Console-less rhythm games a possibility - Harmonix

Rock Band studio's creative director says future instrument peripherals could hook up directly to televisions, bypassing consoles.

Between The Beatles: Rock Band, Lego Rock Band, Rock Band Unplugged, Guitar Hero 5, Band Hero, Guitar Hero: Van Halen, Guitar Hero Smash Hits, Guitar Hero Metallica, and Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits, MTV Games and Activision Blizzard probably have the rhythm genre covered this year. However, that goes only for those who have a console or handheld produced by Microsoft, Sony, or Nintendo.

The Beatles certainly don't need help selling a product.

There remains, then, a large percentage of the population not yet being served by the current breed of rhythm games. And according to Harmonix creative director Josh Randall, one way to tap into this market is for rhythm games to simply abandon consoles entirely.

"I think you could foresee a future where maybe you don't even have a console," Randall told UK gaming site VideoGamer.com. "Your instrument can have all these songs and you just plug it into your TV. I'm sure [the genre] is going to start to move in weird ways that no one's even thought of yet."

However, that isn't to say that it is a direction Harmonix is actively pursuing. "We're obviously focused on the consoles, but outside of Harmonix, there are people doing interesting stuff in the mobile space," Randall continued. "It's going to be interesting when it all splinters apart and then comes back together in some form we've not even thought of yet."

110 Comments

  • Dejay11chris

    Posted Aug 18, 2009 6:05 pm PT

    I don't see how this will work at all.

  • thetravman

    Posted Jul 14, 2009 7:45 pm PT

    I already saw a guitar peripheral that connected to the tv. It can't be good though. I also saw this one cheap console that looks just like the Wii. What the heck?

  • dbpvivi

    Posted Jul 14, 2009 12:13 pm PT

    well considering people pay £200 for a game- your idiots by the way. What's another £100. :s

  • Glade_Gnarr

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 1:41 pm PT

    There's a word for those kinds of games that you plug directly to the TV: Crappy.

  • Xaviersx

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 9:20 am PT

    Let's get it clear, I'm not looking for a teaching rhythm game, nor the current rhythm games, . . . though I'm sure a clever developer could revitalize school bands and make a buck or two with a 'game' that was both fun and used the actual strings of a guitar (I'd guess drums are close to one to one in these games) or whatever other instrument they currently simulate the look of. I'll follow the news of the games, but it's not my thing, other players, enjoy it and good.

  • Xaviersx

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 9:12 am PT

    @DaSlyOne

    Hope I didn't spark some anger. I'm just saying that for my part, I did mention "I'd rather", if I'm spending the days upon days that people seem to invest in playing and excelling at these rhythm games, that it would serve me better to come away with a skill that could be used elsewhere, or even expanded upon in a music class. I don't expect a game to make me a concert player, but what problem would a developer have with explorer that idea. No fight, just a comment.

  • HumanoMexicano

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 8:46 am PT

    Tzunoy

    Parrapa the Rapper? WORD G I AM A THUG GEEEET THEM HOES!

  • Tzunoy

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 8:05 am PT

    It seems that the world is full of rockers. Stop this you obsessed developers and make Hip-Hop and House music rhytm games too. God damnit a lot of games suck with rock music because it's full of it, for the love of games alternate a little the music not just rock. Pheeewww im full of it.

  • bandit7319

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 7:48 am PT

    "Between The Beatles: Rock Band, Lego Rock Band, Rock Band Unplugged, Guitar Hero 5, Band Hero, Guitar Hero: Van Halen, Guitar Hero Smash Hits, Guitar Hero Metallica, and Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits,"

    .....OK, can we say market saturation? Thats ridiculous to have 9 damn music/rythm games. Its a cash cow, sure, but move on, please.

  • ImYour13thStep

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 7:45 am PT

    these rythem games r getting old n e wayz. especially when they got a new version coming out every month. you know they could easily create a program where you can upload your own music but they dont. because they want every dollar they can get. these games r probably the simplest games to create. keep giving them money drones!!!!

  • gnrlstuart

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 6:47 am PT

    rock band real guitar? no im serious. with something like natal, it could trace the anatomy of a real guitar, you could plug it in to your 360 with a 6.5mm cord, and learn to play the actual guitar in a fun, and casual way, while still learning the skill. to me that would be the ultimate rock band game.

  • melante

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 6:27 am PT

    Console-less music games? It's easy: just do a PC version!!

  • darickjay

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 4:31 am PT

    im sick of music games now i swear after g hero 5 comes out im really done with music games i would be ok if just one game had one freakn disk to download everything that be coming out im really sick of tired spending $60 bones a game i love music but geeezz it needs a rest and realy need to work on some huge changes to be worth $60 bucks again bc to me they should be worth $40.00

  • DaSlyOne

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 4:06 am PT

    @GETAGIRLFRIEND
    I'm sure someone said the same about the wheel, gunpowder, the automobile, etc. Plus, unless you are over 60 years old, how would you know what life was like before computers?

    @Xaviersx
    The whole idea of these rhythm games are to allow people to have fun with music. For most, it takes years of practice and hard work to be able to play a real instrument. If people seriously want to learn to play a real guitar, sign up for lessons! Don't wish and wait for a game to help "teach" you. Games are intended to be fun and easily accessible, not for learning a new skill. Else one could argue that we have alot of mass murders in training.

  • x8VXU6

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 11:25 pm PT

    they can do wat the want I aint buying even if it was on a console

  • mhatter106

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 4:05 pm PT

    @marciano315

    core gamers may player for achievements, trophies, and leaderboards, but a lot of casual gamers out there have no interest in that. I know a numebr of ppl who arent gamers but who own rock band or rock band 2 and do nothing other than quick play.

  • Glokwerk

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 3:29 pm PT

    Console-less music games are not so futuristic. we sell a Hanna Montana game at Radioshack just like what he is describing for 20$, it's not quite rockband (equally as lame though) but it is certainly not futuristic.

  • Marciano315

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 1:09 pm PT

    thats dumb, people buy them to play online with friends, get on leaderboards, and achievements.

  • formerroadie

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 8:10 pm PT

    lame....

  • GETAGIRLFRIEND posted Jul 11, 2009 7:00 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    GETAGIRLFRIEND

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 7:00 pm PT (hide)

    life was better with out computers and internet. "enjoy your digital selves".

  • jordanbijl

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 6:40 pm PT

    "you know that consoleless rhythym games already exist right? they are called real instruments"

    well said...
    agree'd
    I wish more people would pick up real instruments rather than play guitar hero or rock band...

  • AzNs3nSaT1On

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 4:44 pm PT

    you know that consoleless rhythym games already exist right? they are called real instruments

  • Xaviersx

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 12:27 pm PT

    As posted before, are the limitations greater than the reward? Without a console, is this pushing for an OnLive feature, a preloaded instrument/gadget, and is the TV going to use the remote sensor to send and receive not only inputs in this future?

    To each developer their own chase for the pot of gold, just hope a lot of time and development are only spent after researching the true consumer base for such. I'd rather, if someone were to, have a rhythm game that used actual instruments to wow and teach the real deal, and /or used the music already owned by the user (yes yes, that's been talked about before, beat detection, animations not being sync, and just a general lack of music industry support for no new money on that path) but that's where my interest in this category of gaming would be found. The achievement of beating the game and maybe going to a bar or local concert to play for real. Ehhh, a possibility . . .

  • LorenaLarue

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 7:31 am PT

    I've seen these so called console-less rhythm games already, they aren't so great. Bad sound and bad graphics, plus not being on the Xbox or PS3 means a lack of online functionality with friends.

  • charrr1234

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 6:09 am PT

    If it's not expensive, it will probably wind up like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhHOaMXYXU4

  • TheSnakeBelmont

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 1:05 am PT

    well there´s some one who tought ahead, and they start makin like guitars, bass, mics and even drums from guitar hero and rock band but TV-LESS!!! yup you heard TV-Less i think theyre called REAL INSTRUMENTS!!!

  • shani_boy101

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 12:46 am PT

    a console-less rhythm game sounds stupid. i mean where the hell are you meant to store the data? on the controller??? what a stupid idea. and how exactly would you be able to get decent graphics while the processor and all the other stuff is in your controller?

    just about anyone who wants to play Guitar Hero or Rock Band has already got a console already, its not like its hard to get your hands on one, the PS2 is less than $100.

  • Tygraph

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 11:14 pm PT

    If you don't already have SOME sort of console, then chances are, you don't like games. I'm about to upgrade by Rock Band drumset so I can get Smash Hits and milk that for a while. Then back to the realy masters; Rock Band!

  • BrunoBRS

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 9:09 pm PT

    where the hell will the data that makes the game exist be stored? on the controller? that would probably cause many loading/lag/glitch issues

  • DS_Lightning21

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 6:42 pm PT

    Plug-and-Play? I like it!

  • SylvanMidget

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 4:25 pm PT

    It would drive the cost of the game through the roof. No thanks.

  • themyrmidon

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 2:34 pm PT

    As a PC gamer who loves RB and GH:WT I would love to see this happen so I don't have to waste money on a console just for this or buy one of the glitchy PC versions.

  • bschroth

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 1:18 pm PT

    This is kinda a nothing story. It has always been a possibility, but so is me getting hitched to Megan Fox. On the other hand it's interesting to read this kinda stuff.

  • raahsnavj

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 12:44 pm PT

    Wait, so they are going to sell us the power of the video card and CPU along with songs in instruments? Sure, I'll take that $400 guitar that only plays rock band... no, unless they can find a way to turn it into last gen (or older) graphics we have a problem Huston. Also, they now have to make it hook up to the internet for online play and to download songs... Just seems like a lot of reinventing the wheel at a high price tag.

    Now putting the disc on there so we just have to connect up to the console with the guitar, maybe... but then you have a mess if my controller wears out...

    In short, sure it is a possibility, but I don't see it being finacially viable at the same level of quality. As such only the ignorant would pay attention and buy it.

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 12:29 pm PT

    Trust me Mr Randell, I wouldn't buy a GH game even if it was console-less. It's not that I hate the games or anything. I'm just not a fan.

  • xophaser

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 11:35 am PT

    less is more. More of a gimmick then a game. It is good for casual gamers because it is quick to learn. My GH III gets no love at all. 20buck from CircuitCity closeout was a waste. Without the console the built in graphic of stand alone would be cheap if they are selling it at the same price. Do an iphone version with the touch screen would be cool though.

  • rostam93

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 11:22 am PT

    necronaux, i think you meant to say you won't even need the guitar

  • davet666

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 10:43 am PT

    Agreed, GH did die after Guitar Hero II

  • Death_Blade_182

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 10:09 am PT

    @l337_A55A55IN

    Actually, GH died right after Guitar Hero II

  • necronaux

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 10:08 am PT

    And then, you won't even need the TV... It's called air-guitar.

  • natron557

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 9:39 am PT

    Yeah.....
    This is the sort of intelligent statement every developer out there wants published about them. You know the one where they claim that they really don't need console developers anymore. I'm sure sony, microsoft, and nintendo are all tickled reading this. At least he sort of covered himself at the end. You have to wonder if gamespot knows just what its doing when the post stuff like this.

  • jtthegame316

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 9:33 am PT

    gh and rb are cool i got GH world tour they need to down the price of the smash hits and matilica cause they are basically world tour and down the price of rb 2 as well cause it is the same as rb 1 really

  • jazilla

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 9:32 am PT

    i haven't purchased a rhythm game since RB1, which i rarely play anymore. it's kinda like the tony hawk series. i liked the first few of those, and then they just got kind of old. if they would have put these out every few years like the GTA or Mario games, there would still be a high demand for these. the problem is, is that they all look the same.

  • Mr_Versipellis posted Jul 10, 2009 9:27 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Mr_Versipellis

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 9:27 am PT (hide)

    This just wouldn't work. Games need the power of a console. It's not like we like the box itself... It's just neccessary. Duh. This is hardly Pac Man.

  • l337_A55A55IN

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 9:27 am PT

    guitar hero died after guitar hero 3. they need to either stop making guitar hero games or start making bigger improvements/differences between the games

  • Hvac0120

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 8:34 am PT

    You have to have a device that can put out the HD graphics, output crisp audio, and handle downloadable content. Rhythm games like GH and RB will be downgraded for the plug-n-play type game devices.

  • AngelCage-2

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 8:19 am PT

    Dear God, please make this become true... cause if they do this then MAYBE all these crap versions of the same game that are released several times per year will be far away from my systems... I hate this games, an feel sorry for all the people who buy a update in the song list as a new-full price game

    4-6 versions of the same game with minor upgrades per years is stupid.

  • Linkman0714

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 8:10 am PT

    havent they milked this genre for enough money already?

  • Lupivdaman

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 7:56 am PT

    @-Beatz-
    Handhelds aren't considered as consoles, they are considered as Handheld DEVICES
    and I was just joking about the the title they could've called it
    "Plug & Play Rhythm games a possibility"

  • Strategygamer22

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 7:45 am PT

    I love rhythm games, but this is rediculous! You know, there already are instruments with songs in them. Like guitars, drums, etc.

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