Topic: Future Versions of Guitar Hero to Include Vocals and Other Instruments

[Nick DiMola]

In an effort to match the Rock Band experience, Activision CEO reveals that new iterations of Guitar Hero will feature more than just guitars.
 http://nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=15832

 Activision CEO Bobby Kotick revealed that the developers of Guitar Hero, NeverSoft, are working on bringing new instruments and vocals to future iterations of the Guitar Hero franchise.  The revelation came in an interview with the business magazine Conde Nast Portfolio. It is currently unclear as to whether or not this will include the soon to be released Guitar Hero: Aerosmith.    

EA upped the ante with the release of Rock Band and Activision is clearly looking to stay in the competition with their popular Guitar Hero series.

[Nick DiMola]

This doesn't surprise me. I hope they subtitle the next Guitar Hero, Band Hero and start up a new brand that way.

[Morari]

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--Bureau of Internet Morality

[nickmitch]

We can only hope.

[Ian Sane]

Is there a reason why Activision and Harmonix parted ways?  It seems like Activision just stupidly created their own competition.

Rock Band is pretty much "Guitar Hero with more instruments".  If Guitar Hero is retooled to include more instruments then what difference will there be between the two series?

Considering Rock Band is more expensive than Guitar Hero I would argue that there's a reason for the two to co-exist.  If Guitar Hero becomes multiplayer focused and requires more insturments then where's the single guitar alternative for someone with a lower budget or who perhaps wants something more single-player focused?

I predict that Activision and EA will, as typical for them, milk the f*ck out of two series that are almost exactly the same and everyone will get sick of the whole concept.  Then both companies will take a huge loss when the sales dry up and they have a huge unsold stock of the latest sequels and corresponding accessories.  Hell even ignoring the existence of two virtually identical series, at what point does it no longer make sense to sell the game as a bundle with the hardware?  Eventually you figure the amount of people who own the accessories and just want a copy of the game will exceed the amount of people buying it for the first time.  Right now the selection I see in stores suggests that they're relying on people to not have the hardware yet (this is obvious with Rock Band since it's new).

[GoldenPhoenix]

I really like this news, one thing I like better about Guitar Hero is the song selection.

[animecyberrat]

I predict that Ian will, as typical for him, b*tch about a series that is almost doing something really good and innovative.  Then someone will say yeah it's a good idea and Ian will reply back with a long rant on how if it isn't more of the same it isn't very good.  Hell even ignoring the existence of this news, at some point he has to man up and admit it's worth checking out.  Eventually you figure the amount of wining he does will get boring, but he will reply back with another amusing rant (which I will of course half way agree with)  Right now the selection I see of Ian posts in these forums suggests that he really isn't satisfied as a gamer and would be better of finding a new hobby.

(sorry Ian I just couldn't resist I agree though man this is a lame idea.)

[SixthAngel]

This is why the Wii exists.  Companies make a game with wide appeal (Guitar Hero).  Everyone likes it and it has significant "nongamer" appeal.  More and more iterations come out each becoming more and more "hardcore."  Now the original game will no longer be available by itself and only hardcore music gamers who want multiple instruments/singing for more money will pick it up.  The cheap pick up and play Guitar Hero is dead, the "I roxor harder then joo" needlessly complicated sequels are very much alive, shrinking the potential audience but solidifying the current "hardcore" audience.

[vudu]

Rock Band is pretty much "Guitar Hero with more instruments".  If Guitar Hero is retooled to include more instruments then what difference will there be between the two series?

I've seen some side-by-side comparisons of the few songs that the two games share, and the Guitar Hero versions seem to always been more complicated.