Release Date...

[MountainKing]

I was just in Gamestop yesterday buying my fresh new copy of Heavenly Sword, which is amazing btw. I checked there release date book for Rock Band and they have the Special Edition Bundle listed as November 6th. I understand tha those dates are'nt concrete by any means but it kinda reassures me of a November release. Maybe even sooner than the 20th.

[travmeatwad]

Yeah, they told me the same when I preordered today.. but no one knows for sure yet.. I'm just hoping it is around that time.

[bumbousdude25]

God, let's pray it's the 6th. That would give me time to play it before Mass Effect hits. :rolleyes:

Though the Gamestop website still says the 20th... but that may not be updated.

[Xzyliac]

With the launch party being on the 19th, and the steam from Black Friday, my money is still on the 20th.

[ThePaska]

With the launch party being on the 19th, and the steam from Black Friday, my money is still on the 20th.

Yea it will most likely be the 20th, but I would be so happy if they made it the 6th, I want Rock Band ASAP.

[MountainKing]

We can dream I spose.

[scarecrow521]

Actually, I'd be kinda glad if it was the 20th. It'd give me more time to enjoy GHIII, instead of simply throwing it to the side when Rock Band releases.

[Kylekillgannon]

Actually, I'd be kinda glad if it was the 20th. It'd give me more time to enjoy GHIII, instead of simply throwing it to the side when Rock Band releases.

That's why I've decided not to bother with III

[PsycoCheerio]

I hope it's the 6th...I'm in Mexico on the 20th...

[masterx1918]

I'd say November 20th is the most likely date. It's pretty stupid of your gamestop to tell you November 6th. They should of at least told you a date later than November 20th that way it makes them look better when you get the game earlier.

[Phrank-E]

I hope it's the 6th...I'm in Mexico on the 20th...

I'll be in the south carribean on the 20th. Which is why I never pre-ordered it. I won't be here to pick it up :mad:

If it ships on the 6th... Then I can get it upon release. As it is, I'm afraid I might be a victim of short supply and may not have it for awhile. Although I am getting it (most likely) for PS3 and I figure I have a better shot at finding those on shelves than the Xbox versions.

[dethklok]

It doesn't matter to me when it comes out, but i would prefer earlier :D

[DShizzle1029]

Im just glad my Xbox 360 bricked this weekend and not around Xmas time when I would actually be getting Rock Band. However, God knows if I will even be getting a new 360 sent to me by then...

[ductyl]

Im just glad my Xbox 360 bricked this weekend and not around Xmas time when I would actually be getting Rock Band. However, God knows if I will even be getting a new 360 sent to me by then...

Yeah... let's hope you hit the right window to have it back early November ;)

- ductyl

[DShizzle1029]

Yup yup :o

I knew mine would brick, because it is a first gen Xbox 360, but I didnt expect it to happen two nights ago in the middle of my career gig in Guitar Hero 2. That explained the strange hesitation to continue the track in the middle of the song.

[SmokaCola]

Yup yup :o

I knew mine would brick, because it is a first gen Xbox 360, but I didnt expect it to happen two nights ago in the middle of my career gig in Guitar Hero 2. That explained the strange hesitation to continue the track in the middle of the song.


Mainly the 3 lights of death are caused by poor ventilation, so if you had your 360 on the carpet, vertical, in a closed area, no fan near it. That's probably why it "bricked". Or any combination of those, the best place for your 360 is to put it away from a wall and anything else, then either put a fan behind it or just mod the Nyko intercooler. You could get a Nyko intercooler ex i've heard they fixed it but i'm not too sure about it, I just cut the power part off my nyko fan and hooked the fans to an external power supply. So far i've had it almost a year (got it on the PS3 release date).

I can't really confirm this will help your 360 but I do know my friends "bricked" before me and I've had mine longer, he also had the system vertical with games and movies stacked beside it, no fan and it was pressed against the wall. Anyways, hope this bit of info helps and hopefully they'll put a heat sync in your 360 before they send it back (they should anyways).

[bumbousdude25]

...then either put a fan behind it or just mod the Nyko intercooler. You could get a Nyko intercooler ex i've heard they fixed it but i'm not too sure about it, I just cut the power part off my nyko fan and hooked the fans to an external power supply. So far i've had it almost a year (got it on the PS3 release date).

WHEW. GOOD. I'm glad people are starting to find out about the Nyko Intercooler. IT IS BAD. DO NOT BUY IT. BAD INTERCOOLER. BAD. NYKO INTERCOOLER=BAD. I bought mine a few months ago, used it for about a month or so, then my 360 bricked. I called MS and the guy said it was the Intercooler. It melts something inside the system that causes the system to stop working (maybe someone can clarify exactly what that is).

Anyway, don't get it. Buy another type of fan instead, like one that connects to the bottom of the 360. As long as it does not go through the power supply, you're okay.

[milesodanglers]

well i sure hope its the 6th because thats two weeks earlier then the 20th but idk im just waiting for an official announcement soon i hope. lets all just hope that we will be rocking hardcore come thanksgiving lol.

[MountainKing]

well i sure hope its the 6th because thats two weeks earlier then the 20th but idk im just waiting for an official announcement soon i hope. lets all just hope that we will be rocking hardcore come thanksgiving lol.

I think the idea is probably to have it out before Thanksgiving. I remember I took Guitar Hero over to a friends house on Thanksgiving and everyone loved it. It's the perfect time to show Rockband off and get the word out. People will see it, love it, and go tell their friends about it. That's good for all of us because the more a game sells, the better our chances are for a sequel and loads of DLC!

[SmokaCola]

WHEW. GOOD. I'm glad people are starting to find out about the Nyko Intercooler. IT IS BAD. DO NOT BUY IT. BAD INTERCOOLER. BAD. NYKO INTERCOOLER=BAD. I bought mine a few months ago, used it for about a month or so, then my 360 bricked. I called MS and the guy said it was the Intercooler. It melts something inside the system that causes the system to stop working (maybe someone can clarify exactly what that is).Anyway, don't get it. Buy another type of fan instead, like one that connects to the bottom of the 360. As long as it does not go through the power supply, you're okay.

Yeah man, I put my Nyko Intercooler on my system at x-mas time when I got it, played ok for 2 days then red lighted scared me so I took it off and my system worked. I really don't suggest getting the Nyko Intercooler because it WILL mess up your system unless you cut off the power part and wire the fans to an external power supply and you'll be fine :P keeps the system really cool, pretty much like it never turned on.

As for the "Nyko Intercooler EX" you could go with that, they replaced the power part with metal instead of plastic and something else I forgot, but it was that plastic part overheating/shortening out. The metal peice should be fine but I think that little 5V that it takes out of the system over time will harm the system. So just go with the Nyko Intercooler, cut off the power end and hook it up to like a 6V or 12V power supply.

[Brad_Lee]

I really don't see why HMX can't give us a release date. If they don't know it yet... that's not a good thing.

Also I thought Heavenly Sword was awful. Least my PS3 got some game time in... albeit only 5 hours.

[steelcurtain187]

The Gamestop I pre-ordered the special bundle at has it listed as November 6th as well. Let's hope for the best here! :o

[Thrashdragon]

I really don't see why HMX can't give us a release date. If they don't know it yet... that's not a good thing.

Been thinking the same thing lately. It's getting awfully close to the "assumed" release date to have nothing announced yet. I'm beginning to think we won't see it until December.

:(

[miketoast]

C'mon HMX announce the date!!! I have to put in for vacation days when this sucka comes out and I have to do it soon!!!!

[Magnet]

The release date for Harmonix's last game, GHE:RT80s, wasn't officially announced until 6/28. The game was released on 7/24. Don't take the absence of an official release date as a sign of delay.

[Bakkster]

Considering most people are more angry when a game is not released on the announced date, I'd rather have them announce a date when it's a sure thing, instead of announcing Nov. 6th then having a delay due to other reasons...

[Thrashdragon]

The release date for Harmonix's last game, GHE:RT80s, wasn't officially announced until 6/28. The game was released on 7/24. Don't take the absence of an official release date as a sign of delay.

True, but 80s was just a disc in a box, not the behemoth of Rock Band. Retailers need to know how many to order, how much space to set aside in their stores and stockrooms, etc...and it's hard for them to judge the true preorder numbers when the game doesn't even have a price yet, let alone a release date. Manufacturers need to know how many instruments to make, etc. If they delay the release date annoucement too long then I worry about major, major shortages (I think we're going to see sellouts irregardless, but preorder numbers always help). If the retailers knew, we'd have seen it leaked and posted on Joystiq or Kotaku by now.

It's making me nervous. Me want now.

[IbanezBassist_v2]

WHEW. GOOD. I'm glad people are starting to find out about the Nyko Intercooler. IT IS BAD. DO NOT BUY IT. BAD INTERCOOLER. BAD. NYKO INTERCOOLER=BAD. I bought mine a few months ago, used it for about a month or so, then my 360 bricked. I called MS and the guy said it was the Intercooler. It melts something inside the system that causes the system to stop working (maybe someone can clarify exactly what that is).

Anyway, don't get it. Buy another type of fan instead, like one that connects to the bottom of the 360. As long as it does not go through the power supply, you're okay.

The Nyko Intercooler has since been revised and is made with metal clips instead of plastic ones. Issue resolved.

[Bakkster]

Retailers need to know how many to order, how much space to set aside in their stores and stockrooms, etc...and it's hard for them to judge the true preorder numbers when the game doesn't even have a price yet, let alone a release date. Manufacturers need to know how many instruments to make, etc. If they delay the release date annoucement too long then I worry about major, major shortages (I think we're going to see sellouts irregardless, but preorder numbers always help).

Why would the announcement affect any of that? Production is all internal and doesn't depend on a release date announcement: just make as many as you think you may sell. People who REALLY want the preorder will preorder regardless, and the announcement will be made with plenty of time for retail orders to come in and get sorted out.

If anything there would be MORE shortages if they announced the release date now then had a manufacturing snag. All of a sudden they're 100,000 units short on their original release date and you have 100,000 pissed off people without copies, or even more pissed off people when the date gets pushed back to let manufacturing catch up.

[AVC808]

im not saying the release will be early on the 6th, but why does the release NEED to be circled near the party date and black friday. sure that will boost sales, but why would you hold back if it's ready to go closer to the date the other game is slated to come out?

they can still announce a new early date in october to give those planning to buy GH something to think twice about...then the huge release party can be closer to black friday because it would generate publicity an interest among those that dont follow games as closely as everyone else.

how often do you guys see stores open up, and then a week later they have their "official" grand opening?

[MountainKing]

I really don't see why HMX can't give us a release date. If they don't know it yet... that's not a good thing.

Also I thought Heavenly Sword was awful. Least my PS3 got some game time in... albeit only 5 hours.

I understand you being dissapointed in the length of the game, but if you think Heavenly Sword is awful then you might as well give up on gaming alltogether. That game is amazing from beginning to end. Much better story and acting than many big budget movies I've wasted time and money on. The combat is flawless, the sound and music is ridiculously good. To say it is awful AND that you spent 5 hours on it tells me you just wish you could have played it longer.

[ductyl]

how often do you guys see stores open up, and then a week later they have their "official" grand opening?

This is what's known as a soft opening. It's used to gauge the traffic the store is likely to receive and give the new employees some real-world training before the massive grand opening, as well as catch any potential snags in the newly installed systems.

A soft opening is usually undesirable with media. There really isn't much benefit to any of the parties involved, the game stores know how to handle release days and the game designers can't really change anything about the game at that point anyway.

There is a negative effect though, people are less likely to think as highly of a game which is released without their having known about it. If you hear a bunch of fanfare building to the release day, you're more likely to go pick it up. If you wander into a game store and see some game you've never heard of, you're less likely to do so.

Even if you hype it a week later for the "grand" release, the damage is done. A lot of it comes down to psychology, it becomes "that game you saw a couple weeks ago" and you already decided not to purchase it. They're trying to sell a product to somebody who already decided they don't want it. If it's a game that hasn't come out yet you can get more excited about the possibilities and the anticipation makes you want it more and more building to the release date. This way, they're introducing you to this amazing new product you never knew existed, they don't have to fight your preconceived notions, and you're far more open to suggestions as to how it will positively effect your life.

This is also a reason to hold off on information... if you can save your big amazing stuff until close to the release day, you'll have a lot more people (for lack of a better term) impulse buy your product.

Of course, we're all going to get it when it comes out regardless... all this marketing stuff is for the uncultured masses.

- ductyl

[trilidar]

I'm sure some of you already know this (it's pretty common knowledge now), but for those of you who don't here it is.

EB/Gamestop's pages for Rock Band were recently updated (like over this past weekend). For some reason the PS3 ver and its pieces now show a release date of Nov 6, while the X360 still shows Nov 20.

http://www.ebgames.com/search.asp?Ntk=TitleKeyword&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&Ntt=rock+band&N=0

This same info is also now echoed at Gamespot.

http://www.gamespot.com/search.html?type=11&stype=all&tag=search%3Bbutton&om_act=convert&om_clk=search&qs=rockband

However it should be noted that both Best Buy and Amazon still show Nov 20 for both ver, so who really knows what's going on.

Don't kill the messenger.
tril