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Guitar Hero and the Muzak Model
“…a statement from Activision that suggested you’ll still see Guitar Hero games and plastic instruments on store shelves—assumedly as “greatest hits” value bundles, or the videogame equivalent of a Starbucks compilation CD.
Far as I’m concerned, that’s the best idea Guitar Hero has had in years.”
I’ve held my tongue on Activision’s cancellation of Guitar Hero, but this article nails it. This was the game that brought music games into the mainstream. The influence is huge, so great in fact that the five-button-guitar model has gone beyond a mere game and become something ubiquitous. Activision don’t want to develop this as a mainstream game any more. They’ve handed that space to Rock Band.
Just because Activision can’t find a way to make it work as a retail release, however, doesn’t mean that music gaming is done. The bubble has burst, but there are still many great ideas out there, many of which don’t involve unique peripherals.
I feel sorry for DJ Hero. It was a nice little game that sometimes felt like cutting and scratching a real record. I hope it also gets a sunset retirement life.
