oh please, just yank the game so I don't have to go to any more parties that are being ruined by this crap.

Note quite Subby

From TFA:

Last month, feisty Warner Music Group CEO Edgar Bronfman, Jr. said he'll pull Warner's music from future releases of Guitar Hero unless the game's developer, Activision/Blizzard, starts paying more to include the label's songs in the game.

That my friends, is the sound of someone saying "Please kick me in the testicles, very, very hard. I deserve it."

Warner can get on their knees and suck Activision's cawk in thanks for the publicity the game's giving their bands. There's a reason why a lot of their "current" style of shiatty music doesn't make it anywhere near GH.

"When you look at the impact [the game] can have on an Aerosmith, Van Halen or Metallica, it's really significant"

Hmmm... I'm going to doubt that. If they were talking about new, up-and-coming bands, it might be true. Aerosmith, Van Halen and Metallica... those guys have already gotten as big as they're going to get.

Did Activision already pay for the music once? If so, then why should they pay again?

Taleya:

Do you really think it's fun?

Glasgowsfinest: oh please, just yank the game so I don't have to go to any more parties that are being ruined by this crap.

I'm sorry they don't have any Common Denominator in their soundtrack.

Hello Americans this is Klaus from common denominator
we are the band you are listening to right now
we are from Finland, this is the third song on our debut album here in America
and the guest vocalist is named Hungary Bear from bluecollar distribution
this song is called deathnotronic and it goes like this
this beat is, this beat is, this beat is deathnotronic

I don't know about other areas, but the NYC metro area radio stations have been playing a LOT more GnR lately, especially during request hours & such - if that's not a direct correlation to their old music showing up in video games, I dunno what is.

Glasgowsfinest:
Do you really think it's fun?

Hell yes it's fun. It's like karaoke taken to a whole new level.

Remove all Republicans: The labels own the copyright. It's their choice.

This pretty much sums it up.

Still, I don't want to see record companies jamming their new crap into these games for promotional reasons. TFA says that gamers don't look at the playlist, but that's BS. If I saw 20 songs by bands I'd never heard of and no classics I already know and would have fun "playing," no way in hell am I laying down my cash.

Strike a balance. Promote your new junk (unavoidable), but give us the classics that we want (what made these games popular in the first place).

As TFA also said, this is what's already happening, and it's gonna be farked with.

Glasgowsfinest: Taleya:

Do you really think it's fun?

Have you ever actually played it?

And by that I don't mean playing one song, thinking you suck and throwing it down and stomping away. I mean actually played with it enough to form an opinion.

If not, STFU and GBTW.

Fraggler: Remove all Republicans: The labels own the copyright. It's their choice.

This pretty much sums it up.

Still, I don't want to see record companies jamming their new crap into these games for promotional reasons. TFA says that gamers don't look at the playlist, but that's BS. If I saw 20 songs by bands I'd never heard of and no classics I already know and would have fun "playing," no way in hell am I laying down my cash.

funnily enough, this hits me as another major difference between GH and RB. i thought the bonus songs in GH3 sounded like shiat (including Dragonforce), whereas most all of the bonus songs from bands i'd never heard of in RB were quite kick-ass. i have no doubt Activision will start sucking the corporate schlong before too long(assuming they haven't already: Bullet for My Valentine, and the Transformers track from Linkin Park) i would think the alliance with MTV will buy Harmonix a little more leverage in dealing with the labels.

Secret Agent X23: "When you look at the impact [the game] can have on an Aerosmith, Van Halen or Metallica, it's really significant"

Hmmm... I'm going to doubt that. If they were talking about new, up-and-coming bands, it might be true. Aerosmith, Van Halen and Metallica... those guys have already gotten as big as they're going to get.

predominantly it exposes these bands to younger kids who wouldn't necessarily hear them otherwise. my siblings(ages 3-13) now know who Black Sabbath is, and i'm completely blame-free and can use the "they're already seeking it out, so i must guide them" logic on mother and step-father. also, there's a fairly huge amount of awesome in hearing your eight year old Hannah-Montana-fan sister whining about how she wants to start on medium, but just can't get past Raining Blood on easy.

Glasgowsfinest: Do you really think it's fun?

Yes, Rock Band is fun. When we have people over to play, there is much drinking, much screwing up and much laughing about it. It's as much fun as just about any tabletop group game. It's rarely the only activity going on, there are only four spots and there's usually ten or twelve people (about the most we can fit comfortably in the apartment). What would you prefer to do at a party?

How can anyone not find these games fun?

No kidding.

Pardon my ignorance on the subject, but don't radio stations have to pay royalties to record companies when they play music? Shouldn't the record companies be paying the stations for playing the music?

timujin: Glasgowsfinest: Do you really think it's fun?

Yes, Rock Band is fun. When we have people over to play, there is much drinking, much screwing up and much laughing about it. It's as much fun as just about any tabletop group game. It's rarely the only activity going on, there are only four spots and there's usually ten or twelve people (about the most we can fit comfortably in the apartment). What would you prefer to do at a party?

DVDA

Glasgowsfinest: oh please, just yank the game so I don't have to go to any more parties that are being ruined by this crap.

Man if your going to parties that are easily ruined by guitar hero, than you need to find some better parties. Are you sure by parties you dont mean hanging out with you 4 friends in someones basement?

/jk

/not a fan of this game

/played it once. it was fun.

/never played it again.

I don't know if it's just my brain is tuning them in or what, but I hear a lot of Rock Band songs on the radio these days.

I don't think it's a coincidence.

ihatedumbpeople: No kidding.

Pardon my ignorance on the subject, but don't radio stations have to pay royalties to record companies when they play music? Shouldn't the record companies be paying the stations for playing the music?

listening to radio is an alternative to going out and buying the album. it's free to the consumer, but requires you give up the right to hear whatever you want. the difference with these games is that they are a HUGE money-maker for the labels as is. the songs featured in the game boost record sales, radio play, iTunes downloads, and just about any other music selling venue you can imagine, all with no cost to the label. this is a ridiculously sweet arrangement, and they'd be fools to torpedo it over not getting enough cash up front.

stickmangrit: ihatedumbpeople: No kidding.

Pardon my ignorance on the subject, but don't radio stations have to pay royalties to record companies when they play music? Shouldn't the record companies be paying the stations for playing the music?

listening to radio is an alternative to going out and buying the album. it's free to the consumer, but requires you give up the right to hear whatever you want. the difference with these games is that they are a HUGE money-maker for the labels as is. the songs featured in the game boost record sales, radio play, iTunes downloads, and just about any other music selling venue you can imagine, all with no cost to the label. this is a ridiculously sweet arrangement, and they'd be fools to torpedo it over not getting enough cash up front.

All things considered though, these are the major labels talking. Some smaller label would be thrilled to have their music in this game.

WB on the other hand just says "Gimme gimme gimme!" like an old man at the social security office.

timujin: What would you prefer to do at a party?

I weep for the youth of today.

MugzyBrown: I don't know if it's just my brain is tuning them in or what, but I hear a lot of Rock Band songs on the radio these days.

I don't think it's a coincidence.

heard Green Grass and High Tides Forever, Don't Look Back in Anger, Suffragette City, and Won't Get Fooled Again in the space of an hours drive switching between two stations. coincidence it aint,

Glasgowsfinest: Taleya:

Do you really think it's fun?

Yup. And I'm a real-life musician, too.

timujin: Glasgowsfinest: Do you really think it's fun?

Yes, Rock Band is fun. When we have people over to play, there is much drinking, much screwing up and much laughing about it. It's as much fun as just about any tabletop group game. It's rarely the only activity going on, there are only four spots and there's usually ten or twelve people (about the most we can fit comfortably in the apartment). What would you prefer to do at a party?

Exactly. I've never been to a party that was 'ruined' by people playing Rock Band. In fact, the most fun that I've had was at a party in a two story house with a basement, with Rock Band and the keg in the basement. People would have a drink, grab a controller, play a few songs and then head back upstairs. Everyone played a little, drank a little and socialised a lot.

The fun of playing the game is pretending you know how to play an instrument and pretending you are a Guitar Hero or Rock (Band) Star. None of these nerds would be excited about pretending to play an instrument along with a song they've never heard. Therefore, the game companies would not have any of the revenue created by these games if not for the copyrighted songs. Yes, there may be an increase in royalties from albums purchased by the new audience, but that is the whole idea of copyrighting something. Movies give music exposure. Concerts give music exposure. Radio play gives music exposure. Newspaper articles give music exposure. The record companies don't owe any of those mediums money for the exposure.

Glasgowsfinest: I weep for the youth of today.

And he doesn't answer the question.

Nothing wrong with hanging out, drinking, and playing rock band with your friends, or hanging out drinking and watching a game with your friends, or hanging out, drinking, and playing poker with your friends.

I laugh at Glasgowsfinest and ilk who can't let other people have their fun. Just like the comic above. Perhaps you've tried the game and failed your first time, throwing the guitar and your opinions of the game both aside like trash. Or maybe you're a real musician and are jaded because groupies don't care if you can play a real guitar, because they are having fun playing Rock Band with a bunch of nerds. Maybe you're just poor and jealous and can't afford the system and games yourself.

Or maybe you should just find some different parties.

Rock Band is easily the most fun I've ever had at a party.

The article makes a good point. Bands should be desperate to have their songs put into these games. If not for Harmonix then bands such as Locksley, Bang Camaro, Din, The Mother Hips, Honest Bob and the Factory to Dealer Incentives, The Slip, Shaimus, The Last Vegas, Graveyard BBQ, and The Acro-Brats would all have one less record sale. At least from me.

I know that many other people have discovered and thus boosted sales of these bands because of Guitar Hero/Rock Band. What I love even more is the website CDbaby.com that lets you buy albums by these bands in DRM free .mp3 format.

/Seriously, check out The Mother Hips, they're awesome
//But not as awesome as Locksley
///But nowhere near as manly and superior as Bang Camaro.

Secret Agent X23: "When you look at the impact [the game] can have on an Aerosmith, Van Halen or Metallica, it's really significant"

Hmmm... I'm going to doubt that. If they were talking about new, up-and-coming bands, it might be true. Aerosmith, Van Halen and Metallica... those guys have already gotten as big as they're going to get.

SO MUCH THIS. I don't know about anyone else, but I got tired of hearing the same old bands a while ago. I think I'd like Guitar Hero a lot more if they promoted up-and-coming bands instead of bands that already have a shiat ton of money and fans.

...however, I understand Activision's need to cater to the masses. I'm sure Guitar Hero wouldn't sell nearly as well if people didn't recognize most of the songs.

/still waiting for Guitar Hero: Metal Edition

I have the sense of rhythm only commonly found in white accountants, and should under no circumstance be within less that half a meter distance from a dance floor or instrument.

That doesn't mean that I have any sort of problem with RB or GH at parties. If other people wants to make asses of themselves, they should feel free to, if they have fun for themselves and entertain me while they're at it, all the better.

Meanwhile, I can kick back in a sofa in good company with a beer in hand, listening to stuff like Kiss, Metallica, AC/DC and other stuff that does not occur on a regular basis in this century.

I really don't see the problem.

As for TFA, Warner is pretty much saying "Hey, why don't you go ahead and promote the music of all the other major record labels in the next game?" It will have just about zero impact on the game, apart from one or two sorely missed classics, and meanwhile 12-13 year old kids will go out and pick up records that were released 20 years ago on other labels, giving them net income on an album they have had nothing but net income on for the last 19 years. (Or download them from iTunes, whichever, I still prefer my records in flat and disky format.)

Bondidude: Glasgowsfinest: Taleya:

Do you really think it's fun?

Have you ever actually played it?

And by that I don't mean playing one song, thinking you suck and throwing it down and stomping away. I mean actually played with it enough to form an opinion.

If not, STFU and GBTW.

I tried Guitar Hero in the local Walmart shortly after it first came out. I sucked at it, therefore the game sucked.

A couple of months ago, we went to a party at a friend's house. There was a good group of us, twenty or so. Towards the end of the night, someone suggested we play Rock Band. I rolled my eyes, thinking this was going to be stupid. I sat there and watched everyone else playing, thinking they looked like they were having fun, but couldn't understand why - the game was too hard, therefore, it was stupid.

I finally got up to play bass. Once I got my hands coordinated enough so that I didn't fail the whole band, I started to really have a lot of fun. I tried guitar, drums, and vocals (even though I know I can't sing), and even though I sucked at all of them, I still had a great time.

/just sayin'

wake me when theres Guitar Hero: Steely Dan edition or Guitar Hero: Trey Anastasio edition,


/owns gh2,gh3, RB1
//went frets of fire to play music that i actually want to play
///never forgives activision for modified RATM lyrics in GH2

Twigz221:
/Seriously, check out The Mother Hips, they're awesome
//But not as awesome as Locksley
///But nowhere near as manly and superior as Bang Camaro.

Ooookay... gonna hold you to that.

Glasgowsfinest: timujin: What would you prefer to do at a party?

I weep for the youth of today.

In between beer bowling/pong games, I'd sit in the other gathering room of choice & either BS with the guys or chat up some chick - what's the difference if people are playing Rock Band in the corner?

Jness
I laugh at Glasgowsfinest and ilk who can't let other people have their fun. Just like the comic above. Perhaps you've tried the game and failed your first time, throwing the guitar and your opinions of the game both aside like trash. Or maybe you're a real musician and are jaded because groupies don't care if you can play a real guitar, because they are having fun playing Rock Band with a bunch of nerds. Maybe you're just poor and jealous and can't afford the system and games yourself.

...or maybe he likes hip hop and it bitter there are no hip hop video games that include a cheap ass fisher price turn table.

Which reminds me of a response to a letter from an EGM editor that stated Guitar Hero and Rock Band were racist for not including hip hop in their games despite these games stating that its all about rock n roll.

I hope neither side gets too ballsy in this argument.

Yes, the record companie own the rights and deserved to be compensated ACCORDINGLY.

However, the star power of these games is getting to the level of a Hollywood blockbuster. These are BIG games. Just like James Cameron and crew got money from Pepsi to have the T-1000s bullet go through a can (example) It is almost to the point where Activison and Harmonix could start demanding that record companies lower royalities as compensation for this or they'll go to another label to get their tunes.

Those games were great prior to the licensed music... they weren't as popular and fun, but Frequency and Amplitude were a blast with decidedly less popular music. I really think that record companies have become so impotent that they really don't have much of a leg to stand on here.

It's beneficial to both parties to work together here. Someone needs to go get them some John Nash literature.

Again, I think the article hit this on the head.

How is rockband any different than playing monopoly with a group of people?

I used to be against it because I play real instruments, then I tried it out over a friends house and it's a blast. It's nothing like the real instruments but it's enough like it where you feel like you're rockin' the f out. Don't knock it 'til you try it.

I enjoy Frogger.

Glasgowsfinest: oh please, just yank the game so I don't have to go to any more parties that are being ruined by this crap.

I know, Glasgow, I wanted songs by Teenage Fanclub in there too. Guess we'll just have to wait until Guitar Hero World Tour and user-defined content.

/OK, that part between the second and third chorus of "Start Again" counts as a solo, right?

Rev.K: Glasgowsfinest:
Do you really think it's fun?

Hell yes it's fun. It's like karaoke taken to a whole new level.

You say that like it's a good thing.

Guitar Hero is fun. But I don't want to hear you sing.

Yes, I'm talking to you.

And you don't want to hear me sing either.

larsinio: wake me when theres Guitar Hero: Steely Dan edition or Guitar Hero: Trey Anastasio edition,


Bodhisattva is really fun in Rock Band 2, but yeah, we need way more Steely Dan. Especially Reelin in the Years. Though Harmonix seems to be more taking the method of releasing albums and packs by bands as DLC than going with seperate games. You've got full albums by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rush, Megadeth, The Pixies, The Cars, Boston, and Judas Priest, with upcoming albums by The Foo Fighters, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Jane's Addiction. Not to mention the 12 pack best of The Who and the upcoming best of No Doubt and Offspring packs.

The only artist exclusive game they're releasing is the AC/DC pack, which includes the entire Live at Donington setlist. It's a standalone game, however, with a code you can rip it onto your hard drive for use in Rock Band 1 or 2.

Seriously, that's way better than band specific games like GH:Aerosmith.

PeeWeePangolin: Jness
I laugh at Glasgowsfinest and ilk who can't let other people have their fun. Just like the comic above. Perhaps you've tried the game and failed your first time, throwing the guitar and your opinions of the game both aside like trash. Or maybe you're a real musician and are jaded because groupies don't care if you can play a real guitar, because they are having fun playing Rock Band with a bunch of nerds. Maybe you're just poor and jealous and can't afford the system and games yourself.

...or maybe he likes hip hop and it bitter there are no hip hop video games that include a cheap ass fisher price turn table.

Which reminds me of a response to a letter from an EGM editor that stated Guitar Hero and Rock Band were racist for not including hip hop in their games despite these games stating that its all about rock n roll.

Beatmania is an amazing scratching game. Gets rediculously hard, but fun none the less.

Link (new window)

ColSanders:
You say that like it's a good thing.

Guitar Hero is fun. But I don't want to hear you sing.

Yes, I'm talking to you.

And you don't want to hear me sing either.

A little alcohol can fix that problem.

My rendition of Sabotage is legendary.

Fun watching popular pastimes that you aren't involved with get ripped apart by greed.

What the PS3 really needs is "Porn Star Hero". (Or should that be on the XXXBox360?)

BlackArt: Fun watching popular pastimes that you aren't involved with get ripped apart by greed.

What the PS3 really needs is "Porn Star Hero". (Or should that be on the XXXBox360?)

I had an XXXBox360 but it kept getting the red cockring of death so I returned it.

guitar hero bores the crap outta me.

OriginalGamer: Glasgowsfinest obviously didn't see the Awesome Warning:

That or Glasgowsfinest isn't awesome or a music lover.

cfish78: guitar hero bores the crap outta me.

Try Rock Band on drums. Even on easy it's a blast. If you dont like that. Well then it's just not your thing.

NorCalLos: The fun of playing the game is pretending you know how to play an instrument and pretending you are a Guitar Hero or Rock (Band) Star. None of these nerds would be excited about pretending to play an instrument along with a song they've never heard.

Psst, the first guitar hero had lots of songs that weren't popular from many small independent bands.

Glasgowsfinest: oh please, just yank the game so I don't have to go to any more parties that are being ruined by this crap.

When you say "parties," do you mean you, and four other people, hanging out and you're left out while they play the game? When I go to parties, there are more than 5 people there. There's a group playing drinking games, a group just shooting the shiat, a group playing rock band, another group trying to get (or getting) laid, etc. So, what "parties" are you going to where this game ruins them for you?

/You sound boring.