No Euro date for Rock Band 2 after all

By Robert Purchese Published 1 July, 2008

There's been a "misunderstanding".

EA has told Eurogamer there has been a "misunderstanding" about the Rock Band 2 date in Europe.

Word had originally pointed to a simultaneous European release alongside the US this September.

"There was a misunderstanding and there is no confirmed date for Europe," a spokesperson from EA told Eurogamer.

Rock Band 2 was unveiled yesterday and named its biggest features as the ability to carry downloadable songs between the first and second games, in addition to fresh instruments and more expansive party and online options.

The sequel will be a timed exclusive for Microsoft in the States, with other platforms due to follow later in the year.

The Q4 release puts it in direct competition with Guitar Hero World Tour, which also comes with drums, microphone, and guitar.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (41) Latest comment 4 years ago

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

  • DFawkes #1 4 years ago

    Translates as "Ha ha! You thought we wouldn't royally screw you again Europe, but wrong! I'll be there soon to urinate on the graves of your relatives and set fire to your houses, suckers!"

  • firefly #2 4 years ago

    However as a bonus feature the European version of the game will not be compatible with the peripherals released for the first Rock Band.
    Instead they'll be launching a new line of premium peripherals with the total cost coming to over £3000.

  • FixedInfinity #3 4 years ago

    Expected as much...

  • Eraysor #4 4 years ago

    I don't understand how they can be so incompetent. At this rate I'll just sell Rock Band and buy the new Guitar Hero.

  • rick_x #5 4 years ago

    Are they getting tips from SCEE on marketing and PR?

  • Monkey #6 4 years ago

    Suddenly it's become more prudent to buy a real drumkit.
    :)

  • Phily50 #7 4 years ago

    "I don't understand how they can be so incompetent. At this rate I'll just sell Rock Band and buy the new Guitar Hero."

    I never bought RB due to the way us Europeans have been shafted.

    VOTE WITH YOUR WALLETS

  • Mr_Dodger #8 4 years ago

    Maybe not for the instruments (after all, they have to wait for the yanks to break them before they can ship the refurbs here) but the game's just a disc isn't it? At least according to an interview on IGN. The existing instruments will work, although the new ones will be "the best we've ever made" or some such.

  • Killerbee #9 4 years ago

    Not surprising really, since EA still need to launch the PS3 and Wii versions of Rock Band over here, and it wouldn't do for the sequel to be out before those are. Mind you, if they do delay, they're going to lose a fair bit of ground to Guitar Hero World Tour.

  • Madafunkola #10 4 years ago

    Are they going to bother releasing it on PS3 over here? By the time that's out it will be old news!

  • stampax #11 4 years ago

    It's a competition isnt it - which company can treat Europe the worst and still make money. It's very exciting too!

  • paulf #12 4 years ago

    makes sense really since rock band 1 has hardly been released in europe, hopefully the game is region free so we can import the solus pack

  • InsoFox #13 4 years ago

    *rolls eyes*

    Come on. Yes, it's annoying... but you know what's really, really stupid? Buying the other game purely out of spite. Get over it already, I know I have. We'll still be getting the DLC, so it's not like the wait is even particularly painful.

  • Beano #14 4 years ago

    It's not only Sony that hates Europe.

  • CreepinJesus #15 4 years ago

    Even the European Commission hates Europe. They keep having a go at Microsoft. Like with those 'N' versions of Vista - ever wondered what they are? They're the versions that don't come with Media Player or Internet Explorer, which the EC forced Microsoft to release. Retarded, seeing as no one buys them, they're the same price as the normal versions, then you can download MP and IE for free on the updating thing anyway. Kind of pointless...

    Back on topic - EA: suck my sack.

  • AwesomeWells #16 4 years ago

    Meanwhile, those of us exiled in Australia still don't have a release date for Rock Band 1.

    Strewth, cobber etc.

  • JonFE #17 4 years ago

    EA/MTV have only themselves to blame for this tough situation. They delayed to release RB in Europe way too much and they complicated things further by making it timed exclusive to the x360 (not to mention more expensive).

    Now, they have to rush RB2 out the door to keep GH: WT from being the new, fresh, shinier, lucrative product over the Christmas (or Holiday as they prefer) period. All this while their original product is not for sale on all formats over all territories. Who's going to get the original now, fully aware that the new (and improved) version is just around the corner?

    Of course average folks may not know this, but expensive purchases are usually not on impulse they demand research, so EA/MTV are probably going to lose some sales over this.

  • WinstonChurchill #18 4 years ago

    Has VOTING WITH ONE'S WALLET ever worked?

    I can't remember an instance, beyond perhaps Atari's ET, where a company was destroyed because people refused to buy a game (although that was because it wasn't any good, not because it was expensive).

    Oh wait... the Dreamcast.

    You non-Rock Band moaners killed my Dreamcast!

  • Garulon #19 4 years ago

    EA: "We reserve the right to bend over Europe".

    They're lucky RB is so fabulous, that's all.

  • metalnut #20 4 years ago

    To all the people still whining about the price and crying boycott: get over it. "Voting with your wallet" is doing jack shit except depriving YOU of playing an absolutely fantastic game. Stop pretending you're making a stand or fighting the good fight, it's total and utter bullshit.

    Personally, I'm having more fun with RB than I've had in a long, long time - since I first got GH2, but with 4-players it beats that hands-down too. Worth EVERY PENNY. Go ahead and keep whining about why you haven't bought it, I'll be over here having a blast with my friends.

  • firefly #21 4 years ago

    @metalnut

    To be fair the other effect of not buying Rock Band is that people get to keep their money.
    Not everybody is choosing not to buy it in order to make a statement, you forget that when it comes to things that cost a lot of money people have to get that money from somewhere or go without something else that they may need or want.

    You're right, claims to be making a stand or fighting the good fight are overly dramatic. I think you'll find that most people simply decided they couldn't justify parting with that much money for a single game but that they may reconsider if the price ever drops.

  • MBar #22 4 years ago

    I will put money on that they'll use the low sales of Rock Band 1 in Europe as an excuse for delaying Rock Band 2 here.

    Would you like to be told why you had low sales in Europe?

  • Peew971 #23 4 years ago

    I'm sure GH will release worldwide, which will force RB releasing fast in Europe.

  • metalnut #24 4 years ago

    @firefly: I definitely agree - if you make a reasoned decision that to you it's not worth the money, that's perfectly fine. But people who cry "boycott!" are just retarded.

    Rule #1 of capitalism - a product is worth precisely as much as a consumer is willing to pay for it.

  • zozart #25 4 years ago

    Please, think of the Australians!

    I'm not Australian, but those poor folks haven't even got the first one, let alone the sequel! EA/MTV (I'm not blaming you, Harmonix) have fucked the whole thing up. The only reason I'm not planning on defecting to Guitar Hero World Tour is because I have faith in Harmonix, who, underneath all the EA and MTV crap, are likely just as innovative and bright as ever.

    Also, I need my Harmonix-only Freezepop fix. :)

  • metalnut #26 4 years ago

    Oh, and as for 'most people' not affording it, Rock Band actually sold pretty well in the UK for a game that was 3-4x the price of a regular game, it stayed in the top 10 for 4 weeks running (2nd and 3rd for the first 2 weeks, and still in the top 20 now) according to Chart Track. So much for the 'boycott' the internet gripers have been inciting - a hell of a lot of people ignored them and just had fun, the way it should be.

  • johnnybrn #27 4 years ago

    If you take the basics of supply/demand from economics, if the is high demand but low supply then you can charge what you like ie price discrimination/market skimming.

    However if there is low demand but high supply then you have to use market penetration.

    EA knows there is high demand for Rock Band as its a quality product so feel that they are able to charge a high price.

    The biggest problem is that Guitar hero has messed up this equation, forcing them to rethink their pricing & marketing plans.

    EDIT .And metalnut, as your calling forum posters who boycott the product retarded is a bit strong! Sensible is more like it

    It will be interesting to see how EA counter this or whether they will just write off Europe as a niche market.
    Edited by 1 at 01/07/08 @ 12:02

  • grussbarbar #28 4 years ago

    @Metalnut

    Of course voting with our wallets works. Why wouldn't it work? If even only a 4000 gamers (the number of signatures on the petition) don't buy Rock Band, that's a million Euro's less revenue! (instrument pack + game disc) Of course, no matter how few people buy Rock Band, EA and MTV will not be "destroyed". But that's not the goal. The goal is just to hurt EA and MTV a bit, just enough to send them a message that they can't just do as they please towards European consumers. You bet that it'll be clear to them if Rock Band sells even, say, 25% worse here than in the US.

    Apart from Rock Band, there's also the risk of setting a precedent. If nobody votes with their wallet and just buys RB at the current retail price, who's stopping EA from jacking up the prices on all their games? Do you want all EA games to cost 70 Euro's in the future?

    This reminds me of voting during the elections. It irks the hell out of me that my fellow countrymen keep complaining about the government on a daily basis, but when it's time to vote, that they stay at home because "their vote won't matter anyway".

    I applaud everyone who actually forgoes a bit of his/her own fun (yes, we're very conscious of us missing out on a great game here), and doesn't buy Rock Band on principle. It beats complaining but not taking any action at all.

  • asphaltcowboy #29 4 years ago

    Rock Band actually sold pretty well in the UK for a game that was 3-4x the price of a regular game, it stayed in the top 10 for 4 weeks running (2nd and 3rd for the first 2 weeks, and still in the top 20 now) according to Chart Track.

    Yeah, but how much of those were also sold with the instrument pack (I'm assuming the chart listing is for the solus game (since you can't even buy it with the instruments properly)?

  • rick_x #30 4 years ago

    If RB1 was selling well places like Zavvi wouldn't still be doing their "launch week only - game and full instrument set for £150" offer today, like they are.

    I'd love to get the sales figures on the 'Band in a Box' package, I think they'll be absolutely nowhere near those of the solo game.
    Edited by 1 at 01/07/08 @ 12:46

  • StevilKnevil #31 4 years ago

    Absolutely PMSL at the Rock Band martyrs. Needed a good laugh, cheers!

  • metalnut #32 4 years ago

    I'm all for reasonably priced games, but if something is desireable and enough people can afford it, it will sell. Pretending it's a democratic election doesn't change capitalist dynamics. You really think a regular game is worth the price they ask for them these days when a Hollywood movie with approximately the same budget on DVD goes for a tenner? Or that a Porsche is really worth that premium? Of course not.

    Has it ever occurred to you that the reason games in general are so expensive is:

    a) Because they can get away with it
    b) Because it's not perceived to be mass-market enough yet, so they deliberately charge more on the assumption of less sales

    Point b) is probably what explains the Rock Band price. It was already going to be expensive, and hence less people would buy it compared to GTAIV et al. So, they jack the price up a little to compensate, in the full knowledge that the people who want it will buy it anyway, and those that bitch about the price probably wouldn't have bought it anyway. Those in the middle who feel strong enough to boycott, well I'm betting they're a drop in the ocean and are really just wasting their time.

    In any case, RB cost me £135 from Play.com, which is pretty much what I expected anyway given the pre-release announcements, so I really don't know what the fuss is about. It was rumoured to be around £130 when the US version came out, sure the £180 headline was a shock but post-Play discount it pretty much evened out. I wonder how much of this 'boycott' stuff is just sour grapes / bandwagon jumping from people who would never have chosen to afford it anyway.

    Based on some people's logic, I can make the price of Rolex watches come down by not buying one, and encouraging all my friends to boycott them too. Funny, it hasn't worked so far.

    By all means wait for GHWT - it's bound to be cheaper, but judging by the US price, not by much.
    Edited by 2 at 01/07/08 @ 14:51

  • metalnut #33 4 years ago

    @johnnybrn: you misunderstand, I'm not calling those who choose not to buy it retarded, that's their choice. I'm calling those who shout "boycott!" retarded. I say make your own value choice, and let others make theirs - don't try to drag other people into some misguided "cause" - although I know misery loves company ;)
    Edited by 1 at 01/07/08 @ 14:44

  • grussbarbar #34 4 years ago

    @metalnut

    I'm not contesting capitalist dynamics and I'm fully aware that EA/MTV are confident they can charge this price; they must have done focus group studies to determine just how much money they can charge.
    Saying that, we can judge the package on it's value alone, and in that, I probably must agree with you, that it could very well be worth 240 Euro's. However, that doesn't change the fact that EA and MTV are treating European customers badly by

    1. Increasing the price by rougly 40% more than were used to in comparison to the US package (240 Euro's instead of 170 Euro's)
    2. Not ever releasing a statement as to why they increased the price (but instead relying on Harmonix to do the dirty PR work)

    Honestly, I would probably be satisfied if they just issued an honest statement that "the US version was underpriced because they encountered too many costs due to replacement peripherals" or something like that. Not giving any statement at all though, is not done, and opens the door for future unfounded price increases.

    Again, I don't want to send EA a signal that they can just jack up the prices on their games without giving a proper reason, lest they do that with all their games in the future. Or, maybe more probable, I don't want to send a signal to Activision that they can do the same with Guitar Hero: World Tour.

    As for if we boycotters are really a "drop in the ocean", well no one knows. You can believe that, I will believe we're not. And that's why I feel it's worth it to make my points and explain why I'm boycotting the game at the moment.

    Apart from that, I don't see how Play.com's price has any relevance in this. That they're willing to sell the package with a large discount earns them praise, not EA/MTV. If EA/MTV are suggesting a 40% higher retail price, then that's what we should be talking about, because they're effectively saying to retailers that it's allright to charge that much.

  • grussbarbar #35 4 years ago

    @metalnut

    Maybe I should put this another way, to state even clearer why I'm boycotting the game.

    Think about the following: what if you gave it a racist twist, and didn't think of it in terms of US and European customers, but white and black customers. If EA/MTV said to retailers that it's OK to charge white customers 170 Dollars/Euro's and that's it's OK to charge black customers 240 Euro's, would you then still say to the black customers that they should "get over it" and judge the package purely on it's value? And would you still call people retarded for advising them to boycott the game?

    It isn't as much the actual price I'm and other people are complaining about, but rather the extra price increase, which as far as I'm concerned is unfounded as long as EA/MTV don't issue a single statement as to the cause of it. As I view it, this isn't about price, this is about principle.

    Disclaimer: I don't condone racism in any way. I'm all about fair and equal treatment of all people, and that's why I'm so passionate about this. ;)

    Edit:
    I should add that I can appreciate your stance on this, since all you're actually doing is trying to prevent people from missing out on a great game. It does not change my stance on this though, and I do hope you can at least understand my view a bit better (and maybe the views of other people who call out for a boycot). ;)
    Edited by 1 at 01/07/08 @ 18:41

  • metalnut #36 4 years ago

    Fair enough, we'll just have to agree to disagree :)

    About the £180 RRP vs Play.com £135, that's just entirely normal for UK retailers, it's the same reason GH3 is a £70 RRP but you can get it for £60. They've more heavily discounted Rock Band (25% instead of 15%) to get the jump on their competition but it's still the norm over here.

    As for the absolute price difference US vs Europe, I agree that it sucks. We get screwed all the time on more than just RB, for example full-price games have a $1 = £1 conversion rate if you look at the RRP. Until you have effective competition, until one publisher starts undercutting the others, any boycotts are not going to do anything so long as there are enough people who *will* pay the price, and you're really just hurting yourself if you're the kind of person who would like this game. Now, if GHWT undercuts Rock Band (and is a true competitor, which still remains to be seen given the recent GH track record), and as a result a number of people migrate to GHWT then we might see a movement on the price. But avoiding buying a product that has no direct competition and is aimed at a 'luxury' audience is not going to make it reduce in price, IMHO - the Rolex might have been a glib example but in many ways it is relevant. My money is on them not needing to do GTAIV kinda numbers, and the performance they've had is perfectly fine for a first rollout. I would be completely stunned if they moved on price before RB2 / GHWT, and if they do reduce it at that point it will have had little to do with a supposed boycott, it'll just be competition / stock clearance which would have happened anyway.

    You can always wait for RB2 when the RB1 instruments are bound to be discounted anyway I bet. I certainly couldn't wait though, I checked the 'early adopter' box and am quite happy with that decision :)

    Edit: I realise this isn't likely to convince you, and that's ok. I just implore you to consider the practical effects of your boycott on pricing in the absence of any real competition, and what it's doing to your gaming enjoyment (which probably just means deferring it, since eventually it will reduce I'm sure). If you're content with that balance, fine.
    Edited by 2 at 01/07/08 @ 20:37

  • Daikon #37 4 years ago

    Maybe no Euro date, but I can predict the Euro price:

    US price x 3

    They can take their drum kit and shove it where the sun don't shine.

  • grussbarbar #38 4 years ago

    @metalnut

    You know, I've been thinking about our little discussion and I've come to the conclusion that me personally, I'm not actually after a price cut. I just want an honest explanation from EA and MTV why they increased the price so much (more).
    I'm just too stubborn to pay EA/MTV money if they treat us without any respect. =P If they actually gave an honest explanation, even something like that the US version was underpriced because they encountered too many costs, then I would very probably be satisfied.

    Anyway, I'm OK with deferring my Rock Band (or GH:WT?) gaming enjoyment. There's way too many other games to enjoy. :)

  • paulf #39 4 years ago

    ok lets get some points straight on this

    rock band the game is not a rip off nor expensive

    rock band periphirals are expensive (whether they are a rip off depends on point of view etc)

    compare rock band solus to guitar hero aerosmith edition - which are roughly the same price (having played both I would say rock band is much better value)

    tbh if you have an xbox 360 and a guitar hero controller then I'd say Rock Band solus is a must buy

  • njsykora #40 4 years ago

    Can I get a 'for f**k sake' from the crowd!

  • phanlon #41 4 years ago

    I have a PS3 and was really excited about Rock Band. But now why would I buy Rock Band 1 when it finally gets released around October 08 when Guitar Hero 4 comes out in November 08 and is vastly better. (GH4 is £50 more expensive but at least you get the latest game and instruments) I would not pay £100 for RB1 knowing it's replacement is already released in the world and I'm playing an out of date game. I feel Rock Band snubbed Europe (and other regions) thus the sensible option for Wii and PS3 owners is to buy Guitar hero 4 because many of us will already have bought GH3 and be able to use it with GH4.
    Edited by 1 at 01/09/08 @ 11:29