Official "Please make GH1/2/80's tracks available via DLC" thread.

[thrdeye]

With all of the compatibility issues between the Rockband, GH3, GH1/2/80's, hardware and software, I would VERY much like to see the GH1/2/80's song available for download for RockBand.

This would allow me to ditch the PS2 once and for all and cut down on clutter in the house. There's no reason we should have to have 5 different guitars and two different systems to play all of our Guitar Hero games.

I realize that GH3 is an anomaly here, with a different developer, and that's fine. However, I would think that the tracks that Harmonix were invovled with (GH1/2/80's) should be available.

I would not even be upset if I had to pay for these tracks (not anything outrageous mind you). $20 for each game's tracklist sounds about right to me. Additionally, I would also purchase an additional RockBand Strat if these were made available.

If you are with me, please respond with a hell yeah.

I am really missing my GH1 tracks :(

[Electric_Zen]

I would not even be upset if I had to pay for these tracks.

Wow, that's really big of you.

[thegame696911]

I agree with you, I would love to see some of the awesome music in GH 1 and 2 (not sure about the 80's) but I think u are underestimating the time and effort that goes into developing these songs again for Rock Band, 20 bucks for the whole setlist ? think higher my friend.

[thrdeye]

Wow, that's really big of you.

I guess it is. I just figure that I should be able to get some cash out of the PS2 which would directly translate to buying these tracks.

Not saying that they shouldn't be free, that would be great. But I wouldn't be pissed if I had to pay a little for them. $60 for three game's worth of tracks seems reasonable (to me) when GH 80's is still on the shelves at $49.99.

[Tyrsis]

I guess it is. I just figure that I should be able to get some cash out of the PS2 which would directly translate to buying these tracks.

Not saying that they shouldn't be free, that would be great. But I wouldn't be pissed if I had to pay a little for them. $60 for three game's worth of tracks seems reasonable (to me) when GH 80's is still on the shelves at $49.99.


I think you're missing his sarcasm... You seem as if you're being generous, saying that you'd pay for them. Of course you'd pay for them, and you'd pay an equivalent to what you paid for the XBOX360 DLC. Why should you be entitled to an artists music for free?

Because you paid for them once before? Go play them on the PS2 if you want to so bad.
Otherwise, pray they take your suggestion (they wont) and pay for it.

[stiper327b]

Well, the interesting thing would be the covers. Now that they've got master tracks from RHCP, Boston, The Ramones, etc, it'd be weird to go back to the covers.

And honestly, I don't know how the rights work, but HMX might have just had the rights for those games and those games alone. I doubt they were thinking about DLC four years down the line when they were securing the rights for the songs in GH1.

I would like, however, to see all the bonus tracks make their way to RB, especially the ones from GHI. Can you imagine how much fun it would be to sing along to Even Rats or All of This?

[Tyrsis]

Well, the interesting thing would be the covers. Now that they've got master tracks from RHCP, Boston, The Ramones, etc, it'd be weird to go back to the covers.

And honestly, I don't know how the rights work, but HMX might have just had the rights for those games and those games alone. I doubt they were thinking about DLC four years down the line when they were securing the rights for the songs in GH1.

I would like, however, to see all the bonus tracks make their way to RB, especially the ones from GHI. Can you imagine how much fun it would be to sing along to Even Rats or All of This?


Enormous amounts of fun? No doubt!
Feasibly possible? Doubtful.

You're looking at money for licensing the tracks, money to take the tracks, put them in RB, add bass/drums/vocals, and the QA it, submit it to Microsoft/SCEA/Nintendo...

Each track might end up being way too expensive for it to be worth it.

[admanimal]

I wouldn't mind a few of the better tracks from GH being DLC on RB. But for the most part I'd rather pay for new songs.

[thrdeye]

I think you're missing his sarcasm... You seem as if you're being generous, saying that you'd pay for them. Of course you'd pay for them, and you'd pay an equivalent to what you paid for the XBOX360 DLC. Why should you be entitled to an artists music for free?

Because you paid for them once before? Go play them on the PS2 if you want to so bad.
Otherwise, pray they take your suggestion (they wont) and pay for it.

Yes I did miss the sarcasm. I guess what I forgot to mention in my first post is that I don't care if the GH tracks are coded for rockband (i.e. I would be content with only playing the lead and bass parts).

I have a PS2 and two SG's, so playing the tracks is not a problem, however, with a PS3 and rockband in the house, I would like to get rid of the older stuff.

[stiper327b]

But the only way they're coming to DLC is if they fully take advantage of what Rock Band offers. Thus they have to code in the drum and vocal parts, and for the GHI tracks that weren't coded for GHII 360, add bass parts as well.

Since all of the GHI songs were covers, then they've at least got the master tapes. But since the covers were done by Wavegroup, and due to Red Octane being the publisher, I honestly don't know how much of that HMX owns anymore.

[admanimal]

The practical situation is this: Harmonix is not going to make GH tracks available for free or at any sort of discount as DLC for Rock Band just because they were in GH. If a track that previously appeared in GH happens to reappear in Rock Band, it will probably be a whole new version that they create mostly from scratch with all 4 parts, and the fact that it was in GH will be incidental (e.g. Ballroom Blitz).

[Supergeek]

Ignoring the effort that went into the production of the tracks from GH1, GH2, and GH80's in the first place, isn't licensing for these songs PER SONG? So Harmonix themselves have to give a kickback for each song they sell (major labels, at least).

So your $20 per game might put them in the red, depending on what their licensing fees are.

[Xzyliac]

All I want is FTK. And because that's a Harmonix band there's hope the Vagiant album is DLC.

[LongDarkBlues]

So your $20 per game might put them in the red, depending on what their licensing fees are.
In the black. 'In the red' is negative. :)

[Quastor]

What exactly makes this "official"? Under who's authority?


In the black. 'In the red' is negative. :)

Re-read that again. I believe he's saying at $20 per game set, Harmonix would be losing money.

[thrdeye]

What exactly makes this "official"? Under who's authority?



Re-read that again. I believe he's saying at $20 per game set, Harmonix would be losing money.

official as in consolidating any posts. If you want these tracks, this is the tread to let it be known.

[WiredRacing]

Yeah I would seriously like to have a number of the indie/in-house tracks for RB. I liked a lot of those tracks better than a lot of the licensed stuff.

I made the mistake when GH2 for the 360 was released of selling my PS2 GH and GH2 and both guitars under the "LOGICAL" thinking that ALL the GH1 tracks would be made available via DLC.. it seemed like a no brainer. Yeah well whomever was in charge of those decisions (Activision?) didn't agree. Or.. perhaps HMX held those rights, not the publisher and that's why... I dunno.. but I'd love to know.

Either way, I can't imagine most of those groups/bands wouldn't GIVE their stuff away for it to be put into another game, especially Rock Band. But yeah... maybe the market of people who'll buy unknown bands songs.. (I was thinking they should be bundled in with licensed tracks so they can ask GH2 prices yet have "Added value" with the indie tracks.)

All I can say is... THERE HAD BETTER BE SOME FREEZEPOP UP IN THIS MUTHA

[LongDarkBlues]

Oh - I guess I misunderstood. I'm pretty sure that since HMX is working on a royalty basis that the bands/labels get a percentage, not a flat rate, so I don't think it put HMX in a position to actually lose money.


THERE HAD BETTER BE SOME FREEZEPOP UP IN THIS MUTHA

I'm pretty sure that 'Brainpower' is in there - wasn't there some confirmation on MySpace or something? Maybe not.

[Xzyliac]

I'm pretty sure that 'Brainpower' is in there - wasn't there some confirmation on MySpace or something? Maybe not.

Yes! They confirmed it. Freezepop FTW!

Finally I can sing without emotion! I'll suck but who cares? I hope we get the Rokk Suite for DLC.

Freezepop forever!

[Edgehopper]

Obviously licensing is a concern with the licensed tracks from GH1/GH2, but I'm really hoping we see bonus tracks made into DLC. I'd pay $1-$1.5/song easy for all the previous Harmonix band songs to appear as Rock Band DLC. Obviously it takes time and work to make the drum and vocal charts and do animation mapping, but without having to pay heavy royalties, $1-$1.5/song for those bonus tracks should be easy money for Harmonix.

[bounchfx]

i'd much rather have new songs

[sporkBrigade]

I strongly disagree with the sentiment in this thread. Here's the deal. When you Liscense Bark At the Moon for GH1, it's for GH1. Not GH1 and any other games Harmonix feels like making. Just GH1. So no, they can't give you Bark At the Moon on Rock Band for free. Nor can they give it to you at a discount. It's going to be full price. If they released every song from GH1, they'd have to sell it for 60 dollars. Why? Because it's a new game, new liscense, new contract. Period.

So that's how it is, it's not gonna work any other way. No discounts, no freebies, just full fledged DLC or expansion packs at full price. Don't even waste a millisecond thinking it works differently, because it doesn't. Personally, I have zero interest in re-buying songs I've already played on Guitar hero, with very few exceptions. I loved soundtracks for GH1 and 2, and even a couple from 80s. But time spent bringing those songs to Rock Band is time taken away from bringing fresh new songs/bands. Liscensing dollars spent getting Bark At the Moon again is liscensing dollars taken away from other Ozzy/Black Sabbath songs that would be just as good and more fresh.

As time goes on, I'm sure there's going to be some repeat songs here and there, and that's fine. But if Harmonix wasted any significant time trying to rehash songs they've already done, I'd be strongly dissappointed. I'm sorry some people sold their old games or want to clear up space, but DLC has a lot more potential then revisiting what's already been done.

[Electric_Zen]

Oh - I guess I misunderstood. I'm pretty sure that since HMX is working on a royalty basis that the bands/labels get a percentage, not a flat rate, so I don't think it put HMX in a position to actually lose money.

It's been confirmed that the labels are paying iTunes royalty rates, which is 70 cents per song.

Since there are 108 main setlist songs on GH1, GH2, and 80s, it would cost Harmonix $75.60 just in royalties to offer all of these tracks in DLC.

The OP wants these for free, but he's willing to pay up to $60 because he's not greedy or anything.

[thrdeye]

The OP wants these for free, but he's willing to pay up to $60 because he's not greedy or anything.

Don't be an *******, ****stick.

[Coldplayer]

Please no. I think most of the songs in those games sucked, I want HMX to concentrate on better music for DLC.

[sporkBrigade]

Don't be an *******, ****stick.

Whoa, whoa. Sarcasm is fun, ****stick calling is just rude. Settle down for half a second, we all get made fun here.

I'll translate for you into something less offensive. Your original offer of 20 dollars for all GH1 songs is rejected based on the cost of bringing those songs to Rock Band. We the fans of Rock Band and I'm sure Harmonix are very sorry we couldn't work something out for you, but thank you for your overtures of generosity.

Can't we just be polite?

[thrdeye]

Say what you want. ****stick is, sadly, very underused in today's vocabulary.

edit: and I did mean it in the most polite sense of the word.