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A Tale of Two DJs: Activision sued over buyout to submarine "DJ Hero" competitor
Lunker
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
(4/15 edit)
Well, this just got interesting. Okay, so there are two DJ rhythm games slated for release this fall: Activision's "DJ Hero" and "Scratch: The Ultimate DJ," a different project from publisher Genius Products and developer 7 Studios with some music industry connections. Scratch was on par to release before DJ Hero, but Scratch's developer was strapped for cash and falling behind on schedule. Yesterday, a lawsuit was filed by Genius and others involved with Scratch, claiming the following:
1) Activision approached Scratch's publisher, Genuis, and tried to buy out the rights to Scratch. Genius refused.
2) Activision then approached Scratch's developer, 7 Studios (which had been hurting for cash for a while), and bought out the entire studio.
3) 7 Studios, flush with Activision funding, spoke with Genius and tried to renegotiate terms and release timeline for Scratch (ostensibly to delay the game until after DJ Hero released). Genius refused.
4) Activision and 7 Studios are now stalling development of Scratch against the terms of the game's publishing contract with Genius.
Gamasutra also has a analysis of the full lawsuit here. It's all very legal-ese, but in essence, of the two parties involved (the publisher, Genius, and the developer, 7 Studios), Activision bought out the developer and convinced them to stalemate their publisher, which would bring the game into a standstill and give DJ Hero time to come out first.
***
Original post:
I'd heard about some kind of DJ Hero rumors for a while, but I only recently figured out that there are actually two different games: Activision has DJ Hero, which just recently unveiled a teaser site:
Little is known about it, but since it's Activision and it's got "Hero" in the title I think we can all fill in the blanks as far as how gameplay is going to go.
But wait! There's also Scratch: The Ultimate DJ, which is being developed by hip-hop producer Quincy Jones III, Genius Products and a developer called Seven Studios. There's a trailer here, but it's ... well, it's Beatmania/Guitar Hero/every other falling-note rhythm game. Here's a screenshot and ghetto drawing of the controller from MTV Multiplayer:
So here's the thing: I like rhythm games. I'm an epic Rock Band fan, as many know. But even I acknowledge that people are going to get tired of this kind of goofiness really soon. And let's not even go into how Activision is bringing a ridonkulous number of other "X Hero" games this year. Does anyone think the market will sustain all of these different games and expensive peripherals?
Well, this just got interesting. Okay, so there are two DJ rhythm games slated for release this fall: Activision's "DJ Hero" and "Scratch: The Ultimate DJ," a different project from publisher Genius Products and developer 7 Studios with some music industry connections. Scratch was on par to release before DJ Hero, but Scratch's developer was strapped for cash and falling behind on schedule. Yesterday, a lawsuit was filed by Genius and others involved with Scratch, claiming the following:
1) Activision approached Scratch's publisher, Genuis, and tried to buy out the rights to Scratch. Genius refused.
2) Activision then approached Scratch's developer, 7 Studios (which had been hurting for cash for a while), and bought out the entire studio.
3) 7 Studios, flush with Activision funding, spoke with Genius and tried to renegotiate terms and release timeline for Scratch (ostensibly to delay the game until after DJ Hero released). Genius refused.
4) Activision and 7 Studios are now stalling development of Scratch against the terms of the game's publishing contract with Genius.
Genius Products, Numark Sue 7 Studios, Activision Over Scratch 'Withholding'
Game/media publisher Genius Products and DJ technology company Numark have announced a lawsuit against former partner and Scratch game developer 7 Studios and publisher Activision, alleging that Activision has acquired the developer to prevent the game's debut before the rival DJ Hero.
According to an official press statement released to Gamasutra, Scratch DJ Game LLC, which is a joint venture of Line Rider publisher Genius Products and Numark, filed legal action against Activision Publishing, 7 Studios and its CEO Lewis Peterson.
The suit "...alleges that Activision has engaged in intentional interference with contract, breach of contract, conversion and misappropriation of trade secrets obtained from Genius to purchase 7 Studios, which is under contract to develop the much anticipated new Hip Hop video game, Scratch: The Ultimate DJ (“Scratch”)."
This announcement is the first indication that 7 Studios had been purchased by Activision, although Gamasutra understands that the developer has been working on other projects with Activision division Luxoflux in recent months.
Moreover the suit alleges that Activision and 7 Studios "...have conspired to withhold the current version of Scratch in an effort to delay the development and release of Scratch and to gain access to proprietary technology."
Gamasutra also has a analysis of the full lawsuit here. It's all very legal-ese, but in essence, of the two parties involved (the publisher, Genius, and the developer, 7 Studios), Activision bought out the developer and convinced them to stalemate their publisher, which would bring the game into a standstill and give DJ Hero time to come out first.
***
Original post:
I'd heard about some kind of DJ Hero rumors for a while, but I only recently figured out that there are actually two different games: Activision has DJ Hero, which just recently unveiled a teaser site:
Little is known about it, but since it's Activision and it's got "Hero" in the title I think we can all fill in the blanks as far as how gameplay is going to go.
But wait! There's also Scratch: The Ultimate DJ, which is being developed by hip-hop producer Quincy Jones III, Genius Products and a developer called Seven Studios. There's a trailer here, but it's ... well, it's Beatmania/Guitar Hero/every other falling-note rhythm game. Here's a screenshot and ghetto drawing of the controller from MTV Multiplayer:
So here's the thing: I like rhythm games. I'm an epic Rock Band fan, as many know. But even I acknowledge that people are going to get tired of this kind of goofiness really soon. And let's not even go into how Activision is bringing a ridonkulous number of other "X Hero" games this year. Does anyone think the market will sustain all of these different games and expensive peripherals?
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But yeah, DJing isn't nearly as intuitive or popular as playing a physical instrument. I've heard Scratch is kinda fun, but neither game will go far, especially if they require or even encourage the use of a goofy turntable peripheral.
At least if they're not covers. If so, pass.
It'll be hilarious if it's compatible with my Beatmania controller.
I hope so. I have enough peripherals, thanks.
If you import. The US version sucks. Get 10th style or DistorteD.
aaaaaa importing ps2 games blows though :C
He partied in my hotel room.
also, "*hero" can chomp right down on a fatty dick.
Considering Activision is planning on releasing 47 new Heroes this year alone, it'll be a dick feeding frenzy.
Yeah. I'm hoping only one stays around.
And seeing as there's one with 600 or so songs available to play on one game...I'd say Rock Band would probably be my pick. Especially if they let you bring everything either forward onto the Beatles game or onto the eventual Rock Band 3.
Which will add an "audience" meter and a new 'Rock Speak' mechanic for the 'crowd' to get into it. Ok, maybe not.
But, it'd be cool if this prompted Konami to do something for everyone with Beatmania again. Though, they'd probably fuck it up. Again.
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Here, try this.
It's better off staying eastern exclusive, unless they can manage to better market the game for its strengths rather than a shallow attempt at making it look 'cool'.
The curve of difficulty is still enough to scare most players off. Even the US version had some of the most sadistic charts in the series. (V can go die in a fire.)
I tend to like the music in bemani games over the new western rythm games though. how weeaboo of me.
I'm also not sure why the guitar hero games don't take more precise timing into account. It's just hit or miss, so scoring really just depends on when you use star power.
Details
NOW
Because if it's the former I don't give a shit, but if it's the latter count me the fuck right in.
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Scratch appears to be some sort of mix of stuff with electronic beats, though who the hell knows what Guitar Hero: Off-putting Peripheral will wind up being.
Also, go buy Rock Band already. :P
I...don't really like rock music.
Switch: 6200-8149-0919 / Wii U: maximumzero / 3DS: 0860-3352-3335 / eBay Shop
I won a trip to LA, in association with Guitar Hero (how I won that is another story).
Anyway, in the hotel we were put in (a pretty nice hotel on sunset boulevard), one night me and my mate got chatting to a bunch of different people in the hotel bar. Turned out 4 of the guys were the plain white Ts, who were on tour, and also there was Tech N9ne and his 'crew', a couple from Cardiff, and a few other randoms.
Anyway, we were all having a wicked time in the bar, but the bar shut. So we said "We have alcohol in our room, party at ours?" Everyone said yes, and so we went back to our room, had a loud party, had lots of complaints, but it was damn cool.
Tech N9ne was in LA filming a video too, and he invited us to be in it, but we had already got plans to meet The Answer (the prize from Guitar hero).
You said you didn't know who most of the people were in Rock Band's setlist, so I wager it's fair to say you haven't been exposed to the good stuff yet. But, we've talked about this before.
Right, so why am I going to waste $180+ on a music game full of music I may potentially not like.
Switch: 6200-8149-0919 / Wii U: maximumzero / 3DS: 0860-3352-3335 / eBay Shop
If you like electronica, Beatmania's still your best bet. PS2 importing isn't the easiest thing, but the import Beatmania styles are that good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVY7qj1bzjc
1. You don't have to spend $180. Just get the game and guitar.
2. You said you like Tenacious D. As I've said before, Jack Black will personally travel to your home and scream at you if he knew you don't actually listen to all the music he references in his albums.
Lewie P, you mum must be so proud.
I... I love you.
PS2
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DS
FF: 4 heroes of light
That said, it will sell peanuts compared to DJ Hero.
I'm all for a DJ game featuring CLASSIC hip-hop, Scratch looks to have some lined up (I'm talking early 90's at the latest) and I'm willing to bet DJ Hero will incorporate a ton of dance shit like Cher and popular electronica stuff.
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/14/scratch-the-ultimate-dj-developer-sues-activision/
That right there should be a crime.
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I told a few of my mates about DJ Hero, and they were all like 'Turntables? Pretty cool I guess.'
Then I asked them if they would buy them and (bearing in mind these are people who already own Guitar Hero/Rock Band, which is probably the target market for DJ Hero), they said that they honestly couldn't be bothered to buy another rhythm game, and one of them was incredolous that there could be so many games with Hero in the name in one year.
It's not going to sell the millions/justify a sequel like Activision hopes, not at all.
They've done an amazing job in the past year or so of sullying their name amongst people who follow the industry. The vast majority of people who buy Guitar Hero aren't going to care, but nowadays it's worse than how EA was viewed last generation.
Their new DJ game will sell modestly at the absolute best. It's a recession, DJ turntables aren't nearly as intuitive as a guitar or drums, and people are starting to get sick of music games in general.
Edit: Interesting point, Lunker. Not only are they delaying, they're likely ganking the tech.
I know very little about DJing... but neither do most of the game buying public. Hence the problem.
They used to be the cool guys overthrowing the dickishness of the Atari.
Now they have become something worse.
it's too bad they were before the days of including lag compensation in the game menus. It is impossible to play those games on my current setup, unless I want to use standard AV cables, but I can't get in behind my TV to plug them in without having a half dozen people in there to lift my monolith of a TV. . .