Rock Band: no separate instruments until 2008

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 11th 2007 at 6:00PM }

Speaking to Bits Byets Pixels & Sprites, a Harmonix rep confirmed that Rock Band instruments will not be sold separately from the game until 2008. In other words, if you were planning on buying a copy of the game and a set of drums separately, you're out of luck. If you want Rock Band this year, you'll be paying $170 for the whole kit and kaboodle. The rep gave two reasons for this. First, creating multiple bundles would increase costs and lead to fewer bundles being available at launch. Second, retailers aren't exactly keen to have 3 different (and large) versions of Rock Band clogging their shelf space.

The rep also speaks about a few other issues, the most pressing of which is probably DLC pricing, a hot topic among Guitar Hero II fans. The rep is quick to point out that Rock Band tracks require more development than Guitar Hero tracks, as there are more instruments to be dealt with. In other words, we're expecting they won't be cheap, though the rep explains that there are many ways to pick and choose DLC. For instance, whole albums will be available as well as single songs, and there may be special offers for those that purchase multiple tracks. DLC is expected to arrive every week after the game ships through the end of the year, starting with The Who's Who's Next. Finally, the game is expected to have nearly 50 songs on the retail disc, not including bonus unlockables.

Tags: ea, elecronic-arts, harmonix, mtv-games, rock-band

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Etchasketchist @ Oct 11th 2007 6:11PM

I still don't know how many guitars you get in the bundle. Is it just one? I assumed it would be two guitars (one lead, one bass) a drumset and a microphone. Am I wrong?

FiredCylinder @ Oct 11th 2007 6:12PM

Well, I definitely won't be getting this until they offer different packages. I don't want another guitar, I already have too many.

zackiyp @ Oct 11th 2007 6:15PM

FUCK. I already have two guitars.

colin @ Oct 11th 2007 6:30PM

well, i think i'll just have to get GH3 with the wireless guitar, sell my GH2 guitar on ebay, and wait for the drums, or buy them on ebay ... now that i think about it, i might as well sell that GH2 guitar now because ebay will be flooded with them by then.

MC Hampster @ Oct 11th 2007 6:33PM

I've posted this in so many different places, yet it never seems to get noticed:

http://www.lagxbl.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11893

In a Wired interview, the President of MTV Networks strongly suggested we're looking at the same price as GH2 songs: $2. Hopefully they'll offer them in single songs and maybe get discounts for CD's, but it's not looking pretty.

huge007 @ Oct 11th 2007 6:50PM

Man that sucks! I really wanted to get the wireless guitar, without having to buy the whole package which include another wired guitar!!

Tim @ Oct 11th 2007 6:59PM

All I want out of this game is the drums, so until I can get that it'll have to wait for me.

Maiq The Liar @ Oct 11th 2007 7:07PM

I think this is a big mistake. There are so many people that already have a GH guitar or 2. I thought that individual instruments would actually make more if sold seperately. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but 80 bucks for the drums, 60 bucks for the game? $140, plus I may decide to buy the mic, maybe the new guitar...that's going to be over $200. Doubtful many will be it for just drums, but I was thikning about it. I mean it's an attach rate advantage. The bundle if you want it, but you have to pay for the extra components. I wasn't happy about paying extra to break it out, but now it looks like I don't have a choice until 2008. And then there is DLC...I know a lot of people can't stand the GHII pricing, but if you don't like it now, I can guarantee you'll hate it with Rock Band. They'll nickel and dime you even more with the songs...remember "Rock Band tracks require more development than Guitar Hero tracks" so you can probably expect 1000 points for 3 songs or 2000 points for a full album...

murph @ Oct 11th 2007 7:40PM

this wouldn't be such terrible news...IF there was a bundle with the WIRELESS guitar (which there is not). i'm not buying anymore wired guitars.

so since the bundle is out and no separate drum kit until 2008, means i am probably waiting until 2008 then to purchase Rock Band. sorry EA. GHIII FTW!!

KEFIOX @ Oct 11th 2007 9:47PM

WOW! This is just dumb now. If the bundle only comes with one guitar, and they aren't selling the separate periphereals until 08 then the people with 0 guitars already will be screwed out of either a lead or bass. :(

Terrence Newton @ Oct 11th 2007 10:22PM

if my wireless ghiii controller works with it.. then fine, w/e

Trashman @ Oct 11th 2007 11:12PM

This sucks really bad. I don't want to pay that much. I can't afford it. That would be the only thing I would be able to buy that month. I want just the game and mic for now then buy the others stuff later. Guess I will be playing GHIII for awhile when I get it for xmas

Kael @ Oct 12th 2007 2:28AM

Oh... no! I really wanted to play Rock Band this year. No, scratch that; I wanted to play Drum Hero this year, but now I can't. What a bummer! I can understand the limited shelf space issue, but what's stopping them from selling each peripheral separately online? Probably nothing. This article doesn't directly say they won't, but because this article exists, they won't. They're just going to miss out on my money for a while, then.

So when IS the exact release date for Drum Hero?

T Ghost @ Oct 12th 2007 4:04AM

FCK Rock Band. The only people aroused by this crap are people from the media that know they'll get a copy for review for free.

I AM NOT paying US$170 for a stupid game that has an identical PS2 version and NOT paying US$90 for a stupid Mattel plastic toy controller that only works with one game.

About me paying fckng anti-christ EA $2 a song in a 5 song pack with 1 cool and 4 crap songs, suck my d!ck EA!

I couldn't afford US$90 for GH2 and REFUSE to even consider to pay US$170 for a PS2 game on the 360.

X3F should stop drooling on this crappy stunt by Anti-Christ EA.

-1,000,000,000 respect for X3F for falling on the media hype for RB. I tought you were REAL gamers but looks like you were already transformed in professional gaming media members, AKA big publishers marketing tools.

mmmmok @ Oct 12th 2007 4:28AM

Yawn!

Count yourselves lucky to see the game at all. Us in Europe can't even but it until 2008.

Let's see... they can't even make enough in time for us for Christmas, but you guys want a bazillion different configurations. Nice...

The Oggmonster @ Oct 12th 2007 6:35AM

I really only need the drum set for Rock Band. What Am I going to do with the extra guitar now?

Boss Tempo @ Oct 12th 2007 8:06AM

Man I'm glad this crap doesn't pertain to me. Only REAL guitars are allowed in my house. You all can fuss about the ones made by Milton Bradley until you're blue in the face as far as I'm concerned.

CameronA @ Oct 12th 2007 9:36AM

Quite Simply, I want a wireless Controller so it's GH3 for me up until the point that they sort out their bundles.
I don't care what they think, they should of thought their bundles out more to max their profits and sales.

Rock Band for me late 2008 then.

xenocidic @ Oct 12th 2007 8:39AM

The real reason - they want to juice you for $170 and make you buy all the instruments even if you don't want them all.

Sinistar @ Oct 12th 2007 10:27AM

Thank goodness you're here, Boss Tempo! It's high time that somebody stepped forward and said what needs to be said - that these games are just toys and are no replacement for real instruments! I can't believe how many people pick up these toy guitars and suddenly think they're real guitar players!

It's just insane that people would derive fun from a video game that poorly depicts a real life activity. Like racing. Or playing sports. Or playing board games. Or shooting firearms. Or playing pool. Or dancing. Or practicing martial arts. Or...

Wait a second! Hey, there are a whole ton of games that simulate/emulate a real life activity! Holy crap! I think I've just made an amazing discovery!

Either that or the "it's not real" argument, when applied to video games, is idiotic. So, either I'm a genius or you're a prat.

MadMup @ Oct 12th 2007 10:39AM

Like most folks, I only need the drums and microphone. Would it be so difficult for them to sell separate instruments from the website? Then they're not "confusing retailers."

Guibs @ Oct 12th 2007 11:16AM

This sucks. I just wanted the game and a guitar. I don't want the drum or the microphone. I have youngs kids. When I get to play, it's late at night. I'm not going to start playing drums at 22h00 at night except if I want my wife to kill me.

Sku110ne @ Oct 13th 2007 5:29PM

Rock Band wanted to compete with GH3 and was probably going to win...until now.

Now they just gave the crown and victory to them. I can't see anyone plunking down $170 for everything, especially for guitars they probably already have.

I know none of my friends will buy it for that.