MTV Games cautious about introducing (even) more peripherals
by JC Fletcher 
{ Jul 8th 2009 at 8:00AM }
"If it isn't [enhancing gameplay] or it's not an incremental value add," he said, "then you don't do it." Presumably by "value add" he means adding value to the game, not to the cost, because all of those peripherals do that.
The statements take on a kind of hilarious quality when you realize what MTV Games is best known for: Rock Band. Most gamers would agree that Rock Band's use of peripherals is justified, but we still don't really think it should be acting like it's being judicious with its controllers. Unless, of course, the cutoff point is two guitars, three microphones, a drum kit, and a smoke machine. Anything beyond that is too much.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ryanpaulmcgowan @ Jul 8th 2009 8:16AM
I don't find it hilarious at all, especially when you realize they're not doing an Activision.
Because smoke machines... totally not optional.
Young_Nastyman (a.k.a. Thor von Clemson) @ Jul 8th 2009 8:23AM
Aww man! I was totally hoping to get a drum machine peripheral for Nine Inch Nails: Rock Band
Bowser Rogozhin: Death of a Ladies Man @ Jul 8th 2009 8:24AM
Remember when MTV released MTV Sports: Snowboarding? Back in the late 90s, when their name wasn't attached to too much garbage.
Young_Nastyman (a.k.a. Thor von Clemson) @ Jul 8th 2009 8:35AM
even better, MTV Sports: Skateboarding featuring Andy Macdonald
I know it came out against Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (second only to Underground in overall quality), but damn did this game get overlooked
Haywire @ Jul 8th 2009 8:34AM
What a pointless statement.
Obviously you don't sell something that has no value for the user, who exactly is Guthrie pointing a finger at?
Hafkie @ Jul 8th 2009 8:41AM
I don't think game peripherals will every reach outside of what Konami has already done.
Turntables could work, but there will not be a DJ competition after this year. Nobody is going to buy 2 different turntables for two different games, and nobody is going to buy a turntable that they can't use with their friends game for 2 player. All that is left is hitting the consumers first, and it seems as if DJ Hero will win that competition. I think DJ Hero is a bit more innovative than Scratch, with the buttons on the turntable. All I can say is, there wont be two competing games next fall.
The possibility of a Keyboard in GH and RB has been a rumor since the first Rock Band came along. There is no good way to make a keyboard game that is simple and fun. Unlike a guitar, you can't just limit yourself to 5 keys and call it a day. If anything, my ideal "Keyboard Hero" concept would be 16 buttons, one octave for each hand. And that's not even counting the sharps/flats. But could you imagine how complex that would be to show on screen? It would take alot of work, and it would most likely need its own game. Alot of work for little to no payoff.
Tony Hawk's skateboard, however, will most likely fail. Really, anyone who wants that kind of activity in a game already has a Wii and a Balance Board. Given that the mainstream appeal of the franchise has winded down, they are setting themselves up for disaster.
As of right now, the only controller that has a possibility of working in a western market is the turntable. DJ Hero has already shown Guitar Hero integration, and Neversoft has openly stated that they would love to allow the DJ peripheral into the full band experience (possibly even the music studio as well). Integration is the key to success, and if people can get more bang for their buck with their controller, they will buy it.
Wizzleteets @ Jul 8th 2009 8:51AM
That smoke machine is awesome (ZERO sarcasm).
HazyCloud @ Jul 8th 2009 8:54AM
I agree. Leave our fog machines alone! :)
Reboot @ Jul 8th 2009 10:33AM
Hear, hear! Now if only you could control HOW MUCH smoke comes out of the damn thing so you're not stuck in a fog for two hours after one song, that would be great!
Archon (PSN: Archonik, XBL: DarkARHN) @ Jul 8th 2009 11:28AM
I always wanted one and was so disappointed that it was XBox only... :(
Arrowned @ Jul 8th 2009 9:03AM
Forget the smoke machine. All that's truly necessary is two turntables and a microphone.
Hafkie @ Jul 8th 2009 9:26AM
That was a good drum break.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jul 8th 2009 9:22AM
Damn all the peripheral talk.....how about Rock Band: King of Pop edition? thanks.....
itbekevin2010 @ Jul 8th 2009 11:09AM
haha noooooo
BILLY MAYS HERE WITH ANOTHER FANTASTIC PRODUCT
rockband, but wait theres more,
its about me
heres how to order.
Storm Eagle::The Blood Edge @ Jul 8th 2009 9:27AM
In response to the smoke machine: If I recall correctly, that's not even a first party peripheral like the mics, guitars and drums. It's licensed to work with the game but it's made by another company. So it's more of an option for players, just like the portable drum kit or even the Ion drum set for that matter.
j.howlett @ Jul 8th 2009 9:54AM
wait, why hasn't mtv games put out a sim clone of the real world?
rkrocks123 @ Jul 8th 2009 11:49AM
Are you serious? You're REALLY going to claim that MTV Games is being hypocritical by releasing ONE game with peripherals, even after you quoted them in your article as saying: "If [software and gameplay] can be enhanced in a meaningful way by peripherals, then you ought to go down that path."
I'm sure you'd rather they just stuck with guitar games - forget about forward motion, innovation is for profit-hungry companies that don't care about the consumer.
All I'm saying is that Joystiq has just struck a new journalistic low in my mind.
Hafkie @ Jul 8th 2009 12:31PM
Eh, I've seen worse. They only report bad news about the Guitar Hero series, and they never report bad news about the Rock Band series. You get used to the bias after a while.