01.18.2007 GUITAR VILLAIN GAME ON THE WAY?

First MTV bought Harmonix, then the series was given to Neversoft. But the percussion plot has thickened. GameSpot discovered that we can expect much more than just a Guitar Hero 3 game. Actually, we might not even get another Guitar Hero game, the US Patent and Trademark Office Web site shows that Activision is applying for the rights to the video game names "Guitar Villain" and "Drum Villain." The trademark applications were filed on November 29th and December 1st last year, and are very specific too, stating that "they are intended to cover computer game software in a variety of forms, including downloadable games, games sold together with controllers, arcade games, and games sold with electronic toy guitars." It even mentions leaderboards for high scores - this is awesome!

Although nothing is guaranteed, and GameSpot notes that after Activision acquired RedOctane last year, they also filed for trademarks on Keyboard Hero, Drum Hero, and Band Hero, so don't get too excited. I don't see why they wouldn't push this series as far as it can go though, there's plenty of demand for more Guitar Hero games, and as long as they don't actually release a $600 Band Hero game that ships to your house in two days by semi-truck, then I'm all for the Tony Hawk styled murdering of the series with yearly installments until we're sick of it.

I think the biggest part of this announcement is actually the part about arcade games. Activision has to realize that Dance Dance Revolution arcade games have reached a high level of fame - why not offer a new music arcade game that costs 1000 times more than an Xbox 360 game to make, but gains its price back in quarters in just months? It would be bold, the arcade business hasn't been booming for a long time, but I can see a lot of people willing to play Guitar Hero Arcades. Can you imagine if they could convince schools to put them in choir rooms? Even I draw the line at playing DDR in public, but not many people hesitate to pick up a Guitar Hero controller at a Best Buy booth. I really hope Activision and Neversoft run far with the series.