Is Guitar Hero breakin' the law? Breakin' the law?
by Justin McElroy 
{ Apr 5th 2007 at 3:26PM }
If Game Stooge had its way, these guys wouldn't be the only ones with Guitar Hero-related legal woes. It may be a little hard to swallow, but a recent editorial on the site makes the assertion that having to unlock songs in the game before you can play them is an illegal practice -- "quite illegal".The piece insists that the reward for mastering hot licks should not be the rest of the game, but bonuses like the achievements system of Xbox 360. Although Game Stooge doesn't say so, it's an argument that could be extrapolated to most games, which often require completing one stage before playing the next.
It's here that the plot sort of gets lost, when Game Stooge suggests that advertising more features than are immediately available is actually illegal. The idea is almost kind of cute, like your mom suing you for not honoring the "Good for 10,000 World-Class Backrubs" coupon you made her when you were seven.
But before Game Stooge proves that there's nothing more rock 'n' roll than an understanding of the legal system gleaned from Phoenix Wright, does the editorial have a point? If you buy a game, should you be able to do whatever you want with it from the word "go"? Or should you, like a young Stevie Ray Vaughn, have to play until your calluses fall off and then glue them back on?
[Update: The Law of the Game, new kid on the sparsely populated legal video game blog block, tackles the GameStooge editorial, with real-sounding legal terminology. You go, Matlock!]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jason @ Apr 5th 2007 3:34PM
I don't think everything needs to be unlocked at the start, but they should at least be nice enough to toss out a cheat code to unlock all levels.
Jason @ Apr 5th 2007 3:34PM
I'm used to that with a mission-type game, but GH2 is almost a party game. I saw the songs on the back, but only 10 songs are available to start the game. I think you should get to play whatever you want in practice mode, if only to show it off to others and let them try a song they like.
Jason @ Apr 5th 2007 3:36PM
Can I change my name?
Saneless @ Apr 5th 2007 3:37PM
I think games like Rez do it right:
You can do all these achievements to unlock things. Or, for most of them, they'll unlock after x amount of hours for one thing, then x+2 more for another, then X+4 for another, etc.
My biggest beef, however, is with multiplayer games. I SHOULD NOT have to play a game for hours and hours when all I want to do is play things multiplayer. Think Monkey Ball. If I rent it to play minigames with friends, we're basically standing around like retards finishing single player levels just so we can have a few multiplayer ones available.
Save single-player game unlocking to single-player content. That's just fine.
As for the gamestooge article, you SHOULD be able to unlock EVERYTHING on easy mode. Not everyone is gifted, and frankly, if you aren't good enough to play medium or hard you should still have all the songs. I know that I will never play all of them on Easy because it's boring and is an awful game mode, but not everyone will think that.
Revolution @ Apr 5th 2007 3:37PM
Game stooge is fucking retarded and anyone that needs all of the levels unlocked right off the bat, also needs to wear a helmet. Make sure that the helmet is hot pink so that we all know who you are.
Draco @ Apr 5th 2007 3:37PM
That really irritated me about GH, a friend of mine brought his game over, but forgot his memory card, so we had to play through the entire game on all the difficulties just to play the songs we wanted (he playd on hard, I played on easy, then I played on medium)
I started so bad at the game I couldnt beat the songs on the second level, so I had to play easy, then having to unlock all the songs again on level 2 was a pain, quite irritating, illegal maybe not.
Cheat codes would have been really nice.
Aaron @ Apr 5th 2007 3:41PM
This reminds me of "The Lost World" video game for PS1 back in the day. The whole reason I bought that game was for what it said on the back: YOU CAN PLAY AS THE T-REX!!! Hell yeah, I thought to myself. Then I stick the game in, and I have to go through a bunch of stinking hard levels as a compy, the rodent of dinosaurs. Not to mention a level as human prey (?). I had to wait to get the cheat codes, and I was bloody pissed off by that point.
JodyAnthony @ Apr 5th 2007 3:40PM
thats stupid. What if someone doesnt have the free time to play all the songs? people have jobs and families too. not everyone can set aside dozens of hours to unlock everything in a game the right way.
Scott @ Apr 5th 2007 3:41PM
Make sure to check out the comments attached to that Game Stooge article. Most of the writers for the site have chimed in disagreeing with what the author wrote. The article represents only the author's opinions, not the website.
Jason @ Apr 5th 2007 3:42PM
What? You have to unlock them on each difficulty level? Shit... If you do it in Medium, will Easy be unlocked for any noob guests that want to try it out?
See, I showed my wife it had GnR and stuff and then, whoops, can't play them yet, sorry!
Todd @ Apr 5th 2007 3:43PM
Interesting premise. So if you buy the game but are unable to "find" the hidden songs that the game company swears are available, then can you sue them for failing to deliver?
On a side note: Does owning this game allow you to own the MP3 of each song? In that, when you buy a music CD you have the right to convert the songs over to your MP3 Player. If you are unable to rip the songs, for whatever reason, you still can download the songs already converted because you do, in fact, own the album. So does owning the game constitute owning an album of songs, of sorts?
Pikachelsea @ Apr 5th 2007 3:45PM
This is hilarious. I guess almost every game ever made is illegal, since you have to beat level 1 before you can play level 2, and then beat level 2 before you can play level 3, etc. Unlocking stuff (including new levels and content) is practically the foundation that videogames are built upon. What an absolute joke.
Revolution @ Apr 5th 2007 3:47PM
JodyAnthony,
I usually agree with everything that you say but in this instance I can't. I opened all of GH2's songs in one night. I work 9 hours a day, am married, and have a 3 year old. I don't have the time to beat several games so I DON'T BUY THEM. Cheat codes should never HAVE to be considered. Just my opinion here
sheppy @ Apr 5th 2007 3:47PM
Full Auto did it right. People may hate the game but when you go online or do multiplayer, all the cars, weapons, and tracks are unlocked. That should be the way multiplayer modes are. Everything unlocked for the multiplayer experience. And anyone who thinks this is a stupid idea never had to put the time and effort needed to unlock all the characters in Marvel versus Capcom 2....
Plaid Ninja @ Apr 5th 2007 3:49PM
Game Stooge must be jealous and bitter because they suck too hard too open any tracks.
Every game has rules. If you don't want to play by the rules then don't play. Game Stooge sounds like the spoiled brat who cries to his mommy every time he doesn't get his way.
Illegal.... stupidity should be illegal.
Jonathan Tran @ Apr 5th 2007 3:54PM
I could see this being annoying. I have gotten racing games only to find out the car I wanted to drive was the 2nd to last in the game to unlock, even though it was no faster than any others. It was annoying but also made me try real hard to learn the game.
Then a couple months later I got a new computer and couldn't figure out how to transfer the save file and had to start from scratch. THAT was annoying.
Matt @ Apr 5th 2007 3:59PM
Yellow, blue, green, green, blue, yellow, yellow.
STFU - not illegal.
vadermaggot @ Apr 5th 2007 3:58PM
I agree with Revolution. Hot pink helmets.
bm @ Apr 5th 2007 3:58PM
Yeah, I'm... going to go with "retarded" here.
I bet these are the same kind of people who argue you should have every single weapon available from the start in an FPS. Or some fucking retarded bullshit like that.
Mark Felps @ Apr 5th 2007 3:59PM
This is completely idiotic. It would mean not only couldn't you do unlockable levels and characters, it would require a "Choose Your Level" on every game, otherwise you're being blocked by the ending because you haven't beat it yet. That's what people want, a way to skip to the end of every RPG ever made and a complete destruction of any kind of storyline. Idiots.
Brian @ Apr 5th 2007 3:59PM
the Wario game for the Wii pissed me off. I bought it for a party game, and we had to noob through the single player stuff. and by the time we got it all done, the night was over.
Granted, once it was all unlocked, I owned them on the dart board.
Broken Clipboard @ Apr 5th 2007 4:05PM
Completely retarded article. I played through Guitar Hero II on expert from the start, as I have GH and am decently good. I had no trouble getting through most of the songs the first time out up until the 7th or 8th grouping..and the most satisfying thing was being able to play Sweet Child O' Mine, Last Child and Freebird after beating those other songs. It is called a sense of accomplishment, and just throwing the songs out there to play makes it less of a game. And in case nobody noticed, playing through the songs teaches you the different ways the game is played. People need to take their pampers off, medium is not that hard(I actually wouldn't know from GH2 but I did start on it on GH1). So what that you play some songs you don't love, you might actually like them once you play them.
Wes Jett @ Apr 5th 2007 4:06PM
#11
I dont think so since the songs on the game are covers,be intresting to find out about the original recordings though.But if your talking about the cover songs on the game I dont see why they would be yours since you bought the game.
And for those saying there should be a cheat code...Here you go.
Master code:
Press Blue, Yellow, Orange, Red,
Orange, Yellow, Red, Yellow, Red,
Yellow, Red, Yellow, Red, Yellow,
Red, Yellow at the main menu to unlock all guitars,
songs, videos, and cheats. Saving the game will be disabled, and
you must turn off the PlayStation2 to disable its effect.
I use that when I take the game to my friends house if I forget my card.I cant remember if you stum or just hit the buttons though so try both.
brad77 @ Apr 5th 2007 4:01PM
This is absolutely idiotic. Game Stooge is just fishing for traffic. Nice work on giving them airtime, Joystiq.
Joshua @ Apr 5th 2007 4:02PM
They document what is available in the game. At no point do they say at what point they all become available.
If they say the game contains XX amount of songs as long as at some point XX become avaible they have told the truth.
What is illegal at that point? That is a major stretch.
"The game says it has 25 levels! Why can't I start at level 25?! What do you mean I have to play all of them to get there!"
Yeah...it's just that silly.
Twist @ Apr 5th 2007 4:02PM
I was a bit disappointed when the Sonic Mega Collection+ advertised Ristar as a featured game but then I found out it was an unlockable. Put a real damper on my fun since I bought the collection mainly for it and Sonic 2. Calling it illegal is a bit out there though. But perhaps they should list base content and unlockable content separately just to avoid stuff like this.
JagerQ @ Apr 5th 2007 7:12PM
I agree with them to a point. I remember renting a game like Simpsons Road Rage and finding out I had to unlock the multiplayer aspect, which isn't what you'd expect picking up a game that says it is multiplayer.
With this game, they should clearly state how many songs are available to begin with and how many you can unlock, or state something such as 100+ songs unlockable.
Guiltyspark @ Apr 5th 2007 4:06PM
Hmmm...illegal?...No...Annoying?....Maybe for some who dont have the time. However I enjoy playing a game and being able to unlock stuff rather than just having all the content handed to me on a silver platter.
I like the games the way they are because even if you have to spend like 4 hours trying to unlock that single character, think what it would be like if you got them right off the bat. Would you still be playing the game?
I would probably get bored early on if there were no unlockable characters.
There have been some instances when i have wanted to unlock all the content i had on my xbox for example. I would have owned a game, sold it, and then bought it again when it became compatible. So maybe you guys are on to something with the whole cheat code thing for those who don't have the time.
But illegal?? Hell no. That just doesn't make sense to me
CRanga @ Apr 5th 2007 4:06PM
I'd love to know what their statement of claim would be. False advertising? Don't think so. It's not as simple as a phrase on packaging being slightly misleading. Fucking amateur lawyers.
Jason @ Apr 5th 2007 4:05PM
YEAH! It's like I bought this deck of cards, and my friends came over and said "wow, cards, can we play some poker?" and I said "fuck no, we have to start off with Fish, then Hearts, and then Crazy Eights."
I think you guys are missing the point... This is not like skipping to the final boss. But it sounds like the problem is also rampant in Monkey Ball and Warioware... shitty. Not illegal, just shitty.
Todd @ Apr 5th 2007 4:06PM
Well, at best, you can consider it false advertising if the unlockables aren't mentioned on the packaging upon purchase.
muttonchop @ Apr 5th 2007 4:08PM
I totally agree with this! I hate it when I have to play the game to unlock stuff!
The other day I picked up Gears of War and I had to play through THE ENTIRE GAME just so I could see the last boss! WTF is up with that?
Dave @ Apr 5th 2007 4:13PM
Yeah. And Super Mario Brothers is illegal, too. You mean I have to beat World 1-1 before I unlock World 1-2? Are you kidding me? That's practically like trafficking drugs.
Martez @ Apr 5th 2007 4:12PM
Silly.
Todd @ Apr 5th 2007 4:13PM
I'm with you muttonchop. I hate that money sink shit.
Jake @ Apr 5th 2007 4:14PM
If you are playing through a story or missions or levels, you should need to play one to get to the other. Basically, any strictly single player stuff needs to stay single player. But, for multiplayer and party type games, everything should be available from the start.
I was so pissed when I got Tiger Woods 07. Me, my dad, and a couple buddies like to drink beer and play it. But, you have to play through the boring ass single player mode to get most of the levels. There is no cheat code, unlike previous installments.
I am paying for the f-ing game. Give me the whole thing. All multiplayer levels and party levels, especially for a party style game, should be available right from the start.
With Guitar hero it is pretty bad. The worst is woods golf, though. That game is unplayable by yourself and fun as hell with a group of people (non-gamers can play it). But, you can't play most of the levels without suffering through the stupid single player. At least with GH2 they aren't giving you songs you probably can't play anyways.
Sorry, I'm done venting now.
StoneGold @ Apr 5th 2007 4:18PM
Guy went to far with his arguments. If he was just commenting on the game design, he might have an argument, but that's more subjective. His legal issue pushes the whole critique into the area of batshit insanity though. Kills his whole argument. He became his own straw man.
jchensor @ Apr 5th 2007 4:15PM
Personally, I believe games should come with a "worthiness" test for unlocking things. One of the most annoying things about getting recent DDR games, for example, is that you have to play this "Mission Mode" garbage to unlock songs quickly. For those familiar with the game, why force us to earn something by making us to play a bunch of pointless missions ranging from boringly easy to fairly difficult when all we wanna do is have fun with the hard difficulties?
So for something like Guitar Hero, why don't they just choose, like, the 10th hardest song of the difficulty level and, if you can pass it with a 5-Star rating, everything gets unlocked for that difficulty level? That way, if you are good, you can unlock it right away. If you aren't good, well, you'll have to play all the other songs first to get good enough to pass anyhow, so they accomplish the same goal. That way, if you are awesome and forget a memory card at home when you go to your friend's place, it shouldn't be much effort for you to re-unlock everything anyhow.
For Rhythm Games, unlocking songs should be simple, easy, and fun for all skill levels.
J @ Apr 5th 2007 4:17PM
I understand the "party game" aspect, but really it is not that hard to get through the medium level, and I got through most of expert in a few hours. Fortunately the game is fun to play with or without others.
J @ Apr 5th 2007 4:17PM
I understand the "party game" aspect, but really it is not that hard to get through the medium level, and I got through most of expert in a few hours. Fortunately the game is fun to play with or without others.
jchensor @ Apr 5th 2007 4:17PM
And just to clarify my previous post, I believe that the worthiness tests should only exist in Rhythm Games and Driving Games and games like that. Not in games like Gears of War or Super Mario Sunshine or anything.
WhatIsThatThing @ Apr 5th 2007 4:18PM
Yeah! And it should be illegal to even PLAY video games too!
pence @ Apr 5th 2007 4:18PM
jonahfalcon's argument hinges on the concept that Guitar Hero II is not a single game, but a series of smaller games, or songs. If jonah would step back and look at the larger picture, I'm sure he'd realize that there's a logical progression of difficulty throughout the game, and Harmonix probably knew what they were doing when they didn't let you play Freebird as soon as you opened the box.
The fundamentals you learn in Shout at the Devil are directly applicable to the finale in Freebird. The progression in Guitar Hero is not put in place to constrain you, the player, but to facilitate your enjoyment of the game.
Would you enjoy WoW more if you could enter Karazhan at level one? Would you enjoy Metroid more if you started with every powerup? I don't know about anybody else, but I'll take the unlockables.
Chocolate Starfish @ Apr 5th 2007 4:32PM
Can someone please source me that picture?
AirIntake @ Apr 5th 2007 4:33PM
There should always be cheat codes (for free). I was very pissed off when Codemasters started selling the cheat codes for TOCA and Colin McRae. They even went so far as to make sure the cheat codes only worked with your game. Sorry, if you advertise on the box that I can drive 40 cars and play multiplayer, I would like to actually drive those 40 cars in multiplayer without having to play 15 hours of single player first.
Mr Khan @ Apr 5th 2007 4:34PM
This seems to be a sign of the crop of pussies that many gamers have become these days
We're too lazy to unlock all these songs, and, you know, play the game, so we'll assert that its all illegal and ruin the experience for people who actually want a challenge
If this sort of thing got rolling, Guitar Hero would only be the start, the next thing would be a Pokemon game where you had the entire collection offered to you at the start of the game
"Do you want Bulbasaur or Totodile, or Mewtwo and Lugia?"
feh
AirIntake @ Apr 5th 2007 4:34PM
"Would you enjoy Metroid more if you started with every powerup?"
If that's what I wish to do, then yes, I would enjoy it more.
OhJustSomeRandomGuy @ Apr 5th 2007 4:37PM
The premise of the article minus the specious "OMG illeg4l!" aspect has been done already, nearly a year and a half ago:
http://www.netjak.com/review.php/990
Scott @ Apr 5th 2007 4:40PM
"This seems to be a sign of the crop of pussies that many gamers have become these days"
Hilarious.
Tyson @ Apr 5th 2007 5:25PM
From a law student's prospective that is one of the stupidest arguments I have ever heard. It advertises what you get, a disk with that many songs available on it. Would they suggest that the copy should be changed to "X many songs unlockable" are we that stupid in the world now or that litigious.