Guitar Hero II aims to have the most Marketplace content
by Jared Rea 
{ Feb 15th 2007 at 3:45PM }
In an interview that featured more ducked questions than a limbo contest at a mallard convention, Red Octane's Ted Lange managed to boast a little regarding their plans for Guitar Hero II and the Xbox Live Marketplace. When asked about the service, Lange points out that while they're still working on the fine details, Red Octane's current plans include having the most content available for any game to date. This can, of course, be a very good thing or a very bad thing. Still, a bold statement nonetheless.
What could Red Octane possibly offer in order to follow through with these plans? The most obvious chunk of content are songs from the original Guitar Hero, but it could also be anything from new characters skins to original songs. Our wallets can only hope that they recognize the thin line between what is a micro- and what is a macro- transaction.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
m bowen @ Feb 15th 2007 3:54PM
Bravo if this is done right. Naturally, I can't help but fear that hey'll go the EA route though. If we're expected to pay for guitars, skins and/or characters that could be unlocked through normal play on the PS2 version, gamers (including me), will hit the effing roof.
Please, let me be wrong Activision. I so desperately want to give you my money for worthwhile content (i.e. regular, new song updates).
Josh @ Feb 15th 2007 3:55PM
Great, thats all I need. Over $150 for the game and 2 guitars, and now I'll empty whats left of my savings on new songs. Guitar Hero, you will be the death of me...
KineticOnline @ Feb 15th 2007 3:55PM
Guitar Hero Thursdays anyone??
m bowen @ Feb 15th 2007 3:59PM
^^^Honestly, I'd be satisfied if they were able to release new song pack once a month. I think once a week is expecting a little too much.
KaneRobot @ Feb 15th 2007 4:07PM
I don't care. Unlike a lot of EA's games, GHII is MADE for stuff like this.
I'd rather have too much content and be able to pick and choose what I want, than be sitting here griping about how they never release anything (see XBox Live Arcade)
Jake @ Feb 15th 2007 4:05PM
As long as the game, without downloads, has as much or more content and value as the PS2 version, they can have as much downloadable content as they want. They had just better not basically release half a game and make you pay for the other half separately.
LunarDuality @ Feb 15th 2007 4:09PM
I think Jared hit an important point here. There is still a major amount of consumer confusion over the term "micro-transaction". People still think that expansion packs and "Premium Downloadable Content" falls into this category, but it does not.
Micro-transactions are things like $0.25 gamerpics and the like. Premium DLC can be an expansion pack, more multiplayer maps, or all new levels and that is how it (theoretically) justifies its higher price. I would easily spend $15 to get a pack of ALL the original Guitar Hero songs because I think it's worth it, but that kind of transaction was never intended to be considered a "micro-transaction".
That being said, RedOctane (and Activision) could easily slide down the slippery slope where each new in-game guitar or outfit is packaged seperately and costs $1 or more. Please prove me wrong!
Hoffer @ Feb 15th 2007 7:02PM
I've never played the first Guitar Hero. So, I hope they offer the songs from the first one on the marketplace. I'd gladly pay $20-30 for all of them.
Luke @ Feb 15th 2007 5:51PM
It's all good... as long as I get my Tenacious D add-on pack.
3cubedminus3squared @ Feb 15th 2007 4:41PM
If they add Spanish songs, I might buy this game.
Supino @ Feb 15th 2007 4:53PM
As people mention already. This game is MADE for marketplace.
But it better have good value out of the box...
joe smith @ Feb 16th 2007 11:58AM
A huge library of music would be the obvious choice. The base game comes with a nice selection, but out of it, how many of the songs are you really going to love? I foresee packs of songs in all sorts of rock genres including licensed stuff from bands.
Zuko @ Feb 15th 2007 5:20PM
According to CheapyD with the debug units, IdolM@ster has/will have 140 pieces of downloadable content... that's a lot of songs.
Zuko @ Feb 15th 2007 5:21PM
Woops meant to say a lot of songs GH2 will need to out-do IdolM@aster.
Martez @ Feb 15th 2007 5:26PM
First, that pic is hilarious.
Second, I won't buy new guitars, venues, or characters. Those should be unlockables and awards for doing well. But I WILL buy a whole assload of songs. So if they do it right, they're going to make more money than they already have.
So, to recap: There's a new, say, Deep Purple song to download. Besides that, if you get a 5-star rating on expert or hard, you get a new guitar or skin for an existing one. Rock it perfect on Expert and you get a new character. I think that'd be an awesome model for GH360.
REUYL @ Feb 15th 2007 5:31PM
"...Red Octane's current plans include having the most content available for any game to date."
In other words, the game will include 5 songs and the other hundred will be available to download for $.99 each.
Lewis @ Feb 15th 2007 6:15PM
werd? cant wait
http://www.gaminglagoon.com/?ref=5298
free marketplace point yo
nullset2 @ Feb 15th 2007 7:51PM
It prints money!
Eric @ Feb 15th 2007 9:25PM
Well since Ridge Racer 6 has 83 individual items (at last count) and Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 has an even $400 worth of content, either way he means it, that is a bold statement. However it's done, it will probably be bad. More and more often, "micro-transactions" are just developers trying to fleece gamers for more money without actually giving them much. Cool idea, but thus far abused my most, especially EA and Itagaki.
Saneless @ Feb 16th 2007 11:16AM
I would definitely pay for GH1 songs with GH2 mechanics.
Hell, I'd pay for Frequency songs with Amplitude mechanics.
I hate harmonix - make a great game with great music, then make an even better game with shit music.
JJC @ Feb 16th 2007 10:57AM
i have only played guitar hero in the store (dont have a ps2, have a ps3 but i guess it doesnt work with it). i completely suck at it, but i want it desperately. i cant wait to f up guns n' roses and all of the old rock from these games. even if it hurts my ears...
Does DoA really have $400 in extra content? thats fucking insane.
Sidepocket @ Feb 16th 2007 10:37PM
I just realised looking at this picture, that Microsoft is extreamly stupid looking when they try to be "bad" and "cool".