14 DAY TRIAL // For some time, Harmonix and MTV Games have affirmed that The Beatles Rock Band will be offered in a bundle with instruments that will cost 250 dollars when it is launched on September 9.
The companies probably took a look around, saw the economic problems, which have eaten into the available income that players can spend on games, and decided that they needed to offer a cheaper version of the title for those who might be dissuaded by the high price tag.
And now product listing from big retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and Wal-Mart are showing a Special Value Edition of The Beatles Rock Band, which apparently has a suggested retail price of 160 dollars but can be found for as little as 140.
It seems that the newly uncovered Special Value Edition will be shipping with a copy of The Beatles Rock band, a standard guitar, a drum set, one microphone, one USB hub and one guitar strap, which is the minimum you need to begin enjoying the game.
Of course, the Limited Edition of the game, which will set buyers back 250 dollars, includes a Beatles-labeled drum kit, a Hoffner bass controller, a microphone stand and a chance to get more game content, which probably means free access to the first of the downloadable content that Harmonix will be offering for the videogame. The Beatles Rock Band is set to face tough competition from Guitar Hero 5, which Activision plans to release on September 1.
The two games will battle for the crucial Christmas shopping season and will probably change the fortunes of the music segment, which have faltered lately. The Beatles might have the bigger impact of the two, mainly because of the name recognition of the featured band and because of the endorsements of Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.