April 11th, 2008
Harmonix will not lower Rock Band price
In a post on the Rock Band forums product development manager Greg LoPiccolo has commented that Rock Band is “not magically going to get cheaper because you wish it to be so.” He goes on to say “We’re not making a killing on Rock Band in Europe. We are incredibly sensitive to pricing issues. We are painfully aware that the higher the price we charge, the less copies we’ll sell.”
Further on in forum post LoPiccolo declined to reveal cost structure details - “That would probably get me fired, and rightly so.” However, she did comment about shipping costs by saying “Seriously, I was shocked to learn how much it costs us to ship an RB peripherals box to Europe. It’s way more than you’d expect.”
“We’re not gouging you, primarily because doing so doesn’t serve our interests,” he goes on. “We can only build our franchise if you buy our games. You may conclude that Rock Band isn’t worth the price charged, and that is your prerogative. But it’s not magically going to get cheaper because you wish it to be so”
Don’t believe him? Well you could always go to their fourm and complain, or maybe email Watchdog, and try and get this issue some time on TV. Also, if you are from Ireland then contact the magical Joe Duffy, he will fix it instantly!
Nexus
April 11th, 2008
Bastards. Nothing more to be said.
Floodland
April 11th, 2008
Way to be civil. It’s good to know that the people screwing you in the pocket are such sensitive souls.
Halbarad
April 12th, 2008
They’re being honest at least. How are they bastards or anything?
Companies are there to make profits, and if they dont then we dont get any future games out of them.
Floodland
April 12th, 2008
Agreed on the honesty, but there’s no need to be so sodding blunt about it.
Anyway, shush, Hal. I know who you are
Monkey Rimmer
April 14th, 2008
A few things:
“We’re not making a killing on Rock Band in Europe” - BLX! We’re expected to pay nearly 150% more in Europe than the USA!
“We can only build our franchise if you buy our games” - Exactly, and at this rate you won’t be selling many!
“You may conclude that Rock Band isn’t worth the price charged” - DAMN RIGHT! I’d sooner buy yet another 360 in the event of failure than spend THAT much on a GAME!
IF I do end up buying this, I’ll wait till it’s dropped so much in price, that I’ll pay less than the USA. I’m sick of being seen as the Piggy Bank for bloated American companies! That IS my prerogative!
Ben
April 14th, 2008
As with most companies, if they can get away with overcharging people they will. Supply and demand. If people don’t like the price, don’t buy it - then those who set the price will get burned.