Yesterdays Financial Report from EA had some surprises in store which can be found here, but one notable franchise is missing - Rock Band. MCV reports that EA’s deal with Harmonix has almost reached its conclusion and during a call to investors EA was asked by Wells Fargo Securities’ analyst Jess Lubert, “Am I right in thinking you won’t release a new rock band title in fiscal 2011?”
EA COO John Schnappert replied: “Our deal with Aviacom and Harmonix continues through FY ‘11 at that time. As you can see from our modelling, we have not included a lot of revenue for distribution next year, but we continued to have talks with them and hope that maybe there’s an opportunity to continue the relationship beyond that.”
Update: MTV Games / Harmonix have been in touch.
Severn2j | 09/02/2010 13:22
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1519 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
Considering the size of Rock Bands online store, do we really need another rock game? All these spin offs could easily just have been released on the PS Store as downloadable tracks, but then I suppose they have to offload the songs nobody wants somehow..
shields_t | 09/02/2010 14:32
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1578 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
I would have thought it would be much more beneficial to harmonix to renegotiate their deal at ea rather than switch to another publisher, harmonix’s ip rights to the hardware would be worth very little without the ability to release software that runs on them, especially given that most households that are interested, probably already own plastic musical instruments.
Bilbo_bobbins | 09/02/2010 13:24
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1356 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
that would be a shock and a shame, some great songs on the store, would they keep updating that?
Lone Wolf | 09/02/2010 13:38
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1588 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
Consider the Rock Band as the dying Dragon Tharos endlessly raped by horrible songs plauged by overated demons (spin offs) such as Green Day.
RIP ROCK BAND
seedaripper1973 | 09/02/2010 14:39
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1719 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
You just made me remember a speccy game called ‘Thanatos’, it was wicked (if not solid) so cheers for that..infact have a gander nostalgia heads…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VruAncI6XzA
Lone Wolf | 10/02/2010 14:03
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1588 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
oh good
ruinereraser | 09/02/2010 13:53
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78 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2009
After six or so GH rip-offs, I still continue to play RB2 much more than any Activision GH title. I’m sure Harmonix will be fine, with or without EA, they just need to continue with good DLC and not too many GH-esque titles like Green Day one (we’ve already had Beatles and Lego in 2009). Why hurry?
jimmy-google | 09/02/2010 14:13
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1660 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
Rock Band & Guitar Hero are prime examples of games that should only release a new one every 3 or 4 years when the can make big improvements. Sales of the music genre dropped off massively last year and that has to be due to lack of difference between each title.
New tracks on their respective stores should keep the games going and income rolling in for a few years. Maybe just a few disc based song packs over that preriod rather than full games.
Rob92 | 09/02/2010 16:11
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1396 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
Its probably better if they don’t release a new one too be fair. GH gets so much stick from people for releasing multiple editions annualy, Rock Band can become like the ‘proper’ music game by going for quality over quantity.
mynameisblair | 09/02/2010 16:11
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3853 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
I do think of Rock Band 2 as the central ‘hub’ for all of the Rock Band games, with all of the music being exported onto this.
Rock Band: Ultimate or something would be good, being able to have all the songs on that… please don’t let it die
Flaming Turkeys | 09/02/2010 17:32
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301 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
Rock band is the better of the music games, so why stop making it? They make tons of money from dlc too! its a win win!
Boomshanks | 09/02/2010 18:24
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1276 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
Nooo Rock Band is so much better than Guitar Herok, Stop Guitar Hero instead. No one cares for that anymore
mayflame | 09/02/2010 19:45
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301 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2008
I probably think Warner Bros. could be the next publisher if this is in fact true. After all, the last RB game was published by Warner Bros., Lego Rock Band
minerwilly | 09/02/2010 21:08
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717 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
as long as the amazing DLC continues then im happy . Perhaps we will see RB3 in a few years , but then why bother RB is perfect .