IGN's thoughts on the limited edition

[Gundampilotspaz]

Rip off?

60 - game
90 - drumset
100 - guitar
20 - mic
15 - stand.

From where im standing thats a 35 dollar discount.

However, the original Rock Band 2 bundle is on amazon for $98 right now.

[LikeMike]

The question is, if the drums and the guitar are worth the 90 and 100 bucks. From a pure technical standpoint they ain`t any better than the RB2 pendants. From an aesthatical standpoint at least the drums are almost the same. I dunno how much the RB2 hardwarbundle is (it ain`t even out here in Germany), but I think you have to see how much more expensive this set is. Then you have to decide if better looking instruments and a mic stand are worth the price difference.

And you also have to take a look at the people that only want to play the Beatles game... 250$ for 45 songs of which most are only around 2 minutes long. That is a pretty hefty price tag. So if you only look at whats in the box and compare it to what you can get elsewhere it really is kinda expensive...

[HohoOfDoom]

I agree with that and find it reasonable. My main problem is the fact that they decided to use the review scale for individual elements just like the last game, instead of just linking to the older review.

Yeah, I'll buy this for sure. While I understand the reviewer's reasoning for lowering the score, I still think that was the wrong thing to do. I feel like the limited edition box clearly states his opinion, and the core GAME itself should remain with the same score. The review for the game with a score of 9.0 went up last week, while anybody who is going to IGN today will see the most recent review posted, showing a score of 8.0 for the bundle and having a less positive impression of the game, even if they had no plans of buying the bundle anyway.

Whether it's overpriced or not (I think it is, and have very little room in my apartment for extra instruments to boot), the lowering of the score is unfair. Games like Fallout 3, Arkham Asylum, Halo 3, and the like have had special editions that cost nearly twice as much and have little to no extra value aside from collectible bobbleheads or model batarangs. The reviewer notes that it's a waste of money but anybody for true die-hards, but it does not affect the review score that is based on graphics, sound, gameplay, etc. This shouldn't be any different, especially when the extra money is actually going to useful peripherals and not pointless junk.

Having said all that, I'll reiterate that I felt the reviewer's opinion and wording of the review were TOTALLY valid and fair. I just concede that the lowering of the score was the wrong way to go.

[McCREE]

Having said all that, I'll reiterate that I felt the reviewer's opinion and wording of the review were TOTALLY valid and fair. I just concede that the lowering of the score was the wrong way to go.

he prefaced the review by saying that it was an unprecedented occurance that the peripherals brought down the score, but felt the package was so overpriced and underwhelming that the score drop was necessary.

to me, mentioning the infrequency of a score drop as a result of packaging and then continuing to go ahead and do it speaks volumes.

the package IS overpriced, it IS underwhelming and were i a consumer in need of a review, i would appriciate the candidness that was displayed in the review with regards to the full set.

that being said, i think his take on the RB2 strat vs the GHWT guitar was absurd fanboyism masked as an assumption of fact. i prefer the strum bar on the RB guitars over those of the GH guitars...does that make me wrong? so then how are you right, hilary?

his biggest mistake in that review was letting his personal taste get in the way of impartial journalism.

but the score drop? perfectly legitimate in my eyes, especially considering he wrote an entire paragraph about how the game itself got a 9.0 and only the packaging droped the score.

[Ehfahq]

However, the original Rock Band 2 bundle is on amazon for $98 right now.

That doesnt include a mic stand, a better set of drums and a nicer guitar.

and a brand new game.

[LikeMike]

That doesnt include a mic stand, a better set of drums and a nicer guitar.

and a brand new game.

Alright, so let`s take the 98$ add to that 15$ for a mic stand and 60$ for the game. That way you spend173$.

The drums are the same as the RB2 drums, just with a different skin. The guitar looks a lot better but plays basically the same. Now you need to decide if that is worth 77$ for you (and with the RB2 set you also get the game you can either keep or sell, which should get you another 20$-30$).

[Ehfahq]

"The drums are the same as the RB2 drums, just with a different skin."

From what I have read they are higher quality.

"Now you need to decide if that is worth 77$ for you"

I already did. My bundle is payed for and waiting for me.

[ktmason]

I would have to look at the drums to see if they are of HIGHER quality...do NOT let the "pearl" coating make you THINK they are better. As for the Hofner, again, I would have to play it to see exactly what justifys the 99 bucks the others are getting.....I agree, the bundle is waaay overpriced.....as for the review, Hillary GAVE it a great review...I particulary (pardon my spelling) liked this section:

"Credit Harmonix for staying true to its formula of not manufacturing difficulty in songs. If the song doesn't call for an impossible guitar riff, they aren't going to force it in there. Ultimately, the lower difficulty doesn't bother me, because The Beatles: Rock Band gives me an emotional experience that I don't get from any other music game. "

To which I totally agree.

[Ehfahq]

Lets ignore that they dropped the RB2 bundle down.

How in the hell is it waaaaaaay overpriced? The wireless drums are worth 90 bucks. Lets take 20 bucks off the guitar.

So we have:

60 - game
90 - bucks
80 - guitar
20 - mic
15 - mic stand.

15 dollar discount.

[LikeMike]

Because you can`t ignore the price drop... the question always is: how much can you get for your money. When you can get almost the same for almost half the money it is a bad deal.

Of course for some people getting these new instruments is totally worth it, because they just like the new look of them. For them this can be a good deal, and I don`t want to talk it bad for them.

But judging just from a technical standpoint the bundle is overpriced.

Oh, and by the way, in Germany the bundle is "only" 179 Euros, while the RB1 hardware bundle (without the game) was 220 when it came out. So here it actually ain`t that expensive in relation...