Harmonix man tells VideoGamer.com that high UK price "will be worth it".

Rock Band screenshot

Harmonix, developer of the rather excellent Rockband, has today told VideoGamer.com that it is "not trying to screw people" with the high price of the game.

Today publisher EA announced a May 23 European release for Rock Band on the Xbox 360. The game has been confirmed to have an "exclusive launch window on the Xbox 360", with the game available on additional platforms later this summer.

The game will retail at £49.99, although we're sure online retailers will be offering the game for around £39.99, with the instrument pack (guitar, drum kit and microphone) to retail at £129.99. This means that if you pay the recommended retail price you'll be parting with more than it costs to buy an Xbox 360 Arcade. It'll also be possible to purchase instruments individually: a wireless guitar will cost £59.99 and the drum kit a hefty £69.99.

Online reaction to UK pricing for the game and its peripherals has been fierce, with some claiming that the higher cost compared with the US is a "rip-off".

Speaking at a press event for Rockband in London today, Rob Kay, design director at US-based Harmonix, told VideoGamer.com that the developer understands the reaction, and pointed towards "a myriad of little differences that all add up" as explanation of the higher cost.

He said: "It is more expensive, when you just straight to straight convert the prices you see on the website for the US version, but there's a myriad of these little differences that all add up. One thing is VAT, which is included in all the UK prices, 17.5%. There's no tax included in the US prices because tax is different per state. There's a bunch of little reasons that add up to make the price difference."

He added: "We're not trying to screw people. We want to give people the chance to get into Rockband and embrace it. We think that when they do play it then they'll be like then this is worth the money. We understand that people are going to feel a little bit aggrieved about it but we hope that the game will override that feeling."

Expect more from the frank and honest VideoGamer.com interview with Rob Kay tomorrow, as well as hands-on impressions later in the week.