180°

Rock Band: Pay Sky-High $520! Official Australian Pricing!

From XboxOZ360:

"Well we know prices are dear here, we sort of expect it as a matter of course, but EA's official announcement of pricing for Harmonix's Rock Band is at $AU520 to fully equip yourself out with the full rig.

Now for a 'game' that is ludicrous to a major extent. It smacks of "we don't care about your market" and you'll pay it if you want it bad enough. Seriously, that's more than the cost of a top level SKU console. When we look at prices of the same item in the UK or the US, there's a huge difference in pricing."
gaminoz - contributor
Published: 488 days 6 hours ago | News | PlayStation 3 | Xbox 360 | Wii | PlayStation 2
 
 

Showing: 1 - 33 of 33 Comments
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gaminoz - 488 days 13 hours ago
1 -
Stuff EA....get the next Guitar Hero...
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solidt12 - 488 days 5 hours ago
1.1 -
F that, I wouldn't pay that much for any game.
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yesah - 488 days 3 hours ago
1.2 -
soon it'll cost less to buy a plane ticket fly to the states, and smuggle it back to Australia then the game itself.

including days you missed off work of course
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sa_nick - 487 days 14 hours ago
1.3 -
GH:WT will cost just as much (or more) plus it's a crappier game.

Also, Yesah, there's a dude from europe flying to the US to pick up RB2 and an Ion drum kit... pretty crazy.
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XboxOZ360 - 488 days 13 hours ago
2 -
It's just ridiculous really, Rock Band 2 releases on teh 17th of October in the US and they only release the first one here (last on the world release list btw) on the 9th October, and at the cost of a Xbox 360 Elite . .Even if we gotthe game from the US, imported it gods and all, it would cost LESS to have in shipped here.

And we don't own a major publishing company with a shipping deal . . With the US greenback being almost the same as the Aust dollar, I'd expect to pay a premium for any item, but this is way above any Premium . .it's outrageous.

No wonder the shops won't stock it, or it's next game, as stores are saying they doubt they stock either of them. So if a game isn't getting banned, censored to fit in with a minor ratings system or Refused classification, it's being priced out of the ball park by many a greedy publisher.
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Immortal Kaim - 488 days 13 hours ago
3 -
Absolutely disgusting pricing. What is the US equivalent in pricing?
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facepalm - 488 days 13 hours ago
3.1 -
About $450 USD...

For comparisons:
The X360 Elite cost about $649 AUD, and the PS3 cost $699 AUD...

EDIT ADDED: In other words...massive rip-off!!
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gaminoz - 488 days 13 hours ago
3.2 -
And you can get old Pro 360s for $388 at WOW. Who's going to buy all that kit for that price, over a hundred more than the console itself???
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XboxOZ360 - 488 days 11 hours ago
3.3 - @ facepalm
Yeah, and considering Rock Band II sells for $US189.99 from Amazon and GameStop for the full kit, that's a HUGE $US difference in pricing. I doubt many will buy it, unless of course they are those who are compulsive about "having it" . . .

While EA have changed their Development acquisition style with their new COE, they need to get the team at the marketing and sale areas under the same thought process. As it is seen as a whole company rather than separate entities. We have the Publishing/Development arm, and then there's the Marketing and Sales arm. It would be great if both of them talked to each other more often
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Immortal Kaim - 488 days 13 hours ago
4 -
Thanks guys. Well its official, probably the biggest rip-off in gaming history. I really hope no one buys this game, show EA we won't accept this sh*t
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XboxOZ360 - 488 days 9 hours ago
5 -
Point is, many ppl will buy it if it does become available anyhow.

Not to the numbers needed locally, but there are those out there that see any price for a music orientated game well worth it . . . anything for a sudo-band experience. It's certainly NOT something I'd invest that amount into, that's for sure. As the game (Rock Band I can be bought off eBay for far less, even with an inflated ebay price point.
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Fishy Fingers - 488 days 6 hours ago
6 -
Suddenly, the PS3 doesn't seem to hold quite the high price tag. This is ridiculous, Oz gamers really get shafted.

Since when did games start costing nearly as much as the consoles? You could build an alright PC for that!

I'm not Australian, nor am I buying Rockband 2 but this has still aggravated me.
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XboxOZ360 - 488 days 5 hours ago
6.1 -
Thanks mate, we pay a premium over here, and NZ is actually a tad dearer most of the time. While our RRP prices range from the norm of $AU99.95 - $AU109.95 up to the top end of $119.95 for the Bigger AAA titles and many CE's are around the $AU150 mark - give or take.

That doesn't mean we pay that full RRP, as the competition is strong here, and a good gamer can get games for around the $AU80 mark if the shop-smart. So when you see something like this for a RRP of $AU520, yu sit back and really ponder, is it all really worth it.

I don't even want to do the math on the games I have for the 360, but if we said I paid an "average" of say $AU85 for mine, I have 42 games, you do the math on that, look at our Dollar to the US"s and then look at what the US pays for games, Which they complain are too expensive, then look at what we pay Dollar for dollar, and I think the Americans have it damn well off.

But it's good that you can see our plight mate . .
7 NanoGeekTech | 488 days 6 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
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gaminoz - 487 days 15 hours ago
7.1 -
For the PS3 we have to change power (we have much higher voltage) and we can't watch all blu-rays, but we can play all games (as they are region free). As for 360 games or packs, some are region free and some are not: EA games are not.
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Vicophine - 488 days 6 hours ago
8 -
I feel sorry for Australian gamers :(
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crazy25000 - 488 days 6 hours ago
9 - wow....just stick with guitar hero
pretty ridiculous
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smokeymicpot - 488 days 6 hours ago
10 -
thats they get the one that cost the most and it comes made late.
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thehitman - 488 days 5 hours ago
11 - ROFL
Does it come with a built in blue ray player?
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r4nger - 488 days 5 hours ago
12 - "When we look at prices of the same item in the UK or the US, there's a huge difference in pricing."
in the uk its exactly the same - we end up paying like £180 for the damn thing, which is around $360usd = rip off.

Oz aren't the only ones that end up getting ripped off, it happens here too.
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yesah - 488 days 3 hours ago
12.1 -
uhhh....180£ is about the same as $360.
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Fishy Fingers - 488 days 3 hours ago
12.2 - ^
Depending on the current exchange rate, it flutters up and down but for the most part £1 = $2. So yes £180 is roughly $360

Of course UK prices are higher due to V.A.T duty.
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AclayPS3 - 488 days 4 hours ago
13 -
A lot of PS3/360 games are $99 bucks in Australian dollars... no wonder Austraila is such a small gaming market because it's so expensive.

But, the costs of some games is getting a little ridiculous... the Rockband 2 Special Edition for the Wii is going to be $189.99, but you can buy a Wii console for $60 bucks more... and the Rockband 2 Special Edition for the PS2 will cost more than the PS2 itself.
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gtafan - 488 days 4 hours ago
13.1 - EA's bad marketing
For that kind of money you can take classes to learn how to play all the instruments. Can you say rip off. That is bs wtf, are they thinking. I don't even think it's right to charge 200.00 dollars. I got suckered into the first one and i hardly even use it. It's not worth it.
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Lumbo - 488 days 3 hours ago
14 -
Have they finally lost their marbles?

FFS whats with that idiotic price?
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harv052 - 488 days 3 hours ago
15 -
right....but what is the average annual salary of a working Australian?
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XboxOZ360 - 488 days 3 hours ago
15.1 -
Well it depends a lot on what work you do. While the Stats will say one thing, which is usually quite high, and NOT representative of real wages, the reality is that most ppl have huge bills and it all evens its self out.

I pay $AU400 a week rent, yet I'm on a pension that only pays $330 per week. If it wasn't for the fact I get some $$'s for doing some other stuff on the side, I'd be up the creek without a paddle. And that's not including phone, internet, food electricity etc etc.

A good friend gets $35 per/ann. which is about Average really.
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harv052 - 488 days 3 hours ago
15.2 -
Ok. I was just asking 'cause I know there's so many factors when it comes to a country's economics...but I have to say, 520$ for a game is just ludicrous....
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Mark - 487 days 23 hours ago
15.3 -
I'm on $45k p/a at the moment and after tax, mortgage, car payments, internet, phone, food and fuel then there's hardly anything left. Then there's the electricity (which i just got a notice is going up), council rates, car registration ... you get it. Everything is expensive here in Aus and our "big" salaries don't last.
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LevDog - 488 days 3 hours ago
16 -
I dont get it.. Ill get disagreess for this.. but Im sorry music games suck.. Personally I dont see where the addiction comes from.. They are all boring..

The worst part is.. You get ripped off.. I mean my buddy has Both GH and RB.. thats over 400 bucks for both of those.. Then after he beat the games.. He bought all the songs online.. I swear he has spent over 200 more bucks on just songs alone.. HAHAHA thats just stupid.. What next they are gonna come out with Randy Jacksons best dance crew game and you the follow the dance steps..
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XboxOZ360 - 488 days 3 hours ago
16.1 -
I agree with you there mate. While I was in a band when I was "younger" shhhhh we won't go there - okay, I just can't see how someone can justify spending that amount on a game when they could get a proper electric drum kit and small amp and some real guitars and have fun anyhow. Sure, you need to learn how to play, but that is half the fun - isn't it.

These companies make a killing with the DLC which is where they know they will clean up. You (the companies) create a huge desire and demand rises, and no matter what you charge, they will still buy it, even if they DO complain about it. Odd as it sounds.
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Jack007 - 487 days 22 hours ago
17 -
Wow quite pricey eh?
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Simmo44 - 487 days 9 hours ago
18 -
They have officially lost it. The price is ridiculous
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