Activision Narrows Music Focus To Guitar And DJ Hero [Activision]

Having released 25 different rhythm game SKUs in 2009, Activision narrows the focus in 2010, with only a new Guitar Hero and DJ Hero 2 slated for release in 2010. During Activision’s 2009 financial results conference call, Activision’s Mike Griffith explained that while 2009 saw Activision increasing its share in the rhythm genre to 51%, the company anticipates a decline in the music game business in 2010. That having been said, the company is serious cutting back on music game releases. Activision plans only two large releases in the segment this year – DJ Hero 2, and a new Guitar Hero game – both scheduled for release towards the end of the year. The company also plans to cut costs by not releasing either game for the PlayStation 2, a platform that does not offer the benefit of continued value through downloadable content. With 10 SKUs planned for 2010, perhaps Activision has finally brought its Hero fever down to a more reasonable level.

Original post:
Activision Narrows Music Focus To Guitar And DJ Hero [Activision]

The Games That Missed The October Top 10 [Sales]

We know about the games that came 1-10 in the October NPDs, but what of the also-rans? Those coming in between 11-20? Are they not also deserving of some time in the sun? While we’ve touched briefly on the performance of two titles not making the top 10, let’s look at the other 9. Yes, nine, not eight, because DJ Hero’s sales were so dismal (it’s best-performing SKU being the 360 version, with 62,000 sold) that it couldn’t even make the top 20 . So, without further ado, here are October’s almost-there games. 11. Demon’s Souls (PS3, Atlus) 12. Brutal Legend (360, Electronic Arts) 13. FIFA Soccer 10 (PS3, Electronic Arts) 14. Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story (DS, Nintendo) 15. WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2010 (360, THQ) 16. Tekken 6 (PS3, Namco Bandai) 17. Borderlands (PS3, Take 2) 18. Madden NFL 10 (360, Electronic Arts) 19. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Sky (DS, Nintendo) 20. Mario Kart Wii / Wheel (Wii, Nintendo) Well played, Demon’s Souls! And well played FIFA (the 360 version was #10 ), showing that maybe, just maybe, Americans are coming around. Music Games Aren’t Dead, Just Waiting to Be Reborn [Wired]

See the rest here:
The Games That Missed The October Top 10 [Sales]

The Role of Music Games [Editorial]

I got kicked out of choir in middle school and ever since, I’ve limited my study of music to whatever Guitar Hero and Rock Band have bothered to teach me. Now, of course I’ve heard people say that this is wrong; that video games cheapen or damage the experience of learning real music with their plastic peripherals and oversimplification of beats, rhythm and notes. But it seems like even more music games seem to be popping up in response to this criticism – all of which claiming that they are different, that they really are about the music and not about mimicking and button mashing. Think about it: we’ve got Timbaland’s Beaterator which includes lessons on real music theory in the tutorial, DJ Hero which introduces the concept of an artist who uses other people’s music to make an original song and elaborate music studio components in Rock Band and Guitar Hero that put the power of composition directly in your button-mashing fingers. And let us not forget Wii Music and all its lofty educational ambitions. To tone deaf choir reject like myself, the music game scene isn’t just over saturated – it’s downright intimidating. Am I supposed to be entertained, educated or indoctrinated? I can hardly decide. All of this came up today while talking with Carlo Delallana (designer) and Matt Leunig (associate producer) about their game, Jam Sessions 2 – a guitar simulator. I was playing Good Reporter and trying to find out how the game would treat me as a gamer and also as a would-be musician (despite my evident failure in middle school). I asked about the scoring system and Delallana said the game wouldn’t punish me or make the song sound bad for messing up a note. I started to ask about competitive multiplayer and both Leunig and Delallana emphasized that their game was more about making music than trying to be better than the next guy. Finally, I told them about Beaterator’s music theory lessons and asked for their take, and Delallana dropped this bomb: “There’s a danger in teaching [music] because there’s no one way to learn music.” That may be why Jam Sessions 2 is so careful not to punish gamers for messing things up – and why it doesn’t really tell you what to do when you get to the music studio to start recording and editing your own tracks. It also may be why I gravitate to it over Beaterator or Rock Band because I don’t really know that I want a music game to teach me or judge me on something I feel like I suck at. But is that reaction even worse than me assuming I know how to play the guitar having beaten Killer Queen on Hard? It comes down to what music games are supposed to be for. If Delallana is right and there’s no one way to learn music, then maybe it doesn’t matter whether or not DJ Hero has a better track list than Scratch: The Ultimate DJ . But on the other hand, if the game isn’t supposed to teach me music – if it’s really just an interactive fantasy where I can pretend to be a rock star – maybe all music games are only as good as their set lists. Either way you look at it, though, there is eventually going to be a music game for everybody if the market for these games keeps expanding like it is. Whether you’re a choir reject like me or a Ukulele Hero hold-out, there just might be some comfort in that.

See the article here:
The Role of Music Games [Editorial]