Activision: Probably fewer 'Hero' SKUs next year, but next DJ, Guitar and Band lined up
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Nov 13th 2009 at 1:00PM } 
... it's rather sad when game announcements border on non-news. Well, we might as well finish by saying that Madden NFL 11 will also release next year, along with all the other sports franchises.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
T @ Nov 13th 2009 1:04PM
So with Band Hero, Activision has officially found a way to double the output from Guitar Hero each year without having to officially call them all "Guitar Hero ____"
That's truly pathetic.
INTERNET SUPERHERO @ Nov 13th 2009 1:22PM
If Activision keeps throwing these out year after year this franchise is going to go the way of DDR.
myspaceisevil @ Nov 13th 2009 1:37PM
How about you shut up!!!
im still waiting for them to make tuba hero for me.
i cant wait till i have that huge, heavy plastic peripheral wrapped around my body so i can be like a real life tuba star.
im definitly gonna pick up the extra jazzy edition for $300
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Nov 13th 2009 2:16PM
THE MILKS GONE BAD!
YAK YAK YAK YAK
Hafkie @ Nov 13th 2009 2:30PM
Internet superhero: Not a chance. Guitar Hero (And RB) has more music that people actually care about in this region. Not to diss J-Rock or anything but it just doesn't have the audience over here, and DDR died because. aside from the hardcore players, nobody wanted to play a random J-Pop song.
robert @ Nov 13th 2009 2:34PM
Sooner or later i will get one of captain planets references.
GoingToAlpha @ Nov 13th 2009 2:43PM
@myspaceisevil that would be sousaphone hero, not tuba hero.
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Nov 13th 2009 4:36PM
@ robert
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgX02nL6z_I#t=06m40s
WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Nov 13th 2009 1:04PM
Is this the Activision blog or something?
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith-ATDF Co-Founder @ Nov 13th 2009 1:08PM
I thought it was the MW2 blog for a while...
Solace @ Nov 13th 2009 1:19PM
and I though it was Bradwarts job to comment on every story
Fargus @ Nov 13th 2009 1:20PM
Videogame Blog + Biggest release of the year = mega coverage. What part of that don't you agree with?
Nathan-DTS [He is your father] @ Nov 13th 2009 1:29PM
The biggest release of the year part.
Jack Tretton @ Nov 13th 2009 1:47PM
Yeah, Solace, like you've got room to talk about others who comment in excess.
Peter Moore @ Nov 13th 2009 2:41PM
Shut up, Jack. Don't you have a company to run? ...wait a minute...
Nathan-DTS [He is your father] @ Nov 13th 2009 3:23PM
Shut up Moore. Don't you have some sports games to go copy and paste?
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Nov 13th 2009 4:56PM
Hey all you CEOs, Veeps, children...does Captain Planet have to choke a bitch?
Dropeti @ Nov 13th 2009 1:06PM
Yes, milk it baby
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith-ATDF Co-Founder @ Nov 13th 2009 1:07PM
I emphasize "probably"
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith-ATDF Co-Founder @ Nov 13th 2009 1:09PM
One thing is certain. Whatever they are...
*dons sunglasses*
they're ALL heroes.
charlie b. @ Nov 13th 2009 1:16PM
*Roger Daltrey scream*
freaparn @ Nov 13th 2009 1:17PM
Y'know Brad, when 50% of the comments in a thread are yours, and there are more than two comments... it might be time to consider looking into a hobby.
bumblo @ Nov 13th 2009 1:37PM
Okay darth, upvoting you one last time for the cheesy caruso style one liner.
HighFiveJesus @ Nov 13th 2009 2:57PM
and masturbation doesn't count.
Bubbameister33 (Confused by Fanboyism) @ Nov 13th 2009 5:13PM
Yes it does.
hdcase @ Nov 13th 2009 1:17PM
Excellent (well to the DJ Hero part, not so much the others).
Blue_Falcon @ Nov 13th 2009 1:17PM
We can be Heroes...just for one day.
james @ Nov 13th 2009 1:22PM
Why can't franchises ever just quit while there ahead and stay good?
WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Nov 13th 2009 1:24PM
Guitar Hero 5 is the best Guitar Hero game, whether you like it or not.
james @ Nov 13th 2009 1:28PM
sorry, good was the wrong word.
stay classic and unique I guess. rather than blur the whole series with too many iterations.
thats just my opinion.
tcc3 @ Nov 13th 2009 1:39PM
Neversoft best or Harmonix best?
if they've honestly outdone GH2, i might have to look at it.
Hafkie @ Nov 13th 2009 2:24PM
Without a doubt it is Neversoft's best.
If you don't factor in nostalgia, then I'd say that GH5 beats GH2 for an all-around experience. It took them a while, but Neversoft found their edge and they need to stick with it. Hell, I wouldn't be suprised if some of GH5's features show up in a future Rock Band.
Conor @ Nov 13th 2009 3:27PM
In answer to your question:$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
ScottG13 @ Nov 13th 2009 1:22PM
I actually do think a kid focused Hero brand makes sense. I'm just not sure that's coming across very well, though. Not as well as the Lego Rock Band, at least.
Maulok @ Nov 13th 2009 1:47PM
Agreed, both are trying to grab the E for Everyone crowd, but Band Hero really isn't clear on a shelf unless you browse the track list. It just looks like more of the same. I mocked Lego RB as much as anyone, but seeing the two side by side on shelves, I can say that I get it now.
Hafkie @ Nov 13th 2009 2:25PM
I don't know. Lego RB really pushed for family friendly, but Band Hero seemed to go more "Top 40 hits" than family friendly.
ScottG13 @ Nov 13th 2009 2:29PM
It might be a bit of Activision not wanting to serve two masters with GH. GH has traditionally been VERY guitar/difficulty focused for the ScoreHero.com kids. Top 40 is tough to push through for those guys. Maybe GH continues to be the "gamers" franchise and Band Hero is its "casual franchise."
Makes sense to me. Though I'm not getting either. Rock Band works for me.
Hafkie @ Nov 13th 2009 2:36PM
Eh, I don't think so. As all of the Rock Band DLC whores are all on SH.
Also, Guitar Hero games have NOT been difficulty driven over the last 2 or so major installments. I'd say the overall difficulty curve of WT/GH5 was more or less equal of RB/RB2. Both games have their share of mindfucks and easy songs.
ScottG13 @ Nov 13th 2009 2:41PM
I haven't really followed the GH side of things since GH3. RB never seemed to have the Dragonforce kind of stuff. I'll take your word on it though that the SC kids have moved on. Not surprising. Harmonix seems to cater a bit better to the audience.
Hafkie @ Nov 13th 2009 3:01PM
I wouldn't even say they have moved on, though. As both sides of SH have their fans.
Theres RB fanboys who stay on RB.SH, theres GH fanboys who stay on the GH side, and then there are the fence riders like me who play both games.
I'd say your best bet is to atleast rent GH5 so you can see what Neversoft has been up to for the last 2 years. WT was a shitfest, but they have learned their lesson. Neversoft tends to be a developer that throws all of the cards on the table and hope that they stick, while Harmonix takes forever, but carefully places the card in the perfect spot. With GH5, they finally decided to settle down and refine their shit.
ScottG13 @ Nov 13th 2009 3:05PM
I do feel like RB2's interface, though improved, could have used some refinements. They still desperately need a "party mode" or "bar mode" that lets people drop in and out at will or even change difficulty on the fly. It sounds like GH5 really improved alot of those types of things.
Hafkie @ Nov 13th 2009 3:22PM
I think the only thing I don't like about RB2's interface is the half-transparency of the highways (light shows in the background can make notes hard to hit, this is especially apparent during dreamscapes in TB:RB), but for the most part, it is clean and nice.
GH5's interface.... well... it was a long journey to get where it is. Haha. That's all I can say about.
To go from this:
http://www.gossipgamers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/176369-guitar_hero_world_tour___rebel_yell_super1.jpg
To This:
http://bulk.destructoid.com/ul/143567-guitar-hero-s-music-compatibility-explained/GH5-1-noscale.jpg
is nothing short of miraculous. I'd say Gh5 is the "opposite" of RB's interface, but in a good way. It's just as functional, but different. The only bad part about it is that it is not small TV friendly. Then again, if your RB/GH parties are on a 15 inch TV, then... well.. yeah. It's not THAT big of a problem. Maybe single player.
LieutenantEddy @ Nov 13th 2009 1:32PM
Why can't they just stick with GH5 and just focus on DLC like RB2?
I really don't wanna keep spending $70 CAD a year just to keep up to date.
Hafkie @ Nov 13th 2009 3:02PM
Joystiq didn't include this in their summary, but the PR guy said that they were going to scale up DLC operations in 2010.
Jack Tretton @ Nov 13th 2009 1:33PM
Track #1
http://is.gd/4Uo5W
Phillip @ Nov 13th 2009 1:39PM
Well played, sir.
gib @ Nov 13th 2009 1:43PM
that was just too much work Jack... especially when you could have done this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHXA4_O-MXM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f_HsjpSVaI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tlVShzXvZI
Jack Tretton @ Nov 13th 2009 1:48PM
I know, Gib. Linking to YT occurred to me about .8 seconds after clicking Add Comment.
lnternetjesus @ Nov 13th 2009 1:35PM
We have a real culture of thrift. The goal that I had in bringing a lot of the packaged goods folks into Activision about 10 years ago was to take all the fun out of making video games.”
I tried to instill into the company culture “skepticism, pessimism, and fear” of the global economic downturn, adding, “We are very good at keeping people focused on the deep depression.”
Kill a mans jiro @ Nov 13th 2009 1:36PM
Im surprised nobodys called boycott on them yet tbh, its just rediculous imo now, its like buying the same games over n over. I still sit down and jam to Guitar hero 3 when i want to turn into a rock king in my bedroom lol.
This is just beyond crazy, but if people are silly enough to buy the same game every 3 months that could easily be "DLC", then they deserve to loose there £40/$50