So, Red Octane and Activision have taken some flack for the pricing of of the Guitar Hero II downloadable content. As a quick reminder, the song packs costs $6.25. With three songs to a pack, that's a little more than 2 bucks a song. Regardless of whether or not the pricing is truly reflective of the licensing costs and other related costs, many folks out there think the price is too high. So, we found this video on GameTrailers showcasing one of the new tracks, Queen's "Killer Queen." The pack also includes "Frankenstein" by the Edgar Winter Group and "Take It Off" by The Donnas, which are both decent songs in their own way. The question is then, now that you've seen "Killer Queen" as it plays in Guitar Hero II, is the $2/song price any more palatable? Would any of you be more amenable to paying 160 points for individual songs?
Reader Comments (38)
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 4:25PM anoffday said
"The question is then, now that you've seen "Killer Queen" as it plays in Guitar Hero II, is the $2/song price any more palatable?"
Um. Is that a joke? No. Still not worth it.
Um. Is that a joke? No. Still not worth it.
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 4:26PM (Unverified) said
That pack has two "classic rock" song and one punk song. It makes no sense. Why not release larger, classic rock or punk packs. Why are these three songs together, I would rather pay $2 for the single songs I want, not $6 to get one song I want and maybe two songs I don't.
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 4:27PM (Unverified) said
That was the only one of the three packs I could stomach buying. I couldn't care less about Take It Off, but Killer Queen and Frankenstein was both awesome songs.
I was really hoping to see Ziggy Stardust, Smoke on the Water, More Than a Feeling and Spanish Castle Magic, personally.
Still, the pricing is a bit high. I'm hoping maybe they'll stick 4 songs in the future packs for the same price. That would be nice.
I was really hoping to see Ziggy Stardust, Smoke on the Water, More Than a Feeling and Spanish Castle Magic, personally.
Still, the pricing is a bit high. I'm hoping maybe they'll stick 4 songs in the future packs for the same price. That would be nice.
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 4:34PM dishwasher said
songs should be 80 points. same goes for songs for DDR.
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 7:24PM (Unverified) said
I am going to defend the gaming industry here, and probably play devil's advocate.
I think Microsoft is pathetic at times, but if you consider that iTunes are .99 a song, this leaves a dollar a song to pay for all the development cost.
Do you really think it cost as little as a dollar to put those songs to Format as they appear in GH2?
Hell No. It cost a lot more.
You guys are getting a sweet deal.
Guitar Hero is losing money on the additional content.
Should they have put ALL the music together, and maybe discounted it a little more?
Maybe...
...but it is as it is and there is nothing you can do about it, except whine.
I think Microsoft is pathetic at times, but if you consider that iTunes are .99 a song, this leaves a dollar a song to pay for all the development cost.
Do you really think it cost as little as a dollar to put those songs to Format as they appear in GH2?
Hell No. It cost a lot more.
You guys are getting a sweet deal.
Guitar Hero is losing money on the additional content.
Should they have put ALL the music together, and maybe discounted it a little more?
Maybe...
...but it is as it is and there is nothing you can do about it, except whine.
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 4:37PM (Unverified) said
The Killer Queen cover is just horrible. Sounds nothing like Queen, absolutely not worth the money.
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 4:39PM SSUK said
That guy was good, a few slip ups but probably better than I could do.
As for pricing, I think I'll just get the PS2 versions of GHI and II, it's cheaper that way tbh.
As for pricing, I think I'll just get the PS2 versions of GHI and II, it's cheaper that way tbh.
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 4:45PM (Unverified) said
Goes to show what I know, didn't realize I knew that Queen song till I heard it. And although now that I have heard it and realize that its a pretty good tune, I still cannot and will not drop that kind of coin for these bundles. MAYBE if they forced you to buy any three songs for 500, it would almost be doable. But if they are going to pick the 3 songs you get and still charge that much, its just taking advantage of the fact that we spent $90 on the game and they know we want to keep it fresh.
Lower the price for Christ's sake.
Lower the price for Christ's sake.
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 4:47PM bmill3 said
Yeah, screw Redoctane, I just paid 90$ for the game a week ago, I'm in no way willing to ever pay 2$ a song individual or not,maybe it the songs were like 50 pts each or so, thats very considerable, but nothing over 100, This business decision to sell content a week after the game comes out, Makes me think twice about getting GHIII this fall
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 4:49PM (Unverified) said
No, it's still not worth it. But I would much much rather pay 2 dollars for individual songs than packs, but even then, I would only get the songs I really, REALLY like, because no matter how you slice it, I think >2 dollars a song is too much.
It's not really too much for just one song, but when you start to buy a bunch, that little bit too much for one song turns into a lot too much.
It's not really too much for just one song, but when you start to buy a bunch, that little bit too much for one song turns into a lot too much.
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 4:56PM 6vx said
That was boring. Way too easy looking. I hope that wasn't on Expert. It looked like it was just on Hard.
Either way, if there's like 4 sets of notes in the whole song (repeated over and over of course) how the hell does that raise the development cost? First of all it's already made. And next it's a cover. This thing should cost next to nothing. It's pathetic. The only way I'd even pay a dollar for a song is if it were maybe the band that plays it. That would make sense. At the bargain price to redoctane of a cover, rehash song from an old game, how can they possibly think to charge us this much money?
@2 dollars it should come with a Queen Guitar that you unlock for beating it, the REAL song, and a 50 cent rebate.
These prices are bull.
Either way, if there's like 4 sets of notes in the whole song (repeated over and over of course) how the hell does that raise the development cost? First of all it's already made. And next it's a cover. This thing should cost next to nothing. It's pathetic. The only way I'd even pay a dollar for a song is if it were maybe the band that plays it. That would make sense. At the bargain price to redoctane of a cover, rehash song from an old game, how can they possibly think to charge us this much money?
@2 dollars it should come with a Queen Guitar that you unlock for beating it, the REAL song, and a 50 cent rebate.
These prices are bull.
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 5:00PM (Unverified) said
I really like Queen and the Donnas... still not worth it. Maybe in a few months, I might reconsider after the $90 pays for itself.
Atleast the covers aren't as bad as the Lamb of God or Rage Against the Machine Covers. ugh horrid.
Atleast the covers aren't as bad as the Lamb of God or Rage Against the Machine Covers. ugh horrid.
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 5:00PM (Unverified) said
RIP OFF RIP OFF RIP OFF RIP OFF
RIP OFF RIP OFF RIP OFF RIP OFF
RIP OFF RIP OFF RIP OFF RIP OFF
RIP OFF RIP OFF RIP OFF RIP OFF
RIP OFF RIP OFF RIP OFF RIP OFF
RIP OFF RIP OFF RIP OFF RIP OFF
RIP OFF RIP OFF RIP OFF RIP OFF
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 5:03PM 6vx said
And an achievement. Isn't it "Super expensive shit warrants additional achievements" or something?
Brian May achievement or something.
OR MAKE THEM CHEAP.
Brian May achievement or something.
OR MAKE THEM CHEAP.
Posted: Apr 14th 2007 2:08AM (Unverified) said
Do you have the rights to post that video? Or are you going to have to charge us $2 to view it? I have paypal and can pay it.
- TOM
- TOM
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 5:09PM (Unverified) said
This was the only pack I purchased and I feel ripped off. I'd planned on buying all of the packs and loaded my MS points as such, but quickly changed my mind when I thought, "You know... I have the ps2 version right there.. I'll just have to play the other songs on that."
I really love playing Killer Queen and Frankenstein, so the pack I purchased has made me happy, but the remainder of my points are going to go towards something like Boom Boom rocket.
I really love playing Killer Queen and Frankenstein, so the pack I purchased has made me happy, but the remainder of my points are going to go towards something like Boom Boom rocket.
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 5:15PM (Unverified) said
still PURE BS
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 5:18PM HeyApples said
For the cost of 2 packs, 6 songs, you can get an entire standalone XBLA game in the form of Boom Boom Rocket, which comes with like 10 songs in itself.
(Which is exactly what *I* did with my points)
(Which is exactly what *I* did with my points)
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 5:18PM (Unverified) said
Honestly, while I'm not justifying this, they didn't have to do this, and even moreso, no one ever told you to pay for them. It's for people who liked the first game enough to get the songs. They didn't sit around and do this to screw you over. Just chill out and enjoy the game you dropped $90 on.
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 5:23PM DeadPlasmaCell said
Another thing I can gather from this whole thing is that it seems like many people have no idea what guitar hero is about.. I'm not sure how many times I've seen different people post about "Aww that sucks, these are cover songs, I'm not buying that pack" Yea, the price is a little more than we were hoping for, but remember the songs are more than just the same tracks, you practice them, play co-op, play bass, rhythm, etc. I personally don't mind the price that much.. I just wish they'd let you pick which individual songs you want.
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 5:36PM (Unverified) said
And if your into ps2 hacking like me, I already have all the gh1 songs into gh2, all the "exclusive" 360 songs on ps2, and the 1 hidden Quiet Riot Bang Your Head on the 10 song demo, on ps2.
And didnt cost me a dime.
And didnt cost me a dime.
Posted: Apr 14th 2007 1:18AM MmaFanQc said
sell us ALL the GH songs for 1500-2000points and we will buy it.....until that, we are not enought foolish to buy a COVER song for 2$
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 5:45PM Ninegauger said
I do like Killer Queen and would probably buy it at the same price if I could purchase it by itself... maybe a bit grudgingly but they'd at least have some of my money as opposed to zero money. So, sucks for them.
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 5:48PM xderkax said
Wanna explain why my comment was deleted?
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 9:48PM (Unverified) said
Watch the language guys!!
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 6:50PM (Unverified) said
queen w/o freddy mercury isn't queen.
they pay the licence and can't get the original version? wtf?
they pay the licence and can't get the original version? wtf?
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 8:00PM cwfutureboy said
If Microsoft and Red Octane INSIST on the "fairness" of the pricing of the three packs, why not just let the customer choose WHICH songs to buy??? Doesn't that make more sense?
I'm sure that people would be doing MUCH less bitching if they had at least a semblance of control in the matter beyond forcing themselves to fork over $2 USD a song.
I'm sure that people would be doing MUCH less bitching if they had at least a semblance of control in the matter beyond forcing themselves to fork over $2 USD a song.
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 8:19PM (Unverified) said
Horrible pricing.
I could see justifying development costs if these songs weren't already done for the PS2. And if it costs THAT much money to convert, then Harmonix needs to fire some people.
I could see justifying development costs if these songs weren't already done for the PS2. And if it costs THAT much money to convert, then Harmonix needs to fire some people.
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 8:33PM AoE said
@dusty,
Guitar Hero is actually a game, not a company, so it's not making any money at all ;) And also, I can assure you that Activision, Red Octane, and MS are all making a bit of profit on every track sold. No one in the video game business, and I mean NO ONE is doing it out of the kindness of thier hearts. Sorry bro, they're not losing money on the deal; even if you factor in all of the licensing/development costs associated with each track. If it was a money-losing deal, they wouldn't have released downloadable content.
Now... if the market rejects it, which if you go by chatter online it sounds like it might be, then they stand to lose money; but that's the only way. I'm sorry my friend, but your game development saints aren't actually saints...
Guitar Hero is actually a game, not a company, so it's not making any money at all ;) And also, I can assure you that Activision, Red Octane, and MS are all making a bit of profit on every track sold. No one in the video game business, and I mean NO ONE is doing it out of the kindness of thier hearts. Sorry bro, they're not losing money on the deal; even if you factor in all of the licensing/development costs associated with each track. If it was a money-losing deal, they wouldn't have released downloadable content.
Now... if the market rejects it, which if you go by chatter online it sounds like it might be, then they stand to lose money; but that's the only way. I'm sorry my friend, but your game development saints aren't actually saints...
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 9:00PM (Unverified) said
I've said it before and I will say it again, 80-100 MS points per song would have been VERY reasonable but Red Octane and Microsoft wish to RAPE their fans!!! Thus IS worng and sets a bad persident for others developers to follow suit!! Look what happened with the Horse Armor, Besethsda changed their pricing ASAP, I REALLY hope this happens, I refuse to buy the 3 packs and WILL not be buying anything for GH 2 until their is some sort of a pricing structure change!!
Posted: Apr 13th 2007 9:10PM (Unverified) said
No way they're losing money on the downloadable content. If you do the math, the price we're paying per song for each track included in GHII is about 81 cents, not $2.08. I have doubts as to whether the "development costs" and "licensing fees" for this old material is over twice as expensive.
AND some of that 81 cents per song is part of the markup by the retailer, which is about $20 on the $90 product (I know from a friend in retail that it costs his store around $70 per guitar/game bundle).
Unless I'm completely misunderstanding the costs involved on the content developer's end, the margin on this new content is significantly larger than on the core songs.
AND some of that 81 cents per song is part of the markup by the retailer, which is about $20 on the $90 product (I know from a friend in retail that it costs his store around $70 per guitar/game bundle).
Unless I'm completely misunderstanding the costs involved on the content developer's end, the margin on this new content is significantly larger than on the core songs.
Posted: Apr 14th 2007 5:16AM (Unverified) said
And to think, If this was 100-300 points, it'd be an impulse buy. At 400? Well, eh. Maybe. But I'd probably buy an XBLA or two, and use the spare points to get it.
But 500 points is where I think, "Eh. The song really isn't that good. It looks too easy. The vocals are kinda poor."
If it was somewhere below 500, I probably wouldn't bother to care. But selling such imperfection at such a price really makes you think twice.
And in cases like these, the second thought is somewhere along the lines of "Fuck that shit".
But 500 points is where I think, "Eh. The song really isn't that good. It looks too easy. The vocals are kinda poor."
If it was somewhere below 500, I probably wouldn't bother to care. But selling such imperfection at such a price really makes you think twice.
And in cases like these, the second thought is somewhere along the lines of "Fuck that shit".
Posted: Apr 14th 2007 6:58AM ninjakoala said
Single tracks or no cash.
I just want my Ramones, Donnas and Bad Religion tracks and cherry pick between the rest. So that's one bundle I'd allow for :P
I just want my Ramones, Donnas and Bad Religion tracks and cherry pick between the rest. So that's one bundle I'd allow for :P
Posted: Apr 14th 2007 7:55AM JwintooX said
Bad cover, if i was gunna pay for one of those packs it would be this one but...... i know theres freddy mercary vocals out there so whats stopping them getting the rights to the vocal recordings and least having it sound like queen instead of what sounds like a woman singing this decent song
Posted: Apr 15th 2007 1:39PM (Unverified) said
I really don't have a problem with the pricing, but I do have a problem with the quality of some of the songs. Killer Queen in particular... it's one of my favorites and I was left totally down after buying it. Did they even bother to listen to the original, or did they just buy one of those huge books with lousy covers of Queen songs?
Posted: Apr 15th 2007 8:21PM (Unverified) said
@5, trying to replicate freddy mercury's voice is something few can do, but i agree that sucked
Posted: Apr 16th 2007 10:47AM (Unverified) said
Look just don't buy them. Once they see that no one is buying the song packs they will have no choice, but to lower the price. Just take a stand and don't pay for it.
Posted: Apr 20th 2007 4:32AM (Unverified) said
I love how people assume licensing fees are next to nothing. Someone actually quoted 18 cents per song as if performance and digital distribution were the same thing. They forget how many TV shows have their music changed when they go to DVD as the licensing fees have to be renegotiated at a vastly inflated price.
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