SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic - So long, Guitar Hero! It was nice knowing you...

Posted: Jul 17 2009 09:27 pm

Quote:

CAMBRIDGE, MA and NEW YORK, NY – July 17, 2009 – Harmonix Music Systems and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today announced the , a ground-breaking initiative that gives musicians and record labels the ability to author their own original recordings into gameplay files and sell their music as playable tracks through the newly-created Music Store. The introduction of the marks a fundamental shift in the exposure music games can give emerging and established artists through innovative technologies that will open new revenue streams and promotional avenues.
"Our goal with Rock Band has always been to go beyond making music games and create a true music platform," said Alex Rigopulos, CEO and co-founder of Harmonix. "With the Rock Band Network, we've evolved the platform to its next logical step, giving players access to an incredible amount of new music by putting the professional tools we use in the hands of the artists themselves."

"The Rock Band Network enables songwriters and musicians – at any stage of their careers – to create their own paths through the interactive music realm," said Paul DeGooyer, Senior Vice President, Electronic Games and Music, MTV Networks Music Group. "Our download store has been an extraordinary success, and it’s exciting for us to provide access to our platform through this uniquely elegant solution."

The Rock Band Network will launch as an open beta in late August 2009 in the U.S. and provide a sophisticated toolset, with detailed documentation on how bands can begin the process of authoring songs into Rock Band gameplay files. Authors will be able to submit tracks for playtesting and peer review via a specialized Web site, Creators.RockBand.com. Potential publishers will need a membership to Microsoft’s XNA Creators Club Online in order to test and publish game content. The service will only be available to those who purchase a premium membership to Microsoft’s XNA Creators Club Online, which can be purchased for four months at $49.99 or for a year at $99.99.

“The proven strength and stability of Microsoft’s game development tools, technologies and services allowed Harmonix to focus on making an easy-to-use experience for authors without needing to reinvent the wheel,” said Dave Mitchell, product unit manager, XNA publishing platform. “Rock Band Network is a model example of integration with XNA Creators Club Online.”

Once tracks are approved, they will be transferred to the Rock Band Network Store, an in-game music marketplace where millions of Rock Band fans will be able to demo samples of the songs for free before they purchase. Songs will debut exclusively on Xbox 360 for 30 days. Artists featured in the store will be able to choose from multiple pricing tiers for individual tracks and will be compensated via a simple payment system that provides automated accounting and regular royalty payments.

Tracks for the Rock Band Network will be made available later in the fall on the Xbox 360® video game entertainment system from Microsoft. Stand out tracks will follow on the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Wii™ console. Joining the more than 750 tracks available to date, the Rock Band Network Store will greatly increase the amount of music available through the Rock Band music platform and further confirm MTV Games and Harmonix’s position as the leading provider of downloadable content for music-based video games.

Yeah, just another nail in the Guitar Hero franchise's coffin.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

This is really awesome. Except for bands that wanted to license content through a packaged deal, this is an amazingly cheap way for bands to be able to get their stuff on Rockband.

More importantly, this is a great opportunity for local bands to get fans into their music.

Joined: Sep 17 2007 Location: The Opium Trail Posts: 3475

Quote:

"Our goal with Rock Band has always been to go beyond making music games and create a true music platform," said Alex Rigopulos, CEO and co-founder of Harmonix.

You're an idiot for thinking that.

Posted: Jul 19 2009 12:10 am

JRA wrote:

Quote:

"Our goal with Rock Band has always been to go beyond making music games and create a true music platform," said Alex Rigopulos, CEO and co-founder of Harmonix.

You're an idiot for thinking that.

Goddamn coporations.

Title: Alexz Aficionado Joined: May 21 2008 Posts: 2889

I see this as a huge opportunity for some upcoming and unknown artists. The idea has huge potential.

Posted: Jul 19 2009 01:37 pm

I agree with Prince. He won't let them use his songs because quote: "I would rather see kids pick up a real guitar."

Posted: Jul 19 2009 01:44 pm

Knyte wrote:

I agree with Prince. He won't let them use his songs because quote: "I would rather see kids pick up a real guitar."

You know as a real guitar player and after all my guitar game bashing I actually sat down and played Rock Band with some buddies of mine, and I admit it, it was relatively entertaining. There I said it.

However, in my opinion it is nothing like playing a real guitar, and actually felt like the exact opposite. The strumming and the button presses seemed out of sync with the rhythm of a real guitar, and I kept fucking up because my hands would try to do things I was used to doing on a guitar.

I no longer dislike these games as much as I once did, but I'm going to have to agree with Prince, kids should try a real instrument too.

Neutral

Posted: Jul 21 2009 01:28 pm

Rock Band's potential for entertainment is shown at parties. That's pretty much the reason I own it, because everybody has a good time with it at parties, because parties are fun.

Posted: Jul 21 2009 01:30 pm

You can have the same fun with any of the newer Guitar Hero games (World Tour, Smash Hits, Metallica) as they have 4 player support. And World Tour has plenty of DLC.

Posted: Jul 21 2009 01:42 pm

I thought Rock Band always had the better full band experience, however, Guitar Hero guitar action feels better IMO.

But yea, this is truly the beginning of the end for Guitar Hero, looks like Activision is starting to shift it's focus toward DJ Hero.

Posted: Jul 21 2009 01:56 pm

Syd Lexia wrote:

You can have the same fun with any of the newer Guitar Hero games (World Tour, Smash Hits, Metallica) as they have 4 player support. And World Tour has plenty of DLC.

yeah, but the DLC is not transferable between titles. whereas all the music you had in RB1 can be transferred to RB2

Posted: Jul 21 2009 02:05 pm

Syd Lexia wrote:

You can have the same fun with any of the newer Guitar Hero games (World Tour, Smash Hits, Metallica) as they have 4 player support. And World Tour has plenty of DLC.

While I don't dispute this, I find that Rock Band has better music by virtue of the far vaster amount of DLC. This new release simply advances this line of thought.

But yeah in terms of party they're all perfectly fine.

Posted: Jul 22 2009 02:15 am

I find the "why don't you play a real guitar" argument stupid, unless applied to some moron who thinks his Rock Band/Guitar Hero skills actually translate into playing a real instrument. The drums might, but definitely not the guitar.

Posted: Jul 22 2009 06:22 am

Char Aznable wrote:

I find the "why don't you play a real guitar" argument stupid, unless applied to some moron who thinks his Rock Band/Guitar Hero skills actually translate into playing a real instrument. The drums might, but definitely not the guitar.

This FTW.

I am an active and avid musician, playing guitar in a band, however I still love guitar hero and music games in general. I have met those that play the guitar but are miserable at GH, while I have met many on the other end of the spectrum (can play GH, but lack the skill or drive to pursue the real thing, not like there is anything wrong with that).

What it boils down to is that it's just a game that can be played by anyone.

Although yea, in most cases the drums are quite accurate of the real experience, especially on the expert levels.

Title: Titlating Joined: Dec 17 2007 Posts: 5042

Hey question, can we maybe JUST MAYBE talk about the actual article and not start another of the "PLAY A REAL GUITAR" arguments?

And this is a really awesome feature, I'm curious how long it will take guitar hero to rip it off.

Posted: Jul 29 2009 10:17 pm

I still prefer Rock Band because the DLC works with either game and most of the first game can be transferred to Rock Band 2. I also love being able to play all my DLC on one game instead of having to swap games like the Guitar Hero games.

Posted: Jul 29 2009 11:36 pm

Char Aznable wrote:

I find the "why don't you play a real guitar" argument stupid, unless applied to some moron who thinks his Rock Band/Guitar Hero skills actually translate into playing a real instrument. The drums might, but definitely not the guitar.

No, guitar PLAYING doesn't transfer, nothing like playing guitar... But the amount of time taken to be able to master a hard song on expert does... If kids (I'm 27 and include myself) spent the same amount of time paying for a few lessons and playing some solos as they do working on beating "come play with me", you could have a pretty decent guitarist. Granted, not everyone's blessed with the true gift of being able to create good music, but still... The basics are there.

Joined: Jul 28 2009 Posts: 34

Guitar Hero jumped the shark when they put out the shitty DS version of the game, and then followed that with crappy $15 LCD versions (game and watch style) to be sold around christmas time.

I liked the first 3 but since then, I'm over it. I like rock band better. The new feature discussed in OP is pretty cool.

Posted: Jul 31 2009 09:53 pm

Cru33 wrote:

Guitar Hero jumped the shark when they put out the shitty DS version of the game, and then followed that with crappy $15 LCD versions (game and watch style) to be sold around christmas time.

I liked the first 3 but since then, I'm over it. I like rock band better. The new feature discussed in OP is pretty cool.

The first three are definitely the best in the series. The Metallica one is an exception because that game is actually really good. The DS versions and the other games have become kind of boring though.

Posted: Aug 02 2009 12:25 pm

The shit I have been reading about GH5 for the Wii sounds pretty good...

They are giving it a lot of love by eliminating friend codes, making online easier to manage as well as high capacity SD card song storage. This version will be equal in features with the 360/PS3 (which is a first, unbelievably).

Also this new party play mode where anyone can jump in at any time with any instrument and jam out is fairly intriguing. Its perfect for that drinking at a party situation.

Oh there is also Wii to DS connectivity in some capacity, it's all here...
http://wii.ign.com/articles/100/1009916p1.html

Posted: Aug 02 2009 02:05 pm

The latest Guitar Hero games have been boring as hell IMO. I love many of the songs in World Tour, but did I feel like the game was worth $50 in the end? Not really. I paid the same amount for Rock Band 2 and was more pleased, quite honestly.

I think it's the note charts that bother me mostly about the newest GH games. I dunno for sure why, but I just know I prefer RB myself.