Kai Huang holds forth on GHIV

We caught up with RedOctane's founder and president to talk Guitar Hero sequels, boss battles, and working with Aerosmith.

Life is good for Kai Huang, president and founder of RedOctane. In just over two years, he's gone from working with cover versions of famous songs for the first Guitar Hero to working with Aerosmith for its very own game. Visiting London to attend a gig by The Answer, which was organised to promote the newest game in the Guitar Hero stable, Huang met up with us to discuss the possibility of more band-specific Guitar Hero titles, as well as the fourth full game in the series.

When asked about how Guitar Hero/Aerosmith came about, Huang said: "Guitar Hero itself is becoming such a popular game, and Joe Perry's kids were playing the game. So when we approached [Aerosmith] about just having their music in the game, the discussion turned much bigger. It was like, how can we do something much bigger here?"

While the Guitar Hero community has been quite vocal in its reaction to the Aerosmith deal, it could well be the start of more band-specific Guitar Hero games according to Huang. "We would love to continue working with bands," he said. "We'd love to continue working with bands to develop another game like [Guitar Hero:] Aerosmith, where you not only get to see the career progression of these bands, but there will also be other bands in there as well." Referring specifically to GH: Aerosmith, Huang commented, "There are songs in there by people who are friends of Aerosmith, so it will be Aerosmith, but with other things as well. That's something that we want to do with other bands."

Fans may remember that Guitar Hero III introduced many new features to the series, including online play and wireless guitars. Can we expect them to return? And what about the oft-maligned boss battles? "I think all the things that fans liked in Guitar Hero III will be in the next Guitar Hero games. We've tweaked a few things here and there, we've made a few things better from feedback from fans, but most of the features that you saw in Guitar Hero III will be in Guitar Hero: Aerosmith."

We ended our interview on the subject of Guitar Hero rumours, specifically concerning the possibility of new peripherals for the series. "We have a lot of things planned for Guitar Hero IV, but we're not ready to announce any new peripherals. We have very ambitious plans for Guitar Hero, and however we can deliver what the fans want, we're going do it. Whether that's through downloadable content or additional games, we're looking at every possible way to deliver what they want."

The full Kai Huang interview will appear in an upcoming edition of GameSpot UK video show Start/Select.

88 Comments

  • KatieNapalm

    Posted Mar 4, 2008 12:38 pm PT

    Why Aerosmith? Out of all the bands out there, why the hell Aerosmith?

  • GamerErman2001

    Posted Mar 3, 2008 7:16 pm PT

    Iron Maiden or Metallica or Led Zeppelin would be infinite times better than this game.

  • soccerdude256

    Posted Feb 27, 2008 4:28 pm PT

    I'm with Hivestar. More metal would be fantastic. Or a wish come true would be Guitar Hero: Iron Maiden.

  • hivestar311

    Posted Feb 27, 2008 8:01 am PT

    I personally think this is a waste. They should just make a Guitar Hero: Classic Rock and have Aerosmith featured in it. Of course Id rather see an all metal Guitar Hero.

  • -SiiLeNCE-

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 7:34 pm PT

    thanks redoctane. now its 100% clear this is just gh3 with all aerosmith.

  • Takashi_Dragon

    Posted Feb 24, 2008 11:30 am PT

    "but we're not ready to announce any new peripherals."

    Erm...I think you just did, mate.

  • jdiamnz69

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 2:44 pm PT

    Well i know im getting this. Im not a Aerosmith there ok but im a hardcore GH fan.

  • KoGfullmetal980

    Posted Feb 22, 2008 3:47 pm PT

    For me, this will a "rent first, then see" type of game. It all depends on the bands that they also include in the "inspiration and friends of Aerosmith" category. And for everyone talking about the rock band and GHIII, i think rock band is majorly boring. Guitar hero III wasnt stale after playing rock band, it was better than before. and hopefully GHIV will have some kick ass songs on it to make the series better. as for the "band dedicated" series, i've been saying this for years, AC/DC, Rage Against the Machine, Metallica, Blue Oyster Cult, etc. WE NEED TO SEE MORE OF THOSE BANDS [yeah, all but AC/DC have aired in the GH series, but they've been the songs too easy for anyone to play a lot, or those songs that just piss you off]. Or how bout a guitarist dedicated game? Slash/Tom Morello/etc. Guitarist who have been in multiple bands and have shined through no matter what.

  • verdugoRE4

    Posted Feb 22, 2008 1:27 pm PT

    Not much chance of me buying this. I love Aerosmith, but this idea seems rather.....dumb.

  • Cassius2k

    Posted Feb 22, 2008 8:27 am PT

    Guitar Hero Nirvana. Yeah I know Kurt is dead but theres enough sound-a-likes to fill the gap and i'm sure Courtney needs the money. They also need to cut back on the charges to download song packs or increase the content. 4.50 sterling for 3 songs, sounds good when i'm drunk but sucks when i'm sober. We pay for the game give us more free content. I got GH 2 for another 70+ songs because I didnt want to pay to download. More Pearl Jam, some Alice in Chains, More Tenacios D, More rocking songs with kick ass sound-a-likes if you can't get the orignals

  • Slushy96

    Posted Feb 21, 2008 3:54 pm PT

    jakob_187, i was just giving examples

  • Duh_to_the_avo

    Posted Feb 21, 2008 3:40 pm PT

    I would love some rock band, if the bloody equipment didn't disintegrate in my hands when I played

  • Ozzie234

    Posted Feb 21, 2008 2:56 pm PT

    A Metallica version would suck majorly, and One is probably the most boring song of GHIII IMO.... Areosmith would do better as a band dedicated to the game. I may not buy it, but I think it would outsell a Metallica version by far. Personally I want more DLC, a new batch of Les Paul's with distinct springy buttons and a (functional) non-detachable neck before any new game. Thanks.

  • gmagnus

    Posted Feb 21, 2008 12:40 am PT

    " You obviously must not be very good at it to like it more than GH3."

    I'm in the top 4% on the GH2 leaderboards and I like Rock Band better. GH3 just feels wrong. Like many people said, they artificially raised the difficulty by adding notes. It also feels stale after playing Rock Band. I guess all the reviewers must no be very good at it either, since I haven't seen anywhere rate GH3 higher than Rock Band. GH3 is rated even lower than GH1 and 2.

    If it's too multiplayer geared for your taste, you obviously must not have any friends. No offense btw

  • McDog3

    Posted Feb 20, 2008 9:46 pm PT

    Yeah, I believe more "genre" based GH sequels is the way to go, not dedicated to one artist (although if they ever made Guitar Hero: Dream Theater I might be singing a different tune lol) Having one band-and a handful other soundalikes-seems to narrow, no matter how "expanding" the band is/was.......I still wanna hear different vocalists, different guitars, etc. And hey, if they ever made a GH:Metal, Neversoft MIGHT be able to get away with putting the hardest Linkin Park song in the first tier lol

  • KH-mixerX

    Posted Feb 20, 2008 9:30 pm PT

    Titanfan2083 said: Rock Band is so much better and fun to play. Plus the idea of buying an album to play sounds nice.

    My say in it: It's too easy and too multiplayer geared for my taste. You obviously must not be very good at it to like it more than GH3.
    No offense btw.

  • Titanfan2083

    Posted Feb 20, 2008 9:00 pm PT

    Rock Band is so much better and fun to play. Plus the idea of buying an album to play sounds nice.

  • T070Y

    Posted Feb 20, 2008 6:46 pm PT

    ... Aerosmith GH; that sound a little g@y for me. Why not making a guitar hero: Punk, or Metal or something like that.

  • Dragonblade01

    Posted Feb 20, 2008 6:33 pm PT

    As long as they don't screw up GHIV, I'm good.

  • Vzobel

    Posted Feb 20, 2008 5:26 pm PT

    Its maybe that Aerosmith needs some publicity and they saw a great way to get to the kids and the videogames. I think that GH creators really didnt think about make a new guitar hero just abour them... its all about MARKETING and PUBLICITY... thats crap... WE PRAY FOR A GH: METAL! C'Mon its time to hear the FANS!! C'MON!!

  • Maskedgamer1

    Posted Feb 20, 2008 4:39 pm PT

    GH Metallica would be sweet.

  • kevin634

    Posted Feb 20, 2008 2:36 pm PT

    guitar hero rage against the machine and guitar hero red hot chili peppers would be awesome.

  • Tking1293

    Posted Feb 20, 2008 2:33 pm PT

    I love Aerosmith so I'll pick this one up. And for people that don't like it, just wait for the real GH:IV. And I think that if they added monkeyd_93's idea it would be really cool.

  • ChickenHounk911

    Posted Feb 20, 2008 1:27 pm PT

    Even if the Guitar Hero people DO bring, Drum Hero, Mic Hero and Guitar Hero, wouldn't that just be ripping off Rock Band? The game Guitar Hero WANTED to be... why? you ask... 3 words: Full Album Downloads.

  • avsfan7733

    Posted Feb 20, 2008 10:04 am PT

    this game is going to be a huge loss for activision. Way to screw up another good franchise.

  • SHACKR

    Posted Feb 20, 2008 9:47 am PT

    Aerosmith is good, but Metallica would have better rips.

  • Duh_to_the_avo

    Posted Feb 20, 2008 6:35 am PT

    GH: Metallica or GH: Sum 41 would both make me want to rip anything sonically knowledgeable straight out of my body.

  • monkeyd_93

    Posted Feb 20, 2008 5:37 am PT

    maybe making gh:metallica or gh:sum 41
    or
    they could change career mode, so its like a real career. play good= harder songs, better venues etc. play bad= easier songs, mediocre venues, easier boses etc. so that talent and skill gives you your own pathway instead following the set one

  • taylor888

    Posted Feb 20, 2008 4:50 am PT

    yes right fright, so true
    but since i love this game so much, i don't care what songs are by who just as long as they have a strenuos solo!

  • RightFright

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 8:26 pm PT

    Ok i wouldn't mind 4 more boss battels as long as there not hard songs "TDWDTG", but i think the aerosimth idea is kinda dumb and good at same time but im going 2 play it for 1 reason achievements and gamerpoints for xbox live,i wouldnt buy it at all no matter wat but i'll still rent it.

  • kingcow2064

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 7:31 pm PT

    Please no more crappy boss battles!!!!

  • Sacred-Snow

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 7:20 pm PT

    Or... Rock Band?

  • Phazevariance

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 5:59 pm PT

    Guitar Hero: Offspring
    Guitar Hero: System of a Down
    Guitar Hero: Rage Against the Machine
    Guitar Hero: Nirvana

  • gnbfd

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 4:41 pm PT

    "Whether that's through downloadable content" Which Wii still doesn't have...

  • ocdog45

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 3:55 pm PT

    im sick of GH

  • Pete5506

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 3:37 pm PT

    I love Aerosmith, this new game is going to rock

  • Hokkie

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 3:23 pm PT

    i agree with club-samich....they coudl sell a lot more if they focused on a specific genre of games. Aerosmith is awesome and all, they play their music EVERYWHERE, and ive been hearing it almost my entire life. It would be even better if they jsut had a GH site with thousands of songs, you order yrou game with a minimum of 50 songs, with 20-25 songs from other bands , and its shipped to you officially wrapped and printed.

  • ghost867

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 3:18 pm PT

    All they gotta do is make Guitar Hero IV: Rock Hero, make it full band like Rock Band is, but try to differentiate themselves as much as possible from Rock Band, and keep their own style and their own audience and their own set up.

    Oh, and who else is ****ing psyched at the idea of a DJ Hero game? I am.

  • club-sandwich

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 2:32 pm PT

    they should make genre specific games, not band specific...

  • Zidaneski

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 2:25 pm PT

    Band specific guitar Heros are a really bad idea. I mean, go back to someone's ipod example. No one has just a couple of bands...they put loads of bands. Even if it was my favorite band for Guitar Hero I would get really bored of that. Thats why RockBand is doing so good. I wil (in the future)l be able to play many songs by my favorite band (Weezer), but I wouldn't be able to stand playing songs just by them.

  • ou661

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 2:12 pm PT

    just make band hero and band hero: AC/DC

  • jakob_187

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 1:48 pm PT

    @Ra-Devil: Been playing REAL guitar for 13 years now. Guitar Hero has been an excellent tool for me to gain better hand-eye coordination, as well as practice on both strum-timing and finger-speed. I still do my regular hour-long "workouts" on my guitar, but GH has really helped improve my playing beyond what it was.

    I also know a good handful of kids and adults alike that have played Guitar Hero, then they headed down to the pawn shop and picked up a guitar (2 actually went for bass). They aren't GREAT at the thing, but at least they picked one up to find out how it really it.

    Sure, a thin neck and five buttons isn't the same as the real deal, but GH isn't about hitting 24 frets on 6 strings. It's about getting the speed, the technical aspect, knowing where your fingers are, and what position your fingers should be going into.

    Besides, in the end, it's just a game. Get over yourself, bro.

    @Slushy96: Please, not Linkin Park. I think Black Sabbath would be a great one, but Linkin Park? No way. As for AC/DC, why would you want a game where you play the SAME SONG OVER AND OVER? I love them and all...but that's just a bad idea.

    Let's just pray that they announce Guitar Hero: Van Halen or Guitar Hero: Led Zeppelin....WITHOUT STAIRWAY!

  • Slushy96

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 1:41 pm PT

    "That's something that we want to do with other bands."

    So Guitar Hero:Blue Oyster Cult
    Guitar Hero:Black Sabbath
    Guitar Hero AC/DC
    Guitar Hero:Likin Park
    What i think would be cool for the seris is Keytar Hero lol

  • kisu_maru

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 12:38 pm PT

    Hey Ra-Devil let me tell you that I know a lot of people who play a REAL guitar and Guitar Hero. Now I play a bass but still Guitar Hero helps me a lot when I play it It is like I'm playing my bass and guess what I've gotten better so you can stop it with your OPINIONS because everything you say isn't a FACT.

  • shortster1

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 12:35 pm PT

    btkiz,, all of the guitars for the ps2 work for guitar hero 1, 2, 3 and rock band anyways

  • polsci1503

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 12:04 pm PT

    NO MORE BOSS BATTLES!!!

    Go back to harder encore songs please, much more fun that way. Boss battles are easily the worst part of GH3.

  • elitedead

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 11:52 am PT

    They shouldn't do band related stuff. Just do Metal edition, Punk edition, Rock Edition Eg.

  • zerohour12

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 11:52 am PT

    .....this changes my outlook, completely.

  • Tonkpilsnut

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 11:32 am PT

    Guitar Hero: Between The Buried And Me edition (you get to play the entire album of Colors, oh how I wish)

  • btkiz

    Posted Feb 19, 2008 10:31 am PT

    You want to deliver what the fans want....you know they've been wanting a guitar that works for guitar hero 1, 2, 3 and rock band since release like they were promised....jackass

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