Rock Band tours Wii on June 22

Harmonix ready to bring the noise to Nintendo gamers in the US and Canada with five bonus songs and wireless guitar in $169.99 bundle.

Rock Band is ready for an encore. After chart-topping performances on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, the Harmonix-developed rhythm is set to bow on Nintendo's Wii. Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello had already revealed the latest platform for the game in an investor conference call earlier this year, but today the publisher--along with MTV Games and Harmonix--announced the game's release date, June 22.

The Wii edition of Rock Band will launch in the US and Canada as a special edition bundle including the game, drums, microphone, and a wireless guitar peripheral. Although stand-alone instruments will be available on day one, there were no announced plans for an unbundled edition of the game.

Similarly up in the air was the game's downloadable content scheme. Gamers have downloaded more than 6 million add-on songs for the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Rock Band, but Harmonix, MTV Games, and EA have shown a willingness to forgo that added revenue stream, as the PS2 edition doesn't support downloads. Regardless of whether Wii owners get to purchase new songs, the game will come with an extra five songs in its initial set list, pushing the number of tracks included in the bundle to 63.

Like downloadable songs, online play is a staple of the Xbox 360 and PS3 editions of Rock Band, but was left out of the PlayStation 2 version. As of press time, representatives with Electronic Arts, Harmonix, and MTV Games had not returned inquiries into the specific feature set of Rock Band for the Wii.

[UPDATE]: A Harmonix representative addressed a few questions about the Wii edition of Rock Band on the game's official forums. According to the post, "The feature-set is a lot closer to the PS2 version of Rock Band which was also developed by Pi Studios." That version did not support online play or downloadable content.

[UPDATE 2]: A Harmonix representative further detailed Wii Rock Band release plans for GameSpot, noting that a stand-alone version of the software will also arrive on June 22 and explaining the decision to pare down the game's feature set.

"The Wii version still contains the robust four-player band experience and all the fun at the core of other versions of Rock Band," the representative said. "However, because the Wii�s online capabilities and potential have yet to be fully realized, we wanted to wait before we explored online functionality for Rock Band to ensure that players get the high-quality of online performance they�ve come to expect."

158 Comments

  • Sweatea1998

    Posted May 3, 2008 2:25 pm PT

    i was pretty bummed to know that it wasnt on wii because its hard to get 7th gen systems i first found out on youtube it said rockband trailer and i noticed it was wii with my former fave band the all american rejects!!!!!

  • dannyb1959

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 4:08 am PT

    I agree 100%.I will purchase a PS 3 and Rock Band before I would even think of purchasing this for my Wii.I have been waiting for Rock Band to come out on Wii and was excited to hear the release date and now this.looks like I will be back to waiting again for Rock Band 2.Its just another example of corporate BS trying to make money on a game title without the full game.Nintendo should tell them to stick it in thier ear.

  • Review_King

    Posted Apr 13, 2008 4:32 pm PT

    At least there will be online mode but we demand downloadable content! Look at Guitar Hero 3 for Wii for example, there thinking about putting downloadable content on it becuause customer demand! E-Mail them, write them letters, post it on their message boards, and even call them and tell them we want downloadable content on Rock Band for the Wii or we won't buy it. We must show them that there's hundreds of thousands of people who play the game who aren't 6-year olds playing Wii Sports and Carnival Games, but their's Wii players who want REAL awesome games which teens and adults like and the kids hate! Who's with me?

  • drewciferpike

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 10:56 am PT

    Get/Make/Find a friend that has a 360 or PS3 and play there. Don't support a purposefully gimped game. I understand that there "might be" updates and further releases at a later date, but that doesn't change the fact that as of now, the Wii version will be gimped. Granted, the last quote in UPDATE 2 can be translated as: "Because the Wii's online capabilities are about as plug-and-play as a hand-cranked pasta maker, we want nothing to do with it for fear of our programmers drinking Draino."

    I can see why they're doing it, but it still leaves us with a gimped game. They should have waited until Nintendo created a good update and "fixed" online functionality; "losing" a few months of possible sales time would be made up by increased numbers of units sold to more people because the game is great, versus "just ok".

  • prsman

    Posted Apr 5, 2008 12:24 pm PT

    Whats a "Wii�s"?
    Or a "they�ve"?
    But this game is like the ps2 version, so it will be a 'stripper'

  • steve04

    Posted Apr 2, 2008 12:00 pm PT

    There better be downloadable content. i mean damn. im glad tht the game is finally coming out on wii but one of the best parts of it is that you can get new songs so you dont get bored. and guitar hero 3 for wii doesnt hve dowloadable songs???

  • miniconan

    Posted Apr 1, 2008 11:08 pm PT

    Dang, I wanted a Wii game. Not just some ported PS2 game.


    PS2 has no modem, Wii does. What's the problem???

  • Rukario_XD

    Posted Mar 31, 2008 6:29 pm PT

    kk you all mightnot belive me, but my friend had told me that even though Guitar hero for the wii had not DLC ant first, with the new chanel comming out for the wii verry soon in japan, and later this year for NA (sorry Europe, dono about you), there will be DLC for the Wii's guitar hero. But Nintendo's latest Wi-fi realease, SSBB, no ofence, has a pretty bad online play system with needing the codes for nboth the wii and the game to play with your friends. so most companies are probably just waiting for there to be a new online system for the wii before they realeas somethig with a good online play.
    and i know all about wii being shafted on stuff like this. Nintendo and the rest of the videogame industry always shafts most of Canada on stuff. like promos, midnight realeases, tournaments, special events, and other stuff. I still can't find a Guitar hero for wii, and i've been searching for along time, so i doubt that most of us Wii onwners will be even able to get this game when it comes out. so you know what? even if they don't have DLC or Online play for this version when it comes out, they might be able to addit in later, using the Wii's 24 connection to the internet, and with the freaquent updates now with every new game you play.
    plus, i belive that there will be a another version of this game later down the road. just look a t guitar hero. so just you wait; even with no DLC or online play now, there might be later, so STOP COMLPAINING!

  • awsomnes2tehmax

    Posted Mar 31, 2008 5:21 pm PT

    Guitar hero III has online capablities i dont see why rock band cant have it as well. Why cant they have DLC like on the wii ware channel? its not impossible. I dont have rock band and i planned getting it on my wii because i would think it would have extra features due to the fact that it is sorta of an encore addition. Seeing what made the game so popular in the first plce is missing i think ill save this one for my 360(when i get it)

  • darkfire27983

    Posted Mar 30, 2008 10:00 am PT

    I doubt I will buy this if they don't have Downloadables. It just isnt worth the price tag. Im still waiting for my guitar hero III downloads too...

  • Superion74

    Posted Mar 30, 2008 1:00 am PT

    I'm very excited about Rock Band for my Wii, but my initial fears turned reality when EA and Harmonix confirmed that there will be no DLC nor online play for Wii version. And it also seems like we won't get customizable characters as well. As always, Wii get the shaft and treated like 2nd class citizen from 3rd party. I'm very pissed about that.

  • SuprSmshTaylor

    Posted Mar 29, 2008 8:44 pm PT

    I just wish they would have incorporated the band making thing, where you go through and get fans and stuff... stupid EA. Plus they could have just made it so that we could use the new Wii Ware thing so save new songs to our SD cards. So what if I'd have to buy a 3 gig SD card? I'd do it.

  • ArfenZard15

    Posted Mar 29, 2008 8:38 pm PT

    What!? I can cope with no DLC but if they remove the customisation aspect as they did with the PS2 version you can forget it.

    I am now officially sick of the Wii getting second rate conversions of games!

  • TAKE_IT_BACK

    Posted Mar 29, 2008 6:04 pm PT

    My only question is why didnt they make a rock band wii in the first place?
    there was a PS2 rock band, and this a fact :if they can make it for PS2 they can make it for wii

  • GamezRmiilife

    Posted Mar 29, 2008 10:57 am PT

    yes finally ive been waiting for this to come out, right when i played the 360 version at my friends last month.Me and the game were like ment to be lol. I'm getting a job just for this game

  • rymill

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 7:13 pm PT

    @nolantheerandom
    online also means DLC, which has some great songs to offer

  • nolantheerandom

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 12:42 pm PT

    why are you guys complaining? the game is finally coming out for the wii, and all you can do is complain about no online and customization. so what you're saying is you were going to buy the game, go home with three instruments, and be put out because of no online. and pretty much all online is, is having another notechart on the same screen as you, so what's the big deal.

  • DefHalan

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 11:09 pm PT

    its cause of the wireless guitar thats why its 10 dollars more i think.

  • LedZeppelin1234

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 7:20 pm PT

    I was looking on Wikipedia and it said that the wii version would cost $169.99 which is odd because usually the PS2 and Wii version prices are 10 dollars cheaper than the X360 and Ps3 version. I just think its odd why the Ps2 version is only 159.99 and why the wii version is 169.99. Its probably because of the extra songs and some other extra content that hasnt yet been anounced.

  • elixmelin

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 6:52 pm PT

    Yes Rock Band so excited!

  • LedZeppelin1234

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 5:49 pm PT

    Finnaly!

  • djcoldkill

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 5:45 pm PT

    this would be a good game for the wii too bad that it doesn't have online though. Oh well it's probably still worth it

  • tantanman07

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 3:53 pm PT

    we still haven't even got a europe release date for the 360 or ps3 version=[

  • zaveline

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 2:25 pm PT

    Awesome this game is going to rock because it's a day before School Ends and we get the game and the next day we open it!

  • MetalMan300

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 1:58 pm PT

    Better late than never. Now Wii owners get to play too.

  • ItsRichie

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 1:51 pm PT

    @NoKuA

    thats not everything in the world... and I bet it will have character and logo creation (they said NOT EXACTLY like PS2 so I bet those are the extra features PS2 didnt have)

  • NoKuA

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 1:11 pm PT

    naah this game it's just... dunno...

    lame? no online capability?? come onnnnnnnnnnnn

  • bdiddie7

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 5:55 am PT

    I heard a rumor that as long as Rock Band comes out after the Wii Ware channel comes out then they can have DL. If there is any truth to that please let me know. Also, as long as they have the world tour with created characters then I don't care if they get rid of the online mode. P.S. they can have no online mode and still have DL if they use Wii Ware.

  • BrushedMetal

    Posted Mar 26, 2008 11:45 pm PT

    I know this is off topic but it wouldn't be awesome if there were some A Perfect Circle in this game?

  • ariamunchkin

    Posted Mar 26, 2008 3:30 pm PT

    Maybe someone has already asked this, but does anyone know if the Wii Guitar Hero controllers will be compatible with Rock Band?

    And yeah, this version won't be quite as awesome as the X360 or PS3 because of no online content, but you know what, for us Wii owners who don't want to shell out upwards of $400 for another system, let us have our moment of fun.

  • retrofraction12

    Posted Mar 26, 2008 2:17 pm PT

    lol, too late and with limited hope for online support. I really don't see how EA is capable of being this dumb (exsept when they made boogy)

  • ponzie

    Posted Mar 26, 2008 12:55 pm PT

    Man, I was really hoping that it would have both online play and DLC... Big mistake if they omit that functionality upon release...

  • 8bit7055

    Posted Mar 26, 2008 12:27 pm PT

    That's all awesome! Does anyone have $170?

  • jjdomo

    Posted Mar 26, 2008 10:11 am PT

    So what are the extra 5 songs? I'm dying to know and they better be DLC for the PS3 version!!!!

  • melo_211

    Posted Mar 26, 2008 9:38 am PT

    Oh wow, they are still coming with it eh? I thought they would cancel it and just let Battle of the Bands come out....oh well..congrats to exclusively-Wii owners then. I'ma go play some Rock Band right now

  • Nomad0404

    Posted Mar 26, 2008 5:58 am PT

    Why the hell no downloadable content, the Wii can handle it - bung it on an SD card no problemo. Just lazyness on the coders part.

  • spursboy92

    Posted Mar 26, 2008 5:04 am PT

    This is why Wii is by far the worst next gen console, no online play, and the best game that has been released in this genre is made rubbish. Rock band is amazing, not having dl content will make it less buyable, but still- compare it to gh3 for fun and RB is definately the one for me!!!

  • kca89

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 8:58 pm PT

    Kinda bummed about no downloadable content or online play but I might give this game a look atleast. That price tag is kind of a killer for me personally though.

  • gnbfd

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 6:38 pm PT

    I still don't believe that EA goes from a 2 player football game, to a 32 player FPS, to a 0 player music game.

    FIX YOUR THOUGHTS EA!

  • crismazz

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 5:23 pm PT

    at least online or DLC, but nothing?

  • HAPPYDEATHCOW

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 4:53 pm PT

    My Pimps!! Sounds Shweet!!!!!! But Sadly No Online Play or Downloadable Songs. FUDGE!!!!! Ohh... Dude so much better than Guitar Hero Who Cares about the Guitar Hero Guitar....... Also, Yes I know I'm just ranting on. But it would be Awesomriffic.... If they had Phil Collins- In the Air Tonight...

  • lotuspod333

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 4:44 pm PT

    WTF imeen thats some bull, The main reason to play is DC and online play. Yea its fun to play with 4 people in the same room but that dosent always happen. But the reall kicker is NO DC? come on 63 songs are great and all but really no dc? I guess i wont be getting rock band after all, Atleast not untill i get a ps3.

  • guitarist4292

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 3:53 pm PT

    I'm hoping that this new Pay-And-Play thing will change harmonix's mind on downloadable content.

  • webbut

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 2:09 pm PT

    Its nintendo's fault if they came out with some extra space so we could store things like songs this wouldnt be a problem

  • kirbykook

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 1:11 pm PT

    The reason the "Wii’s online capabilities and potential have yet to be fully realized" is because developers are too afraid to give the Wii online play until someone else does. Just because Nintendo hasn't had online play for 6 years doesn't mean it can't work.

  • houtx1836

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 10:12 am PT

    WTF??? No online play AND no downloadable content ? Wii owners are treated like unwanted step children.

  • andjeff

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 9:09 am PT

    Sounds good, but can Guitar Hero guitars be used with Rock Band?

  • kejigoto

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 8:35 am PT

    No online play? Well I'm rather disappointed in that one, guess I need to just shell out the money for the 360 version so at least then I can play with my friends online. I don't honestly see why more companies are holding back doing online play except for Nintendo. They already have a number of games out that support online play and there are more to come. I personally can't get enough of Brawl online and I can't wait to get my hands on Mario Kart Wii's online play. How can you expect an online service to grow if companies are afraid to make use of it?

    Sure I think its great the Wii is getting Rock Band, but without DLC and no online play, its just a hyped up version of the shotty PS2 edition which lacked alot of things that made the 360 and PS3 editions so much fun. I just wish more companies would take risks out there and try to push the envelope more like Nintendo does instead of playing it safe and never truly growing as a company. Its really sad when you have a giant company like EA waiting for someone else to do something daring before they themselves will actually make a move.

    I'll give it till the end of the year (with the rate Nintendo's going) before online play becomes a bigger thing with third party companies. Sure the service isn't the greatest, but I can't complain since its free online play and this is their first real attempt at it (outside of the Gamecube's Phantasy Star Online). Maybe Rock Band 2 will have better support, hopefully EA and many other companies will learn from this little experience.

  • n64nut posted Mar 25, 2008 8:11 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    n64nut

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 8:11 am PT (hide)

    Not surprised they axed the Wii version's online play; the Wii's online play is terrible.

    Just be glad you are getting such a great game.

  • Unkoil666

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 8:08 am PT

    @ ahahaG
    One of the main draws for Rock band was being able to start a band and take it online. What they did with the PS2 and Wii versions really defeats the purpose of the entire game.

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