Rock Band taking stage early

Multi-instrumental rhythm game moved up to November 20; launching alongside new community site.

Would-be Rock Band purchasers who've been sharpening their knives and survival instincts in anticipation of dealing with the consumption-mad masses on the game's originally announced Black Friday release date of November 23 can relax a little. Reps for developer Harmonix confirmed today for GameSpot that the game will now go on sale November 20, three days before "Black Friday," and in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.

The game's retail debut will coincide with the launch of a new community Web site, RockBand.com. Harmonix has made no secret that it has wanted to accent some of the social aspects of the Rock Band experience, and the revamped Web site will feature leaderboards, personalized band pages touting the group's accomplishments, individual blogs, forums, and even a "classified section" to help bands fill out their lineups. Eventually the site will also have a "photo creator" function that will allow gamers to set and light a photo shoot starring their characters to further shape their bands' images.

Originally announced only for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Rock Band is also set to arrive on the PlayStation 2 on December 18. European launches for all versions of the game will follow in the first quarter of 2008.

118 Comments

  • Anteraan

    Posted Oct 31, 2007 4:24 pm PT

    The first place that announces a midnight release will get my RB and Mass Effect purchases. Around here (Indy), my guess is Gamestop. Here's to hoping....

  • j8kesters

    Posted Oct 29, 2007 9:17 am PT

    Can the VOLUME of the VOCALS in this game be ADJUSTED? In other words, what if you do not want to HEAR THE ORIGINAL VOCALS but only your own or the person who is sining on the song, is this possible? I wonder if it will be like a KARAOKE MACHINE where you will only hear you own vocals rather than yours and the original. Some of the videos you see around tend to make the sound of your vocals be overtaken by the original vocals. I hope this is an option because many people would like to play this game using their own vocals. Any thoughts????

  • milnet

    Posted Oct 26, 2007 5:59 am PT

    Well Range_Finder, here in South Africa I bet we will beat you with price and with the wait for it. Here we get way overcharged and have to wait probably the longest of any country.

    Thank goodness there is an EA branch here because their games are at least cheaper than other games.

  • darthfrag

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 7:55 pm PT

    I'll ever-so-respectfully point out that Gamespot sent me an unwarranted ToS warning for pointing out an error in this story, which they subsequently fixed based on my correct observation. As someone who's been visiting this site for years, I'm a little annoyed. I know this post accomplishes nothing, but if the person who sent the violation notice (and deleted my "offensive" post) is reading this, that was highly unprofessional. If you want to talk about respect, I welcome a debate on the two sides of this issue...

  • dissonantblack

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 7:45 pm PT

    not coming out on black friday. that's a smart movie.

  • Von-Dozier

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 7:17 pm PT

    I can't wait for this game

  • lamprey263

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 4:41 pm PT

    I think this game will probably sell best on the PS2

  • HITMAN57

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 3:59 pm PT

    wtf y are you here posting a coment then

  • dorohala posted Oct 25, 2007 3:02 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    dorohala

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 3:02 pm PT (hide)

    Am not fan of Rock Band! or rock music!

  • GreenC4T

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 2:18 pm PT

    Sweet! Can't wait to play Rock Band!

  • Range_Finder

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 2:09 pm PT

    Wow, how cool is that! We europeans get to still wait the extra 3+ months and probably pay a crap load more for it............ Were so Lucky!!

  • s7r1d3r2k6

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 11:33 am PT

    Matty_sen is right, its not about everyone else mate, its about what YOU want to do. so there is no point in posting things like "the ps2 is better" or what ever, the 360 is amazing, and will be for a very long time.

  • matty_sen

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 11:24 am PT

    brother_grady it dosnt matter how much they sell the wii is just going to a more, popluer side of the crowd but i prefer the xbox360 by a mile

  • brother_grady

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 11:15 am PT

    Actually, the PS2 has sold 120 MILLION units (although I'm sure many of those aren't in use any more -- I mostly just use mine as a DVD player) while the Wii has sold 12.73 units worldwide so far (more than the Xbox 360). I'm really hoping that Rock Band comes out for the Wii - and soon!

  • langer25 posted Oct 25, 2007 10:49 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    langer25

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 10:49 am PT (hide)

    what a waste of money

  • jroony96

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 10:42 am PT

    Cool!, Im getting this one.

  • donnygorgas

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 10:26 am PT

    I just put in my pre-order last night. Payed in full! I can't wait.

  • AuRamza

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 10:16 am PT

    The problem with no longer making PS2 games is the isolation of the playerbase. Like it or not, in Q2 of this year, there were more Playstation 2 Systems sold in America than there were Playstation 3 Systems (combining totals from all formats of the PS3). To stop making PS2 games is foolish. Look how long they took to stop PS1 game production, and that system wasn't nearly as popular, especially once the PS2 was released.

  • jawshoeuh

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 10:16 am PT

    because there is still a huge installed base of ps2s who are going to buy millions of copies of this game

  • Phazevariance

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 9:49 am PT

    I can't understand why they are still makeing PS2 games. Sony cuts out BC from PS3 because they want people to focus on PS3 games, but really they should just have production of PS2 games cancelled and focus on MAKING PS3 games instead. .. thats my little mini rant. Hope this game is great!

  • m4gicm4rty

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 9:28 am PT

    not anymore - just read the "European launches for all versions of the game will follow in the first quarter of 2008" : (

  • willthegreat

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 9:27 am PT

    On my Christmas list too

  • m4gicm4rty

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 9:26 am PT

    on my xmas list

  • BadSushi

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 9:26 am PT

    Phew I was scared I was gonna have to go to the mall on freakin Black Friday... Now I might not have to! YAY! Hopefully my 360 is back by then though...

  • Rontor

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 9:22 am PT

    Word.

  • blindsided82

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 9:11 am PT

    Ok, to the price-whine.com people, it's not $200, it's $170, and the point of the game is to be a game that you play with your friends. So unless you plan on playing the drums, guitar, and singing all at once, tell your cheap friends to chip in and (guess what???) it's not so expensive after all! That's what me and my friends are doing. We just find the guy who's house we go to most often, have him get it, my friend (Drummer) chips in about $40-50, I chip in $30-40 for the mic, and the main guy (Guitarist. Yes, the real kind) pays the rest, and viola! Just as cheap as any other game. It works out too, because none of those other guys can sing for crap, I can't play guitar of drums, and everyone has their specialty.
    Also, the only people I see trash talking Rock Band, saying they'll stick to Guitar Hero is basically because all they can do is the guitar part (not a drummer or singer among them), and they don't have friends that can fill the parts. Stop trash talking about how GH is sooo much better when you have yet to even try Rock Band. For all you know the guitar usage is way cooler on Rock Band. Just admit what the real reason is (Like OtakuRay. Thumbs up to you Otaku.) and stop being punks.
    Oh, and ChickenHounk911? Your pic freaks me out, just so we're clear.

  • sporkBrigade

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 9:11 am PT

    There are 39.3 Million PS2s in this world, and only 4.5 million Wiis. Of course it's coming out on the PS2.

  • zgreenwell

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 9:05 am PT

    Smart move. It isn't like retailers need any more crazyness added on black friday.

  • Warfust

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 9:00 am PT

    I'd love to get this, but the cost is just too high for me still.

    Maybe next summer.

  • Super-Mario-Fan

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 8:58 am PT

    I still don't know why this is comming to the PS2, but not the Wii...

  • kyo_tetsuei

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 8:55 am PT

    Hot sweetness. I love the lack of adequate copyediting. Now I'll get to play it Thanksgiving night, oh how it's going to mess with dinner.^^

  • ProtoPersona

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 8:47 am PT

    Mass Effect and Rock Band on the same day? I think my wallet just had a heart attack.

  • ChickenHounk911

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 8:46 am PT

    Yikes! My wallet will cry this holiday season...

  • SmoothCrimen

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 8:44 am PT

    mmm personally, no news here, still getting GH3

  • RebornJeremiah

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 8:41 am PT

    must.....buy....food....first......pay.....bills....

  • JAREDJR

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 8:03 am PT

    I agree with superdance 14. Wii Guitar Hero 3 until I can afford to spend $200 on a single game.

  • EternalYoshi

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 7:42 am PT

    That's nice, but how much will it cost?

  • lamplan

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 7:26 am PT

    another early release... stop playing with my fragile emotions!! (PS3 owners)

  • Magatsu23

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 7:07 am PT

    funny double paragraph.

  • superdance14

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 6:36 am PT

    Once it's for the Wii I'll buy it. But until then, I'll have to go for Guitar Hero 3.

  • jcloverboy

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 6:32 am PT

    Mass Effect is still the big release that week for me, but definitely grabbing Rock Band as well.

  • OtakuRay posted Oct 25, 2007 6:31 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    OtakuRay

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 6:31 am PT (hide)

    I rather Mass Effect than Rock Band. In fact I prefer to wait for Guitar Hero III. playing drums or sing it's not my thing.

  • Sam_Lowery

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 6:27 am PT

    Dill-Man - "mass effect and rock band same day"
    .
    Kane and Lynch too, which looks pretty good so I hope it doesn't get lost in the shuffle

  • Dill-Man

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 5:59 am PT

    mass effect and rock band same day, oh and you guys repeated a paragraph

  • Mr_Doodle

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 5:27 am PT

    Dang it, I don't have a 360 or PS3, so I'll have to wait for the December release. Well, at least I'll be able to get it.

  • MatthewNintendo

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 5:11 am PT

    What's with the repeated paragraph?

  • retrofraction12

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 5:01 am PT

    the only problem with this game is with all the exstra parts it is more exspenceive than alot of games.

  • mattheadwilson

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 4:57 am PT

    Nope, this won't bump Mass Effect off for me.

  • NyGin07 posted Oct 25, 2007 4:42 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    NyGin07

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 4:42 am PT (hide)

    pleaseeeee have some newish type music and not a bunch of old songs because its cool to hate stuff on tv. lol

  • km1498

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 4:30 am PT

    Great news I am definitely not going out on black Friday no matter how good the game is(just too many people). I plan to get just the game and using my Guitar Hero 3 guitar.

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