I'll hold out till Rock Band 2, or just keeping my money in my pocket until these idiots treat us with respect. $530 for the whole pack is just bullshit, how the hell can the standalone game be $120? MGS4 is the only game I can remember having such a high RRP here in Aus. Not to mention that the game by itself is useless without spending more on the instruments.

el_rezzo

Just to get it out of the way I'm American and I bitch about how expensive things are. Up until now I hadn't really considered myself one of those arrogant Americans that everyone hates. I had NO idea how fucked my gaming brothers and sisters are outside of the US. I'm sorry. I promise when I come dive the GBR I'll drop all kinds of cash locally.

Dual45s

wtf.. i'm still saving for rock band 1 in the UK, and australians get it even more expensive.. i feel bad..

stargateheaven

Crazy.

I hope Ozzies treat this with the disdain it deserves.

Shocking that they can expect to treat their customers like this.

DON'T BUY!!!

f0cus

Yes, Harmonix, you have a great game, beats GH1-3 easily, but you've got to get that game to the people who want to play it in a timely manner, with an affordable pricing system that doesn't screw over anyone who isn't in North America.

I mean, wow, somebody didn't plan on how to handle this game in an international market, which means you're gonna lose to GH4 without even getting to fight back in most of the regions you're trying to sell the damn game in.

SatansBestBuddy

I highly think it would be cheaper to just import. I am sure it can't cost more then $400.

Quicksilver4648

You could always buy a PAL copy of the game and Rock Band 2 instruments. I wouldn't be surprised if it worked out much, much cheaper.

Demaar

I received my copy yesterday, thanks to amazon uk. Only 3 days before official release in Spain, and only 25 euros cheaper than SRP, but cheaper and sooner, anyway.

Margrave

This is seriously ridiculous. The price is nightmarish and releasing around the time that the US gets Rockband 2?!?

If you guys have a ps3 and know of anyone in the US, get it imported. Luckily, I got my mate to carry it back with him in January for about 210AUD.

k3nji

That's what happens when 20 million people get their own continent.

ostartero

Oh lawd. And we thought the rip-off price in Europe was bad.

Walker

Import. I'm in the UK, and I got my PS3 version 5 months ahead of a PAL release, for £40 cheaper than what it will cost when it eventually comes out here. Only downside is having to sort out pre-paid credit cards for DLC, but since I'm getting it cheaper, and quicker (and not appeasing EAs ridiculous pricing strategy), it's worth it.

Foffity

What the hell is with this price gouging!? Lame I say, lame indeed...

Xero_Azmea

I was really, really looking forward to this, but now I'll have to say "no sale". This is just far too ridiculous. Yes, I understand that there's a whole set of perepherals to buy, but $400 divided by now near-obsolete game, and 3 perepherals, no thanks.

$100 for a microphone!! I bought a cheap fake Stratocaster for less than that so I could learn to play a REAL guitar!

JennifARGH

@popadophalis: $450? heh.

juliopalio

Nice! I love how they charge $20 more for the software compared to other AU releases.

Good going guys, enjoy the huge profit you get from your three sales. I can really see Rock Band becoming an international brand that competes with Guitar Hero.

Passa

I imported the drum kit from the US and the game from the UK. The brand new drumkit, including $70 for shipping, cost me $125AUS, delivered to my door by a friendly FedEx guy.

They want to charge $160 locally?

Does it come with lube?

kevlar35

@theherlihyboy: that's the solution to getting every game at nearly half price when you live in Europe or Australia. The gaming industry is really screwing us over.

coladict

@freakout:

I picked up the Guitar Hero 3 game+guitar bundle for $129 a couple of weeks ago.

If these rumoured prices are correct, then that's only $9 more than the Rock Band software.

Marlor

I've been dying to play Rock Band now for frickin' ages (I live in Norway, so if you think it sounds expansive in say the UK, then add about another 20-30% on top of that) and I'm not going to bother getting this anymore.

Unless they somehow manage to get us Rock Band 2 day and date, and at a decent price with all the DLC or something like that.

But I still don't understand WHY they it's taken so long. I mean you got probably one of the hotest games this year and they don't even bother to ship it to EU. But I guess that's just the norm for game developers. Royaly screw Europe.

Cragen

Firstly, i'm Australian.

I paid $135 for Guitar Hero 3 on the PS3 on launch day. I flat out refuse to pay any more than $250-$300 for the Rock Band 1/2 or Guitar Hero World Tour set. Be it in a bundle or seperately. This is absolutely ridiculous. They can't seriously expect to release a game over a year late, and after the sequel has already been released in another country and charge us ridiculous prices for it.

We'll buy a lot of crap down here, but that is just stupid. And a lot of regular customers and retailers will see it too.

There are rumours that GH:WT will be released here at the same time or maybe even before rock band, and if it does it will nail Rock Band's coffin in Aus.

If this turns out to be the correct pricing, and if it is RB1, i'm calling for a boycot!

Palpatine

@suston3d:

Income tax isn't particularly high in Australia (compared to the US).

In Australia, for someone earning $60K, income tax would be $12K, or 20%.

In the US, for someone earning AU$60K (US$57.5K) income tax would be US$10,719, or 18.6%... but once employee FICA (payroll) is taken into account, it would be US$15,117, or 26.3%.

Australia's GST is also less than most US state sales taxes.

In Australia, we like to think we're heavily taxed, but we really aren't.

Marlor

Someone lube me up, I'm about to get raped.

bondiinsider

It's 233 euro for the instrument set + game over here (about 366USD) and 140USD for a single drum set.
And this is mainland Europe (Belgium to be more precise).
[www.consoleshop.be]

Extortioner

$110 for a single guitar? I shudder to think what the drum kit is going to cost. The GH3 guitar, by comparison, can be found for $70-80 AUD. (Game+guitar bundle is aboot $160)

Oh well, do what I've done, rest of Australia... import the UK PAL version of the game and save yourself some money.

freakout

Surely some enterprising company can import the hardware from the US. It's a bit expensive to import it individually, but I'm sure it would be much cheaper in bulk. And I can't imagine there being any region locking on the hardware itself.

Hell, maybe Mad Catz or some other third-party could release a whole Rock Band hardware kit that undercuts the over-priced official one.

Marlor

@MetalGearMax: Please don't generalise an entire continent. I'm in the UK, I saw the prices, I said **** you EA, and I'm still not a Rock Band owner. Simply due to principal.

shufflemoomin

@nipz: so you are saying an average aussies earn twice as much as an american ?? .. Tax-cuts the earnings way more in aus than in the us!
I think the difference shouldn't be factor 2 .. more like +10-20%.

This is bulls*... i mean we have to wait way longer to buy a game which soon will be replaced by Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero : World Tour... and should pay extra for waiting ?? WTF ?!?!!!!

Usually they should come forward to those waiting, extra stuff for the same price, like tons of additional songs ... but no let them pay twice!!

Better import Rock Band 2 or even better GH-World Tour and let the regional hardware rott on the huge shelves they take in stores. Maybe they will then be forced to sell it at an reasonable price...

suston3d

@cdammers: Not everyone got it either... Sweden actually finally got the game for 360 last week and I haven't seen it sold out anywhere so far... and for Europe in general, the majority of console users (Wii + PS3) still don't even have a set release date in sight.

At times I wonder if EA do this to see if they can bomb this release and stop releasing select titles in Europe pointing on how bad Rock Band sold.

I really want Rock Band 2 (no use getting the first one now), but I'm not paying what they charge for the first one right now.

The Whaleman

@theherlihyboy: The problem is that the 360 version is region locked, and more importantly you can't get the DLC unless you're borderline-illegally using a service like Entropay.

@jwpunk: $400 AUD is enough to buy you a 360 or a Wii locally, with some change left over.

@Nipz: We pay a fuckload more tax than the US does, and all our prices on everything are generally much higher.

This is about what I expected it to cost, to be honest. The kicker is that if it's out in October then they're going to be marketing us RB1 when RB2 will be on the market in the US. Unless they go straight to releasing the new RB2 instruments, then Harmonix can go fuck themselves.

atomicstrawberry

@Nipz:
Yes, but the average wage is about the same. So how valid that point is highly debatable and that alone is not worth this exorbitant price. Heck I can't think of anything that would make it worth it.

One Way Mule

Aussies minimum wage is $14.50hr which is heaps higher than the minimum wage for any state in the US. So the poor in Australia are richer than the poor in US.

Nipz

@peace4myheart: No. They band together and DoS attack the website of the company responsible.

Note: What has been said is purely for educational purposes. MentalNote does not condone any illegal action... unless it gets results.

MentalNote

And here we are complaining. I wonder do gamers down under picket and riot after seeing these prices???

peace4myheart

...

We have to wait over a year, watch Rock Band 2 come out in the USA, AND we're supposed to take that pricing up the rear?

They can get screwed.

I was so pumped when I heard Rock Band announced. That great feeling has deteriorated from "OH YEAH, MUST BUY" pre-USA release time to the current "Fuck yourselves and your little game too". I don't think I'm alone in this sentiment.

Cwn

Wait...only $120?

That's only $10 more than your average PS3 game here. >__>;

hikaizer

in sweden the cheapest version (360) costs 347$

what a fucking joke, as per usual

cnas

Bah. I already paid $620AU to get a UK copy shipped in.

*flexes nerd-muscles*

kfresh97

so if my mate got the game and a guitar and i got the game and drums that'll still set me back like $200 aud and i live in new zealand. thats some bullshit.

Jel-op

Silly Australian gamers:
Buy local, pay 120+% more than Americans or Japanese.

Smart Australian gamers:
Import games from online retailers such as Play-Asia, NCSX for only 10-20% more, which is mostly postage costs.

I haven't payed more than $70 AUD (usually 60) for a new game in 5 years.

Nilyx

"Everyone in Europe did this too, but then when the game came out everyone got it."

True, but some retailers were offering pretty big discounts. I paid £50 less than RRP for the game and instruments.

cdammers

@Flareslove: As I am from Australia, I was going to lend my opinion to this. However, it likes like you've spoken my mind.

MentalNote

Bloody hell, that's almost as much as a PS3! I hope this isn't the latest trend in game pricing...

Metal_Slug_Solid

I was definitely planning to get this with all the hardware when it came out in here in NZ. No way I'm paying that kind of money though. Ah well, the money I would have spent can go towards a new computer instead.

MattB

The only reason I haven't bought Rock Band yet.
Europe prices are INSANE and they don't even distribute it here (italy)

Kairne

Wow, fuck that. The publisher is going to see these reactions and try to offer some bullshit about localization and shipping and all that shit, but it doesnt change the fact that they're charging $380 US for a game.

Whoever decided on that price, I hope someone defiles your children and pickles their remains in ball sweat.

Nedus

@Hulkamaniac: Most of the large online US retailers, such as Amazon, don't ship electronics and games (but do ship other products) to Aus and Europe so companies can gouge the fuck out of us. Luckily there are some smaller players that do ship to us at sane prices.

rightok

So Rockband 1 in Austrailia is $380 in US dollars.
Which is £190, Ten whole British pounds more than a Wii!

jwpunk

I imported my copy for AU$300 including shipping which was still hell expensive.

t0nz0r

This is the same price as a brand new Wii here.

Fuck this.

Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name.

I keep thinking that the Australian ad campaign for guitar hero 4 should just be "fuck harmonix."

penty85

Epic Fail.

Oh hai online (anywhere outside AU) store!

Skunx

So what made the price inflation? Gas? YA, mise well import it and pay less, you all speak english so there is nothing to worry about.

Hulkamaniac

@Tribal: Mate, it's $169 with the game in the states - it's 159$ just for the drums in au... who gives a fuck about 10 or so dollars saved - the prices are fucked.

syl1985

what is the reasoning behind this ridiculous pricing??

sooo uhm hi...I want a 360...oh and rock band....nigh on a solid grand...what a load...

Ibramgaunt

@david78:
You cant say everyone cos i still havent to this day bought it and i refuse to pay that much for some plastic instruments from ea

adamr999

The solution is simple for Aussies: import from the U.S. - import, import, import!

theherlihyboy

@exkon: It's meant to be around 40,000-45,000 a year before tax. $400 for Rock Bank, the Wii is $385 here... heh...

KindGalaxy

Sadly, that's the price in Switzerland (and I think Europe in general).

LoopyChew

Game price is correct at $119.95 (for the 360/PS3, Wii/PS2 is $99.95), but the instrument prices are a little inaccurate. My supplier is listing the Guitar/Drums/Mic bundle at AU$269.95, which is still fairly hefty but a smidge better than $290.

Guitars are slightly cheaper than listed at AU$99.95 rather than $110, drums will be AU$159.95. All systems are listed as October 2008 release, but no specifics on which day.

This is the screen I posted from my suppliers stock listing over at the rockband forums about a week ago with this information, you'll notice the OFLC rating and #players is incorrect, but I put that down to them C/Ping when they uploaded it into the stock list (I think it was corrected on Friday):

link

Tribal

Everyone in Europe did this too, but then when the game came out everyone got it.

david78

@popadophalis: poor kiwis :(

hitokirimaru

So.Totally.Importing.

I've waited nearly a year for this damn game, and this is what we get. We probably wont get much DLC and when we do it'll be weeks late, so sorry but no.

french_fries101

Struth!!

That game costs big Bikkies! It would be cheaper to just buy ya own banjo and didgeridoo fair dinkum.

These deros come a gutser if they think they can charge heaps of moolah for some plastic

Flareslove

I was totally geared to get this but if it costs that much you can count me out.

Grahamunculus

@crsdfr:

Eh? You guys don't earn more than Americans.

1cesc

Rock Band (Game Only) October 1st

* PS2, Wii - $99.95

* PS3, XB360 - $119.95

[www.dvdcrave.com.au]

AusGamer

@MetalGearMax:

For future reference, the most popular australian folk hero is Ned Kelly, who put on an iron suit, robbed some banks and shot some coppers in cold blood.

A popular 'modern' folk hero would be Chopper Reid, who blew off some guys head with a sawn-off, kidnapped a judge, and then cut off his own ear while in prison.

We don't do much to hide the fact we're descended from convicts.

GregoriusH

We, the UK, don't even have the PS3 Rock Band yet and Rock Band 2 looks like it'll come out around the same time as the PS3 version (of Rock Band '1') will finally hit.
To be honest, a World-wide release date on 2 would be greatly appreciated - and probably the only thing that would keep me, the consumer, interested in buying it.

Fallible

Wow I glad I imported a set of drums and a pal copy of the game for much cheaper than what it's going to be.

deathwombat

@MetalGearMax: I've been true to my word and still haven't bought Rock Band, though a bunch of friends have and and seem to really enjoy it. I suspect that if you're going to play it for a few months as my friends have/will, then even the European price becomes reasonable value.

What the European (and AU) price isn't, is fair. So I won't pay it. I'm hoping that when RB comes out on other platforms (only 360 in Europe so far) that will push the price down a little. Still don't see myself getting the game unless I unexpectedly emigrate to North America though.

Kazzahdrane

Crocodile Dundee, aka Paul Hogan, obviously found the cost of living too high, as he lives in the US and is now in the shit for not paying his Aussie taxes.

rightok

How much did rock band go for in america again? 170? So that's... two hundred dollars shipping? Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

GregoriusH

There should be a limit to one's greed. High time, the managers take a course on ethics.

venkat55

@MetalGearMax: Crocodile Dundee? This is 2008, fuck you.

Moosetwik

My god..what's the cost of living in Australia!!?!?

Min wage?

exkon

Didn't expect anything less to be honest. Its hard being a gamer here.

Although we do earn a lot more than Americans, theres still jaw dropping, completely non-sensical price differences in the Australian market.

A Wii costs around $380 US here. Do you think Nintendo has ever let the supply dwindle for more than a few weeks? Hell no.

crsdfr

People will still buy it though, coz they're stupid like Europeans.
When the pricing was announced for Europe everyone was up in arms saying "**** you EA!", but when the game hit stores they went and bought the damned thing.
And that's why we keep getting screwed over, Sony showed the rest that Europe suffers from extreme battered wife syndrome. No matter how much you abuse it, Europe will keep running back.
I hope the Aussies do Crocodile Dundee proud and actually take a stand.

MetalGearMax

@rightok: Guitar with strings (not buttons), that is.

rightok

For that price you may as well pick up a second-hand guitar and amp and make some real music.

rightok

@popadophalis: 16 sheep

Gypse-scum

@ Certop
actually, no. the USA shall be getting rock band 2 before Australia even gets rock band 1 (for the 360 at least)

ArchMemnoch

One wonders why they don't just skip rock band 1 and release 2 here if they're going to do it that late.

GregoriusH

Well that's some serious Pickled Dic.

Thorax

photoshop, i guess.

zkotaku

Well, they get kangaroos, so it's a fair trade.

All joking aside, this sucks. Here's hoping enough Aussies can import from the US to save some money.

InsidiousTuna

Is Australia getting Rock Band 1 around the same time the USA is getting Rock Band 2?

Certop

Wtf? Does anyone have a logical explanation for that?

savemeaquaman

@brooza:

About that.

It's far cheaper to import from the US with the current exchange rate. It's total bullshit.

GregoriusH

That is shocking!

It would be cheaper to import! Hell, i am surprised stores are not doing that now, you could mass import and sell less than what other stores would be selling!

Certop

No deal. You can't release the game this late and at that price and expect me to give you my money.

GregoriusH

That's Ass-Backward.

Locke562

I really wonder if Guitar Hero manages to get World Tour to Europe and Australia in a timely fashion and for a reasonable price. If they can do that they would score some major points in the guitar game wars.
In this day and age it shouldn't take any western developed game a year to come out in all territories in the first place.

El-Suave

I wonder what they'll charge New Zealanders...

popadophalis

120 AUD?

How much are games usually?

brooza

Well I called it ;) kinda.....
[kotaku.com]

But in all seriousness something really needs to be done about the way video games are priced around the world as all this does is destroy the game industry itself. Where games at such a high price in general or long wait times will force people to import the game or pirate them.

Leading to a loss of sales in that market and cause the misrepresentation of sales figures for the region causeing a downfall in commitement by developer. I reckon games should fluctuate with the dollar. Not exactly to the dollar so that everyday it has to be changed but something like if it changes by 5% - 10% the price has to be changed to meet that and wont need to be changed until another 5% - 10% change occurs again.

Or certain countries could adopt policies/regulations to make things fair through governement.

JleeLink

That just sucks for you guys. =(

The bundle is < $100 here in the U.S. They can't give it away (well, that and the Halo 3 cat helmet pack, which I saw for *less* than the Halo 3 regular release the other day).

BigWeather

Funnily enough, this article is available on the US version of Kotaku but not the Australian one.

PurpleSfinx

that's just plain freakin nonsense, no one can dish out that much cash for a game!

airdom

International game pricing is insane. I went to the store shortly after moving here to see new PS3/360 games being priced at 79€. I mean I know about the VAT but jesus.

djlowballer

@Moosetwik: Agree (didn't have to swear though).

el_rezzo

@freakout: I remember passing over a $100 Guitar Hero 3 bundle when it launched at Big W because I was planning on supporting Harmonix rather than the company brought in to use their game system (even though I highly respect Neversoft for THPS2/3 and Gun). So for the past 6 months I have kinda regretted that decision. Hopefully we get some good prices on GH:WT .

el_rezzo

@suston3d: Umm, the average american isn't working for minimum wage. Most teenagers are there or around it though.

And that is one. expensive. bundle. The game itself is almost as much as the whole thing in the US.

two cans tied together and thrown down the street to wake up the surrounding neighbors with a loud annoying noise

@InsidiousTuna: Don't forget they can claim Steve Irwin. And anyone who can claim Steve Irwin is the REAL winner...

fireb0x

This just isnt right. I would think that Activi$ion would pull something like this..not Harmonix. For that price it should come with a birthday performance of the band of your choice from the play list

jonndirrt

@MetalGearMax: It's amazing isn't it?

And those of us who told the Europeans to speak with their wallets rather than whine on the internet and start petition after useless petition were right in the long run.

@BigWeather: Only the PS2 bundle so far. The next-gen package (Wii, PS3, 360) is still floating in the $169 range depending on where you look.

The RB1 bundle will likely be out of stores by the time the RB2 bundle hits. That's why HMX is doing the staggered release (first Stand-Alone, then Bundle)

TRT-X

Wow and i thought the $ 300 dls the first one costed here in México were pretty fucked up...

Daisuash

@savemeaquaman:

*French-for-shower bag mode on*

Uh, VAT, overhead, shipping from China...

*Douchebag mode off.*

Zero_Beat

Wow. This is just as bad as hearing "Five Hundred and Ninety-Nine US Dollars". Sorry, Aus dudes. :(

Might want to look into smuggling these things. Or just not buying them. Wait for the bargain bin prices. (Unfortunately, that would mean to these publishers that the thing failed and you wouldn't get RB2 localized but hey... cheaper Rock Band! :D Eh? Eh?! :( )

TheJinManCan

I will never, EVER complain about the Rock Band pricing in Mexico.

I swear

Great Merol

Bummer

At least I'm just buying the game and not the bundle this time.

Darth_X

Isn't this exactly what it cost in the UK?

Why did we expect them to treat other pal territories any better than this?

EdwinJ85

Now Australia can feel the pain we europeans have with Rock Band. Over inflated price for plastic thing-a-magigers.

rincew1nd

Wow, at some point a company has to be ethical about how it treats consumers.

Rock Band is only fun until you've played all the songs a few times and then it gets boring real fast--definately not worth $380.

fenderfuel08

Well, I'll be importing RB2 for sure since the instruments are supposed to be backwards compatible and RB2 is supposed to be able to import RB1 tracks as DLC.

zoesch

who the hell makes those prices? jeez, didn't they learn anything from the European price? >:(

Shad0X

@popadophalis: Lol, exactly. If a wii retails for $400 AU and $499 NZ I think its a safe bet that a $400 AU Rockband package wil cost ... 1 MILLION DOLLARS! (NZ)

ren666

might as well invest in starting a real band.

dArk_stAr

as usual we in NZ will get ripped off even more. not buying it. thanks.

SamStride

Sigh.

I played rock band last night, here in NZ. My drums were free, a gift from a friend in america, and the game was imported. Used my guitar hero guitar, any usb mic - its all good.

This is old news, really, we were getting screwed , we knew it, move on peeps.

Crab_Botherer

...Do... Do Americans realise that it's extremely RARE to pay RRP in Australian stores?

Stuff like this is on special on the time - the more popular, the better the discount.

WiiFit's RRP is AU$150, but I've yet to see it anywhere for more than AU$120, and when GTA4 was released, the discounted price was LESS than it would have cost to import (around AU$70... a far cry from the RRP of AU$120).

We don't have to wait for a "Platinum" or "Classic" range, because games drop in price pretty quickly and are usually dirt cheap after 12 months. You just have to be catalogue-savvy. I haven't imported a game since last year because the games I want always happen to be on special when I want them, and I'm not waiting over a week to play a game that I can get today for the same price.

I would be SHOCKED if anyone was selling Rock Band for over AU$300 on launch day.

V1L3

wt f'ing f! i f'ing thought it was f'ing pricey here in germany, but thits is just plain ridiculous!!!

besides, me and my drum-loving buddy are gonna wait 4 GH4 , and when it's gonna be released, rock band 2 will be out already, so there are 3 different drumkits on the market all compatible to each other so we're gonna buy the cheapest one (rock band 1 i guess)

besides, GH$ is bonna be teh b3s7 cause it'll feature user-made tracks, so prepare for tons of metallica and boehse onkelz trackz^^

(böhse onkelz 4 life, bihatch) (wiki it)

dgkz0idberg

This is just ridiculous! Why arnt more people just importing this!!!!!!

darktoad450

Thants harsh but i remember being In Costa Rica and the games retail for at least 1.5 times what they do here!!

mufasa95

@Marlor: "We"? Maybe "You". Because yes, Australians do pay a lot of tax if they don't want to be penniless hobos.

International readers: $60k is hardly a great income in .AU land any more, it is no longer the bargain it once was. With endlessly soaring prices you'll struggle to get by in any decent area of Melbourne or Sydney on that these days. I know people moving to London, Tokyo and Shanghai and finding it easier to get by FFS. =(

Try doing those numbers again for anyone on an actually liveable income. =P

Oh and if you're going to include US FICA, where's the AU medicare levy and compulsory super?

End of the day, anyone on a half-decent income in Australia will end up not seeing close to or even over half of it, much more overall than the US (Or most places!) and starting at a much lower income point.

Believe me I know, it's one of the main reasons I left.

So yes, overall Australia is getting hugely screwed on Rock Band (Or any gaming) and in relative terms it's probably even WORSE, if anything.

SyK

I'm looking forward to this game coming out way late, overpriced and selling like shit and having our country subsequently ignored for further Rock Band releases...sigh.

Mamba

@MetalGearMax: I think it's incredibly unfair to call Europe "stupid". For one, plenty of people are not aware how much cheaper games are in other places, and the fact that only the PS3 and DS are region free limits options even for those in the know. If you're saying that we should just not buy the games to prove some sort of point, then all that will happen is that we won't get the games at all, let alone up to 9 months later.

Ladi

This is just sad.

Ive patiently waited for rock band, for some time now, as well - look at the track listing, definately better than GH3.

To be honest, ive moved back to PC gaming because of stupid things happening to Australian gamers.

Fallout 3 - Banned by OFLC for morphine, pfft.
Rock Band - Hugely overpriced + coming out AFTER Rock Band II's release in the US.

If people are willing to join me in boycotting Rock Band, it would be fantastic. i hope that people flat out refuse to purchase them, leave them to sit on the shelves gathering dust until the new guitar hero arrives!

Shame Derryn, Shame Shame Shame.

Im very very dissapointed in this, and its very likely that i will end up not buying this, only giving it a bust out at my local EB games store to find out what im missing, as i am sure none of my buddies will be picking this one up at a pricetag so hefty. Play asia is getting more of my money again :) pity i cant support local business with ridiculous people running the things that really matter for gamers!

Supreme_101

Retailers here are trying to hush up the fact that Rock Band 2 will be out when we eventually get Rock Band 1. But at least we'll have the accessories so we can import RB2.

Also, Kotaku... I decided to try my hand at your banner seeing if I can make it look like the *actual* signs many Australian Gamers have had to make.

Check it out here; [i38.tinypic.com]

Pete359

I'm still confuzzled why the software is so darn expensive. You're getting a game without it's main feature, INSTRUMENTS, and you're paying more than the usual $100-110 mark. The only game i can remember that got $120 was GTA IV. But that was worth it.

teasa94

Wow...

I imported the pack with drums/guitar/mic + game disk for 310 (inc posting). Good luck selling that to any PS3 owners idiots...

SkenZ

Fuck that l0l0l0l0l0l

ZadaClam

Here in Norway it's 2150 norwegian kroners = 437 Aussies, or $419. It really is ridiculous.

BasilGodinka