Harmonix discounts the stand-alone Wii, 360, and PS3s versions of its highly rated rhythm game to Greatest Hits price levels.
Last October, Rock Band 3 hit the market to glowing reviews. However, it also arrived during a severe slowdown in the rhythm-game market that saw sales of its rival Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock fall to record low levels. So low, in fact, that publisher Activision put the Guitar Hero series on indefinite hold earlier this year.
When that announcement was made, Rock Band developer Harmonix offered a public condolence for its fallen foe--as well as a public promise that its own series would continue to rock on. Today, the company made a new move to get its game to the masses by discounting it heavily on every console it is offered. The Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii editions of the title are now just $20, the same price as the DS edition of the game.
Unlike their portable cousin, the console versions of Rock Band 3 support up to seven players taking on 83 tracks from a variety of artists, including John Lennon, The Cure, Ozzy Osbourne, and Bob Marley. The game also sports a Pro mode, which allows players to learn real-life guitar, bass, keyboard, and drum skills. It offers access to the Rock Band store, which allows for online purchases from a catalog of more than 2,600 songs.
For a closer at Rock Band 3, check out GameSpot's video review of the game below.
@SolanOcard I agree, more Red Hot Chili Peppers DLC would be awesome, but I read somewhere that Activision were originally planning a RHCP Guitar Hero game, and so they bought exclusive rights to use their music. I could be wrong, but it could explain why Dani California from RB1 and Give It Away from RB2 don't work in RB3... :( Same goes for Soundgarden DLC, which I am craving right now!!
This doesn't surprise me. After all, it's not like they have a certain Activision series that they're competing with anymore....
RB3 is worth the upgrade. Especially at $20. I doubted it for a long time because reviews couldn't convince me the feature improvements were worth it... they are. Go get it if you have any RB titles / DLC. It is worth the software upgrade.
The price went down ONLY because the GH series was canceled. Great initiative Harmonix! Way too keep the rock spirit alive :)
is it for the game only? or the bundle that includes the instruments? never got into rhythm games, this is the perfect time.
Alright, everyone who doesn't own this already, don't take this markdown as a sign that its a bad game. Go out and pick this up immediately! You're pretty much being handed a 5* game.
Wow seriously? I got marked down for checking to make sure what was included with a 20$ purchase. Man you guys really need to grow up.
awesome game, and a lot of the older, but still compatible peripherals are cheap too, and anyone who knows and loves rock music will find plenty to like in the DLC section, great value
Wondered why the used video game store had it for $15 last night. Almost picked it up but I'd like to buy the bundle as both my wireless drumset and guitar are about worn out and I want the keyboard. Of course the bundle is still expensive (for now.)
The price of peripherals is not really a concern, is it? Maybe for first time buyers, but anyone who owns World Tour or later for GH or Rock Band one or later, has a perfectly good guitar in order to play the discounted RB3. I only bought new guitars when I decided to go wireless. My drum kit collects dust. I did buy the keyboard, because of course I did not have one, and I am strongly considering a pro guitar. I am annoyed by the lack of good DLC though. I mean, come on Chili Peppers, you have so many great songs, and nothing released in 2 years (or so). I would pay triple for "by the way" and I think "Scar Tissue" and pretty much anything after Blood Sugar Sex Magic (Dani California was on RB1) is not available :(. Don't get me wrong, BSSM was their most ground breaking album, but everyone since has 2-4 awesome amazing songs. Also, some Canadian Love, where the heck is the Our Lady Peace DLC? I might be the only one, but I would buy Our Lady Peace: Rock Band if they came out with one. Every song on the first 5 albums, 2 songs on their second last, and I don't know about the most recent, Burn Burn, they have fallen so far lately, I cannot bear to listen... but those first 5 albums? every song is a gem.
@Yo-gan if it is still in the return period buy it at $20 and return that same copy you buy for $20 to the store you paid more for it.
Ah,I really must get it.The trouble is finding instruments.That can get quite pricey,and the only bundle out there now is the keyboard one.
Hmmm,i dono what to do. The last rock band game i enjoyed was the 2nd one,but this setlist just seems so boring to me, hardly any bands iv heard of, so im not sure if im gonna be getting all the shredding i want from a game, but at this new price point im tempted.
@Tweekaholik Guitar Hero = Releases(ed) in Australia Rock Band = Screws us over. 2 isn't even out here yet, and we only get instruments for Rock Band 1. Rock Band is garbage. And it cost $270 for the instrument bundle here, and it came out the same time as GH4, which sold for less. And this was Rock Band 1, not 2.
@mjc0961 How is adding another controller not innovating? Also you missed my other points where I explained other ways in which they innovated. This isn't the GH series where they make 10 band games identical except with a different skin. Stop trying too act smart because you just look like an idiot. Rock Band is an amazing innovative series whether you like it or not. You don't have too enjoy it, but honestly it's one of the most revolutionary series too be released. It's a shame guitar hero had too ruin it for everyone and make idiots like you think that Rock Band is the same thing as Guitar Hero. RB=Quality GH=Quantity
Damn, I was waiting for a price drop, but I wasn't expecting it to drop that low so soon. Time to order the midi adapter then I guess so I can use keyboard on it.
@mjc0961 yeah, a lot of big companies make a good game then they make another with better graphics for $50. I agree with your point about most of those, but since harmonix is selling it so cheap, it almost justifies it. and if you watch the video it did add more (not much more but still) since the first one. like more players, different instruments and instrument modes, and different songs. Not worth $50 for the game and $50 more for the instruments, but it's worth $20.
Wii buyers beware: The Wii version of this game is severely glitchy, especially on vocals and with >4 people.
Good. I love the Rock Band series. Hopefully this will add some new players to the community.
@mjc0961 Sounds like you were never a fan of these games to begin with. If that is the case I don't see why you would even care enough to comment on this story. Nobody forced people to play these games so I don't get the hate that GH and RB have been getting here lately. As for the price drop this is great news! Twenty dollars is a steal for 83 songs (92 songs if you download the RB2 bonus songs).
@mjc0961 The only ones who should have let anything go were Activision and they finally did thank god. Harmonix pretty much made this and I'm sure they can take this further since they don't release them constantly. There's a difference between holding on futilely to something dying and continuing a good thing. RB's something good that's sadly in the same category as Guitar Hero, problem is the market got over saturated with GH games and people got tired of rhythm games. They can make a good comeback they just need to let the iron cool off some.
If I had equipment from RB2 I would deffinately snag this. Very fun game with friends. Too bad I only have the original RB1 drum kit. Besides, I've got real drums now.
Wonderful game. Also take note everyone, this makes a great karaoke game that supports vocal harmonies, the only game I know to do so. Go this route and all you need are a few cheap mics. Trying to sing three vocal parts with friends is some of the most fun I've had with a game. Adding a couple of guitars is cheap, too, since those have been in production for years. Guitar/bass and three vocalists and now 5 people can play Rock Band for less than the price of a standard release. Expensive game? Hah.
For people who say they need more innovation. Are you ******* kidding me? They try there hardest every year, and this year they made the game much more accessible and easy too manage, along with pro modes for all instruments, and finally the keyboard. How can you even innovate more after that?
Liked the concept, but between the cost of the DLC (songs I didn't even like) and the instrument costs (which imo were through the roof and necessary to get the full feel) Rockband & Guitar Hero were two of the most expensive games out there... good at least they're using SOME common sense with the pricetag.
Eh, who am I kidding? I'm probably not going to get this for a long time. These types of games are getting old. It needs more innovation. Sure, the keyboard was a good idea, but we still need more.
At this point it just makes sense. The people who are continuing to put out the songs for DLC (Harmonix) make their money from DLC. Shipping the game and selling it for cheap is a good idea. Get more people playing and more people will be buying the DLC. I try to support Harmonix by buying a good amount of DLC when I see something great on the list. Props guys, keep up the good work.
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