Gimme a break… I don’t want a Fender
March 13th, 2008
Some facts: “Guitar Hero” a virtual guitar role-playing game by Activision came out two years ago. (And I have to point out I was an early adopter, but that’s off subject.) Guitar Hero has sold over 16 million copies worldwide, generating over $1 billion in sales in North America alone. “Guitar Hero” players can choose from many classic virtual Gibson guitar models like a Les Paul, SG, and a Melody Maker… (my first electric guitar.)
Gamers who play “Guitar Hero” use controllers shaped like guitars — most of them modeled after famous Gibsons. Activision pays an undisclosed amount for Gibson’s trademark under a licensing agreement. In a March 10 letter to Gibson, Activision’s attorneys said that the game company “was not interested in renewing the license and marketing support agreement” with Gibson. So what does Gibson do?
Gibson now claims a patent violation saying that Activision takes advantage of a 10-year-old patent Gibson owns for a virtual reality system. I’m not a lawyer but this sounds like a case of “I want more money.”
Gibson guitars IMO are the cream of the crop, the bands I liked when I was in high school played Gibson’s and most of the bands my 13 year-old daughter likes today play Gibsons. It seemed natural that Guitar Hero would partner with Gibson guitars, and it makes a lot of sense. A game like Guitar Hero can play a role in getting young and old music fans and gamers off their butts and picking up a real guitar like a Gibson.
Now it appears that a partnership of a new technology brand and a heritage craftsmanship brand has ended. And with the breakup comes the loss of bringing new fingers onto some classic frets. When two companies fight like this it’s us the consumer–the fan that loses.
The good news for Activision is that there’s plenty of other guitar brands around. But to me I’ll feel less like a wanna be rocker playing a Fender.
Other posts by Geno.
Matty says:
I think they should go with Paul Reed Smith or Brian Moore (I’m a HUGE advocate for this one!). Even if it was a Fender… Think of the HEROs that played those (Hendrix, Stevie Ray, Clapton…). You can’t really go wrong in that direction either.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:26 amgeno says:
Matty, your right many a good rocker has played a Fender from Jimmy to the Boss. Still, hands down I want an SG or Les Paul over a Telecaster or a Strat.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:39 amJustin says:
I’m not sure if Gibson can actually own the rights to virtual music gameplay. Konami came out with a guitar-controlled music game called Guitar Freaks in 1999. Did Gibson grant them the rights to make that game?
Luckily, I don’t give a crap about any guitar companies. I just wanna play guitar hero and be a fake guitarist. It is total bull that Gibson has been a partner in the game this entire time, but they are now suddenly claiming rights to the entire premise now that it’s a huge success.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:44 amAdwarf says:
Fender reigns supreme as far as I’m concerned. I’ve played and owned fenders, gibsons, Danelectro’s, Deans, Ibinez, Yamaha, Peavy and Washburn guitars and always go back to the Fender telecaster. Fender greats:
John Frusciante
Tom Morello
The Edge
David Gilmore
Jeff Beck
SRV
Mark Knopfler
Kieth Richards
Andy Summers (Police)
Joe Strummer
Curt Cobain
Buddy Holly
John Lennon
George Harrison
Hendrix
Clapton
Tom Petty
Matt Bellamy
That’s just to name a few.
You make some good points in your blog post, but it’s a shame to disrespect such an iconic American brand that has played such a huge part in shaping rock music.
March 13th, 2008 at 1:06 pmtaylor says:
Fender’s rules. Gibson’s drool…..
One word: Jagstang.
March 13th, 2008 at 4:10 pmgeno says:
Adwarf… take my disrespect as tongue and cheek. As a teenager in the late 70’s, early 80’s Gibson’s were the guitar’s of my dreams and my friends. Fenders are awesome guitars but my taste as a youngster was tainted by seeing so many country artists playing them. Rock on.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:26 pmKyle says:
What’s wrong with Country Geno!?!?
March 14th, 2008 at 6:32 amgeno says:
Country today is a good bit different from the country music I grew up hating. Roy Clark and many others were great musicians and I spent many summer vacations going to the Grand Ole Opry with my Grandparents. It just never clicked with me. Now Alice Cooper, Grand Funk, Kiss, New York Dolls, Aerosmith, they got my blood rockin as an early teen.
March 14th, 2008 at 2:45 pmKyle says:
Fair enough. When is Eletric Diet dropping their first single.
March 17th, 2008 at 5:20 am