Response to Questions about Viacom Selling Harmonix

[Andyy]

I'm not convinced a deal with Activision is as bad as everyone believes.

Product consolidation (assuming Rock Band/DLC survives), end of exclusivity, less glut of products (better release cycles) ...

It might work out ... just maybe ... maybe? :-)

I gotta admit I'm with you on this one, if they did something like they did with Bungie it would be ideal. Great distribution for a great developer. But is HMX as big in the masses as Bungie? No, sadly it's not as recognisable.

[AtreyuKun]

I'm not convinced a deal with Activision is as bad as everyone believes.

Product consolidation (assuming Rock Band/DLC survives), end of exclusivity, less glut of products (better release cycles) ...

It might work out ... just maybe ... maybe? :-)

But I hate hate the GH engine. Hate the way it plays and looks. They wouldn't keep the games separate; it would all be GH more than likely. Right?

[Ledgo2]

I'm not convinced a deal with Activision is as bad as everyone believes.

Product consolidation (assuming Rock Band/DLC survives), end of exclusivity, less glut of products (better release cycles) ...

It might work out ... just maybe ... maybe? :-)

The issue with Activision is probably the fact we would end up having either Guitar Hero or Rock Band. Whichever series they don't want will be left behind and the other will continue. That's not good for some folks who've spent alot of money into one of the games. Plus, competition breeds innovation. Without that, the favored series would go stale. That's also very bad.

[JetWolf]

This is obviously worrying news, as is any news that rocks the proverbial boat. I'll be waiting for any update Drake has for us. My first thought - maybe EA? HMX already has a relationship with them, and I'm pretty pleased (at least from my outside view) with how EA handles other franchises, such as everything Bioware does.

So yes, anxious but very hopeful. This could turn out to be a great thing.

[DesiredFX]

I'm not sure what HMX's value is if the Rock Band IP isn't included in the sale...

Basically, they're a company that helped lightning strike by Americanizing a Japanese game. Then they went off and expanded that game into Rock Band.

The rest of the IPs don't have nearly the profile of GH and RB, so I imagine from a business perspective that HMX looks kind of like a one-trick pony that just happens to do its one trick better than any other pony in the world. Separating HMX from the RB IP would spell death for both.

[DeadManDrumming]

I'm not convinced a deal with Activision is as bad as everyone believes.

If they could mix RB/GH into one and keep all gameplay distinct so that both parties live happy with their investment than sure. Investments include ION with all 3 cymbals / Pro guitars / Keyboard / Harmonies.

I can really see GH wanting a pro mode for Guitar. Harmonies shouldn't be that hard. The others now.....

In a perfect world though....

[Flawless]

The best possible outcome is that Apple (The company, not the lovable scallywag moderator) buy Harmonix.

Rock Band - iTunes connection and bundle deals on purchases.

... no?

[Benaresu]

Please don't let Activision buy this. We all see what happened to the GH Series.
Long Live Harmonix!

This. I don't want to see 10 Rock Band games come out in 2011.

[babywolfman]

I don't care if POP CAP buys Harmonix, so long as we continue to get DLC. I'd hate to think that some of us just invested in new instruments (especially PRO instruments) for a platform that will be decommissioned by March.

[Shredded]

But I hate hate the GH engine. Hate the way it plays and looks. They wouldn't keep the games separate; it would all be GH more than likely. Right?

I guess it would depend on disc and DLC sales. It's all about money, after all.

We would find out what the new product would be once holiday sales have completed.