2009 saw an overload of games in the Guitar Hero franchise, and "overload" might be an understatement. Guitar Hero: Metallica, Guitar Hero Smash Hits, Guitar Hero 5, Guitar Hero: Van Halen, and most recently Band Hero and DJ Hero; there was no shortage of plastic instrument-using games from Activision this year. Sure a few were quite expensive, despite essentially being the same game re-skinned, but that's just value you're paying for. And as luck would have it, we can look forward to more rhythm magic in 2010. We can also look forward to less.
While EA and Harmonix prepare Rock Band 3 and (likely) Rock Band: The Who, Activision already have Guitar Hero 6, Band Hero and DJ Hero 2 in the works - and you'd be crazy to think they didn't. One or more may even use Project Natal. According to brand CEO Dan Rosensweig, ActiBlizz and the Hero team are "working on our 2010 slate now," and consumers can expect "fewer SKUs from us, but the focus on making the best-selling, most fun to play, best-reviewed games will continue. ... [There will be] more DJ Hero, and the next iterations of Guitar and Band [Hero] are on the way. But we will see how the market plays out."
More after the jump.
"There’s new hardware, new genres, new regions to launch in – all of it when it is appropriate to do so. Increased connectivity to the internet means more customisation, user recommendation, more download sales – that adds to the experience and keeps it fresh."
"What you will see is the games will live longer and be more vibrant through DLC," he added. "[Retail is] our primary environment. But retailers like the fact that connectivity helps consumers enhance the product they buy in shops – it isn’t one versus the other.”
Interesting. Proper sequels seem to be a lock for the near future, but Rosenweig's statements would indicate fewer spin-offs and/or platform releases for each series. Hey, as long as they're good. That doesn't meant that they will all see release in 2010, however. Then there's the possible monetizing of the franchise's online features...
More interesting, though, is something that Destructoid was tipped off to. According their source, in addition to these sequels, Activision will be rollling out their own Halo Waypoint-type service for the Guitar Hero series on Xbox LIVE called Guitar Hero: VIP Pass. The content aggregation/community portal (allegedly, anyway) is apparently being developed by ex-Scratch: The Ultimate DJ devs 7 Studios, who were recently acquired and then struck with lay-offs after helping out with DJ Hero. Hmm. Maybe in time we'll have a dedicated online hub for all major franchises.
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