Yes, we all know Rock Band 2 is supposed to be launching initially as a timed Xbox 360 exclusive. Well, my theory is: they simply can’t ramp production up fast enough to handle simultaneous launches across all platforms and territories for the September launch, so someone’s gotta be first.
Harmonix seems to think the Xbox 360 in the US makes the best choice of platform and location. So folks… get prepared to drop $199 on the new Rock Band 2 bundle come September. Whoops! Wait a minute… we now have news that things have changed just a little bit. Sorry US Xbox 360 owners… you’re going to have to show your Harmonix support a little bit more if you want the “full meal deal” this September. Support to the tune of $50 more for individually buying everything that will come in the bundle… a month later… when everybody else gets it. Oops! If you can wait until October when everyone else is getting the bundle, it’ll only cost you the original $199 you thought you’d be paying in September. Call me cynical, but when a game publisher is putting out a hardware bundle and just can’t seem to get things ready in time to launch, I say to myself “Yeah, right! They’re just trying to make an extra $50 off the guys they know will buy it no matter what!”
While I have no intention to buy yet more plastic instruments (I already feel ashamed to admit I own FIVE plastic guitars), even if I was, I’d hold off, just on principle. Harmonix… if you can sell the instruments separately, that means you DO have enough for some bundles. If you don’t have enough for all the bundles, tough… you didn’t get started in time for the holiday season… sucks to be you, start earlier next cycle.
It’s at this point I think I’m going to make a proclaimation (and ask for your support)… if you know anyone that buys the “unofficial” Rock Band 2 bundle at launch (ie. buys everything that will be released a month or so later for the $50 higher “individually sold” price), kick them in the nuts… twice. While they’re down, maybe a swift kick in the kidney so they’ll remember it, I don’t know… it’s up to you. Go freestyle on their ass…
I genuinely feel there are times where consumers are being felt out for what they’re willing to withstand. We had it when the 360 launched and games suddenly jumped in price 20% from $50 to $60. We’re seeing it now on XBLA and PSN as $10 games creep 50% to $15 (or more), and rhythm games have pushed annual franchises closer to the cost of ENTIRE SYSTEMS of previous generations.
Gamers, don’t fall for this crap. If you’re going to get the Rock Band 2 bundle… for everyone else’s sake WAIT FOR THE OFFICIAL BUNDLE! DO NOT VULUNTARILY LINE UP TO PAY $50 MORE FOR THE EQUIVALENT PIECE BY PIECE VERSION OF THE BUNDLE! Your nuts will thank you!
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9 responses so far ↓
1 ProudlyAnAddict // Aug 14, 2008 at 2:07 pm
if i pay an extra 100 bucks can i get the game now?
2 TOO KINGS // Aug 14, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I think “most” of the early adopters will be people like you and me that have all the “plastics” and just need the disc.
As for the XBLA prices, the price should reflect the quality of the game. However, if they are being “mischevious” and feeling out how much we are willing to pay, welcome to the free market.
If they hike up the price and people feel it’s “worth it” then it wins but if consumers don’t fork it up the market decides the price. That is capitalism.
3 Sean "Rothbart" Workman // Aug 14, 2008 at 2:58 pm
@Too kings: my problem though is the way the system works it never really turns out that they simply offer the “not worth it” product for cheaper (except the brief period where it’s clearanced), they simply call the whole thing a failure and leave. I’d love it if 360 games came out at launch for $90, nobody bought ‘em, so they tried $80, nobody bought ‘em, then eventually settled at $50 or $60 where the market determined they were fairly priced, but we don’t live in that world. We pay what they want or we don’t get it. And if we all opt not to get it, it doesn’t reduce in price, it simply goes away.
4 BrianKotarski // Aug 14, 2008 at 3:15 pm
@Rothbart: Great article. I agree with you 1000% but I think that paying the extra $50 is enough punishment and no nut kicking is needed. I also think that the point you bring up in the comments is the much larger story that is plaguing the structure today. Many companies have great products that they over price, and then when it doesn’t sell they walk away. I think it’s hurting consumers.
5 Auriscope // Aug 14, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Curious, do I need to pay anything extra to just buy the disc?
A soul perhaps?
6 Jakka // Aug 14, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Rothbart, perhaps you want to talk to Europeans and how they feel about the price? As you said, the maniacs are paying extra $50 because to them it feels like having the full-set before everybody else.And considering evee=n Halo 3 Legendary Edition aka Cat Helmet was $110 then I believe that the extra $50 sounds reasonable enough.Look at it from their point of view.
And why all the violence and disrespect towards those people? Look at the last sentence of my last paragraph.
Maybe YOU should be kicked in the nuts and kidneys by Brits because they’ll have to wait half a year then pay twice as much while you just sit there bitching about a dilemma of paying 50$ or waiting a month, while them and Aussies are REALLY getting screwed over?
It was a good rant,but as a general rule, don’t pull out the “Kick in the nuts…” card unless you’re absolutely certain about it because little childish techniques like that aren’t really “sarcastic” and can be easily flung back at the author as I just proved in my other paragraph.
PS: …also you forgot to add Rothbart’s Rant # in the prefix.
7 bueatifulraven // Aug 15, 2008 at 11:55 am
I don’t get it, are we buying the guitars and drums separate and paying a separate fee which sums up to 200 dollars, or 250. Then at regular launch we are getting an official bundle for like150 or 200?
8 TOO KINGS // Aug 15, 2008 at 1:10 pm
@Rothbart, I see your point but think of the things that do go away, are they even good products? If somthing is deemed “failed” is it because it did not sell at the price point or was it because nobody wanted it?
Iphones sold like crazy and were ridiculously pricey, it’s all about the product. Is it compelling enough to sell and how much is enough. Companies are in business to make money.
9 RK1 FaMiCuS // Aug 15, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I’m sorry nut I think this has to be the weakest of all your rants. Like year all you people complained about how only the Rock Band bundle was available and you just wanted to buy the instrument separately. The Haramonix this year puts out the instruments separately and now you complain about there now being a bundle available. You people can never be happy. Then go on about an extra $5 for a high quality XBLA title, seriously it’s only $5 dollars. I still don’t understand why everyone is making such big deal about this when Microsoft previously have priced games at 1200 MS Points(Lumines, Bankshot Billiards, and Puzzle Quest), but when they sell two games at 1200 points everyone acts it is the end of the world. If you are really pissed by it there is a very easy thing you can do, DON’T BUY IT. And coming from a person that bought 5 guitars and shows they have no problem spending extra money this just sounds ridiculous. Seriously, why did you invest in 5 guitars when only 2 are needed. Personally I owned 3 guitars, one from Guitar Hero 2 (which I sold when I got the Rock Band bundle to a friend), one from Guitar 3, and one from Rock Band, but why are 5 needed?
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