The Wii version of Rock Band will lack online play and download content capabilities because, Harmonix explains, "Wii's online capabilities and potential have yet to be fully realized."

After revealing the US release date and price - June 22, $169.99 (for the game and instruments in a bundle) - a spokesperson said that they "wanted to wait before we explored online functionality for Rock Band to ensure that players get the high-quality of online performance they've come to expect."

The spokesperson explains: "Rock Band for the Wii will have functionality similar to the PS2 version. There will be no DLC available, but the Wii version will have the five additional songs on the game disc," said the spokesperson.

They added: "When developing Rock Band for the Wii platform, we focused on making the core gameplay experience as solid and enjoyable as possible while tailoring it specifically to the strengths of the platform."

And those strengths, they seem to say, are not in online play. "The Wii version still contains the robust four-player band experience and all the fun at the core of other versions of Rock Band," they told MTV.

"However, because the Wii's online capabilities and potential have yet to be fully realized, we wanted to wait before we explored online functionality for Rock Band to ensure that players get the high-quality of online performance they've come to expect."

Rock Band is yet to be dated for UK on any platform.

Courtesy of CVG.

Mar 25, 2008