On the "items not sold separately until 2008″ rumors:
"When Rock Band ships this November it will only be available in one flavor, bundled. Done. Confirmed."

As you can see that doesnt say anything about a single game with no bundle and its an answer to a question about the chance of buying controllers at launch.

I see how it can be read to mean 'bundle is all they are shipping' but a few things to remember

1. Thats not what was said
2. the context of what was said was in regards to a question about drums, mic and guitars non-bundle
3. The interview was with an EA rep, Sure thats official but till i see an article confirming the cancellation of the 'just game' im betting the Ea rep just answered what he was ask nothing more. (Fountains of 'Flowing' knowledge, they arent)

Yes, im concerned. I pre-paid for the 'just game' version. I cant sing, I suck at drums (tried that for real and suck at it) and I have 2 Guitar controllers already. I dont feel i should have to pay $112 more to get the controllers i dont want/need.

I for one am waiting to here confirmation and am eagerly watching to see if ebgames drops the 'just game' version till feb 08 like they have the controllers.

Basically until you have proof, ie A guy saying "The vanilla game version of Rock Band has been delayed till 2008 to be sold along side the controllers", then you have nothing but an EA rep responding to the question of how to get rock band, drums, a mic and a guitar on launch day.

ShaggyB

Nowhere did I see it mentioned that the individual instruments were going to hit shelves on EXACTLY Jan. 1st, 2008.

It seems that YOU do not have the iq to be able to discern from reading this blog and from watching trends within the industry that when a publisher or developer gives no more than a calendar year as the intended release date as a product, you can rest assured that you will not be seeing that product anytime near January of that year.

And any of us who fell victim to the Guitar Hero II shortage of earlier this year know that it can take a hell of a lot of time to crank out an adequate amount of tiny plastic instruments to meet consumer demand.

legacyed

Ed_209

Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name.

Bad move, MTV/Harmonix. You need 2 guitars in that bundle, or you need to step up and release single guitars at retail, ASAP.

Jazhuis

Now, the actual article is a bit light on description. You can read it as "the only way to get things is as a bundle", or it could possibly be read as, "There won't be a separate game+mic, game+drums, game+guitar, game alone set of packages at this time". I think this is going to take a bit of very precise clarification.

Jazhuis

InsidiousTuna

(and we still don't have Metroid Prime 3 ffs)

Taz

Disneyfan69

@brello:

What are you watching people play with the sound turned off or something?

skullivan

brello

ckranger11

poiuytman

You seem to be assuming that everyone interested in Rock Band will be buying Guitar Hero 3. Me, I have no plans for GH3 - I didn't like the music selection from 2, and just guitars is too limiting when you have Rock Band available. What sucks is, what if I wanted to play two player drums? Can't until sometime in 2008. Two player guitar, using the real RB guitars with extra set of buttons at the base of the neck? Nope, have to wait until sometime in 2008. What if I just wanted the game to work with my GH2 guitar, and then maybe someday later buy drums and a mic? Again, no luck there until 2008.

And since when did it say New Years? The time given is...2008. Which, you know, lasts 366 days.

Dreamwriter

Yes, the instruments should be available separately at launch, and Harmonix thinks so too. Yes, it's a supply problem- a supply problem thats very reminiscent of when RedOctane was HMX's partner for GH1/GH2. Know what that means? The GH3 wireless controllers are more than likely going to be really hard to find when that game launches. They're just not going to tell you that beforehand.

$170 is too much for what you're getting here? GH3 for PS3 and 360 is $100. There's only two career modes in that. Rock Band has four. You only get one guitar with GH3. You get the drums, the mic, and the guitar for $170. Explain the rip-off to me. Go on, I'll wait.

The game will sell, and sell well. You won't buy it- but six months from now, you'll play it at your friends house, and decide that it was worth your money. By that time, the full instrument bundles will be gone, and just single instrument and game bundles will remain. Then, you'll complain that the game and the drums for $100 (or whatever it may be) is a rip-off, because a couple months before, you could get everything for $170.

Rock Band won't sell more than GH3 this holiday. Thats a silly thing to expect. I'll tell you what I expect, though. Come the end of November, you'll all be eating a nice heaping plate of crow.

Oh, and just for the record, once and for all- the GH3 wireless will work with Rock Band. Guaranteed. Stop crying.

ninhead

Killtacular

tasty%20crabcakes.">coffeeguy

add an "That I've talked to" in the last sentence

Sine

Truepatriot

If the consumer reads the box before buying they might notice that RB gives you 2 more solo careers than GHIII, full band career, and online competition for full band and solo (as well as more but lets stick with this).

so 2 careers = 180 in GHIII money (price of 2 GHIII bundles)
+ 1 full career = 60 more (lets just make the full the price of Rocks the 80's since you already have the instruments)

= $240

This completely justifys the price tag to me, even just the inclusion of the mic and drums make it worth $170 imo.
So far all the consumers who buy GH seem to realize this.

Sine

Eman311

Deltakiral

Well, I would think they would only make this statement regarding shipping only bundles if maybe pre-order sales were high enough already that they figure to meet demand for the bundled product this was the only way to do so.

I'll wager this game will be quite popular as a holiday gift and will likely be hard to find for while. They're better off stocking full bundles which probably most people will want then just drums or just guitar bundles.

Siberian

It was only until the past month or so you could find Guitar Hero II Xplorers alone in the store (maybe in like big cities, but not any real penetration), and it was IMPOSSIBLE to find PS2 guitars seperate until GH2 came out. I had to buy 2 360 bundles to get 2 guitars.

I will believe it when i see it.

BrywalkerX

"well if its only the 170 bundle this means no rockband for me till 08 =( i just want the drums and maybe the guitar."

Another victim of math. I'm assuming you want the game? Let's look at the GH2 pricing. Game = $60. Guitar = $60. I'm *CERTAIN* the drums will be at least $60. $170 (bundle with all of it) < $60+$60+$60.

yonderTheGreat

A lot of people don't have the IQ to comprehend a simple statement. A lot of other people can't do basic math. The game comes out 2 days before Thanksgiving. How far from Thanksgiving is New Years? Seriously guys... Just play GH3 til the New Year (or were you going to be done w/ GH3 that quickly?) if that makes such a difference.

As far as everyone talking about the price difference between RB and GH3... I'm certain people that are that strained on finances will simply use their GH2 controllers for GH3. And later, use it for RB. Then make up their minds.

yonderTheGreat

Truepatriot

Slacker

And Harmonix (your beloved Guitar Hero creators) have promised Rock Band is three games in one, Karaoke, Guitar, and Drums, and that you can get a full experience out of any one instrument you may choose. You don't need a full band to get the enjoyment of Guitar Hero out of Rock Band, you just need a full band if you want to enjoy Rock Band 10x more than Guitar Hero >_>

Mit

Also, is there a real reason? I'm guessing it's not a marketing ploy, because expecting people to throw down 170, just because it's Christmas is almost as dumb as what the Manhunt "ploy" was (which had them releasing it around Mario Galaxy and other superior games). I'm guessing it's some sort of manufacturing cost or whatever...

Oh well, sucks for them.

PS: The PS2 version's lack of online is almost as sad as his explanation (basically: "Because this game isn't for the PS2, we just like money", no design theory spin? They could take a note or two from Nintendo ("The Wii doesn't necessarily need an HDD, it's not for storing in bulk")).

Oh well, sucks for them.

Gamemaster

txgb324

ChewyChew

tk.

ShaggyB

-

-Jeff
[alinktothefuture.com]

leshrac55

I'm not saying no one will buy it, but unfortunately, a lot more than "wrong thousand" has to buy it before its not a miserable failure. They're probably spending an ass ton on marketing, licensing, and w/e royalties come from getting those master tracks.

This game is banking on taking a LARGE chunk of Guitar Hero's market, and at double the price, its likely going to fail. Guitar Hero's success is not with us die hards, its success is squarely on the casual market, the ones that aren't GOING to "buy that one too." GH3 is coming out FIRST and its coming out CHEAPER. Finally, since it is the average consumer we're talking about, GH3 has a brand name, and those sell units. RB is infinitely handicapped in a market I'm almost positive won't be sustaining 2 of the same game, and cheaper = win.

usfslacker

justhesh

slayzz

Geetay

See, EA? You could have sold me another plastic guitar, but instead I'm forced to buy one from your competitor so I can play your game as intended! :P

Chucklestyle

Tkrulez

z0mbi

TheDollHouse

Swift_

@usfslacker: I do prefer GHIII so far, but to imply no one is going to buy Rock Band is like riding the wrong train to wrongsburg, which, incidentally, has a population of wrong-thousand (it didn't take too long for the town to reach that number right after it was made-up, either). In fact, and this is going out on a limb, so I might be wrong (not terribly good at predictions), but Rock Band might even beat GHIII, with the hype it's getting. At least GHIII is putting up an awesome fight with the best tracklist I've seen in a long time... Probably ever.

No matter who wins, we can't lose. Rock Band wins, buy it- GHIII wins, buy that too. The fight's really for the companies.

Gamemaster

y2julio

usfslacker

CFStang

"So wait, no entire-band-on-one-disc until 2008? Eh, I'm sure people can wait, right?"

No the entire bundle will be available at launch. What this notice is about is for people who DON'T want to spend all the money at once. It's either all the instruments or none until 2008

jisf0rjosh

Noks415

People are patient?
...

Although it doesn't really affect me yet (I don't have a PS3 or 360 yet and they seem to still be on the fence about a Wii version, which means there won't be one, unless it's a rush port of the PS2 version... I don't understand, are they allergic to money? I'm sure they'll get a lot from all the other versions around, but to bypass the current market leader and even do a PS2 version makes 2/1000 senses. Wow, this parenthesis string is long... I should close it), it seems contrary to the aim of the game, which is not to play alone, but with friends... You know, in a band?

Like I said, I can wait, anyway... Besides, GHIII will keep me more than occupied enough until then.

Gamemaster

Lot Krotan

I cant buy a $170 bundle!!

White-Sharingan

Other than that I think this is a stupid move on the part of EA, but then again it is EA so its expected they will charge us for the whole deal. I mean they talk about you being able to play online if your friends live in other places yet they won't sell they components separately so everyone can buy the instrument they know they will play.

CFStang

Guitar Hero is fun because it can all be done by yourself if you've got no one to play with. I'm still not sure if it's possible to get full enjoyment of this title without a full band in your house.

GH is the game for me I suppose as I'm not that into the karaoke and drum aspect anyhow.

WordMan

Americo

DocBacca

TRT-X

EnigmaNemesis

PolicePeople