I agree that GH1 and GH2 are complete games, great games even. I do not believe that it justifies the pricing announced for downloadable content. The problem is that they are essentially asking you to re-buy content that you may have already purchased, at a premium over what you would have already paid!
This isn't the first time this has happened either. My wife loves Karaoke Revolution (also by Harmonix), as do all of our friends that we've shown it to. We have three versions of Karaoke Revolution for the PS2, and STILL got the Xbox version because of the lure of downloadable content. The problem with Karaoke Revolution is that there are too many versions, well technically the problem is that you cannot access content between versions, but that's splitting hairs.
When we bought KR1 for Xbox, we also bought the few (five?) song packs that were available for download (all were songs that we already owned on PS2 discs). The reason was that when we played we'd have a single track list to choose from (different people like different songs, obviously). Afterwards, when KR Party was released (also on Xbox) ALL of the songs from KR 1-3 (on PS2) were now available for download (it might have been earlier then that, but that's when we noticed that they were available). As mentioned above we'd already bought some of them, and were getting ready to buy the rest (again, single track list) until we saw the total (~$90 for the additional tracks we hadn't already bought). At this point we'd bought 4-5 versions of KR, owned ALL of the songs that were available to buy (and then some), and were being asked to buy them again for a Premium, just to be able to have access to all of them without swapping discs.
Why is there no way to rip/copy tracks off of the game discs that you already own? I wouldn't even mind if I had to verify each disk before playing. I'd gladly (well, not gladly but I'd do it) take the 3-5 minutes to place each disc in the tray to appease the "copy protection" concerns of the rent-and-rip variety, if only I could. Instead, I am asked to re-buy content that has already been sold to me (more then once already in the case of KR).
I understand that the GH1 tracks on the 360 have added features (Rhythm/Bass Guitar for multiplayer, etc) and I'd even be willing to pay a small fee for a patch to add that capability to my ripped tracks (or have the option not to, and just play them as they originally were included, if I so chose).
According to Wikipedia, Frets on Fire will already do this, so why not GH or KR? I'd gladly give these companies (Harmonix or otherwise) my money for the convenience of not setting up a PC game to play on my TV, but at this point I'm thinking about moving over to FoF for good. I have never played FoF, but being able to rip songs, use my official GH controllers (instead of the keyboard), and download USER CREATED songs as well makes it sound like FoF is offering everything that GH isn't.
I understand the point of HD possibly giving an edge to SD, but isn't that why there are player rankings?
Younger players also have an edge in that they can log more hours playing, learning every specific detail about levels, items, etc. If the HD vs. SD difference is large enough, then won't the rankings clear that up automatically?
The only real problem I see with that if you wanted to play with a specific friend, and one of you was HD while the other was SD . . . but then isn't that the same as playing with an inexperienced friend in the current setup?
Interesting thing about these games, is that there's not a single non-MLB licensed baseball game available for the GC.
Actually, there WILL be a non-licensed baseball game on the Gamecube . . . Mario Baseball. Scheduled for 2005 release, so along with the previous mention of Nintendo First Party developed Pennant Chase Baseball and Take-Two's title, that makes 3 baseball games for the Gamecube (down from the previously mentioned 5).
Not bad considering the "Exclusivity Agreement" in place.
Personally, I can't stand any 3D Mario platformer... Super Mario 64 may be a decent game in its own right -- but it's not really Super Mario as far as I'm concerned.
Using your logic, there shouldn't be a Grand Theft Auto 3 either.
And to say that Mario 64/Sunshine (or any 3D Mario platformer) isn't really Super Mario because it's different ignores the fact that SUPER Mario Bros. was completely different than the ORIGINAL Mario Bros. The change to side scrolling was HUGE (and arguing that it wasn't much different because they were both 2D would void your Super Mario World comment - not to mention how much more complicated Super Mario was vs. the original).
See also Donkey Kong Country . . . or should THAT have not been made either?
Just because many companies get it wrong doesn't mean that the idea itself is flawed. And to say that Nintendo is the biggest offender of "pissing on the legacy" of the classics I find laughable.
I'd even argue the opposite: Nintendo has probably sustained the legacy of most of their franchises better than any other company to date.
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I agree that GH1 and GH2 are complete games, great games even. I do not believe that it justifies the pricing announced for downloadable content. The problem is that they are essentially asking you to re-buy content that you may have already purchased, at a premium over what you would have already paid!
This isn't the first time this has happened either. My wife loves Karaoke Revolution (also by Harmonix), as do all of our friends that we've shown it to. We have three versions of Karaoke Revolution for the PS2, and STILL got the Xbox version because of the lure of downloadable content. The problem with Karaoke Revolution is that there are too many versions, well technically the problem is that you cannot access content between versions, but that's splitting hairs.
When we bought KR1 for Xbox, we also bought the few (five?) song packs that were available for download (all were songs that we already owned on PS2 discs). The reason was that when we played we'd have a single track list to choose from (different people like different songs, obviously). Afterwards, when KR Party was released (also on Xbox) ALL of the songs from KR 1-3 (on PS2) were now available for download (it might have been earlier then that, but that's when we noticed that they were available). As mentioned above we'd already bought some of them, and were getting ready to buy the rest (again, single track list) until we saw the total (~$90 for the additional tracks we hadn't already bought). At this point we'd bought 4-5 versions of KR, owned ALL of the songs that were available to buy (and then some), and were being asked to buy them again for a Premium, just to be able to have access to all of them without swapping discs.
Why is there no way to rip/copy tracks off of the game discs that you already own? I wouldn't even mind if I had to verify each disk before playing. I'd gladly (well, not gladly but I'd do it) take the 3-5 minutes to place each disc in the tray to appease the "copy protection" concerns of the rent-and-rip variety, if only I could. Instead, I am asked to re-buy content that has already been sold to me (more then once already in the case of KR).
I understand that the GH1 tracks on the 360 have added features (Rhythm/Bass Guitar for multiplayer, etc) and I'd even be willing to pay a small fee for a patch to add that capability to my ripped tracks (or have the option not to, and just play them as they originally were included, if I so chose).
According to Wikipedia, Frets on Fire will already do this, so why not GH or KR? I'd gladly give these companies (Harmonix or otherwise) my money for the convenience of not setting up a PC game to play on my TV, but at this point I'm thinking about moving over to FoF for good. I have never played FoF, but being able to rip songs, use my official GH controllers (instead of the keyboard), and download USER CREATED songs as well makes it sound like FoF is offering everything that GH isn't.
FOR FREE.
When the topic of "dumbing-down for the masses" came up, was I the only one who immediately thought of Prince of Persia: The Warrior Within?
I understand the point of HD possibly giving an edge to SD, but isn't that why there are player rankings?
Younger players also have an edge in that they can log more hours playing, learning every specific detail about levels, items, etc. If the HD vs. SD difference is large enough, then won't the rankings clear that up automatically?
The only real problem I see with that if you wanted to play with a specific friend, and one of you was HD while the other was SD . . . but then isn't that the same as playing with an inexperienced friend in the current setup?
Interesting thing about these games, is that there's not a single non-MLB licensed baseball game available for the GC.
Actually, there WILL be a non-licensed baseball game on the Gamecube . . . Mario Baseball. Scheduled for 2005 release, so along with the previous mention of Nintendo First Party developed Pennant Chase Baseball and Take-Two's title, that makes 3 baseball games for the Gamecube (down from the previously mentioned 5).
Not bad considering the "Exclusivity Agreement" in place.
Personally, I can't stand any 3D Mario platformer ... Super Mario 64 may be a decent game in its own right -- but it's not really Super Mario as far as I'm concerned.
Using your logic, there shouldn't be a Grand Theft Auto 3 either.
And to say that Mario 64/Sunshine (or any 3D Mario platformer) isn't really Super Mario because it's different ignores the fact that SUPER Mario Bros. was completely different than the ORIGINAL Mario Bros. The change to side scrolling was HUGE (and arguing that it wasn't much different because they were both 2D would void your Super Mario World comment - not to mention how much more complicated Super Mario was vs. the original).
See also Donkey Kong Country . . . or should THAT have not been made either?
Just because many companies get it wrong doesn't mean that the idea itself is flawed. And to say that Nintendo is the biggest offender of "pissing on the legacy" of the classics I find laughable.
I'd even argue the opposite: Nintendo has probably sustained the legacy of most of their franchises better than any other company to date.