Activision deserve to copy Rock Band - Guitar Hero 4 to have drums and vocals
Well the first details of the imminent Guitar Hero 4 have begun to trickle out of Activision, stating that Guitar Hero 4 will feature drums and vocals…hmm, this seems familiar. While this is just a rumour it is backed by some reliable sources, including Activision CEO Bobby Kotick. Ok, this sounds like Rock Band, a lot. I mean really, couldn’t they have thought of something slightly original - a didgeridoo controller for example? However I think Activision are entitled to copy Rock Band and its peripherals.
Right, so here is the current situation: the CEO of Activision, and an Activision insider have said that there will be drums and vocals in Guitar Hero 4. Fair enough. Now, this probably isn’t much surprise to anyone, I mean Rock Band has been successful enough, so why shouldn’t Activision join the band wagon? Well, one reason is because they’d be blatantly copying the Rock Band peripherals, but I think they might be entitled to them? I think Activison may actually have the ‘moral high ground’ here. Let me explain. Let’s go back a year or so. After Guitar Hero 2, Harmonix announced that they were leaving Activision to join MTV. After they packed up their bags and left, Activision got NeverSoft to make Guitar Hero 3. They were allowed to do this, as they still owned (and still do own) the Guitar Hero brand. However, Harmonix came out with Rock Band, which featured guitar, bass guitar, drums and vocals. Now while the drums and vocals were new, the guitar sections looked and felt, pretty much the same as Guitar Hero. Obviously there were a few differences, but everyone recognises that they were very similar. So as Harmonix replicated Guitar Hero into Rock Band, surely Activison need to get their revenge? And here it is, in the form of copying the drum and microphone peripherals.
On the other hand, Activision have not even tried to disguise what they are doing. Rock Band thought of drums first so Activision should just leave them to it and think of something different. If Activision keep copying Harmonix and don’t think of anything themselves, then they will always be a step behind. That said, there are certainly making more money off Guitar Hero than Harmonix are making off Rock Band, partially due to the ridiculous pricing of Rock Band in Europe (and the fact it hasn’t been released there yet).
So are Activision ripping off Harmonix’s idea? Or are they entitled to copying Rock Band’s peripherals? Tell us what you think in the comment box.
Source: Joystiq
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April 22nd, 2008 at 10:35 pm
I don’t care who copies who, I just want to be able to use all controllers on all games.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:13 pm
hear hear.
Matt’s sentiments seem to be the most prevailing.
I don’t think it will be about the hardware developments and innovations in the near future, but rather the licensing agreements.
The games (once GH gets drums, vocals, et al) will be pretty much the same, with the only thing separating them is the actual tracks available.
It will suck for consumers who have to buy the extra instruments for each games.
Thankfully there are a few manufacturers who are producing guitars that are compatible with both games.
I think that if a manufacturer was smart, they would develop a drum kit that not only works with rock band, but will allow a firmware upgrade in the future to work with Guitar Hero when it incorporates drums - or even an adapter for the current Rock Band drums.
I have all of the GH’s and I also have RB. I really do not want to have to get another drum kit if I can avoid it - and it’s not just cost, but space concerns I have to take into consideration.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:11 pm
This is Bull***t. First of all HArmonix did not copy Activision on the guitar peripherals, since HArmonix prety much invented the whole interactive controller, Activision only published the title and provided founds, thats why they own the franchise, but they did not invent it, it was HArmonix. When Harmonix left Activision they had to leave Guitar Hero(their Idea) and start another one again, only of course better, way better, since they actually had more instruments this time around.
Activision making Neversoft develop a RockBand imprint is utter bullShi** it shows they have no passion or original ideas for music like Harmonix does. This is why Guitar Hero 3 feels so different then i and 2, it feels clunky and unpolished. Well without Harmonix magic that game will be crap.
August 29th, 2008 at 6:33 am
personally i do like both games, but i have more respect towards guitar hero. rock band defianly copyed guitar hero when it comes to the playing instruments with music all in a game. and guitar hero are adding a make your own song mode which seems preety much original to me, by the way(just adding stuff) personally i think guitar hero over all has ahd the better set list, i think i liked the older guitar heros better, but the new set list for guitar hero is pretty sick, guitar hero will also make guitar hero have downloadable songs for the Wii, while rockband doesnt, plus if you have seen rock bands new delux drum set, its carzy if u actally end up using that on expert, umm yea thats pretty much it…
August 29th, 2008 at 6:34 am
oh i allmost foregot, for the ppl freaking out over guitar hero 4 being called that even though its now a “band” type of game, needs to get over them selfs, guitar hero cant change there friggen name lol, k thats all
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