May 27th, 2008 · 5 Comments (http://sarcasticgamer.com/wp/index.php/2008/05/what-is-the-point-of-guitar-hero-world-tour.html#comments)

by Lono (http://sarcasticgamer.com/wp/index.php/author/lono/)http://sarcasticgamer.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/1ghiv1.jpg
In case you're just coming out of your drunken stupor after a long weekend, a flood of news concerning Guitar Hero's next (other than the craptacular Aerosmith version) has been hitting the interwebs all weekend. It looks like that not only will you play bass and lead guitars, but you'll be able to sing the songs and Guitar Hero World Tour will feature an "authentic" electronic drum kit. Wow, this is quite innovative... I haven't seen something like this since... Um, I don't know....


How bout Rock Band?


Let's go over the facts and find out what the hell is the point of Guitar Hero World Tour, after the jump.


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According to the press release, which you can read right here (http://kotaku.com/5010423/guitar-hero-world-tour-the-press-release), Guitar Hero World Tour will have the largest, on disc, track listing of any music game to date, they're also touting their super awesomer, monstrosity of a drum set. Check out a pic of this beast and feel free to click on it to enlarge:
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All I've got to say is: Holy Crap. I can barely play the Rock Band version that has one less thingy to hit. Who is this for? Sure there are going to be those people out there that didn't buy Rock Band and were perhaps waiting on Guitar Hero's next offering, but there's only one problem. Activision, in their infinite wisdom, is going to sell the bundle of a guitar, mic, drum set and game for $189.00. That's $20 more than what Rock Band cost when it debuted and by the time Guitar Hero World Tour hits the shelves this fall, there's no doubt in my mind, that you'll be able to buy the entire Rock Band bundle for less than $140.00, heck, it's selling for $149.00 on Amazon right now.


Here's another little problem for Activision, for someone that owns Rock Band already, why in the hell would they want another video game drum set in their living room/basement/garage, cluttering up their home and defending their virginity?


What the heck is Activision thinking? Let's see if there's any redeeming qualities for this monstrosity, on the next page.


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There are a few redeeming qualities of Guitar Hero World Tour. Even I'll admit that. After you get over the fact that Guitar Hero is basically copying Rock Band, who copied Guitar Hero, who copied Guitar Freaks, there's still the issue of the superior wireless guitars made by Red Octane. In my opinion, the Guitar Hero wireless guitar is the superior of the two and SUPPOSEDLY, the three instruments included in Guitar Hero World Tour (GHWT) will be wireless, although, I'd have to see it to believe it.


Next up, GHWT is touting a band vs. band mode offering 8 person online play. Sounds intriguing. Again, I need more info.


Finally, competition. While I have no need for another electronic drum set, I am pleased that Red Octane, Acitvision and the rest are stepping up to innovate and push the medium forward, even if it's to their own detriment. Competition between EA and Activision can only be a good thing for gamers and in this case, it's finally brought us the one thing that we've been clamoring for since Rock Band's inception:


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User generated content.
The latest fad in gaming, user generated content, in GHWT is offering gamers the chance to create their own tracks and the ability to share up to 5 with the world. This may be cool, or total crap, who knows, but you all know what the next step is, right? How bout the ability to play any music in your collection on your Rock Band or GHWT instruments.


At least, I hope that's the next step, cause it sure isn't another eyesore video game drum machine in my man cave.

Seriously, $190 for THAT is simply rediculous. I don't know how they plan to compete with prices that high compared to Rock Band.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/34467.html drums demo im watching it right after this post

I agree entirely. Personally I feel Guitar 3 was a let down anyway because every song seemed very similar and repetative compared with GH2.

I would rather one game that then makes its money through DC and not through a new version every year. I don't want to be disc swapping when I want to play my favorite songs and that is why Rockband appear to be onto a winner so far.

Hopefully they do a good job with it and don't mess it up

Rest in peace, Guitar Hero. They should really drop the entire "Guitar Hero" monicker, since it's hardly a guitar game franchise anymore. Harmonix saw fit to move on from their own baby and create a new game series in the form of Rock Band, probably because they felt they had taken the series as far as they could without simply selling out, which is where Activision have quite simply done an EA - or should we now call it "doing an Activision" - and milking it for all it's worth.

As for Rock Band, Harmonix have probably gone through so many iterations of drum design that at one point they probably had a kit like the one shipping with Guitar Hero World Tour, but decided it was one drum too many and cut it down, which seems to have paid off. Purely in the name of one-upmanship, Activision have added an extra drum on and thought "great, one better than Rock Band" and badged the whole thing with the Guitar Hero name in the knowledge that those put off by the new EA franchise's unfamiliarity would pick up this game, purely because it's Guitar Hero - consider the consumer milked.

Rest in peace, Guitar Hero: You died with Free Bird's final chord.

I have never owned one of these games but played them. I liked rock band and guitar hero I see how guitar hero is trying to match rock band but I wouldn't want to pay that much for both rock band is expensive enough without me having to buy another drum set which will probably take up most my room BTW when I already have one I just hope when rock band 2 they don't make you buy more drums.

I actually really like the drums. I doubt I'll end up buying this game, but I like these drums more than the Rock Band ones. One thing I really like is the pressure sensitive pads (I forget the exact wording they used in the demo video). The harder you hit the pad, the louder the note. The softer you hit it, the quiter the note. Definitely a cool feature, but not cool enough to make me spend ~$200 and take up even more space in my gaming room. On top of that, I doubt the track listing will compete with Rock Band. Maybe I'm alone on this, but I prefer playing songs from the last 10-15 years much more than "classic" rock songs. In my opinion, Rock Band destroys Guitar Hero games in that category. All in all, there's nothing wrong with a little competition, but in my opinion Activision is going about it all wrong. I think they should have made drums similar to the Rock Band drums, and allow them to work together, just as Guitar Hero guitars work on Rock Band. I think this game would be MUCH more successful if they allowed you to buy the game only and use your Rock Band drums as opposed to having to go out and spend another $200 or so for a new drum set.

I also like that it's wireless, but that could be a bad thing. If it takes batteries I imagine it will eat through batteries pretty quick, or it may not be 100% responsive if your batteries are close to dead. Hopefully it has an internal battery that you can charge via USB cables.

I was actually going to pick this up, that is, until I heard it may not work with Rockband. I was so disappointed because I really am unimpressed with the Rockband drum kit. This will be a wait and see for me.

great article lono, i pretty much agree... though rockband didn't copy guitar hero, as harmonix was responsible for the first 2...

coming from someone who only plays the drums on rockband, however, that drum set looks freakin awesome. but i am not about to stick another drum set in my living room... especially not for $180. if there is an option to buy the drums seperately and i don't have to pay more than $100 total, i may consider it.

at first i was like "wow this looks good" but then i saw the drums and i am now like "this sucks, i probably wont be able to use my rock band drums on this!"

i'd be shocked if anything from either game would be cross compatible... they are kind of... you know... competition. hahaha

That drum doesnt look right and charting be pretty hard and why is there a middle one they should take that out.

Rock band drums at least sorta realer.