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Harmonix has finally revealed that Rock Band coming out for the Nintendo Wii. It will retail for $169.99 and will be out June 22. Rock Band Wii will come in a bundle package containing the drums, one wireless guitar, a microphone and the game and there will also be stand-alone instruments for sale the same day.

The game will come with 63 songs with five exclusive tracks just for the Wii version. I wouldn't be too surprised if these songs are based of certain Nintendo games. That's all the songs you're going to get though as Harmonix has confirmed that Rock Band for the Wii will not have any DLC at all. The game will not even support online multiplayer.

Honestly, we shouldn't be surprised that Rock Band has next to no online capabilities seeing as how this is Nintendo. Either way, who's excited that this is finally coming out? Press release after the jump.

 

Wii Will Rock You!
MTV Games, Harmonix and EA Announce Rock Band™ for Wii on June 22, 2008

The number one selling game in February 2008 is coming to Wii!

Cambridge, MA - March 24, 2007-- Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a division of MTV Networks, which is a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along with distribution partner Electronic Arts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced plans to release the award-winning music video game Rock Band on the Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo in the U.S. and Canada on June 22, 2008 for the suggested retail price of $169.99.

Rock Band for Wii will be released as a Special Edition bundle including the software, drums, microphone and a wireless guitar. Stand alone instruments will also be available on June 22nd for people who want to build their band one instrument at a time or want to play the drum versus drum game mode. The game will feature 63 songs including five bonus songs for Wii gamers to enjoy.

"The Wii's success among casual and core gamers of all ages makes it an ideal match for the cross-generational appeal of the music featured in Rock Band," says Bob Picunko, Vice President of Electronic Games and Interactive Products, MTV

"The social interaction and addictive nature of the Rock Band experience is a perfect fit for the Wii and will undoubtedly be fun for the entire family," says Steve Singer, licensing VP from Nintendo.

Rock Band is an all-new platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music like never before. The game challenges players to put together a band and tour for fame and fortune - all while learning to master lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals. Featuring the most master recordings of any music game ever by the world's biggest rock artists, Rock Band includes tracks that span every genre of rock ranging from alternative and classic rock to heavy metal and punk. Rock Band has garnered over 40 awards this year including Game Critics Award: Best of Show E3 2007 and three awards at The 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards including Outstanding Innovation in Gaming, Family Game of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack.

Rock Band is rated "T" for Teen (lyrics, mild suggestive themes) by the ESRB.

Rock Band is currently available on the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and on the PLAYSTATION®2 computer entertainment system.

LAUNCH GALLERY (3 IMAGES)
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77 comments | showing # 1 to 50

BluFire's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 17:41
BluFire
Yaaayyy no online! I'm scared of pedos.
Conanfan's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 17:42
Conanfan
Thanks Nintendo. I can't even begin to count how many times I've been raped after playing Rock Band on Xbox Live.
Anus Mcphanus's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 17:43
Anus Mcphanus
It's good to see this finally coming out the wii but you know what would be even better to hear?....a goddamn European release date that's what!
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 17:45
Dexter345
Charlie Suh is excited!

But then, he's the only person I know who owns a Wii and nothing else.
Cyberxion's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 17:45
Cyberxion
Yeah, great. It's Nintendo's fault. Sure. I mean, it probably is, but like, there's no chance that it's EA's? I guess not.

Sucks though. I guess.
Kaspar's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 17:46
Kaspar
Okay, Nintendo - I hate you.
Gemsi's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 17:47
Gemsi
I agreed with Anus Mcphanus, when the hell does europe get it !
Samit Sarkar's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 17:51
Samit Sarkar
I’m amazed that they have the audacity to charge the same price for this as the PS3/360 bundles when it looks to be as gimped as the PS2 version. Still, it’s going to sell like hotcakes.
Cheeburga's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 17:53
Cheeburga
Ouch, with no DLC you'd think they would lower the price.
that1dood's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 17:53
that1dood
Thanks for screwing us over again Nintendo. Same stupid price for a gimped version of the game. Why do I continue to allow myself to excited about stuff like this even though I know I'm going to be disappointed?
NotAZombie's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 17:54
NotAZombie
@ Cyberxion

Are you kidding? DLC is EA's bread and butter (aside from sports games). They would never veto any kind of online. It's 100% Nintendo's fault.
BenHaskett's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 17:55
BenHaskett
That's weird... a lot of EA's other Wii games have online capabilities. I wonder why they didn't bother with this one. Guitar hero III for the Wii had online as well. What's the deal?! I don't know about you guys, but this looks like nothing more than another Wii port of a PS2 game. If you recall, the PS2 version also had no online or DLC. This is shitty...
Redzie's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 18:01
Redzie
And piece of fail costs the same as the PS3 and 360 versions.
moocow21's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 18:04
moocow21
And this is a good example of one of kind of things that has made me not interested in Nintendo consoles anymore.
Alex's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 18:05
Alex
GIVE US A EUROPE RELEASE DATE FFS!
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 18:05
Dexter345
They didn't bother with DLC for this one not only because of Nintendo's online structure, but also that the Wii only has what, 512 MB of flash memory in it?

That's my guess.
Face's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 18:06
Face
Well DLC is paid for seperatly so I can see that not affecting the price. But no online? Even GH Wii had it.
CaptainApocalypse's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 18:17
CaptainApocalypse
Why do companies love to kneecap Wii games? /cry
LostSoulDX's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 18:37
LostSoulDX
And the point for Rock Band on the Wii is...?

Nintendo seriously needs to get with the program and fix their online system...or lack thereof.

But oh wait, that's right, this is Nintendo and they're still in the dark ages when it comes to "online". Yes, all us gamers need protection from the pedos.
Hoodie's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 18:38
Hoodie
I'm disappointed about the DLC, but even worse is the fact that Wii'll probably get the PS2's gimped World Tour mode. And yet it will probably outsell the other versions (if GH3 is any indicator and it's not hurt by the delayed release). Once again someone gets away with ripping off unsuspecting "casual" gamers.
Wiizilla's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 18:39
Wiizilla
Yah, this is nintendo's foult, Guitar hero 3 had online play becouse Nintnedo favors Activision. Whether or not games have online in purly the developers foult. Not everything shitty about the Wii's online is nintendo's foult, most of it is but not all so don't make yourselves look like ideots.

The only logic I see behind this is that they (EA) beleve that by the time they release Rock band 2 in about a year Nintendo will have a actual downloadable content system set up, most likely the Pay and Play thing we know nothing about.

Yah, you know, Pay and Play. The system that we know nothing about but acording to the editors it'll be used on Mario Kart Wii.
JTHomeslice's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 18:43
JTHomeslice
You know, only owning a Wii, I was excited for this announcement. No DLC, I can understand. No online, that's fucking unacceptable. Especially when GH3 has online. I will not be picking this up. Who am I kidding, I'm gonna buy it, but I'm not gonna like it.
Hoodie's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 18:45
Hoodie
I'm not convinced it's Nintendo. It's just a lot easier for EA to dump the PS2 version on us, since it's already in the can. They know it'll still sell like hotcakes.

I just don't know why they delayed this announcement for so long, only to offer NOTHING NEW. If I had known that I would've just bought the PS2 version. It's cheaper, and it came out months ago.
BenHaskett's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 18:49
BenHaskett
I think a lot of you are reading into this a bit too much. I'm 99% sure this is just a port of the PS2 game. History tells us that most games that are PS2/Wii multiplat are almost always ported from the PS2 version.

There's no online, no noticeable Wii integration aside from fucking white instruments, no DLC, no character creation, and no support for the Guitar Hero III controller.

Oh, and the instruments don't use Wii remotes.

If that's not the PS2 version of Rock band with a new coat of paint (literally), then I'll eat my hat.
ScottyG's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 18:53
ScottyG
I hope that everyone who wants Rock Band has already gotten it or plans to get it on 360 or PS3, and this doesn't sell a single copy...

Seriously, Wii owners are waiting six months for this shit?
Batthink's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 18:53
Batthink
Yes, this will sell because the crap-load of Wii's already in people's homes...

...it would sell more, FELLAS, if you could at least get anything near the features that Rock Band originally had. Then, I would consider a purchase. ¬_¬
Jaren Face's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 18:54
Jaren Face
I said it before, and I'll say it again... the Drum Set looks like sex.

I'm curios for the five bonus songs though. Hopefully they are Nintendo specific. It would be a nice incentive for my Wii-Only friends who plan on purchasing it (regardless).
Wedge's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 19:00
Wedge
Lawl. At least with the crappy PS2 version you could always upgrade to the PS3 one with the same hardware.
The-Excel's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 19:09
The-Excel
The PS2 version has the ability to go online and yet its version of Rock Band doesn't have any of the extra features, yet no one brought up this much flak for that version. If you want these features so much, get the better versions. The Wii wasn't built on the same level as the Xbox 360 or the PS3 and that people are still treating it as such is unacceptable.

I'm going to buy this for the simple reasons that I don't have an actual next-gen system and I can do without the extra features.
HarassmentPanda's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 19:09
HarassmentPanda
I'm sure this will still be a fun game for the Wii-only crowd, but you really limit the experience with no online or DLC. However, I've never played online and I haven't downloaded any new songs on my 360 version.
The-Excel's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 19:13
The-Excel
"The PS2 version has the ability to go online"

Omit the word "version" and my original point shows.
shadowcast's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 19:14
shadowcast
One more for when the fuck is it coming out in Europe?
AgentMOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 19:35
AgentMOO
Title tracks for the Wii edition:
Beatlesfan94's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 19:48
Beatlesfan94
I'll stick to the Wii version of GH3. It has online. Hopefully they'll add DLC to that game, but I doubt it (DLC and online for Wii Aerosmith?)
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 19:50
Jim Sterling
"Hey, let's race!"
bbrigg1's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 19:50
bbrigg1
Since that's my birthday, does that mean I have to get it?
funran's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 19:51
funran
I keep sticking up for Nintendo, but after playing the PS3 version, I love that I have online and DLC. Why does Nintendo have to ignore the masses? People want the OPTION to have DLC, and the OPTION to have an internet / harddrive in their damned system. They really are always one step behind, as much as I love their games....it's true. Get a hard drive nintendo!
Mxyzptlk's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 19:55
Mxyzptlk
This is EA shovelling out a quick port of the PS2 version instead of tailoring the game for Wii owners. Nintendo gets the blame for no DLC, but the lack of online is just laziness on EA's part. Sadly, I'll still probably end up buying it anyway since I won't be getting a 360 or PS3 for a long time.
John B's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 19:56
John B
What with this no DLC crap? They should be able to enable something that would synchronize your account on your Wii with their web site, and you buy your DLC through the web site. When you play the game, it can then go out, check the web site, determine if you purchased DLC, and then download it to an SD card or something like that.

Keep in mind that if you link your account on guitarhero.com with your GH3 profile on the Wii, the game will upload your stats when you play, and it will download various statistics on demand. So, clearly the games do have the ability to both upload and download with a game developer's network. If they created something like this, then stored the DLC (watermarked in some way) to an SD card, you wouldn't see anyone complaining about it.

Yes, it would be a lot nicer to integrate it via Wii Points, but given the choice between no DLC at all via Wii Points or DLC via a web site purchase that's linked to my Wii, I'll take the "inconvenience" of a web site purchase any day, and I think most potential RB customers would, too.
jorge's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 19:58
jorge
Wonder if it ever crossed EA's mind that, since they're charging the same price for a gimped version, they could possibly put the already-released DLC ON the Wii disc to sort of justify the lack of a discout? Or would that be too consumer-friendly?
Wedge's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 20:06
Wedge
It is sad because the Wii could easily just support an external USB HDD if they wanted to let it.
Wiizilla's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 20:13
Wiizilla
It says here That it is a PS2 port. Which discusts me. And the Controllers won't even have you plug a Wiimote into them. thoes 5 songs better be the most fucken greatest songs ever.

I guess when it comes to new songs all wii owners like me will have to settle for "Rock Band Aerosmith"
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 20:23
Jim Sterling
How the Hell would Nintendo even fucking be able to handle DLC? That'd a lot of SD cards, kids!
John B's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 20:38
John B
Oh, come on, Jim. A 2 GB SD card is super-cheap and is 1/2 the storage capacity of a DVD-R. I can't believe that DLC for Rock Band comes close to that amount of data.

Besides I personally would have no problems swapping SD cards.
Chicken008's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 20:39
Chicken008
There are 5 Nintendo songs with lyrics?
Noah's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 20:43
Noah
When will the Wii cost $100? It blows my mind how poor of a console it is, the only reason anyone should have one is for Wario Ware: Smooth Moves.
John B's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 20:45
John B
@Noah:

You are so clueless that it boggles the mind.
Wiizilla's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 20:46
Wiizilla
@Noah

Which is Ironic becouse Wariio ware, despite being a fun game, is not at all worth the 50$ it costs.
power-glove's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2008 20:50
power-glove
John B, the amount of DLC than HMX is planning to release far exceeds 2 GB. If you have purchased every single song than you are in the range for 1+ GB, already.
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