Have Guitar Hero/Rock Band been milked to death? And is DJ Hero the final straw?
Gaming tends to follow trends, with genres peaking and dipping in terms of popularity. One of the biggest hits of recent years has been the rhythm-action genre, with game series such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band being guaranteed bestsellers and a virtual license to print money. But is there time coming to an end, or is there plenty of life left in the genre yet?
There will be very few people reading this article who haven’t played at least one of the Guitar Hero/Rock Band games or one of the generally crappy alternatives released over the last few years. In fact, I suspect most people reading this will own one of the games and still bring it out from time to time when they have a spare couple of hours or people around for a few drinks.
The question is: Have these games been milked to death? And if so is DJ Hero the final straw?
I was inspired to ask this question by an article on Slapstic in which the author is clearly sick of being asked to pay a small fortune every time a new game of this type is released. And he makes some very good points.
Activision really is milking the Guitar Hero franchise, and Harmonix is going the same way with the Rock Band series. I’ve lost track of the number of Guitar Hero games, with several bands getting their own iterations. And we’ve just seen The Beatles: Rock Band released to much acclaim and sell millions of copies around the world as well.
Generally speaking, we as the consumers of these games are being rinsed. The Beatles: Rock Band is a particularly skinny title, with only 45 songs included in the game, with the rest of the back catalog due to magically appear as paid-for DLC in the near future. Then there are the various iterations of the peripherals, with each console getting its own versions of lead guitar, bass guitar, and drums, and even each game now seeming to get its own too.
And the end of this month sees the release (handily just in time for Christmas) of DJ Hero, which takes the genre away from rock music and into the realms of pop, dance, and hip hop, with the player acting as the DJ throughout. It comes with a hefty price tag though, thanks to the turntable peripheral.
Unfortunately, while I hate the prices being asked for these games and the sheer number of titles being released, I don’t think the genre is going to die anytime soon. Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and DJ Hero are all casual games of the highest order, perfect for gamers of all ages and abilities to dip into whenever the fancy takes them.
And for that reason they will continue to dominate for a few more years at least. I just wish a few of the games failed to sell so that the developers and publishers got a bloody nose and felt forced to drop the asking price and up the content. It won’t happen, but it’s a nice dream. Now, I’m off to pre-order DJ Hero because I’m a massive hypocrite who has an addiction to feed.
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43 Responses to “Have Guitar Hero/Rock Band been milked to death? And is DJ Hero the final straw?”
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October 13th, 2009
Don’t forget Band Hero DAVE PARRACK. It’s basically Guitar Hero with pop songs. *shudder*
October 13th, 2009
Their is loads of life in these games yet. Think of the possibilities!
Rhythmic Spoon Hero. Includes a set of authentic looking plastic spoons that you can slap on your thighs to the rhythm of some falling colored dots.
Caribbean Hero. Includes a set of authentic plastic steel drums that you can hit with a plastic drumstick to the rhythm of falling colored dots.
Porn Film Score Hero. Can be used with existing guitars but includes an authentic plastic wha wha pedal for those awesome porn film backing sounds. Played to the thythm of … well use your imagination for this one.
Bjork Hero. Includes an authentic plastic synthesizer keyboard. But all the keys are jumbled up so you always play a random note NOT to the rhythm of falling colored dots.
Then there is Guitar Hero portable. AKA Simple Simon.
October 13th, 2009
Rockband….no so much. But the Hero games…yes they have been milked to death.
just this year there are going to be like 5 or 6 Hero games…. that’s rediculous
October 13th, 2009
Andrew: “Caribbean Hero. Includes a set of authentic plastic steel drums that you can hit with a plastic drumstick to the rhythm of falling colored dots”
lmaoooo
October 13th, 2009
Bjork hero was my favorite..
October 13th, 2009
hey Phranc I havent seen you around in a while..the Yankess and A-Rod hitting homers left n right are keeping you busy??
October 13th, 2009
I’m free to play games until Friday (Uncharted 2 woot). Then the ALCS starts against the dreaded Angels.
October 13th, 2009
ohhhh vacations! they are always welcome, specially when a blockbuster game comes out. oh how I envy you
October 13th, 2009
I had yesterday off for Columbus Day, but other than that I’m still at work. I’m free to play games as there is no Yankees Baseball on until Friday night.
October 13th, 2009
Of course they’re milked. Look who the publishers are EA and Activision.
October 13th, 2009
I just don’t think every band needs their own Guitar Hero game. Metallica, Aerosmith, and Van Halen? Seriously. How any of that simply can’t be in DLC is beyond me.
Just like the little fact that EA can really get away without releasing a Madden every year, but DLC update could add features and update the stats.
October 13th, 2009
Scratch the Ultimate DJ is where I’m going. DJ Hero it’s OK but the realism is in Scratch. I have to try both of course but I think Scratch is the better game as I will get to re-live my so called DJ days.
October 13th, 2009
has anybody seen the Wii game called “CyberBike”
with a bike pheripheral.
October 13th, 2009
or the Big Game Hunter for the wii with the Gun. Not sure why the peripheral is wii exclusive but who cares.
That commercial is kind of disturbing.
October 13th, 2009
I just think is stupid that are a making a freaking bike for a game. and more stupid are going to the ppl who buy this game.
October 13th, 2009
Isn’t a skateboard coming out also for the next Tony Hawk game?
October 13th, 2009
“Isn’t a skateboard coming out also for the next Tony Hawk game?”
yeah…why am not surprise since it is coming from Activision
October 13th, 2009
“I just think is stupid that are a making a freaking bike for a game. and more stupid are going to the ppl who buy this game.”
Well….. People did buy wii fit. Theres a lot of stupid people out there.
October 13th, 2009
the Wii fit makes more sense than a bike….you can just buy a real Bike and ride it all you want.
the Tony Hawk game is pretty stupid too..lets see how good the game is to recover all the old Tony Hawk fans who are now having more fun with Skate
October 13th, 2009
my gf has wii fit..lol.. It just goes to show how many non gamers (I wouldn’t consider her a gamer) are into the wii. I asked…..do you at least have Mario Galaxy or Zelda..
October 13th, 2009
Well I think the Tony Hawk Skateboard looks cool and would love to try it. I use to be a skater back in the days.
October 13th, 2009
I liked GH3 but got tired of it. I purchased Rock Band the day I picked up my PS3 and haven’t played it more than once. It kept making me use the mic and I only wanted to do the drums. I do NOT sing well. LOL
October 13th, 2009
Rhythm action game genre… good for parties I guess, but not a fan in general. For fans I’m sure it’s a treat… but speaking of Hero games… just got Uncharted 2 in from GameFly… thank god they didn’t get rid of the action adventure genre yet… and you don’t even need a pricey peripheral… beyond the controller.
October 13th, 2009
I will be playing later on tonight. I wont be at home until after 10pm EST.
***please do not post spoilers (I even kept my self away from trailers and all that stuff)***
October 13th, 2009
Ye are all really lucky uncharted does not come to Ireland till the 16th why does Europe get fucked out of everything
October 13th, 2009
@ Roca,
Nathan and Elena kiss at the end.
October 13th, 2009
Fuck you harry >:(
October 13th, 2009
jaja @ harry
October 13th, 2009
Maybe later, Robert.
October 14th, 2009
Yah, I have a feeling that music games are becoming less and less popular. I still love guitar hero (expert baby), but I doubt that I’ll even pick up another.
Also, I picked up Uncharted 2. Absolutely incredible game, fixed everything that was broken in the first. 4 hours in, no load screens or installs, and the graphics are easily the best I’ve seen (and I own MGS4 and KZ2). Definite GOTY for me, I doubt that MW2 will surpass it. Naughty Dog outdone themselves, 2 years of work and they’ve maxed out the PS3. Guerrilla Games must be scratching their heads.
October 14th, 2009
I doubt they maxed out the PS3 yet.
October 14th, 2009
Probably not, even if they took full advantage of the Cell, they can still get a lot more out of the system. Just like the human brain. It can always do more with the right techniques (unless you are a fanboy/troll/related to Fred Phelps).
October 14th, 2009
They said that they used 100% of the PS3’s power…. sounds pretty maxed out to me. Unless it’s like the amp in ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ which goes up to 11.
October 14th, 2009
But the fine print said %100 OF %50 of the total PS3 power
October 14th, 2009
I don’t read fine print, that’s why I get charged $25 a month for my love calculator mobile phone subscription.
October 14th, 2009
Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, Band Hero, and Tony Hawk: Ride… All over $100, and will all most likely be released every year.
The titties have dried up and fell off along time ago, but that doesn’t seem to stop Activision.
October 15th, 2009
Would anyone believe me if I say that I´ve never played one of those games? O_o
October 15th, 2009
I havent…and I will never play them
October 16th, 2009
You never played a guitar hero game?
I don’t own the game but I definitely played one.
October 16th, 2009
Naughty Dog really knows their PS3, they’ve made gold two games in a row. As for these iteration games, yea I agree it’s getting borderline ridiculous that they are shooting out these many games.
I think between the two main game franchises, Guitar Hero and Activision are the worst. DJ Hero, GH5, and Van Halen in a 3 month period? If that isn’t milking I do not know what is. Considering GH5 had the worst track list yet.
I hope we don’t see another Rock Band for awhile, but I think I’m being naive in hope for such.
October 16th, 2009
The only way I would buy one of these games is if you can personally choice all 80 to 100 songs on there. Every guitar hero only has a handful of songs I even like so the $150 for each game is ridiculous.
October 16th, 2009
I rather play Frequency and Amplitude or Rock Band: Unplugged.
Rind14:
Don’t forget Insomniac Games they made the most PS3 games yet all awesome Resistance: Fall Of mAN MY FAVORITE THEN r2.
October 17th, 2009
At the least they should let you be able to put the songs you purchased (and that came with the game) on your Zune/iPhone/etc. for no extra charge.