Guitar Hero: Van Halen…
This is a strange subject…
If you were enthusiastic about Guitar Hero: Aerosmith and Guitar Hero: Metallica, it seems that we have another one-band release en route with Guitar Hero: Van Halen. If you didn’t care about the first two titles, you’ll probably care less about this one.
Already putting out a rehashed bundle of songs with GH: Smash Hits this summer, Activision will also be releasing this collection of tunes from a band the young, family-oriented target audience of the music video game genre will never have heard.
Perhaps Activision doesn’t care and they are attempting to appeal to the older crowd, because I can’t imagine finding many people under age 20 who will care about this title at all. Dads around the country will likely bring it home as their son holding the plastic bass guitar ask,
“Daddy, what’s Jump?”
“Daddy, what does Hot for Teacher mean?”
“Daddy, where is Guitar Hero: Camp Rock?”
It seems the music game market is getting a little flooded, and these one-band games don’t seem to be helping much. Sure, Eddie Van Halen is the quintessential ‘Guitar Hero’ by definition and this title will have no choice but to include a great collection of tunes, but will the majority audience be receptive to this, particularly only a short time after the release of Smash Hits? Don’t forget Rock Band: Beatles is en route, too… and really, The Beatles deserve a one-band game a lot more than Van Halen. I’m sure people will argue that, but go ahead and play ‘Imagine’ and then ‘Panama’ for a 12 year-old, and see which one they recognize. The marketing is just different – and Van Halen simply isn’t that cool.
While no date is confirmed for this title, it’s looming at the end of July with PS3, PS2, 360 and Wii releases.
Update (5/7/09): The game was officially confirmed today. No tracks were mentioned, but Activision reps said it will be Van Halen, not Van Hagar. It will also feature tracks from Queen, Weezer, blink-182, The Offspring, and Queens of the Stone Age.
It is getting a little ridiculous, soon every band will have a Guitar Hero or Rock Band spin off.
I have visions of Best Buy shelves stocked with Guitar Hero: Frankie Goes to Hollywood
I waiting for the one hit wonders to start.
Guitar Hero: Chumbawamba here I come!
I have enough trouble trying to justify the Metallica purchase. Beatles won’t be a problem….
why not Bush, Rammstein, or some other obscure band – why do all THESE bands get the benefit? Areosmith, Metallica, Van Halen? Uggh!!
im 13 and i like both, beatles and van halen, and i really dont know what 2 buy, the beatles deserves it more, but they are easier songs, atleast on real guitar,
there should be a guitar hero latino!!!!!!!!!!!!!! trust me! it will sell anywhere that speaks spanish, dont release it on the mainland but on puerto rico mexico southamerica and europe, and even in the us some people listen to that music even though part dont understand the lyrics!