Green Day: Rock Band
No one can say they’re surprised, only saddened. When it came to the question of Rock Band or Guitar Hero, I’ve always favored the former. In my opinion, Guitar Hero has tracks that sell, as opposed to Rock Band which has tracks that play well. Although, things are different now; Rock Band has changed. Harmonix used to be a company that makes money off of good games; it seems they’re becoming a company that makes money.
But hey, who am I to judge? The Beatles: Rock Band has been widely acclaimed as a game that set the new standard for band-specific games. Many have raved about it, calling it a whole new experience of both the game and the band. Initially, I was neutral towards it. I felt that it had enough effort towards it to warrant a full-priced game, but the absence of any major gameplay additions and lack of challenge or long-term value disinterested me. It was a healthy mixture of praise and pessimism regarding this game. Now, however, I harbor only disappointment towards it. This has nothing to do with the game itself, just my interpretation of its representation with respect to the company’s direction.
The Beatles: Rock Band
The popularity of The Beatles as a band is primarily a result of the media. Though there are commoners whose support comes from blind obedience of the media, there are still fans who enjoy them for their music, regardless of how much face time they have in pop culture. The fact is that there are many bands for whom this is true, but their lack of exposure in the media keeps them from being found, restraining their popularity. Basically, the size of one’s fanbase is ultimately determined by the media.
When The Beatles: Rock Band first came out, I believed it was Harmonix paying tribute to the music they enjoy. Now that Green Day: Rock Band is on its way, I feel that Harmonix has fallen into the mainstream, where quality is short-ended by what sells; where the decision as to what thrives is relinquished to the stranglehold of the media. It could be possible that the company is just paying tribute to more music they love (though how can you honestly love Green Day that much?). However, there are other bands who meet that requirement and are not getting appreciation. Harmonix’ beloved Megadeth, for example, have been in three out of four of their main productions (Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II, Rock Band 2) but are not given this much of the company’s attention, likely due to the smaller fanbase. The gameplay of a Megadeth-based game would no doubt exceed that of Green Day, but the big question in the industry is: how much will it sell?
I am still willing to purchase Rock Band 3 when it comes out if it offers significantly more than Rock Band 2. However, given the apparent direction they have taken, I won’t get my hopes up. I am not implying that I scorn Harmonix for these business decisions. I am simply acknowledging the sad truth that money is the priority in this industry, and that there are not many paths leading to it. Now, when it comes to the question of Rock Band or Guitar Hero, does it really matter?
How I see it, there really isn’t a choice for Harmonix (or MTV Games or EA or whoever’s publishing Rock Band now). The rhythm-game market is Rock Band vs. Guitar Hero, and if Guitar Hero is going to release 10 SKUs a year, it’s strategically impossible for there not to be at least one new Rock Band game a year.
The assumption is that they aren’t ready to release a Rock Band 3, so they have to make do with band-specific titles. A Green Day game does not change my perception of the developer. I don’t like the band, but the direction is no different than The Beatles: Rock Band. It’s a smaller scope than a full frontal Rock Band sequel, but it provides Harmonix with an artistic outlet.
I don’t see how Harmonix is moving in the mainstream, as they’ve been/created the mainstream since the first Guitar Hero. They’re development cycles are no shorter; they’ve released a game a year since 2005 (Lego Rock Band and the PSP one were developed mostly by Backbone).
You mention how a Megadeth game obviously wouldn’t sell. But I don’t even see this Green Day game selling. The Beatles: Rock Band, based on the biggest band of all time, did not reach sales targets. Even with its exhaustive marketing campaign, directed at commoners like me, it couldn’t entirely break the mold forming around guitar rhythm games. With or without Green Day Rock Band, plastic instruments are on their way down.
I can’t really imagine that they are really making this for the money. If you look at the DLC sales, the most popular songs are Blink 182 and All American Rejects. I browsed through the top 5 or 6 pages and there wasn’t a single one of the green day songs they’ve released.
On the other hand, it would surprise me that the music aficionados at Harmonix would be unanimous about making a Green Day game, since a lot of “music elitists” look down on them.
Anyhow, I don’t expect it to sell very well unless it is priced at $40 or so. I guess it is a bit disappointing to see harmonix go down this path but I still find their motives unclear.