EA and Activision talk smack about rock battle
by Justin McElroy 
{ Aug 9th 2007 at 12:59PM }
While they're busy towing the company line, we're a little more interested in where you stand on the issue. Will you be venturing into the unknown? Or will you dance with who brought you, so to speak? Will you do both? Or, will you be like us and abandon both in favor of the secret dark horse: I Can Play Guitar.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ForceUnleashed @ Aug 9th 2007 1:01PM
I was leaning towards Rock Band...
Now I'm evenly split.
In the end I'll probably splurge and just get both games...
cliffjeff @ Aug 9th 2007 1:06PM
Rock Band if it's not too expensive... GH3 if it is... but let's be realistic - I'll probably get both
Nates4god @ Aug 9th 2007 1:07PM
I'm not going to get either when they 1st come out... TOO MANY FALL GAMES!!! I think I'll eventually get both though. Just depends... I might wait for rock band to drop in price...
Stevo @ Aug 9th 2007 1:08PM
I loved Guitar Hero 2-- but I wasn't too impressed with the DLC for it and it doesn't seem to be doing anything new with GH3.
I'm very impressed with how Rock Band is taking this genre to the next level and hope it fulfills the potential. If executed well and the price is reasonable, I'll be rocking out w/ Rock Band this holiday season.
Draco @ Aug 9th 2007 1:09PM
I'll probably go with Rock Band, I've done the guitar hero thing and this would be a nice change, hopefully the guitars are compatible.
ck @ Aug 9th 2007 1:10PM
I think I'll be in the minority and pick neither. I cannot possibly imagine paying around $200 to form a fictional band playing cover tunes. I'll just go to my local bar if I want that action. Or form my own band and actually play some real music. And Guitar Hero 3? Meh, same formula, Activision might be turning GH into Tony Hawk and that doesn't sound like a bright future...
TWiNKiE @ Aug 9th 2007 9:13PM
I agree. I already shelled out $800+ for a real guitar, and a real drum set. I'll let one of my friends buy it, and i'll freeload off of them.
Roddie @ Aug 9th 2007 1:10PM
I'll get both; I don't want to miss out.
kyle @ Aug 9th 2007 1:12PM
i for one will be getting both
Alex @ Aug 9th 2007 1:15PM
Wow, I just went to that I Can Play Guitar website. That's absolutely ridiculous. It looks harder to play than a real guitar, the damn thing costs $100 for the hardware alone, and the software is $15 each. With the level of complication to play, the sheer price of the thing, and the fact that it doesn't look like any fun whatsoever, any parent who buys that instead of a real guitar is a moron. Making this even more hilarious, the website advertises it as being something to help you learn to play guitar. There is just... there's no reason to get this over a real guitar, unless you're the kind of parent that totally spoils their children and gives them everything they ask for.
Also, did you hear those synths? OUCH.
Truepatriot @ Aug 9th 2007 1:17PM
rockband has drum hero,guitar hero,and sing hero IN ONE!
im still buying gh3 but only the disk.drums for rockband and guitar for it eventually =D
OTAM @ Aug 9th 2007 1:20PM
I'm choosing Guitar Hero 3 over Rock Band simply because I want to buy a game,not a platform.
David @ Aug 9th 2007 1:19PM
Getting both. Which is sad since I actually can play guitar....
But these games are more awesome than my old six string anyways.
Elyscape @ Aug 9th 2007 1:22PM
On a completely unrelated note, where did you get that image? I want!
OnimushaSoki @ Aug 9th 2007 1:24PM
That article picture will be my new PSP wallpaper this week. >:d
As for me, I'm going with RockBand(PS3).
COV3RT SN1P3R @ Aug 9th 2007 1:28PM
I'm going with Rock Band.
Crono @ Aug 9th 2007 1:25PM
I'll dance with the one that brought me: Harmonix. I'll also venture into the unknown: Rock Band.
only 1 game for me, and thats old reliable and the dark horse.
Psygnosis @ Aug 9th 2007 1:27PM
GHIII might just be another cash-in like Rocks the 80's, or Activision might try to hard to make GH there own and mess it up.
Bobby Ensminger @ Aug 9th 2007 4:15PM
both, nuff said.
puffin @ Aug 9th 2007 1:33PM
GH3 tracks are looking too good to pass up. Rockband's set is a little to tame for me. DLC might change the whole equation, but betting on DLC metting your needs is a crap shoot so I'm going to base it all on the initial retail offerings.
Crono @ Aug 9th 2007 1:38PM
Rock band has announced like, 10 songs total. There are over 40 venues in Rock Band (versus, what, 7 in GH2). I have no doubt that Rock Band will launch with a superior set list because of this.
gairheaton @ Aug 9th 2007 1:34PM
Rock Band all the way.
Burritoclock @ Aug 9th 2007 1:43PM
If for some reason I could only get one then Rock band all the way. It's a no brainer. Assuming you can't afford the whole $200 or so dollars you could just get the game + guitar for roughly the same price as GHIII, enjoy some GHIII type gameplay and even go online for some band action. Then as you get money add the drums and enjoy the drum part, online, and play with a friend, then add the mic and so on so on.
The godawful DLC situation with GHII (I was never bothered by the price, I am bothered by the GH1 songs and hardly anything being released) and then the ripoff of Rock the 80's (which I bought and enjoyed but was a gigantic ripoff cash grab) has soured me to Red Octane. I will still buy GHIII because I can afford it, but I may not get the guitar.
hvnlysoldr @ Aug 9th 2007 1:42PM
EBA no doubt.
Jon @ Aug 9th 2007 1:43PM
not either i wasted too much on gh 2 for ps2 with two games and controllers and i dont play anymore
Jake @ Aug 9th 2007 1:44PM
I don't see how you could not get Guitar Hero III if you already have the guitar(s). Rock Band is a considerable investment for all.
They can both peacefully coexist. My guess is that Guitar Hero will sell the most copies.
Truepatriot @ Aug 9th 2007 2:12PM
the gh guitars (on 360) will work on rockband =)
now im assuming,the ps3 gh3 guitar will work on rockband too.
gamernewz.net @ Aug 9th 2007 1:44PM
Awesome pic.
This game is great if you don't know how to play a guitar. But I'd rather pick up the real thing. Its more fun.
gamernewz.net @ Aug 9th 2007 1:47PM
ooops...THESE GAMES I mean.
I may have to eat my words and cop GH3. Slash endorsed. Nuff said.
Mr Intel @ Aug 9th 2007 1:44PM
SingStar FTW!!!!
Mr BoomStick XL @ Aug 9th 2007 1:51PM
This IS excatly what I wanted to happen!! Red Octane gave the BIG Middle Finger to ALL of the fan's who went out bought the 360 version based on the promises that they made!! Now R/O has to step it up because their monopoly on the Genre is over!!
I couldn't be happier, I hope Rock Band is a s GREAT as it looks and takes what they have learned from R/O's screw-up's and gives back to the fan's (i.e. DLC that doesn't rip you off!!) I'll be buying GHIII used so R/O doesn't make any money on it!!
Word of the street. @ Aug 9th 2007 2:51PM
Sorry to rain on your parade pal but have you think on what will happen if Rock Band takes the control?,what makes you so sure that when they beat GH3 they wont milk us with DLC as well?.
Also R/O would take the money of the guy who sold you the used copy anyway.
BTW I believe you people are crying to much about the DLC,It sucked anyway it was for the people that like crappy songs.
thenino85 @ Aug 9th 2007 3:47PM
Word of the Street,
The difference is that the person that you're buying GH3 from has already bought the game. Nothing can change that. Whether you choose to buy the game used, new, or not at all, that person has already bought the game. By buying the game used, you are not giving Activision and RO any money, but you are playing the game. That makes the publishers angry as hell, because they view it as you taking advantage of their work without giving them compensation.
Of course, this is the way things have always been. People have sold each other used wagons and unused food. A used optical disc is no different. However, the makers of wagons and fresh food never lobbied to make it so that once you bought their item, you could never, ever sell it again. That's the difference with modern media companies, and why they should all be put out of business. I'm a very capitalist guy. That's why I hold this view. It is essential to have ownership, for it is the cornerstone to capitalism. Even competition, as utterly important as it is, is secondary to ownership. If you can't resell the item, you never truly owned it in the first place. Media companies want to take away all ownership rights of the consumer, and it is for *rare* instances like this that the government should intervene to keep our system on track. Of course, the government doesn't intervene for matters essential to captialism, but instead choose to intervene when a crappy airline reaps its just rewards of being poorly managed or when a bunch of idiot mortgage agents get burned by giving loans with huge interest to people who can't possible afford it. Typical government crap.
Philpott @ Aug 9th 2007 1:51PM
"ramps look like ramparts" Ha!
Wubbytoes @ Aug 9th 2007 1:52PM
If it's not too expensive, I'm going to get Rock Band. That "I Can Play Guitar" is unbelievably lame btw.
Grant @ Aug 9th 2007 1:54PM
Rock band rock band rock band
WILL @ Aug 9th 2007 1:56PM
Rock Band for sure. I am planning on Getting a PS3 just for this game (well and to watch Blue-ray movies) drums for me is the Killer app.
I may pick up Guitar hero III for the PS2. I am not all that crazy about the song list but my wife loves Slash so we will probably end up with a copy.
WedgeTalon @ Aug 9th 2007 1:58PM
That would be "TOEing the company line", not "TOWing". You are not hauling the line anywhere.
/Sorry, couldn't resist my inner grammar nazi. :(
JLC @ Aug 9th 2007 2:07PM
4 players? online? drums? cowbell?
i think we have a winner already
neversoft is going to butcher the guitar hero franchise... who wants to bet tony hawk somehow make and appearance?
Word of the street. @ Aug 9th 2007 2:45PM
If you ask me it needs more Cowbell,Everything need MOAR COWBELL.
Matt @ Aug 9th 2007 2:13PM
I'm picking up both. GHIII mainly just to pick some achievements and hold me over until Rock Band. Unless there's some bombshell announcement about Rock Band coming out much sooner than rumored and/or GHIII coming out later than expected. Then I'll have a dilemma, but Rock Band is a guaranteed purchase for me.
Hey Apples @ Aug 9th 2007 2:15PM
Wow, the comments really surprise me. I was fully expecting the cheapskates to knock RB on price and the lemmings to pick GH3 on the name alone.
And yet, Rock Band is getting more than it's due worth of positive comments. There is hope for gaming masses yet. Guitar Hero stands to become the Madden of rhythm games and people are onto it!
JanJan @ Aug 9th 2007 2:18PM
I'm getting Guitar Hero 3
Because I have no friends
WiNG @ Aug 9th 2007 2:25PM
since I have a Wii guess I gotta get guitar hero.
Also that picture is cool, and by cool, I mean totally sweet.
decompiler @ Aug 9th 2007 2:27PM
i can't control myself, i must buy both.
jsn @ Aug 9th 2007 2:29PM
I'll get both because they both have something unique to offer. Rock Band is what guitar hero was, but with more instruments. GH3 is taking the same formula and expanding it with the battle modes and online play and the like. They'll both be fun, especially so with a group of friends.
It's all about having good songs and making sure they're tracked out well. I just hope that Activision konws this and isn't just looking to cash in. That's what the 80's edition felt like to me. Bad covers of mediocre songs, most of which were poorly tracked... no thanks.
Knight Marquise @ Aug 9th 2007 2:36PM
Hell, that an easy one, I'm getting both.
RUSKULL @ Aug 9th 2007 2:52PM
what's the problem here? I'll buy both (game only) and have a huge ass library of songs by then.
Word of the street. @ Aug 9th 2007 2:43PM
Guitar hero III because I'm 1 person short from Rock band,I mean what kind of band doesnt have a drummer/Singer.
Also I dont like the idea of paying for the controllers of other people.
Zk @ Aug 9th 2007 2:57PM
You could just get Rock Band and a guitar for yourself. At that point, you have Guitar Hero... but with the additional benefit of being able to go online (if you want) and play with others in a band type experience.
Also, later on, you can get drums and have a whole new game. Same with mic.