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MTV To Acquire Guitar Hero Maker Harmonix
An anonymous reader writes to mention a Gamasutra article about a surprise announcement from MTV. They're going to be acquiring Guitar Hero creator Harmonix for $175 Million. From the article: "Harmonix have had a long history of critically acclaimed, largely music related titles, including Amplitude, Frequency and EyeToy: AntiGrav for Sony and the Karaoke Revolution series for Konami. However, none of these games have proven significant commercial successes until the release of Guitar Hero last year for publisher RedOctane (itself recently acquired by Activision). MTV intends to uses the developer's expertise creating content for the company's websites, as well as for mobile services and VMTV - the online virtual world due to be introduced next year - and in general 'increase audience engagement and time spent with the brand
across all screens.'"
from the damnit-i-like-it-that-guitar-hero-plays-music dept.
Well, Punk'd Hero has potential... but Cribs Hero is going to suck.
... I can see it now, GuitarHero II featuring Krunkmaster G-flex Gomoney Daddy G.
You're busting my balls MTV, busting my god-damn balls..
Son of a bitch. This is going to suck.
My twitter
The game is gonna suck without music in it.
Sweet informative mod.
Last I checked most of the hip-hop/rap/gangsta' crap on MTV doesn't even USE guitars!
So, if Harmonix is busy working on MTV's internal projects and properties, does that me no more music related console games from them?
Or does it mean that any new games franchises will lean very heavily on MTV's "popular" content?
Either way, this makes me sad.
DO NOT WANT
"Tell me doctor, with all of your defenses, are there any provisions for an attack by killer bees?"
I suppose star power will now refer to your ability to lipsync and hold a mic at the same time.
-tgpo
Oh, and not a chance in Hell will I play Hip-Hop Hero with turntables and "bootie" gauge instead of star power.
This sig isn't original enough, it's time to come up with something witty...
It is only for music when music is the most effective way to market something.
Someone tell me I slept too long, and it's April now. There's no way this is going to help make anything better as far as Guitar Hero games of the future. It just feels like MTV trying to feel (and subsequently purchase) the pulse of the world that pretty much laughs at them now (sans the 14 year olds I guess).
Do Not Want!
Anyone remember the "MTV Music Generator" created by Codemasters?
Libertarians somehow believe that private businesses should be stronger than governments but weaker than individuals.
This can only improve the game! I've always felt that the songs were too long and unbroken, and now my dreams have come true! Nothing will break up the tedium of "More Than a Feeling" better than an FMV clip of some girl in Times Square yelling "HEY! My name's LaBreeanna and I'm fourteen and I want to give a shout-out to my homies at Horace Greely Private Academy! This game needs more Pussycat Kate and the Trannity Dolls... woooOOOOOOOOOEEEEWWWW!!"
Bring the rawk, MTV!!
Obligatory Snarky MTV Comment: Remember when Harmonix used to be about video games?
I'm done.
Those who believe the Internet is private,
find their privates are on the Internet.
Frequency Amplitude and Guitar Hero were great games, but there's no way I'm buying popcentric games with MTV at the helm.
This is probably the worst news I've read on /.
Great, so the next Guitar Hero will be songs broken up by stupid segments from shows like Jackass, and the Guitar Hero after that won't even have songs, just teen reality dramas where you have to push the correct button in time with the previously coreographed drama onscreen.
Unless you play it late at night, and then you'll be able to choose one of five songs you hate to play.
However, if you shell out the extra cash and buy a second copy of the game, then you'll be able to choose from 12 songs any time of the day.
I know when Guitar Hero loads up, there is an MTV logo that appears. So there was already an association. Hopefully they will just give these guys piles of cash and not try to offer any creative (or uncreative) vision. But yeah, I am with others...I am too cynical to believe that this will do anything but destroy the game.
Support a great indie game: http://www.abaddon360.com
The only possible way that this could be good is if MTV knows that gangsta/club music is finally on its way out, and this is just preparation for the re-emergence of the genres that suffered for airtime because of it...that is, every other genre.
Couldn't be any clearer. I hold little hope for Harmonix making anything I want to buy after this.
What it does mean is more 360 content from them though...
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
That there won't be any more songs in guitar hero?
I envision instead playing the life of a racker in a house with 5 other rockers battling out to see who will do dishes, arguing over who left the condom floating in the hot tub and trying to get a perfect score by backstabbing the other rockers while dodging any repurcussions...
I can't wait.
Surely MTV could've selected another company instead of the our favored rising star Harmonix to torture into practically WEB CODERS in MTV's black abyss of pointless Flash and content drivel. Oh despair!
It's not going to revive MTV back to how innovative it used to be in the beginning.
Harmonix developed Konami's Karaoke Revolution.
you all understand that the original game was supported by MTV...right?
--Moo.
Am I the only one who thinks this could actually be good for Guitar Hero? From listening to the Harmonix guys at E3, it sounds like the biggest hurdle in making a game like this is music licensing and recording, and it seems like MTV would be able to help immensely. In fact, I'm pretty sure they already did on Guitar Hero 1.