Activision dumps Guitar Hero to Neversoft

[Oobgarm]

So now the team known for Tony Hawk will be known for Guitar Hero as well. I don't know what to think...I just hope the don't go nuts changing everything.

http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=14971

[Schenley]

Hmmm... I don't know what to think either. It doesn't sound like a good thing that one of the best IPs has changed hands twice in recent times.

They will probably screw it up.

[swlovinist]

This is the sign of the times. It does not matter how hot your franchise is, anything can be sold for the right price these days. With development costs and liscensing fees hitting an all time high, maybe it was time to sell. Interesting move indeed, I hope they do not screw it up either.

[Imstarryeyed]

I have to say I enjoyed playing the first GH for a few hours, but I became bored with it and I just played it less and less until it just found a place under the bed in its box. I hope that Neversoft can do something innovative with the license to prevent it from being stale. I also hope they can create a normal sized guitar instead of that ukelele sized nerd controller.

I get turned off on these niche games when I start to only see DW's (Dateless Wonders) come into game stores to play these games perfectly in a feeble attempt to impress girls.

[Oobgarm]

This is the sign of the times. It does not matter how hot your franchise is, anything can be sold for the right price these days. With development costs and liscensing fees hitting an all time high, maybe it was time to sell. Interesting move indeed, I hope they do not screw it up either.

They didn't sell, they're dumping development of future GH titles on a company who's got little/no experience in the genre.

[Lady Jaye]

I don't understand it. Harmonix is specialized in music games, whereas Neversoft isn't. I'm curious to know how much of the GH interface actually belongs to Harmonix, if you consider that GH's look evolved from their earlier game Frequency...

And even though this isn't officially confirmed, Neversoft's website confirms it -- the home page is split between THP8 and Guitar Hero.

Now would be time for Konami to not just tap Harmonix for more Karaoke Revolution titles but maybe to use their talents for North American releases of Guitar Freaks...

For more of my opinion on the subject, see my livejournal blog.

[j_factor]

Didn't Activision fully buy out Harmonix a while ago? So maybe they're folding Harmonix under Neversoft (like how UGA became part of Sonic Team)?

[Lady Jaye]

Activision bought Red Octane, not Harmonix. Harmonix was recently acquired by MTV.

[Richter]

could it be that NS is working on an expansion pack(s), while HMX gets things (and a break) ready for GH3?

edit -
looked at the job listings, and "PS3 Graphics Engineer" is listed

spin-off series?

[PapaStu]

My guess is that MTV is making Harmonix make music/video based games for them (under their monkier) and they either would have cost to much for Activision to be willing to have them make a third GH game (that really would just a prettier GH 2, since there really wasn't alot added to GH2 from GH1) or that they just arn't available to make the game due to prior commitments.

Yes Neversoft isn't known for making Music games, but before doing the extreme sports games they've gone and done since 98/99 they did decent action games, and once they got their hands into the Extreme Sports line everything thats come out since then has been compared to the Tony Hawk/ Mat Hoffman series and all have failed to do it like Neversoft has. Give them a chance to do something to the game before everyone condems them. Hell maybe if they add the revert or something like they did in THPS to Guitar Hero it would breathe more life into the game.

[meancode]

could it be that NS is working on an expansion pack(s), while HMX gets things (and a break) ready for GH3?

edit -
looked at the job listings, and "PS3 Graphics Engineer" is listed

spin-off series?

I would have to assume the next GH games, after GHII for the 360 and this rumored 80s Edition for the PS2, that the next GH games will be out on many platforms, PS3 included.

[kainemaxwell]

Hope GH: 1980's Edition is still in the works then.

[meancode]

I heard through the grapevine that Red Octane will be making an announcement regarding Neversoft soon. Well, actually it was Bryan Lam.

That is all I could get out of him when I asked for an official statement on the Neversoft news today. GH 1980's Edition is still pure speculation, however.

[Oobgarm]

Harmonix is officially out of the Guitar Hero picture now.

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=12477

At least they're making a new music game.

[Mr.FoodMonster]

Fuck.

That's basically the most awful news I could hear about GH. So, I'm thinking 80's edition isn't happening. It's nice that they're making a 'bigger and more ambitious' game than GH, but it still sucks.

Activision, PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE don't screw this one up.

[Carey85]

Oh well, I'm not too upset over this news. I enjoy GH and GH2, but there really isn't much more that can be done with the series IMO. The GH port for 360 will likely be the last GH game I buy...