More Guitar Hero news

[anakin876]

Game Daily Biz (http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=15004&ncid=AOLGAM000500000000019) ran an interview with Dusty Welch (Head of publishing at Red Octane) who had lots of things to say about the Neversoft move, including:

Internalizing development allows for more control of the creative elements of the game and, in this instance, provides for a much more robust and feature laden franchise. We believe that having the talented group at Neversoft, with their unprecedented string of market success with the billion dollar Tony Hawk franchise, develop the next Guitar Hero game will allow us to vastly enrich the consumer experience. We are excited to further the music and rhythm-based videogame genre, and Neversoft has the full experience, knowledge, and talent to do this.

I also found this Gamespot (http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/puzzle/guitarhero2/news.html?sid=6164458&om_act=convert&om_clk=newlyadded) interview (via the official GH forums) that seems very similar. However, this interview also talks about the recent trademarking of such things as Guitar Villain - and more importantly - whether or not Guitar Hero 1 songs will be available for download.
GS: Will Xbox 360 Guitar Hero II owners ever have access to the songs from the original Guitar Hero?

DW: While the songs that will be available for download through the Xbox Live Marketplace have yet to be confirmed, we can assure our fans that they can likely expect to see these songs. Through the feedback we've received from fans and from reading the message boards and other forums, we know that this is what everyone wants because of the awesome set list from some of the most legendary rock bands and artists ever!

[mkelehan]

I'm thrilled that Harmonix is leaving the series. I can't wait to see what they do next. I enjoy Guitar Hero as much as the next guy, but Frequency and Amplitude were phenomenal.

[anakin876]

I'm thrilled that Harmonix is leaving the series. I can't wait to see what they do next. I enjoy Guitar Hero as much as the next guy, but Frequency and Amplitude were phenomenal.

I've read that Harmonix wants to make another game along those lines - but the success of GH has been a double edged sword for them in that regard - they haven't had much luck finding someone willing to fund a game that doesn't use a peripheral now.

[J Arcane]

Internalizing development allows for more control of the creative elements of the game and, in this instance, provides for a much more robust and feature laden franchise.

Translation: This makes it easier for the suits to push the developers around. Expect dumbing down, patronizing, shit tons of product placement, and a song list based on some 50-year old stuffed shirt's idea of "What young people want".

We believe that having the talented group at Neversoft, with their unprecedented string of market success with the billion dollar Tony Hawk franchise, develop the next Guitar Hero game will allow us to vastly enrich the consumer experience. We are excited to further the music and rhythm-based videogame genre, and Neversoft has the full experience, knowledge, and talent to do this.

Translation: Neversoft shovels out the same shit year after year that still manages to sell based on brand recognition, so we figure why not reproduce the effect with Guitar Hero and drive it into the ground?

[woodentaco]

Translation: This makes it easier for the suits to push the developers around. Expect dumbing down, patronizing, shit tons of product placement, and a song list based on some 50-year old stuffed shirt's idea of "What young people want".



Translation: Neversoft shovels out the same shit year after year that still manages to sell based on brand recognition, so we figure why not reproduce the effect with Guitar Hero and drive it into the ground?

Wow. Somebody's bitter for no good reason.

[Arphahat]

Is Harmonix giving up the development, or is it being taken away? As a software developer, I tend to get very territorial about the project that I've been working on and would be extraordinarily angered and displeased to have my baby taken from me. Although, if I was tired of it, that would be another thing all together.

[IrishWhiskey]

I think we should make an edit to the top post. Some manager's opinion that their corporate merger will work out great? Yawn

A practical guarantee that all the GH1 content will be available on 360 Marketplace for download? Much more interesting.

GS: Will Xbox 360 Guitar Hero II owners ever have access to the songs from the original Guitar Hero?

DW: While the songs that will be available for download through the Xbox Live Marketplace have yet to be confirmed, we can assure our fans that they can likely expect to see these songs.

[TrackZero]

Time to go trademark band and keyboard villian.

[J Arcane]

Wow. Somebody's bitter for no good reason.
I take it you are not terribly familiar with Activision.

[mojo_x]

Translation: This makes it easier for the suits to push the developers around. Expect dumbing down, patronizing, shit tons of product placement, and a song list based on some 50-year old stuffed shirt's idea of "What young people want".

Translation: Neversoft shovels out the same shit year after year that still manages to sell based on brand recognition, so we figure why not reproduce the effect with Guitar Hero and drive it into the ground?

*nods in general agreement*. I'm glad that someone took the time to say this. It's exactly what I was thinking when I first read the news.

[The Continental]

I'm thrilled that Harmonix is leaving the series. I can't wait to see what they do next. I enjoy Guitar Hero as much as the next guy, but Frequency and Amplitude were phenomenal.Don't get too excited, Harmonix didn't leave the series, they got bought up my MTV (http://www.themoneytimes.com/articles/20060923/mtv_harmonix_merger_a_digital_expansion_move-id-101696.html). MTV is looking to move more heavily into the music based gaming sector, with their first Harmonix developed title more than likely being a Guitar Hero clone so that the Pimp My Ride game and the Aeon Flux game based on the movie can have some company in the bargain bin.

[dirtbag]

Translation: Neversoft shovels out the same shit year after year that still manages to sell based on brand recognition, so we figure why not reproduce the effect with Guitar Hero and drive it into the ground?

Of course, with a game like Guitar Hero, I'd be happy if they just kept releasing more songs with updated graphics. GH is the perfect game for a 'recycling' oriented company, because you can't really do that much harm to it.

Now, if we were talking about a game with a plot, then Neversoft runs it into the ground through repetition. However, with GH, as long as they choose some cool tunes, who cares if it's the same game over and over again?

[11thfinger]

I don't agree with the sentiment that a new guitar hero every year is a good thing. What I want is a perfected shell of guitar hero, and downloadable song packs. I will probably end up spending a fortune re-buying songs from previous releases as long as they keep delivering them, but I'm hoping for some sort of system that will limit the need to do that.

[ElectricMonk]

I've read that Harmonix wants to make another game along those lines - but the success of GH has been a double edged sword for them in that regard - they haven't had much luck finding someone willing to fund a game that doesn't use a peripheral now.

That's a bad thing? It seems like the perfect opportunity for them to make some wacky peripheral based game that would never otherwise get made.

The downloadable songs thing is pure awesome as well

[Stormwatcher]

Translation: This makes it easier for the suits to push the developers around. Expect dumbing down, patronizing, shit tons of product placement, and a song list based on some 50-year old stuffed shirt's idea of "What young people want".



Translation: Neversoft shovels out the same shit year after year that still manages to sell based on brand recognition, so we figure why not reproduce the effect with Guitar Hero and drive it into the ground?

Truer words have never been said.

[Everlost_MI]

I just hope I can get my GH1 fix of Boston and Queens of the Stone Age on the 360 version. Call me wacky, but I am itching for UFO, Dio, The Cult and Def Leppard GH songs to be on Xbox Live!

[beefyjr]

Translation: This makes it easier for the suits to push the developers around. Expect dumbing down, patronizing, shit tons of product placement, and a song list based on some 50-year old stuffed shirt's idea of "What young people want".



Translation: Neversoft shovels out the same shit year after year that still manages to sell based on brand recognition, so we figure why not reproduce the effect with Guitar Hero and drive it into the ground?

While I agree with the potential for the first part, I would partially disagree with the second part. The latest Tony Hawk game is really good (if you're into that sort of thing), and is the first iteration in a long time that is really bringing something new to the table. They still have a way to go with their new mechanics and goal structure, but it's definitely a step in the right direction. If the franchise isn't your bag, that's understandable, but speaking as a big fan of the Tony Hawk games I've thought that they've been on a steady decline from the third one and I find the new game to be a breath of fresh air and a return to form for the series.

Also in defense of Neversoft, they've had a lot of awesome songs in the Tony Hawk games over the years. Even going back to the very first THPS game when they had shit like Unsane in it, I was impressed by their selections and what they could get Activision to pay for. Despite all the naysaying that this announcement has garnered, the record will show that Neversoft have been ridiculously ahead of the curve when it comes to licensed music in games, even compared to a lot of shit in the two Guitar Hero games.

I'm not saying that Guitar Hero 3 is going to be awesome, because it might totally suck. It's entirely possible that Neversoft could totally fuck it up. But Harmonix has defined a solid framework for the series and I'm willing to give Neversoft the benefit of the doubt. For the time being, I'm going with "cautious optimism."

I do agree that it would be better to just release song packs to download going forward, and maybe release a new boxed version of the game every few years instead of squeezing them out on an annual basis.

[EL CABONG]

I hope I can download the theme to Scooby-Doo for GH2 for 360.