Well, the cellphone games are virtually equal, if you consider each version is just one phone platform that it is on. And I don't really believe in cellphone gaming, but in 1 week we got Rock Band Mobile and iPhone Rock Band, but are they really different games? One is on the iPhone and one is on Verizon phones. Same with the GH mess. I hate mobile platforms.
As for DJ Hero, it's a new instrument that kinda supports the guitar on 1/10th of the songs as a gimmick. It's a new franchise in its own right.
But what are we arguing in the end, SKUs released or advertising presence? How much shelf space the track packs take up at a Gamestop (A lot) or how often we see the stupid GH commercial with "Old Time Rock'n Roll?"
What about retail space taken up?
Both of them have branded hats, boxers, shirts and sweat pants sold at Best Buy, Target and Wal-Mart. They both fill the stores with a plethora of fake instruments. RB just took the cake releasing 2 different full instrument bundles for TBRB, and 2 additional stand-alone guitars.
At least Lego Rock Band doesn't have a bundle, while Band Hero does. GH5 was standalone and w/guitar only. Band Hero is Guitar/Drums/Mic or Standalone.
Plus Madcatz and Ion have filled the accessories section with the Ion Drum Rocker, plenty of branded RB2 guitars and a whole host of other junk, far outstripping any merchandising Guitar Hero has. Not to mention the stupid 3D figure printing shit.
On the other hand DJ Hero has the fucking outrageous cost AND the even more stupid-expensive Jay-Z/Em edition that's $200 for ONE CONTROLLER AND A STAND.
In the end, it's all a mess.
Hopefully next year will be more toned down. We knew about this year being a mess back in 2008. All I hear about forthcoming in 2010 is Smash Hits 2 and GH PSP, aside from the expected sequels.
So what is milking? Releasing individual titles that each demand the player play the game? What's your take on Singstar? That releases shit constantly, but you don't have to buy them all. And the band games are dedicated, so if you don't like Metallica, no skin off my back. They are track packs, just stand alone. And the track packs have achievements, just not full achievements like Metallica/Aerosmith. However, they scale in price. 20 songs for $30 versus 45 for $60.