My brother and I pitched in for the 360 version of Rockband. We waited in line at Walmart for an hour to get it and then spent the rest of the night playing it.

So far I, my impressions on the game have been glowing. We started out playing with a four member band (well actually three I sung songs while playing guitar) Then dropped the singing because it was hard to get the right pitch if you wer unfamiliar with the song.

 The game does an excellent job of making you fell like you are in a band. Many unlockables related to tours, like transportation which lets you go to different areas, and roadies which allow you to play in larger arenas where more fans can see you play. The crux of the game seems to be getting fans and playing larger shows.

The gameplay was excellent and I prefer the Rock Band guitar to the Les Paul with GH3. The frets are inlaid so you can slide power chords along the fret without having to pick up your fingers this allows rapid movement.

The drums are pretty much just like playing real drims but still provide a challenge to real life drummers like my brother.

The best part about the game is the soundtrack, not only are there some pretty sweet licks on here but the game also has a much more fluid and higher quality sound than GH3.

Those worried about carry over tracks being pretty much the same except added drums and vocals need not worry, at least two songs on GH3 that are also on RB enhance the experience by adding more splits and bar chords.

Bottom Line, I think this is by far the best game in the rythmn genre out right now, and I suggest all fans of GH3 with the cash to spare pick it up and playu the hell out of it.

How much does this cost?

$170...

Quick question: as far as I can tell, the $170 includes guitar, microphone and drums, right?

No extra controller for bass? I was hoping it'd come with a bass too :-\

Someone correct me on that if possible.

For $170, you get the drums, the guitar and a mic. It's pretty sturdy stuff - and the only drawback is ... you can't use it except on your 360. I would definitely see the value in getting it if you could use the instruments in real places vs. your 360.

Here's a pic from my Rock Band post ...



The $170 doesn't include the extra guitar ...

I personally feel this is insane. I'm sorry but I'd never spend 170 on one game. for the same money I can pick up COD 4, Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed. Not to mention the music genre is hard to get too many hours out of. Just think 45 songs 4 minutes each, that's 3 hours of music, not bad but seriously how many times do you want to play those songs? You'd have played every song 7 times just to get around 20 hours, and 20 hours don't justify 170 bucks. Plus if it's anything like GH II I'd probably only really enjoy playing maybe half the songs. Then too it's hard to play in long bursts cause after a while your hand hurts(at least with the guitar) I just think it's hard enough to push one peripheral, they're pushing 3.

BTW I'm not trying to knock the game, I'm sure it's great, and down the road if it gets alot cheaper I'd check it out, but not now.

Foot - Guitar Hero 2 and/or 3 is $170 for the game and 2 guitars....

So the price is the same.

In my case, the price might be justified. I have litterally 30 kids at my youth group begging to start up a Rock Band/Guitar Hero 2/3 arcade.

From the tone of your post you have never actually played Guitar hero for any length of time.

I have played many of the songs numerous times over just because it is fun. My brother has spent an insane amount of time playing the game just to beat it on expert.

If you get friends to play with you the replay value is endless because almoat anyone will at least give it a shot. Once they do, they can instantly become hooked.

Rockband takes this to new extremes because now you can add singing to the party. I mean how many people do you know that like to get drunk and karreokee (msp).

Also there are an insane amount of songs on this, at least 58 in the main game. This doesn't include bonus tracks like they have on GH3.
EA also plans on releasing new songs weekly.

I'd say there is a pretty high replay value in that $170 package, however, I wouldn't buy it myself since I rearly have people over to play it with, besides my brohter and his friends.

a friend of mine is getting this for Christmas, so we'll rock out during the holidays :)

My wife and I picked the bundle up Monday night at Best Buy.

 It definitly comes with 1 Guitar, 1 Drum Set (with peddle and sticks), 1 mic, a USB hub, and the game.

The good news is that the GHII guitar works fine with the game, so if you've already got your Xplorer lying around, you've got your base guitar ready to go.

 The game's cost:  It is pricy for the bundle, what we saw while stading in line was a lot of groups of college kids going in togeather on the bundle to rock out back in the dorm.

With the online component, however, the game really is very affordable.  If you're only a guitar fan (and already have a GH guitar) just pick up the game for $60, and jump into an online band with friends. 

 If you're just a singer, just pick up the mic.  If you are just a drummer just get the game and drums.

(Although, sadly, the instruments by themselves aren't out until Feb)

There are a lot of improvements to the basic GH model in this game, and the feeling of working togeather in a band to make music is presented flawlessly.  This co-op aspect is not only fun, but is really a core part of playing real music, and adds to the illusion that you are in the world of Rock music.

Harmonix has done it again.