 11:47PM

The new pedal has a steel plate in it and a hell of a thick spring.

John @ Sep 11th 2008 4:01AM

I took a $5 kitchen cutting board, cut out the shape, and screwed it over top of the broken pieces.

A person @ Sep 10th 2008 8:27PM

Right on my birthday! Too bad I'm not getting that version.

OTAM @ Sep 10th 2008 9:41PM

I have Rock Band on the PS3,so i'm apparently left in the cold.

J.Goodwin @ Sep 10th 2008 10:11PM

Caloo Calay!

SHAZAM! @ Sep 11th 2008 4:27AM

I hate the start the relentless asking already, but any news on a European release date. I know we only just got the first one, and the PS and Wii versions are only just coming, but I'm dying for more!

And I want the new drums and guitar.

John @ Sep 11th 2008 5:01AM

Not on topic, but Amazon shipped my copy of RB2 yesterday, so don't be fooled into buying the "game day release" shipping option.

John @ Sep 11th 2008 5:02AM

Not on topic, but Amazon shipped my copy of RB2 yesterday, so don't be fooled into buying the "game day release" shipping option.

Travis Adams @ Sep 11th 2008 8:02AM

#1 Best Buy has the wireless drums for $70 not $80
#2 I saw that mad katz bass in a Gamestop 5 days ago. I'll get a pic if need be.

Travis Adams @ Sep 11th 2008 8:11AM

Opps i ment that Best Buy has it for 80 not 90 on their preorder page. I wonder if the price will hold up in store.

JJ Rooster @ Sep 11th 2008 10:20AM

I'm so hyped for this game. Harmonix continues to have a sense of humor about the early release too:
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/1189/cimg0079kp3.jpg