Rock Band - Smash Hit or Cult Favourite?

[gh2masterwellalmost]

Just a quick vote to see what you think.

[IErrantVentureI]

I don't get it..?

[sushi111]

A bit of both

[gh2masterwellalmost]

I don't get it..?

I'm asking how it'll sell.

[lithiumkc]

It'll have a massive cult following as GH1 and 2 did. It'll also sell like crazy I think and reshape that genre. It's going to be a bomb game for sure.

[Chthonic]

I'm hoping it will be a smash hit, because we don't often see such ambitious projects in the rather "play-it-safe" oriented gaming market. But we shall see.

[IErrantVentureI]

Oh, never mind. When I looked at this thread the poll wasn't up.. Weird.

I don't think it will sell unfreakin' believably well, due to the pricing. The average consumer wants more for less.

I think it will do well though.

[lithiumkc]

Okami was boring as hell by the way.

[gh2masterwellalmost]

Okami was boring as hell by the way.

It was the only thing I could think of. At second thought, Ico would have been a better choice...

[masterx1918]

It won't sell like crazy right away. The gutiar hero's never really sold like crazy right at release. Once people see the game and play it in a store or at a friend's house is when they get interested and buy iy

[gh2masterwellalmost]

It won't sell like crazy right away. The gutiar hero's never really sold like crazy right at release. Once people see the game and play it in a store or at a friend's house is when they get interested and buy iy

Agreed. Thx for all the opinions, keep em coming...

[Apples]

Based on an incomplete picture, Rock Band has the following things going in its favor.

* It has the opportunity to round up the entire guitar hero fanbase, based on the guitar and drum mechanics.

* It also has the opportunity to reach a mainstream market based on the popularity and familiarity of the song setlist. This is similar to how the Nintendo Wii reached out of "core" gamer market with its offerings.

* It has a proven veteran staff and significant financial backing to support it.


It also faces significant challenges:

* Finding acceptable price points that the market will accept.

* Finding a large enough following to support the ambitious download strategy it wants to deploy.

* It has to compete with a wave of knock-off rhythm products, including the popularity of the franchise it created.

[sushi111]

Okami was boring as hell by the way.

Yeah it was.

Great game, but it was so friggin boring.

[ThePaska]

I'm fairly confident that Rock Band is going to be a huge hit, and probably sell extremely well. I know just about everyone I tell about it is excited for it, and keep asking me when it is coming out.

[Keebler]

I'm kinda worried that the $200 price point is gonna turn people away - even though individual instruments can be bought for individual campaigns. I hope the game is marketed as both a band game AND an individual game for vocals/guitar/drums. Otherwise, I think GH3 will continue to reign supreme based on price and name recognition. It seems like outside of this site, a lot of people are undecided or not interested (based on the comments being made at sites like IGN and Gamespot every time news is posted). It seems like most people don't know that you don't have to buy every instrument and the $200 price point is only if you want everything.

I'd like to see Rock Band kick GH3's ass this holiday season, but I have a feeling that is not how it is going to turn out.

[toelessfoot]

I think it'll sell well but won't come close to how GH3 sells. Like someone said, they have to market it for the stand alone careers aswell. Especially the drums where they could have a similar pricepoint to GH3 with drums and disk and still have an edge because it's something new and expandable. Just my opinion.

[gh2masterwellalmost]

I think it'll sell well but won't come close to how GH3 sells. Like someone said, they have to market it for the stand alone careers aswell. Especially the drums where they could have a similar pricepoint to GH3 with drums and disk and still have an edge because it's something new and expandable. Just my opinion.

I dont think its quite as marketable - It took until GH2 for the brand to be strong. A new brand - I mean, most gamespot members (look under GH or RB columns in the comments section) barely know RB, let alone the non-hardcore gamers...

[Riboflavin]

GH1 would have sold better when it first came out if they could have kept up with the demand.

i worked at a game crazy when it came out and we had it out on demo and everyone in the store would stop and watch it and ask if we had it (Especially for Christmas). we had a good waiting list for more units, but werent supplied very many.

If stores can get the game out on demo...and MTV puts their hype machine on it...it will sell very well, but not the top game of the season due to its price and other quality games that will be coming out (Mario...Smash Bros, ect.)

[lithiumkc]

GH1 would have sold better when it first came out if they could have kept up with the demand.

i worked at a game crazy when it came out and we had it out on demo and everyone in the store would stop and watch it and ask if we had it (Especially for Christmas). we had a good waiting list for more units, but werent supplied very many.

If stores can get the game out on demo...and MTV puts their hype machine on it...it will sell very well, but not the top game of the season due to its price and other quality games that will be coming out (Mario...Smash Bros, ect.)

Where I live.. nobody bought it. I asked my old job to put up a display and told them theyd sell soooo many... but they wouldn't listen to a lowly peon.

Months later, Future Shop put a display of guitar hero 2 up and it was out of stock repeatedly.

Ergo,

1. Listen to people who know their video games
2. ???
3. Profit

[defmonkey]

I think it will have the cult following like GH1 did.

Then with word of mouth and people bringing it to friends houses and whatnot, its gonna get huge.

Thats what I think.

[Bobble]

It won't sell like crazy right away. The gutiar hero's never really sold like crazy right at release. Once people see the game and play it in a store or at a friend's house is when they get interested and buy iy

I have to disagree, Rock Band is building off of the popularity of GH1 and 2, it isn't technically starting out from scratch like GH was. Also, this game has received a lot more coverage than GH did, with all the big names talking about it and being on board with their master tracks and albums and being affiliated with MTV, this game will get a lot more cheap and free publicity. Pretty much anyone who liked GH has no reason not to like RB, but people that hated GH might still like RB, why? cause it offers group activity, online play, and different instruments. Aren't coordinated enough to hold a fret and strum but have the voice of an angel? That's ok! Pick up the mic! Love bass but hate the pisspoor songs that GH2 had for bass with the coop mode? That's fine! RB has songs with the bass kept in mind!! Like the idea of the game but dislike guitars? That's ok! Try the drums! There's a lot of reasons why people that didn't like the other games would still give this one a shot and pretty much 0 reasons why someone who did like GH wouldn't like RB. It offers the guitar, which is pretty much all GH was about, and more. You still have your face-offs and co-op, and solo mode if you want to be a loner and just wail like a banshee on your guitar, but you also have the option of others and options are always good. This sucker will sell!

I think it'll have a major problem though, people fighting over what they wanna be. GH+GH2 have created way too many wanna-be lead guitarists, not enough bassists or vocalists for that matter. I'd have included drummers but in my particular situation, I have my choice of 4 would-be drummers, 1 bassist, 0 vocalists and 1 lead.

[cmg4894]

Going to be a cult hit until early '08. When people start to realize what they can do and there is a good DLC library, then it will be huge.

[gh2masterwellalmost]

DLC though... its gonna be so expensive. I get £30 a month to support my guitar, my games and other "neccessities" (using the term loosely :D), and if I'm gonna be shelling out £10 a month on downloads, count my out.

Guitar playing sorta puts my guitar hero to the back (let alone the trade in counter at GAME), and I'm sure the drums will be fun, but real music really does beat rhythm games. I mean, when I played Smoke on the Water on GH1, you should have seen my giddyness. Then, I see just how easy it is in real life, it put water on the guitar hero fire.

But, drums are certainly something my parents have said no to having, this is the next best thing.

Anyway, thanks for your vote, keep it coming.

[ThuDogFood]

I believe because so many GH fans and the press are behind it, that it will sell well at launch, and then get better as other people see it.

However, because of the price, and new name (which thankfully won't be an issue after a month or so), it won't be a chart topper

[gh2masterwellalmost]

I believe because so many GH fans and the press are behind it, that it will sell well at launch, and then get better as other people see it.

However, because of the price, and new name (which thankfully won't be an issue after a month or so), it won't be a chart topper

Cool, sounds reasonable enough.

[Edgehopper]

A lot will depend on the advertising and retailers. If every Best Buy, Circuit City, Gamestop, etc., sets up a Rock Band demo in their stores, it'll sell. People will be resistant to buying a $260 game without a demo first, which will be a challenge for pushing past the Guitar Hero-players.

If Viacom blankets its TV networks with Rock Band advertising, the sky's the limit. I hope they do.

[Young_Nastyman]

1. Listen to people who know their video games
2. ???
3. Profit

Lithiumkc, the official Rock Band Gnome :p

[IErrantVentureI]

A lot will depend on the advertising and retailers. If every Best Buy, Circuit City, Gamestop, etc., sets up a Rock Band demo in their stores, it'll sell. People will be resistant to buying a $260 game without a demo first, which will be a challenge for pushing past the Guitar Hero-players.

If Viacom blankets its TV networks with Rock Band advertising, the sky's the limit. I hope they do.

Gamestops are pretty small, I doubt there will be room for a full set-up, will there?

[parastroke7]

First of all, no way this would ever be a cult hit. This thing is gonna be all over TV, all over the radio, you won't even be able to navigate the interweb without seeing a million "Hit the monkey for a FREE Rock Band bundle!" ads. Everyone's going to know about it.

Second, in order to figure out whether this will "sell like no tomorrow" or will just "sell well", you must think of how many people own or have connections to a PS3 or a 360. If a lot of people have 360's and or PS3s, then they will have no reason to not get Rock Band. A lot of people buy things they don't need that are far more expensive than Rock Band (Not saying that we don't need RB ). Whether people will see it as "just a neat little toy", or a "hobby", or just a "party game", lots of people will have this game.

Lastly, the fact that you can sing draws a lot of attention. There are a lot of people who could give the ass of a rat less if it was just bass, guitar, and drums. However, with this "singing" involved, all of these terribly-voiced, tone deaf wangsters can play a guitar hero-esque game, FINALLY. Think about it. Singing is everywhere. In the shower, on the sh&tter, in the car, in bars, insane asylums, virtually everywhere. Everyone loves singing. This is partially why Harmonix made the move to involve singing, I'm sure. To reach a widespread interest.

There, a lengthy little captain-obvious explanation of what I think. Obviously, I voted that this game is gonna sell like hotcakes, because it is.

[the_spike]

Most people think it's only available in the ~$200 bundle and is 4 player only so they won't even bother looking into it.

[Keebler]

Most people think it's only available in the ~$200 bundle and is 4 player only so they won't even bother looking into it.

Yep. Exactly. Which is why they will need some ingenious marketing to win those sour pusses over.

Perhaps a tagline, such as "Choose your favorite instrument, master it, and then rock the world in a band." Something that says you play whichever instrument you want individually. And if you want the band experience, too, then you can do that as well.

[Axel32]

I think it will sell well but not top the holiday charts... there are a lot of other games coming out this Holiday season that should be EPIC to watch and see who comes on top. My vote's for either Halo 3, or Assassin's Creed and Rock Band right on their tails followed by GHIII

[blue_dragonzero]

What Harmonix should be worried about is that most people will think that it's a GH knockoff. So over the title they should put, "It's from the f'ing creators of GH and definately not a knock off!".