"Konami Sues Viacom Over `Rock Band' Music Video Game"..... pfffft.

[Samuel346]

Not gonna argue that there are 300 million douches in this country....I'm going to say that Konami are just being low.....

They're doing what any company would. I think the problem is people are considering it a "low blow" because they're doing it against a company/game we all love.

Sorry, but what do you have to gain by defending Konami? If they win this case that means less money for HMX to license bands with, and possibly blocking new peripherals. It's in the best interest of Rock Band players for HMX to come out ahead on this one, even if it's for our own personal benefit.

Sorry but I won't delude myself or reality just because it benefits me.

It may hurt us as customers- but if it's right, then it's right. Nothing can change that fact.

[fireshoes]

Viacom will just snap its fingers and Konami will be bought. Then they will fire the jerk-off execs, and then sell Konami's brand name to some company that makes cell phone games. PWN3D.

[Gryffindor]

Sorry, but what do you have to gain by defending Konami? If they win this case that means less money for HMX to license bands with, and possibly blocking new peripherals. It's in the best interest of Rock Band players for HMX to come out ahead on this one, even if it's for our own personal benefit.

Konami created a guitar simulator (Guitar Freaks) and a drum simulator (Drum Mania) long before Guitar Hero or Rock Band came along.

Harmonix and Konami used to work together on the Karaoke Revolution games but that partnership ceased about 2 games ago.

It's all going to come down to the patents. HMX has a patent on the strat but not on the drums.

As for the actual game play technology I doubt that would even be patentable considering how many games of all types are pretty much mirror images of each other.

I don't doubt for a second that they'll likely go after Activision next.

Then there's the whole thing with Gibson claiming that they own the patent for music games.

[HyeJinx1984]

Konami heard about Activision wanting to corner the market on music games, and decided 'no, we're going to be the a**holes!' and of course the only company with integrity in between gets caught in the crossfire.

[bse523]

Well, Konami did this a couple of years ago when they felt DDR was being threatened by a better 4 panel dancing game (In The Groove), they sued. And won. ITG3 was supposed to have been released but this lawsuit put that to a halt. They didn't settle, the proved they owned the patent and won outright.

Although Viacom probably has a bit more financial power than RoXor did. I'm honestly surprised Konami didn't lay the legal hammer down right after Guitar Hero 1.

[schmeankman]

Well, I'll make sure to never buy anything from Konami I guess. Completely sours me (and will sour all my friends when I tell them) on thier products.

[bse523]

They're the ones really guilty of trying to milk every last cent they can from crappy games. Yet people still buy their ****ty DDR home mixes, so I guess I can't completely blame Konami.

[Charged]

How much you bet that they ran out of money for Rock Revolution and are trying to come up with ways to scrap together the cash?

Konami Rep 1: Awww, crap, were broke. We spent way tooo much on Avril Lavigne

Konami 2: Well, damn. What are we going to do? Sell girl scout cookies?

Kon 1: Yeah! And we can also sell those frozen dinners. Lets get the QA team to start going door to door now!

Solid Snake: *long, slow inhale of cigarette*. *longer, slower exhale* You guys are fairies. Lets just sue some *****es.

I highly doubt Konami is broke simply because of the massive MGS4 release that just took place a month ago.


Unless all that money went to Kojima Studios? Not sure.

[Jordanonfire]

So you're admitting it's wrong but mad at the timing?



I would imagine they will.

IF they even have a case (which I doubt they do) - it's pretty damned obvious they waited until they would get a great amount of money out of any suit.
By delaying any action and not taking action against GH1 or 2, they basically gave HMX un-spoken permission to make these games.

[Samuel346]

Well, I'll make sure to never buy anything from Konami I guess. Completely sours me (and will sour all my friends when I tell them) on thier products.

Are you serious?

Are you f*cking kidding me?


Do you not understand the concept of stealing?

Technically, using a patent(without permission) is STEALING.

I don't care if you love the company who is stealing. STILL STEALING.