Guitar Hero 2010 lineup trimmed to two
Following 2009 rhythm glut, publisher reducing release count to one Guitar Hero, one DJ Hero in back half of year, no PS2 versions; iPhone adaptation in the works.
Activision's 2009 catalog of rhythm game releases was beyond robust, including Guitar Hero 5, Guitar Hero: Metallica, Guitar Hero: Van Halen, DJ Hero, Guitar Hero: Smash Hits, Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits, and Band Hero. Despite that retail onslaught, the publisher's sell-through of rhythm game titles was down 35 percent.
The lesson there has not been lost, as Activision Publishing president Michael Griffith today said the publisher would be offering a drastically reduced lineup of music games in 2010. In a post-earnings conference call with analysts, Griffith said Activision's strategy would be to focus on fewer releases that service a broader audience.
Specifically, Griffith said Activision will only have fewer than 10 Guitar Hero SKUs (stock-keeping units; a game with two different bundles on three platforms each would be six SKUs). Last year, the company released 25 SKUs in the series. On top of that, none of this year's Activision music games will appear on the PlayStation 2.
Griffith said this year's crop of games will be centered on two major releases: DJ Hero 2 and an as-yet-unspecified Guitar Hero game. Both of them will arrive in the back half of the year.
The executive added there would be no high-priced Band Hero game this year, stating that the music gaming market is moving away from hardware bundles and toward stand-alone software sales. As a result, he expects the genre's sales to decline even further.
Elsewhere in the call, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick said the publisher would be bringing Guitar Hero to the iPhone, as part of the company's ongoing plan to "selectively expand brands" to Apple's handheld. Last year, Activision made a splash on the App Store with Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies.
Another Crab's Treasure Is A Soulslike 3D Platformer | GameSpot Review Stellar Blade Review Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble - Official Multiplayer Features Trailer Nintendo 64 – April 2024 Game Updates – Nintendo Switch Online PUBG | Erangel Classic Returns Gori: Cuddly Carnage | Meow Launch Date Announcement Trailer Genshin Impact - "Arlecchino: Afterglow of Calamity" | Collected Miscellany Marvel Rivals - Official Loki Character Reveal Trailer | The King of Yggsgard Fortnite Festival - Official Billie Eilish Cinematic Season 3 Trailer Remnant 2 - The Forgotten Kingdom | DLC Launch Trailer Stellar Blade - Official "The Journey: Part 2" Behind The Scenes Trailer | PS5 Games Dead by Daylight | Tome 19: Splendor | Reveal Trailer
Please enter your date of birth to view this video
By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
Join the conversation