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Okay, so the game is fun as hell, and (chances are) most of the people you know like to play it.
My question is: why aren't record companies falling all over themselves trying to get their new tracks available for download for the Xbox 360? Why isn't Harmonix (or whoever is in charge now) actively making shit-tons of content?
In a time when the RIAA is whining about declining record sales, why wouldn't they at least partner up with the developer to release tracks from their upcoming albums? Seems like a fantastic way to build buzz and make a little money on the side. And the best part (at least in the RIAA's eyes)? No piracy. Or, at least, piracy would be minimal (who wants a song with all the bleeps and buzzes of GH?).
Think about it: there are several releases coming to the stores in early June that have the possiblity of being fantastic (with about an equal chance to suck). For instance, Capitol releases Interpol's new album. Now, I'm not the biggest Interpol fan in the world, but if they modified the single to be playable on GH, there's a good possiblity I'd get hooked on the song just by playing/beating it (I'd argue that the enjoyment of playing a song can be more viral than just hearing it). Plus, I'd pay the $2-3 for the downloadable content. I can't think of a situation that's more win-win for the games and record industries, outside of Tommy Motolla and Shigeru Miyamoto holding me up at gunpoint.
Minor labels could even get in on the act--they've got even less of an avenue for promoting new material than major labels do.
But alas, it seems like everyone's sitting on their hands, and Activision is happy re-releasing a small handful of GH1 songs and nothing else. It's a squandered opportunity.
My question is: why aren't record companies falling all over themselves trying to get their new tracks available for download for the Xbox 360? Why isn't Harmonix (or whoever is in charge now) actively making shit-tons of content?
In a time when the RIAA is whining about declining record sales, why wouldn't they at least partner up with the developer to release tracks from their upcoming albums? Seems like a fantastic way to build buzz and make a little money on the side. And the best part (at least in the RIAA's eyes)? No piracy. Or, at least, piracy would be minimal (who wants a song with all the bleeps and buzzes of GH?).
Think about it: there are several releases coming to the stores in early June that have the possiblity of being fantastic (with about an equal chance to suck). For instance, Capitol releases Interpol's new album. Now, I'm not the biggest Interpol fan in the world, but if they modified the single to be playable on GH, there's a good possiblity I'd get hooked on the song just by playing/beating it (I'd argue that the enjoyment of playing a song can be more viral than just hearing it). Plus, I'd pay the $2-3 for the downloadable content. I can't think of a situation that's more win-win for the games and record industries, outside of Tommy Motolla and Shigeru Miyamoto holding me up at gunpoint.
Minor labels could even get in on the act--they've got even less of an avenue for promoting new material than major labels do.
But alas, it seems like everyone's sitting on their hands, and Activision is happy re-releasing a small handful of GH1 songs and nothing else. It's a squandered opportunity.
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