We imagine that the same knee-jerk reaction that causes first-time players of LittleBigPlanet to craft startlingly realistic (and often mobile) genitalia is the same force that prompts players of Guitar Hero: World Tour to re-create popular songs using the game's expansive music creator. However, World Tour director Brian Bright warned against such unauthorized covers before the game came out, promising to delete any copyright-unfriendly material -- a promise Neversoft and Activision Blizzard recently fulfilled.
Among the user-created tracks with the most downloads are, unsurprisingly, numerous songs from other video games -- themes from Zelda and Mario titles being the most popular. However, in the first mighty swoop of their eraser, the game's moderators removed the recreated Nintendo tunes from their servers (but not from the hard drives of those who have already downloaded the tracks). We can't help but agree with Activision's stance on copyrighted content -- that said, you give us some Gitaroo Man covers, internet. You give them to us now.
Reader Comments (64)
Posted: Nov 9th 2008 4:45AM (Unverified) said
They already have. It's called the Score Hero customs database. They have been making customs songs since GH1.
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Posted: Nov 9th 2008 2:00PM (Unverified) said
Man I looked the first day I got it and someone put up Pollyanna from EB Zero. Awesome. I got that and a bunch of other themes. I was waiting for better ones but I bet that won't happen. It's okay, I only rented it.
Posted: Nov 9th 2008 7:10AM Bowser Rogozhin said
Anything that quickly kills off this genre can only be a positive. Keep up the good work, Activision.
Posted: Nov 9th 2008 8:33AM cuteSAVAGE said
Who would it be a positive for, exactly? What has the rhythm / music gaming genre done that it is negatively impacting your gaming habits? Is it just taking up to much shelf space? Is it expanding the "industry" with increased media awareness and attracting new gamers?
My guess, you don't like them for your own selfish reasons. Either because they just aren't your cup of tea, or because you aren't very good at them (both perfectly understandable reasons). A very simple solution would be to not play them. Leave them to the millions of fans they've garnered, and when your friends entice you to play, just say "no," they'll understand.
After you've not-played them out of your life for good, you can stop commenting on them for the hell of getting an opinion across no one really cares to hear (especially all those friends who like the games so much, they entice you to play them). It's a win/win, and dare I say, positive solution.
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My guess, you don't like them for your own selfish reasons. Either because they just aren't your cup of tea, or because you aren't very good at them (both perfectly understandable reasons). A very simple solution would be to not play them. Leave them to the millions of fans they've garnered, and when your friends entice you to play, just say "no," they'll understand.
After you've not-played them out of your life for good, you can stop commenting on them for the hell of getting an opinion across no one really cares to hear (especially all those friends who like the games so much, they entice you to play them). It's a win/win, and dare I say, positive solution.
Posted: Nov 9th 2008 9:55AM (Unverified) said
@ Xoviet Chick
Sadly, I agree with Bowser. We now have Singstar,Rock Revolution,Rock Band,Guitar Hero and Lips.Combined with the milkin power of RB and (especially) GH we can expect at least 2-3 games each year.At first people won't mind but eventually they will grow to hate and despise the genre like they now do with Madden.
I don't mind people who still enjoy it but I'd like for the genre to take a break/reduce the milking/fuck off and die in a fire while it still maintains some dignity so it doesn't turn into another EA Sports series.
We don't "hate it" because we hate it, we "hate it" because we love it and we "hate it" so you don't have to.It's this hate for the greater good...Yes, we're as confused as anyone else.
The Order of Haters of Balance FTW!
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Sadly, I agree with Bowser. We now have Singstar,Rock Revolution,Rock Band,Guitar Hero and Lips.Combined with the milkin power of RB and (especially) GH we can expect at least 2-3 games each year.At first people won't mind but eventually they will grow to hate and despise the genre like they now do with Madden.
I don't mind people who still enjoy it but I'd like for the genre to take a break/reduce the milking/fuck off and die in a fire while it still maintains some dignity so it doesn't turn into another EA Sports series.
We don't "hate it" because we hate it, we "hate it" because we love it and we "hate it" so you don't have to.It's this hate for the greater good...Yes, we're as confused as anyone else.
The Order of Haters of Balance FTW!
Posted: Nov 9th 2008 11:24AM (Unverified) said
Why would it be a positive thing? Are you saying that because of the incredible amount of these games coming out now (in which case, I'd be inclined to agree with you) or because of some notion that this form of neural stimulation is inferior to the next form of neural stimulation?
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Posted: Nov 9th 2008 11:38AM Appleanche said
Agreed, hate music/rhythm games. They are by far the worse milked genre ever... even worse then Madden at it's lowest point IMO.
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Posted: Nov 9th 2008 8:40AM SheppyReturns said
Foetoid, maybe you should play SSX Tricky then. After all, that's exactly where Downhill Jam stole from. Except SSX Tricky was clever and cute and Downhill Jam was like a badly done Saturday Morning Tony Hawk cartoon.
Posted: Nov 9th 2008 8:59AM (Unverified) said
hmm wonder if the portal song still alive is on there still , thinks they are just nit picking at tracks to remove at the moment though by the sounds of it
Posted: Nov 9th 2008 12:57PM (Unverified) said
wish I would have downloaded these
Posted: Nov 9th 2008 2:11PM Nadril said
I can't really see how people can compare music/rhythm games to the likes of sports franchises such as Madden. Yes, music games are getting popular -- very popular. That is a GOOD thing, bringing more people into gaming is good.
Anyways, I don't see how they are effectivly milking it. Yes, there are other companies trying (and failing) to get a slice of the music genre pie. Rock Revolution was a large failure and, in all honesty, won't sell because it doesn't have the name recognition that Rock band and Guitar hero does.
However even if these companies released a new "game" every year, think about it. A new Rock Band every year means that you would get a compilation of another 100 songs or so for $60. You'd probably get some improvements to the franchise in one way or another, and if it was anything like RB1 to RB2 you'd be able to keep your song library from previous games.
Really you can't compare that to Madden, which may make their games a tad prettier and just not change much to the core game.
DLC is great, but now and then they still would have to put out a compilation just so that those people who don't have their consoles connected to the internet can see that "hey, they have a new RB/GH out".
Now I do think that Guitar Hero is trying real hard to milk all they can out of it, especially with this subscription deal. But honestly it's not the GENRE'S fault but only certain games and companies that just want to get a piece of the pie.
Anyways, I don't see how they are effectivly milking it. Yes, there are other companies trying (and failing) to get a slice of the music genre pie. Rock Revolution was a large failure and, in all honesty, won't sell because it doesn't have the name recognition that Rock band and Guitar hero does.
However even if these companies released a new "game" every year, think about it. A new Rock Band every year means that you would get a compilation of another 100 songs or so for $60. You'd probably get some improvements to the franchise in one way or another, and if it was anything like RB1 to RB2 you'd be able to keep your song library from previous games.
Really you can't compare that to Madden, which may make their games a tad prettier and just not change much to the core game.
DLC is great, but now and then they still would have to put out a compilation just so that those people who don't have their consoles connected to the internet can see that "hey, they have a new RB/GH out".
Now I do think that Guitar Hero is trying real hard to milk all they can out of it, especially with this subscription deal. But honestly it's not the GENRE'S fault but only certain games and companies that just want to get a piece of the pie.
Posted: Nov 9th 2008 6:28PM (Unverified) said
This Sucks. Gamers pay for their games and if they enjoy using the products to Recreate something why not allow them.. I mean they are not making Money Off of it. I doubt Nintendo Even Complained, Cause this is Free Advertisment for their products. In Closing This is why I am Not returning to Consoles. PCs (and Macs) Rule.
Posted: Nov 10th 2008 4:21PM amuro98 said
Wait...what?
What's the purpose of this feature in Guitar Hero again? Oh yeah, to create your own tracks...OFF EXISTING MUSIC.
What did Activision/Neversoft think people were going to do with feature? Create their own levels based on "Old McDonald's Farm"?
So...they're basically expecting budding musicians to create their own original songs, then import them into Guitar Hero? But as soon as you create a song, it's automatically under copyright, yes? So technically ALL songs you could ever import will automatically be deleted from their servers.
And I should buy this game because...why?
What's the purpose of this feature in Guitar Hero again? Oh yeah, to create your own tracks...OFF EXISTING MUSIC.
What did Activision/Neversoft think people were going to do with feature? Create their own levels based on "Old McDonald's Farm"?
So...they're basically expecting budding musicians to create their own original songs, then import them into Guitar Hero? But as soon as you create a song, it's automatically under copyright, yes? So technically ALL songs you could ever import will automatically be deleted from their servers.
And I should buy this game because...why?
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