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Monday, April 14, 2008

Why Rock Band in Europe will be twice as expensive as US version



Rob Kay of Harmonix, Rock Band publisher tried to explain why the European price of the game will be twice that of the same product in the US.

Rock Band will launch in Europe on May 23rd on Microsoft Xbox 360 then in the Summer on Sony PlayStation 2 Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii.

Rock Band complete with game drum kit microphone and guitar will cost £180 or €240 in the US the cost was $169 approx £85 or €107.

Rob Kay has been reported as saying - "The combined price, if you add all that up and decide you want that full experience, is quite high. It's not something that is normal in videogames." 

"But Rock Band isn't normal in videogames," Rob continued - "This is an entirely new thing. What other game comes with three peripherals that are all different? It just makes sense for the experience we're trying to deliver."

Rob said the game was so expensive in the UK due to the higher price of electronic goods and VAT he said - "These are definitely not excuses so much as contributing reasons," Rob continued - "I can't talk to the explicit pricing - how it gets split down between retailers and distributors and the whole chain - because I don't actually know that much about it."

He hope consumers aren't "put off" by the high price of Rock band and point out the option to purchase just one instrument or the microphone.

Rob closed by saying - "I firmly believe that if people do purchase they'll have an amazing experience they couldn't get anywhere else."