Rock Band 3 to Include In-Game Instrument & Outfit DLC?
While I was pulling together another post for later today, I stumbled across this over at Amazon.com. Apparently, if you pre-order Rock Band 3, you receive a $10 video game credit and an “in-game guitar” (see above). Not a bad deal, but this begs the question: If Amazon can give you a code to download a unique guitar as a pre-order bonus, does this mean that other in-game instruments and clothing DLC will also be a possibility?
I thought this was something long overdue in Rock Band 2, and while not everyone would take advantage of it, it would give your in-game character more options, which is rarely a bad thing. If this does come true, I wouldn’t count on weekly in-game instrument/clothing DLC, much like the song DLC; I just don’t think the demand is high enough. I mean, this is still Rock Band, not Barbie Dress-Up.
Let me hear your thoughts: Would you possibly purchase additional in-game instrument and clothing DLC?
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I would totally be game for that. I love creating custom character. Spock so far is my favorite that I have created. http://www.rockband.com/wallpaper/4444118/1
I doubt I would buy cloths for the same reason I don’t buy clothes for my XBL avatar, there are better things to spend the money on (e.g. Rock Band songs)
I have thought in the past that it would be cool to get cloths included with a track pack on the marketplace for example, if I was to buy Rust in Peace, it would come included with a Megadeth T shirt and guitar or something along those lines.
RockBandAide Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 8:55 am
That’s actually a REALLY good idea! I hope they go that route with it.
Scott Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 9:29 am
I like that ideas as well. It would give more incentive to buy a bundle than the sometimes minuscule savings over buying the singles. I also wouldn’t mind seeing the actual band members included with larger packs. Maybe the game could have an option to automatically change to the actually band members when their songs play, thus avoiding all the whining about having them sing/play someone else’s song.
I really cannot see the demand for this kind of DLC warranting the development time. I like buying the outfits for my characters, but once I start playing the actual game, I hardly notice what my character looks like.
give me a KFC bucket and I’ll buy it.
Rey Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 9:37 am
this! and a song to go along with it >.>
I would purchase in game character/instrument DLC but I really don’t expect to be paying any more than 80Msp an item or more realisticly something like 160msp+ for say the Punk Pack or the Metal Pack. I think I’d be more interested in clothing than instruments seeing as I thought the RB2 wardrobe was somewhat lacking. I assume this will include hair and make-up DLC as well so there’s gonna be a hell of a lot of money being eaten.
I’d buy DLC clothes and instruments! My avatar has long bought everything available in RB2 and has so much money saved with nothing to spend it on. I’d love to be able to buy classic instruments like a ’57 Les Paul tiger burst or a salmon pink pre-L series strat! More is definitely better. Even if you do not intend to buy it, the DLC will always be there in case you change your mind. No such thing as too much available DLC whether it’s songs, clothes or instruments!
Rey Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 9:40 am
you say you money but nothing to spend it on. Wouldn’t it be weird to buy the item with real money and then buy it again with in-game money?
I don’t know, I would prefer for it to be all free. No need to buy t-shirts and guitars when you can get one more song with the same price.
I wouldn’t buy a guitar or outfit all on its own, but if it was attatched to a song pack, it would definitely give me incentive to purchase the pack
I think this leverages the Little Big Planet concept of complete character modification. It also allows HMX another revenue stream for their models group to create new piercings, hair, clothing, etc. I know one of the major complaints in games like Guild Wars is the lack of character modification once completed.
I would buy this DLC but I also think HMX is thinking along the lines of further band releases without having to do full disk games. GD:RB could become a $40 DLC if you can get all the songs AND character modifications to make the band look like GD in RB3. The one off character mods are just gravy onto that model.
RockBandAide Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 9:19 am
Wow, you guys have GREAT comments today! I think you nailed it on the head, sir. That would be a brilliant move on their part if they did it for this reason.
MCA Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 9:25 am
It would be awesome to get signature instruments and clothing from the bands. Hope they do go this route.
I might buy a large bundle of clothing and/or gear for a reasonably small price, but I definitely wouldn’t be interested in purchasing single items for a buck.
I wouldn’t buy clothes outright, but I would be more inclined to purchase packs if I liked the music AND I got a bonus like in game items. (Like Andy said)
If I couldn’t make a character I wanted to make with the on-disc content I’d definitely consider clothing packs provided I know what’s on them. All of my characters are modeled after popular fictional characters and celebrities, I always have a very clear idea of what it should look like.
If I could see them on my character beforehand them I’m in.
Rock Band 2 Clothing Pack: 800MSP/$9.99
Download this pack and you’ll unlock all the clothing and instruments from Rock Band 2, now updated for use in Rock Band 3! Recreate your old favorites and give a wardrobe update to your new ones.
Rey Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 9:42 am
That puts a bitter taste in my mouth D:
there were ‘preorder bonuses’ for guitar hero that were actually just cheat codes you put in to unlock songs and such… i hope that is the case here, since if they are going to sell clothing and accessories as dlc, its going to make me broke!
Yeah, I pretty much wouldn’t buy clothing for my Rock Band characters, at least not with real money.
The sad thing is that if they do go this route, you know they won’t limit it to clothing and instruments. I could see hairstyles, accessories, etc. getting the DLC treatment too. I hope I’m wrong and they don’t do this, but it seems like that may be something that’s coming.
However, I really like the ideas some others here have come up with (packaging it in with packs, etc.). That I’d go for.
Downloadable clothes means the possibility of an Iron Maiden shirt for my avatar. Yes please.
I wouldn’t – it just doesn’t seem like a good use of my money (I spend too much on this series as it is).
What I’ve always wanted is to see big album/song packs come with an instrument, face or piece of clothing that is particular to the band. It would be a great incentive to buy the full pack and experience some of the ‘deep cuts’ that many people miss out on… and I imagine it would make Harmonix a little more money, too.
Alternatively, if they do plan to put the price of DLC up to pay for Pro Mode (and I think they *don’t*), then including this kind of stuff within song packs would soften the blow a bit.
Well, think about it you own a wicked instrument that is not available in the instrument section and or cannot be made, they have an instrument pack 1 for $5 and there you go, it’s a 0.5% it’s in there. I just hope they have Fender Tellys in the 3′rd Rock Band.
I think it’s a good, creative idea, but I don’t think I’d buy any. It doesn’t add nearly as much gameplay value compared to buying new songs.
I’m very ambivalent about this. I like the fact that my performance on tour in the game is what entitles me to equip and style my characters. Making the gear DLC completely undermines the value of that.
One thing I *would* like to see is the ability to upload my own graphics for tee-shirts, band logos and tattoos.
Rey Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 9:46 am
This would be pretty cool if done right.
I remember years back playing Tony Hawk Underground and putting my face in my skater and even though it looked like crap, it was kind of cool.I think Fight Night can also do something similar to this.
I would prefer if you could simply put it in game through USB, but I’m afraid that if we are given this option, we will see nothing but penises online.
I love the Rock Band 2′s editor. Almost every day I’m doing something: a new character, a new design for a t-shirt… Rock Band 2 has few clothes, so I would love to receive new clothes by download or included with some songs pack. I hope the price would not be expensive.
Here on my blog you can see a few of my works:
http://blogs.vandal.net/14804/vm/134950792009
A few months ago, with the Jimy Hendrix announcement, it said that maybe could be the possibility to download a Handrix ingame character to with him. That would be nice, i think, and maybe the band dedicated games would be not neccesary.
Are you kidding me? I’ve been wanting downloadable outfits and instruments since Rock Band 1 came out. I am so in favor of this it isnt even funny.
Definately in favour, provided the clothes and instruments come with song packs for no extra price, so for example a Queen pack would come with Brian May’s Red Special or a Wings pack would come with Paul’s Rickenbacker 4001 bass.
i wouldn’t buy it unless it came packaged with songs.
Yes, yes, yes. I have emailed and requested dlc for clothing (don’t care about guitars and the rest) many, many times! I even got an email back once telling me the request had been forwarded to the devs. I really hope this is true! We wouldn’t need anything close to a weekly update but some pack of stuff every few months or so would be great.
I’d love to see the original J5 Fender Telecaster downloadable (if it’s not already in the game).
I’m ambivalent on this as well, because I know games like The Sims 3 have a store where you can buy new clothes/hairstyles for your Sims, and I rarely spend any money there. That being said…it depends on what they come up with. If there’s a really awesome guitar or outfit released for a reasonable price, yes, I’d buy it. I’ll add my voice to those calling for inclusion of special-edition instruments/clothing/skins with big track packs, as well.
It all depends on the pricing. If it’s the same pricing as avatar clothes, than no. If it’s, say, 80 points for a pack of clothes, then that’d be reasonable.
I don’t think anyone who says new clothes are in low demand plays Rock Band enough.
I like the idea of clothes coming with DLC packs. Maybe the more expensive the pack the more extravagant the clothing. Rust in Peace given as an example, you could maybe get not only special T-Shirts and clothes, but also a Mask of the guy from the front cover of the album.
I play rock band for the music and the visual so yeah i might put out alittle more change for some clothes/instrument DLC as long as it looks good, i lopve to watch the game on performence mode
You also should think how gonna do Harmonix if they launch this kind of DLC, clothes and instruments. If I play online with a purchased DLC clothe, what about the people who has not bought anything? Will they be able to play with me if they cound’t load the new items? Maybe the best option is to offer two packs with the same items, but one of them free with 1 clothe unlocked, not with all, to do people will download all the packs.
Considering the bonus, I just swapped my Amazon Pre-Order.
I had pre-ordered the Game + Keyboard bundle, which is $130. Buying the two separately totals to $140, so I was saving myself $10. But now that the game-only listing includes a $10 credit, that makes the two an equal value (even if $10 of it is in coupon form). Add the DLC guitar and the game-only version becomes an ever so slightly better deal. So I canceled my bundle pre-order and switched to pre-ordering the two items separately.
This may just seem like a better deal to me though, since one of my characters is draped in all black and white gear, and that DLC guitar in the article picture would be PERFECT for him.
Absolutely no interest in bling for my virtual avatar here I’m afraid. Dress-up for my 360 Avatar is of little interest to me too, same for extra cars in the likes of Forza. I prefer more substantial DLC such as racing tracks or songs.
I’ve never been all that interested in dressing up my Rock Band avatar either, buying clothing and accesories purely for any Achievements that are linked to the activity. This applies throughout all the RB game family. Just don’t see the attraction so it’s clearly not something for me.
It really depends. I wouldn’t actually buy instruments or clothes for my Rock Band character, but if extras like that were included with at least the large packs and albums, it would give me more reasons to go back to the character customization section.
I honestly think it’s a terrible idea. I don’t want to spend real money on a fake guitar I might be able to catch a glance at with my peripheral vision. What happens when you go online with clothes no one else has?
I don’t like the idea of adding them to DLC packs either? What if you buy a few songs then decide to get the rest later? Isn’t the thruppence you’ll save by buying in bulk enough of an incentive?
David Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 12:15 am
I also don’t like using question marks at the end of statements?