Mad Catz to Produce Licensed Rock Band Instruments

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Peripheral maker Mad Catz has acquired the license to manufacture standalone instruments for Harmonix's Rock Band (PS2, PS3, X360).

Under the multi-year and multi-territory agreement with Harmonix owner MTV Games, Mad Catz will produce wired and wireless guitars, a drum kit, and a wired microphone among other Rock Band-branded goods, which will begin appearing in stores within the first half of 2008.

Though the special edition version of Rock Band (PS2, PS3, X360) comes bundled with a guitar, a microphone, and a drum kit, a second guitar is required to fully partake in its offerings. Harmonix and publisher EA have repeatedly stated their intent to offer standalone instruments in early 2008, though no additional details are available at this time.

Furthermore, many complain of quality problems with the bundled instruments, though Harmonix and EA have set up a replacement program meant to rectify such issues.

In the meantime, owners of Rock Band for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 2 can use the guitar controllers designed for their system's respective Guitar Hero games, though compatibility with the PlayStation 3 Guitar Hero controller is the subject of a bitter feud involving money.

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    January 4, 2008 9:24 AM

    I was hoping they already had some pictures of the gear. :(

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