Activision shoots first against Harmonix in rhythm game war
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ May 31st 2007 at 9:31PM }
In a conference call with investors, Activision, who received Guitar Hero as part of their acquisition of Red Octane, threw the first grenade against Harmonix's upcoming Rock Band saying that it "wasn't surprising that [Guitar Hero] has attracted imitators." Activision is essentially saying that Harmonix was imitating Guitar Hero by creating Rock Band. The humor here being that Harmonix actually created Guitar Hero for publisher Red Octane before the Activision buyout. If Activision wants to get technical, their Guitar Hero is an imitator of Konami's Guitar Freaks ... but that's getting nitpicky. We can only imagine the Activision execs didn't take their modern gaming history, because without Harmonix they wouldn't be bathing in their Guitar Hero money in the first place. In the call to the investors the Activision execs say they do have a competitive advantage against Rock Band due to Guitar Hero's significant brand recognition. They also said they've done well in the downloadable sales department with 200,000 takers of the Guitar Hero II song packs on the Xbox 360's marketplace. And those song packs were from the original Guitar Hero, which was done by what company again? Oh, that's right -- Harmonix.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
zwarrior @ May 31st 2007 9:37PM
Activision jus got served
Skippy @ May 31st 2007 9:41PM
Does anyone else find reading this post to be really confusing? Is Activision trying to be funny or are they just stupid? Oh, and amazing 200,000 suckers bought those song packs; total rip-off. Game companies must view downloadable content like flies to honey: it's just too easy.
Bearxor @ May 31st 2007 9:42PM
That is hilarious.
Rare Hare @ May 31st 2007 9:50PM
haha Activision is teh n00bs. =]
XGamerX @ May 31st 2007 10:04PM
man those download rates will only encourage them more
Josh L. @ May 31st 2007 10:14PM
well, not 200,000 suckers, 200,000 downloads. There are more then one pack...
Also, um, brand recognition? I am pretty sure MTV and Harmonix are brand recognition enough(developer and producer of Guitar Hero 1) and even for the fans who don't read these blogs, and are somehow completely clueless, I am pretty sure they're allowed to say it is from the developers of Guitar Hero 1 and 2.
Rock Band is cooler anyway, they just have to work their asses off to make playing each instrument as complete a game as the other. They basically have to create 3 or so (last gen, with the exception of graphics)games in one.
The name Rock band is short and to the point, but maybe something more attractive. I mean, it's not called Guitar Player, it Guitar Hero. Rock Band ain't so bad though...
Chris @ May 31st 2007 10:24PM
The irony is... indescribable.
Hey Apples @ May 31st 2007 10:33PM
I guess they had to deflect attention somehow in view of all the flack they got over the GH3 demo.
Might be a bad idea to burn those bridges though, because from what I've read, they still NEED Harmonix to create and process the 360 download content files for GH2.
Dale @ May 31st 2007 10:42PM
OK, at first I thought the sanctions against suits from the video game business should focus on Sony executives, but now I'm thinking anyone more senior than, say, the receptionists should be subjected to a blanket ban on any and all media interaction.
Todd Rabanus @ May 31st 2007 11:31PM
Mark my words. Activision will screw the franchise. It's because of this reason that I am glad that Harmonix is making Rock Band. It is a big endeavor to pursue, but Activision will make Guitar Hero jump the shark. And who wouldn't love a little instrumental interaction with friends across the seas?
KiraXD @ May 31st 2007 11:36PM
for the record... MTV bought harmonix... so get ready to rock out to Pink, Lilly Allen, and 50cent in Rock Band... If anything harmonix got screwed in that deal... theres not a single MTV game out that is any good.
Zatch @ May 31st 2007 11:59PM
It's amazing how low one will stoop just to put a good spin on a story even when it really is a bad story against one.
SKI @ Jun 1st 2007 12:04AM
"And who wouldn't love a little instrumental interaction with friends across the seas?"
Any lag at all and that love is instant hatred.
Sean D. @ Jun 1st 2007 12:23AM
All Activision can do is trash talk.
Check out this infallible formula:
MTV+Harmonix+EA > Activision+(Red Octane)
or how about
(Red Octane)-Harmonix = 0
With inventive music based gameplay, Harmonix is king. I've loved every single game they've released since I first played Frequency all those years ago. Amplitude improved upon Frequency's gameplay and Guitar Hero, with the added custom controller, was their coup de grâce... How about the Karaoke Revolution series? Tons of fun. They've got all the parts they need to build Rock Band, and I'm glad they're finally getting the chance to pull it together.
Harmonix knows a thing or two about the music game genre. And then you have the marketing behemoth of MTV and the deep pockets of EA. I predict great things.
Activision has acquired the Guitar Hero title, which is something, but I've already enjoyed the first two games and if I'm gonna play another music based game, I'll go for new gameplay dynamics over new songs any day.
copa @ Jun 1st 2007 12:29AM
Harmonix is running an impressive website, with daily blog updates from the employees, and active forum participation by the developers:
http://www.rockband.com/index.php
Activision, on the other hand, has been deafening us with their silence since they promised monthly DLC updates, didn't do it, and won't respond to questions from the community.
I have a feeling that Harmonix will do a better job of 'imitating' Guitar Hero than Treyarch will this fall, especially if this morning's GH3 video is any indication.
Colin @ Jun 1st 2007 6:57AM
@ KiraXD
Umm...do you know that MTV was part of both Guitar Hero 1 and 2?
Also, this whole thing can be best said as someone else put it. Harmonix helped create the original Guitar Hero. And since Guitar Hero 3 has to be re-created from the ground up, isn't Activision the one that's copying?
Aeikozz @ Jun 2nd 2007 9:42PM
Don't crap where you eat at Activision.
jduke @ Jun 1st 2007 9:24AM
@ KiraXD
You obviously never played MTV Music Generator for the PSX. That game was incredible.
Player1 @ Jun 1st 2007 9:56AM
That's pretty damn funny considering Activision bought it out at the point where they are just going to run it into the ground by simply adding more songs and changing nothing else. Harmonix is actually evolving the concept as opposed to just trying to cash in and ruin it.
Plagueis @ Jun 1st 2007 1:10PM
IMITATORS NO!
http://www.google.com/patents?id=mSsLAAAAEBAJ&dq=harmonix+music+systems
1) the interface alone belongs to Harmonix and is protected by their patent. In GH3 see on the box who's patent will be listed since they seem to be using the same interface. I wonder how they can gain access to this patent and still call the Patent holders IMITATORS.
2) Harmonix themselves created a guitar simulator software for the PC called "the AXE"
3) Guitar Hero is basically a revitalization of Konami's Guitar Freaks idea but with the HMX interface on top of their Karaoke PS2 engine, HMX designed Rock theme/Style and with a 5 button GF style controller.
4) Neversoft's GH3 style emulates HMX GH 1-2 art direction and not their Tony Hawk art style.
5) Activision never contributed to anything GH so how is it that they act like they are the "Innovators" All they really own themselves is the GH brand name. They still have to probably pay royalties to HMX for GH3.
fffunfarm06---xbl @ Jun 1st 2007 1:16PM
everyone dont buy GH3. we need to show them that they fu*ked by getting greedy. guitar hero is no more. rock band it the way to go. have you seen the bonus vids on GH2? those harmonix guys are badass. coolest bunch of developers ive seen. rock band for life!
Anam @ Jun 1st 2007 1:50PM
Yeah, I love the guys at Harmonix... but Rock Band sounds like such a bad idea. I can't imagine the game being balanced and fun between three instruments and singing.
I hope I eat my words, but I don't have faith in Rock Band.
Kenny @ Jun 1st 2007 4:01PM
Agreed with everyone that Guitar Hero 3 doesn't look too promising right now. We need to show support for Harmonix, the original creators.
Rock Band > Guitar Hero
I even made a Rock Band Facebook group just for fun. Please join!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2346954822
Andy O. @ Jun 1st 2007 9:13PM
When Activision opens their mouths like this, I start to worry. To me it says that, some "higher-up" saw GH3, and probably had played GH2 on 360 and thought, "Hey, this doesn't look nearly as good as Guitar Hero 2 that we just released. Time to ensure the fans that this one isn't gonna suck."
...or something like that. I'm a huge fan of Harmonix games. Frequency and Amplitude, both really fun games, and Guitar Hero I had a strong feeling would be a fun game, just didn't think everyone else would get into it. :) Guitar Hero 2, cool more of the same. Red Octane sells, good move. Not sure if Harmonix was happy to see their baby go, but i'm sure they got paid.
Now they are moving onto bigger and better (GB), and Activision is playing the stupid step father telling "his" son that Guitar Heros father is just a bum, and a lousy father.
Yeah, that's gonna go over well.
teitoku @ Jun 1st 2007 10:23PM
"Any lag at all and that love is instant hatred."
Nooooo, you're thinking of action games where your actions are compared against the other player's actions a thousand times a second. The only data this has to share online is whether or not you hit the note...nothing that needs to get across the globe immediately.
GoonieGooGoo @ Jun 3rd 2007 7:26AM
Harmonix are the true artisans here. I have loved all of their games from the woefully underappreciated Frequency & Amplitude to GH2.
We all know Activision will release sequel after sequel for the Guitar Hero series (maybe changing the name a little)......but let's be honest.....they are hacks.
If they try to charge a full 60$ for GH3 within 8 months of release GH2 for 360....I'd be PISSED.