A Typically Scottish Rant: Rock Band
November of 2005. The Xbox 360 first launched here in Europe to an overwhelming demand and inevitable supply problems. While I didn’t get my hands on one until two months after launch, I still satisfied my curiosity of the console by picking up 360-related publications. Magazines were inundated with angry letters from gamers complaining of the £50 price tag games carried. Of course there was always the option to purchase online for a tenner cheaper than found on the High Street, but big chains like GAME and GameStation were charging no less than £50.
The price factor didn’t bother me much as I was no where near as big into gaming as I am now, therefore my purchases were pretty sparse. And now that I am big into gaming, the 360 is well enough into its life span that there’s an abundance of pre-owned titles for the more ’strapped for cash’ moments, not to mention the array of import sites such as Play-Asia where region-free games can be bought for less than half price. So yes, the cost of games was surprisingly never much of a cause for concern to this gamer. Until now.
Along Came Rock Band
Up until last week, Europe didn’t have an official release date, nor price, for Harmonix’ innovative music sim, Rock Band. For such an eagerly anticipated game (after all, we have had to wait a ridiculous amount of time for it to make its way over here) the announcement of the price was, for me at least, the deciding factor in whether I’d purchase the game and all the peripherals. I’d estimated it would retail between £100-£150, realistically weighing in towards the latter end of my estimate figure.
Needless to say, I’m pretty disappointed with the price now that it’s been officially uncovered. £180 for the full Rock Band experience. Just under £200 for a bloody video game. There is the option of buying peripherals individually according to GamePlay, but what about those Achievements for completing the Tour with each ‘instrument’? (You know I can’t ignore the Achievements!)
Another disappointing factor is the price Rock Band is available for in the US. According to Amazon, the price of Rock Band (peripherals and game) in dollars equates to $206.98, which in turn converts to £105.17. So where the other 70 odd quid has come from I’m not quite sure…
Regardless, I just can’t shake the fact I’d be spending £180 on a video game. A video game. I guess my desire to own Rock Band will have to wait until it’s old enough the shops start stocking it at a discounted price (which will be a while), or I can find it pre-owned (again, probably a while). Or I could stop being such a tight arse and succumb to the fact I would get a lot of enjoyment from it.
If you have just under £200 spare and don’t cringe as much as I do at spending it on a video game, then have fun with Rock Band, and yes, I’ll be quietly seething with jealousy as I boot up Guitar Hero. On the other hand, you could always buy a real drum kit and add your favourite Rock Band tracks to your MP3 player for a similar price? Shameless plug aside, I am interested in knowing what other UK gamers make of the Rock Band price, and whether it’s an issue for you or not.
April 15th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Yeah £180 is just plain ridiculous. Play.com are doing it for £140 (£133 if you use the discout code experience08 and you can get another 4% back if you use Quidco I think). £133 makes it a bit more tempting but it’s still a bit stupid. At a price point of £180 you can end up spending more on the game than the console itself after the recent price drop.
Hopefully GTAIV will keep me occupied until the price of Rock Band drops a bit.
April 15th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
I’ve heard from several friends in the UK talking about the price and that it is turning them off of Rock Band for now. I have no clue why the price would be so much more after this long wait. I bought Rock Band here a few days after it was released and have loved it since (did have to send the guitar off for repair, but no problems since). It was worth the $190.
April 15th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Amazon’s price is down to US$147 for the kit. It’s almost criminal how much they’re charging you for it, particularly considering how strong the pound is versus the dollar right now.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Andy, that’s a good deal that you found, and like you said, does make it more tempting. I think I’ll be taking the same route as you (with a different game perhaps) and occupying my time with something else until I can get it for a more reasonable price. Aah yes, Lost Odyssey should do.
James, do you play Rock Band with the family? I think another factor dissuading me with purchasing it is that I very rarely have any ‘gamers’ round at my place. Because really, I’m sure that’s when Rock Band is at its best; when you have a group of people together in one room making up a ‘band’.
Adam, it is shitty how much we’re being charged for it. If only the damn thing was region free, I would have looked at importing.
April 16th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Yeah, I play Rock Band with the family but we have a few friends that come over just for a Rock Band Party (pizza, drinks, and Rock Band). The game really doesn’t get touched unless we have people over, so for us it is more of a party game. Which is great.
April 17th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
The European price tag is practically criminal. I thought it was expensive here at $170 - my big splurge of the spring, and I don’t regret it a bit. It is more fun to play with friends, but I’ve also enjoyed going through the solo tours. As far as having “gamers” around, it’s a GREAT game to play with non-gamer friends. I’m also looking forward to checking out the online band play (though World Band Tour isn’t available over Live, boo), once I get Gold again here in a week or two.
You say most games are priced at £50? Which considering the exchange rate is still almost twice the US prices. Wow. But with Rock Band, fewer options for buying used. Sucks all the way around.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:24 am
James, it does look like it would be an incredibly fun party game. What instrument does everyone fight for? Drums, microphone?
Jandy, thanks for stopping by
I guess I should have clarified that while I don’t have a lot of gamer friends round, I don’t have a lot of non-gamer friends round either (I’m really selling myself as a popular girl here, eh?). I guess this is where World Band Tour being available over Live would have come in handy, so it’s a shame that it isn’t. As for the price of games; well they started off at £50 at the beginning of the 360’s life, but now the 360 has been out for a few years shops stock them at roughly £35-£45.
April 18th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
For us everybody prefers the Guitar (as most were used to it from GH). I prefer the drums (as a former drummer). Getting on the mic for a few songs is always fun also. Nobody fights for the drums as my friends don’t have any rhythm with their hands and feet. I am pretty much always on the drums (I make them switch up now and then).
April 18th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
There’s no way I could afford £180 for a video game, no matter how good. I just don’t have the money to splash around and that’s four other games plus some change! Although it sounds like the ultimate party game and I’d *love* to get everyone around to play. All my friends loved GH but it was a pain when there’s five or six of you as you have to wait so long for a go! Ash, if only you lived in Harrogate we could split the cost