Response to Questions about Viacom Selling Harmonix

[HMXJohnD]

Hi Guys:

We’ve seen a lot of questions pop up in response to Viacom's statements this morning regarding their intention to sell Harmonix. We’ve posted this thread to respond to those questions. Please keep your forum conversations regarding this matter in this thread. We’ll check in throughout the day as we’re able.

This morning’s announcement does not affect the ongoing work at the studio as we continue to support our existing franchises, Rock Band and Dance Central. As stated earlier, Viacom is in discussions with several potential buyers and will continue to fully support the business until a sale is completed.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please post them in this thread. If you’re a member of the media with inquiry, you can reach out to us at press@harmonixmusic.com. (Please don’t email this address if you’re not from a press outlet).

[HMXJohnD]

UPDATE, 12/23/10

Hey Guys:

We’re happy to confirm the news today that the sale of the company is complete. We appreciate all of your support, comments and warm wishes in the preceding few weeks.

Viacom and MTV Networks have been an amazing home for us over the past 4 years. It’s where we launched both Rock Band and Dance Central, worked with The Beatles, Green Day, AC/DC, The Who and thousands of other artists. We want to take a moment to thank everyone in that organization who helped make these awesome games possible.

We’re excited to be returning to our roots as an independent and privately owned studio. As for what it means for you, the DLC schedule marches on for Rock Band, we will continue our support of previously released titles and we’re hard at work on some unannounced projects that we think you’re going to be pumped about.

Thanks for your continued support and stay tuned for more information here on RockBand.com, over @RockBand on Twitter and at http://www.facebook.com/RockBand.

Yours,
Harmonix



Previously Posted in November on the day of the announcement of the sale -
Regarding potential publishers, it’s premature to discuss specific publishers at this time, though we look forward to working with Viacom to find the best home for our studio. Please keep speculation about that to a minimum in this conversation.

Many of you have asked about DLC. To be clear, our earlier statement that we will continue to support our existing franchises holds true and work at the studio is not affected by this announcement. RB DLC will continue unabated. We’re excited to confirm that The BeeGees are our next DLC pack.

Some of you have been chiming in about our different partners and what this announcement means for [the Fender Squier/Mad Catz Hardware/EA Distribution]. Those partnerships are unaffected by this announcement with regards to existing titles.

Most importantly, Rock Band and Dance Central will continue to be worked on at Harmonix for the foreseeable future. We’re not leaving them behind.

More to come!

[libregkd]

We’re excited to confirm that The BeeGees are our next DLC pack.

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So long as HMX games, and therefore Rock Band franchise and its DLC, remains available on my console (PS3) I will continue to support them through whatever they put me through.

[BevoTheWarrior]

While I'm certainly curious and slightly concerned about this news, I'm not gonna worry about it until there's something to worry about (if that ever happens). For now it's business as usual. I'm still digging the game, playing it constantly and buying DLC regularly. And The Bee Gees?? Are you serious?! Can't wait for next week!

[DavyinaToga]

Wow, can I say that Viacom has some of the worst timing EVER? Because they do.

First, they held back the big bonuses they promised to HMX right around the end of the year. Last year, there was that big round of layoffs right before the holidays. Now, less than three weeks from Black Friday, this comes up to scare off consumers. Are they running on a Chinese calendar, or do they just hate Christmas?

The reason conglomerates care so much about money is because of all the unnecessary paychecks they pay to people who do nothing but command all the little companies in their control. Heck, Alex and Eran should just buy HMX back. They're an established name in the industry, with plenty of connections built over the past several years. It could work.

[Dragonclaw]

I could actually see a few possible scenarios...

EA - It makes sense with them already doing the distrobution of the game. Deep enough pockets to afford to buy and keeps the possibility that everything Rock Band remains at the status quo we have now...

MICROSOFT - If suddenly DLC went XBox only I think there would be riots...I could see them still putting DLC on the Playstation and Wii under the HMX name with RB4 being exclusive to XBox when the next generation of consoles debuts.

ACTIVISION - This is the scary one because anything could happen...we could drop to just occasional DLC, it's the support after the games release that is the major concern to me...I don't think just having one game is a bad thing (Though I'd prefer EVERYTHING export to one if they could find a way...)

and the one no one has mentioned....WARNER BROS. (you know them...they own the husk of Midway...). While I'm sure that got a lot of WTF are you thinking...they DO have the backing of Time Warner, and that means they have some music licenses of their own to come to the table with...maybe some of those bands that are elusive whenever Viacon and Warner don't see eye to eye of money...Sure it's a big long shot IMHO, but I wouldn't count them out entirely...

[Flan26]

Heck, Alex and Eran should just buy HMX back. They're an established name in the industry, with plenty of connections built over the past several years. It could work.

That's actually what I figured was going to happen. That Harmonix had enough money to buy themselves out from under Viacom.

Either way, the sky isn't falling, so I don't think we need to worry.

Except for us PS3 and Wii users, now that you've all made us paranoid with the Microsoft talk...

[Sayburr]

Most importantly, the Rock Band and Dance Central will continue to be worked on at Harmonix for the foreseeable future. We're not leaving them behind.

That is, without a doubt, the most important thing.

[HyeJinx1984]

That is, without a doubt, the most important thing.

Agreed. This made everything better.

[Fro-Mann]

Most importantly, the Rock Band and Dance Central will continue to be worked on at Harmonix for the foreseeable future. We’re not leaving them behind.

Thanks for the info, I was really worried about that for the past few hours. Keep the series alive, keep it multi-platform. Rock on Harmonix. Rock on.