Guitar Hero to Charge for User Created Music? We Think It’s Wrong
Remember back in the day when we all thought EA was the evil empire in gaming? Recently, I’ve seen the company changing its strategy and the last few months, I’ve been excited about some of their new projects. Because of that, we thought all is good in the gaming world. Sadly, that is not true because Activision Blizzard is starting to become the new ‘immoral’ company.
Bobby Kotick, who is the CEO of Activision Blizzard, recently spoke about one of Guitar Hero’s features — the user created songs and how they could make money off of them through ‘GH Tunes.’
“The ability to offer these songs on a subscription basis may very well result in the newest subscription opportunity in our portfolio.”
Yes ladies and gentlemen, you have read that correctly. Kotick and Activision seems like they are possibly looking into ways for us, the consumer; to purchase songs that fellow gamers created. I’m sorry but this is crap. Its crap because us gamers are creating these songs for free. The only reason for any company to charge gamers for DLC isn’t just because they want to JUST make money, but because companies pay to develop the content. And with music games — companies need to also pay record companies to license off the music they use.
With the ability to upload songs, Activision Blizzard is taking advantage of us. They decided to take our hard-work and profit from it. And of course, the ‘artist’ who makes the music gets NOTHING. Of course since they own the feature — they can do whatever they want. But again, I feel in the end — they’re raping the gamers.
On top of that, the feature to create music and upload them was supposed to be free for anyone who wanted to try it through a download. But because the company saw 25,000 user generated songs already uploaded and they expect to see over 100,000 by the end of the year — they want to now charge. If they decide to go through with this new proposal, I urge everyone not to even bother with it. As the crazy Bill O’Riley says, “Speak with your wallet,” and don’t buy any of that content!
On top of that, the user content doesn’t even sound that great and was considered by many reviewers; a disappointment.
Oh, and a tip to Activision Blizzard — Rock Band is better. 
November 6th, 2008 at 5:28 am
I think If they charge for this feature. then it will die on its ass. I get charged for xbox live in subscription already im not going to pay for another subscription fee
youd think activision was making enough profit from making new band kits/guitars for every guitar hero game that comes out
November 6th, 2008 at 7:22 am
They’re also making money off us by selling us bum instruments with GH:WT and asking us to pay shipping and insurance to send it back to them. These guys make EA look like angels.
We need to BOYCOTT Activision
November 6th, 2008 at 7:47 am
Jon Christensen is offended by something? *shock*
November 6th, 2008 at 8:01 am
This is the most retarded thing I have ever heard. Rock Band is definitely a better game anyway.
November 6th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
activision is a horrible company, There doing pre-order map packs and all kinds of garbage now.
Don’t give them your money, don’t rent there games, don’t review them. Let them change there policies or let them go out of business. We don’t need activision anti-consumerism.
November 7th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
There’s some intellectual property concerns here. Unless there is, at the very least, a waiver, they can’t go selling other people’s creative property without compensation.