DJ Hero 'more mainstream' than Guitar Hero, Activision CEO says
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Jun 25th 2009 at 3:00PM } 
While Griffith has his sights set on some 300 million Hero-less households, developer FreeStyleGames must be a bit more narrow-minded, lest DJ Hero come out as a cacophonous mashup. As mainstream as turntablists have become, they're still spinning for a variety of crowds. There's a difference between a game for everyone and a game with something for everyone. So it's simple then? All DJ Hero has to be is the greatest mixtape of all time.
Gallery: DJ Hero
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
rkrocks123 @ Jun 25th 2009 3:04PM
Man, DJ Hero looks awful. I play Rock Band 2 all day long, but this game's soundtrack has me completely uninterested, with the exception of the Beck track.
ZaxCG2 @ Jun 25th 2009 3:13PM
Hell yes. Beck rules.
charlie b. @ Jun 25th 2009 3:16PM
@ZaxCG2: hell yes. i like your bass. your beat is nice.
Petebot330 @ Jun 25th 2009 3:35PM
Fax machine anthems. Get your damn hands up!
Mr Khan @ Jun 25th 2009 3:05PM
You would assume the opposite, at least in terms of straight-up appeal. Everyone wants to shred guitar. Everyone. Not nearly so many who want to scratch a turntable
get2sammyb @ Jun 25th 2009 3:28PM
You're grossly misinformed. Not everyone wants to "shred" guitar. I look at the Guitar Hero lineup at times and I want to weep.
Contrary to popular belief, DJ Hero offers music that a lot of people are interested in.
And no, that doesn't make anyone less cool or whatever. It's just a difference of taste.
Storm Eagle @ Jun 25th 2009 3:34PM
But you know what. You can play just about any song out there on a guitar. Or incorporate a guitar INTO the song and it will sound just as good if not better. You can't say that about a turntable.
And that's where the guitar gains more accessibility. It's a much easier intrument for everyone to identify with because everyone knows how a guitar is supposed to work and what it does.
That's the point I think he's trying to make.
Bailers @ Jun 25th 2009 3:36PM
If there are songs on DJ hero that i want, I can buy 200 of them on ITunes for the same price as the crap that Activision is trying to convince me to buy. No sale.
How many people care, or even want to try and learn about mixing? The only exposure most people have to DJ and mixing is that chick who was Lindsay Lohan's girl toy for a while. Everyone has knows how a guitar is supposed to work.
get2sammyb @ Jun 25th 2009 3:50PM
The basic concept of DJing, ie spinning a disc, is just as accessible as pressing the buttons and strumming a guitar.
The whole concept of mixing is complicated yes, but the developers have already confirmed that the easiest difficulty will just be you "spinning a disc in time".
Much like Guitar Hero's easier difficulties are basically holding a button and strumming in time.
tenor77 @ Jun 25th 2009 4:29PM
You could score a perfect by taking a dump, that doesn't change the fact that DJ's don't get chicks.
Easy, hard, it doesn't matter. Is it fun, is it something that interests you?
Epic fail for me.
Nick @ Jun 25th 2009 3:05PM
"More mainstream" is the last thing this game needs
mietha CAG @ Jun 25th 2009 3:06PM
Can this company not go one fucking day without saying something incrediblely stupid? The club scene is bigger than 40+ years of rock and roll? Ok, sure, what the fuck ever. And while Guitar Hero/Rock Band gets VERY difficult at higher levels, no one is ever unclear what they SHOULD be doing, it just a matter of doing it. Does that screen shot make any sense to anyone? ... Exactly.
Troy Powers (PSN: TroyPowers) @ Jun 25th 2009 3:45PM
I think you're missing the point. He says it's hitting a more mainstream audience. Where GH encompasses the many forms of rock, and some pop, DJ Hero will include that plus hip-hop, R&B, techno, and anything else that can spin on a turntable.
Heavytoka @ Jun 25th 2009 3:07PM
Somehow I doubt that it is more Mainstream, but this game should cover more Underground Artists.
Shagittarius @ Jun 25th 2009 3:10PM
I think what they mean is that the people into this are younger and thus more likely to be stupid and easily parted with their money. We already know they listen to DJs.
Storm Eagle @ Jun 25th 2009 3:10PM
Those suits wouldn't know "mainstream" if it sat on their faces.
That's why they're still milking the same franchises after all these years.
Hey guys, just a heads up: What's "mainstream" tends to change over time.
Idiots.
gib @ Jun 25th 2009 3:27PM
Activision doesn't know how, but they try so hard to be cool with the young and stupid. Their attempts to be mainstream just means they are aiming for the lowest common denominator. Coming next from ATV...
Jonas Brothers Hero
Call of Duty: Twitter
Tony Hawk: Dance Party
The OC Hero
Ryan Seacrest: Modern Warfare
Crash Bandicoot goes to Starbucks
Wizzleteets @ Jun 25th 2009 3:33PM
I really laughed at your examples, gib. You must be as old as I am to think that the OC is still cool with the kids.
Storm Eagle @ Jun 25th 2009 3:35PM
You missed the joke Weezle. None of the stuff on that list is cool anymore.
gib @ Jun 25th 2009 3:43PM
@ Wizzle
Storm Eagle is right. All the examples are supposed to be outdated. That's how far off Activision is... I guess some kiddos still use Twitter, but that was *so* Feb 2009.
Jay Voorhees @ Jun 25th 2009 4:16PM
just so i can keep uptodate with the "cool" kids, what replaced the johnas duchebgas and starbucks?
gib @ Jun 25th 2009 4:29PM
@ Jay
To answer your question, iPhone apps and local coffee shops.
Then again, what are you asking us for? We are posting on a videogame blog!
Heavytoka @ Jun 25th 2009 3:13PM
LINK TO UNCHARTED 2 BETA CODES GET THEM WHILE YOU CAN!
Heavytoka @ Jun 25th 2009 3:13PM
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Naughty-Dog-Inc/57327290245
Heavytoka @ Jun 25th 2009 3:14PM
Under Boxes section
Storm Eagle @ Jun 25th 2009 3:15PM
Dude. Big deal. The beta's only on for another 3 days. While it was great while it lasted, I don't think it's worth the hassle now.
Jay Voorhees @ Jun 25th 2009 3:14PM
No doubt by reaching out to the r+b house rap crap they'll be reaching more people since it is the most popular "music" amoung the younger tone deaf generation. 300 mil households? that's a little doubtful. Though they maybe onto something if they just go absolutely balls to the walls with the DLC.
Storm Eagle @ Jun 25th 2009 3:16PM
Balls to the wall with the DLC?
That's being VERY optimistic, Jay.
Jay Voorhees @ Jun 25th 2009 3:28PM
yes it is optomistic given the GH history (especially on the wii). i'm dreaming of the next generation of RB/GH/Musicians that finally see the light and realize that if you could use the song creation engines on the iTunes library.... You want to talk about reaching an audience greater than any music game ever created? That's how you do it.
Wizzleteets @ Jun 25th 2009 3:29PM
While you may have reservations about the game, I'm pretty sure that your name could be one of the characters in it.
DJAY Voorhees, perhaps?
Jay Voorhees @ Jun 25th 2009 4:05PM
it's true, when i'm not out in crystal lake killing people I'm a crazy mix master at the weekend raves at the nondescript warehouse around the corner from that place, down the street from that thing, half a mile from that guy. knock three times on pipe and tell the guy you know me.
Seriously though guys, I don't think its gonna happen. Especially if they decide to you know, stop making games for sony systems.
scratch @ Jun 25th 2009 3:15PM
i agree that Griffith's statement is retarded. He just wants to drum up any kind of attention for what is surely going to be a big fail of a product. DJ Hero is probably the LEAST mainstream of any "Hero" they can come up with (Vacuum Hero FTW!).
Mr Kahn has it right, shredding on a guitar is about as mainstream as you can get.
Storm Eagle @ Jun 25th 2009 3:17PM
Surely not lamer than....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnemicis/2808373101/
Crazy-008 @ Jun 25th 2009 3:18PM
Cooking Hero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4efJ2_FLPSM&feature=PlayList&p=370309D0A22CC54F&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=47
bukizzle715 @ Jun 25th 2009 3:42PM
LOL! I would definitely play Vacuum Hero over Activision's latest pile.
Storm Eagle @ Jun 25th 2009 3:49PM
Vacuum Hero? That's not a bad idea. Then they could say that the game is supposed to suck!
BA-ZING!!
Michael T @ Jun 26th 2009 1:39PM
@ Crazy-008: That...that video will haunt my nightmares.
Flankenstein @ Jun 25th 2009 3:22PM
I'd like to his research data that backs up the claim that it's more mainstream than Guitar Hero. I would say, in America, DJ culture/popularity has been dead since around the year 2000.
Geist @ Jun 25th 2009 4:18PM
That's not entirely true. The DJ scene is still fairly popular (I've got a couple friends in it, and they've got constant work), but to say it's more mainstream than guitar is retarded at best.
Diskoboy7 @ Jun 25th 2009 5:56PM
Agreed.
I was a professional DJ from 1989 to 2004. I still practice, still have my 1200's, and do a few gigs, once in a blue moon. But I had to get out because the drugs (and their users) were just getting a bit out of control.
Not to mention, most places have started to go all digital - foregoing the use of turntables. It's just not as fun having automatic beatmatching versus manually having to beatmatch, on your tables. Digital is fine, if you're DJ'ing at home. But using a PC or Ipod setup in a club, or a party just (IMO) looks very unprofessional.
Billybet @ Jun 25th 2009 3:26PM
I actually think this will be the gaming bust of the year. You heard it here first.
Neuromancer @ Jun 25th 2009 8:21PM
I'll take that bet. I think it will do OK.
Wizzleteets @ Jun 25th 2009 3:25PM
Good strategy. Everyone knows that hip hop, house, and dance music are more accessible than rock.
[jumps off a building]
Wizzleteets @ Jun 25th 2009 3:27PM
Youch! I guess that's what you get, HeavyToka.
Wizzleteets @ Jun 25th 2009 3:27PM
This is exactly where I wanted this to appear.
Cole Slaw @ Jun 25th 2009 3:30PM
Just let these stupid DJ hero, Guitar Hero, and Rock Band games die already. Its amazing how they can release the same thing so many times and people still buy it.
rkrocks123 @ Jun 25th 2009 3:38PM
Why? Music games are an amazingly fun genre. I've probably spent more hours playing Rock Band 2 than any other game, ever. Just because Activision is flooding the market with crap doesn't mean that Harmonix should throw in the towel.
gib @ Jun 25th 2009 3:50PM
I agree with rkrocks.
RB2 is great... While I'll play whatever new game is out, the enjoyment only lasts a couple weeks. Rock Band is the game I'll keep coming back to.
Cole Slaw @ Jun 25th 2009 4:00PM
Yeah I guess when you put it that way. RB2 is def. a great game and I cant say they aren't awesome at all cause they just released The Beatles. Although Guitar hero I don't know about I'm still on the fence with them.
get2sammyb @ Jun 25th 2009 3:32PM
Alas, the problem within this thread is everyone is trying so hard to be alternative they can't see past the fact that not everyone enjoys the ol' cliche "alternative" genre.
While I'm sure Guitar Hero offers plenty of variety, there's a lot more music out there that people are interested in, even if the typical video game player is too narrow-minded to see it.
I for one am welcoming a rhythmn music game that will actually cater more towards my tastes. And I think he has more of a point than people in this thread are giving him.
There's more to music than that which is led by a guitar.