Nordic Game: Rock Band will be affordable, says Harmonix exec

Harmonix art director Ryan Lesser has told GamesIndustry.biz that the company is doing everything it can to ensure forthcoming title Rock Band is affordable for consumers.

As announced last month, Rock Band is being published by MTV Games - unlike Harmonix's previous hit, Guitar Hero. It will work with four instrument-based controllers: bass and lead guitars, a drum kit and microphone.

Although a price point has yet to be announced, there have already been questions raised over whether players will require all the peripherals to get the most out of the game - and if so, whether they'll be willing to pay for them.

But speaking to GI.biz Lesser said, "There's no way we're going to make a game that people are not going to be happy about buying. We scrutinise every little piece that goes into every peripheral to make sure that it's affordable and still really high quality.

"I think when it's just rumour and no one has anything tangible to hold on to, people can be afraid - but the fact is we're very conscious of it, and we're doing our best to make it awesome and affordable."

Lesser dismissed rumours that the game will cost between USD 150 - 200, which emerged after a forum poster claimed to have taken part of a focus group for Rock Band.

"Seeing as one of my specific orders was. 'Don't let anyone know anything about pricing,' I can't imagine that was true," he said. "Because of a lot of reasons that I can't talk about, but we're far from releasing prices at this point. So I wouldn't take any of that stuff too seriously."

The full interview with Lesser will be published on GamesIndustry.biz next week.