PS3 sold down the river in the UK!?

[mazda116]

ok whats happening with Rockband in the UK?...I imported Rockband 1 from the USA as I though ok 3-4 months down the line it will be released here and I can then get the new songs ..nearly a year later im still waiting for the PS3 release and I see there is a Rockband 2!!....this sucks. There is no way i'll be getting RB2 as I feel you have sold us PS3 owners in the UK down the river. GH4 is looking promising!

[Masran]

New songs? Are you saying you don't have any of the DLC? You know you can get a virtual credit card from somewhere like www.entropay.com and then download the songs from the US Store.

[Ventura]

Mate, we don't even have the 360 version down here in Australia, and as much as that should influence my decision to purchase Rock Band 2, I will be importing the ps3 version as soon as it's available just like I did the first all those months ago.

It's up to you, of course, but when I see it on Ebay I know I'm not gonna be able to help myself. Don't fight it :)

[CaptainFeral]

Your beef is more with your nation's government than it is Harmonix. There's a reason why the UK gets most things late, and when it does its usually heavily edited.

[Masran]

Your beef is more with your nation's government than it is Harmonix. There's a reason why the UK gets most things late, and when it does its usually heavily edited.
I don't think the UK Government is blocking Rock Band on PS3. Or, now that I think on it, any of the European governments. Unless I missed some EU call conference about the evils of rhythm games on Sony consoles :P

[mazda116]

Thats rubbish ...the fact is Harmonix have made no attempt to launch RB1 in the UK. They are even launching in Sweden, Italy etc but no UK, other companies dont have a problem launching games in the UK. GH has never had problem launching here.

[CaptainFeral]

I don't think the UK Government is blocking Rock Band on PS3. Or, now that I think on it, any of the European governments. Unless I missed some EU call conference about the evils of rhythm games on Sony consoles :P

It's not that, it's just hard to release PAL media. Keeps getting harder and harder every year. Eventually, if things keep going as they are now, game companies might not even bother releasing PAL versions.

[Kelvis]

Thats rubbish ...the fact is Harmonix have made no attempt to launch RB1 in the UK. They are even launching in Sweden, Italy etc but no UK, other companies dont have a problem launching games in the UK. GH has never had problem launching here.

Isn't it a case of some kind of exclusivity deal with Xbox?

[Masran]

Thats rubbish ...the fact is Harmonix have made no attempt to launch RB1 in the UK. They are even launching in Sweden, Italy etc but no UK, other companies dont have a problem launching games in the UK. GH has never had problem launching here.
Er, Rock Band is out in the UK. I have it for my 360. All of the European countries that have/are getting Rock Band are only getting it for the 360 thus far.


It's not that, it's just hard to release PAL media. Keeps getting harder and harder every year. Eventually, if things keep going as they are now, game companies might not even bother releasing PAL versions.
Ah, wasn't even thinking at all along those lines.

[Zarhawk]

Isn't it a case of some kind of exclusivity deal with Xbox?

I'm pretty sure it is.

[mazda116]

what you mean its an exclusive deal on xbox in the uk?..coz its certainly not that across the board is it.

[Masran]

what you mean its an exclusive deal on xbox in the uk?..coz its certainly not that across the board is it.
It's out on X360 first in the European countries. Like what is going to happen with Rock Band 2. I had to import Rock Band for the PS3 from the US, and I'm just waiting for Rock Band on PS3 to be released here so I can buy another Strat easily.

[ThornDavis]

Your beef is more with your nation's government than it is Harmonix. There's a reason why the UK gets most things late, and when it does its usually heavily edited.

What counts as 'most things'? And what does "usually" heavily edited mean? And what's any of it got to do with the government? What, in fact, does this post even mean?

[mazda116]

well im not waisting my hard earned money on a game / company thats not going to support the console I have. So I bid farewell to the money grabbers and I will be looking to those companies that are going to support PS3. Anyone wanna buy RB1 in the UK with 2 guitars drums etc?

[Masran]

well im not waisting my hard earned money on a game / company thats not going to support the console I have. So I bid farewell to the money grabbers and I will be looking to those companies that are going to support PS3. Anyone wanna buy RB1 in the UK with 2 guitars drums etc?
I'll happily take one of the guitars off you. And fair enough, I feel a bit put out, but at least I know I'll probably be able to import Rock Band 2 around the time of its launch in the States. Hate to be a European 360 owner, as they will no doubt have to wait longer than me. :P

[CaptainFeral]

well im not waisting my hard earned money on a game / company thats not going to support the console I have. So I bid farewell to the money grabbers and I will be looking to those companies that are going to support PS3. Anyone wanna buy RB1 in the UK with 2 guitars drums etc?

Good luck finding one of those PS3 supporting companies, that doesn't even seem to include Square-Enix anymore.

[Masran]

Good luck finding one of those PS3 supporting companies, that doesn't even seem to include Square-Enix anymore.
I watched the announcement for Final Fantasy XIII and thought "Excellent, I can get it for my 360 now." It was only later I thought "Oh, burn for Sony."

[sa_nick]

Dah! Haronix are the MAKERS of the game. EA (and to some extent, MTV) are the ones who are in control of releasing it.

[Masran]

Dah! Haronix are the MAKERS of the game. EA (and to some extent, MTV) are the ones who are in control of releasing it.
I wasn't going to get into that discussion. I think it's already come to its conclusion in mazda116's mind.

[mazda116]

ok.. but dont tell me Harmonix have NO say on what happens with their product.
They must have some say...if you invented somthing and someone else promised to market if for you you would want to retain at least SOME control on what happens to it. It must be the same with Harmonix!

[Masran]

ok.. but dont tell me Harmonix have NO say on what happens with their product.
They must have some say...if you invented somthing and someone else promised to market if for you you would want to retain at least SOME control on what happens to it. It must be the same with Harmonix!
Something just doesn't seem to right with the releases, admittedly. I'm going to mention licensing as a problem, as worn out a reason as it seems. But EA is the publisher. Maybe EA just asked whether they were happy with a partial European release, or just releasing on one console without discussing when they would release the other versions, and HMX just said "Yes" so the product was out there.

[sa_nick]

Also, lets not forget that because of EA's crazy pricing over in the UK it's probably cheaper to import the game anyway.

[mazda116]

oh well Masran what does it matter...the fact is I spent nearly 250 quid on this game , I know my choice, in the hope that by now I would get some support with the game being released here in the UK. Now RB2 is being released? ..na it sucks mate..It aint gunna happen here.

[Masran]

PS3 by Christmas? I know what you mean, but if you haven't been downloading the DLC from the US Store, you have been missing out on a lot.

[DonCryptic]

Its getting harder and harder to make PAL games? Just make the game region free for 360 (as it is natively region free for PS3) as it should be. Im sure the Periphials aren't harder to make for PAL regions...

[mazda116]

How can i download from the USA store?... it dont accept UK credit cards

[CaptainFeral]

Its getting harder and harder to make PAL games? Just make the game region free for 360 (as it is natively region free for PS3) as it should be. Im sure the Periphials aren't harder to make for PAL regions...

It's not a software difficulty, it's a political difficulty.

[mazda116]

"Its getting harder and harder to make PAL games? Just make the game region free for 360 (as it is natively region free for PS3) as it should be. Im sure the Periphials aren't harder to make for PAL regions..."


I dont give a toss about the 360 version this is about the PS3 version being released in the UK!

[Masran]

How can i download from the USA store?... it dont accept UK credit cards
Make another account on your PS3. Use www.entropay.com to get a Virtual Credit Card. Setup your PSN with a fake US address, and then you can access the US store with your fake address and fake credit card.

If that is a bit too simple an explanation, I'll go have a look at my PS3 and figure out a more detailed process. I don't know if I mentioned, but 154 songs in total on my PS3. I can even get screenshots proving I'm in Britain, just so you know I ain't lying :P

[mazda116]

ok ..I have a USA account so I just need to check out this entropay. ok cheers.

[CaptainFeral]

"Its getting harder and harder to make PAL games? Just make the game region free for 360 (as it is natively region free for PS3) as it should be. Im sure the Periphials aren't harder to make for PAL regions..."


I dont give a toss about the 360 version this is about the PS3 version being released in the UK!

So your problem isn't even with Rock Band not getting released. Your problem is that you picked a console that isn't doing to well when it comes to the gaming market.

inb4 someone goes "omg thats fanboyism"
No, it isn't. Sony has been having financial problems lately (not just because of the PS3, they've been bigger financial issues in other sectors), hence why Microsoft is able to release games on their console first. Also why Sony is losing exclusive titles by the month (even Final Fantasy 13.)

[Masran]

I think I should be proud of myself, converting someone who was about to go quit RB. And, as an added incentive, the cost of buying songs from the US PS3 Store is less than buying songs from the EU 360 Store.

[mazda116]

Dont be a pratt ...PS3 is doing just fine thank you. My beef is that RB has not been released in the UK. I said I dont give a toss about the xbox coz thats not what this thread is about.

[Ardius]

So your problem isn't even with Rock Band not getting released. Your problem is that you picked a console that isn't doing to well when it comes to the gaming market.

inb4 someone goes "omg thats fanboyism"
No, it isn't. Sony has been having financial problems lately (not just because of the PS3, they've been bigger financial issues in other sectors), hence why Microsoft is able to release games on their console first. Also why Sony is losing exclusive titles by the month (even Final Fantasy 13.)

"Picked the wrong console"? Please, just leave it out. People dont buy consoles completely based upon how well they are doing in the market. You know some people are there for the game series that happen to be on them? (e.g. Gran Turismo, etc)

It sounds like you dont know what you are talking about when it comes to PAL coding....."political issue"? Care to explain what you mean by that? If you're referring to taxing, shipping and laws..that has nothing to do with PAL coding at all.

[Kelvis]

"Picked the wrong console"? Please, just leave it out. People dont buy consoles completely based upon how well they are doing in the market. You know some people are there for the game series that happen to be on them? (e.g. Gran Turismo, etc)

It sounds like you dont know what you are talking about when it comes to PAL coding....."political issue"? Care to explain what you mean by that? If you're referring to taxing, shipping and laws..that has nothing to do with PAL coding at all.

Hey Ardius - unfortunately for UK PS3 owners, Rock Band as a game series has an exclusivity window on the Xbox 360 - perhaps that was the 'political issue', (as opposed to taxes or laws problems) the previous poster mentioned?

[GarryMar]

Mazda, i just read through the thread and i too imported on PS3. Here is a little more detailed explanation of importers and a guide on entropay if you are not yet sorted
http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27509

hope this helps, DLC is what this game is all about, gives it an unlimited lifespan. sorry you've been missing out for so long :D

N.B. songs work out at around £1 each

[CaptainSpeedy]

What political issues are there in the PAL regions exactly? The only issue seems to be excessive violence usually and that just results in the game not being released in Germany.

[Fausttt]

lol, didnt you know, if you use PAL, the terrorists have already won :P

[Ardius]

Hey Ardius - unfortunately for UK PS3 owners, Rock Band as a game series has an exclusivity window on the Xbox 360 - perhaps that was the 'political issue', (as opposed to taxes or laws problems) the previous poster mentioned?

:rolleyes:
Well, I never knew that..being a UK PS3 owner and having waited for the game for over a year.....:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
Thats not a "political" issue, rofl, thats called clever business.

If someone mentions politics in reference to games, that usually means, bans, issues with shipping (costs, etc), issues with production in countries, issues with health and safety laws (as they are different in Europe), etc, etc.
That has nothing to do with PAL coding or exclusivity.


lol, didnt you know, if you use PAL, the terrorists have already won :P

Well, crap, we've lost already then haven't we?

[Arecsa]

So your problem isn't even with Rock Band not getting released. Your problem is that you picked a console that isn't doing to well when it comes to the gaming market.

inb4 someone goes "omg thats fanboyism"
No, it isn't. Sony has been having financial problems lately (not just because of the PS3, they've been bigger financial issues in other sectors), hence why Microsoft is able to release games on their console first. Also why Sony is losing exclusive titles by the month (even Final Fantasy 13.)

You truly have absolutely no idea what you are posting about. Sony are out-selling the 360, in every territory for one. Sony is having big financial issues and that is causing game delays? Flat out ridiculous and wrong, show me one source for this. The 360 is getting Rock Band first for one reason - Harmonix like money, and Microsoft are very willing to spend it.

FFXIII is multi-platform due to the massive cheque Microsoft gave Square-Enix, despite Sony disbanding their own RPG division years back at the request of Square-Enix. So don't put the blame for this on Sony, take a look at the companies that are willing to take a payment.

[mazda116]

lol...easy boys..this is not a political issue, just a moan that RB has not been released in the UK. I agree its money..period. So for now I have RB and i'll be looking into entropay.I appreciate all your help and input... But RB2 can take a flying leap as far as im concerned.

[Kelvis]

:rolleyes:
Well, I never knew that..being a UK PS3 owner and having waited for the game for over a year.....:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:



Indeed, well you did mention that people bought consoles "for the game series that happen to be on them" didn't you?

Perhaps if Rock Band is the game you really want (without the hassle of importing), you should sell the PS3 and pickup a 360. Or just buy both consoles and enjoy all the games.

If not, you could always just sit and roll your eyes.

[killer_roach]

You truly have absolutely no idea what you are posting about. Sony are out-selling the 360, in every territory for one. Sony is having big financial issues and that is causing game delays? Flat out ridiculous and wrong, show me one source for this. The 360 is getting Rock Band first for one reason - Harmonix like money, and Microsoft are very willing to spend it.

FFXIII is multi-platform due to the massive cheque Microsoft gave Square-Enix, despite Sony disbanding their own RPG division years back at the request of Square-Enix. So don't put the blame for this on Sony, take a look at the companies that are willing to take a payment.

Keep in mind also that Sony owns a large controlling chunk of S-E... which makes me think that the amount Microsoft paid for FFXIII was more than Sony thought they'd get out of the title were it to remain exclusive.

In the Rock Band case, it's definitely a combination of issues with European distribution and a Microsoft agreement to have the title have limited 360 exclusivity in Europe (where such a thing is more important due to there being more PS3s in the European market than 360s).

[philreeduk]

Your beef is more with your nation's government than it is Harmonix. There's a reason why the UK gets most things late, and when it does its usually heavily edited.

no, swing and a miss there.......

[slickpitt]

It's ALL about money. That's it, nothing else. Any other ideas are purely people being delusional. M$ gives HMX money, HMX does exactly what M$ tells them to do. Simple. That's why you don't have RB1 PS3 in the UK yet.

[Rokkstar]

ok whats happening with Rockband in the UK?...I imported Rockband 1 from the USA as I though ok 3-4 months down the line it will be released here and I can then get the new songs ..nearly a year later im still waiting for the PS3 release and I see there is a Rockband 2!!....this sucks. There is no way i'll be getting RB2 as I feel you have sold us PS3 owners in the UK down the river. GH4 is looking promising!

It is EA's fault not Harmonix. But $180 won't make too much of a dif. Just a few months after Rock Band was released it pulled in $1.98 billion off of the bundle. So I don't think $180 is going to make a difference. If you purchase GH4 you do know it won't have much DLC and it will cost a few more nickels and dimes.

[killer_roach]

It is EA's fault not Harmonix. But $180 won't make too much of a dif. Just a few months after Rock Band was released it pulled in $1.98 billion off of the bundle. So I don't think $180 is going to make a difference. If you purchase GH4 you do know it won't have much DLC and it will cost a few more nickels and dimes.

Last I checked, Rock Band hasn't sold 11 million bundles...

[JonnyHarper]

Your beef is more with your nation's government than it is Harmonix. There's a reason why the UK gets most things late, and when it does its usually heavily edited.

From my experience, the UK gets almost every game at around the same time as America, and it's almost always exactly the same as the American version.

[Rokkstar]

Last I checked, Rock Band hasn't sold 11 million bundles...

I meant altogether as in Guitar, Drums, Mic, and Bundles. And I can almost gaurantee you haven't ''checked''. and DLC.

[Weeksy77]

It's not that, it's just hard to release PAL media. Keeps getting harder and harder every year. Eventually, if things keep going as they are now, game companies might not even bother releasing PAL versions.

Oh, well that sounds fa..... hold on - what?

Brother - I'm dying for you to back that statement up with some kind of fact - PAL is the largest format of choice in the world, not NTSC. I can understand if you mean localisation (languages etc.) is getting more difficult, but that's a pretty big call to make.

[killer_roach]

I meant altogether as in Guitar, Drums, Mic, and Bundles. And I can almost gaurantee you haven't ''checked''. and DLC.

$1.98 billion in revenue would mean, at $170 each, that Harmonix sold 11.6 million Rock Band bundles.

According to VGChartz (rough estimate, but as good as anything):
360: 1,670,000 units
PS3: 700,000 units
PS2: 430,000 units
Wii: 170,000 units
TOTAL: 2,970,000 units

Keep in mind, that's software totals, not necessarily bundles. Quite a few of the 360 sales are disc only and people play using GH2/3 guitars and headsets for vocals.

Assuming every unit sold was a bundle, however, and assuming every software sale also lead to a purchase of a second Strat, that would lead to a revenue total of just under $700 million. With DLC sales supposedly around 15 million songs, that'd be, on the highest end, $30 million dollars. So, taking about highest-end estimates possible, we come up with $730 million in revenue, leaving only replacement hardware. This probably adds up to some amount, sure, but not the missing $1.25 billion in your figures. :)

[mazda116]

It's ALL about money. That's it, nothing else. Any other ideas are purely people being delusional. M$ gives HMX money, HMX does exactly what M$ tells them to do. Simple. That's why you don't have RB1 PS3 in the UK yet.

You hit the nail on the head there my friend.

[nashphx13z]

Hehehe, it's funny because you're all talking with EU accents. I apologize, there's just something about them that makes me giggle; I'm not taking stabs at other nations. ;)

[Ryder35]

Do you mean typing with EU accents? Anyway off to have some tea and crumpets!

[FultonPub]

ok whats happening with Rockband in the UK?...I imported Rockband 1 from the USA as I though ok 3-4 months down the line it will be released here and I can then get the new songs ..nearly a year later im still waiting for the PS3 release and I see there is a Rockband 2!!....this sucks. There is no way i'll be getting RB2 as I feel you have sold us PS3 owners in the UK down the river. GH4 is looking promising!


its only been 9 months. quit being dramatic.

[mazda116]

its only been 9 months. quit being dramatic.

errr...9 months is 3 months short of a year..thats NEARLY a year..which is what I said you muppet.

[Ryder35]

errr...9 months is 3 months short of a year..thats NEARLY a year..which is what I said you muppet.

I *hope* he was trying to be ironic

[mazda116]

I *hope* he was trying to be ironic

lol...I see ...in that case I apologise.

[Ardius]

Indeed, well you did mention that people bought consoles "for the game series that happen to be on them" didn't you?


Yes, I did...so why did you tell me something that most people have known for a very long time, and something I would clearly know about seeing as I come from England.



Perhaps if Rock Band is the game you really want (without the hassle of importing), you should sell the PS3 and pickup a 360. Or just buy both consoles and enjoy all the games.

If not, you could always just sit and roll your eyes.

I shouldnt have to buy a new console, I only want to know a release date, I have no issue with waiting a bit if Microsoft want to try and ruin the games industry some more.
I will sit here and roll my eyes when people point out things to me that I already know, Ive been on this forum over a year now and have followed this game from the start....I think I have fair grounds to roll my eyes when a newer member decides to try and say something clever.

Perhaps you people have a lot of money to go and spend, I do not, being a student. Therefore, I cant "just go and pickup a 360" especially just for one game that Im quite happy to wait for the console I happen to own.
I got my PS3 because I enjoy several game series that happen to be on it and also because I enjoy some of its qualities, the 360 doesnt have what I want, so i didnt buy one. I find it annoying that people seem to expect that to not be a fanboy you have to own all the consoles.

I really want Rock Band.....but I dont want it so bad that Im willing to spend money on consoles I wont play other games on or import games while running the risk of no warranty. Life isnt so simple, unfortunately, money is not something I have unlimited resources of.

[Arecsa]

Keep in mind also that Sony owns a large controlling chunk of S-E... which makes me think that the amount Microsoft paid for FFXIII was more than Sony thought they'd get out of the title were it to remain exclusive.

Sony actually only own 9% of S-E. So they got zero say in how this all turned out.

The game itself is basically finished (Japan version) and the PS3 FFXIII version will feature 1080p cutscenes and lossless audio. Lossless audio is not possible on the 360, and 1080p cutscenes would end up eating too many DVDs so there will have to be compromises made there for the 360.

[killer_roach]

9% only? I was thinking it was closer to 25%... maybe that was pre-merger. Either way, the game's delayed into 2009 in Japan, so the port is diverting resources.

Back to the matter at hand, it sounds like there are logistical problems with getting Rock Band to Europe, and the limited exclusivity deal didn't sound like a bad way to go when demand for the game is as depressed as it is due to the price tag that results...

[Arecsa]

Back to the matter at hand, it sounds like there are logistical problems with getting Rock Band to Europe, and the limited exclusivity deal didn't sound like a bad way to go when demand for the game is as depressed as it is due to the price tag that results...

Seems like there are logistical problems getting the game basically anywhere except the US :( Harmonix have promised a much shorter delay this time around, but that doesn't seem overly practical with several countries only just now getting a Rock Band 1 release/release announcement, and several more still waiting on even an announcement :mad: