Standalone Rock Band instruments get dated

by Dustin Burg { Jan 24th 2008 at 5:00PM }

Rockers who forwent the big Rock Band boxed bundle will be happy to know that today, Harmonix confirmed release dates for a few standalone Rock Band peripherals including a wireless Stratocaster that everyone has been eagerly anticipating. The standalone drum set will be available February 12th in the U.S. and retail for ~~$90~~ $80, while the wireless Stratocaster guitar will hit retailers April 1st for $60. 360 fanboys will also be happy to know that pricing for the PS3 and 360 Rock Band peripherals are the same. Also, Harmonix didn't confirm if or when the Rock Band microphone would be available as a standalone peripheral or mention any details about the pretty light and fog bundle. Cuz, you know, we're super excited for the officially licensed Rock Band fog.

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

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

DaveC @ Jan 24th 2008 5:05PM

Still no Euro dates :(

Weapon360 @ Jan 24th 2008 5:17PM

Actually, the mic from Logitech has been available since Christmas for around $30. These are the same guys who made the Rock Band branded mic. The only difference between the two is that the bundled mic is black and the standalone one currently available is white.

DeadPlasmaCell @ Jan 24th 2008 5:18PM

Shit, $90? sh...

schiavonir @ Jan 24th 2008 5:29PM

Yeah, I don't understand this pricing, either. A friend who has two GH guitars has been holding out so he can buy the game and drums seperately. So $90 for the drums and $60 for the game (unless he can find it used, I guess) and he's paying $150. He might as well buy the bundle. Or I think I read that Sam's had the bundle for $150. Why so much for the drums?

I understand you generally get a much better price when you buy a bundle, but if you add those things up seperately, it's

$90 drums
$50 wired guitar
$30 mic
$60 game
= $230.

That seems out of whack.

DSK UK @ Jan 24th 2008 5:46PM

Thats EA for you :)

matty @ Jan 24th 2008 5:40PM

the pricing seems out of wack because of packaging and shipping/handling costs

schiavonir @ Jan 24th 2008 5:48PM

OK, but who is buying these? It seems to only be a good deal if you broke something from your bundle. Otherwise, just get the bundle.

Loban @ Jan 25th 2008 9:51AM

Um, I will be buying them because I want another guitar. I hate the Guitar Hero guitars and I don't have any way. I need another Rock Band Guitar, I only have one and I'm sick of always playing drums while my friend plays guitar. I wanna play bass.

eric e @ Jan 24th 2008 5:49PM

Is the $60 for a wireless or wired guitar? I really hope that is a misprint otherwise I'm going to be pissed that I bought the bundle and had to get a wired strat.

SnesR0X @ Jan 24th 2008 6:08PM

Woah hold on a second there guys, on Joystiq it says the drums are 79.99, not 90. Check it again perhaps?

E.J. @ Jan 24th 2008 6:09PM

Guys, the Game | Life article says that the drums are $80 not $90.

Jeff Tronti @ Jan 24th 2008 6:32PM

I hae heard that Mad Catz is going to start producing RockBand instruments. I think I will wait for those to come out to see if the quality is any better. The strats strummer could easily be improved upon.

[.sm0ke.] @ Jan 24th 2008 10:21PM

"Mad Catz" and "quality" are polar opposites.

Jeramy @ Jan 25th 2008 12:57AM

people don't seem to understand the beauty of the no-click strum bar. when i first picked up a rock band strat, the loss of a tactile click immediately freaked me out. but after a few hours of intense play, i found i couldn't go back to the guitar hero guitars. i mean, i suppose everyone's entitled to personal preference, but i think people are too overwhelmed by the loss of tactility to properly appreciate the peripheral. instead of comparing it to guitar hero, it really needs to be evaluated separately.

unless you're referring to the strum bar manufacturing issues, but i'm assuming you're not b/c that's just a poor argument.

Jeff Tronti @ Jan 25th 2008 2:17AM

I don't want it to click. I just really think it needs more reflex. If you open the newer ones up the reflex is in part supported by small pieces of spongy foam. Now that is cheap manufacturing.

Josh @ Jan 24th 2008 6:37PM

if you've played enough, you'd have seen the loading screen that says "any usb microphone will work with rock band" - so there are plenty of them out there, just not necessarily with the rock brand logo on them - but isn't it better that way?

john doe @ Jan 24th 2008 11:52PM

Im still waiting for my replacement guitar its been a week and a half and nothing gotta love that express option(witch is not express on EA's part) i called today and the guy that sounded computor animated but was really a real person told me to call back in a week and a half if i still didint have it.. back to stage one cause my mic died and just had to rma that ... Sweeet EA (good game tho)(same with the new burnout)

Jeramy @ Jan 25th 2008 1:12AM

so i guess i'm glad that the guitars for ps3 and 360 are the same price, but then why does the special edition contain a wired strat when the ps3's same bundle has a wireless version? unless i'm mistaken or they changed their mind after i heard this, such a discrepancy existed due to licensing costs associated with 360 wireless technology. well if they cost the same now, what's the deal?

JaePee @ Jan 25th 2008 8:13AM

Anyone heard anything about a bass being available at some point? I'd love to have a Rickenbacker-looking thing to contrast with the Strat.

Scooter @ Jan 31st 2008 11:12PM

Let me put it to you this way guys. I had both guitar hero games, and a head set for online play. My girlfriend (yeah thats right, guys who play video games can get girls too) got me the game by itself. So basically, that left the drums for me to get, but wait, why get the whole package for $170. That seems a bit dumb to me just to get the drums. I looked on ebay, and honestly, the prices come to about $80 when factored in the Shipping and handling. So, personally, I'm pretty excited about this, because I REALLY want the drums