Harmonix, EA sued for flimsy Rock Band kick pedal
Some of Joystiq's heavier-footed staffers have experienced the heartbreak that comes from snapping the original Rock Band kick pedal in the midst of a feverish playthough of Paramore's "That's What You Get" er, Judas Priest's "Painkiller". However, we never thought to take the bold course of action currently being followed by one Monte Morgan, who recently filed a class-action suit against Harmonix, MTV Networks (as well as parent company Viacom), and Electronic Arts for producing and distributing such an easily busted bass drum beater.
Morgan claims that the pedal "fractures under ordinary and expected usage," keeping potential faux-drummers from playing Rock Band "in the manner marketed and advertised." He also cites Harmonix and MTV Games for selling the original kit with knowledge of the pedal's fragility -- evidenced, he claims, by the metal-reinforced pedal included in Rock Band 2. His case calls for reimbursement of the purchase price of the Rock Band drum kit, and for the title's publishers to stop selling the brittle peripheral. We suggest another settlement -- just include a free dab of Rock Jam in every bundle. Everybody wins!
