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Tech Bytes: Rock Band songs need more flexibility
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Rock Band songs need more flexibility

By Peter Nowak, CBCnews.ca

A number of news stories have popped up over recent weeks telling of how bands are making good money off selling songs through the Rock Band and Guitar Hero video games. To the uninitiated, here's how those games work: players use plastic instruments to play along with songs on screen. To keep the games fresh and players interested, their makers have been offering up new songs for paid download on a continuing basis.

Guitar Hero has been somewhat sporadic in its offerings, but the makers of Rock Band - Harmonix - have been putting out new songs on a weekly basis and have even begun serving up full albums, including the Cars' self-titled nine-track album this week.

A couple of bands, including Motley Crue and Def Leppard, have taken to experimenting with releasing singles through the games rather than through traditional channels. According to this Reuters story, it's working out well for them - the Crue sold more copies of their single Saints of Los Angeles through Rock Band on the Xbox 360 than they did on iTunes during its first week of release.

But there's a problem, as the Reuters story points out. The songs can only be used in-game, yet they are considerably more expensive - a typical Rock Band song in Canada costs about $2.50 on the Xbox 360, versus $1 on iTunes, which is significantly more useful since it can be played on a computer or iPod, burned to CD, and so on.

Granted, the video game version is playable in a game while a typical MP3 isn't, and there are doubtlessly some costs associated with programming what happens on screen (although that process is probably largely automated). Still, would it kill the makers to throw in a free MP3 copy of the song that players can use as they see fit when they download the game version?

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Comments

Garet

Winnipeg

I don't think they need to give out mp3 copies of the songs. That is an unnecessary expense for Harmonix (and/or Activision I guess) considering they have been selling well at the given prices.

I know I buy the songs to play them in the game, not to listen to.

Posted May 26, 2008 12:48 PM

mt

Ottawa

Who is complaining about $2.50 for a game extension? I mean really, what is being downloaded here is not intended to be listened to - it's not meant to make you want to download the song. This is a game, and the download is to add functionality to that game. The idea is that the user likely already enjoys the song, and would like to also be able to play it.

Besides, programming each song is not as simple as allowing an automated system to process an mp3.

Posted May 26, 2008 12:54 PM

Claudio

Ontario

We're kind of talking about apples and oranges here. I agree that GH and Rock Band tunes are a little too pricey, but I have no problem with them being meant to be played solely with the game. Not much grumbling had been heard concerning the songs that come included with the game, or songs that can be purchased afterwards, but all of a sudden some people feel entitled to more when it comes to a new single being released via videogame. To me it's kind of like going out to a movie and expecting to get a copy of the DVD just because we're paying to see the movie.

Posted May 26, 2008 01:28 PM

Jason

Halifax

I think it's ridiculous how they wish to sell mp3's with the downloadable content. Rather pointless. Also takes up room on a 360's/ PS3's hardrive that some people might NOT have room for. I'm looking for more songs to play not listen too. This is the most reasonable way for a game utilising music, or else we would end up with 60+ version of Rock Band and/or Guitar Hero (Kind of like Sport games) except they could have a game made probabley for every day until the end of time.


You pay for what you get and extra's will cost more. Nothing in life is for free. People need to stop being so greedy, and get a job so they can purchase these things like a 'normal person' should. (Illegal limewire downloading fools).

Posted June 5, 2008 01:40 PM

Jstrang14

Well... why would you want 'free music' with a game, where the point of the game is to 'play' it on a peripheral instrument controller? I mean if you really want these songs there are ways you can purchase them. If you really want to download these songs and save them on your 360 hard drives, there is a special license you can buy so you can import all tracks onto your hard drive through Rock band on the 360. You can also buy the Rock band travel pack; I think it features all songs on three CDs. Giving free songs is rather pointless in a video game, which is why I have an iPod, or I use my computer

Overall, Garets statement puts the nail in the coffin; I buy the songs to play them in the game, not to listen to. Cmon folks, its a Video game!

Posted October 1, 2008 07:36 AM

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