Activision considering subscription model for Guitar Hero DLC

by Alexander Sliwinski on Sep 17th 2008 2:30PM

Activision Publishing CEO Mike Griffith has said the company may consider an annual pass subscription for Guitar Hero, reports ShackNews. Speaking at Activision's Analyst day, he explained that players could subscribe and receive a certain number of DLC tracks every month.

Griffith noted that consumers have an "insatiable appetite" and have downloaded "20 million individual songs" already. Imagine how much Actilizzard could have made if Guitar Hero had a stable DLC release schedule like Rock Band? No price nor launch date was given for this possible subscription service, but as disciples of Netflix and GameFly, we imagine it could save cash for consumers with a GH DLC habit.

Source

Tags: activision, activision-blizzard, DLC, guitar-hero, guitar-hero-world-tour, PS3, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (57)

I will say no to the subscription model. I feel like thats just giving them license to find the cheapest to license songs out there.

They are gonna have to earn my cash a release at a time.

Giant Penis, why!?

What would we possibly get? Omg I can get the 3 songs released every month!

Frankly, with Song Editor I don't think I'll ever need DLC.

http://sarcasticgamer.com/wp/index.php/2008/09/17-minutes-of-the-guitar-hero-world-tour-music-creator.html

PS: And yes, I've been waiting for GH News just so I could have an excuse to post that link.Does it still feel like a gimmick?

I wonder, think original songs (like from indie bands) could be completely remade in that without sounding shitty? I might buy it just as a way to promote my band's music to more people.

I ain't no guitarist and I never had a go at it, but you can see they have a huge range of different chords and they sound pretty straight...

After seeing that video, I'm so getting GH:WT & RB2 now. No instruments though, cause I got to many already. Well maybe a new RB2 drum kit with some cymbals cause I smashed my yellow drum and my kick is wooden.

are you kidding me? that DID NOT sound good. The guitar samples, as expected, sound synthetic and limited. They don't sound real. The drum stuff is admittedly cool, because it's like an interactive drum machine, it would be fun to tinker with, but the guitar stuff doesn't sound good at all.

As i've said before, there will be people who talent who will use it simply because it's there and they will make some good stuff. Though it's going to be extremely limited with the 3 minute, 1200 note per track cap. It's still going to sound like midi and if the guitar samples I heard there are any indication, not even great midi. I've used programs of similar and higher quality for years and I knew and what to expect.

So yes, to me, it's still a gimmick. There's going to be soooo much bad stuff cranked out with it and most people will use it for five hours max, and be done with it. It'll be interesting to hear the gems that surface though. Oh, and you won't be giving up DLC! :P

What jsn said.

I mean, listen to it... I can tell it doesn't sound very real, but not only that, but I doubt any of us are going to want to spend the time remaking a whole song. Especially when theres a 3 minute limit with 1200 notes spanned between all instruments.

It really is nothing more than a gimmick, and although they're trying to prove against it with videos and the ability to hook up a MIDI thing... these features just won't be used in a well manner, other than kids who will create 30 second music pieces and get bored after that.

You will still need DLC because no one is allowed to upload copyrighted material and if you do they will take it down. Unless you plan to create all your favorite songs yourself.

Pay an annual fee to download songs with a monthly limit? Oh boy am I excited about that! GH DLC already has a monthly limit of like 3 or something anyway, doesn't it?

I'm looking forward to GHWT, but admittedly a little less if this is the format they're going to run with for DLC.

The big question would be whether or not you then "own" the songs or if you would lose them all if you cancelled your subscription.

With some DLC that's actually worth having, this would be a great idea.

Even Harmonix has had some trouble getting good DLC as of late.

Since I have little faith in Neversoft and their unfulfilled promises about DLC on GHIII, I don't expect them to do half of what Harmonix has done on the DLC front.

And they'll delete any songs that sound like copies on the create-a-track feature. So that makes the thing almost pointless.

"Even Harmonix has had some trouble getting good DLC as of late."

Do you mean they keep releasing DLC that you don't like? The only trouble they've had in recent history that I can recall has been the bungle with Moving Pictures. Other than that I am ignorant of how they've been having trouble getting "good" DLC.

They did just release yet another full album on Tuesday, and my money says they'll release another one either this week or the following week seeing as how they have that recently announced handful of albums coming down the pipe. Included in these are Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Foo Fighters, and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Surely at least one of those albums is "good."

Harmonix has always had good content for the most part. Maybe it's because I am older and have a wide taste in music. But i have for the most part always found something to download for rock band.

I'll usually listen to anything, honestly. I haven't bought anything since The Who pack, though.

Sorry for not including everyone. My bad.

@OMGOMG

I think I'm on board with something you were driving at though. Even with the steady stream of DLC, HMX still releases tracks that I have very little interest in from time to time. I have amassed a stockpile of Rock Band DLC since last November, but I have only downloaded maybe a couple songs in the past 6 weeks or so. I've spent quite a bit of coin on RB DLC, but I still would not sign up for a HMX subscription DLC service, let alone one started by Activision who has thus far had sparse DLC offerings at best.

I'm a big fan of Megadeth and the album release was very welcome, though I would have preferred a 'best-of' six pack.

Why are those guys rocking out in front of a giant wang?

Like I've never heard that before...

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

That bit gets funnier and FUNNIER with every GHWT thread. I can't see enough of these jokes.

You've never heard the expression, "Rock out with your cock out!"?

HAHAHAHA LOOK IT IS A ONE EYED MONSTER!

Apparently I'm behind the times, but this is the first time I've seen that image. I was just scrolling along, minding my own business, when BAM! Wang in the face.

And then I saw that picture.

So... You took a wang to face, then saw the picture? Yes / No?

Just trying to clarify, I mean you no harm.

Wang dang momma sweet poon tang!

It's been a strange day.

It's ok Richard I understand. You normally get hit with two wangs in the face each day. One from your dad and one from your stepmother!

Xoviat Chick, Do I have to explain what humor is? Let me find a certain video of Jimmy Car explaining it...

So the success of Rock Band's downloadable songs has given Activision an idea? What a shocker.

I thought that picture was Braid for a sec... XD

Not the first and definitely not the last...

A picture of Braid wouldn't have a dildo on the background... or would it?

A horrible idea considering people's wide varying tastes in music. I personally have paid for only 1 GH DLC pack.

This could actually be very cool for those of us who like a variety of music or aspire to eventually buy all the DLC. But... a) it needs to be on a weekly basis a la Rock Band, b) it needs to be reasonably priced and even better for subscribers, and c) the acts need to not suck.

And d) if they don't release songs for a month, you get some of your money back that year.

And r) they need to release individual songs, not stick everything in a track pack your poor friends can't afford / contains questionable selections you want nothing to do with mixed in with "I-would-buy-ghwt-solely-for" songs.

I got the alphabet right? Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, How I wonder what you R?

NO, YOU'RE WRONG AND YOU STINK.

Considering the competitor's amount of DLC and options, there's no way I'd sign up for an Activision subscription service. It has disappointment written all over it. They release like 6 tracks a month, often nothing too special (granted that's a matter of opinion), and as others have said, I could see them making no effort and finding the cheapest licensing possible. Get a bunch of indy recordings from Frank in the mailroom's band, chart them, release them as DLC, receive monthly subscription profits while screwing consumers.

I don't mean to bash, I've bought GHIII and will buy GHWT and I've bought some of their DLC as well, but the only way I'd subscribe to something like that is if I saw them go above and beyond to get a surplus of great tracks every month. They'd have to do a better job than Harmonix (not easy to do whatsoever), and have a price that I consider fair. Based on the current system, I get no indication that they would be able to pull that off...unless they've been saving all the good stuff for this service?

This isn't a terrible idea, but knowing the GH franchise, they'll find a way to completely ruin the idea and rip people off.

Consistent, cheap DLC isn't exactly Activision/RO's strong suit.

How about getting me some Queen on Rock Band?

Anyone who thinks elsewise is stone cold crazy!

Ha! or there fat bottom girls.

Wait, the article makes it sound like you pay a subscription fee that just automatically downloads the new songs. Screw that- what if I don't want the songs?

Now, if you could pay a monthly subscription to have access to a plethora of songs that you can pick and choose from (like Rock Band's pretty huge collection), I might consider that.

But I think I'd still stick with just paying for what I know I want.

In that 20 million, are they counting the FREE Halo, We Three Kings, and other craptastic songs they gave for free???

Huge GH fan... Huge GH:DLC hater....

What happens when you unsubscribe? Do you lose access to your, excuse me, "your" songs?

Activision's Mike Griffith went on to say: "Money money money Mahhh-neeee, money money. Money moneymoney money."

Ooh, nice OJ's reference!

What's with the giant penis in the background of that screenshot?

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Activision considering subscription model for Guitar Hero DLC

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