News on the retail  price from Amazon.com for ‘The Beatles: Rock Band’ bundle to be released later this year on September 9th along with the stand-alone game. The bundle is  currently priced at 249.99 US before shipping, exceeding the current price for Rock Band 2 Special Edition (189.99) by $60, or the price of a newly released game. The game by itself will remain at a relatively reasonable $59.99, in tune (pun just realized) with the current price of new releases, considering the current $56.99 price tag for the ‘limited audience’ title WWE Legends of Wrestlemania.

Why should the consumer pay a $60 premium for a bundle that , aside from the Beatles name, is presumably identical to the Rock Band 2 Special Edition bundle? I would accept the current price point if there were some added compatibility; maybe each set comes along with an avant garde Japanese conceptual artist (I’m sure there’s at least one guy who would purchase a bundle with a Japanese woman included). At that price point, I’m sure it will find a home amongst the Rock Band 2 Special Editions and Guitar Hero: World Tour bundle currently taking up retail space. Although, with so few details on the bundle, there’s a possiblity that there are other components that could be of added value; an Beatles-era microphone with a stand would be kinda neat; or maybe a life-size cut-out of George Martin, complete with fold-out mixing board.

The Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition Premium Bundle [amazon.com]