On Game Informer's insufferable tone and Activision's spiteful behavior
The latest game Informer explains that Guitar Hero 4 will change music games forever, but the whole article seems to be how it's copying Rock Band. Can someone help me with this? I'll give the highlights for those of you who can't be bothered to skim a copy:
On GH4 having drums, bass, vocals, and guitar: [I]"The natural evolution of the game is to add more instruments," observes Neversoft co-founder Joel Jewitt. "It's not like [Harmonix] even invented that. That's been out there for years in the arcades."[/I]
Can someone please link to such a game, where a song is played simultaneously on two different instruments? I've been to arcades from Las Vegas to Kyoto, and never seen such a game.
Then the article goes on to talk about a "Create-a-Rocker" mode like it's going to change the industry forever. Themes like goth and glam? Check. Facial paint/tattoos? Check. Custom designs using the exact same system as Rock Band? Check.
[I]Perhaps sensing that it's folly to fix something that isn't broken, the onscreen HUD for multiplayer is essentially identical to that of Rock Band.[/I] Does this sound like it [I]might be the next great step forward in the genre[/I]?
OK, the addition of Jam Over mode - each fret being tied to a certain note, and the notes following the chord progression, allowing improvisation - sounds pretty cool. But the tone of the article, lavishing praises of talent and originality, on what in the content of the article looks like a big "ME TOO" sticker, just plain pisses me off.
What pisses me off even more is that Activision continues to be obstructive by making sure that RB and GH controllers are mutually exclusive in compatibility. There's barely room in a home for one band set, and now they expect us to get another drum set? Even with cost out of the picture the logistics are daunting.
Not only do I ahve no interest, but for their obstructivism I honestly hope Activision is shooting itself in the foot. Unless they pull a miracle out of their ass (say, a dozen Led Zeppelin songs), I don't see myself caring about GH4 at all.
On GH4 having drums, bass, vocals, and guitar: [I]"The natural evolution of the game is to add more instruments," observes Neversoft co-founder Joel Jewitt. "It's not like [Harmonix] even invented that. That's been out there for years in the arcades."[/I]
Can someone please link to such a game, where a song is played simultaneously on two different instruments? I've been to arcades from Las Vegas to Kyoto, and never seen such a game.
Then the article goes on to talk about a "Create-a-Rocker" mode like it's going to change the industry forever. Themes like goth and glam? Check. Facial paint/tattoos? Check. Custom designs using the exact same system as Rock Band? Check.
[I]Perhaps sensing that it's folly to fix something that isn't broken, the onscreen HUD for multiplayer is essentially identical to that of Rock Band.[/I] Does this sound like it [I]might be the next great step forward in the genre[/I]?
OK, the addition of Jam Over mode - each fret being tied to a certain note, and the notes following the chord progression, allowing improvisation - sounds pretty cool. But the tone of the article, lavishing praises of talent and originality, on what in the content of the article looks like a big "ME TOO" sticker, just plain pisses me off.
What pisses me off even more is that Activision continues to be obstructive by making sure that RB and GH controllers are mutually exclusive in compatibility. There's barely room in a home for one band set, and now they expect us to get another drum set? Even with cost out of the picture the logistics are daunting.
Not only do I ahve no interest, but for their obstructivism I honestly hope Activision is shooting itself in the foot. Unless they pull a miracle out of their ass (say, a dozen Led Zeppelin songs), I don't see myself caring about GH4 at all.
Labels: industry
posted by Mr. Wallet at 5:41 PM
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