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Rock Band coming to Australia

EA confirms Harmonix-developed band simulation game finally making its way down under on November 7.

An industry rumour started circulating over a year ago saying that Harmonix-developed rhythm title Rock Band would not be coming to Australian shores to coincide with the Christmas 2007 holiday period launch in the US. The rumblings were given further credence when Charles Huang--cocreator of RedOctane and the Guitar Hero brand--went on record to GameSpot AU in 2007 saying he believed the product would miss its intended launch window in multiple territories outside of North America due to insufficient manufacturing. Sure enough, when the game launched in December last year it turned out exactly as Huang predicted, and almost a year after going on sale EA was still making announcements at E3 2008 about new European regions due to receive the game. Australia so far has not been one of the listed countries to receive Rock Band, and attempts at ascertaining a firm release date or reason for the delay from the game's distributor EA has fallen on deaf ears.

Rock Band, the Harmonix-developed rhythm game that features guitar, drums, and vocals has had a well-documented rough trip to reach retail shelves in Australia. The recent news that Activision had priced and dated Guitar Hero: World Tour for our market made it look as if Guitar Hero would be the first full band game to go on sale down under. EA hit back today announcing Rock Band will be available from November 7 on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii platforms in Australia. The product will be sold in multiple configurations with hardware-only bundles on all platforms--consisting of one guitar, microphone, and drum kit--carrying an RRP of A$199.99 ($166.47), the hardware bundle including software will cost A$249.99 ($208.23), and stand-alone drum kits and guitars will retail for A$129.99 ($108.30) and A$89.99 ($74.99) respectively.

An EA spokesperson was unavailable at time of print to comment on the availability and pricing of Rock Band downloadable content for Australia or an estimated time frame for the launch of the game's sequel, Rock Band 2.

The news comes only days after Games Conference Asia 2008--Asian version of Leipzig's trade show--where EA Asia Pacific President Jon Niermann confirmed the game would begin shipping to Singapore from September 25 this year.

55 Comments

  • kazstar23

    Posted Oct 9, 2008 1:34 am GMT

    i agree with everyone about how it is a little too late but sometimes people has got to research abit.

    360 users are very lucky. the rock band 1 drums will be compatable with GH:WT but unknown if it works the other way around (gh drums work with rb) *note: don't get mixed up. gh:wt drums will work with >>RB2

  • juztenrox

    Posted Sep 25, 2008 2:34 am GMT

    i think it's too late now. they're going to loose a lot of customers that will get GH instead because thats what they're used to. Rockbands only draw is that it will be cheaper.

  • shani_boy101

    Posted Sep 25, 2008 12:09 am GMT

    also they better bring RB 2 in time for christmas, i mean come on, this is like the ONLY game which is delayed excluding japanese games (because they need to be dubbed). Theres absolutely no reason for this delay, GH:WT is making its way onto our shores no sweat, so why shouldn't Rock Band?

  • kruesader

    Posted Sep 24, 2008 11:51 pm GMT

    Hey, it would be appreciated if someone at GSau could find out whether the Rock Band 1 bundles will feature the updated peripherals, I would hope so as I assume the old ones have been discontinued, thanks!

  • Blazinxx

    Posted Sep 23, 2008 2:55 pm GMT

    I can't believe this s h i t, EA ignores us for a whole year then announces "hey you're gonna get the old game that no-one plays anymore!" and we're supposed to be excited? F u c k you EA and harmonix by disregarding the Australian market you have lost mine and I'm sure many others' interest in your s h i t t y game.

  • Azules31

    Posted Sep 23, 2008 3:53 am GMT

    Id probably just buy the game, use my GH3 guitar and buy the GH:WT hardware.

  • xchiefmegadethx

    Posted Sep 23, 2008 1:12 am GMT

    id raver get (NEW!!!!) Guitar hero World tour
    Then a game thats been out for a year or so!

  • KhanhAgE

    Posted Sep 23, 2008 1:11 am GMT

    Why do they even bother...

  • brucies_bubbles

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 11:43 pm GMT

    Give me Rock band 2.
    Think I will stick with Guitar Hero world tour

  • Fire_Emblem_SS

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 11:16 pm GMT

    im getting rock band and world tour i

  • jimmey_11

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 10:22 pm GMT

    I'm not going to get Rock Band. I'm going to get Guitar Hero World Tour just out of pure spite!

  • Pete5506

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 10:14 pm GMT

    This is good to hear, but a little late to the rest of the world

  • aussieyabo

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 9:49 am GMT

    Come on guys, I mean, it's EA! What do you expect? Plus, I'd much rather be a Guitar Hero than a member of a Rock Band. RB is too expensive, and I'd be treating myself like a second class citizen if I bought it.

  • aussieyabo

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 9:49 am GMT

    Come on guys, I mean, it's EA! What do you expect? Plus, I'd much rather be a Guitar Hero than a member of a Rock Band. RB is too expensive, and I'd be treating myself like a second class citizen if I bought it.

  • UFO2012

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 7:32 am GMT

    And I thought we europeans were treated like **** bringing Rockband out more than half a year after the US release.

  • mjc0961

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 6:35 am GMT

    Really? But Rock Band 2 is already out now. Why not just release that instead and make some kind of bonus disc with all the RB1 songs on it? If I played these kinds of games, I'd still rather buy GH: World Tour than last year's game if I have to pay full retail price.

  • S2333

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 6:04 am GMT

    For us Wii gamers, GHWT is a better deal.
    I do not want to buy 2 more guitars just to enjoy Rock Band.
    If they re-release another Wii version that is compatible with the GHWT instruments I will buy it.
    It's a shame though as I like the Rock Band songs a little bit more because they weren't as metal as GH.

  • anths1717

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 5:43 am GMT

    If you buy this don't forget that you have to buy an entirely new set of peripherals for RB2/GH:WT.

    There is no way in hell I'm buying this at all. Waste of money when GH:WT will be out the same time. You got to be an idiot to buy it.

    As tully123 said quite rightly: Any self respecting Australian gamer will not buy this game. If you do, your basically saying its ok to treat us [Australians] as second class citizens.

  • stubbs99

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 5:40 am GMT

    Crap. I was hoping AUS would go straight to RB2 (Hence Europe would get RB2 this year as well.) This is bleak. What an utter farce.

  • Heavy_Metal_Guy

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 4:58 am GMT

    finally.....................

  • TicTac8745

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 4:53 am GMT

    So wait - we are finally getting Rock Band ONE?! Sheeshs EA, that's far too late for us. I hope that they will give at least some extra songs, and provide better quality on those instruments.

  • sonic0491

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 4:46 am GMT

    I thought $120 australian was a rip off for a game. $250 is absurd. I dont care if you get all the instruments, its still a game.

  • tully123

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 4:26 am GMT

    Honestly, this is such an insult to Australian gamers. I was all hyped up for Rock Band a year ago. It was an exciting and "new" concept. I even won a comp on here to check it out.

    As time passed, without any word from Harmonix or EA, as to why there was such a delay my interest waned. Then they have the audacity to state "Its the size of the package, that has caused such a delay in getting the game to Australia."

    What's this? Oh Activision has no problem shipping their big boxes over here, with a firm release date too. Does that mean EA and Harmonix have fabricated the truth. Most Certainly. Any self respecting Australian gamer will not buy this game. If you do, your basically saying its ok to treat us as second class citizens. Don't even get me started on the whole, giving us old equipment and an old game...

  • dewd4

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 3:56 am GMT

    Only a year and a sequel too late.

  • Sagacious_Tien

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 3:49 am GMT

    That's actually a rather decent price. Will we get anything extra for waiting a year? I'd like to think a few free tracks would be on offer...

  • hectadectagon

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 3:49 am GMT

    Seriously, hardware that didn't work in the US will not be any better down under because our toilets flush the water in a different direction. The Australian market is nothing in comparison to the rest of the world but that doesn't make it right to flog old stock.

    The price isn't even super great, a quick look at EB in the US came back with, http://www.ebgames.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=65830

    Meanwhile Rock Band 2 is only $20 USD more... http://www.ebgames.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?Product%5FID=71887

    I'd prefer to pay $300-$350 for RB2 to get a matured set of hardware and buy the RB game only if I wanted the extra tracks. While you're at it EA why don't you change the cover on the EA Sports titles to the number of the coming year.. oh wait.. nevermind.

  • Jehuty7

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 3:49 am GMT

    ABOUT BLOODY TIME!!!

  • pillazz

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 3:23 am GMT

    Congrats to all those who won't be buying RB. I am a mature gamer with a family and had looked forward to this game for so long; However I would have to be braindead not to realise that EA has not only treated all us Aussie gamers with contempt by releasing the original game so late, but they also want to sell us old stock that has been shown to be faulty!

    I was never a fan of GH but a bit of respect goes a long way, so Activision will be getting my interest and probably my cash.

  • gameie1994

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 1:58 am GMT

    I dont see why they dont just ship out RB 2 to australia

  • jediknightoms

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 1:54 am GMT

    @ pavilion_dv

    Here here, gotta love region free ps3's.

  • molop

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 1:44 am GMT

    Yeah Harmonix this would have been exciting 12 months ago, but now you're just flogging your old hardware off on us. I'll wait the extra few weeks for GHWT even if it costs more. 12 months late in this industry is just... yeah..

  • monkeyd_93

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 1:30 am GMT

    unless rock band will be compatiable with GHWT instruments, im not getting it. they only dated it for us before GHWT, because they knew if we get our hands on GH first, they have no hope here, so i believe its merely a last minute economic decision

  • denaz

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 1:03 am GMT

    Yup i won't be purchasing this for the sole reason that they made us wait.

  • bropie

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 12:57 am GMT

    Finally.....

  • DavidRS1992

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 12:40 am GMT

    sean_c233, last time I checked, 249 - 199 = 50... which is a very good price for a game only.

  • sean_c223

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 12:24 am GMT

    hardware only: $199
    Hardware + software: $249....

    so the game alone costs $150??

    also no mention of a standalone game available for sale. ill probably buy the game only and wait for GH:WT with the better instruments

  • pavilion_dv

    Posted Sep 21, 2008 11:43 pm GMT

    im in australia and ive had rockband for some time and my drumkit works perfectly and rockband is a great game.

  • darksusperia

    Posted Sep 21, 2008 10:16 pm GMT

    I'll be getting GHWT. I'll still buy the rockband disc/s but I aint buying the dodgy instruments from rockband 1 which are fixed in 2. I doubt EA is smart enough to put rockband 2's instruments in the 1 bundle............

  • Mystic_Legend

    Posted Sep 21, 2008 9:57 pm GMT

    Good work EA, it only took one year. I'm sorry, but you wont be getting my money. If Activision can pull off a release date that is within a reasonable time frame with the rest of the world there shouldn't be any excuses as to why EA could not do it. Oh and this is only Rock Band 1, get ready for Rock Band 2 in 2009.

  • illini1010

    Posted Sep 21, 2008 9:03 pm GMT

    i love how all u guys are saying u wont buy it cause it took so long... well if the game dosent sell well there then dont expect them to bring things like this to u in the future then cause they will figure it wont sell.

  • caponord720

    Posted Sep 21, 2008 8:49 pm GMT

    Not for me. Ill go with World Tour, just for them bringing it so late. Its all nonsense!

  • General_burnt

    Posted Sep 21, 2008 8:42 pm GMT

    About F*$#ing time, to bad they've lost my support, i was skeptical about ghwt thinking it was a ripoff of the rock band idea, but they showed they can bring the huge bands (tool,the mars volta, at the drive-in, and a heap more!) improve the game play, update the hardware to a respectable degree, and actually care about the australian gamers. so a big F.U to ea.

  • DJtoKen

    Posted Sep 21, 2008 8:30 pm GMT

    Won't be getting this, Guitar Hero looks so much better and why would you buy the year old hardware of Rockband? after the complaints I heard about the drums too.

  • huntercal

    Posted Sep 21, 2008 8:20 pm GMT

    This has just been pathetic by EA who have vrtually abandoned Australian gamers for so long. Needless to say I will be buying Guitar Hero: World Tour, show us some respect EA!

  • ryan_returns29

    Posted Sep 21, 2008 7:59 pm GMT

    Yep, too late EA. GH: World Tour's sales will obliterate Rock Band's due to the fact the Guitar Hero is more well known here and it is coming out earlier. Though I will still probably buy the game disc on its own due to the fact that it works with the World Tour instruments.

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