Harmonix, the developers of Rock Band, have issued a statement offering their thoughts on Activision's decision to no longer pursue the Guitar Hero franchise. Having faced financial and legal trouble of their own, along with recent layoffs, Harmonix certainly understands the climate of music games. "We were sad to hear yesterday that Activision was discontinuing development on Guitar Hero. Our thoughts are with those who are losing their jobs, and we wish them the best of luck." Keep reading for the entire statement.
NEWS: Activision Kills Guitar Hero
"The discontinuation of Guitar Hero is discouraging news for fans of the band game genre. As retail sales of Guitar Hero and Rock Band titles have slowed with time, we’ve been focused on building a robust digital platform for music gaming and have recently crested 2,500 songs available for play within Rock Band 3.
Harmonix and Rock Band continue to push beyond simple performance simulation to pioneer new approaches to music gaming. Rock Band 3 saw the introduction of our innovative new Pro Mode, in which aspiring musicians of all ages can develop actual musical skills through gameplay on guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums. We’re looking forward to the imminent release of the Fender Squier Stratocaster Guitar Controller, a fully functional guitar which doubles as a Rock Band Pro controller (launching March 1st). We are also relaunching the Rock Band Network, a way for bands of all shapes and sizes to get their music into Rock Band. RBN just passed the 1000-songs mark, and it’s relaunch will now support keyboards, pro drums and vocal harmonies. The music genre is one that calls for constant reinvention, and Harmonix is continuing to welcome and embrace that call.
In short, the beat of Rock Band marches on. We’re continuing to invest in the franchise and the brand that we have built, and will do our best to serve all loyal band game fans. For rhythm gamers out there who haven’t yet given Rock Band a chance, Rock Band 3 software is compatible with a wide range of instruments, including most Guitar Hero controllers <http://www.rockband.com/compatibility> . Looking to the future, for fans that want to switch, we’d happily welcome you over into the world of Rock Band.
It’s been a wild battle of the bands since 2007, but we respect and appreciate all of the hard work and innovation of our peers who have shared the music gaming space with us, and we look forward to rocking in the future."
What do you think the future has in store for music games?
Source: Rock Band Forums
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DaKatzPajamas
The thing is, Activision wouldnt have to pull the plug on the Guitar Hero franchise if they didnt overload everyone with multiple spinoffs sequels EVERY year. It gets overwhelming because obviously the cost of the instruments. It takes a lot of time to make a music game feel like a sequel but they never pushed it far enough. What they needed was something like more DLC that incorporates every genre and have others create them too kind of like the rock band network. Guitar Hero's song creator was a huge pain in the ass and almost impossible to make something sound like an actual song. The songs that they had in their sequels didnt mix well at all and were just all over the place. The last thing they should do is make something like the Rock Band Network because they hardly have any DLC and I really dont give a crap about it.
Geddes
To they people saying Harmonix are just cashing in on this for free publicity: What exactly did you expect them to do? They created Guitar Hero, and it has been dying a slow death ever since it was ripped from their hands after the second release. Activision pummeled the franchise straight into the ground with release after release with nothing ever really changing from one to the next. (see Tony Hawk Series, which.. oh.. wait a minute, was also done by Activision and Neversoft! what a coincidence...). This wasn't the first franchise to suffer this fate, and it certainly won't be the last one.. (I'm looking at you Call of Duty), and frankly it would be absurd for Harmonix to not rejoice just a little bit to find out that the studio that is flooding the genre that they pretty much single handedly created, is closing.
Heres hoping the music game genre doesnt die out entirely in the near future..
mcavazos25
I blame Guitar Hero on the DS.
KnightswordX
I am sad to hear that GH is gone because I started playing with GH2 but at the same time, it was killing the genre. I've been playing RB for a while now and I still enjoy playing it. I think that the genre will continue and maybe even pick up some speed since there will only be franchise to feed. My hope is that the quality of songs added will also increase. I will continue to support this genre, especially now. So farewell Guitar Hero and thanks for starting something fun. RIP
koolboricua
i kept myself at RB1. Never bought any other after that. Especially since both 2 and 3 pretty much required new instrument, i was so not in the mood to use more space within my house. The game was fun while it lasted, but there is nothin more fun than getting on my real drums and playing to Disturbed.
Lims
I won't personally miss GH, but I don't really play those games - I play guitar for real.
Anyone that feels sorry for activision is just plain dumb, though. Remember - they rake in the money on CoD AND World of Warcraft! 16 million accounts times 14.99 a month + sales of the boxed games? Sheesh... why do you think they don't care about GH... They're practically printing their own money.
realmatic85
RB is far superior to GH, thats why its still around. GH is going down because of lack of innovation, and dlc. Ghwor sucked balls, and people only seem to play cod nowadays, which is a shame. Of course theyre gonna use the opportunity to push their product. Its not selling great either. I think RB is gonna bite the dust too, which is a problem since I own over 800 dlc :(
QDOG8
So...they basically just announce that there's not gunna be a Rock Band 4, and that they're just gunna expand the Rock Band Network
ator9369
eh im glad to see 'em go. i was gtting tired of these games
choccy
That wasn't a response, that was free advertising for RB3. Shame on them for using the misfortune of others to press their own wares.
ShadowSaint
This sounded like an interview with Harmonix rather than a response to Guitar Hero.
maggot1108
I will be sad to see the end of the GH franchise, for it is still the first true music game that hit the market.
I remember about four years ago me and my friends, were counting down the days until GH2 came out on the 360, and ever since then we have owned everyone of them.
I have a lot of happy memories of playing GH even prior to that day, I remember standing around in wal-mart, or gamestop for hours on end to play it before the 360 games came out.
So yes I will miss the franchise, this could have been avoided if they thought original. I could tell you three things that would have saved the games at least for another year.
And to Homonix, you used to be the underground company I used to root for ever since Frequency came out on the ps2, but now you have went so far mainstream the death of your own kid doesn't bother you? You release a statement that basically says, "Oh well, sucks for you guys. But hey take a look at all of OUR goodies! Look at OUR triumphs!" You guys make me sick, don't you realize that if it wasn't for GH you guys wouldn't be ANYWHERE as big as you guys are today? You wouldn't have Rockband, or any of that MTV fame you hold on so close and dear too.
So are you so far gone now days that you don't care about anything but the money you make?
Thebest923
Homonix is Bull "Oh where so sorry for Gh but Come Spend Money On Us" fraking stupid
DPsx72
I don't think it really needs to innovate. Many classic gamers agree that when you have a good thing, give us more of the same but at a sensible rate. Tomb Raider was pushed too fast and suffered the same fate as GH - started strong then got progressively worse. Yet I'm sure most of us would gladly accept a fresh 2D Megaman, Castlevania, or Mario game because it adds just enough to bring you back without taking from what made it so good. Once in a while that 'innovation' is what destroys a franchise.
If anything will bury this genre it's music license costs. We enjoy the game and all have favorite songs that aren't in the game yet. The price of doing so is the problem unless you find songs everyone wants. I'd love more metal or faster songs but who's going to be able to play them, ya know?
DrStrangeL0ve
i like Harmonix and everything but this statment sounds like publicity for Rockband 3:
"As retail sales of Guitar Hero and Rock Band titles have slowed with time, we ve been focused on building a robust digital platform for music gaming and have recently crested 2,500 songs available for play within Rock Band 3."
you go from, hey sorry you guys gave up but we have a billion songs!!!
CNCOMICS
I feel Activision shot itself in the foot. They published way too many Guitar Hero games for the 5 years the franchise has been out.
sleekonia
There major mistake was not allowing the song titles to be compatiable with other vers. the fact that every few month a new one came out and i would have a ton of bought music that i couldnt use left a bad taste in my mouth. I personally gave up on them once band hero launched. music games as awhole will come to an end, but GH is one that i saw coming.. just surprized they held off so long.
gamermoney
i for one will miss it, even though the last good one was the 3rd maybe I still enjoyed GH over RB but with both of them gone...now what :( guess I'll go play gh metallica now (sigh)
OldSchoolRPG70
It wont even be missed
tubadude1818
I was excited for RB3 but the songs on it suck. DO BETTER HARMONIX
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