Accessories not coming until '08

[MasterTick]

Today at GameStop, I recieved an email from corporate stating that the PS3/360 extra guitar, drums, and mic will NOT arrive in stores until 2008.

So all you can purchase in 2007 is the game itself and the bundle.

[KingofQUEEN48]

im not gonna belive you with out proof

[AeroTrain]

im not gonna belive you with out proof

Believe it. They havn't talked or made a public statment about anything but the bundle for months. Sorry.

It's probably just a question of producing enough instruments by release time. The demand is there, so sell the big bundle to the people who want it most.

[Magnet]

I'm pretty sure corporate also sent out e-mails to Gamestop that the game would be $200 not too long ago. Not saying it's wrong, but nothing is official until it comes from EA/MTV/HMX.

[AeroTrain]

I'm pretty sure corporate also sent out e-mails to Gamestop that the game would be $200 not too long ago. Not saying it's wrong, but nothing is official until it comes from EA/MTV/HMX.

Fair enough. It is not a fact, but it sure is looking that way.

[foolosophy]

Why would they sell the game separately then? Why not wait until they decide to release the peripherals? I know probably people are thinking the whole, friends buying together scenario but it just seems a little weird that they would do this.

[AeroTrain]

Why would they sell the game separately then? Why not wait until they decide to release the peripherals? I know probably people are thinking the whole, friends buying together scenario but it just seems a little weird that they would do this.

I think the game probably will be compatible with atleast GH I & II controllers. Why they still haven't stated it directly is beyond me.

[drno830]

If this is true, then the PS3 could not have a full band experience. The way the ps2 controllers work now, you can't whammy or ho/po, (on GHII that is) but maybe it will be different with rock band.

[Symphonite]

I doubt this. That would mean that 4 players could not play locally until next year unless they already have a 360 controller.

[Zammel]

Why would they sell the game separately then? Why not wait until they decide to release the peripherals? I know probably people are thinking the whole, friends buying together scenario but it just seems a little weird that they would do this.

I think that this is the scenario that a lot of people are doing. While $169 is a steal for a game and 3 instrument controllers, it is still a lot of money for a game. Therefore, I am buying the bundle, my friends will pitch in and end up with the mic and drums, and buy their own copies of the game.

It is also pretty safe to assume that the Guitar Hero guitars will work with RB, and people will use those to play the Guitar career exclusively.

[Reaper0563]

http://amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/104-9534173-4087909?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=rock+band&x=0&y=0

ebgames is not the only one, according to amazon the individual peripherals are $80 for drums and $80 for guitar (360) and $60 (PS3) and $30 for the mic, this has been the same for a while but it says Jan 31, 2008 for all the peripherals. :confused:

however, it also says that the bundles are "not available" i assume that means they've sold out which is a little hard to believe that they've sold out this soon, and it says the release for the bundle and individual game is November 20 still, so i don't know if this is official or reliable, amazon could be wrong but it isn't a good sign. I know for a fact that they used to have it listed as all components (bundle, game, and peripherals) as coming out on Nov 20, so it has been updated and recently. :(

[ParliamentFunkadelic]

This would be complete bull****. I just want the game and drums....... I already have a 360 guitar.

[Eman311]

looks like amazon stopped taking preorders.

[ParliamentFunkadelic]

where the hell is the announcement from harmonix/ea/mtv on this? I need to know if I should preorder the bundle (I will only do this if they don't have the drums available seperately on the release date for some lame reason)?

[masterx1918]

i'll be pissed if I can't buy just a drum set.

[Zammel]

looks like amazon stopped taking preorders.

It sure does. I was going to pre-order off of Amazon, but I was down at a GameStop the other day, so I decided to reserve a bundle while I was there. It looks like that ended up being a good choice.

[trilidar]

It may not be EA/MTV confirmed, but EB Games has changed all of their solo pieces to new 2008 dates:

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

So basically now I'm FORCED to use the crappy included wired controller and my old BS GH2 controller.

What a serious slap in the face to the X360 crowd. Apparently GH3's crowd are the only one's who'll get to rock out wirelessly this Christmas. Very, very sad.

Here's hoping the wireless GH3 controller works with RB, because I guess I'll just have to buy a second and skip giving the extra money to MTV.

tril

[Reaper0563]

i hear ya, i was looking forward to preordering on amazon, but looks like i was a bit late :p , oh well. I won't be able to drive out and get on friday or anytime the next week, no car. But all i wanted was the drums too, sucks that the only option might be the bundle.

[Apples]

If this is confirmed to be true, I could easily purchase an extra bundle or two and then parcel them out at cost to interested parties. Some people are only going to want game+drums, second controller for bass, microphone, or some combination thereof.

Provided this is true, I will start a thread closer to release date to gauge interest.

[elliott4179]

I would definately be interested in a second guitar. Thanks.

[KingofQUEEN48]

I think the game probably will be compatible with atleast GH I & II controllers. Why they still haven't stated it directly is beyond me.

yes this has been talked about many times the GHII controllers work with RB

[Bakkster]

Why would they sell the game separately then? Why not wait until they decide to release the peripherals? I know probably people are thinking the whole, friends buying together scenario but it just seems a little weird that they would do this.

Only peripheral that you can't find a replacement for is the drum controller. You can use a GH2 guitar (unless you're on PS3, maybe?) and USB mic.

I can see this being the case. Production is a huge *****. If they aren't going to have enough to do both, I'd rather they have bundles so you can get everything at the discounted price, rather than make people start buying them individually when bundles run out.

[masterx1918]

in other words force us to pay $180 instead of $120 or so?

[Tin2k6]

Look at it this way, ebay will be full of spare instruments that people dont want :D

[vtjustinb]

in other words force us to pay $180 instead of $120 or so?

Yup.

We love Harmonix, but they are a business after all.

It would probably be guided by feasible constraints like initial offering supplies, but I wouldn't doubt the fact people either have to go all or nothing is a nice strategical business perk.

[Terranova]

Well it kind of makes me glad that Rock band is a 08 release for Europe, hopefully by the time we get it we wont have the same delay problems.

[Bakkster]

in other words force us to pay $180 instead of $120 or so?

Yup.

We love Harmonix, but they are a business after all.

It would probably be guided by feasible constraints like initial offering supplies, but I wouldn't doubt the fact people either have to go all or nothing is a nice strategical business perk.

Here's my thought:
The bundle is $170, subsidized from purchasing separately.
Buying the game and one peripheral (guitar or drums) would run about $120, and would cost upwards of $200 if you decided at a later point to get the full set.

I figure if HMX really wanted to screw us, they would sell everything separately and you'd end up spending $200 to get just one set. Also, considering a fair majority of players want all the peripherals, this seems to be the demographic to cater to at release.

Now, assuming you don't want one of the peripherals, or just want one of the three. EBay/Craigslist is for you. Set the price somewhere between the discounted bundle price and the expected retail price and everyone wins.

I guess all I'm saying is that this is the opposite of screwing us.

[miketoast]

Here's my thought:
The bundle is $170, subsidized from purchasing separately.
Buying the game and one peripheral (guitar or drums) would run about $120, and would cost upwards of $200 if you decided at a later point to get the full set.

I figure if HMX really wanted to screw us, they would sell everything separately and you'd end up spending $200 to get just one set. Also, considering a fair majority of players want all the peripherals, this seems to be the demographic to cater to at release.

Now, assuming you don't want one of the peripherals, or just want one of the three. EBay/Craigslist is for you. Set the price somewhere between the discounted bundle price and the expected retail price and everyone wins.

I guess all I'm saying is that this is the opposite of screwing us.

That's the way to go...

[vtjustinb]

Here's my thought:
The bundle is $170, subsidized from purchasing separately.
Buying the game and one peripheral (guitar or drums) would run about $120, and would cost upwards of $200 if you decided at a later point to get the full set.

I figure if HMX really wanted to screw us, they would sell everything separately and you'd end up spending $200 to get just one set. Also, considering a fair majority of players want all the peripherals, this seems to be the demographic to cater to at release.

Now, assuming you don't want one of the peripherals, or just want one of the three. EBay/Craigslist is for you. Set the price somewhere between the discounted bundle price and the expected retail price and everyone wins.

I guess all I'm saying is that this is the opposite of screwing us.

Right, the bundle is cheaper than purchasing the perifs separate--there's no debating that. That's kind of the point of a bundle. :P

Now before I clarify I will contend that 1.) this delay may be totally unfounded since it hasn't been confirmed 2.) If it is true it could be primarily driven by supply problems and not economics.

But my point is by not making perifs available in the Christmas season it maxes out their per-sale figures. You couldn't simply make the game $170 or nothing, because there are people that simply can't afford that, but for those who will be purchasing the game you are guarenteeing they'll either spend the cost of the game, or the cost of the entire bundle.

So all of the moms wanting to get rock band for the kids this christmas will have one option - $170. All of the early-adopters for the game will have the same option - $170. It's like my cell company--200 text messages is too few for me, but the next option up is 1500. Ideally I need something inbetween, but because that's my only option and there's no way I could make do with the meager offering I'm stuck shelling out $10 a month for 1000 text messages I don't use. By making the difference between the two so great, the people who are on the fence with the small offering are almost forced to go for the larger and they make twice as much.

Like people have mentioned, ebay and craigslist will make things easier, but I just reject the notion that if this was a financial decision from the publisher it was in our best interests (and that's publisher as in EA/MTV, not harmonix).

[AVC808]

by not offering the stand alone periphs they stand to sell a lot of bundles this holiday season, but i think there will be a bunch of pretty pissed off people if they dont come out with just the drums (not drum game combo) because we know we can use older guitars, but how are people supposed to have a drum off. no one would buy two bundles for themselves. luckily me and a friend are both picking up bundles so we wont have any issues, but that wont be the case for everyone.

[Rocker2]

by not offering the stand alone periphs they stand to sell a lot of bundles this holiday season

bingo they sell just bundles till 2008 so they can make a lot of money. Then in 2008 when people want to do cooperative mode they make even more money.