DigitalBattle.com

Do you want to know how not to handle the launch of a game? Simply refer to EA’s Rock Band “launch” in Canada to get a good idea. Originally scheduled to hit beside the American release of November 17th, we suffered through a month long delay. That’s acceptable, supply was short and in order to supply America with those extra few SKU’s, it was a sound business decision.

But then, a few days before the launch date, it was again pushed back until the 20th. Well let me just tell you, things are not going as planned. Most retailers do no yet have the Rock Band Special Edition (ie. the one with the instruments) in stock, and seem unsure whether they will be receiving December 24th or after Christmas. Furthermore supplies were cut, so unless you were an early pre-order, you may very well not be rocking until the New Year, if ever.

To add insult to injury, Rock Band the game is in steady supply, at least at my local retailer. But how, may I ask, are you going to play a game without the instruments? Sure, 360 owners at least can use their guitar from Guitar Hero, but PS3 consumers are left quite in the dust with the current situation. I can’t imagine some poor consumer picking up a copy of Rock Band for the PS3, only to be rudely awakened when they realize they can’t play the thing, and have to purchase the special edition winding up with two copies of the game.

That’s what I call a nightmare of a launch. At this rate, if we ever see Rock Band in Canada, I’m expecting to receive a non-functioning guitar just to really sting that wound. As much as Acitivision is coming off as the bad guy in the guitar compatibility issue, the problems with EA are causing us seem to be worse.