GH & Rock Band's presence at retail is pretty disgusting...

[Flak Beard]

I've got nothing against the games themselves. I enjoy GH from time to time, and between my wife and I we own a few of the GH titles. It stops there though, and we probably won't invest in any more.

What does get to me is the constant shoving of both series in my face when I go to the store. I stopped into Best Buy last week and their GH/RB section is out of control. You've got full kits for RB1&2 and GH:WT on four platforms, several individual games for both series and a plethora of third party guitars and worthless junk accessories. Guitar straps and stands, guitar faceplates, drum stools, wrist bands, fucking belt buckles and a fog machine to name a few. It's too much and it just kills me that this is in the forefront of gaming culture. I've never seen such a shrine dedicated to plastic music.

It's only going to get worse too. E3 info has trickled out for both series already, and we've got a Lego Rock Band on the way. Maybe this is why I started retro gaming, because I can't escape this nightmare.

[newt42]

... and we've got a Lego Rock Band on the way.

...I do not see how that could possibly work. Which incredibly twisted mind at Harmonix came up with that ridiculous idea? They do not seem like the kind of company who would produce such disfigured crap like that.

EDIT: To stay on topic, I agree with you to a sense. I think that the majority of these extra Guitar Hero/Rock Band games are getting a bit ridiculous, however... Metallica's Guitar Hero game doesnt sound all that bad.

[fast]

I agree, it is to the point of overbearing. I mean who needs a fogmachine for a video game. I can think of other uses but lets not talk about those. I havent brought myself to buy one of the guitar games yet. Ive got three ignition pads, two sets of maracas and three sets of bongos I dont use already... But if I did this would be the only way to fly:
https://www.guitarheroparts.com/products.aspx?id=40

[KennerBoy]

Does it irk anyone to know that I've never played either of these games? EVER! I agree though, I see way too much of this stuff in any store I go to. What will be the next big "thing"?

[Ack]

Does it irk anyone to know that I've never played either of these games? EVER! I agree though, I see way too much of this stuff in any store I go to. What will be the next big "thing"?

Don't feel bad, neither have I. In fact, I don't think I've played any of the really big names of this generation. I suppose Dead Rising would be the biggest...

[Dakinggamer87]

I like Guitar Hero and Rock Band but it's getting really bad how much these franchises are getting reused and recycled... There is way too much indeed..

[superlarz]

It's only going to get worse too. E3 info has trickled out for both series already, and we've got a Lego Rock Band on the way. Maybe this is why I started retro gaming, because I can't escape this nightmare.

You forgot Beatles Rock Band.... that is going to be pushed hard. And DJ Hero.

Someone please end it.

[otaku]

I'll be the devils advocate here and say I like most of what they've done though alot of it could simply be done via DLC I love rockband Ive owned the original and the sequel (with new drumsetup) I've bought accessories and tons of dlc. I play alot to to the point of wearing things out (maybe even my 360) its a real blast with friends and online. The fog machine is worth it but only if your going to have a couple bands together like at a club or something-then its fun.

GH mettalica was great and aerosmith was cool and so was ac/dc and the GH games beetles may be good to I hope so. But I would agree at this point we don't need a rock band 3 or a GH5 just stick with DLC they're flooding the market and its overwhelming stores and prices are getting way low to. But personally I've owned all of the games so far and lots of gear and enjoy it all.

[MrPopo]

So my understanding behind the Lego Rock Band is to create a version of the game more targeted to kids. So less Metal and more Pop. And the Beatles one is probably a contractual thing, similar to how the AC/DC tracks could only be obtained through exporting the live disc.

Now Guitar Hero, on the other hand, has been massively milking things. Aerosmith, Metallica, and Van Halen are pretty much just track packs with a bit of window dressing, but you can't export the tracks. Which is a pain in the ass for parties. With Rock Band 2 I felt I got my money's worth by getting a bunch of new songs and a better interface (especially the sync options). Plus, Rock Band's getting a Maiden 12 pack in two weeks, which is extra bitchin.

[the7k]

This is just a matter of Guitar Hero and Rock Band hitting the 2nd extreme of mainstream.

The only more extreme mainstream gaming deal out there is the Wii - You know your console is everywhere when they sell Wii gaming peripherals at Bed, Bath and Beyond. (I shit you not - just went through there today and they have guns, tennis rackets and other crap to plug into the Wii Remote.)

Yeah, the GH/RB presence at Best Buy is outrageous. There is the Sony section, Nintendo section, Microsoft section, and then the RB/GH section. Rock Band 2 and the latest Guitar Hero are both hooked up to back-to-back Flat-Screen TVs of enormous proportions, with hundreds of bundles all over the store. Meanwhile, the Sony and Microsoft sections have TVs that aren't much bigger than a office standard PC Monitor hooked up to their systems. (The Wii is also hooked to a massive flat-screen)

I find it hilarious that the Wii, Rock Band and Guitar Hero are all hooked up to glorious HDTVs... and it's just a waste! Wii can't output to high resolutions, and playing Rock Band or Guitar Hero on an HDTV is like watching "Mall Cop" on Blu-Ray... sure, it looks better, but does that even matter? Meanwhile, the Batman: Arkham Asylum demo and the God of War 3 trailer plays on a TV small enough to be considered portable.