Last Bar for Music Games?

The video game world has been quite worked up over the announcement of both LEGO Rock Band and Beatles Rock Band. Both high profile titles to be sure but does this industry and the gaming market really need more music games?

We’ve said before that the amount of plastic peripherals we have in our homes are nearing environmentally hazardous tip of the scale, but how many of you can still say that after purchasing Rock Band 1, you are still constantly playing the game and are downloading its new tracks weekly? Personally, I’ve beaten Guitar Hero 3 once on normal and that’s enough single player for me. As for Rock Band, that’s getting about as much love as my Wii has been, which is to say that it comes out during family gatherings and parties. However, during those times, I would go on the XBL Marketplace and see if there are songs my friends would like to play that I don’t currently have.

But the real issue is whether or not these constant releases of music games are hurting the genre more than it’s helping. Take the Guitar Hero example, how much better would World Tour have done if they took some extra time and created a more compelling game than just a copy of what Rock Band has already done and done better! In the case of the Beatles Rock Band, I think Harmonix and MTV are doing a good thing by innovating the play style and making it tailored to the band’s music and audience. If the harmonized multiple singer feature is real, then that’s an awesome addition. Who wouldn’t want to sing and play at the same time?

However, there are a few things standing in the way of Beatles Rock Band from making as big a splash as it could be and it’s all got to do with Guitar Hero. The multiple versions of Guitar Hero, especially the Aerosmith and Metalica additions, has confused the market where consumers are not sure what to expect from a Beatles Rock Band game. Is the Beatles game just another of “those add-on packs” or is it a downloadable track list? It doesn’t matter that the hardcore audience will know what’s what, because inherently, music games are geared towards the more casual player. And once the casual player has questions, it’s generally easier for them to simply ignore it or wait until someone else has it and they can see for themselves, which is not what a publisher would like. Secondly, you have the issue of cost. At an estimated price of $250, it’s the most expensive music bundle by far. It does reportedly include: a Hofner Bass (modeled after Sir Paul’s), Ludwig branded drums with pearl finish, Microphone, and a Mic stand. Considering that it’s still essentially the same kit (in terms of instruments) but with a new paint and finish, that’s a hard pill to swallow especially when it’s being released at a time when parents are buying kids back to school items, and it’s not during a holiday season (September 9).

I suppose that the die-hard fans will be pre-ordering this as I write this but the general public or those, like myself, who have a passing interest in the genre, will probably pass or wait for a price drop. Honestly, I already have three guitars, three mics (including SingStar), one set of wired drums, and enough DRM’d DLC to last me into eternity. Why would I need another set of plastic instruments?

What about you, have you any desire to purchase yet another set of instruments, even if it’s replicated from Sir Paul’s own bass guitar? What about Ringo’s drums, will that get you to spend $250 this Fall? Let us know!