Thursday, March 24, 2011

Rocksmith? More like Rock...sucks.

If you pay any attention to the gaming media, you are well acquainted with the idea that rhythm games like Rock Band are dead. While we know this is bullshit (and I'll get into that with a later post) it is impossible to deny the shrinking of the market. I view this as a good thing! The rhythm game market was never supposed to get as large as it did and is now shrinking back down to appropriate sizes.

Having said that, imagine my surprise to see a major developer choosing now, well past the apex of the rhythm game fad, to try and launch a new music game. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Rocksmith!


Now, let me explain why this isn't going to work.

1. We just talked about how the music game market is shrinking. It cannot support multiple versions of what are essentially the game concept (hence the failure of Guitar Hero). By going after the "real guitar!!!!!!" market, Ubisoft is striking at the king of rhythm games: Rock Band.

2. The technique that this game is using to sense your playing is lackluster at best. Yes, it sucks that you had to buy a new guitar to play Pro mode in Rock Band, but it's worth it because of how the damn thing works. Actual sensor technology in the neck of the guitar allows active, on-screen tracking of the location of your fingers and an added precision when playing. Rocksmith, however, will allow you to use any guitar. Their game uses software that track the pitch of the note that is being played, much in the same way that Rock Band does vocals. This method is fine for something like singing, but is too imprecise for guitar.

3. I have a hard time believing that Ubisoft isn't just trying to leech every dollar they can out of every genre they can get their hands on. This game isn't gonna work because Ubisoft doesn't care about it enough to make it work. It's gonna be rough looking, it's gonna be buggy, and it's probably just not gonna be fun to play.

Games journalists, listen up. When this game comes out and sells like a hot turd in a paper bag, you don't get to go "MUSIC GAMES ARE DEAD!!!!!!1!!!!". Nope. Not allowed.

19 comments:

The Speaker said...

Rhythm games are on the decline but that does not mean they are out forever. I am interested to see what new innovations designers make in these desperate times.

Ingönyama said...

they need some new ideas.

McGormick said...

I agree, they need something new

Tibble said...

I wonder if its just easier to repackage crap than think of anything new.

Kevings said...

It has always been easier to try to profit from old shit; we see it in every media today. It's actually nearly impossible not to! And there will always be these last attempts on the big buck thats never going to succed anyway

Cree said...

rhythm games have always been my favorite since i first picked up Frequency for the ps2. this looks like some generic crap, Rock Band 3 for the win.

Anonymous said...

If these games get people into music, im all for it.

shaman said...

some amazing camera work

Admin said...

Thanks for having a video!
I always find blogs are better to read if you have something to listen to as well.

husar said...

good video, nice post

+ follower:)

Holly Jolly said...

Fo realz.

Percivert said...

yea, they need some new material.

Craptcha Carry said...

Music games are dead? Someone made angry birds now all games are dead.

King Elysium said...

i like the idea of it, dunno if it's gonna be practical though

kenny said...

I agree!

Equal said...

i agree...good stuff btw

followed

Malkavian said...

Well, the first Nintendo had a piano tutorial and it flopped, now in this age i think it could work, at least teach a guy who has no talent in music to be at least mediocre

Ambi said...

Well when using a real guitar, it will be a lot more difficult.. and you learn kinda playing guitar

T.L. Wagg said...

You have got to be kidding me. Your opinions clearly stem from your hatred of Ubisoft and love of Guitar Hero. Not an ounce of objectiveness. You miss the point that with this game, real guitar players (or those interested) can better their skills. You miss the point that Ubisoft did innovate in this field. Frankly, you miss the point that the potential reason for failure is not the fact that this competes with games like Rock Band, it is because it requires a physical guitar. It's harder justifying a guitar purchase for a game than it is justifying a $60 piece of plastic crap. (Though ironically, they do sell a packaged guitar for $120). Either way, get your head out of your ass.