Important DLC question @ HMX

[Coldplayer]

Harmonix, please answer me this question, since it may have influence on whether I buy a PS3 on Monday.

You said you will release DLC every week after the launch of the game. Will you release this content only on the american Marketplace/PSNStore? Or will you release it worldwide, although the game isn't out in Europe, so that we have all the DLC ready when the game is released? Or will you release all the DLC that the US already got on one day, the day of the european release of the game? Or will we just get one download per week after the european launch, just like the US did, and will we always be behind with the DLC then?
OR, will we get totally different DLC than the US?

I hope Sean, or anyone else who knows this can answer me those questions.
And if you say, you don't know yet, than it probably means you will release the Content only on the US marketplace/PSNStore first, right? :rolleyes:

And, maybe you can already tell me if the Xbox 360 version will be regionfree? :p

[Shadyoc]

I would also like to know this

[LogunnsBlade]

I too am facing the same dilemma. I want this game so much that I'm willing to do almost anything to get it. I have sent an email to EA & Harmonix & posted on here, so many threads about this with not getting much in the way of straight answers, but this is what I have been able to get: The PS3 DLC will be out on the US psn store upon RB's release & come out slightly faster in the UK/EU once the game has been relased (whenever that's going to happen! :confused: ) but to access the US DLC off the sony store, you need a US account with a US credit card (which most of us don't have unless you live in the US) but on the plus side, Rock Band on the PS3 is region free so a US copy will work on the consoles in the UK.

Now, this is where things seem just a little bit unfair & sort of ironic. On the Xbox 360, DLC will also be available on the US only at first, but as most of us know, creating a US account is very easy even if you don't live in the US & points are easy to buy off sites like ebay, but now this is the all important question & one I've been trying to find the answer to for some time... Will the 360 version of Rock Band be region locked to US or not? I would love it to be unlocked so I can get Rock Band on, (in my opinion the better of the two consoles), the 360. I know that many US games work on the UK 360 as I have quite a few including GH2 so I am hoping that Rock Band will work as I don't really want to buy a PS3, so I would most likely pick up a US 360 console to play on.

Plz can someone, anyone answer the questions that lots of non US gamers want the answers to plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!:(

[Catalytic]

Just another reason why America is the greatest country in the world!

This is just playful guys ... I am messing around, no need to flame :)

[Coldplayer]

I too am facing the same dilemma. I want this game so much that I'm willing to do almost anything to get it. I have sent an email to EA & Harmonix & posted on here, so many threads about this with not getting much in the way of straight answers, but this is what I have been able to get: The PS3 DLC will be out on the US psn store upon RB's release & come out slightly faster in the UK/EU once the game has been relased (whenever that's going to happen! :confused: ) but to access the US DLC off the sony store, you need a US account with a US credit card (which most of us don't have unless you live in the US) but on the plus side, Rock Band on the PS3 is region free so a US copy will work on the consoles in the UK.

Now, this is where things seem just a little bit unfair & sort of ironic. On the Xbox 360, DLC will also be available on the US only at first, but as most of us know, creating a US account is very easy even if you don't live in the US & points are easy to buy off sites like ebay, but now this is the all important question & one I've been trying to find the answer to for some time... Will the 360 version of Rock Band be region locked to US or not? I would love it to be unlocked so I can get Rock Band on, (in my opinion the better of the two consoles), the 360. I know that many US games work on the UK 360 as I have quite a few including GH2 so I am hoping that Rock Band will work as I don't really want to buy a PS3, so I would most likely pick up a US 360 console to play on.

Plz can someone, anyone answer the questions that lots of non US gamers want the answers to plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!:(

Hm. I tell you what I know.

As far as I know, you don't need an "american" creditcard to buy something from the US PSNStore. You jsut need a creditcard, I mean, a Creditcard is working worldwide, can't imagine that you would need an "American" one, whatever that means anyway.

Unfortunately, the 360 is actually making more problems than the PS3. Microsoft already announced sometime ago that you can no longer create an US Account if you don't live in the US. Well, you can create one, but it won't let you download all the stuff. I haven't tested it myself but I heard from some guys in some forum, that this is really true. Someone tried to download the Jericho demo from the US Marketplace and got a message "You can't download this demo from your location".

So, downloading new songs on the US Marketplace when you live in Europe will probably NOT WORK.

Downloading songs from the US PSNStore however should work. I will ask about the "American Creditcard" issue, but I think it works with every creditcard.

Well, anyway, if what you say is true, and the DLC will only be released in the US first, then I will buy the PS3 version, since it's more likely that I can access the US PSNStore and download the songs there.

[Shoeless]

It's possible to create an American account on PSN and get a legit credit card working to make purchases off said account. I won't post links here, since this is kind of a gray area, but there are plenty of PS3 centric sites around the world that have forum posts/articles on this very topic, with work around solutions.

For example in Singapore, they discovered that trying to create an American account with a VISA credit card would only work if it had an American billing address. But they also discovered that Mastercard DIDN'T require this, and so exploited the hell out of that to create American accounts and buy Calling All Cars, flOw and whatever.

Like I said, look around. The answers are out there.

[Coldplayer]

It's possible to create an American account on PSN and get a legit credit card working to make purchases off said account. I won't post links here, since this is kind of a gray area, but there are plenty of PS3 centric sites around the world that have forum posts/articles on this very topic, with work around solutions.

For example in Singapore, they discovered that trying to create an American account with a VISA credit card would only work if it had an American billing address. But they also discovered that Mastercard DIDN'T require this, and so exploited the hell out of that to create American accounts and buy Calling All Cars, flOw and whatever.

Like I said, look around. The answers are out there.

Thank god I have a Mastercard.
Thanks for the info!

So I'm pretty sure it will be the PS3 version for me now. Can't wait for the Who's Baba O'Riley.

[tf5_bassist]

This'll be interesting to see, as far as the differences between regions for DLC...

Catalytic: Your avatar is amazing!
"Look, I've got a hole in me pocket!"
http://community.rockband.com/file/pic/user/Catalytic_120.jpg

[toefer]

Thank god I have a Mastercard.
Thanks for the info!

So I'm pretty sure it will be the PS3 version for me now. Can't wait for the Who's Baba O'Riley.

A friend of mine moved to India a few years ago, but a few months ago flew over to Singapore and bought a PS3 (he got the 60gb one for roughly the equivalent of US$420). Anyhow, he was able to set up a US account from there, to purchase stuff. I don't know what type of credit card he uses but whatever it is it works, so I figured I'd add another confirmation that it's possible.

[Shadyoc]

Sweet! I might buy a PS3 then :)

[stlbss]

Don't forget the reliability issues. PS3 = no red ring of death.

The PS3 also runs much quieter than the Xbox360. I've got a Wii, PS3 and Xbox360, and the 360 is by far the loudest of the three. Think small lawnmower outside your window loud. You can hardly hear the PS3 across the room, the lights on the front are the most reliable way to tell that it's on. The Wii is somewhere between the two, but closer to the PS3 in noise level.

I ordered RB for the PS3, primarily because I don't play a ton online, and I'd rather be sure that 3 days after I get the game my console isn't going to die...and be shipped back to Microsoft....for a month.

[Coldplayer]

Don't forget the reliability issues. PS3 = no red ring of death.

The PS3 also runs much quieter than the Xbox360. I've got a Wii, PS3 and Xbox360, and the 360 is by far the loudest of the three. Think small lawnmower outside your window loud. You can hardly hear the PS3 across the room, the lights on the front are the most reliable way to tell that it's on. The Wii is somewhere between the two, but closer to the PS3 in noise level.

I ordered RB for the PS3, primarily because I don't play a ton online, and I'd rather be sure that 3 days after I get the game my console isn't going to die...and be shipped back to Microsoft....for a month.

Well, every console has it's vantages and disadvantages. I mean, I already have a 360, that's why I'd prefer the 360 version, if only I could download the DLC then. Besides, Achievements are awesome.
Also, I'm a little bit scared that the PS3 may look not as good as the 360 version because that's the case with Guitar Hero 3 (According to IGN) and many other Multi Console Games.

Well, but I want to be able to download new songs, so it will probably be the PS3 version. Besides, I would have bought a Ps3 someday anyway.

[Shadyoc]

I'd also prefer to get the Xbox 360 version but I highly doubt it will be region free and also because of the DLC too!

[toefer]

Also, when it comes to the graphics, PS3 owners might just be able to breathe a sigh of relief as the PS3 version of Rock Band seems to be doing just fine. Mind you, it's a little difficult to tell sometimes, since Rock Band deliberately drops in grainy filters to occasionally simulate a seedy, super-8 amateur filming of a concert, but the graphics look to be on par with the 360 version, and if there are differences, they seem to be negligible. Drake was quick to reinforce that the Harmonix team has been tweaking the graphics for Rock Band to ensure that there's no chugging framerate or clear-cut superior version between the two consoles.


That's at least somewhat reassuring. If you haven't read their article about playing the PS3 version, you can check it out here:

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/828/828800p1.html

[Zammel]

Don't forget the reliability issues. PS3 = no red ring of death.

The PS3 also runs much quieter than the Xbox360. I've got a Wii, PS3 and Xbox360, and the 360 is by far the loudest of the three. Think small lawnmower outside your window loud. You can hardly hear the PS3 across the room, the lights on the front are the most reliable way to tell that it's on. The Wii is somewhere between the two, but closer to the PS3 in noise level.

I ordered RB for the PS3, primarily because I don't play a ton online, and I'd rather be sure that 3 days after I get the game my console isn't going to die...and be shipped back to Microsoft....for a month.

You might want to send yours in, then, because mine isn't that loud. Sure, it is loud, louder than the other two, but not that loud.

As for the topic at hand, I bet that the 360 version will be region locked. That seems to be par for the course for the majority of 360 games. So if getting the game on the first day is super important, getting the PS3 version may be the way to go. However, who knows how region coding for DLC will work.

[Coldplayer]

Thanks for the link toefer, I will take a look at that article, and nice to hear that the PS3 version will look just as good as the Xbox 360 version.


You might want to send yours in, then, because mine isn't that loud. Sure, it is loud, louder than the other two, but not that loud.
Mine isn't really loud too. Actually it is quite quiet. Sure, it's my third Xbox and my first one was pretty loud too. But this one is actually quiet. The Ps3 may still be more quiet though.


As for the topic at hand, I bet that the 360 version will be region locked. That seems to be par for the course for the majority of 360 games. So if getting the game on the first day is super important, getting the PS3 version may be the way to go. However, who knows how region coding for DLC will work.

Actually, most of the newest Xbox 360 titles are regionfree! Bioshock, Project Gotham Racing 4, Jericho and even Guitar Hero III (!!) - they are all regionfree.

So, I actually think that the 360 version of Rockband could be regionfree. But still, the issue with the DLC remains. You can't download form the US Marketplace with an European Xbox anymore. (as far as I know)

[LogunnsBlade]

Hi,

As with most of us here I have a 360 & live in the UK. I have a US account on XBOX as well as a UK one & I have had no problems with DLC what so ever (all my GH2 DLC is off the US account!) Yes, It was hard to get going as hotmail is not as easy to get a .com (US account) but it can be done. I only set my US account up in August 2 months after it was said it could no longer be done. The only things I can download off the market place are the movies & TV stuff (waste of money if you ask me, that's why I have sky) but everything else is fine... Demos, Trailers, Themes, Pic packs, XBLA & DLC all are fine.

Hope this helps

I hope that Rock Band will end up being region free so I don't have to change anything with my console coz I am in no way shape or form intending to get a PS3 (Rock Band is good but not a £300 console plus £180-£200 for import game plus WTF is the donggle thing??? ive me a wire anyday lol:D) I'll just sell all my xbox games & console & buy a US one instead & just import my games from US.

[Coldplayer]

Hi,

As with most of us here I have a 360 & live in the UK. I have a US account on XBOX as well as a UK one & I have had no problems with DLC what so ever (all my GH2 DLC is off the US account!) Yes, It was hard to get going as hotmail is not as easy to get a .com (US account) but it can be done. I only set my US account up in August 2 months after it was said it could no longer be done. The only things I can download off the market place are the movies & TV stuff (waste of money if you ask me, that's why I have sky) but everything else is fine... Demos, Trailers, Themes, Pic packs, XBLA & DLC all are fine.

Hope this helps

I hope that Rock Band will end up being region free so I don't have to change anything with my console coz I am in no way shape or form intending to get a PS3 (Rock Band is good but not a £300 console plus £180-£200 for import game plus WTF is the donggle thing??? ive me a wire anyday lol:D) I'll just sell all my xbox games & console & buy a US one instead & just import my games from US.

Hm, strange. Well, I still can't be sure, you say it works, other people I know said they can't download some demos anymore etc. It's too risky if you ask me.

I'll go with the PS3 version.
Maybe the 360 version isn't regionfree anyway, then PS3 will be the only option after all.

[BathTub]

Hmm, I'm in NZ looking at getting a 360 for Rock Band, I sure hope there aren't region restrictions. Is NZ bundled up with the UK, or a separate group with Australia?

[Shadyoc]

Where would you say was the best place to buy a US Xbox 360 [in the UK]?

[stlbss]

You might want to send yours in, then, because mine isn't that loud. Sure, it is loud, louder than the other two, but not that loud.

As for the topic at hand, I bet that the 360 version will be region locked. That seems to be par for the course for the majority of 360 games. So if getting the game on the first day is super important, getting the PS3 version may be the way to go. However, who knows how region coding for DLC will work.

It's a first edition 360, bought it on launch day 2005. So I'm fairly confident it will be sent in pretty soon anyway. Which is why I'm getting RB for PS3. Seriously, that thing is whisper quiet.

[Terranova]

Just thought i would add something here in regards to getting PS3 DLC from the U.S, the only card that worked outside of the U.S was Master card as someone said you didn't need a billing address to register it and many were exploiting that, Sony have now closed that loophole you can no longer register a new card for use outside the U.S, if you already have one registered then you can still use it Sony haven't yet closed that loophole.

[AVC808]

Just thought i would add something here in regards to getting PS3 DLC from the U.S, the only card that worked outside of the U.S was Master card as someone said you didn't need a billing address to register it and many were exploiting that, Sony have now closed that loophole you can no longer register a new card for use outside the U.S, if you already have one registered then you can still use it Sony haven't yet closed that loophole.

that's unfortunate for our overseas bandmates... i recall reading a while back that you could buy those prepaid visa cards. would you be able to use those? like say coldplayer paypal'd a US member to get him a prepaid CC and just give him the #s in an email or something.

[Coldplayer]

Just thought i would add something here in regards to getting PS3 DLC from the U.S, the only card that worked outside of the U.S was Master card as someone said you didn't need a billing address to register it and many were exploiting that, Sony have now closed that loophole you can no longer register a new card for use outside the U.S, if you already have one registered then you can still use it Sony haven't yet closed that loophole.

Wait, wait. You mean, if I would get a new credit card today, it would'nt work? But if I already have a Mastercard, then it will work?
Or do you mean, if I haven't create a PSN Account so far it won't work anymore?

I hope it will work, because I bought a PS3 today, mainly because of the US PSN access it gives me.

(Haven't tried to create an account yet, but will do later or tomorrow probably)

[Bizkit]

Or do you mean, if I haven't create a PSN Account so far it won't work anymore?


I think that's what he meant. If you already have an Account then it would work. All Accounts which will be opened from now (or whenever Sony fixed that) on from outside US with a credit card will not work.

[Coldplayer]

God, nooooo.

Tried to create an US Account today and guess what, it didn't work. Well, I have access to the US Store, but I can't pay with my creditcard, probably because the billing adress is outside of the US.

What should I do now?
Are there any other ways to pay for the downloads from the US store? :(

God, PLEASE HARMONIX - JUST RELEASE THE DLC ON EVERY MARKETPLACE, SO THAT I CAN BUY THEM!!!

[Shoeless]

God, nooooo.

Tried to create an US Account today and guess what, it didn't work. Well, I have access to the US Store, but I can't pay with my creditcard, probably because the billing adress is outside of the US.

What should I do now?
Are there any other ways to pay for the downloads from the US store? :(

God, PLEASE HARMONIX - JUST RELEASE THE DLC ON EVERY MARKETPLACE, SO THAT I CAN BUY THEM!!!

Okay, if all else fails, try this:

https://www.wirecard.com/wirecard/app

This is a "virtual credit card" system that allows you to transfer funds from your credit card to an online one that the PSN seems to accept. I know a few Australians who have used this to buy things off the American PSN, so it should work for the UK as well.

[Coldplayer]

Okay, if all else fails, try this:

https://www.wirecard.com/wirecard/app

This is a "virtual credit card" system that allows you to transfer funds from your credit card to an online one that the PSN seems to accept. I know a few Australians who have used this to buy things off the American PSN, so it should work for the UK as well.

I'm not living in the UK, but yeah, in Europe.

Anyway, I know about Wirecard and I thought about it.

But I thought about registering a Wirecard, but with a fake US adress. Because I think that's probably the reason why my creditcard doesn't work.
But I'm not sure at the moment if there would be any legal problems if I really do this with a fake name and adress.

Those Australian people you know, do you know if they registered their Wirecard with their real adress and name?

[Shoeless]

This might answer some of your questions. Hope it helps...

http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/showthread.php?t=75023

[Coldplayer]

This might answer some of your questions. Hope it helps...

http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/showthread.php?t=75023

Thanks for the link!

I tried it, but so far it didn't work. But maybe it was because of the adress I used. So I wanted to try the NY adress on that link but I could'nt try it yet because the connection to the PS Network is lousy at the moment. I'll try later and keep you updated.

[Coldplayer]

So. I wasted the whole day and 10 Euros for Wirecard and it still doesn't work. I really gave up hope. Now the Playstation keeps telling me that "your creditcard information can't be updated, try again later". But I checked a lot of websites today and I found a post where someone is saying that Sony kinda updated the security for creditcards and to make your creditcard work you really have to write everything that is on your creditcard exactly like it is written on the card. Anyway, it probably doesn't work because of my adress, which isn't an US adress.

Man. I really have no ideas left.

[Shadyoc]

damn. I really hope you find a way! If you do I'm gonna do the same and buy a PS3

[Coldplayer]

damn. I really hope you find a way! If you do I'm gonna do the same and buy a PS3

I wish there would be a way, but I don't think so.
If I come across a solution I will tell you, but don't get your hopes up high. :(

[AVC808]

hey coldplayer have you looked into the prepaid visa cards? technically they are debit cards, not credit cards, but people (in the US) who are leery of using their own credit cards seem to be able to use them without problems.

unfortunately i have no desire to buy anything from the PSN so i dont understand fully how they work. i dont know if you still have to supply an address for a prepaid card, and i dont understand how they could even verify if it is a legitimate address or real name.

i suggested earlier in this thread you find a willing forum member here in the US to help you acquire a prepaid card, as id assume you could just send $ to the willing partner and that person would email you the card# and any pin codes.

if it wasnt for the chance of ID theft or bad credit i would gladly help you out. (not suggesting at all that you would do such a thing, more worried about information getting into the wrong hands by a hacker or thief or whatever, as sharing any of my personal information with anyone opens the door to such a thing). good luck!

[Coldplayer]

hey coldplayer have you looked into the prepaid visa cards? technically they are debit cards, not credit cards, but people (in the US) who are leery of using their own credit cards seem to be able to use them without problems.

unfortunately i have no desire to buy anything from the PSN so i dont understand fully how they work. i dont know if you still have to supply an address for a prepaid card, and i dont understand how they could even verify if it is a legitimate address or real name.

i suggested earlier in this thread you find a willing forum member here in the US to help you acquire a prepaid card, as id assume you could just send $ to the willing partner and that person would email you the card# and any pin codes.

if it wasnt for the chance of ID theft or bad credit i would gladly help you out. (not suggesting at all that you would do such a thing, more worried about information getting into the wrong hands by a hacker or thief or whatever, as sharing any of my personal information with anyone opens the door to such a thing). good luck!

Thank you for all your suggestions AV!
It would be an idea that might work, but I'm also thinking that it's a little bit too risky, especially because I don't really know anyone here well enough.

[AVC808]

Thank you for all your suggestions AV!
It would be an idea that might work, but I'm also thinking that it's a little bit too risky, especially because I don't really know anyone here well enough.

i totally understand the risk factor. but i think by now you sort of have a grasp for respectable members. and initially you may start off with a small amount that wouldnt really break the bank if you got scammed (like $15 for one downloadable album). :) i have a feeling you'll give in to the temptation and gamble

[Coldplayer]

i totally understand the risk factor. but i think by now you sort of have a grasp for respectable members. and initially you may start off with a small amount that wouldnt really break the bank if you got scammed (like $15 for one downloadable album). :) i have a feeling you'll give in to the temptation and gamble

Well, yeah, actually, you're right, and if someone like Apples or Sean (lol) would do this for me, I think I would try it. :)

But, there is still a little bit time until the game and especially DLC is released. But when the time is ready, I may do this as a last resort.

[Shoeless]

Okay, there's still one other possible alternative that you can't explore just yet, though I'd be very surprised if you weren't able to give it a go by 2008.

Sony has already instituted a pre-paid card system in Japan, where people can go to stores and purchase these things and simply input the codes into the PSN to add funds to their wallets. Every once in a while these cards have gone up for sale on eBay. The North American PSN is scheduled to have something similar (even now, when you buy something, the option to use this card is given to you) but it actually hasn't been implemented in North America yet.

When those cards finally do go on sale, I wouldn't be surprised if enterprising eBayers--or even just the usual online suspects like PlayAsia--will start offering these cards on sale to non-North American residents. It's a foregone conclusion now that the cards are coming, if Sony has already taken the trouble to add them as a purchasing option within the PSN, so now it's just a matter of when.

That's probably the safest way to achieve your goal.

[Coldplayer]

Okay, there's still one other possible alternative that you can't explore just yet, though I'd be very surprised if you weren't able to give it a go by 2008.

Sony has already instituted a pre-paid card system in Japan, where people can go to stores and purchase these things and simply input the codes into the PSN to add funds to their wallets. Every once in a while these cards have gone up for sale on eBay. The North American PSN is scheduled to have something similar (even now, when you buy something, the option to use this card is given to you) but it actually hasn't been implemented in North America yet.

When those cards finally do go on sale, I wouldn't be surprised if enterprising eBayers--or even just the usual online suspects like PlayAsia--will start offering these cards on sale to non-North American residents. It's a foregone conclusion now that the cards are coming, if Sony has already taken the trouble to add them as a purchasing option within the PSN, so now it's just a matter of when.

That's probably the safest way to achieve your goal.

Yeah, I thought about this too, since I have seen this option. But unfortunately there still is no release date for those cards in the US, and by the time they are released there the game and the DLC is probably already released in Europe too, so... :(

But thanks anyway.

I really may try to access the US Marketplace with my 360, because if so, I may buy the 360 version instead. (although I would prefer the PS3 version...but no DLC would suck)