But it's 'amazing'
We almost fell of our chairs when we heard the UK pricing for the Xbox 360 version of Rock Band, which is due for release on May 23, but Harmonix has been quick to step forward to defend the pricing.On Tuesday, EA revealed that the Instrument Edition will cost £129.99 and will include the drum kit, guitar and microphone, but not the game, which will cost an extra £49.99. This brings the price of the package to just short of £180, almost the same cost as an Xbox 360 Premium console and around £90 more expensive than the North American version.
Developer Harmonix, has stepped forward to defend the price, telling Eurogamer that "We're not trying to rip anybody off."
"The combined price, if you add all that up and decide you want that full experience, is quite high. It's not something that is normal in videogames. This is an entirely new thing. What other game comes with three peripherals that are all different? It just makes sense for the experience we're trying to deliver," commented lead designer Rob Kay hoping to justify the price.
Although he didn't use it as an excuse, Kay also claimed that the UK's VAT and general higher-priced consumer electronics had also pushed the price up. Whatever the case, Kay reckons that the price is justified and that consumers will have an 'amazing experience' if they buy it.
Although we're not masters in economics, we know that due to tax and higher wages in the UK we'll always pay more than US consumers, but this isn't the £40-£50 price difference we expected, this is double that. We can't deny that Rock Band is brilliant, but £180 still seems way over the top.
Source :: Eurogamer
