Sex, Drugs, Rockband

With the massive success of the rhythm game genre over the last 3 and a half years you would think that the music industry would be banging on Harmonix’s, Activision’s, and MTV Games’ collective doors. Well, you would be wrong.

Even though Aerosmith reportedly earned more from their GH title than they did from any one of their albums, and even though consumer interest in “old” bands has returned as the games introduced them to a new generation of shoppers, it turns out that the music industry - not surprisingly - thinks that they aren’t getting paid enough.

Edgar Bronfman, CEO of Warner Music Group, says, “The amount being paid to the music industry, even though [these] games are entirely dependent on the content we own and control, is far too small.” Mr. Bronfman went on to say that unless rhythm game makers start makin’ with the cha-ching, then “we will not license to those games.”

MTV Games, publisher of Rock Band, responded by boycotting the Warner Artists label and is currently in negotiations with them trying to hammer out a deal.

Could this be the end of master tracks?
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fragland.net - Viacom and Harmonix are sueing Konami over Rock Revolution, claiming the game violates a patent for game controllers that simulate musical instruments.

The complaint, filed yesterday in federal court in Boston, seeks to block sales of the video game by Tokyo-based Konami, plus cash compensation.
The funny part: in July last year, Konami started a lawsuit against Viacom and Harmonix for… “violating a patent for game controllers that simulate musical instruments” in Rock Band.

These patent lawsuits are becoming a joke!

It appears that Viacom, MTV, and Harmonix are losing money on every Rock Band bundle sold based on the cost of the game’s peripherals. Ouch.

Thankfully, the game itself turns a profit for the company. Remember back before Rock Band launched and Harmonix would continually say that they were selling a platform, not just a game? Turns out they were right.

The metaphor used by the company is:

“It’s the razor, razorblade phenomenon. You’ve got the razors out into the marketplace and sold now we have to push the razorblade through.”

The DLC sales can’t hurt, either. Also, call me crazy, but I’m pretty sure that new-fangled Beatles game will sell a LOT of copies. Speaking of DLC, it’s almost time for Pearl Jam’s Ten to be released for Rock Band!

During a keynote interview at Billboard’s “Digital Music Live,” conference session at the Consumer Electronics Show today, Harmonix co-founder and CEO Alex Rigopolous let slip a potentially interesting tidbit about his company’s timing plans for the highly anticipated Rock Band 3.

“We’ve actually made a choice to break out of the annual release cycle for Rock Band this year,” Rigopolous told the assembled press and industry members. “[This is] partly because the annual cycle places limits on the choices you can make as a developer. We’re trying to take a long term view.”

Rigopolous added that the delay was also partly so the developer could focus on the Beatles-focused game announced last October.

Asked after the presentation how Rock Band publisher EA felt about the break in the series’ yearly schedule, Rigopolous indicated that they were understanding. “Well, I’m sure they’d take [Rock Band 3] if we gave it to them, but they know how important this series is and they’re willing to give it the time it needs,” he said.

Elsewhere in the presentation, Rigopolous said that now that The Beatles license has been locked up, he’s really love to do something with Led Zeppelin songs, if possible. Rigopolous also addressed a question about the long-rumored keyboards in Rock Band 3. “You’re not the first person to ask me that question,” he responded. “The only answer I can give you to that question right now is maybe.”