Rock Band UK Bundles/Pricing Discussion

Fletch1970 · 08-04-2008, 12:29 PM

I think someone needs to kick this off.

I have just read on Kotaku the pricing/bundle structure for Rock Band in the UK and Europe.

"The game won't come in a single bundle. Instead, there's two products available at lauch. One is called the "Instrument Edition", which costs £130/€170. It comes with a guitar, drums, and mic. That's it. No game. No, if you want the game as well, it'll cost you another £50/€70. That brings the cost of the game and three instruments to £180"

As a parent and gamer, I just want EA to know that there is now NO WAY I will be buying this game either for myself or my family as I orginally intended. £180 for a game, that retails in the US for £85 (@$170)? If you also factor in the weak dollar, that means we are paying nearly $200 (@£100) MORE for the same product - sorry we get a few extra songs.

The instruments are not made in the USA and could be shipped to the EU/UK, and disk duplication costs cannot vary that much across the globe, so a pure economic argument (i.e. it's made in the US etc.) cannot be used. This is pure greed.

Even if you ignore the fact that we have had to wait so long for the game to be released over here, in fact still have to wait until the 23rd May, the sheer gaul of the pricing has made me realise that EA has no respect for the millions of customers it has in the region.

I could buy a second Wii, or most of a 360 Elite for that money. No way EA... too far...

Enough is enough. I will purchase NO new EA games on any platform until this pricing structure is reviewed, and I will encourage my friends and family, and anyone that cares to ask or be in earshot when I am in a gamestore to do the same. Sorry EA but this is one "corporate rip-off" too far for me.

Regards, Paul Fletcher

One last thing... EA - Please feel free to contact me on my registered e-mail address if you discuss this further... but going on this decision, you probably won't.

Spidery Yoda · 08-04-2008, 12:38 PM

I agree completely. Living in the UK and having the internet has made me realise in the past few years just how much we're being ripped off.

Games and consoles are sometimes nearly double the price they are in the US. When I discovered this I basically stopped buying new games altogether. Since I found that out (a few years ago), I haven't bought a single £40 game. I've either waited until it's a reasonable price, or not bought it at all.

While I had the feeling that Rock Band would cost over £100 here, the final price of £180 is a complete joke. You could buy a Wii or a 360 for that price. Nobody in their right mind is going to pay £180 for a game, especially since it's more than double the US price this time. Maybe the price could be justified if they included every single DLC song that has been so far released. or something of that nature. But even then, you'd end up buying a load of stuff you don't want.

It's absolutely ridiculous. I sincerely hope that this game gets very very low sales to reflect what a poor decision the pricing was.

iapetus · 08-04-2008, 12:42 PM

I've said it before and will no doubt say it again: nobody should buy the game at this price and under these conditions (ridiculous delay for the European release, and additional delay on the non-360 versions).

Anyone who buys Rock Band now is sending a message that they are willing to accept this pricing and treatment of EU gamers. And frankly that's the wrong message to be sending. In an ideal world, EA would get no sales of the game at all, having treated its customer base like this. As it is, every sale they lose is part of sending the right message. Which is why despite the fact that I've been looking forward to this game for a very long time now I won't be buying it unless they sort their act out, and I'll be encouraging everyone else to take the same stand.

MuzAlfEA · 08-04-2008, 12:59 PM

The only thing I can deduce from this is that we finally know who is paying for the bungled North American launch...it's us.

There is no way anybody should pay £180 for this game on principle - whether they can afford it or not is a totally moot point. Someone at EA has seriously lost the plot and a lot of the respect it had outside North America.

This is a new low.

Remora Wraith · 08-04-2008, 01:03 PM

I just fail to see how they can even start to justify this price, how whatever execs and sales experts thought that this was a fair market price got into the positions they did. It's £110 more expensive then Guitar Hero has ever been and the only additions are a drum kit and a microphone, as has been said it's £100 more expensive then it would be to buy it in america and as has been said it's not like it costs more to manufacture the instruments for the european market. On top of that the game is already 6 months late here it's just not on. I was looking forward to this as a day of release purchase, now I doubt I ever will well not until the price is £100 or less.

Oh and just to put this into an even greater perspective the game with the instruments (do you get two or one guitar) costs more then it does for the cheapest XBox 360 SKU, a game should NEVER EVER cost more than the console it's played on. Nice work EA and ****ing this up even more then it already has been.

Gowans007 · 08-04-2008, 01:07 PM

A bunch of friends and I have really been looking forward to picking up this game, one isn't really a hard gamer but loves Guitar hero and loves drums so has been dying for it and even bought a 360 in preparation for it.

Just got of the phone with him after he saw the news, laughing down the line saying no chance.

Gutted really want to play this game and play with friends. Expected £130 but I don't think I can condone £180 for me and defiantly not for anyone else.

Compared to the price point elsewhere the UK/Euro price is a joke.

Maddzy · 08-04-2008, 01:12 PM

Absalute disgrace, a total rip-off. There will be a lot of lost sales due to this if the price is kept the same, its an increase of 124% above the American price! How is this justified, how can it cost this much for us? We are used to being ripped off with prices but why so much this time? What is EA thinking!?

I will not be buying the game at this price.

Anilones · 08-04-2008, 01:21 PM

I have joined for the sole purpose of expressing my disgust on this pricing, and I refuse to purchase any EA game until the price is reduced.

I also would like to point any moderators to the Harmonix board in which there is a far greater number of members, all of which are just as disgusted.

iapetus · 08-04-2008, 01:36 PM

If anyone has £180 burning a hole in their pocket, I did some shopping around to see what you can get for that sort of money. Obviously the first option is a copy of the UK release of Rock Band, but the alternatives might suprise you...

chinrub · 08-04-2008, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anilones

I have joined for the sole purpose of expressing my disgust on this pricing, and I refuse to purchase any EA game until the price is reduced.

It looks like alot of us have done the exact same thing. EA are quickly losing respect everywhere. The cant make good games so they try to buy out other companies, they cant stick to a decent release schedule, and it now seems apparent they've employed a 3 year old to manage their accounts.

I bet they were thinking, "hmmmm Take Two have refused to sell up again... is it the money?? how can we make more to put in a better offer"

well at least when rock band does come out I will have GTAIV that i'm sure will still have NO EA sticker anywhere on it, and that will allow the release of rock band to go totally unnoticed. It'll be in the bargain bin before we know it.

CaptCastle · 08-04-2008, 01:49 PM

Not much to say, it's simply no deal at that price.

MBar · 08-04-2008, 01:56 PM

Absolutely ridiculous price. I was prepared to pay £130ish (twice that of GH3) but there's no way in hell I'm forking out £180 when the US are paying less than half of that.

This "New EA" seems to be very similar in morality to the old one, and believe me that ain't in reference to anything positive.

PS: That £130 is the maximum I would pay. If you even think I'd pay a spilt-the-difference price of £150ish, you can now bugger off. I might have before, but not now you're true, money-grubbing intentions are once again on display.

So annoyed.

Starsky23 · 08-04-2008, 02:02 PM

The price is simply insane!

The complete kit is sold at Amazon USA for less than USD 150,-- so what the hell are you thinking here to put a tag of EURO 240/GBP 180/USD 370 on this game in Europe?

I guess and hope no one will support this ridiculous rip-off!

alastor2004 · 08-04-2008, 02:08 PM

Another n00b here who signed up to voice my disgust at this pricing structure if it is accurate. I have yet to see anything concrete from EA about the pricing so I'm taking it with a pinch of salt for now, but I still feel the need to get on my high horse.

If the price is anything more than £130 with everything, I and many people I know will not be buying it.

jonnydynamite · 08-04-2008, 02:12 PM

I seriously hope that EA reconsider this price point as I for one will not be buying the game at that price. I think at around £120-130 it was a game I was very much looking forward to and was prepared to accept the high price. I simply cannot justify spending £180 on a game, especially when it retails significantly cheaper in the USA.

I think this pricing issue does nothing to help the image of EA amongst most gamers - one of a business which treats its customers with little respect, churning out half-baked games after short production periods just to make as much money as quickly as possible.

I will not be purchasing any more games published by EA in the mean time and can only hope that other people will follow until you realise that you can't treat your customers with such distain and sustain a business long term.

Remora Wraith · 08-04-2008, 02:30 PM

They won't I think it's clear to see from the treatment the european market has received so far that they don't give a flying **** about the market outside america, and this just proves it. As I said I was going to buy this on release for the 360 as was my brother who already has a US PS3 copy, but now we'll both make do with his PS3 version which cost £90 even with the import duty.

Doomz · 08-04-2008, 02:42 PM

EA, this is completely disgusting. You're ripping off users, you're destroying any creativity in the games industry and frankly, we've had enough.

I've just spend my £160 pounds on a Glasonbury ticket, I had planned to spend it on rock band, but to be honest, you can go and jump off a cliff. I'll be playing GTA4 instead, thankfully Take2 rejected your obnoxious buyout bid, so at least they still have morals. I bet we don't get any kind of response either from your "community minions".

Linus · 08-04-2008, 02:46 PM

I'm disgusted as well. I was planning to buy this game for the last few months, and the pricing is just beyond comprehension, except as an indicator of how we are expected to be milked as consumers.

You've changed a must buy into a 'Won't buy, and will tell everyone I know that it's a complete ripoff'. Last EA game I'll think about getting.

Spidery Yoda · 08-04-2008, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doomz

I bet we don't get any kind of response either from your "community minions".

I think "community punchbags" is a better title. I feel a little sorry for them really, having to take all the flak from EA's bad decisions.

Daveydje · 08-04-2008, 02:51 PM

Yep, I'm another one that won't be buying Rock Band.

You know, i'm used to paying more than the US... But £180 compared to the US price is just outrageous. Did EA suddenly forget we all had internet access, and we know how much you charge other in countries? People in the UK know we're going to get charged a bit more... but when the difference in price is almost DOUBLE!... That's just pure greed... My suggestions would be to 1. fire the person that thought £180 was a great idea for a price point. And 2. drop the price to something more sensible.

Roberto73 · 08-04-2008, 02:54 PM

My mate works at a large games chain and he says that they are (thinking of) only getting RB in when its ordered, because of the stupid (estimated) price tag they arent expecting to sell many.

stepneg · 08-04-2008, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spidery Yoda

I think "community punchbags" is a better title. I feel a little sorry for them really, having to take all the flak from EA's bad decisions.

It would help if they came out and said something, it's like someone slipped the prices under the door and then they all ****ed off without explaining it. It's more than double the US price, did they think that no one would notice or something!

Greyjoy · 08-04-2008, 03:01 PM

I had thought that there was nothing that could dissuade me from purchasing Rock Band. I've been chomping at the bit for this game to arrive in Europe for months now. But this ridiculous price of 180GBP/240Euro for the 'instrument edition' plus the game is just a bone-headed move. I've been raving to my friends about this game for months but there's no way I can justify this price-gouging. If the instruments pack included the game for 130GBP/170 euro I could justify the purchase to myself and to my mates. But I'd be a laughing stock amongst my friends (all of whom have consoles) if i forked out 180GBP for a videogame. At such a ridiculously high price of 180GBP/240Euro it's almost like EA want this game to fail in Europe.

Applecorp · 08-04-2008, 03:03 PM

Yet another person who joined this forum purely to express their absolute amazement and disgust at this pricepoint.

I hope this is a failure I really do (unlikely) then I can buy it from the bargain bin for £30 in a few months.

Until then, **** you EA, shove the extortionate package up your corporate ****, sideways.

Vandyan · 08-04-2008, 03:06 PM

So we're finally getting paid back for saving and rebuilding Europe after WW2, but why does EA get all the money?

I kid, I kid.

That sucks, typical EA.

08-04-2008, 12:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
Fletch1970 Rookie Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 12	Rock Band UK Bundles/Pricing Discussion I think someone needs to kick this off. I have just read on Kotaku the pricing/bundle structure for Rock Band in the UK and Europe. "The game won't come in a single bundle. Instead, there's two products available at lauch. One is called the "Instrument Edition", which costs £130/€170. It comes with a guitar, drums, and mic. That's it. No game. No, if you want the game as well, it'll cost you another £50/€70. That brings the cost of the game and three instruments to £180" As a parent and gamer, I just want EA to know that there is now NO WAY I will be buying this game either for myself or my family as I orginally intended. £180 for a game, that retails in the US for £85 (@$170)? If you also factor in the weak dollar, that means we are paying nearly $200 (@£100) MORE for the same product - sorry we get a few extra songs. The instruments are not made in the USA and could be shipped to the EU/UK, and disk duplication costs cannot vary that much across the globe, so a pure economic argument (i.e. it's made in the US etc.) cannot be used. This is pure greed. Even if you ignore the fact that we have had to wait so long for the game to be released over here, in fact still have to wait until the 23rd May, the sheer gaul of the pricing has made me realise that EA has no respect for the millions of customers it has in the region. I could buy a second Wii, or most of a 360 Elite for that money. No way EA... too far... Enough is enough. I will purchase NO new EA games on any platform until this pricing structure is reviewed, and I will encourage my friends and family, and anyone that cares to ask or be in earshot when I am in a gamestore to do the same. Sorry EA but this is one "corporate rip-off" too far for me. Regards, Paul Fletcher One last thing... EA - Please feel free to contact me on my registered e-mail address if you discuss this further... but going on this decision, you probably won't.

08-04-2008, 12:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Spidery Yoda Forum Guru Join Date: Sep 2007 Age: 20 Posts: 1,585	I agree completely. Living in the UK and having the internet has made me realise in the past few years just how much we're being ripped off. Games and consoles are sometimes nearly double the price they are in the US. When I discovered this I basically stopped buying new games altogether. Since I found that out (a few years ago), I haven't bought a single £40 game. I've either waited until it's a reasonable price, or not bought it at all. While I had the feeling that Rock Band would cost over £100 here, the final price of £180 is a complete joke. You could buy a Wii or a 360 for that price. Nobody in their right mind is going to pay £180 for a game, especially since it's more than double the US price this time. Maybe the price could be justified if they included every single DLC song that has been so far released. or something of that nature. But even then, you'd end up buying a load of stuff you don't want. It's absolutely ridiculous. I sincerely hope that this game gets very very low sales to reflect what a poor decision the pricing was. __________________

08-04-2008, 01:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
Remora Wraith Forum Junkie Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Somewhere Age: 22 Posts: 4,712	I just fail to see how they can even start to justify this price, how whatever execs and sales experts thought that this was a fair market price got into the positions they did. It's £110 more expensive then Guitar Hero has ever been and the only additions are a drum kit and a microphone, as has been said it's £100 more expensive then it would be to buy it in america and as has been said it's not like it costs more to manufacture the instruments for the european market. On top of that the game is already 6 months late here it's just not on. I was looking forward to this as a day of release purchase, now I doubt I ever will well not until the price is £100 or less. Oh and just to put this into an even greater perspective the game with the instruments (do you get two or one guitar) costs more then it does for the cheapest XBox 360 SKU, a game should NEVER EVER cost more than the console it's played on. Nice work EA and ****ing this up even more then it already has been. __________________ We are sorry in the most sarcastic sense of the word.

08-04-2008, 01:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
MBar Rookie Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2	Absolutely ridiculous price. I was prepared to pay £130ish (twice that of GH3) but there's no way in hell I'm forking out £180 when the US are paying less than half of that. This "New EA" seems to be very similar in morality to the old one, and believe me that ain't in reference to anything positive. PS: That £130 is the maximum I would pay. If you even think I'd pay a spilt-the-difference price of £150ish, you can now bugger off. I might have before, but not now you're true, money-grubbing intentions are once again on display. So annoyed. Last edited by MBar; 08-04-2008 at 02:08 PM..

08-04-2008, 02:30 PM	#16 (permalink)
Remora Wraith Forum Junkie Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Somewhere Age: 22 Posts: 4,712	They won't I think it's clear to see from the treatment the european market has received so far that they don't give a flying **** about the market outside america, and this just proves it. As I said I was going to buy this on release for the 360 as was my brother who already has a US PS3 copy, but now we'll both make do with his PS3 version which cost £90 even with the import duty. __________________ We are sorry in the most sarcastic sense of the word.

08-04-2008, 12:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
iapetus Rookie Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 131	I've said it before and will no doubt say it again: nobody should buy the game at this price and under these conditions (ridiculous delay for the European release, and additional delay on the non-360 versions). Anyone who buys Rock Band now is sending a message that they are willing to accept this pricing and treatment of EU gamers. And frankly that's the wrong message to be sending. In an ideal world, EA would get no sales of the game at all, having treated its customer base like this. As it is, every sale they lose is part of sending the right message. Which is why despite the fact that I've been looking forward to this game for a very long time now I won't be buying it unless they sort their act out, and I'll be encouraging everyone else to take the same stand.

08-04-2008, 12:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
MuzAlfEA Rookie Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 17	The only thing I can deduce from this is that we finally know who is paying for the bungled North American launch...it's us. There is no way anybody should pay £180 for this game on principle - whether they can afford it or not is a totally moot point. Someone at EA has seriously lost the plot and a lot of the respect it had outside North America. This is a new low.

08-04-2008, 01:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
Gowans007 Rookie Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5	A bunch of friends and I have really been looking forward to picking up this game, one isn't really a hard gamer but loves Guitar hero and loves drums so has been dying for it and even bought a 360 in preparation for it. Just got of the phone with him after he saw the news, laughing down the line saying no chance. Gutted really want to play this game and play with friends. Expected £130 but I don't think I can condone £180 for me and defiantly not for anyone else. Compared to the price point elsewhere the UK/Euro price is a joke.

08-04-2008, 01:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
Maddzy Hi, I'm New! Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1	Absalute disgrace, a total rip-off. There will be a lot of lost sales due to this if the price is kept the same, its an increase of 124% above the American price! How is this justified, how can it cost this much for us? We are used to being ripped off with prices but why so much this time? What is EA thinking!? I will not be buying the game at this price.

08-04-2008, 01:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
Anilones Rookie Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2	I have joined for the sole purpose of expressing my disgust on this pricing, and I refuse to purchase any EA game until the price is reduced. I also would like to point any moderators to the Harmonix board in which there is a far greater number of members, all of which are just as disgusted.

08-04-2008, 01:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
iapetus Rookie Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 131	If anyone has £180 burning a hole in their pocket, I did some shopping around to see what you can get for that sort of money. Obviously the first option is a copy of the UK release of Rock Band, but the alternatives might suprise you...

08-04-2008, 01:49 PM	#11 (permalink)
CaptCastle Hi, I'm New! Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1	Not much to say, it's simply no deal at that price.

08-04-2008, 02:02 PM	#13 (permalink)
Starsky23 Rookie Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2	The price is simply insane! The complete kit is sold at Amazon USA for less than USD 150,-- so what the hell are you thinking here to put a tag of EURO 240/GBP 180/USD 370 on this game in Europe? I guess and hope no one will support this ridiculous rip-off!

08-04-2008, 02:08 PM	#14 (permalink)
alastor2004 Rookie Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2	Another n00b here who signed up to voice my disgust at this pricing structure if it is accurate. I have yet to see anything concrete from EA about the pricing so I'm taking it with a pinch of salt for now, but I still feel the need to get on my high horse. If the price is anything more than £130 with everything, I and many people I know will not be buying it.

08-04-2008, 02:12 PM	#15 (permalink)
jonnydynamite Hi, I'm New! Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1	I seriously hope that EA reconsider this price point as I for one will not be buying the game at that price. I think at around £120-130 it was a game I was very much looking forward to and was prepared to accept the high price. I simply cannot justify spending £180 on a game, especially when it retails significantly cheaper in the USA. I think this pricing issue does nothing to help the image of EA amongst most gamers - one of a business which treats its customers with little respect, churning out half-baked games after short production periods just to make as much money as quickly as possible. I will not be purchasing any more games published by EA in the mean time and can only hope that other people will follow until you realise that you can't treat your customers with such distain and sustain a business long term.

08-04-2008, 02:42 PM	#17 (permalink)
Doomz Rookie Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5	EA, this is completely disgusting. You're ripping off users, you're destroying any creativity in the games industry and frankly, we've had enough. I've just spend my £160 pounds on a Glasonbury ticket, I had planned to spend it on rock band, but to be honest, you can go and jump off a cliff. I'll be playing GTA4 instead, thankfully Take2 rejected your obnoxious buyout bid, so at least they still have morals. I bet we don't get any kind of response either from your "community minions".

08-04-2008, 02:46 PM	#18 (permalink)
Linus Hi, I'm New! Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1	I'm disgusted as well. I was planning to buy this game for the last few months, and the pricing is just beyond comprehension, except as an indicator of how we are expected to be milked as consumers. You've changed a must buy into a 'Won't buy, and will tell everyone I know that it's a complete ripoff'. Last EA game I'll think about getting.

08-04-2008, 02:51 PM	#20 (permalink)
Daveydje Hi, I'm New! Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1	Yep, I'm another one that won't be buying Rock Band. You know, i'm used to paying more than the US... But £180 compared to the US price is just outrageous. Did EA suddenly forget we all had internet access, and we know how much you charge other in countries? People in the UK know we're going to get charged a bit more... but when the difference in price is almost DOUBLE!... That's just pure greed... My suggestions would be to 1. fire the person that thought £180 was a great idea for a price point. And 2. drop the price to something more sensible.

08-04-2008, 02:54 PM	#21 (permalink)
Roberto73 Rookie Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 20	My mate works at a large games chain and he says that they are (thinking of) only getting RB in when its ordered, because of the stupid (estimated) price tag they arent expecting to sell many.

08-04-2008, 03:01 PM	#23 (permalink)
Greyjoy Hi, I'm New! Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1	I had thought that there was nothing that could dissuade me from purchasing Rock Band. I've been chomping at the bit for this game to arrive in Europe for months now. But this ridiculous price of 180GBP/240Euro for the 'instrument edition' plus the game is just a bone-headed move. I've been raving to my friends about this game for months but there's no way I can justify this price-gouging. If the instruments pack included the game for 130GBP/170 euro I could justify the purchase to myself and to my mates. But I'd be a laughing stock amongst my friends (all of whom have consoles) if i forked out 180GBP for a videogame. At such a ridiculously high price of 180GBP/240Euro it's almost like EA want this game to fail in Europe.

08-04-2008, 03:03 PM	#24 (permalink)
Applecorp Rookie Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 9	Yet another person who joined this forum purely to express their absolute amazement and disgust at this pricepoint. I hope this is a failure I really do (unlikely) then I can buy it from the bargain bin for £30 in a few months. Until then, ** you EA, shove the extortionate package up your corporate **, sideways.

08-04-2008, 03:06 PM	#25 (permalink)
Vandyan Hi, I'm New! Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1	So we're finally getting paid back for saving and rebuilding Europe after WW2, but why does EA get all the money? I kid, I kid. That sucks, typical EA.