Unofficial Rock Band 3 Price Round-Up

[HessianSack]

This is a summary into my investigations for the XBOX 360 version of Rock Band 3.  Prices tend to be consistent across the platforms, although the Wii software is occasionally cheaper.

Mods, feel free to steal this as the starting point for an official round-up.

DISC ONLY  (Prices exclude postage unless noted)
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Game.com.au (online only)  - $84 with free postage  -  http://www.game.com.au/rock-band-3-game-only/xbox-360/EAJ0760765
Game (in store) - quoted $99.95 via phone
EB Games  (online)  -  $98 -  http://www.ebgames.com.au/xbox360-150838-Rock-Band-3-Standalone-Xbox-360
EB Games  (in store) - quoted $99.95 in store
JB Hi-Fi  (online)  - $89  -  http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/game/ps3/rock-band-3/537225
JB Hi-Fi  (in store)  - when I rang about a week ago, I was told it was in the system as about $95, but there could be a special on launch

Additionally, I have been told that the game is not featured in the Kmart catalogue starting Thursday.

Game.co.uk  - ?39.99 (approx $65) -  http://www.game.co.uk/Accessories/Xbox-360/Music-Band/Rock-Band-3/~r349722/?s=rock+band+3
DVD
DVD.co.uk - ?39.95 + ?1.29 postage (approx $67) - http://www.dvd.co.uk/buy/catrb3360/rock-band-3-xbox-360.htm?sr=sa
Zavvi.com (UK) - ?39.95
Ozgameshop.com - $64.99 (free postage) - http://www.ozgameshop.com/xbox-360-games/rock-band-3-solus-game-xbox-360
HMV.com (UK) - 39.99 GBP - pre-order comes with 3 free DLC tracks - http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;0;-1;-1;-1&sku=658816

Note that the UK release date of RB3 is a week later, meaning you will almost certainly not have the game in time to receive the Doors DLC that is free for the first week only.  Ozgameshop posts from abroad and is also slated to have the game later than Australian retailers.

UPDATE - Parabol suggests buying from EB or GAME and using their 7 day returns policies to play/download DLC while you wait for the post.

I can confirm that UK copies of RB2 worked perfectly fine with Australian XBL accounts and DLC, but am unsure of the situation for this new game and for other consoles.


INSTRUMENTS (AU)
----------------------
Both GAME and JB Hi-Fi have told me that they will not be stocking instruments.

EB in store have quoted me the same prices as their website, being:

Keyboard - $138  - http://www.ebgames.com.au/xbox360-150972-Rock-Band-3-Wireless-Keyboard-Xbox-360
Drums - $288 - http://www.ebgames.com.au/xbox360-151798-Wireless-Rock-Band-3-Drum-Set-Xbox-360
Midi Adapter - $68 - http://www.ebgames.com.au/xbox360-151800-Rock-Band-3-MIDI-PRO-Adapter-Xbox-360
Mustang Guitar  - $288 - http://www.ebgames.com.au/xbox360-151806-Rock-Band-3-Wireless-Fender-Mustang-PRO-Guitar-Controller-Xbox-360

EB employees in store have made comments that tend to indicate that stores will be getting minimal stock (if any) of the instruments, but they should be able to order them in for people.

Also keep in mind that for non-PRO and non-keyboard modes, most Guitar Hero and previous RB instruments should work.  See http://www.rockband.com/compatibility

INSTRUMENTS (International)
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With the dollar effectively equal to the greenback, the US RRPs for the instruments are relevant:
Keyboard - $80
Drums - $130
Midi Adapter - $30
Mustang Guitar - $149

Amazon.com carries all instruments at standard RRPs, although they will not ship some of the items to Australia.  I have ordered a keyboard from Amazon.com for $80 + $25 shipping.

Amazon.co.uk carries instruments at the following prices (seemingly RRPs), but refuses to ship some (all?) of the items to Australia.  These prices include VAT, which would be taken off for international orders.
Keyboard - ?69.99  (approx $113)
Mustang Guitar - ?124.99  (approx $202)
Drums - ?99.99 (approx $161)

Zavvi.com have the following, seemingly with ?2.49 per item postage:
Game + Keyboard - ?104.95  (approx $170)
Keyboard - ?64.95  (approx $105)
Mustang Guitar - ?119.95  (approx $194)

DVD.co.uk have Drums for ?119.99, with a ?99.99 shipping surcharge to Australia.


SQUIER PRO GUITAR
------------------------
This guitar is to be made and released by Fender.  As such, Harmonix and Mad Catz have no control over pricing and release dates.

A certain release date and price is yet to be set.  Estimates of early 2011 are probably realistic.  John Drake from Harmonix has repeatedly said that it will certainly cost more than a regular Squier Stratocaster.  These cost around $180 AUD - http://www.billyhydemusic.com.au/shop/view/436/fender-squier-electric-guitar-bullet-stratocaster/


MY DECISIONS
-----------------------------------
I have placed a pre-order for the Disc with EB Games, and have traded a few games to bring the cost down.  I remain hopeful that someone (JB/Big W) will have it for $80 on launch, so I can price match that.

I have also ordered a Keyboard from Amazon.com at a total cost of around $105 including shipping.  They estimate it should arrive by November 3.

I will wait and see on Pro Guitars.



EDIT: Added ozgameshop

EDIT 2: Added suggestions by Parabol.

[Retrojunkie]

Very handy post. thanks.

 I've been linked a thread on the official RB band forum mentioning instruments. I haven't read it yet but it's probably a more thorough discussion then we'd ever get here.

http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200001
"Rock Band 3 Peripherals Australia"

[HessianSack]

No worries Retrojunkie.

Flicking quickly through that thread, the key take-aways appear to be:
  - release date confusion - some retailers are reporting 21st, others 28th; and
  - Barnes and Noble is also another source of instruments from the US at US RRPs.

[HessianSack]

http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/paypal_cashback.htm

10% cashback from JB online makes their price around $80

[Parabol]

If you're up for waiting, HMV uk has the 3 exclusive DLC songs that Gamestop US have. (Deftones, Talking Heads and New Order)

http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;0;-1;-1;-1&sku=658816

Also, if you're worried about the Doors DLC, you could take advantage of EB and Game's 7 Day full refund policy.

[HessianSack]

If you're up for waiting, HMV uk has the 3 exclusive DLC songs that Gamestop US have. (Deftones, Talking Heads and New Order)

http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;0;-1;-1;-1&sku=658816

Also, if you're worried about the Doors DLC, you could take advantage of EB and Game's 7 Day full refund policy.

Wow that's a pretty good deal - cheaper than AU and free songs - and then combining it with EB returns so you don't have to wait. 

If it weren't for the EB trade credit I've built up just for RB3 I'd likely do this.  Super thinking Parabol.

[Retrojunkie]

Wouldn't trading the game back in void the next person from being able to get the free doors tracks?
Hypothetically speaking, if it was re-sold in time....

[HessianSack]

Depends how they do it. It could even be that you don't need a copy of the game to get the free songs - just do it via XBOX marketplace or something

[HessianSack]

GAMEAus just tweeted that RB3 is now Oct 28

[mjd]

You've done some great research there.  Thanks very much.  Still not really sure what I'll be doing yet though.

[pure_evil_kid]

Anyone got a recommendation of the cheapest place to buy a 'Pro Mode' Ion Drum Rocker for the PS3?

[Parabol]

Wouldn't trading the game back in void the next person from being able to get the free doors tracks?
Hypothetically speaking, if it was re-sold in time....

From what I can tell the doors tracks are only free for the first week of release, and only available through the ingame store, so I imagine it doesn't require a code at all.

[GreenLego]

It looks like EB Games no longer list the midi adaptor on their website?  I have a digital piano with midi out which I intend to use with the midi adaptor, and Amazon won't ship it here

[HessianSack]

I noticed that on Amazon. I'm sure somewhere might - Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, etc could be worth a try

Game is starting to appear in stores. I bought it today from EB Games CityCross Adelaide

[GreenLego]

Yeah, I saw the game at EB Games in Brisbane CBD, I asked about the midi adaptor and the staff had no clue.