Free bass for anyone pre-ordering Guitar Hero: World Tour 'super bundle'

By Kristan Reed Published 19 September, 2008

Get yourself a freebie if you get in early.

A bass guitar peripheral worth GBP 50 is to be given away to customers who pre-order the Guitar Hero World Tour 'super bundle'.

A report in UK trade magazine MCV says that those who pre-order the GBP 150 'super bundle' including the game, guitar, microphone and drum kit will also get a Guitar Hero bass guitar.

Activision has confirmed it will be an official RedOctane peripheral, and that the offer will apply to the UK only. The 'bass' will be the same as the Guitar Hero 3 peripheral on the PS3, we have been informed.

Activision's UK and Ireland marketing boss David Tyler described it as"the biggest pre-order incentive the industry has ever seen".

The offer will apparently apply to "any retailer" and consumers can pre-order "either online or in-store".

"This is a significant investment to reward our loyal fans, ensuring the full band experience is available from the off," he added.

Needless to say, demand is expected to be ridiculously high, so if you want the full kit our advice is to get in there quickly.

Meanwhile, Activision has also revealed that Guitar Hero World Tour will be available in a wide variety of configurations on PS2, PS3, 360 and Wii, including bundles which include the game and the new guitar, as well as the drums and the super bundle.

A release date has been pegged for 'early November'.

In the build-up to release, be sure to keep an eye on the Guitar Hero World Tour gamepage.

Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (60) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Eraysor #1 3 years ago

    I've already got the Rock Band drums, but I'd be more than happy to destroy my RB Stratocaster for the new GH guitar.

    EDIT: Is there any actual physical difference between the normal guitar and the bass guitar?
    Edited by 1 at 19/09/08 @ 09:27

  • mattigan #2 3 years ago

    They seem to be trying very hard to bury Rock Band

  • That_Happy_Cat #3 3 years ago

    Activision caught me a delicious bass

  • toythatkills #4 3 years ago

    Presumably this amazing bass guitar is the shitty X-Plorer that Play and everyone else is already giving away, right?

    Far from worth caring about.

  • Normski #5 3 years ago

    I though it might be the beer

    /disappointed
    Edited by 1 at 19/09/08 @ 09:39

  • neilch #6 3 years ago

    I though it might be the beer

    /disappointed

    ... I thought it might be fish

    /also disappointed

  • Machetazo #7 3 years ago

    Free bass? No thank you, I can very well catch my own. ;)

  • paulf #8 3 years ago

    image of the bass here looks a bit like the gh2 xbox controller but with a different body
    Edited by 1 at 19/09/08 @ 09:49

  • NegativeZero #9 3 years ago

    Yeah, it's just the shitty old GH2 Xplorer.

    Now, if it was the new Nyko bass guitar peripheral with the split strum bar so that you can actually play the thing like an actual bass and everything, that would be an incentive. I already have one of these, I don't need two.

  • groovychainsaw #10 3 years ago

    For those of us who don't have the instruments yet, that is a tempting offer. Given the additional features in GH:WT (music mode etc.) i'm quite tempted...

  • MoGamer2006 #11 3 years ago

    Anyone seen any good prices on this bundle... my credit card is is need of a work out, y'see...

  • MoGamer2006 #12 3 years ago

    Oh, and which version to go for... I know the Xbox one will be hi-def, but I'm intrigued by the Wii's freestyle mode... pls put away any anit-Wii prejudice and advise, o wise ones... What are the pros and cons of each version (beyond screen res).

  • Rpt81 #13 3 years ago

    Play.com have it for £149.99 across the board, with an extra fiver off using the code VTWMDLHGPQ if you order before September 22nd.

  • MrXBob #14 3 years ago

    Wow, welcome to literally 2 months ago.... Play.com have had this offer since then, as have my local gamestation.

  • krudster #15 3 years ago

    Guys: it's an official RedOctane bass peripheral. Story updated.

  • metalnut #16 3 years ago

    Offer translation: pay £10 more than Rock Band costs and get some shitty old stock they can't shift any other way free!

    edit: the Xplorer was an 'official Red Octane peripheral' too you know...
    Edited by 1 at 19/09/08 @ 10:29

  • sickpuppysoftware #17 3 years ago

    how low can you go?

  • Dazimus #18 3 years ago

    Can't believe some of you are complaining about getting something for free. They didn't have to offer anything, would you complain then? Jeez.

  • myiagros #19 3 years ago

    Thanks Rpt81, that code will do nicely.
    With the free 360 guitar being the GH2 explorer, i wonder what the PS3 one will be, as GH2 wasn't on PS3.

  • sanctusmortis #20 3 years ago

    Dazimus: you even USED the POS? It's like giving away old Competition Pro pads! It was a poor controller then, it seems worse now having used better, and they're just rolling off spare stock. It's not a freebie, it's cleaning their warehouse.

    myiagros: they have so many spare, they'll reconfigure them for PS3 use.
    Edited by 1 at 19/09/08 @ 10:43

  • consignia #21 3 years ago

    They're giving away cocaine with Guitar Hero? I must inform the Daily Mail.

  • krudster #22 3 years ago

    The actual guitar being given away is the same one used on PS3 Guitar Hero 3.

    So stop whingeing!

  • philwa2 #23 3 years ago

    mmmmmmmmmmmm, somebody made too may GHII guitars and now they are trying to clear them out of the warehouse - thanks Activision for "rewarding your loyal fans" - what a crock of shit.
    Edited by 1 at 19/09/08 @ 10:52

  • philwa2 #24 3 years ago

    oh and why dont they just reduce the price of the package rather than give us something that we already have, I mean £150 quid come on!!

  • nickthegun #25 3 years ago

    Get higher baby and dont you ever come down! FREE BASS!

  • varsas #26 3 years ago

    This is perfect for those new to the game.

    According to Zavvi, the PS2 version is out in 2020! lol...
    Edited by 1 at 19/09/08 @ 11:17

  • toythatkills #27 3 years ago

    "The 'bass' will be the same as the Guitar Hero 3 peripheral on the PS3, we have been informed."

    Yeah, on the PS3 it will, because there's no other shitty guitar to give away. That won't work on the 360 though, will it? On the 360, you'll be stuck with the shitty X-Plorer. Like I said hours ago.

    They're just dumping shitty old stock that no one wanted in the hope that nobody notices that THIS COSTS MORE THAN ROCK BAND COSTS. Weird how after all the crap about the price of that bundle, no one's said a word about the price of this one. Weird, indeed.

  • LiamK #28 3 years ago

    I am angry at everyone for everything!

  • Refrenz #29 3 years ago

    @nickthegun: ROFL

  • krudster #30 3 years ago

    From what I understand, it's the same style of free guitar on ALL platforms, he just happened to mention the PS3 one because they'll all be like that.

  • daz_john_smith #31 3 years ago

    @MrXBob
    Exactly, Eurogamer do seem a little late on this one.

    Ok, so firstly this is a pretty sweet deal cos anyone pre-ordering will literally get everything they need right out of the box, no need to buy any additional kit. However, how come us 360 owners get lumped with the X-Plorer when apparently all other versions get a wireless controller, in the case of the PS3 the GH3 Les Paul. Don't get me wrong I really like my current X-Plorer, but I don't see why we get short changed and technically get an inferior piece of kit.
    I assume it has something to do with the licencing of Microsofts Wireless tech but I thought once the licence had been bought for a product e.g. The Les Paul, they wouldn't need to licence it again. Maybe someone else knows how this works better than I do.

    @MoGamer2006
    Best price I've seen is £149 on Zavvi.co.uk, but thats only a saving of £1 over everywhere else.
    I'd go with the 360 version (and I will be) since downloadable content should be easier to store and access also the Wii's music creation studio doesn't have as many options as the 360/PS2 versions. It's also the same price which seems a little strange since aren't the guitars just plastic shells for the WiiMotes which do most of the work, e.g. tilt sensoring, wireless, etc

    @toythatkills
    Actually RRP in store of Rock Band has only just been dropped from £180 to £160, wereas the £150 price point for GHWT appears to be both in store and online, so in some cases GHWT is actually £10 cheaper thean Rock Band and comes with an additional guitar, and the drums and main guitar are wireless unlike with Rock Band which has all wired peripherals.
    Edited by 7 at 19/09/08 @ 12:14

  • toythatkills #32 3 years ago

    The RRP of Rock Band is more, but who pays RRP if they can help it? Nowhere is selling it at that - even in store it's £130 with the game if you look around. GHWT is £150 everywhere - no other option.

  • daz_john_smith #33 3 years ago

    Not everyone shops around or shops online. My friend picked it up on Play.com for £140 at launch but the major high street chains were still charging £180 for it up until the price cut and are now charging £160. There's also the point that 2 of GHWT's primary instruments are wireless right out of the box unlike Rock Band and we're also kinda getting a free 2nd controller. So for an increase of £10-£20, in some cases, over Rock Band that doesn't actually seem all that bad.

  • skybluesam86 #34 3 years ago

    MoGamer2006: From what I've heard, Vicarious Visions have done a fine job of GH:WT on Wii. There's even DLC.
    No idea if this factor's into your comparison, but by the sounds of it, it walks all over Wii Rock Band. It's certainly made up my mind.
    But then, I only have a Wii.
    The other versions are probably a better bet, though, if you've got one of the other consoles.

  • skybluesam86 #35 3 years ago

    toythatkills:They're just dumping shitty old stock that no one wanted in the hope that nobody notices that THIS COSTS MORE THAN ROCK BAND COSTS. Weird how after all the crap about the price of that bundle, no one's said a word about the price of this one. Weird, indeed.

    For one thing, Rock Band pricing came out of the blue. It shocked everyone. Now people knew pretty much what to expect.
    On top of that, we're getting significantly higher quality peripherals here, not the crap RB ones.
    And even more, we're not getting a load of confusing package options. It's pretty simple, all in the box, or just the game. None of this instrument packs, game packs, game and some instruments, etc.
    It's been handled far better than the Rock Band launch was.

  • daz_john_smith #36 3 years ago

    The thing that pissed me off the most about Rock Band pricing was how they went on and on beforehand about how it wouldn't be overpriced and in the US to be fair is wasn't. But then here; £!80... :o WTF. The biggest mistake was trying to justify that, especially when online retailers instantly started offering it for a total of £140.

  • DFawkes #37 3 years ago

    I've only just thought - will Wii owners need a remote per instrument? I have 2 Wiimotes, that's one for each guitar. Will the drums need one too? That's take the price uo another £20-£30 depending on where you shop.

  • Phily50 #38 3 years ago

    So you'll still need lots of dongles then if its the GHIII one?

    As long as this game has friend invites unlike GHIII on PS3 then i'm in.

  • daz_john_smith #39 3 years ago

    DFawkes Wrote:
    "I've only just thought - will Wii owners need a remote per instrument? I have 2 Wiimotes, that's one for each guitar. Will the drums need one too? That's take the price uo another £20-£30 depending on where you shop."

    That's a really good point, all the instruments will need WiiMotes (with the exception of the Mic). So you'll need 3 WiiMotes as well for the full band experience. The Wii version really should be much cheaper , perhaps the same price as the PS2 version (£130), you can't assume you're customers will have more than a single WiiMote.
    Edited by 1 at 19/09/08 @ 12:22

  • IneptPercy #40 3 years ago

    Ordered a few months ago.

    How are people complaining about something which is free? Yes it may be be a 'lets see what we have lying about' kind of thing, but for free who cares.

    I have my Guitar from 3 so the free one will be spare, probably give it my nephew to play guitar hero 3 on the PC. Not worth selling as the Ebay value will drop to 10p there will be that many of them.

    Eitherway, its free so better than a kick in the head.

  • daz_john_smith #41 3 years ago

    I'd be happier with a free wireless Les Paul like PS3 owners than a free wired X-Plorer since I'd paying the same

  • toythatkills #42 3 years ago

    Blah blah blah and on top of that, we're getting significantly higher quality peripherals here, not the crap RB ones.

    Erm, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm fairly sure that Guitar Hero World Tour isn't out yet, and therefore there's no possible way for you to know the quality and reliability of the drums, aside from what a few journalists have said, and they won't know anything about the reliability anyway. Or, can you see the future?

    And even more, we're not getting a load of confusing package options. It's pretty simple, all in the box, or just the game. None of this instrument packs, game packs, game and some instruments, etc.

    What? There are the same amount of packs for GHWT, if not more than Rock Band.

  • kangarootoo #43 3 years ago

    @daz_john_smith

    It doesn't need a Wiimote per instrument. I forget the exact setup, but I am pretty sure the drums and mic just use a plug in dongle of some sort.

  • kangarootoo #44 3 years ago

    @toythatkills

    Its true that nobody has really tried the new RB instruments. But its also true that Red Octane have proved themselves in hardware, whereas MTV have not (the RB 1 instruments are shite, lets be honest). Now they could sort their instruments out (and tbh, I am confident they will), but their record is enough to understandably make poeple wary.

  • monkeywithnoeyes #45 3 years ago

    £150 for something that will be £70 in the states? you're havin a laugh.
    Most people who will want to buy this will already have a previous guitar hero anyway..so whats the point in having 3 guitars? i suppose you might get £20 for it on ebay.

    They need to do 2 things... have an option where you can buy the game with just the drums. And make the xbox version region free so we have a choice of importing it and saving £50 at the very least.

  • DanMW #46 3 years ago

    Is it official that all versions get the same extra guitar? everywhere I've seen the Xbox 360 version (game, play, amazon...) I've either seen a photo of the guitar you get with GHII or says "wired".

  • daz_john_smith #47 3 years ago

    @kangarootoo
    If you head over to the Gamepage and look at the instrument pics, both the main guitar and the drums both require WiiMotes. It's likely the bundled free bass will be a Les Paul shell so that will also require a WiiMote too. Of course that could have changed since those pics were issued and a dongle may now be used, I'm not sure since I really haven't been following the Wii versions developement.

    @monkeywithnoeyes
    $70 is a bit of an exaggeration. The US price is $190, which under the current exchange rate comes to about £105 and their bundle doesn't come with the extra bass guitar. I still think ours could be a little cheaper but it's far from the 100% markup Rock Band tried to force on us.

    @DanMW
    The link I posted earlier for GAME shows that the PS3 version will be coming with the GH3 Les Paul, the PS2 version appears to come with a replica wireless Kramer Styriker like the one from PS2 GH3 and the Wii version appears to include the GH3 Les Paul WiiMote shell.
    Edited by 2 at 19/09/08 @ 14:39

  • RexRunti #48 3 years ago

    what's the story on whether the rock band insruments will work with this? As it really makes a difference in what pack to get or even wait RB2.

  • daz_john_smith #49 3 years ago

    RB1&2 instruments are fully compatible with this and GHWT instruments are compatible with RB2. I'm not sure if it's been confirmed yet whether GHWT drums will work with RB1, but u can always just transfer the songs from RB1 to RB2 and that solves that anyway.

  • metalnut #50 3 years ago

    "the RB 1 instruments are shite, lets be honest"

    Having owned and/or played pretty much every plastic guitar there has been (yep, I'm that gullible) I've found the Rock Band guitar to be easily my favourite. I have a GHIII Les Paul too, but I always pick the Fender when I can. It was really odd at first, but the combination of firmer strum bar with a better grip (much better for up & down strumming than the silly triangle shape profile in previous guitars), and flat neck buttons (better for sliding quickly) have meant it's my firm favourite now. The neck buttons are just a bit noisier than they should be, but they've allegedly sorted that out in RB2.

    The RB1 drums were dodgy to begin with - the second & third iterations are better (I have a QM set), but yes unless you mod them they're too noisy, and the pedal is too flimsy. I modded mine with neoprene pads and a metal pedal and they're great now.

    So, generally I think people are far too black & white on the instruments. Yes, RB made some mistakes but it was their first time out with the hardware, wheras Red Octane has clearly had lots of practice already. The GH:WT drums aren't proven yet though - issues being reported so far are that the cymbals aren't adjustable which can be awkward to get used to, and the kick pedal isn't fixed to anything so can be susceptible to moving about. And, no-one's had their mitts on them heavy-duty stylee for a couple of months, remember - this is when some of the 1st edition RB instrument problems started coming out. I wouldn't assume GH:WT's peripherals are going to be perfect just yet, it's still Red Octane's first drum set, and although I think they have a better chance at getting it right thanks to both their background and that Rock Band already tested the water, there are bound to be some issues.

  • Harlequeen #51 3 years ago

    I thought freebasing was what you did after you got successful in a rockband

  • FenderMaster #52 3 years ago

    Does the Republic of Ireland count?

  • Oh-Bollox #53 3 years ago

    Free bass for anyone pre-ordering Guitar Hero: World Tour 'super bundle' - should read - Guitar Hero shits self over Rock Band.

  • Phily50 #54 3 years ago

    So having pre-ordered the play.com bundle, will I be getting another GHIII guitar or not?

  • daz_john_smith #55 3 years ago

    @Phily50
    Depends on which console you've pre-ordered it for; PS3 yes, another GH3 Les Paul; 360 no, a GH2 X-Plorer. Either way you're not getting anything new as such, but it's still nice to get another guitar for next to nothin.
    In the RB2 forum thread someone said that trade in at GAME on RB Strats is about £30, might be similar for GH guitars so it might be worth trading the old one in for cash off GHWT if you don't want to end up with 3 guitars, 2 of which will be the same. There's always selling on eBay too.
    Edited by 1 at 19/09/08 @ 22:08

  • aphexstwin #56 3 years ago

    a question for your fine minds....

    its already ghwt over rb/rb2 for the drums for me, but can anyone offer advice over which console to buy for? (PS3 and 360 owner)

    i ask because i like how everything user created is free on ps3, and have plans on doing some songwriting or modding some dance music to rock. will it be free to do this over live? or will microdollar want some of the action?

    ta much!

  • daz_john_smith #57 3 years ago

    @aphexstwin
    All user created content is free on all systems. My guess would be that all the user created stuff will be hosted by ActiBlizzard/Neversoft unlike regular DLC and purchasable songs which I think Microsoft host and can be accesed/dowloaded through the Dashboard. I'd think the user created stuff will only be downloadable via GHTunes through the game itself, bypassing Microsoft and any possible charges. Charging for it on 360 but not on PS3 & Wii would effectively kill that part of the game on 360, I certainly wouldn't pay for user created stuff when I could spend my money on official licenced songs.
    Edited by 1 at 20/09/08 @ 20:11

  • aphexstwin #58 3 years ago

    thx daz. it would be pretty shitty if one consoles' version was gimped coz of corporate greed. but as long as the dlc is of good enough quality, i wont mind dabbling. in terms of the gh store i hope or wonder if someones brave enough to put some floyd or some proper zep (the unnamed 4 being top) then the store will be worth its weight!

  • daz_john_smith #59 3 years ago

    I read somewhere that they'll be monitoring everything that gets uploaded to the store and if they recieve complaints from a copyright holder then it will be removed but also if any obviously infringes copyright for example a copy of Stairway to Heaven it will just be removed :( and that track will be blocked from being reuploaded. I was hoping to recreate some versions of songs I really like to help me get grips with the music studio (before trying to gimp summin original) and just because I'd really like to play them, hopefully they wont be too recognisable and popular that they get removed. I assume if you cover something and put your own spin on it there may possibly be less chance of it being removed, e.g. a punk cover of Mama Mia?

  • algarnz #60 3 years ago

    Yeah, it's a sweet deal getting the free bass guitar on pre-orders...was definately a ploy to get people buying GHWT over waiting for Rockband 2 to come out. Having said that, I do reckon that GHWT is going to be the better game - especially as far as the drums are concerned - Travis Barker even rocked them out so they have gotta be awesome (fingers crossed Travis is making a speedy recovery - That dude rocks!). I just pre-ordered my version of the game by checking out the cheapest price at this pretty sweet site Guitar Hero World Tour - def worth a check out if you are trying to find the chepaest version of the game.