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Activision to charge for GH user content?

Acti boss eyes subscription fee for songs uploaded via Guitar Hero Tunes
Activision Blizzard boss Bobby Kotick has said the publisher is considering charging gamers for user-created songs in Guitar Hero World Tour.

The CEO said during an earnings conference call that it could introduce a subscription fee for the online service, which has seen some 25,000 user-created songs uploaded since launch with "up to 100,000 by year end," according to Kotick.

"The ability to offer these songs on a subscription basis may very well result in the newest subscription opportunity in our portfolio," he said (via Kotaku).

Would the service be as popular if you had to pay for it? Let us (and Activision) know below.

computerandvideogames.com
// Interactive
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Read all 27 commentsPost a Comment
Well I know what would stop me using the service.
I wouldn't mind if just downloading extra songs in general was a subscription service if it was regulary updated. But making us pay for user created content is just low.
WHERESMYMONKEY on 6 Nov '08
We just keep being slapped in the face with this truth: Corporate monstrosities have no place in the games industry.

You just know that there are plenty of retards out there who can't wait to open their wallet for this though.
Mogs on 6 Nov '08
I am sure I will not be the first or last person to ask why the @!#$ should we have to pay for content that the publisher did not create?
deadpool187 on 6 Nov '08
Erm - if it's free now, how are you suddenly going to start charging people?

Ridiculous if you ask me - are these tracks actually any good?...I'm not sure that many people would bother downloading tracks by some sawn-off runt that thinks he's an 'artiste' because he knows how to use studio mode in GH: WT - I'm not even entirely convinced that many GH fans are that interested in the feature.....we just want the songs on the disc and some decent DLC (oh, and we want those god-awful Boss Battles gone!)

So, to summarise - not on your bleedin' nelly, Activision.

Smile
ParmaViolet on 6 Nov '08
Activision to kiss my ass!
wudragon on 6 Nov '08
Activision are slowly turning into the new EA.

This is probably one of the worst ideas in recent memory. I can't actually see it happening.

I've been playing world tour at my friends, and the music creation mode is utter tripe. If anyone can make anything that sounds better than a ringtone i'll give them a whole lot of money.
nottsville on 6 Nov '08
If they start charging would users get a cut if their songs were downloaded?
Diznit on 6 Nov '08
If they start charging would users get a cut if their songs were downloaded?

Laughing
Mogs on 6 Nov '08
This message is not being displayed because the poster is banned.
crimbo on 6 Nov '08
Activision are slowly turning into the new EA.

This is probably one of the worst ideas in recent memory. I can't actually see it happening.

I've been playing world tour at my friends, and the music creation mode is utter tripe. If anyone can make anything that sounds better than a ringtone i'll give them a whole lot of money.

f**k off!!!! EA are the best they are the only good publisher out there unlike ubisoft who only ever have pumped out cheap crap (like farcry2)

Any comments by a fanboy bottom such as yourself instantly hold no merit!

p**s off!
nottsville on 6 Nov '08
No, this is by far one of their worst ideas yet.

I personally do not own GH:WT but I have played it elsewhere and the music studio is confusing, fiddly and the "music" produced sounds more like, as someone else pointed out, a ringtone and not music at all. CHARGING people money to download this is horrendous.

People do not want to download content, created by other players, when they can download tracks they know to be good. The entire music studio is a bad piece of equipment but acceptable considering the music is free. If they went and charged people money for user created content, it would be a disaster. It also seems like daylight robbery because, even though Activision didn't create the music themselves, they get to keep all the profit made and the person who DID create it receive nothing.

No, sorry, bad idea over here. Activision would be digging their own grave if they started this.
POIZONED APPLEZ on 6 Nov '08
This message is not being displayed because the poster is banned.
crimbo on 6 Nov '08
Activision are slowly turning into the new EA.

This is probably one of the worst ideas in recent memory. I can't actually see it happening.

I've been playing world tour at my friends, and the music creation mode is utter tripe. If anyone can make anything that sounds better than a ringtone i'll give them a whole lot of money.

f**k off!!!! EA are the best they are the only good publisher out there unlike ubisoft who only ever have pumped out cheap crap (like farcry2)

EA are trying to improve their image and are being somewhat successful, but I still wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them. Far Cry 2 is a pretty decent game, despite some fundamental flaws. It's certainly not cheap crap that's been pumped out. Anyone who's actually played the game can see that effort and thought has gone into it.

As for best publisher, I don't think such a thing exists. Bethesda maybe? Take-Two? They're all just as bad as each other at the end of the day.
Mogs on 6 Nov '08
Activision are slowly turning into the new EA.

This is probably one of the worst ideas in recent memory. I can't actually see it happening.

I've been playing world tour at my friends, and the music creation mode is utter tripe. If anyone can make anything that sounds better than a ringtone i'll give them a whole lot of money.

I can't see myself using it - it just doesn't interest me...I've only ordered the Guitar + Game, anyway.

I'm really, really hoping that I manage to get my copy through today - if not, it's more Fable 2 for me tonight!

Smile
ParmaViolet on 6 Nov '08
First, it's news that they'll delete all content sounding like licenced music. Then, it's the 3 minutes/1200 notes restriction. And now this. I almost cancelled my preorder the last time. I would never pay for downloading ringtone-hero. If they'd actually let people create awesome covers, I would have considered it. Maybe...
Ulgen on 6 Nov '08
As DeadPool187 says how on earth can you charge for something they didn't create? It's a great idea until you pay fot it. I don't think people will do it, you can't guarantee the "quality" of the song either. You pay, you download, it's crap, you're not happy! Mad
EnglishXcentric on 6 Nov '08
This message is not being displayed because the poster is banned.
crimbo on 6 Nov '08
Guitar Hero's crown is slipping thanks to Activision. Greed and arrogance lost them the Beatles deal, they now want to start charging their user base for songs that are 'user created' and have no vocals. Crazy!

Like the post said above, Fans aren't interested in this studio maker - it's not exactly in the same league as Little Big Planet appeal wise. GH fans want more real tracks, from real bands, more regularly - like Rock Band are doing, oh and try making your games backwards compatible too!

I thought EA were the cash cow, looks like Activison have taken that title!
Eclipse Dj on 6 Nov '08
Farcry 2 is certainly not cheap. It is not without flaws and problems, but it is obvious from playing it that production value was high with this game.
POIZONED APPLEZ on 6 Nov '08
Activision are slowly turning into the new EA.

This is probably one of the worst ideas in recent memory. I can't actually see it happening.

I've been playing world tour at my friends, and the music creation mode is utter tripe. If anyone can make anything that sounds better than a ringtone i'll give them a whole lot of money.

f**k off!!!! EA are the best they are the only good publisher out there unlike ubisoft who only ever have pumped out cheap crap (like farcry2)

EA are trying to improve their image and are being somewhat successful, but I still wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them. Far Cry 2 is a pretty decent game, despite some fundamental flaws. It's certainly not cheap crap that's been pumped out. Anyone who's actually played the game can see that effort and thought has gone into it.

As for best publisher, I don't think such a thing exists. Bethesda maybe? Take-Two? They're all just as bad as each other at the end of the day.

i have bought and played farcry 2 and it is over hyped cheap crap

No it isn't.
Mogs on 6 Nov '08
This message is not being displayed because the poster is banned.
crimbo on 6 Nov '08
This message is not being displayed because the poster is banned.
crimbo on 6 Nov '08
Farcry 2 is certainly not cheap. It is not without flaws and problems, but it is obvious from playing it that production value was high with this game.

no it was cheap and over hyped and it did not deliver on the promises ubisoft made for example they said it would be a open world it is not it is just some roads with a few paths leading off them.

it is cheap crap!!!

It is open world though, seeing as your in africa it's not a dense urban environment, more shanty towns than anything else. It's a decent game and although not perfect by a long shot so to dismiss it totally is unfair.

Anyway Activision now seem like EA, how they would/could charge for user created content would be ridiculous, you dont create songs on music production software and pay the publisher to share your work do you? this is the same idea so to charge for people to make songs with simple dev tools is just plain wrong.
bmaindj on 6 Nov '08
Activision are slowly turning into the new EA.

This is probably one of the worst ideas in recent memory. I can't actually see it happening.

I've been playing world tour at my friends, and the music creation mode is utter tripe. If anyone can make anything that sounds better than a ringtone i'll give them a whole lot of money.

f**k off!!!! EA are the best they are the only good publisher out there unlike ubisoft who only ever have pumped out cheap crap (like farcry2)

EA are trying to improve their image and are being somewhat successful, but I still wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them. Far Cry 2 is a pretty decent game, despite some fundamental flaws. It's certainly not cheap crap that's been pumped out. Anyone who's actually played the game can see that effort and thought has gone into it.

As for best publisher, I don't think such a thing exists. Bethesda maybe? Take-Two? They're all just as bad as each other at the end of the day.

i have bought and played farcry 2 and it is over hyped cheap crap

No it isn't.

yes it is!!!!

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20901

Just one example of why it truly isn't. Smile
Mogs on 6 Nov '08
Ok then Activision, if youi're gonna suddenly start charging people for something that was previously free, perhaps you should be passing some of these profits onto those who actually create the extra content!

(NB: I apologise if anyone's already raised this point but haven't had time to read over all 24 comments yet! Lunch soon though; Whoo-hoo!)
snips10 on 6 Nov '08
I'm not even entirely convinced that many GH fans are that interested in the feature.....we just want the songs on the disc and some decent DLC (oh, and we want those god-awful Boss Battles gone!)

What you are saying then is that you want Rock Band? Wink


I don't think that Activision are 'turning into' EA, all these publishers are concerned about the bottom line - it just seems that Activision have disengaged the brain/mouth filter and actually think it's a good idea to keep telling their customers that they are wanting to 'monetise' us and extract as much money from us as possible.

As for charging for access to user created songs, that just seems absurd to me, however I can see the record companies getting a chunk of this since Activision probably think this will be an easier option than having to monitor and delete all the user created songs that infringe on someones copyright.
pherik on 6 Nov '08
How did this turn into a FarCry is crap subject?

Anyway it cant be cheap crap if it is the same price as every other game. It would just make it normal crap.
If it was cheap crap it would be cheaper than other games lol.
Dragonahcas on 6 Nov '08
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