Rock Band Wii 'Special Edition' on June 22, $170

99 Comments by James Ransom-Wiley Mar 24th 2008 2:14PM
Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Rhythm

Harmonix confirmed today that Rock Band for Wii will be released on June 22nd for $169.99. The so-called "Special Edition" bundle will include the game, drums, microphone and a wireless guitar. Standalone instruments will also be available for purchase on June 22nd. The Wii edition will feature 63 songs, including five unspecified "bonus" songs. We've asked Harmonix to answer some of your more burning questions -- we'll update this post when they do.

Update: Check out Harmonix's answers to some of your most pressing questions ... also, first image of Wii drum kit!

Tags: breakingnews, ea, harmonix, mtv, music, pi-studios, rock-band, rock-band-wii, waggle-rock

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Jeff: Mar 24th 2008; 2:17PM

If this version is decent I will buy a Wii.

But I'd bet anyone a dollar right now that it will be a port of the ps2 version, and that it will suck compared to the versions actually on current-gen systems.

And the online will be gimped.

FOXHOUND: Mar 24th 2008; 3:03PM

I'd purchase... but let's face it, even if it did have an online DL-service, it won't be nearly as good as the other two consoles. And I won't even hold my breath for online multiplayer.

jsn: Mar 24th 2008; 3:35PM

They've already said on the RB forums that it will be pretty much the same as the PS2 version, ie, crippled. They're doing the best they can all things considered though.

Ghen: Mar 24th 2008; 4:48PM

I've played GH3 on PS2 and Wii and can safely say the Wii has at least double the power available to developers as seen through resolution and loading time differences.

Porting a crippled PS2 game is just a sign of laziness. The Wii's online capabilities are lacking sure in terms of FINDING friends... but once you have them it works just the same as any other current console.

ME: Apr 19th 2008; 4:45PM

I think the online DL would be awesome on the Wii because The Wii is already set for online downloads
(Wii Shop Channel)

only thing is i dont think anyone knows if there will be downloadable content

Shagittarius: Mar 24th 2008; 2:17PM

What? You mean your not gonna be drumming with the Wiimote and nunchuck and working the kick drum with your Wii fit board?

Luke: Mar 25th 2008; 11:00PM

lol

ME: Apr 19th 2008; 4:44PM

lol if u want to break your wiimote useing it as a drum stick go for it

Travis: Mar 24th 2008; 2:18PM

why bother?

dark_inchworm: Mar 24th 2008; 2:18PM

Good on ya for regular DLC, bad on ya for untimely releases on systems that aren't North American 360s or PS3s.

At least they finally confirmed this much...

Co: Mar 24th 2008; 2:18PM

And just like GH3, it will outsell the other two versions. With the headstart!

Mills and Boom: Mar 24th 2008; 3:10PM

Yup.

It's quite odd this generation. There's a clear winner but the other fans refuse to acknowledge that. Ho hum! It'll probably sell more again yes.

Nigeria: Cody ChesnuTT Defense Force: Mar 24th 2008; 3:24PM

The clear winner: DS.

John McPoop: Mar 24th 2008; 3:47PM

Yeah and just like GH it will be gimped... Hooray for another gimped Wii version... Showing everyone that the Wii is indeed 2 game cubes duct taped together with a waggle controller...

I am kidding of course... The only use my Wii gets is games from Nintendo or Capcom ports...

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force): Mar 24th 2008; 3:53PM

But can you be a winner and a loser at the same time?

tmacairjordan87: Mar 24th 2008; 3:55PM

Mills and Boom:

there are many more stupid people than smart people in this world, hence when you advertise and design gimped things for idiots it will naturally sell more.

It can sell 4x as many on wii then 360 and ps3, but the smart ones will be happy playing a non gimped version with working online on a superior GAMING machine.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School): Mar 24th 2008; 4:05PM

Barring a software bug, how is GH3 on wii gimped? I mean, its not like there's any DLC worth having on it.

And unlike PS360 versions, it has rumble and a built in speaker in its guitar. And its cheaper.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force): Mar 24th 2008; 4:41PM

Crono, I hate to say it but....

rumble and speaker in the guitar as an advantage over the other versions? Well, all you had to sacrifice was stereo sound, online gameplay, and the "promise" of DLC. Okay, the DLC isn't so much an issue. Like the song roster in GHIII, the DLC proves neither Activision or Neversoft have dick all worth a clue on how to treat the franchise but I digress.

Speaker I can see how it could be cool if the speakers were somewhere above the quality of holiday noisemakers, but rumble? And here's the kicker, all of those "features" are built in. All Red Octane did was create the shell for the technology.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School): Mar 24th 2008; 5:06PM

Sheppy, I respectfully disagree. The differences are minor (as online play is in both version, and DLC sucks for both), and the mono sound was a bug that has since been fixed. GHWii is hardly gimped.

License to ill: Mar 24th 2008; 5:12PM

To bad GH3 on wii hasn't outsold either ps2 or 360 version, but yahhhhh on your victory over the PS3 version...

BPM X: Soul Eraser [SSBB: 5026 4120 1186]: Mar 24th 2008; 5:53PM

License to ill:
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/january-npd-ps3-and-ps2-top-360-everyone-down-for-the-month/
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/13/february-npd-industry-sales-hit-1-33b-xbox-360-still-trailing/
At least for the last two months, the Wii version has been the best selling version of GH3. GH3 Wii wasn't doing too well in November and December, due to unusually low supplies. Total sales aren't known, either, but this seems to be a good indicator that the Wii version is doing quite well.

Slayer: Mar 24th 2008; 6:00PM

Wait, the wii's version of GH3 has rumble? That doesn't make any sense. When did guitars ever rumble?

Mills and Boom: Mar 24th 2008; 7:15PM

oh "GAMING" machine.

What with Galaxy and TP being the highest rated games of this gen (Galaxy almost at the all time highest, damn OoT!). Yea for a superior GAMING (SONY SHOUTING IN ACTION) action I know what system I want!

License to ill: Mar 24th 2008; 8:35PM

@bpm

Use the same source it shows wii version at 2 mil, 360 version at 2.5 mil and PS2 version at 3.59 mil. Gee just like I said overall its third. 360 version also has the competition of rockband unlike wii which only has GH3 at this time...

xFenixKnightx: Mar 24th 2008; 2:19PM

Its gonna sell like crazy on Wii!!

PS

Joystiq...you FAIL today!!!

>:(

xeleion: Mar 24th 2008; 2:20PM

Is there going to be any DLC for the Wii version?

Eric: Mar 24th 2008; 2:21PM

Sweet Good for wii owners wonder how they will handle dlc

DMessenger: Mar 24th 2008; 2:21PM

For god sake, when is this damn game comming out in europe? I bet it's AFTER this.

gb: Mar 24th 2008; 4:26PM

You get Mario Kart Wii 2 weeks before NA. This means you can no longer complain about Europe release dates. Ever. :)

Gun Barrier: Mar 24th 2008; 2:22PM

will it haveonline and have wireless instruments?

Andrew: May 9th 2008; 5:41PM

NO! IT WILL NOT HAVE WIRELESS OR ONLINE!

jeff: May 19th 2008; 8:29PM

just to clarify and correct that idiot that replied to you it does have a wireless guitar and internet play.

PojoMofo: Mar 24th 2008; 2:23PM

I wonder how DLC will work??

jsn: Mar 24th 2008; 3:43PM

unless something unexpected happens, it won't. At least at launch.

Fernando Rocker: Mar 24th 2008; 2:24PM

If Guitar Hero III is an indicative, Rock Band Wii version will sell millions of units.

Hopefully they don't screw the sound.

License to ill: Mar 24th 2008; 8:46PM

At $170 I doubt it..

Ordeith: Mar 24th 2008; 2:33PM

.... and no DLC

WiNG: Mar 24th 2008; 2:34PM

Any word on DLC/WiiWare?

My guess is Nintendon't.

Kizzle: Mar 24th 2008; 2:35PM

No DLC = no better than the PS2 version.

kip (SSBB:1805-1984-4852): Mar 24th 2008; 2:37PM

What about DLC?

deaftly (Brawl - 1075-0467-4222): Mar 24th 2008; 2:37PM

Now featuring songs in stereo!

MarkHawk: Mar 24th 2008; 3:20PM

ROFL :D

loof: Mar 24th 2008; 2:39PM

It's a bit late. I already bought a 360 for Rock Band.

Fernando Rocker: Mar 24th 2008; 2:39PM

*This was a reply to the guy saying that the Wii version will not sell (hopefully the comment will be displayed... Joystiq, theres a bug in the comments, I can see some comments, then the comments dissapear.)

-Guitar Hero III Wii is in 2m.
-Guitar Hero III 360 is in 2.5m.
-PS3 version is in 1m.
-PS2 version is in 3.5.

But, the difference is, 360 and PS2 owners have the chance to buy only the game. Wii and PS3 owners need to buy the full bundle.

This type of game appeal both hardcore and casual gamers. Rock Band Wii will sell millions, easily more than the PS3 version.