Rumor: Australia getting fleeced on Rock Band

by Chris Greenhough { Jul 29th 2008 at 10:30PM }

An anonymous source has informed Kotaku that Rock Band (remember that North America/Europe?) will finally launch in Australia this October, a whopping eleven months after the game hit the U.S.

But EA isn't done sticking the boot into Oz just yet. According to the mole, the game won't be available as an all-in-one package in Australia, but instead will come in two separate parts (the game itself, and an "Accessories Pack" containing a guitar, drums, and a mic), all of which will cost -- wait for it -- the equivalent of $350.

Obviously, because we all get paid about six million a year and spend our evenings lighting cigars with a wad of Benjamins, we doubt our resident Aussie will be too deterred. But man, we feel for the rest of you!

Tags: australia, ea, harmonix, music, pal, rhythm, rock-band

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

wiijigga @ Jul 29th 2008 10:47PM

its about time game companies stop shafting us aussies the dollar is neck and neck with the US$ practically yet we pay double to triple for games someones making bank and needs their ass kicked aussie style. no wonder piracy is so prevalent and legal in australia(well mod chips are)

Magnus @ Jul 29th 2008 11:10PM

350 dollars is still a low price compared to Rock Band in Argentina. For comparison, Rock Band (the full pack I guess) costs 580 dollars, and Guitar Hero III (guitar included) is priced at 245 dollars. Also for comparison, the average electric guitar in Argentina costs as much as Guitar Hero III. Now who dares to say Australians are ripped off?

lorddshadow @ Jul 29th 2008 11:16PM

may i say

HOLY SH*T!!!

DAGO @ Jul 30th 2008 12:59AM

I was about to post the same thing, but I managed to find somewhat better prices than you, RB for about u$d 480 and GHIII for u$d 200.
It sucks to be a gamer here.

-Dago
http://www.bitacoradejuego.com/

DAGO @ Jul 30th 2008 12:58AM

James Madley @ Jul 30th 2008 6:14AM

I say we're being ripped off.

$1 AUS = $0.95549 US
$1 ARS = $0.33083 US

Technically Australians should be paying almost the same as Americans but instead we pay double or more. From what I can see, Argentineans are paying about three times more as their currency dictates.

Luke @ Jul 29th 2008 11:13PM

Too bad the instruments can't be pirated. What a rip. How many times can EA/Harmonix fuck over consumers in a year?

wiijigga @ Jul 30th 2008 1:13AM

yeah i realised that after my post, luke, my bad I was angry as a dingo without a baby. maybe an aussie third party could bust out some cheap instruments and really fuck EA over. heres hoping

Deshar @ Jul 30th 2008 12:08AM

Whoo. An overpriced, neutered version of Rock Band. I sure know who isn't getting my money.

The wait is annoying, I am sure I can survive without the DLC. But I sure as hell aint paying that much for it.

TheOverlord#2 can has Animals Crossing? @ Jul 30th 2008 12:33AM

At least Yahtzee will finally be able to do a review on it.

DAGO @ Jul 30th 2008 12:54AM

Well, in Argentina RB is about u$d 480...

Parsnipzilla @ Jul 30th 2008 1:05AM

EA.... why do you hate Oceania?
My plan when RB hits New Zealand is to buy the comparatively dirt-cheap Guitar Hero 2 Guitar pack and try pick up some import drums.....

Edward J Grug III @ Jul 30th 2008 1:13AM

I am an Aussie, and I was told $400, but perhaps that particular EB employee didn't know what he was talking about?

Ferco @ Jul 30th 2008 2:32AM

In Sweden rock band wii will cost about 350 $ when it releases sometime in the autumn. Only the 360 version has been released. So not all of Europe got the game in may, only a few countries like the UK and France.

enx @ Jul 30th 2008 5:11AM

Yup - In South Africa it's much worse - it's priced around 450-500 US

Feba @ Jul 30th 2008 9:08AM

You know what a great way to get companies to stop overcharging is? Stop paying them that much!

Pay what you're willing to pay for a game. If it's not on sale, wait for a sale. Don't pirate it, you're just proving the bitchy "OH MY GOD PIRACY RUINS SALES" people right. Pirating it motivates them to spend time on DRM, instead of actually making games and releasing them at decent prices.

Supply and Demand takes two parties. If you aren't willing to create a demand, they will have to lower the cost of their supply.

And heck, if you're really pissed, start a petition, or even a local gaming group against price gouging in your region/country.

Joe H @ Jul 30th 2008 11:23AM

Wait, you mean the bloggers here still have jobs? ;)

Sketchy Fletchy @ Aug 5th 2008 5:10AM

Well, that's clinched it for me. Rock band can kiss my arse goodbye. I'm sticking with Guitar Hero. It'll probably wind up as pricy as RB by the time it's here, but at least it won't be knackered to boot.

I'm getting the shits with this. The worst part is, I don't know where the stupendous markups occur, or who's responsible. Is it importers and distribution chains making a buck? Taxes (import duty, GST, etc.) running up the cost? Are the retailers just greedy and happy to keep games at high cost?

It almost kinda sucks that our dollar is comparable to the USD at the moment. At least when our dollar was worth 60 of your Yankee cents we could justifiably understand why we were getting shafted. Now we're just plain paying more 'cause that's what the prices have always been like. Grrr.