Retail Radar: Guitar Hero World Tour for $189?

GameStop now listing Activision full-band rhythm game set as $10 more expensive than Rock Band; PS2 version $179, Guitar-only bundles $99; allegedly due October 27.

Even before Activision formally announced Guitar Hero World Tour, its CEO, Bobby Kotick, had formally announced the series was getting multiple instruments and vocals. Then, leaked magazine scans showed the game as having a drum kit with two cymbals, indicating the game would be incompatible with Rock Band's drum set. Were that the case, gamers would have to purchase an entire second drum set to take full advantage of the game's innovative song creation and sharing feature.

Bust out your wallets--these ain't cheap.

To date, Activision still hasn't formally addressed the lack of compatibility issue, nor has it announced a price for Guitar Hero World Tour. However, this week GameStop's online store began offering preorders for the game, along with a possible price.

The game merchant is offering the game formerly known as Guitar Hero 4 a la carte for $59.99 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and $49.99 for the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii. It will also apparently be available as part of a self-explanatory Guitar Kit bundle, which is being priced at $99.99 for all four versions. Finally, the Band Kit--which will presumably include a guitar, drum kit, microphone, and the game itself a la Rock Band--is going for $189.99 on the Wii, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 and $179.99 on the PlayStation 2. All versions bore an October 27 release date.

As of press time, neither Activision nor Red Octane reps had replied to requests for comment about pricing. However, some reputable sources, such as Ars Technica's Opposable Thumbs blog, claim GameStop's prices and product configurations are the real deal. That said, the retailer is also notorious for posting higher speculative prices on preorders, ere it be burned by its low price guarantee, which would force the company to sell the game at the original posted price even if the final cost is higher.

405 Comments

  • DryvBy4Ever

    Posted Oct 8, 2008 6:19 am PT

    Much better price.

  • okassar

    Posted Aug 22, 2008 8:24 pm PT

    Okokok,rofl.Before I say anything,I suggest you scroll down,there's a comment marked as spam,take a second to read it,and you'll see an EPIC FAIL rofl.I won't spoil it,just add on to the thumb downs,there's 16 so far.

    Aaaaannyway,there are some people calling out RB 2 already,are you serious?They both look like great games,I suggest you wait a month after they come out to make your decision...that IS a lot of money,don't rush into it.

  • FonkeyMunky7

    Posted Jul 15, 2008 9:37 pm PT

    I think at that price they should include another guitar for bass. Just an idea.

  • KILLSYOU123

    Posted Jun 20, 2008 10:54 pm PT

    O man I cant wait to rock out with my Buddies playing this game even after we play Real guitar and Our fingers are a Bleedin!!!! \m/ ^_^ \m/

  • Casualness

    Posted Jun 6, 2008 4:08 pm PT

    seeing as I just found out that the previous controllers are compatible (from gameinformer) I'm so getting this=d

  • KA12NAG3

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 6:50 pm PT

    Even though I have Rock Band, I'm still gonna get this. Can't wait to play the drums for this with the cymbals and everything. Im gonna have to beat drums on Expert.

  • -White_Knight-

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 10:49 am PT

    I agree w/ ya dracula, I really DON'T need another drum set in my livin' room if I can help it... but what if there won't be a RB 2? Maybe I should sell RB.....hmmm... well, whatever the case is, I'm not passing up the chance to record my own singles!

  • dracula_16

    Posted May 30, 2008 11:41 am PT

    I think I'll just wait for Rock band 2. I don't need another plastic drum set in my living room.

  • blackie8

    Posted May 30, 2008 4:07 am PT

    why why have a higher price

  • _guenter_26

    Posted May 30, 2008 1:08 am PT

    GH4 is going own RB.

  • Somebody89

    Posted May 29, 2008 7:02 pm PT

    Cmon man GH should stay with what its good at and thats hardcore guitar. Now they have to look like a copycat and get all these instruments. Leave Rockband alone they found their area of expertise and GH should stick with its own.

  • JJpenguin

    Posted May 29, 2008 4:34 pm PT

    You're joking...27th October...SCORE!!! Mi Compleanos! I think i'll get the entire bundle, that way my roomate can finally stop using a controller

  • fatcat13sep

    Posted May 29, 2008 2:50 pm PT

    they should have a mic, drum and game pack

  • Hvac0120

    Posted May 29, 2008 12:54 pm PT

    Personally, I would prefer to have another MTV Music Generator game. Ignore the fact that they released the last game in the series because number 3 just sucked. If they made a new one on next-gen consoles that followed a similar structure as number 2, it would kill anything they can do with Guitar Hero. Of course, that's based on my assumptions about how they are going to execute the "record your own music" feature. I just don't see it being as diverse as a full-on music generator and MTV Music Generator 1 & 2 were the best.

  • -White_Knight-

    Posted May 29, 2008 11:04 am PT

    My brother and I are real musicians so it would be great to record our own songs, remake some Zeppelin songs, and share 'em over XBL, too. We really don't wanna pay for an entire kit since we already own Rock Band, but if this game turns out to be extremely good, (which it looks that way just from seeing the Gamespot screenshots), then we have no choice.

  • Zarroc96

    Posted May 29, 2008 4:38 am PT

    Sweet! I can get this thing on my birthday! 2 days before... what a stroke of luck!

  • Jedi_Namor

    Posted May 29, 2008 12:53 am PT

    Wow, just wow. I think we can agree that ProfessorRaine is a complete moron who hasn't learned how to read yet. If he actually took a moment he would notice that this is called Guitar Hero: World Tour an the DS version is called Guitar Hero: ON Tour. Now I know they are close, but at least checking simple facts that require at most two clicks of the mouse would probably have been a good idea before bashing the very company who owns this website. If you have such a problem with GameSpot then go waste space somewhere else.

    Anyways, expensive game. I still haven't been able to get a 360 yet, but now I really want to for this game. I will not play another Guitar Hero on Wii, I want some frickin' DLC. I was going to get Rock Band when I got a 360, but I'll probably wait for this, sounds awesome.

  • squirlnuts2005

    Posted May 28, 2008 5:03 pm PT

    yea...thats alot....i dont care about this cause in Nov. im gonna be playing gears of war...so this would just take to much room

  • ZacMad

    Posted May 28, 2008 3:54 pm PT

    i dont trust the DLC pricing structure from Activision one bit - all the song pack s for GH2 and GH3 had MAYBE one song you sort-of liked bundled with 2 you didnt like with 1 you hated.

    Havent got RB cos of price, prob wont get this because of price, just too expensive!!! and to make either good, you need to spend £££ on getting the DLC you like as the bundled stuff is sure to be pants. FYI dont like heavy guitar stuff - still prefer GH1 to them all.

    What they should do is sell INDIVIDUAL songs from e.g. Oasis, Blur, Police, Queen, Bowie and others @ £1 a pop on GH3.

    i'd spend the cash then all right.

    That way they get me to fork about 100 notes without having any other hardware at all. thats £1 pure profit instead of boxes tat cost them money to make that i just dont want!!

    oh, can we all click a thumbs down to ProfessorRaine just to prove that he doesnt know jack? ta....

  • captinman88

    Posted May 28, 2008 2:02 pm PT

    i hope there are no delays, 190 is not so cheap either

  • McGregor

    Posted May 28, 2008 2:00 pm PT

    Since i currently don't own rock band i will now hold off on purchasing it. I'll have to see what this includes before i make my purchasing decision. The drum set looks nicer, but only time will tell if it is a better quality product. I would imagine for an increase in price it had better be. Another thing to note is that I'm sure the current GH guitar I own will be compatible with this, that might persuade me in GH:world tour's direction. Either way, it's about time they started making it more than just guitars (thanks for setting the bar rock band)...


    oh and wow ProfessorRaine, just wow. I know you want to swing the story your way and all, but I don't see where gamespot failed...i do however see how your comment not only failed...but epic failed.

  • BigMace23

    Posted May 28, 2008 1:47 pm PT

    WOW ProfessorRaine............what are u talking about???????

  • Casualness

    Posted May 28, 2008 1:37 pm PT

    sorry professorraine you are the one that fails... GHn tour is for the DS while GH: World Tour is for all next-gen consoles, ps2 and I believe pc... so I would brush up on your reading skills if I were you.

  • TehPickle

    Posted May 28, 2008 12:10 pm PT

    God I wish they could reduce the price somehow! They've priced me right out of the joy it would no doubt bring! Tis a great shame!

  • Hvac0120

    Posted May 28, 2008 8:10 am PT

    You guys all still want a lot of DLC like Rock Band does currently. That's all good, but it also continues to jack up the price. As long as there are around 100 great songs on the game, it will be an okay deal. But that also depends on the price of the song packs and how they are distributed.

    I don't like that these companies milk the consumers by providing a set list at retail and then charging people to download more music. Especially when those downloads can only be used in the game itself. If the songs were able to be transferred to a PC and iPod, I would feel better about it. I don't think it's worth the money to continue to plop down on music that you only get to listen to when you are playing the game. IT should be transferable.

  • scrawneystick

    Posted May 28, 2008 7:55 am PT

    $189 is a lot for you guys in America but feel sorry for us people in Europe. Rock Band cost £180.00 here so thats about $360 and this will probably cost the same. It's all because of import taxes and other taxes and that is why I will give this and probably Rock Band a miss.

  • dmish82

    Posted May 28, 2008 6:02 am PT

    The only way this is going to be able to compete with Rock Band is with good, original, and frequent DLC. Without it, it will crumble. Even then, I'd guess 90% of Rock Band owners will NOT be plopping down close to $200 for another set of plastic instruments that aren't compatible with their other games. I know I'm not.

  • ray123123

    Posted May 28, 2008 12:25 am PT

    If and that's a BIG if, there are more songs, the drum kit is better than Rock Band's, and no major bugs, then its worth the price.

    Honestly, I really don't want to spend more money since I already own Rock Band. I really hope they'll change their mind and make the drum compatible with Rock Band.

  • jmanislost

    Posted May 28, 2008 12:04 am PT

    190 is way too much. i totally agree though. i do not want to spend more money on another guitar. i already have 2 great ones from guitar hero 2 and 3. i dont need another one!!

  • royalpierre

    Posted May 27, 2008 9:27 pm PT

    if the game comes out with just the drum set and really good music then i will buy it, but i'm not buying another guitar when i have a perfectly good wireless les paul

  • McHenry2

    Posted May 27, 2008 9:06 pm PT

    screw that, this whole band idea is getting too expensive

  • doodj1

    Posted May 27, 2008 6:57 pm PT

    i was waiting for rockband for the wii but this just sounds so much better and hey ill even have more time save up money guitar hero fan all the way. i wasnt sure if they would finally add peripherals but im sure glad they are going to i would expect a high price tag the two cymbal drum kit plus the alleged MORE SONG THAN EVER BEFORE its totally gonna be worth the big bucks.

  • Norther81

    Posted May 27, 2008 3:30 pm PT

    Do ppl here work? If you really want it then just save up. Games(and plastic) cost money. We pay, we get some fun.

    I'll get the Band Kit. It's so much fun with 3-4 ppl that it's worth the money in a heart beat

  • H_U_R_D

    Posted May 27, 2008 3:21 pm PT

    that is wayy too much money for just a mic and a drum set plus a guitar and game, 190! are u kidding me, if they sold it for 150 they would get so many more buyers

  • the_greenzero

    Posted May 27, 2008 2:17 pm PT

    Don't forget there's different bundles, you can buy just the guitar or the drums (probably) so most ppl probably don't have to worry about the price.

  • NFS102

    Posted May 27, 2008 1:36 pm PT

    Expensive!

  • skyline7284

    Posted May 27, 2008 1:18 pm PT

    Hmmmmmmm do i get Rock Band, or wait for GH4..?

  • JohnnyNeat

    Posted May 27, 2008 1:10 pm PT

    @klugenbeel

    More never hurts. There are so many rock bands to rocks out to it hurts. Sadly they get a lot of songs I don't care really about. I mean no Black Keys, White Stripes, Third Eye Blind, Broken Social Scene, VHS or Beta etc. How about more Killers, Stone Temple Pilots and/or The Doors.

  • JohnnyNeat

    Posted May 27, 2008 1:05 pm PT

    @starfoxmcleoud

    Is it confirmed those things will work with it at least? I haven't heard a thing.

  • JohnnyNeat

    Posted May 27, 2008 1:03 pm PT

    @the_monkey_god

    I still can't understand how some people have broken their's. Look mine has never done anything wacky. You have to be abusive to break one or just play too hard. Granted if you need the support they have metal pedal support out there at very very reasonable prices.
    What you need to do is see what you really like and get it. Songs are always they main choice but check em out.

  • klugenbeel

    Posted May 27, 2008 1:02 pm PT

    JohnnyNeat , Don't forget more Megadeth GnR/Velvet Revolver/Slash, and add some AC/DC, The OffSpring, and maybe some Yngwie Malmsteen? Is that really too much to ask! :-)

  • JohnnyNeat

    Posted May 27, 2008 12:58 pm PT

    $189 is not a joke, let alone having more instruments in most homes is a space killer. For all of us who bought Rock Band, we mainly want the improved drums. The song making program is a no brainer dope idea but without knowing how it really works its all up in the air. I agree their online options are smarter too, but not a deal maker.
    Bottom-line: Anything over a $100 for most people due to Rock Band is a deal breaker. Improved Drums, for now, is the main advantage and not being compatible is really low.
    You wanna break the ice and make this a must have period..? Get Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd or The Beatles catalogs on GH:WT and we are talking hard decisions for us all.

  • BigMace23

    Posted May 27, 2008 12:31 pm PT

    for the fact that you are getting a lot more with the improved drums, making your own songs, etc., and the price still to be around what rock band is...... that is great news

  • klugenbeel

    Posted May 27, 2008 11:34 am PT

    Its so funny to watch people, "It's called Guitar Hero, it should stay that way", blah blah blah. Ok first of all, just because they added elements, does not mean you can't play the guitar. If you don't want to play drums or sing, then don't, thats YOUR choice. To complain that you have the oppertunity to explore a new video game instrument and can even play with mroe people, its pretty sad. I understand some people have nothing to do but complain, but this drum kit and microphone take NOTHING away from the Guitar aspect, so STOP WHINNING! It's sad that some people are afraid of change when it won't even affect the aspect of the game they like, its ok people...there will still be Guitars to play in this game, you can calm down!

  • klidron02

    Posted May 27, 2008 10:31 am PT

    What next, Saxophone Hero? Trombone Hero? Trumpet Hero? Triangle Hero?! It's called Guitar Hero for a reason, it shouldn't have all this crap, just the game and the guitar; nothing more.

  • Get_Shorty

    Posted May 27, 2008 10:10 am PT

    Yea you guys are saying it's a stu;id idea and you won't get it now but let's see if you guys stand by your word when the game comes out. I bet most of you saying you wont get it will go running out to buy whatever they sell you.

  • umcommon

    Posted May 27, 2008 10:09 am PT

    Please Activision STOP this nonsense and keep your game as GUITAR Hero. Rockband is incredibly lame, too much going on for it to be fun imo.

  • neock2003

    Posted May 27, 2008 9:51 am PT

    This is the best news I've heard all year. Quite frankly I can't stand either GH or Rock Band. Maybe both games will be too expensive for it's own good. And maybe we might see the day on what gamers really want, more freaking hardcore games!

  • Hvac0120

    Posted May 27, 2008 9:44 am PT

    How many of these instruments can we have before things get out of hand. I will stop buying these music games if they keep coming out with new instruments that don't work with the other games of it's kind. It's just a lot of clutter that I don't need in my house. Also it's more expensive and harder to get a hold of replacements.

    Lastly, It's idiotic to put other instruments into a "Guitar Hero" game. If they wanted to do this properly, they should have released "Vocal Hero: On Tour," "Drum Hero: On Tour" and "Guitar Hero: On Tour" all at the same time and all with the separate instruments. Then each of those games would be PRETTY much the same in that they all allow the use of any of the instruments, but the difference would be the solo-career mode where it would focus on being the hero in one of the 3 categories. That would have sold a lot better. It's not too late Activision!

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