Rock Band instruments pursuing solo careers February 12th

In a bit of shocking news today, two members of the Rock Band instruments set (drums, guitar) have declared that come February 12th, they're going solo. Citing "creative differences," and the original bundled guitar's inability to "clean up its act," the two solo pieces will be on their own and available for $79.99 and $59.99, respectively. This should come as good tidings for players who've had trouble getting a bass into the mix (PlayStation 3 gamers), or those who've wanted to rock the drum vs. drum match-ups. No word on whether the microphone will join the fray and walk out on the trio, though rumor has it a number of labels are ready with offers.

[Brad @ Jan 25th 2008 12:10PM]

As a shareholder of Activision, I'm absolutely livid that the GH3 group refused to allow PS3 GH3 guitars to be used in Rock Band. Activision had the opportunity to set up a temporary monopoly and just rake in the cash. Now the window for that opportunity has all but closed.

Fools.

[matt @ Jan 25th 2008 12:18PM]

this was a weak post

[Peter @ Jan 25th 2008 12:19PM]

I'm wondering how those drum sticks are staying in place.

[Neebs @ Jan 25th 2008 12:31PM]

They balance on there like that. Until my friend discovered (e.g., I showed him) where the stick were supposed to go, he had them like that.

[Dan @ Jan 25th 2008 12:22PM]

And a poorly written post too:

"Citing "creative differences," and the original bundled guitar's inability to "clean up its act," the two solo pieces will be on their own and available for $79.99 and $59.99, respectively"

Which two pieces? I gather it's the drums and the guitar, but for a publication that has an "editor-in-chief" sheesh!

[Kurian @ Jan 25th 2008 12:47PM]

You obviously know nothing about Pink Floyd.

Those are quotes by Roger Waters himself when the band split up after the Waters-Gilmour war.

[Insight @ Jan 25th 2008 12:49PM]

'No word on whether the microphone will join the fray'......

[gfar @ Jan 25th 2008 12:49PM]

"...two members of the Rock Band instruments set (drums, guitar) have declared..."

Those two you douche bag; go critique a poem if you want to flex your grammar skills.

[Kurian @ Jan 25th 2008 12:50PM]

*Correction* IIRC it was when they interviewed Waters after the Live 8 concert, where they asked him whether Pink Floyd would regroup.

[Dan @ Jan 25th 2008 1:11PM]

@Kurian

I do know Pink Floyd and was not making refernce to that. I was actually making reference to...

@Insight

Right, it says that at the end, but man, I shouldn't have to read to the end of the article to find out they're referncing the drums and guitar and then have to surmise that the drums were more expensive because...

@gfar

The original post didn't list the drums and guitar in parantheticals, it just said 'two members of the set have declared.' Douchebag.

[Jason Adams @ Jan 25th 2008 1:24PM]

Sweet post...creativity at its best. I wish I could get some rockband for my wii!?!

[JerkyChew @ Jan 25th 2008 12:54PM]

No mention of the individual pieces coming with a copy of the game?

[Josh* @ Jan 25th 2008 1:09PM]

What, like... Rock Band + Microphone, Rock Band + Guitar and Rock Band + Drums? That'd be a waste. The game is sold standlone, from there it's up to you.

What's more pressing is the question WHEN THE **** IS THIS COMING TO THE UK???

[Jon Acheson @ Jan 25th 2008 1:04PM]

Considering the number of incoming third party Guitar Hero/Rock Band guitars at CES, Harmonix pretty much had to do this or lose out on a lot of sales.

Though, given that the Rock Band guitar is known to have problems, I suspect a lot of people will go third party any way.

[martha stewart @ Jan 25th 2008 1:17PM]

not surprisingly, son of drumset will sit in for his dad with the band on their upcoming summer tour. sadly, these will be the first concerts performed since the death of slide guitar in a motorcycle crash in october and the tragic drowning of blues harp early last year. their manager, ugly chunk of crap lumber not even good enough to be an esteban acoustic, was not available for comment.

[GreezyG @ Jan 25th 2008 1:21PM]

I really wish they would sell the bass drum pedal seperatley. Ours has already broken after only 2 weeks of use. There is very little plastic under the orange plastic and it snapped right there.

[senorbelly @ Jan 25th 2008 1:27PM]

I wonder if the standalone drums will be any quieter.

[Dan Davis @ Jan 25th 2008 1:49PM]

I went to newegg and bought 4 cheap ($1.99 ea.) black mouse pads. I then took a coffee can and cut out 4 circles out of them. I put those suckas on my drums with a little two-sided tape and now I can pound away without having to crank up the stereo to hear the game! BTW -- not an original idea, I stole it from a joystiq post.

[LegendZ28 @ Jan 25th 2008 8:21PM]

I think a lot of people might be surprised by the fact that you don't really have to hit the pads that hard for it to register. Plus the game is meant to be played loud anyway! It's Rock Band not Classical Orchestra.

[nojak @ Jan 25th 2008 1:32PM]

So, does this mean they're going to stop selling the entire set (Special Edition) of Rock Band?

[Welly @ Jan 25th 2008 3:41PM]

Doubt it

[tylerdille @ Jan 25th 2008 2:00PM]

Activision just lost $59.99 to Harmonix from me. Well played Activision!

[ChadC @ Jan 25th 2008 1:52PM]

Best Buy has the microphone for sale individually already. And it says it is compatible with the PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii version. Should tell you something...

[umm....hello??? @ Jan 25th 2008 2:32PM]

yeah, I was just at BestBuy this morning and they had 2 different microphones, one was for RockBand, the other was a USB microphone (offbrand) that was made for use with RockBand as well. The replacement guitar and drums are the ones that will be most needed though, unless you bought RockBand as a disc only.

[Tom Boucher @ Jan 25th 2008 2:57PM]

yeah, tells me best buy is full of crap like always and just hopes people that know nothing about rock band buy the accessory for their kid who doesn't have a 360

[tylerdille @ Jan 25th 2008 2:02PM]

Gaming Today has a bit more info. Apparently only the drums will be available on Feb 12th. Guitars are still awhile away:

"Harmonix, MTV Games, and EA have announced that standalone peripherals for the hit music game, RockBand, are indeed coming to store shelves soon. A Drum Kit, priced at $79.99, will arrive first on February 12. Later, on April 1st, a Fender Stratocaster Guitar Controller will become available for $59.99. Unfortunately, this means PS3 owners still have to wait a little over two months before they can assembly a full band without dropping another $170 on a second RockBand bundle just for the extra guitar. "

Link:
http://news.filefront.com/standalone-peripherals-for-rockband-on-the-way/

[Ray @ Jan 25th 2008 2:38PM]

Bill & Ted taught me that February 12th was Lincoln's birthday. This will be his 99th.

[The Angry Intern @ Jan 25th 2008 3:14PM]

ummmm.....try again. how about 199th?

[Tom Boucher @ Jan 25th 2008 2:55PM]

any idea on Guitar Hero for the Wii getting extra guitars? Sucks to play solo.

[Andy M @ Jan 25th 2008 4:17PM]

unless things have changed, the other BIG oversight here is that the $59 price for the guitar doesn't apply to the Xbox version. Based on previous communications, that sku will be $79 due to the whole M$ proprietary wireless craaaaaaap.

[D!e(go) @ Feb 5th 2008 2:08PM]

bahaha! this is my most favorite engadget post ever! Great article josh, i still bust a gut every time i read this one :.D

[brodyH23 @ Feb 6th 2008 9:15PM]

...Or you could get a real set from these guys and really drive your girlfriend nuts! www.myspace.com/dixondrums