The End of Guitar Hero (lol)

[Stoney Mason]

Activision has hit DJ Hero developer Freestyle Games with severe layoffs and axed the Guitar Hero series, Eurogamer understands.

United Front's open world game True Crime has been cancelled, sources have told Eurogamer.

An announcement is expected tonight ahead of the publication of Activision's financial results.

In December last year Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg said Guitar Hero, and the music genre, had a future following dismal sales of Warriors of Rock.

"It's no secret that not just Guitar Hero, but also Rock Band, and the music category in general, do not have the same mass appeal today that they did a few years ago," he said.

"That said, I think that we would be foolish to not try and build on the strength of the Guitar Hero brand, because as you said, it's a pretty strong brand with great recognition and great likeability, and there's a lot to work with there.

"I think the road to rejuvenating that category goes through innovation," he continued. "The premise of Guitar Hero - that everyone has an inner rock star - it's something that we've all done forever. Some version of singing into a hairbrush, or holding a tennis racket like a guitar, or singing karaoke, or singing into the bathroom mirror - we all do that.

"I think a lot of video game genres that have had tremendous staying power have a fantasy-fulfillment element at their core, whether it's driving the fast car, or participating in professional sports, or going into battle. People don't get to do this in everyday lives.

"So I think the core premise and the core insight at the heart of the Guitar Hero franchise is still very relevant. I just think we need to escalate the experience for people and innovate. I think the genre is still fairly new, and so I think it's probably time for us to really look at what the next level looks like for that genre."

The publisher had confirmed the return of the franchise in 2011.

Eurogamer's calls to UK developer Freestyle Games went unanswered this evening. United Front Games had not responded to Eurogamer's request for comment at the time of publication.

Eurogamer has contacted Activision for comment.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-02-09-activision-kills-guitar-hero

[archie4208]

Good riddance.

[Stoney Mason]

The weird bit is the true crime one. This article came out just a few days ago which I assumed was based on a scheduled preview.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/286085/previews/true-crime-hong-kong-2011s-most-polished-open-world/

[Shaka Khan]

^ I was gonna comment on that. It's weird, United Front was pimping it a few days ago.

[Stoney Mason]

^ I was gonna comment on that. It's weird, United Front was pimping it a few days ago.

Yeah I was kinda interested in it after reading that preview although all previews tend to blow smoke up your ass.

I guess this was to be expected. Activision is only making games if they see blockbuster potential and I mean complete blockbuster potential. Which leaves the Blizzard stuff, Call of Duty, The Bungie new IP, Transformers, Bond, and Spiderman. 

[tiesto]

 

Though DJ Hero 2 was on the right track as far as a music game I'd be interested in...

[Stoney Mason]

Though DJ Hero 2 was on the right track as far as a music game I'd be interested in...

Yeah everyone says its great but I just think the bottom fell out of the plastic music genre. The casual consumer has moved on to dance games now. Harmonix also announced layoffs recently.

[Cravis]

At least I got my Guitar Hero: Metallica and Guitar Hero: Van Halen out of them. I wonder what will become of the Neversoft team that developed the last few GH games? Call of Duty map packs?

[MyNameIsMethodis]

Hopefully Rock Band will be ending soon now also because that series is quite crap.

[pilonv1]

it's not 2007 anymore, no one cares

[Mr. Gundam]

CanI get DJ Hero 2 cheap yet? The bundles are $39.99 now, but I don't need more plastic toys.

[BobFromPikeCreek]

Oh dude, True Crime got canceled? That blows.

[Great Rumbler]

Oh dude, True Crime got canceled? That blows.

Yeah, I'm more concerned with that. It actually looked like it was coming together pretty well, judging from that preview.

[Joe Molotov]

Achievement Unlocked: Milked Franchise into Oblivion.

Oh wait, I forgot this is Activision, they've already unlocked that one.

[Stoney Mason]

Axing True Crime is probably a mistake, but the other two decisions seem like wise ones for the time being.

While its in a more popular genre than some others, I doubt it would have sold especially well. Game had no buzz.

[Dickie Dee]

It's just weird that the preview was like "this is polished, really polished...have I mentioned how polished it is" - you can sort of infer that it's on schedule/budget and not some broken game that needs any delays and rework. If was on track I don't know why Activision would want to eat the costs so far instead of just getting it out.

[Great Rumbler]

It's just weird that the preview was like "this is polished, really polished...have I mentioned how polished it is" - you can sort of infer that it's on schedule/budget and not some broken game that needs any delays and rework. If was on track I don't know why Activision would want to eat the costs so far instead of just getting it out.

It's Activision.

[ferrarimanf355]

Yeah, but buzz is something Activision is pretty good at making.  I just think that with GTA seemingly on holiday, there's an opportunity for a well-done clone to do some decent numbers.  Nothing crazy, mind, but more like the first True Crime than the second.

What about Saint's Row? Isn't there a new one coming out?

[The Sceneman]

It's just weird that the preview was like "this is polished, really polished...have I mentioned how polished it is" - you can sort of infer that it's on schedule/budget and not some broken game that needs any delays and rework. If was on track I don't know why Activision would want to eat the costs so far instead of just getting it out.

It's Activision.

^ qft.

Since they are axing any game/IP that wont turn a massive profit (and culling staff by the truckload) they aren't going to have anything left but Call of Duty soon. And what if Call of Duty starts to wane in popularity? I can see it happening several years down the track...

[Great Rumbler]

It's just weird that the preview was like "this is polished, really polished...have I mentioned how polished it is" - you can sort of infer that it's on schedule/budget and not some broken game that needs any delays and rework. If was on track I don't know why Activision would want to eat the costs so far instead of just getting it out.

It's Activision.

^ qft.

Since they are axing any game/IP that wont turn a massive profit (and culling staff by the truckload) they aren't going to have anything left but Call of Duty soon. And what if Call of Duty starts to wane in popularity? I can see it happening several years down the track...

They've still got WoW.

[The Sceneman]

Yeah, but buzz is something Activision is pretty good at making.  I just think that with GTA seemingly on holiday, there's an opportunity for a well-done clone to do some decent numbers.  Nothing crazy, mind, but more like the first True Crime than the second.

What about Saint's Row? Isn't there a new one coming out?

Yeah, Saint's Row 3 is out later this year. It should be massive if there's a good marketing push

[The Sceneman]

It's just weird that the preview was like "this is polished, really polished...have I mentioned how polished it is" - you can sort of infer that it's on schedule/budget and not some broken game that needs any delays and rework. If was on track I don't know why Activision would want to eat the costs so far instead of just getting it out.

It's Activision.

^ qft.

Since they are axing any game/IP that wont turn a massive profit (and culling staff by the truckload) they aren't going to have anything left but Call of Duty soon. And what if Call of Duty starts to wane in popularity? I can see it happening several years down the track...

They've still got WoW.

true. But that still leaves nothing in the console space

[Stoney Mason]

It's just weird that the preview was like "this is polished, really polished...have I mentioned how polished it is" - you can sort of infer that it's on schedule/budget and not some broken game that needs any delays and rework. If was on track I don't know why Activision would want to eat the costs so far instead of just getting it out.

I guess from there side they see it a lot like Brutal Legend. They didn't think it was gonna hit big. And a lot of the cost will need to come in marketing and launching the game. In that sense Activision is the most realistic company out there. They looked at the bottom line and probably said its cheaper to kill this now than actually market it.

Not saying that's a good thing from a gamer perspective but I get it from a business perspective. I think this is probably a better move for instance than just dissolving Bizzare creations which I thought was terribly shortsighted. That probably made sense in the short term too but not in the long term maybe. But the reality is until Activision stops turning crazy profit its hard to second guess a lot of their moves. A lot of their decision have enraged hardcore gamer forum types but more often than not its worked from a bottom line perspective. Like Brutal Legend. That was a hardcore gamers cause of celebration but it was the right business call at that time.

[Stoney Mason]

Yeah, but buzz is something Activision is pretty good at making.  I just think that with GTA seemingly on holiday, there's an opportunity for a well-done clone to do some decent numbers.  Nothing crazy, mind, but more like the first True Crime than the second.

What about Saint's Row? Isn't there a new one coming out?

Yeah, Saint's Row 3 is out later this year. It should be massive if there's a good marketing push

I like Saints Row but I'm not really sure its ever going to be a massive franchise. But I definitely think it will do well enough as the crazy alternative to the GTA franchise to justify its existence.

[MyNameIsMethodis]

Yeah, but buzz is something Activision is pretty good at making.  I just think that with GTA seemingly on holiday, there's an opportunity for a well-done clone to do some decent numbers.  Nothing crazy, mind, but more like the first True Crime than the second.

What about Saint's Row? Isn't there a new one coming out?

Yeah, Saint's Row 3 is out later this year. It should be massive if there's a good marketing push

I think you're confused how many people actually enjoy Saints Row because that answer is clearly none. The games sell like shit and appeal to maybe 10k people

[AdmiralViscen]

the games are million sellers

[MyNameIsMethodis]

to the local dump?

[Great Rumbler]

The first Saint's Row was really, really successful.  On the 360 in NA alone it sold over a million.  Saint's Row 2 had a considerable drop-off, but it was still a very big seller.  Sold, not shipped.

Actually, I believe that Saints Row 2 has actually sold slightly more than the first. The first sold about 2.5 million and the second sold about 3.5 million; either way it comes out to a combined 6 million worldwide.

[Stoney Mason]

Saints Row is fine. I mean I think those numbers are probably its high water mark. I don't think it will ever do significantly better than that or dent GTA but it sells well enough and more importantly it probably has justified its position in the market as an alternative to the mega popular GTA.

The way EA has tried to establish Medal of Honor & Bad Company as the alternative to COD.

[Great Rumbler]

Sales for both games in the Americas [for the Xbox360 version] are about the same, actually. It seems like SR2 was a bit of a slow-burner [and got a boost after it landed on the greatest hits lineup] which seems to be why it's considered a bit of a flop, comparatively.

[cool breeze]

The first Saint's Row was really, really successful.  On the 360 in NA alone it sold over a million.  Saint's Row 2 had a considerable drop-off, but it was still a very big seller.  Sold, not shipped.

I remember Saint's Row coming out in a fairly empty time and it was "Next Gen Grand Theft Auto" before GTA4...well, I guess it is still the next gen version of San Andreas.

[cool breeze]

I wasn't even following that.  I just came in and that was the first post I read 

random, but I still remember blowing up a train and having it fall of the tracks was crazy in Saint's Row 1.

[Purple Filth]

Either way, it's definitely a very successful franchise.  Methodis probably shouldn't call out games that have outsold all but a dozen games on the PS3. 

Mercilessly went for the kill

[Phoenix Dark]

Beating shit into the ground is basically the only thing many entertainment companies are really, really good at.

call of duty is next

[AdmiralViscen]

Sales for both games in the Americas [for the Xbox360 version] are about the same, actually. It seems like SR2 was a bit of a slow-burner [and got a boost after it landed on the greatest hits lineup] which seems to be why it's considered a bit of a flop, comparatively.

Really?  Someone better call NPD's ass, then. 

Isn't your info about a year out of date though?

[maxy]

Well wikilol says this

Media reports for Saints Row 2's sales performance have been mixed. The game sold approximately 365,000 units in total during its first month, outselling same-day release title Dead Space and becoming the sixth-best selling title in October 2008.[204]  In an interview with Game Daily, THQ director of marketing communications Rob Cassel announced that the majority of these sales were from the Xbox 360 system, which sold approximately 270,000 units compared to 95,000 for the PlayStation 3.[205] From THQ official fiscal results for 2008, Kotaku reported that the game shipped over two million units by early November 2008.[206] According to Cowen & Co. analyst Doug Creutz in January 2009, the game's sales results were well below expectations.[207][208][209]  He stated that "Previously we had been optimistic that the franchise could break the 1 million mark, given its launch on two platforms. The original Saints Row sold roughly 750,000 US units during its first four quarters in release on a single platform at a much earlier point in the console cycle".[207]  THQ financial results in February 2009 concluded that the game had shipped over 2.6 million units by February 2009, after the game was ported to Windows in January.[210][211]  THQ experienced a $431 million loss in revenue in May 2009, but shipped a further 200,000 units for the game, totalling 2.8 million units.[212][213] From Saints Row 2's sales, the series has had worldwide sales in excess of six million, making it one of the best-selling video game franchises.[214] Due to its financial earnings, the game has joined the Xbox 360's Platinum Hits and the PlayStation 3's Greatest Hits line of games.[215]

To date, Saints Row 2 has sold over three and a half million units worldwide.[216]

but yeah 400k in 6 months,late in the game...hmm

[chronovore]

The original True Crime was a shameless GTA knockoff with a half-assed brawling mechanic. This new one had my hopes up though.

This will be the 2nd OWG Activision has killed despite it being very far along. The first was Dead Rush. :zombiecry

[chronovore]

It's just weird that the preview was like "this is polished, really polished...have I mentioned how polished it is" - you can sort of infer that it's on schedule/budget and not some broken game that needs any delays and rework. If was on track I don't know why Activision would want to eat the costs so far instead of just getting it out.

I guess from there side they see it a lot like Brutal Legend. They didn't think it was gonna hit big. And a lot of the cost will need to come in marketing and launching the game. In that sense Activision is the most realistic company out there. They looked at the bottom line and probably said its cheaper to kill this now than actually market it.

Not saying that's a good thing from a gamer perspective but I get it from a business perspective. I think this is probably a better move for instance than just dissolving Bizzare creations which I thought was terribly shortsighted. That probably made sense in the short term too but not in the long term maybe. But the reality is until Activision stops turning crazy profit its hard to second guess a lot of their moves. A lot of their decision have enraged hardcore gamer forum types but more often than not its worked from a bottom line perspective. Like Brutal Legend. That was a hardcore gamers cause of celebration but it was the right business call at that time.

It looks like that in retrospect, to be sure. EA didn't short-change on the marketing at all, and the game was about as polished as it was ever going to be. So much in that game done right, and yet it didn't sell; Kotick is probably patting himself on the back.

Well, no, he's probably got a whole executive board lining up to pat him on the back.

[BobFromPikeCreek]

Even if the game itself were crummy, I'd have gotten a real kick out of driving around an open-world, fairly accurate Hong Kong. Such a cool place.

[The Sceneman]

I bet theres a shitload of sweaty brows in the Activision War Room. It's looking like the robot they created, that which would've replaced the gaming industry in ten years, is gathering dust in it's underground silo in the desert. Poor old Voltron   

[chronovore]

On the other hand, I'm looking forward to Warriors of Rock for US$10 at some point. Rocky Horror Picture Show dlc!

[MyNameIsMethodis]

If I where you i'd buy any DLC you want now, incase we end up getting another Marvel DLC scenario with Activision.