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Standalone Rock Band instruments release date announced photo

About a week ago I finally went out and bought Guitar Hero 3, a lack of cash to drop on a full Rock Band suite and impatience getting the better of me.  While I've enjoyed my week of rocking out in the privacy of my own home, I still couldn't help purpling the air with oaths at my own impulsive purchasing when I read the news that Rock Band peripherals will be available on February 12th.

Still, this is the moment many of us have been waiting for since before Rock Band was even released, and finally Harmonix and EA have made good on their promise to make standalone instruments available for purchase.  In addition to individual instruments, a wireless Stratocaster guitar controller is being released and will retail for about $60 while a drum kit will cost about $80. While not listed in the press release (viewable after the jump) GameStop currently has microphones listed for about $40 with a release date of April 4th.

The release date of Rock Band instruments is pretty close to Valentines Day you romantic rockers you; maybe in lieu of cliched chocolate or roses you can surprise your gamer guy or gal with the gift of rock.

MTV GAMES, HARMONIX AND EA CONFIRM PLANS TO SHIP STANDALONE /ROCK
BAND/™ INSTRUMENTS TO U.S. RETAIL STORES

Music Fans and Gamers Prepare to Expand the Band, Rock the World

*CAMBRIDGE, MA – January 24, 2008*– *Harmonix*, one of
the world’s leading developers of music-based games, and *MTV
Games*, part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along
with distribution partner *Electronic Arts Inc.* (NASDAQ: ERTS),
announced today that individual instrument peripherals for *Rock
Band**™* will start shipping to U.S. store shelves beginning on
February 12th.

“The release of standalone instruments allows *Rock Band
*musicians to enjoy the full *Rock Band *experience, including drum,
microphone and guitar head-to-head modes, creating a whole new level
of competitive fun,” said Alex Rigopulos, CEO and co-founder,
Harmonix. “We’re also delivering a stand-alone wireless
guitar solution for all versions of *Rock Band* as well as providing
the opportunity for consumers to build their band one instrument at a
time.”

With standalone instrument peripherals being made available, players
have the opportunity to expand the full Rock Bandexperience by
competing in challenging play modes such as Microphone vs. Microphone,
Drum vs. Drum and Guitar vs. Guitar. With instrument
“versus” modes, gamers can battle against each other in
“Score Duel” mode for the high score or in the challenging
“Tug-O-War” mode, where giving the best performance is
key. These exciting “versus” modes can be played locally
or online and work with all *Rock Band* downloaded song tracks. In
order to play downloadable content for head-to-head matches all
players must own the same downloadable track. In addition, gamers can
buy a new wireless standalone guitar to round out their Rock Band
Special Edition Bundle or choose to build their band piece by piece
through the purchase of individual software and instruments.

*Rock Band** Instrument Release Dates/Pricing**:*
· *Rock Band *Drum Kit (Xbox 360® video game and
entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer
entertainment system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system)
$79.99 MSRP; February 12, 2008
· *Rock Band* Wireless Fender® Stratocaster Guitar
Controller (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system, PlayStation 2 system*)
$59.99 MSRP; April 1, 2008

Standalone */Rock Band/* game software is currently available, as
well as the */Rock Band/* *Special Edition Bundle* featuring a Fender
Stratocaster guitar controller, an electronic drum kit, real drum
sticks, a microphone and software. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 2
system bundles also come with a USB hub for easy plug-in access for
all instruments.

*/Rock Band/* is rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, mild
suggestive themes) by the ESRB.

Electronic Arts is the exclusive distribution and marketing partner
for */Rock Band/*.

*/* Note: The Rock Band PlayStation guitar and drums work for both
PlayStation 2 and PLAYSTATION 3 systems./*

For more information on */Rock Band /*and Harmonix Music Systems,
please visit www.rockband.com <http://www.rockband.com/> and
www.harmonixmusic.com <http://www.harmonixmusic.com/>.







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39 comments | showing # 1 to 39
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MaxVest's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 15:17
MaxVest
Not a bad little profit margin... Peripherals + game = $170, peripherals alone = $180.
BFeld13's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 15:17
BFeld13
I'd pay 60 bucks for another wireless guitar.
broonor's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 15:18
broonor
Or better yet, surprise that gamer love of yours with a 2nd PS3 Rock Band guitar to finally do that sexy duet you've been planning on... wait, what?
Bob Muir's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 15:22
Bob Muir
You forgot to note that the wireless guitars are actually coming out on April 1st, about two months after the other peripherals. That rubs me the wrong way.

Anyways, I suppose I'll be buying the bundle, two wireless guitars, and then selling the wired guitar that came with it. I demand wireless rocking!

But now I'm considering buying a second drumkit and microphone...damn you for suggesting that, EA!
power-glove's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 15:22
power-glove
April 1st, Sorry PS3 owners
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 15:23
Holyetheline
wireless strat will rock
king3vbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 15:26
king3vbo
I'd buy a guitar THAT DOESNT BREAK
Darren Nakamura's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 15:27
Darren Nakamura
Yeah, I need another guitar. Any idea if the newer ones coming out are more reliable than the originals?
power-glove's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 15:29
power-glove
The 1st statement was not meant to condescending in any way.
Cheeburga's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 15:30
Cheeburga
80 for a drum set? damn.
Jordan Devore's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 15:31
Jordan Devore
Drums! I can finally fucking play this game.
diversionmary's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 15:33
diversionmary
Yay! This is great news.

My replacement rockband guitar just came back today, I sure hope they fixed the double downstrum problem. I did all the repairs to my drumset myself so I wouldn't have to wait for EA's horrible turnaround time.
cainball's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 15:50
cainball
WTF? There still isn't a release date for Rock Band in Australia, and America is getting peripheral packs?

Angry.
AgentMOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 15:51
AgentMOO
I'm currently mutting it up with a Les Paul, and a Logitech Vantage. With the separate components I can complete the set and get the drums, sweet.
that1dood's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 15:52
that1dood
So when does it come out for the Wii?
dethrock's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 15:54
dethrock
I was looking forward to just getting the drums. But at $80, plus ~$60 for the game, I might as well spend the extra 25 or 30 and just get the bundle.
VampireChrist's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 16:03
VampireChrist
i just want another bass pedal
BluDesign's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 16:24
BluDesign
Logitech has a microphone in stores right now for $30 that more than suffices.

You can also choose to buy the Wii and PS3 versions for $2 more at best buy.
razerangel's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 16:26
razerangel
Damn you north americans and you having rock-bandiness!
Dynamic Sheep's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 16:33
Dynamic Sheep
C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER!
Surf314's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 17:01
Surf314
Will it be the same drums, or more awesome ones? Cuz I have a love/hate relationship with my current ones and don't want to haxor them.
Qais Fulton's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 17:19
Qais Fulton
@dvddesign: does it allow you to do the tambourine/cymbal/cowbell actions with the mic? I tried one of my own mics which worked to pick up sound but didn't work for the points at which I was supposed to wail on it like a retarded 4 year old.
GoldBond's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 17:22
GoldBond
Has anyone had any luck selling their Strat? I'm seriously considering trading mine in for one that doesn't suck and is compatible with all the GH games.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 17:32
Sharpless
So, is it ever going to be possible to just buy the game, and the instrument(s) seperately? Because I would really only want Rock Band and a guitar, initially.
1Trace1's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 17:33
1Trace1
@GoldBond I don't think anyone wants to buy a peripheral that sux. Personally I sent mine in and the new one works fine, but the best option would probably be to buy the old GH2 xplorer separately(unless the GH3 will be sold separately soon).
Qais Fulton's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 17:34
Qais Fulton
The game itself should be available on it's own already.
Sam Spectre's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 17:42
Sam Spectre
It shouldn't have taken this long...
GoldBond's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 17:44
GoldBond
@1Trace1: I have the GH3 guitar which, in my opinion, is THE best guitar you can get. I'm not sure if my guitar is broken since I got Rock Band a week ago, but my only beef with it is the strum bar is really soft. Does this mean it's broken? Because it's a pain in the ass to hit consecutive notes with a soft strum bar.
dethrock's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 17:55
dethrock
The game isn't available individually where you are? You can buy a standalone copy of it where I live (relatively small town in Canada.)
dadudebob's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 18:39
dadudebob
wheres the separate gh3 guitars for wii? last i heard they were coming out this month? hopefully rock band comes out on wii
Quisling's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 18:40
Quisling
I don't think I'll be doing this. I really want to play Rock Band, but I'm not chipping in 50 for a game plus 80 for drums. at that price (130 for the math-challenged) I'd almost be able to get the mic and the guitar also, and I just don't think it's worth it.

Maybe if it was 90-100 for the drums with the game, or if the game came with the drum set on it's own. I just can't justify getting so little for so much.

I almost don't even see why this is news worthy. They're releasing instruments individually at rates that are so far jacked up above the package price that it doesn't even make sense. The margin isn't 170 to 180, with the mic and the game you're looking at 170 to 230 and that's just ridiculous. It's news it's just really crappy bad news.

Again, for the math-challenged:
50 for game
80 for drums
60 (?) for guitar (wireless)
~40 for microphone
equals 230.
imbeta's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 19:02
imbeta
This is the BEST fake GUITAR ever.

Mine works JUST fine... sorry to hear about everyone else's. From my personal experience, it makes little sense to hear complaints, but I understand how pissed I'd be if mine didn't work.

Also... it's one sexy sexy guitar. I can't wait for a variant though, I really DO NOT want two guitars that look the same, so right now, it looks like NYKO's frontman is getting my hard earned cash.
manta's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 20:44
manta
April 1st? WTF. </3
manta's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 20:46
manta
@imbeta

Have you heard of ghskinz.com? I plan on picking up some of the Rock band skins there as soon as the extra guitar comes out. That way, you'll have a sweet bass, and a sweet 6 string.
Furnimus's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 20:51
Furnimus
Dude April 1st is a while away to wait for that. Almost 5 months since release. I swear if they release a press release saying "APRIL FOOLZ GUYZ LOLROFL WE DUNT HAV THEM REDDY YET SRY" I will be mad lol. Die Harmonix (in that case).
Demios's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 21:37
Demios
Stop your complaining bitches, it still aint even out here in Europeland! Grrrrrr!
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 21:47
Sharpless
So, wait, the game has been available on its own, but not the instruments? That does not compute. I just don't remember seeing any individual listings on Amazon, just the full set.
Dan CiTi's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2008 22:37
Dan CiTi
If there's "Pro Face-Off", I'll be happy. I haven't done that in Rock Band yet.
Fading Star's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/25/2008 07:03
Fading Star
GUITAR!
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