For Those About to Rock: AC/DC Mega Pack for Rock Band

[DoctorFinger]

http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/picture.php?albumid=1&pictureid=7


Fans of the seminal metal group AC/DC (imagine that slash is a lightning bolt, ok) are going to be dancing in the streets with this one. AC/DC are coming to Rock Band.

This November 2nd will see the release of the AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack, a set of 18 live tracks taken straight from the band's Live at Donnington DVD.

But there's a twist here. It seems that the songs won't be available as DLC, instead you'll have to buy the physical disc, which will only be available at Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and Walmart.com. The disc will function as a standalone game, but owners of either the original Rock Band or Rock Band 2 will be able to enter a code and download the songs to their harddrive on the 360 and PS3 (sorry Wii owners!). The disc will also sell for a robust $40.

This seems to be a shot across the bow of Guitar Hero's band specific releases, but it may not be that successful. It seems like an awful lot of money to shell out for 18 tracks. Making it a Wal-Mart exclusive - apparently AC/DC has a deal to sell all of their new products only at Wal-Mart - will also alienate some gamers. And frankly, will Rock Band fans, used to buying songs at the click of a button, really embrace having to buy it as physical media?

Sources - Edge-Online (http://www.edge-online.com/news/acdc-rock-band-pack-tnt); Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/nyt-rock-band-getting-wal-mart-exclusive-ac-dc-expansion/).

[TrackZero]

I'm so torn on this. For one, the price point is fine for 18 tracks. That's a non-issue. But I'm not keen on going to Wal-Mart at the same time. I like the idea for the model, but perhaps they shouldn't have began with this case where it's exclusive to a specific chain.

[Sl1pstream]

What about us Europeans? We don't have any of those stores? Will we just be able to buy it in any store?

Also, 40 euro? That's 55 dollars. :(

[Troggles]

40 dollars for 18 tracks is a fair price? I believe there are far more tracks than that in RB1/2 and they only cost 60 each.

[Sandman]

I don't mind going to Wal-Mart....my only problem is will this be a separate item or is it force bundled with the DVD? This would be one case where I'd want the promo item.

[Mot Wakorb]

The problem I have is $40 for the damn thing. 16 songs for that much? Song track packs for DLC were so much cheaper.

[mister slim]

Blood Sugar Sex Magik is 16 tracks for $20, which I thought was a generous price. AC/DC is too much, I'll just wait for a price drop.

[Nameless]

Releasing at Wal-Mart will alienate gamers? Are there really that many people who refuse to shop at Wal-Mart on principle? I think that's most likely to keep gamers away is the $40 for 18 songs, which is more than the $2/song that is standard with DLC. They'd have to be some pretty killer tunes.

[pomeroy]

As I said on Co-Optimus, let me piece together the songs that I want through DLC.

Also, I'm sad there's no "If You Want Blood"

[Banacek]

I don't play Rock Band, but seeing that AC/DC is the greatest rock band ever everyone should go out and buy this.

[Wolvie]

I am so conflicted on this. On one hand AC/DC IS the greatest rock band ever. But on the other, I'd be paying $30 for 18 songs I can get for around $13 in the CD section of Wal-mart.
But yet, I want to play these songs as I am a huge AC/DC fan, and you can export them to your RB2 setlist. I must confer with the wife to see if she wants this as much as me.

[LarsenNET]

I hope this doesn't become standard. I will buy it because I love AC/DC and this is pretty much a greatest hits. I don't see me buying many more.

[Mashidar]

Funny thing is that I heard about this last week from another and wrote off this idea thinking that I had yet to hear about an AC/DC Guitar Hero disc so it didn't exist. Yet here it is, and it makes sense because of Wal-mart's AC/DC Promotion they have going on with an exclusive album being released October 20th, as well as all the clothing and other promotions related to AC/DC going on.

Although it's a Rock Band disc and not a Guitar Hero disc like the folks were talking about the other day at work.

[Suave Peanut]

Like I've said previously, if the $40 price includes the new album or the live DVD, then that makes the sale far more justifiable.

Of course, I'm a Rock Band whore and will buy it regardless.

[Variable Gear]

I am so conflicted on this. On one hand AC/DC IS the greatest rock band ever. But on the other, I'd be paying $30 for 18 songs I can get for around $13 in the CD section of Wal-mart.
But yet, I want to play these songs as I am a huge AC/DC fan, and you can export them to your RB2 setlist. I must confer with the wife to see if she wants this as much as me.
Just export the tracks and trade the disc in at GameStop. Problem solved.

[Wilkz07]

Yeah, $40 is too expensive for essentially a cd. I didn't recognize all of the latest RHCP tracks so I just downloaded Under the Bridge. On the AC/DC list there are only 5 that I would want and $40 + going to wal-mart aren't in the cards.

This is probably one of the worst things Harmonix could have done to screw gamers. Sure there will be your die-hards who will line up at wal-mart to buy it but gamers who download a few songs from the list miss out.

[LarsenNET]

Just export the tracks and trade the disc in at GameStop. Problem solved.

The code (I wonder if it gets tied to the gamertag?) can only be used once so I doubt they will give much of anything and if your HDD dies you will need the disc again.

[Suave Peanut]

This is probably one of the worst things Harmonix could have done to screw gamers. Sure there will be your die-hards who will line up at wal-mart to buy it but gamers who download a few songs from the list miss out.
I don't see this as Harmonix trying to screw gamers, but rather AC/DC trying to screw their fans.

Harmonix is just accomplice to it.

[Sl1pstream]

I don't see this as Harmonix trying to screw gamers, but rather AC/DC trying to screw their fans.

Harmonix is just accomplice to it.

They probably got an offer to make it exclusive. It's either them or Guitar Hero. Why not take it?

I'm probably not going to buy this at 30 EUR though. I like AC/DC, but I also like my money.

[LarsenNET]

They probably got an offer to make it exclusive.

No doubt, but the "exclusive" is with Wal-Mart. All of their new content (DVD's, CD's, etc) is only sold at Wal-Mart and for digital I think it's still a Verizon exclusive so no iTunes.

Dump a truck load of cash at their door and make us work to get the content.