In a post on the official Rock Band forums Harmonix product development manager Greg LoPiccolo told gamers that wishing the European price of Rock Band would drop won't do any good. "We're not gouging you, primarily because doing so doesn't serve our interests," LoPiccolo said. "You may conclude that Rock Band isn't worth the price charged, and that is your prerogative. But it's not magically going to get cheaper because you wish it to be so."
LoPiccolo's comments come days after EA and Harmonix announced plans to release Rock Band exclusively on the Xbox 360 on May 23 in Europe, with other console versions hitting in the summer, at a shocking $360 US for the game and the three main peripherals (game sold separately, Instrument Pack includes wired guitar, drum kit and microphone).
"We're not making a killing on Rock Band in Europe. We are incredibly sensitive to pricing issues. We are painfully aware that the higher the price we charge, the less copies we'll sell." LoPiccolo went on to blame shipping costs throughout the region as a primary factor in the price of Rock Band, but did not detail how the pricing structure breaks down for legal reasons.
While the price point is still quite shocking, we're reminded of the delay Canadians saw when Rock Band released a month later than their American neighbors which was blamed for shipping and package localization reasons -- yet there was no change in price. Like what LoPiccolo says or not, his comments are the straightest answer we've seen regarding the issue. So, to our loyal European X3F Army members we ask, do the comments made by LoPiccolo change your mind regarding your May purchase plans?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
4-12-2008 @ 1:08PM
TehAdz said...
Saying that doesn't make it any better;
We already knew that it wouldn't "magically" drop.
But still, I'm really excited about Rock Band, hopefully IV will make me forget about it.
Reply
4-12-2008 @ 1:09PM
Pyrii said...
Nope, and I'm disgusted another company blames VAT or shipping. They spent long enough getting it over here and now they want to gouge us for it. They can join the list of companies that don't deserve the time of day imho.
We regularly are charged £40-£50 for games over here, which is $80-$100. Yet I often hear how you won't pay more than the upper limit of $60 on the other side of the pond. The excuses are getting old and with the internet and peoples' ability to at least do basic math, it just doesn't cut it anymore
Reply
4-12-2008 @ 2:34PM
David W. said...
"Yet I often hear how you won't pay more than the upper limit of $60 on the other side of the pond."
They fact that you're getting ripped off even worse than us doesn't change the fact we're getting ripped off too, haha.
4-12-2008 @ 1:18PM
bigC24 said...
If I was in Europe, I would be absolutely pissed at these comments.
"Wishing wont make it better", well no duh!
I'm in shock that they are asking for nearly $400 for that game...
Reply
4-12-2008 @ 1:22PM
Crome said...
You know you can get it for £140 from Play.com not amazingly cheap but cheaper than any where else.
Reply
4-12-2008 @ 1:52PM
Jackattaak said...
This is true, and as I had hoped retailers are planning to stock the separate items for cheaper.
Play.com
Instruments: £100
http://www.play.com/Games/Xbox360/4-/5397984/Rock-Band-Band-In-A-Box/Product.html
Game: £40
http://www.play.com/Games/Xbox360/4-/3359267/Rock-Band/Product.html
In total thats £140, as previously stated. With a normal new game costing £40-45, thats almost four times as much as a normal game, but at least we're not paying MORE in £ than $, that was what really got me annoyed.
I mean, if the 360 followed that sort of pricing, we'd be paying around £450 (roughly $900) for our Elite systems, instead of the £260 we DO pay.
4-12-2008 @ 1:54PM
Xav de Matos said...
Play.com is charging less, remember these prices are the SRP (Suggested Retail Price).
In his post LoPiccolo stated that companies could sell for less ... but I image most won't because the overhead is so high.
4-12-2008 @ 2:09PM
Jackattaak said...
Maybe Play.com can charge less because they don't have to make space to display the product, its gonna take up a lot of shelf space.
If they put the pricing at a more reasonable level more people would buy it in Europe, and they would make more income from track downloads which have been shown to be highly lucrative and successful in the States. As it stands it looks like its going to flop.
4-12-2008 @ 6:36PM
Helloimbob said...
Play.com and most other online retailers charge less because of where they are based (Guernsey, Jersey, Isle Of Man), which means they don't pay tax on the things they sell and since it is not an 'import' to the UK there's no bolted on tax later either. Everybody wins.
4-12-2008 @ 1:22PM
MrMuggs said...
Maybe someone in the UK can do the math for me but I don't see why this is so "shocking." Based on exchange rates, $360 US is about 170 quid. I paid $170 US so where's the big price difference?
It seems shocking to those of us in the US that the Brits are paying what's equivalent to $360 US but for anyone who understands the exchange rate they'll realize that the pound is worth nearly twice as much as the dollar.
Calling this a controversy is like an American going to the UK and complaining that it cost them $8 US for a hamburger at McDonald's. Conversely, I know plenty of Brits who holiday int he US and bring an empty suitcase with them. On the return trip their suitcase is full with sneakers, jeans, hang bags and a ton of other stuff that they essentially bought at a 50% discount.
Reply
4-12-2008 @ 1:56PM
Jackattaak said...
"Based on exchange rates, $360 US is about 170 quid. I paid $170 US so where's the big price difference?"
So based on exchange rates, you paid half as much as we will. Which is a lot.
4-12-2008 @ 1:25PM
SadisticHam said...
Ah well if they wont drop the price or find a way to reduce it and insist on telling us BS it just wont sell.
No use treating us all like idiots, the VAT crap doesn't wash. Everything else manages to make it over here slightly more expensive than America but not to bad but when the price is the same as the bloody CONSOLE you play it on? Dream on, disgusting that they even attempt to sell at that price.
I don't know what's worse, the fact they try to sell at that point or the fact they try to palm off these excuses and treat us like we're morons. It's cheaper for Europe to import the instruments ourselves and just buy the game. Although I'm making it a point not to buy it at all, screw it, i hope it flunks bad here they deserve it.
Reply
4-12-2008 @ 1:50PM
Pyrii said...
"when the price is the same as the bloody CONSOLE you play it on?"
I paid £300 for my elite. given the 2:1 ratio of dollar:pounds you dot he math =P I only WISH consoles were that cheap, although the Wii is still about £180
4-12-2008 @ 1:30PM
mininova said...
MrMuggs.... wtf!!
it shouldn't matter how much the pound is to the dollar, I am not paying double what you paid, you paid us$170 so us brits should have to pay roughly £87 not £170! my 360 premium only cost me £145, f*ck this shit, I'm gonna play ghIII
Reply
4-15-2008 @ 5:30PM
Andrew said...
Just move to the US...problem solved... Or you could just make your own peripherals...it would probably be cheaper.
4-12-2008 @ 1:32PM
JakubK666 (Ninja Defence Force) said...
No, they got it wrong.It's not VAT, it's GREAT(GReedy EA Added Tax)!
Reply
4-12-2008 @ 6:45PM
Andrew said...
Clever.
4-12-2008 @ 6:47PM
The Sound said...
*Groan
4-12-2008 @ 1:33PM
james frazer said...
I'll say to him what Kotaku said in reaction to the news;
"you can take that price, and you can stick it up your arse"
Reply
4-12-2008 @ 1:42PM
neech uk said...
i was going to buy rock band but then eariler this week but then i saw the price tag so i went out 2day and got a wii from gamestation instead for 240 including mario kart. im glad ive done that now cos those quotes are really aroggant.
Reply