Rock Band 360 bundle wired

By Robert Purchese Published 10 September, 2007

Wireless guitars sold separately.

Harmonix co-founder Alex Rigopulos has revealed that the Xbox 360 retail bundles of Rock Band will all come with wired guitars, while PS3 packs will be wireless.

It's all because it costs more to license wireless technology on Microsoft's console, apparently, which would mean the overall price-tag would end up being too high - although there's still no word on what that figure will be.

"The cost of wireless technology on the Microsoft side is higher, and to be able to offer those bundles at a price point that would be reasonable for consumers it was necessary," said Rigopulos in an OXM podcast.

So, if you want an axe to grind without strings attached, you'll have to stump-up a little more of your hard earned money for a separate guitar or two.

The microphone and drum kit will be wired on all versions, though, so the 360 bundle will come with a USB hub so they can all be plugged in at once.

Pop over to our recently updated track list for Rock Band to see what you and your friends will be performing when the game launches on PS3, 360 and PS2 early next year.

You can also watch us tackle the game face-on in the latest episode of the Eurogamer TV Show.

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. @Clert on Twitter.

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

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Comments (35) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Cloudane #1 5 years ago

    Oh great.

    The PS3 version is more tempting just because it is wireless as it would be a fucking hassle if everything was wired.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #2 5 years ago

    The guitars from GH2 and 3 do work with Rock Band as well, don't they?

  • Fernando #3 5 years ago

    *shakes head*

    Do we blame EA or MS?

  • Metalfish #4 5 years ago

    Slight typo on the "rrecently" guys.

  • Rirekon #5 5 years ago

    Well sod that then to be honest

  • RexRunti #6 5 years ago

    Yeah because "real" electric guitars are wireless.

  • MrMarbles #7 5 years ago

    If having to play Rock Band with a wired guitar is enough to give anyone second thoughts about buying it, then they really don't deserve to bask in its supreme glory.

  • Psychotext #8 5 years ago

    Will make the PS3 version a better choice for those with both consoles. But they're not exactly in the majority.

  • Cloudane #9 5 years ago

    MrMarbles, would you rather have a wireless or wired set-up for Rock Band?

    I don't mind playing Guitar Hero or SingStar with wires but if you have all the Rock Band kit spaced out in a room with wires all over the place then wireless would be more appropriate; it will make it all too easy for wires to be pulled out or complaining they aren't long enough.

  • lambtron #10 5 years ago

    "I don't mind playing Guitar Hero or SingStar with wires but if you have all the Rock Band kit spaced out in a room with wires all over the place then wireless would be more appropriate; it will make it all too easy for wires to be pulled out or complaining they aren't long enough."

    Actually now you put it like that the whole thing sounds like a recipe for disaster - wired or not - its bad enough having two people twatting about with the Wii motes in the living room, let alone a whole band ;).

  • Dizzy #11 5 years ago

    "if you have all the Rock Band kit spaced out in a room with wires all over the place then wireless would be more appropriate"

    The strange thing is that only the guitar is wireless. The rest of the controllers are all wired. So I wonder if the use of a wireless guitar is really that important since the rest of the gang is connected. Then again maybe you wanne jump and run around with your guitar. Sadly the only one that can/needs to jump around is the singer and he/she will be stuck ;)

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #12 5 years ago

    @Cloudane
    But it says the mic and drums will be wired on all versions, so if you had the whole kit and kaboodle, you'd still have wires trailing round the room whether they were PS3 or 360 wires.

    Personally, I'd rather have a wireless guitar, but I'm not really all that bothered. I imagine it'd run down batteries fairly quickly, and if I had to choose between 360 or PS3 versions, I'd still pick 360 for the Achievements.

    Of course, as I don't have a PS3, it's a simple decision :-)

  • Psychotext #13 5 years ago

    @Dizzy: Didn't realise everything else was wired. Makes the guitar thing kinda academic.

  • Stu #14 5 years ago

    Shame. MS should step in!

  • MrMarbles #15 5 years ago

    Cloudane, I'm aiming to get the PS3 version, purely because of the HDD space for DLC.

    A wireless guitar as standard isn't even close to being a constributing factor - if anything, I'm more concerned by the wireless batteries running dry mid-song rather than any benefit going wireless would provide.

    I'm fortunate enough to have had some hands-on time with Rock Band and, honestly, wireless or not, in the grand scheme of things it matters not one jot: the game is phenomenal regardless.

  • locus2k1 #16 5 years ago

    If you already have two guitar controllers, are you able to just buy the drum kit and mike?
    Edited by locus2k1 at 10/09/07 @ 12:18

  • Nesty #17 5 years ago

    real bands have wired guitars and mics... whats the problem??

  • Xerx3s #18 5 years ago

    Do we blame EA or MS?

    Both. Anyone up for an angry mob?

  • Xerx3s #19 5 years ago

    Boycot bs like this. Either buy the ps3 version or don't buy it at all.

  • LeD #20 5 years ago

    You console games make me sick

  • Toothball #21 5 years ago

    So only the bundle has wired guitars? I guess I'll just not buy the bundle. Surely they'll sell the game solo alongside all the parts?

  • Moz #22 5 years ago

    while guitars isn't the end of the world it pretty shitty having a wired guitar in one pack and then for the same price a wireless in another.

    Also haven't they confirmed that GHIII will have a wireless guitar in both packs?

    As for using GH controllers with RB the last i heard this was a no go.

  • bioreit #23 5 years ago

    One easy way for MS out of this problem as I see it:

    make their wired guitar bundle cheaper by £10-15.

    That way, there's no "But PS3 owners pay the same price and get wireless!"

    As other people have noted, if everything else is wired, one extra cable really isn't that much trouble and I seriously, seriously doubt that many have the room to have all their mates round as a band, with wires strewn towards their TV and console, as well as being able to run up and down with the gay abandon a wireless guitar would afford. Without tripping over said mates' cables.

    Reduce the price of the bundle for the 360, Micorosft, making the difference academic, rather than a nudge in the vernaculars.
    Edited by bioreit at 10/09/07 @ 14:09

  • bigbadbeasty #24 5 years ago

    I think it is two guitars included, bass and lead no?

  • thefilthandthefury #25 5 years ago

    I prefer wired, personally. It's more realistic. Nobody plays wireless guitars!

  • bauhaus #26 5 years ago

    PS3 FTW!

    less background howling as well

  • gieltjegitaar #27 5 years ago

    "I think it is two guitars included, bass and lead no?"

    So far, the pack that's been announced only has one guitar.

  • Fitzmogwai #28 5 years ago

    When's this coming out on the DS then?

  • Dr.Mott #29 5 years ago

    This thread would be much more fun with a tite like: Rock Band better on PS3.

  • t8yman #30 5 years ago

    errrrr, 5 piece band, 2 usb ports on the 360 (without pissing about round the back)

    how?

  • Fitzmogwai #31 5 years ago

    Witchcraft.

  • mattman #32 5 years ago

    @t8yman: It's right there in the article. Read before you post!

    "The microphone and drum kit will be wired on all versions, though, so the 360 bundle will come with a USB hub so they can all be plugged in at once."

  • Edward_Gamer #33 5 years ago

    Guitar Hero 2 came with a wired guitar for the Xbox 360. I bought a 20' Cable Extender for only $5. Having a wire actually DOES make it feel more like a real Guitar!

  • PlugMonkey #34 5 years ago

    "I prefer wired, personally. It's more realistic. Nobody plays wireless guitars!"

    Certainly not since the whole Nigel Tuffnel airbase fiasco. *shudders*

  • bengray66 #35 5 years ago

    Who plays these games?