Songwriting coming to Guitar Hero IV?

  • By thorsen-ink, GameSpot
  • Posted May 12, 2008 5:46 pm PT

Source: A thread on the popular NeoGAF Forums. What we heard: Sometimes, even wafer-thin rumors hold a kernel of truth. Take today's prime cut of speculation du jour, which stems from a NeoGAF poster who claims to have obtained an advance copy of next month's Game Informer. According to the...

Source: A thread on the popular NeoGAF Forums.

What we heard: Sometimes, even wafer-thin rumors hold a kernel of truth. Take today's prime cut of speculation du jour, which stems from a NeoGAF poster who claims to have obtained an advance copy of next month's Game Informer. According to the author, who didn't post any art or screens to back up his claim, the forthcoming issue is jam-packed with details about Guitar Hero IV, the next installment in Activision's billion-dollar franchise.

According to the poster, the next issue of GI allegedly confirms that, yes, Guitar Hero IV will introduce drums and vocals a la Rock Band. (Get ready, Drum Villains!) More interestingly, the game will allow players to create their own songs--sans vocals, apparently due to copyright issues--and upload them along with customizable album art to a "Guitar Hero Tunes" store from which others can download them. Regular players will have a five-song cap, whereas those who pen popular ditties will be able to upload up to 10 power ballads.

Though licensed Guitar Hero III downloads are limited to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Guitar Hero IV song sharing will, according to the post, also be available for the PlayStation 2 and Wii editions of the game. Guitar Hero IV will also reportedly feature all master tracks, including original selections from The Eagles, Linkin Park, Sublime, and--as rumored--Van Halen.

The official story: Activision didn't respond to e-mail inquiries about the NeoGAF post. However, statements made from the highest levels of the multibillion publisher have already all but confirmed the details in the post. Speaking to Conde Nast Portfolio last month, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick explicitly confirmed that both vocals and instrumentals were coming to the Guitar Hero franchise.

As for song sharing, Activision outlined an online initiative for an unnamed title last week which sounds like it could well be song sharing for Guitar Hero. Specifically, the company said in its earnings announcement last week that "online functionality for certain key titles to be released in the December quarter of fiscal year 2009 and thereafter is expected to become a significant component of gameplay for certain platforms." Then, Activision went on to say the cost of the online functionality over six months could be as much as $350 million--hardly a small investment, even for a company with nearly $3 billion in annual revenue.

Then, in an earnings report after the call, Activision publishing president Mike Griffiths said that his company was readying something big for its billion-dollar rhythm-game franchise. "For the holiday, we'll provide a significant leap forward in innovation for Guitar Hero worldwide on all platforms including the PS3, PS2, Xbox 360, Wii, and again on the DS," he boasted.

Later, Griffith repeated his assertion that the next Guitar Hero would have a cutting-edge trick up its sleeve--a trick Activision was investing heavily in. "We've put a lot of additional development resources, a lot of additional music licenses resources, a lot of additional hardware supplier resources against the title to fuel growth over next year," he told an analyst in a conference call. "We're excited by the increased musical content and innovation we're bringing. We do expect a leap forward in innovation with our holiday launch, and we're about two weeks away from providing very specific details on that." (Emphasis added.)

Bogus or not bogus?: Uh, doesn't the new issue of Game Informer hit newsstands next week? Not bogus.

191 Comments

  • doctorwang12

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 2:26 pm PT

    this game is gonna be sweet...especially with this freakin addition!!

  • thesolidsnake3

    Posted Jun 14, 2008 5:20 pm PT

    it sounds kool but rock band sucks

  • warhuntermartin

    Posted May 26, 2008 10:26 am PT

    whoa the only people who would get this would be: (1) people who love the GH series, (2) people who dont have ROCK BAND, (3) people who are convinced that GH4 will be better than RB. plus they should add a LOT MORE MODREN SONGS!!!!

  • RiggiLugLug

    Posted May 25, 2008 11:05 pm PT

    I would expect (hope) for the "song creation" you will need to upload an mp3 of your song and then map out the guitar buttons or drum hits to it.
    If you have to try and make a song from the inbuilt sounds in the game it will sound pretty crap... bland generic sounds, robotic quantized timing, cumbersome user interface.

    That of course assumes that you then have hte ability to record your own music - most musicians do these days on their PC...
    But anyone that doesn't play music might be a bit challenged...

  • XCESS_MOJO

    Posted May 25, 2008 12:27 pm PT

    This game is gonna be wicked! i like Guitar Hero and adding the drums and vocals in the new game is a good idea but its stupid at the same time. this is going to be exactly like rock band. Activision is going to lose all the ppl who hate Rock Band because they are exactly alike. and with the idea of making songs...AWESOME...but i heard you could do that in the PS2 version of GHIII. if that was true, which i dont know because i have xbox 360, then they should improve on the idea. its stupid though that you are going to have to sing the songs that you make yourself because some people completely suck at singing. its not going to sound good and i think that you should be able to just plug in your ipod or whatever you have and just upload the song. then you can just fret it out and there you go. you have a good quality song. people are going to make the song and then ruin it with their singing. it will sound nothing like the real thing. that pisses me off.

    If the Rock Band drums arent able to be played on the new Guitar Hero, are the new Guitar Hero Drums going to be able to be played on Rock Band?

    Im glad about the new bands and the rumor of Van Halen on the game, but people have been telling me that there will be 2 or 3 songs of the same bands on the game. im hoping this isnt true because then there will be no room for variety. if thats what they want to do then they should do what Rock Band does for DLC, release new songs every tuesday, except on a different day or something.

    This game is going to be so awesome and im not trying to make fun of the game but these are just my concerns.

  • vanhalen761

    Posted May 19, 2008 5:43 pm PT

    Look, If Its VAN HALEN i can't argue with that.

  • wproiet1

    Posted May 19, 2008 3:24 pm PT

    Linkin Park with more than one song in GH4?Now thats awesome

  • Shame2thegame

    Posted May 17, 2008 8:06 pm PT

    they need to do this or else. or else what? exactly...

  • Gamelunatic92

    Posted May 16, 2008 11:08 pm PT

    I think JUST the guitar would be fine to just keep the franchise fantastic then yeah, im all for it. seriously, if you wanna do like singing or drumming err w/e. then just go play rock band. if guitar hero got those accesories then it would basically just be Rock Band. Seriously, think about it. but what the hell am i saying? im getting it anyways. haha. I WANT THEM TO MAKE GUITAR HERO: LINKIN PARK EDITION. how badass would that be?OMG!

  • Gamelunatic92

    Posted May 16, 2008 11:06 pm PT

    I think JUST the guitar would be fine to just keep the franchise fantastic then yeah, im all for it. seriously, if you wanna do like singing or drumming err w/e. then just go play rock band. if guitar hero got those accesories then it would basically just be Rock Band. Seriously, think about it. but what the hell am i saying? im getting it anyways. haha.

  • LedZeppelin1234

    Posted May 16, 2008 3:20 pm PT

    When the add the drums and vocals its not going to be GUITAR hero. Are they gonna change the name to something else?

  • borgmaster

    Posted May 15, 2008 1:22 pm PT

    Eagles, eh? crossing fingers for Hotel California

  • lnknprkfan_2005

    Posted May 15, 2008 10:58 am PT

    alright...i heard all of the new features about GH4 on the radio today, so i had to read and see for myself. i love that they are putting The Eagles, for once, on Guitar Hero! Adding Linkin Park is pretty kool, but im not digging that so much. the custom music addition is probably the greatest thing to add yet. wait a minute....vocals AND drums to GUITAR HERO!? WTF!? now that is gonna be dumb. i figured some crap like this would happen one day. everybody is all into Rock Band now. I pray that Activision makes the notes more responsive than Rock Band because Rock Band feels too much like GH1. its really upsetting! if the notes are more responsive, then ill stick with GH4.

  • jspeeder

    Posted May 15, 2008 4:40 am PT

    The Eagles are one of the best bands out there, been in the business for so long and still rocking! They have great songs for this like Hotel California and Life in the Fast Lane, both with great riffs. I' d like to see some Stairway in here too! I don't really mind about the new peripherals, although it is called "Guitar Hero" not "Guitar Hero with Drums and Mic". The song writing could be a good idea, it would be a bit weird though and somewhat unfair, I mean not all songwriters can sing, so they would have a great song written, but play it terribly. Also, sooo many people will try to make covers of other songs its rediculous, and others may just record the song and fret it, which could get Activision in trouble big time, so I'm guessing that either the song writing thing is bull, or there will be song screening by Activision (Which I think is way to much work considering Video Game companies just get lazier and lazier, although people would curse in some songs too, in which case Activision would have to rate the game differently.) Anyway, sounds alright, and the Eagles are awesome without a doubt.

  • weltall1028

    Posted May 14, 2008 4:06 pm PT

    I can't wait to start making my own tunes! I'm also excited about drums and vocals being added. I hope there is a great selection of music like the first 3 games (80's doesn't count).

  • raahsnavj

    Posted May 14, 2008 3:23 pm PT

    If they don't let me use my rockband equipment with the game I'll be pissed enough to never pick up an activision game ever again.

  • ColdBeer69

    Posted May 14, 2008 2:19 pm PT

    A few pics have been posted in the GH4 forum here, until you see for yourself or GS writes something about it

  • gorillazilla28

    Posted May 14, 2008 2:10 pm PT

    Song making will be awesome!

  • ColdBeer69

    Posted May 14, 2008 1:54 pm PT

    I have the new Game Informer in my hands now, and this is all true, every bit of it. The drum set has 5 pads instead of 4, and is designed differently, better if you ask me. There is much customization as well, from importing/creating your own songs, to customizing your own rocker sims-style, and even custom making your own guitars. I just got my GI today, so look out for it and see for yourselves the greatness it holds!

  • rp89cool

    Posted May 14, 2008 1:53 pm PT

    I think this is realy cool! I can't wait to make a song!

  • steve04

    Posted May 14, 2008 1:21 pm PT

    WHoo linkin park!!!!

  • Jedilink109

    Posted May 14, 2008 12:29 pm PT

    Well if they DO introduce drums into the new Guitar Hero...then I'd BETTER be able to use my Rock Band drums! I mean, I don't have space for another set after all! And make the Rock Band guitar playable on Guitar Hero!!! Just as long as I can play the new Guitar Hero with the Rock Band Equipment I have, I'll be super happy.

  • Skreb-Masters

    Posted May 14, 2008 9:10 am PT

    They said Eagles is on there, which obviously means Hotel California. Hell yes! Song sharing looks cool, but that will only be as good as the tools laid out and the input given by people (if everyone's as talented as JerryC, then I'm on board!)

    Bring on the details.

  • da_chub

    Posted May 14, 2008 8:58 am PT

    learn how to play an instrument, instead of being lazy and playing this game

  • cowman_53

    Posted May 13, 2008 8:49 pm PT

    Technically RockBand Copied off like 3 games... Guitar Hero, Beatmania, and singstar. I mean everyone copies its just a fact. It's like saying Halo copied ever other shooter out there. Everything copies something in some ways. The games that copy it well and improve are the good ones though.

  • gnbfd

    Posted May 13, 2008 5:46 pm PT

    If DLC is as crappy as it is in GHIV, I'll stick with my Wii GH instead of switching to PS3. The file sharing might not work out on the Wii though so...

  • Maxwellmurder

    Posted May 13, 2008 5:38 pm PT

    I lold so hard at this 5 note songs lollololololollololololool

  • KDogKool

    Posted May 13, 2008 5:37 pm PT

    All good news. I would rather play Guitar Hero 4 with drums and vocals besides Rock Band. I just like GH's setup and feel better than Rock Band's. And I've been wanting customs songs ever since i got into Gutiar Hero!

  • Durhamster

    Posted May 13, 2008 5:00 pm PT

    That would be a nice ad on but unless this is all confirmed I'm not gunna get my hopes up

  • tonbert

    Posted May 13, 2008 2:53 pm PT

    Thats all really awesome

    Drums is WOOOOOT

    The bands they confirmed as having songs in the game in this I think they are pretty good

    And then the making your own songs thing thats really cool but I hope you can change the way the guitar sounds so you can literally make a song that sounds like almost anything but I do think the no vocals on custom songs thing is stupid

    Im probably gonna sit there and try to make songs I like before I try to make an original song though XD

    But this is really freakin cool this sounds like its gonna be a really freakin great game instead of just a good game

  • sam4545

    Posted May 13, 2008 2:35 pm PT

    To those saying "Why add drums/vocals?" I say why not? Its not like you would be forced to pay any more than the usual $59.99. Unless you somehow start playing GH with 4 I don't see it as a problem as you would already have a guitar to use with it. You could also hope that Activision gets its head out of its behind and lets GH4 be compatible with RB instruments. (and vice versa)

  • DevilMario54

    Posted May 13, 2008 2:34 pm PT

    This is kinda awsome, I mean the fact that Sublime will finally be on one of these games is just amazing, I'll buy this game just to be able to play a bit a reggae influenced jams. YAY!!

  • devilscry

    Posted May 13, 2008 2:30 pm PT

    If the expect me to buy another drum set they're out of their minds. The rock band one is big enough as it is, and it doesn't fold unless i take it apart. why would i want another drum set? And, though the prospect of making my own songs does sound very cool, come on, its going to be very limited to what you can do, especially since alot of people who play these games don';t play real instruments. is there going to be a tutorial on how to read and write music too, Good i dea, but me thinks they aim too high for this one. Almost toooooo gimmickish. Thumbs down

  • SkellitonKiller

    Posted May 13, 2008 1:51 pm PT

    if they add AC/DC, Twisted Sister, Ratt, Hendrix, and Zeppelin I will buy this and guitar hero: aerosmith hopefully it will be for ps2.

  • CrushedGroove

    Posted May 13, 2008 1:47 pm PT

    I see a future of millions upon millions of YouTube videos featuring horrible guitar hero custom tracks. But all in all, not a bad idea I guess.

  • TheDarkRising

    Posted May 13, 2008 1:43 pm PT

    This sounds awesome. Hope they go through with it.

  • Glade_Gnarr

    Posted May 13, 2008 1:20 pm PT

    Song writting seems a little too much, but that sounds cool.

  • Agreb91

    Posted May 13, 2008 1:19 pm PT

    Well that would make Guitar Hero IV a better competitor to Rock Band.

  • BadLeroyBrown

    Posted May 13, 2008 12:59 pm PT

    This would be a huge blow to Rock Band if they are able to pull it off. My questions though, is how are they going to be able to make it user friendly? There are so many factors to making music, that the 5 buttons of the guitar couldn't do without making it non-user friendly. how would you pick what string you were on, what fret you were playing, how fast, ect. It would be extremely cool if they can pull it off, but i still think it would be either too limiting in what you could do, or too complicated for the non-music gamer to manipulate

  • favata12

    Posted May 13, 2008 12:53 pm PT

    as cool as this is i love all the bands but i feel like they just copied rock band but i love sublime and linkin park and the eagles so lets see

  • DSgamer64

    Posted May 13, 2008 12:28 pm PT

    That would be extremely lame and pointless. If I wanted to make my own songs, I will use Finale or something and play my real guitar and real bass to do it and I could get one of my friends to record some drum tracks onto my computer instead of wasting money on a stupid game to make fake attempts at songwriting.

    Van Halen are not sellouts so the likelyhood of there being VH master tracks is very slim, possibly just Eruption since that is Eddie's tune but Sammy Hagar would no doubt get involved if any of the songs he sang on come into play. The Eagles would be nice but their songs are insanely easy to play, even Hotel California would be a cake walk, if it were a Joe Walsh/James Gang written tune like Rocky Mountain Way or Life's Been Good, it would be cool cause those songs are a little bit more difficult, but most of the Eagles stuffi s better suited for Rock Band since they are easy tunes with great vocals and not too hard guitar, bass and drum parts.

  • bandit7319

    Posted May 13, 2008 12:23 pm PT

    Well if they do the vocals and drums, I HOPE that Rock Band's instruments can be used. I already look like enough of a dork having 3 fake guitars, a fake drumset and a semi-fake microphone. If I add another drum set and mic then A) It'll be way too expensive and B) Damn. i think that's all that needs to be said.

  • racerx737

    Posted May 13, 2008 11:46 am PT

    i guess the other instruments would be cool, but i havent played rock band so idk. all i really want is the guitar. this is guitar hero after all. but the song writing and master tracks all sound good.

  • Matt1836

    Posted May 13, 2008 10:25 am PT

    I don't think adding drums or vocals make the Game any better Its Great already & much better then Rock Band. I would like to see more Song included & downloads that you could use to earn cash to buy from the in game Store

  • Dapsone

    Posted May 13, 2008 10:11 am PT

    Whaaa??? How is this supposed to work? I guess I'm dumb, but I will be extremely surprised if someone could create a functionality that allows one to create a song with a plastic guitar and drum set - and actually make this resemble "fun". I'd pass on this for more/better licensed tracks and online play. Please let me be pleasantly surprised Activision...

  • Get_Shorty

    Posted May 13, 2008 10:06 am PT

    Why would I wanna play somebody else's crappy songs?? I hate local bands that squeeze in their original songs inbetween covers from accomplished bands.

  • master_of_nfs

    Posted May 13, 2008 10:02 am PT

    The True Review Of This Rumour:

    Now I believe the idea of this file sharing allowing people to create their own songs and then put them on Guitar Hero IV is fantastic. But I must say adding the Drums & Vocals will probably be stupid!!! The name of this game is called GUITAR HERO - which means only using the Lead, Rythym (sorry if I spelt that wrong) & Bass Guitars. If they do that, It'd ruin the entire gameplay of this grand game first created by (the genius of what they are) Harmonix. They better get this straight because we don't want all the instruments on a game called Guitar Hero IV. If they do this then Activision have ruined the series of this fanastic game. My method is that they use this File Sharing system but not add any instruments into the package. If they do, you may as well get Rock Band as they are made by real Musicians not cheap ones.

    I rest my case on this matter.

  • shoeman12

    Posted May 13, 2008 9:59 am PT

    if this is true it will be awesome!

  • ronniepage588

    Posted May 13, 2008 9:14 am PT

    and van halen would be sick for guitar and drums (hot for teacher anyone???) it all depends one what era of van halen theyre talking about.

    @ SUPERBEAST1370: You don't actually think van halen wrote master of puppets do you?!?! thats metallica dude. haha

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