Harmonix justifies overpriced Euro Rock Band, exclusive songs not so exclusive

by Majed Athab { Apr 9th 2008 at 12:30PM }

Yesterday you may have heard about the news of Rock Band finally coming over to Europe and the kit's slightly inflated price tag. Harmonix explains that "We're not trying to screw people," and that it's all in the 17.5% (UK) VAT. We guess that makes sense as all EU goods have a Value-added tax. But what doesn't, is why the game and instrument kit are being sold separately for such a high price -- that's what's really burning a hole in the pocket of consumers.

Oh, and also, did we forget to mention that those exclusive songs are not so exclusive after all? North Americans will have those tracks available for download sometime in the future, too. So far there's no set date for the Euro songs for North Americans, but we presume it will be some time away after the Euro launch. That is ... when we get a date for the PS3 version.

[Via Joystiq]

Tags: ea, harmonix, mtv-games, rock-band

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

davey @ Apr 9th 2008 12:37PM

I really wanted rock band but there's no way I'm paying £180 for 1 game. I would rather buy a wii or about 5 PS3 games. We get about 10 extra songs. That hardly justifies the price. I don't think that rock band is going to be very successful in Europe at all.

Dehshizknight @ Apr 9th 2008 12:56PM

What's the whole point of exclusive songs? Do the Europeans get a great feeling knowing that we don't have songs that they do?

I thought the whole point of exclusivity was to convince consumers to buy their product over the competition... Not to promote regional differences.

xrich @ Apr 9th 2008 12:57PM

europe has to wait 6 months for release, then its overpriced and theres no ps3 version available yet...harmonix, good job killing a new ip...

gooftroop @ Apr 9th 2008 1:01PM

utter crap saying VAT is pushing the price up...

usa price in GBP - £85
uk price in GBP - £180
importing a us copy with import duty charges @ 10% and VAT @ 17.5% = total of about £110

MatthewJ @ Apr 9th 2008 1:01PM

I thought it cost £80 in American and £180 in the UK? Somehow, that doesn't equate to 17.5% VAT for me.

ion @ Apr 9th 2008 1:22PM

It's almost like they want people to buy guitar hero instead

PFC Hudson @ Apr 9th 2008 1:52PM

What utter crap!
VAT (17.5%) being added does in no way breach the gap between the US price of £83.00 and £180 for the UK.
Do Harmonix really have such an utter lack of respect for those outside of the US that they think none of us can do the maths?

Laurens Holst @ Apr 9th 2008 2:38PM

What a load of crap. That’s it, I’m not buying Rock Band anymore. First they let us wait for months, then they let us pay twice the price people from the US pay (with such a lame and clearly untrue (!) excuse), they refuse to pay a license for the Guitar Hero guitars to so that we have to re-buy space-consuming guitar hardware, and then they make us PS3 owners wait even longer!

That’s no way to treat a customer, and I’ll gladly stick with Guitar Hero III and its successors. “Ze hebben het compleet bij mij verbruid”, I would say in Dutch.

~Grauw

koehler83 @ Apr 9th 2008 2:45PM

lol You think you're pissed off now... Wait until you realize that this price is only for the Xbox 360 version and the PS3 version is going to cost more for the game itself. Possibly more for the instruments too.

Lars @ Apr 9th 2008 7:57PM

Why? Where did you hear that?

Dmas @ Apr 9th 2008 3:20PM

Damn that's a rip off. Sucks to be on that side of the pond.
On the bright side, I look forward to downloading Rock n Roll Star in a month or two.

I live ma life in tha ceetay!

finelicker @ Apr 9th 2008 4:39PM

"we're not trying to screw people", really?.

If they really think the Brit consumer is that gullible, Rock Band won't be the success it was in the states. In fact, I think the stateside version may get a sudden spike in sales for the PS3 version when people see the British price tag, there'll be an import frenzy.

Fraser JK @ Apr 9th 2008 6:14PM

I'm not buying this!

Da @ Apr 9th 2008 6:41PM

So I guess us Aussie's will get a decent price then.. unless our new 150% dickhead PM tax cuts in..

Lars @ Apr 9th 2008 7:59PM

"North Americans will have those tracks available for download sometime in the future, too."

YAY!

I hate it when they do exclusive shit. Better a timed exclusive rather than totally exclusive, but still, pisses me off.

Phizzy @ Apr 9th 2008 9:25PM

So that comes to £148.50 excluding VAT. Hmm. That extra £68.50, that must be for the other tax, you know... Rhythm action tax? I'm pretty sure that one's about 38%.

Varone @ Apr 10th 2008 12:27PM

It's actually cheaper to buy the full bundle of Rock Band from the states, import it to the UK and then buy the game on it's own. Hell, you might even be able to sell the US disc back to someone on ebay.

Regardless, will not be buying. There is more local multiplayer fun to be had with a Wii + Wii Sports, and that's readily available and cheaper.

gpb_1 @ Apr 22nd 2008 10:34AM

Bought Rock Band for PS3 in San Francisco on Sunday for $183 inc local tax - so about £92, then brought it back on the plane as part of my luggage allowance. Only problem will be getting to the downloadable tracks I think, a part from that it really does "rock".