How RB will kill GH4

[Assault420]

This is just a thought i had after looking for some new GH3 DLC a few minutes ago. In theory all HMX needs to do is find out what songs are going to be on GH4. Then they can simply flood us with the "best" of the bunch and add it for RB DLC. I would not be surprised after GH4 if we see a "Rock Star Heroes" game with the same basic band play as RB.

Its a shame too because until RB all i played was GH games with most of my spare time. I have only played GH3 1 time since the release of RB. Not that i am sad to have moved on, but i feel kinda sad for what use to be my most favorite game ever.

[espher]

Right now they've got Activision tied down on the table and the laser is slowly creeping along it.

Really, all they need to do is not leave the room.

[Charron]

Right now they've got Activision tied down on the table and the laser is slowly creeping along it.

Really, all they need to do is not leave the room.

"Do you expect me to rock?"
"No, Mr. Hero, I expect you to die!"

Seriously though, I wouldn't be too surprised if we get the least forewarning about GH4's tracklist of any game in the series to date.

[miketoast]

Not for nothing but I saw a little blurb in the Business section of my newspaper a few months ago and a rep from one of the investment banks said that in order to stay competitive GH was going to have to release more instruments for play, ala Rock Band, and they said it was something they were discussing and to expect something within the next year.


btw, I haven't played GH since before Rock Band came out

[Magnet]

"Do you expect me to rock?"
"No, Mr. Hero, I expect you to die!"

Haha! I love it.

[Manda]

"Do you expect me to rock?"
"No, Mr. Hero, I expect you to die!"

Despite the fact that is unoriginal, and you just changed two words in a Bond quote.... that was the funniest thing I read all day. I commend you *bows*

[Faldrok]

I heard Guitar Hero IV was going to be really based around Aerosmith and their music. Not sure how much truth there is to that, but Aerosmith really is my favorite band. I would be the happiest guy around if this was true about an upcoming Rock Band release. :P <3 Steven Tyler and the rest of the bunch.

[Charron]

Despite the fact that is unoriginal, and you just changed two words in a Bond quote.... that was the funniest thing I read all day. I commend you *bows*

The allusion was the whole point, but gracias regardless. :)

[DesiredFX]

I entered this topic hoping there would be a cartoon.

Dang.

[espher]

"Do you expect me to rock?"
"No, Mr. Hero, I expect you to die!"

:p yay minimum character length

[Manda]

The allusion was the whole point, but gracias regardless. :)

Yes, I know =) But some people think you can't be funny that way. I'm not one of those people, though.

[Assault420]

I would not be surprised if activision makes a wireless cowbell accessory for their game. I mean that one instrument alone could quite possibly be the end of RB.

[DesiredFX]

I would not be surprised if activision makes a wireless cowbell accessory for their game. I mean that one instrument alone could quite possibly be the end of RB.

As opposed to those wired cowbells I've been struggling with for decades.

[Manda]

As opposed to those wired cowbells I've been struggling with for decades.

OMG I want one! And a motion sensetive tamourine that you have to hit and shake accordingly!

[Bakkster]

I heard Guitar Hero IV was going to be really based around Aerosmith and their music. Not sure how much truth there is to that, but Aerosmith really is my favorite band. I would be the happiest guy around if this was true about an upcoming Rock Band release. :P <3 Steven Tyler and the rest of the bunch.

Just strike a deal with Aerosmith like they did with the Grateful Dead. Poof, instantly better than GH4 :D

[nicko68]

Not for nothing but I saw a little blurb in the Business section of my newspaper a few months ago and a rep from one of the investment banks said that in order to stay competitive GH was going to have to release more instruments for play, ala Rock Band, and they said it was something they were discussing and to expect something within the next year.

Oh great, more instruments that won't be compatible between games. No thanks.

First one to the Wii gets my cash. :)

[ubikkibu]

"I heard Guitar Hero IV was going to be really based around Aerosmith and their music."

No offense to you, but if I had any intention of buying GH4 (I don't), that would be a deal-breaker.

Activision will always be playing catch-up from now on. Keyboards? Cowbells? Whatever they do will be compared to Rock Band, and it's hard for me to imagine how they can improve upon it. I'm all for competition and the free market, but I wouldn't buy any ACTI stock is all I'm saying.

[MaxMeanie]

gh3nklknnnnnnnnklnklnlgnnnnnnnnn mmmmmmmmmmmlmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm i koppupupy<----------Thats what my 2 year old thinks

gh3(doesn't deserve capital letters anymore) hasnt exactly blown anybody away with their dlc. They released something last weak which didnt excite me at all. Meanwhile i have bought everything RB.

[gsu_paintballer]

I heard Guitar Hero IV was going to be really based around Aerosmith and their music. Not sure how much truth there is to that, but Aerosmith really is my favorite band. I would be the happiest guy around if this was true about an upcoming Rock Band release. :P <3 Steven Tyler and the rest of the bunch.

I heard that too. That would be alot of songs that sound alot alike. I would never buy a game based solely on one band.

[Assault420]

A deal breaker for me to buy GH4 is a life sized Buckethead i can wear while a jam out. Kinda like the Master Chief helmet you get from buying the limited edition of halo 3.

[DesiredFX]

OMG I want one! And a motion sensetive tamourine that you have to hit and shake accordingly!

They actually could have set up the PS3 version to use the SIXAXIS in exactly the way you say, which would have been really cool.

Not that I would be any happier whacking my SIXAXIS than my microphone.

(Wow, I edited that line three times and it still sounds dirty.)

[nicko68]

A deal breaker for me to buy GH4 is a life sized Buckethead i can wear while a jam out. Kinda like the Master Chief helmet you get from buying the limited edition of halo 3.

Can't you just go to KFC? :)

[Manda]

They actually could have set up the PS3 version to use the SIXAXIS in exactly the way you say, which would have been really cool.

Not that I would be any happier whacking my SIXAXIS than my microphone.

(Wow, I edited that line three times and it still sounds dirty.)

Hmmm... or they could use the SIXAXIS technology in the microphone, nay? That would be equally effective.

[Huskie]

...

Not that I would be any happier whacking my SIXAXIS than my microphone.

(Wow, I edited that line three times and it still sounds dirty.)
Yes, yes it does.

[DesiredFX]

Hmmm... or they could use the SIXAXIS technology in the microphone, nay? That would be equally effective.

Well, yeah, but since they make the vocalist use the game controller anyway, it would be redundant development unless they actually slapped some buttons onto the mic, and we all know how convenient THAT would be.

However, a tam controller would be awesome. I would so totally Davy Jones that thing.

[drews97]

"I heard Guitar Hero IV was going to be really based around Aerosmith and their music."

No offense to you, but if I had any intention of buying GH4 (I don't), that would be a deal-breaker.

Activision will always be playing catch-up from now on. Keyboards? Cowbells? Whatever they do will be compared to Rock Band, and it's hard for me to imagine how they can improve upon it. I'm all for competition and the free market, but I wouldn't buy any ACTI stock is all I'm saying.

Improving on it would be easy. Rock Band is a first generation product. Just off the top of my head, they could 1. Have instruments that don't break 2. Have stand along instruments available at the time of game release 3. Have all controller compatibility issues worked out before the game ships 4. Simplify/streamline the menu systems and 5. Have a better on-line experience.

And let's be honest. GH III is still sold out everywhere. As a stand alone "fake" guitar game the GH series is better than RB. Rock band's strength is in it's multiplayer abilities. If you're looking for a solo game, however, GH is better, especially if you have no interest in the drums or singing. I'm sure GH IV won't have to worry too much. Brand name recognition alone is a big factor for it at this point.

[Manda]

However, a tam controller would be awesome. I would so totally Davy Jones that thing.

I had to look up what a TAM controller is and... well, I still don't know. I don't like having to use the controller cuz those batteries always die when I'm right in the middle of a song! I'd like to just mouth it into the mic "Start. Solo. Won't Get Fooled Again." and then it plays =D The only problem with vocal control is enunciation. Ever play... oh, it's a DS game. You have to name the color of the word on screen (it'll have the word red in blue, for example). It never recognizes "blue" unless I say "BLOOO".

[Charron]

I had to look up what a TAM controller is and... well, I still don't know. I don't like having to use the controller cuz those batteries always die when I'm right in the middle of a song! I'd like to just mouth it into the mic "Start. Solo. Won't Get Fooled Again." and then it plays =D The only problem with vocal control is enunciation. Ever play... oh, it's a DS game. You have to name the color of the word on screen (it'll have the word red in blue, for example). It never recognizes "blue" unless I say "BLOOO".

You're thinking of Brain Age, but I think by "tam controller" he means a tambourine.

[DesiredFX]

I had to look up what a TAM controller is and... well, I still don't know.

There's a TAM controller? I meant it as an abbreviation for "tambourine."

Voice recognition for navigation would definitely be a plus for this game, especially for dedicated vocalists.

It's less of an issue if you have a headset mic or have put your mic on a stand, but there's still the awkwardness of reaching for the game controller between songs, which is something the drummers and guitbass players don't have to deal with.

[Makomachine]

Improving on it would be easy. Rock Band is a first generation product. Just off the top of my head, they could 1. Have instruments that don't break 2. Have stand along instruments available at the time of game release 3. Have all controller compatibility issues worked out before the game ships 4. Simplify/streamline the menu systems and 5. Have a better on-line experience.

More specifically:

1) Online BWT mode
2) More reliable/durable peripherals
3) More 'advanced' drum kit with adjustment capabilities and more 'peices' - like a high hat, stand alone cymbals, etc.
4) Ship a complete 4 pce package - rather than leaving one out of the bundle
5) Better graphics
6) Dual modes where you don't have to have two sets of instruments.
7) More music content up front
8) Fix the one rocker, one instrument issue to allow for more flexibility
9) Backup vocal track capabilities
10) Better positioning of the vocal tracks for those that sing and play at the same time.

With all that said, I love RB! This is the reason why there will be a II & III version of this game - no game is perfect out of the shoot. I'll gladly pay for a revised version of the game with these improvements included.

[Manda]

There's a TAM controller? I meant it as an abbreviation for "tambourine."

Oh, Don't use abbrev! Anyhoo, yeah it's some weird looking device that I've never seen before. TAM must stand for something, though.

[michaeld]

I prefer RB, but obvioulsy you didn't see the sale numbers for GH this month
November 2007 Top 10 Video Games Rank # Units
360 CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE ACTIVISION (CORP) NOV 2007 MATURE (M) 1 1.57 million
WII SUPER MARIO GALAXY NINTENDO OF AMERICA NOV 2007 EVERYONE (E) 2 1.12 million
360 ASSASSIN'S CREED UBISOFT NOV 2007 MATURE (M) 3 980K
PS2 GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK ACTIVISION (CORP) OCT 2007 TEEN (T) 4 967K
WII PLAY W/ REMOTE NINTENDO OF AMERICA FEB 2007 EVERYONE (E) 5 564K
360 MASS EFFECT MICROSOFT (CORP) NOV 2007 MATURE (M) 6 473K
PS3 CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE ACTIVISION (CORP) NOV 2007 MATURE (M) 7 444K
WII GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK ACTIVISION (CORP) OCT 2007 TEEN (T) 8 426K
360 HALO 3 MICROSOFT (CORP) SEP 2007 MATURE (M) 9 387K
PS3 ASSASSIN'S CREED UBISOFT NOV 2007 MATURE (M) 10 377K

[Assault420]

I own all the GH games from ps2 to 360. I never said GH series sucked, and I would recommend for anyone to buy GH if you never played them. I just had a thought so thats why i made this post. I did not think anyone would take this topic seriously.

[DesiredFX]

I prefer RB, but obvioulsy you didn't see the sale numbers for GH this month
November 2007 Top 10 Video Games Rank # Units
360 CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE ACTIVISION (CORP) NOV 2007 MATURE (M) 1 1.57 million
WII SUPER MARIO GALAXY NINTENDO OF AMERICA NOV 2007 EVERYONE (E) 2 1.12 million
360 ASSASSIN'S CREED UBISOFT NOV 2007 MATURE (M) 3 980K
PS2 GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK ACTIVISION (CORP) OCT 2007 TEEN (T) 4 967K
WII PLAY W/ REMOTE NINTENDO OF AMERICA FEB 2007 EVERYONE (E) 5 564K
360 MASS EFFECT MICROSOFT (CORP) NOV 2007 MATURE (M) 6 473K
PS3 CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE ACTIVISION (CORP) NOV 2007 MATURE (M) 7 444K
WII GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK ACTIVISION (CORP) OCT 2007 TEEN (T) 8 426K
360 HALO 3 MICROSOFT (CORP) SEP 2007 MATURE (M) 9 387K
PS3 ASSASSIN'S CREED UBISOFT NOV 2007 MATURE (M) 10 377K
Notice a trend?

Those two versions of GHIII are for platforms for which RB wasn't released. Where is the 360 version, at the very least?

[michaeld]

It didn't make the top 10,and it sold 150k or something close I will find the exact number

[Faldrok]

If anyone took my previous post as to saying that I thing GH:IV is going to be better than Rock Band, well, I didn't mean for it to come off that way. I prefer Harmonix over ActiBlizzard and was sad when Harmonix wouldn't be making the Guitar Hero games anymore (But, hey, that feeling of sadness lasted a total of 30 seconds when, afterwards, I found out about Harmonix producing Rock Band, so...)

I was just stating how GH:IV can still survive, and that is with a more involved single player mode. Just like Rock Band can improve with a more involved multiplayer mode (And, with enough money/time could incorporate the single player as well).

Some examples: Let's say for a single player mode, you create your solo guitarist and are presented with a couple options as to which band you want to join. Mind you, these could be either low key bands that haven't gained popularity or entirely made up. Let's say there's three choices from the start. A metal band, a rock band, and a "pop"-like band. Whichever band you choose determines the songs you can play from the start according to that genre. You play through a bit, make the band bigger, become more popular and then are faced with a choice -- move on to a new band due to "creative differences" within this band or stick with it to make this band the "Best In The World". Etc. etc...

Now, something like this is probably a bit into the future as it'd require more than ~50 songs to be really replayable and fun, but I'm just saying that a company (Hell, even someone other than Harmonix/Activision can do something like that) and possibly run through some success with it. People like feeling involved and like they have a choice in the game -- with the Guitar Hero games (And single player in Rock Band), your only real choice is "What instrument/difficulty?" and "What order should I play these 5 songs in?" That's...it. Add more choice, more depth, and your game yields a higher replayability factor and bring in your audience more.

Note: This was just some random example that I came up with on the spot to just...well, I'm not exactly sure why I shared that. Something about the future of musical gaming or something like that. Sorry to disappoint if you thought this idea was actually put into practice already.

[michaeld]

You don't have to explain yourself, who gives a **** if someone thinks one game is better or another. People are entitled to opinions and anyone who would get worked up over such a stupid thing needs to re-evaluate their life.

[Charron]

I know the actual on Rock Band for 360 was 311,903 (http://www.thesimexchange.com/blogpost.php?post_id=455&r=313). Don't know NPDs on the PS3 version or either GH3 version.

[DesiredFX]

It didn't make the top 10,and it sold 150k or something close I will find the exact number

Thanks.

The fact that it didn't make the top 10 is kind of my point: competition with RB (which the PS2 and Wii versions didn't have) significantly impacted GHIII's sales on the 360 and PS3.

[michaeld]

Yeah you are right

And Charron is right about the number sold.

[Manda]

You don't have to explain yourself, who gives a **** if someone thinks one game is better or another. People are entitled to opinions and anyone who would get worked up over such a stupid thing needs to re-evaluate their life.

He's right, if anyone really gives a crap if you like Guitar Hero, or even like it more than Rock Band, then it just shows that they're far too wrapped up in the console/publisher/creator wars to think for themselves.

[q445187]

Any further output from any company with gh in the title will be irrelavent...

[thrdeye]

I know the actual on Rock Band for 360 was 311,903 (http://www.thesimexchange.com/blogpost.php?post_id=455&r=313). Don't know NPDs on the PS3 version or either GH3 version.

:gulp:

$53,020,390.97

[gh2masterwellalmost]

No one needs to be fanboys. It may beat it, it may not. Its not revelent right now.

Next plz...

[HyeJinx1984]

Actually an insider friend of mine at Activision told me what the next 2 Guitar Hero games will be... kinda interesting, and unexpected. Too bad it's confidential so I can't tell you.

[gh2masterwellalmost]

Actually an insider friend of mine at Activision told me what the next 2 Guitar Hero games will be... kinda interesting, and unexpected. Too bad it's confidential so I can't tell you.

Why do I think you're lying? Soz if you're not. But the fact you said just makes it seem unlikely. Oh and I have 6 words for you...

Guitar Villain. Drum Villain. Sing Villain.

[yoyojumpy]

I just thought of the perfect (and only) way for Activision to sell gh4.

Buy gh4 and get $50 off Rock Band!

[DesiredFX]

Actually an insider friend of mine at Activision told me what the next 2 Guitar Hero games will be... kinda interesting, and unexpected. Too bad it's confidential so I can't tell you.

Let's say this is true.

The only "interesting, and unexpected" things that would remotely tempt me to the franchise would have nothing to do with boss battles or celebrity stunt promotions and everything to do with making the charts feel like I'm playing music instead of just trying to move my hands as fast as possible.

[Raider87]

Nah RB won't kill GH4... seeing as how the guitar part is about 10x better than the guitar part in RB people will still be playing GH because not everyone wants to have to play with 4 people to have a fun with the game... a lot of people have gotten really good at GH and they want the challenge that RB just doesn't give them... but each game has its strengths and they're both good... but I can't imagine a bunch of RB fan boys with their tongues so far up HMX's ass to understand this...

[DesiredFX]

Nah RB won't kill GH4... seeing as how the guitar part is about 10x better than the guitar part in RB...

Matter of opinion. If you wanna say "10x harder," I'll go along with you, but I'll add "needlessly complicated, half as accurate, and not nearly as musical."

[gsu_paintballer]

Actually an insider friend of mine at Activision told me what the next 2 Guitar Hero games will be... kinda interesting, and unexpected. Too bad it's confidential so I can't tell you.

K.


because not everyone wants to have to play with 4 people to have a fun with the game...

Why would you have to? Wanna compare apples to apples? Solo Tour vs GH. There you go. If you choose to play alone, it IS JUST LIKE guitar hero.....

[4degrees]

I'm still waiting for Flute Hero

[Raider87]

K.



Why would you have to? Wanna compare apples to apples? Solo Tour vs GH. There you go. If you choose to play alone, it IS JUST LIKE guitar hero.....

It's not the same because the guitar part is just lame... and I'm not saying RB is a bad game by any means here... I'm just saying each game has it's own strengths... RB is undoubtedly a party game and is much more enjoyable playing with others where Guitar Hero can be just as fun solo and more challenging... I mean no one buys RB to play the guitar alone that'd be a huge waste... but nearly 85% of this forum decided GH3 sucked when they found out HMX wasn't behind and it's really getting annoying...

[DesiredFX]

It's not the same because the guitar part is just lame...

I've already told you at least three reasons why I like the RB guitar parts better than GHIII, and none of them have anything directly to do with GHIII not being a Harmonix product.

First of all, I really hate the set list for GHIII. I mean passionately. There are, at best, 20 songs out of 71 that I have any interest at all in playing, which means you could make the charts ideal for me so that I FC every song the first time through and I would STILL not enjoy the game.

Second--and this is an almost universal complaint--the GHIII charts are made to be hard for the sake of being hard. GH elitists who have been looking for a challenge ever since FCing every song in GH2 on Expert are the only ones who disagree with this. Everyone else sees additional 3-note chords that don't need to be there and lead and rhythm parts interwoven just to make things more difficult.

As a result, the GHIII charts end up being decidedly less musical simply for the sake of being more difficult to play, and I'm frankly not interested in just seeing how fast I can move my fingers.

GH and GH2 made me feel like I was playing guitar, whereas GHIII makes me feel like I'm playing a video game.

[gsu_paintballer]

It's not the same because the guitar part is just lame... and I'm not saying RB is a bad game by any means here... I'm just saying each game has it's own strengths... RB is undoubtedly a party game and is much more enjoyable playing with others where Guitar Hero can be just as fun solo and more challenging... I mean no one buys RB to play the guitar alone that'd be a huge waste... but nearly 85% of this forum decided GH3 sucked when they found out HMX wasn't behind and it's really getting annoying...

Speaking of annoying, lets not forget to mention all you people who dont seem to know that this is a rock band forum. Not a compare RB to GHIII forum.

[davidshek]

Actually an insider friend of mine at Activision told me what the next 2 Guitar Hero games will be... kinda interesting, and unexpected. Too bad it's confidential so I can't tell you.

Too bad this is all an obvious lie, because if there really was confidential information, he wouldn't have been able to tell you either :D

[Hanrahan89]

His insider friend could tell him but then he would have to kill him.

[Quinarvy]

Second--and this is an almost universal complaint--the GHIII charts are made to be hard for the sake of being hard. GH elitists who have been looking for a challenge ever since FCing every song in GH2 on Expert are the only ones who disagree with this. Everyone else sees additional 3-note chords that don't need to be there and lead and rhythm parts interwoven just to make things more difficult.

As a result, the GHIII charts end up being decidedly less musical simply for the sake of being more difficult to play, and I'm frankly not interested in just seeing how fast I can move my fingers.

GH and GH2 made me feel like I was playing guitar, whereas GHIII makes me feel like I'm playing a video game.

Yea, you can tell which games had MUSICIANS make it.

[Wangsandsuch]

Yes, RB is so much like real guitar. I learned Green Grass and High Tides in RB, then just picked up my guitar and was like hah, I can play this, and did.

[Quinarvy]

Yes, RB is so much like real guitar. I learned Green Grass and High Tides in RB, then just picked up my guitar and was like hah, I can play this, and did.

Yea, so did I.

The thing is, one is a guitar simulator.

One is a guitar game.

[Rock_Starman]

I had to look up what a TAM controller is and... well, I still don't know. I don't like having to use the controller cuz those batteries always die when I'm right in the middle of a song!

Use a wired one.

Another improvement they could make is get it out in Canada on time.

GH 3 sucks on expert and the battles just plain suck no matter what difficulty. That's what you get for hiring amatuers. Thankfully one thing they did right wich Harmonix never did was have the unlock codes actually save wich makes them useful for once.

[Manda]

Use a wired one.

Oh yeah, *ponoders* That is conveniently hidden under a flap like on the Wii, isn't it? As long as the cord is long enough to reach the couch, that is a much more reasonable idea.

[Wangsandsuch]

Not at all though.

[Rock_Starman]

Yea it's under the flap,dunno about the like the Wii part. The cord is about 10 feet long.

[Manda]

Wii has old controller hookups and memory card slots in it like the PS3 does, and they're under a flap... that I didn't notice was there for like a month after I bought it. It's kind of nice that way, though, since it's less lkiely to get dusty around the slot.