Evil publisher Activision has some new screens and box art for the latest “new” game in its exquisitely whored out Guitar Hero franchise. Just in case you didn’t know, Smash Hits is a compilation of old songs from previous Guitar Heroes, cunningly rereleased as if it were one of those “Best Of” CDs you see advertised on late-night TV.
48 tracks have been plucked from Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II, Guitar Hero Encore: Rock The 80s and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, and I have to confess that this move is one of absolute genius. I’ve never been shy about expressing my thoughts on Activision’s attitude and contributions to a potential game market crash, but I can’t deny just how clever the nefarious publisher has been in working out how to reap millions of dollars through practically doing f*ck all.
Activision and Red Octane are basically cobbling together bits of old game while adding some more instruments that they lifted from Rock Band and they are going to make a fortune in doing so. You can guarantee that this will be a chart topper, mostly selling to idiots who bought the previous games but somehow think that a “best of” videogame made up of material that they already have is a great idea.
Well played, Activision. Well played indeed.
