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

Harmonix, one of the world’s leading developers of music-based games, and MTV Games, part of Viacom’s MTV Networks, along with distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc., 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 Band experience 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.

SOURCE - http://www.gaming-age.com/news/2008/1/24-39

What about a standalone Wii guitar? =[

i'll buy the drum kit set first day, and maybe the mic for 40 buxx alone :)

No standalone Wii Guitar because Wii doesn't have Rock Band.

The $79.99 price for the drums is a ripoff. For the price of the drums + game (assuming a $59.99 game) - you'd be paying just $30 more for the mic and guitar.

$60 for a wireless guitar for the 360? Yikes, I think I'll just stick to the wired ones. The PS3 version came with a wireless guitar right? Exactly why did the 360 bundle cost the same as the PS3 bundle?

Why anybody could be such a sucker to buy any of these stand alone instruments instead of the full bundle is a mystery to me.

Ari_Gold, why would you buy a $40 mic + $70 drum then you buy the $60 game and that is a total of $170 which is WHAT THE FULL GAME COSTS and you don't get an extra guitar. I feel sorry for anybody who buys any of these overpriced ripoffs separately. Please, just buy the slightly less of a ripoff bundle and get some free cheap plastic for the same money.

Yeah I think they realized the drum is what most will be after since some already have GH guitars so they'll gouge you on that.

Sneaky but smart.

Because it also came with a $3 USB hub. :D