Rock Band Pricing

To:  Electronic Arts

We, the Undersigned, believe that the pricing of Electronic Arts' video game Rock Band for the Xbox 360 in European Union territories is too highly priced in comparison to the pricing in North America.

We believe this is a deliberate and calculated abuse of the region-locking the Xbox 360 console employs, so as to be able to charge higher prices to Europeans while excluding them from the ability to import the game from the United States (which, we might add, would be significantly cheaper).

While we do of course accept the current economic situation of the weak US dollar to the British pound and the Euro, we believe it unjustified to be charging an amount in the UK (when converted) which is over double (2.25x approx.) the price in the United States. Import tax and freight of these goods to the United Kingdom surely would add no more than 25% to the original price?

Were the price to be cheaper, there would be a significantly greater number of possible consumers, and furthermore, more consumers who would be willing to purchase DLC (downloadable content). This is a fine game, and the hard work Harmonix have clearly put into it makes it all the more desirable for us, but at the combined cost of £180, we will refuse to buy this game unless either:

1. A sound justification as to the ridiculous price increase is given, including figures (not a simple "It costs more"), or;
2.The price is reduced to the point where to be able to buy the three controllers and game costs £100, or thereabouts, in either a single package or separately.

Our friends across the pond love this game, and having had to wait for so long, and then having to suffer this price burden is quite simply intolerable.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Rock Band Pricing Petition to Electronic Arts was created by and written by Tom Catterall (tom.catterall@googlemail.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.