So now it seems that we're about 6 or 7 months (stateside) removed from getting new numerical entries in the Guitar Hero and Rock Band series. Well, Guitar Hero seems certain, but Rock Band is a definite possibility. I wish they would actually man up and do the thing we want. You know, just release new SONGS, not an all new game. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of the Guitar Hero series (and Rock Band as well) and I don't have so much of an issue giving them my money. I just don't like that it would be easier and cheaper for all involved if they just kept releasing songs as DLC. The fact of the matter is, the visuals are only going to receive marginal upgrades, at best, so why not do us all a favor and let us PICK the songs we want to get? Honestly, the only time they can really justify paying full price for these new titles will be when they can incorporate user music (yeah, imagine your entire iTunes library as playable in Guitar Hero 7!), and until then, the DLC model for upgrades should suit us fine.
Its not that I blame them for trying to make money. They are, after all, a business. It just makes me sad to see Guitar Hero becoming the new industry whore. We've had 4 games with only 3 numerical entries thus far, we have the promise of Guitar Hero 4, Guitar Hero Aerosmith, and now, Guitar Hero Beatles? I think we're overdoing it a bit here.
Ok, first and foremost, I LOVE The Beatles. Love the idea of a whole game devoted to them. Where I'm not as big is that A:they're coming AFTER Aerosmith(due out in June) which, no offense to Steven Tyler fans, is a downright CRIME and B:The fact that any song at this point that isn't done purely as Carlos Santana rocking out (with a bunch of other people in the background who make noise that happens to be from instruments) is NOT on Rock Band is absurd. Sure, the Beatles aren't exactly known for their amazing drum solos, but the vocals are something THOUSANDS of people would pay to be able to imitate. It just doesn't make sense to me. I understand that EA is going to want to capitalize on the 'cheaper' of the 2 franchises, but to be fair, considering the setup is $200 for fewer songs, Rock Band has done damn well for itself.
This is the problem with the model of business that we currently have, and it isn't just in gaming. Something comes out that is popular, well executed and approachable, however those aspects are defined. Suddenly, everyone wants a piece of the pie, and the immediate question is 'how much can we make off this?' So we get sequels to movies thats don't really deserve it (or just won't be as good with no journey left for the main characters) and we get, in gaming, sequels that try to re-define the wheel, don't always get it right, and then go back to the drawing board for the third try. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm very glad SOME titles have spawned full franchises (MGS, Zelda, Devil May Cry, to name a few), but the issue of making Guitar Hero a series is that there really is nothing new that can or should be brought to the table. Its a game where you play guitar. Ok...so yeah, Rock Band was a logical progression but beyond that, the only thing that should be able to entice people is new material; and why make a whole new game when you can just release the tracks online?
Bottom line; there are just some games that were one-hit wonders meant to die. Now I'm not saying that Guitar Hero or Rock Band is one of those exactly, but the developers should be careful about how and how many sequels get pushed out the door. Take the Katamari Damacy series, for example. The original on PS2 was an awesomely original and highly enjoyable title. The sequel tried a bunch of new things, but also focused on the one major complaint people had that the original was too short. Then, they got into the PSP version and the 360 version and people started to see the series for the one trick pony it really was. Highly entertaining at first, but there ends up being a total lack in variety of gameplay after a few hours, and then you're left with a $60 game that you could have gotten much cheaper for PS2. Add in the DLC that was really just paying to unlock material already on the disc (always a low trick) and you see why we probably won't be seeing a new Katamari game any time in the near....ever.
So yes, Rock Band and Guitar Hero anthology albums by themselves aren't a bad idea. But look at a game like Smash Bros. One of the real reasons Brawl was so highly anticipated was because it'd been 7 years since anything new was brought to the table. 7 YEARS! Anyone wanna take a guess at how many sequels or licensed franchise titles EA had released in that time? They released 26 such titles in just the second half of 2006, so you can imagine it must be several hundred. I understand the need to dip into a well to keep the money coming in, but the phrase 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' does really hold some value, even in gaming.
|
