(Updated 4:20 PM) Activision/Blizzard announced it is dropping the in-development Guitar Hero game planned for 2011. The company is also disbanding its Guitar Hero division, best described by the company itself in the following statement:
“Due to continued declines in the music genre, the company will disband Activision Publishing’s Guitar Hero business unit and discontinue development on its Guitar Hero game for 2011."
Activision was clear that there would be no music games from the company this fiscal year. That means no Guitar Hero, and no DJ Hero. During the investment call, the company also said it plans to lay off approximately 500 employees. But does this mean the franchise is truly dead, or will we see a newly re-vamped game in 2012 or 2013? According to Wedbush Securities' analyst Michael Pachter, a return of the Guitar Hero franchise is unlikely in the near future.
"I don't think it's going to be revamped," Pachter said. "It would only happen if there's a whole new console refresh, but if it's an Xbox 360 with a two-terabyte hard-drive and an 802.11 N, who cares? You don't need a new Guitar Hero for that. I think Guitar Hero is one of those things you don't need to buy more than once."
I've contacted Activision about this, but as yet, haven't heard back from the company on an official basis, but this blog post from Activision's Dan Amrich takes a different tact from Pachter's:
"For a while there I couldn’t drown out the cries of gamers on forums, blogs, and Twitter saying GH should take some time off, and from all appearances, that’s what this is. Step back, let it breathe for a while, don’t make any major plans, and see what happens in the future. I’m very okay with that.
Chapter closed? Sure, okay. Book burned? I doubt it."
So what do you guys think? Is Guitar Hero, as a franchise, dead, or is it just sleeping for a bit?
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basit5
too bad. They didnt take it to the point the game was supposed to reach. Disappointing.
OriginalGamesta
i jus bought dj hero 2 and the game is so good...now theres no more wow ..if they could just put out dlc i would be fine but thats not happen
GamePhene87
YYYEEESSSSS!!!!! WOO HOO
4pepper
Sad and Happy at the same time. Then again I only really played GH1&2. The rest were too much for me, and again it would nice to have a new one but what would be the point. Sad.
DaddyMatt
Harmonix made a beter rock game. yes the music genre is slowing so way would you go in get G H for the same prics as rock band
Pestige
I not that big of a fan of Guitar Hero, but I kind of seen this coming. The settings/ characters were always over the top and cartoonish, which a lot of people didn't like, they'd prefer a more realistic scenario like myself.
Mortalkombatliukang
Activision just milked and milked that series until we didn't care anymore. I honestly think they arerunning out of good songs, and should wait 10 years to make another one
R3DNAX3LA13
i think that is very silly for GH to hav so many games out, and ive been saying it for years.. yea it was a very revolutionary part of the music game genre but once they made the move to the newer consoles, there should hav been one really smooth and great looking version and hav songs constantly added to the marketplace for download.. it really died for me after GH3. all i looked forward to were new songs.
the rockband saga sort of went in the right direction, however the only good thing about that game is the drum element, and it can use some adjustments in reality
Gerudo
Finally they learned that churning out the same game every year isn't entertaining.
Perhaps they can finally work on something that isn't repetetive or boring.
fight4gipper1
good riddance
Protoganist_prodigy
its just sucks for me cause basicly, rock band still going strong but however by killing guitar hero, means that they're killing one part of me inside!!!!
The_Great_Pyro
It serves Activision right for being moneywhores and not learning about moderation in a saturated market.
Brawlerexpert3
It's about time the series comes to an end. Now people have to learn songs on a REAL guitar. I don't hate the series but I don't see how it held up for this long.
Webreever
Is anyone starting to see a pattern here?
IW CEO's start to leave because they were not paid royalties, start looking in to EA. Activision fires them, and half of IW leaves. IW sues, Activision counter sues. Activision is not only not releasing a game for Tony Hawk, but now laying off hundreds of employees, and possibly discontinuing their GH franchise.
If you ask me, I think they're either prepping for a bad year, or, know that the evidence against them in the lawsuit is enough that IW (now Respawn) will win, and start an investigation on other games where developers haven't been paid or have been mistreated.
tubadude1818
I loved GH and RB. It got me into music and i am a real drummer now. I owe it to you, GH. If it wasn't for you, I wouldnt even know how to play. I came from a kid listening to country music to metal! I liked all of them minus GH5.
knuclear200x
"It would only happen if there's a whole new console refresh, but if it's an Xbox 360 with a two-terabyte hard-drive and an 802.11 N, who cares? You don't need a new Guitar Hero for that. I think Guitar Hero is one of those things you don't need to buy more than once."
That;s the smartest thing I've ever heard a someone say, EVER. Far as I could tell, GH has always been the same game with different soundtracks and graphics. They should just make one where you can just upload your own music and sequences, and if they did, then theyre done til the next generation.
there comes a time where I wonder, what if Sonic the Hedgehog, Dynasty Warriors, and Tony Hawk games were only released maybe three at a time per generation rather than 8?
Renigade16
So I guess that means Rockband wins then.
EvilShenanigans
Aside from those planned, exceptional examples (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Pirates??), what would happen if a movie franchise had a sequel every year? It would/does end on a bad note. What would happen if a game franchise released a new title every year (Tony Hawk, Guitar Hero, and Call of Duty) it has/is failed. When will Activision, the most powerful publisher at present time, learn from its own history? When will they realize that Kotick is a naive, shortsighted, businessman, who in his blind pursuit of revenue is ensuring tomorrow's failure with today's success? When I ask? If at all, when it's already too late.
Ryupyroa
I hope its just sleeping. Still waiting for a Guitar Hero: Heavy Metal.
GordonFreemonster0
They can't make any of the GH games any different. There all the same to me.
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