Today, we conclude our look at the shape of band-centric games to come. In part one, we identified the qualities that the current band-centric games all share, including high sales, sustained popularity, the hard rock genre, and a lack of previous content in music games. Now, we'll take these traits and see how some of the biggest acts of all time stack up to answer the question: which bands have the best odds at their own video game? Will we see Guitar Hero Bon Jovi? Led Zeppelin Rock Band?
The Heavy Hitters
Elvis Presley - 1 billion sales
Michael Jackson - 750 million sales
We touched on this briefly in part one, but only two other acts come close to the sales record of The Beatles: Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson. The two share similar nicknames: the King of Rock and Roll, and the King of Pop, respectively. Elvis Presley was a musical pioneer with a tremendous influence on the music industry. Michael Jackson topped the charts from his childhood to his untimely death last year. No one would argue that either of the two don't have the body of work and enduring popularity that are required for a music game.
However, genre is a problem for both. Pop music is becoming more prevalent in music games, but it's probably still too early for a game filled with it. Perhaps the biggest problem is that both men were known largely as solo acts. Music games are meant to be enjoyed together with friends, and while an occasional song by a solo artist is fun, a game filled with them probably wouldn't work.
Queen - 300 million sales
At first glance, Queen would appear to have everything it takes to have their own music game. Oodles of sales? Check. Sustained popularity? Most five year old kids today know "We Will Rock You". Plus, they are absolutely the right kind of music for a band game, too. But one fact shoots down the chances for Guitar Hero: Queen. The band is already very well represented in previous music games. From "Killer Queen" in the original Guitar Hero to a major DLC release for Rock Band last fall, gamers have already had plenty of chances to enjoy rocking out to the sounds of Queen. In total, there are twelve songs in Rock Band and eight in Guitar Hero. There are plenty more Queen songs that could be used, of course (I would buy the Flash Gordon soundtrack day one!), but because there's already so much out there, Queen is an unlikely candidate for a new band game.
Led Zeppelin - 200 million sales
Led Zeppelin has it all, really. They've sold a whopping 200 million albums, and are widely regarded as one of the most influential bands in history. The group disbanded after drummer John Bonham's death in 1980, but their music remains popular three decades later. For many years, Led Zeppelin had a reputation for being strict with their music, not allowing them to be used in commercials, movies, or, for that matter, in any music game to date. The bad news? The band has stated publicly that they will not allow their music in a game, but, then again, they said the same thing about movies for years, too. Let's hope a Led Zeppelin game becomes a reality sooner rather than later.
Pink Floyd - 200 million sales
Another huge band, with eight platinum records, Pink Floyd is well known for amazing live performances. Given the visual nature and storytelling potential of the music game medium, Pink Floyd might be the best choice for their own game. Imagine playing the entire "Dark Side of the Moon" album with no breaks, or seeing the story behind "The Wall" played out in background images. There's great potential here for what could be a standard-setting, definitive music game. Add in the fact that there have been no Pink Floyd songs in either Rock Band or Guitar Hero, and Pink Floyd becomes one of the front runners for a future music game. Best of all, the band is apparently "considering it".
Rolling Stones - 200 million sales
The Rolling Stones are one of the few bands on the list to keep making new music for decades. Vocalist Mick Jagger has enormous star power, with a steady solo career apart from the band. The band has remained active, touring as recently as 2007. They are the second highest ranked group on Billboard's All-Time Hot 100 chart, topped only by The Beatles. With one exception, all signs point to a Rolling Stones game. That exception? Ten Rolling Stones songs are already available in music games, including a sizable DLC pack for Guitar Hero 5. Certainly, there are plenty more great tunes available, but it's still worth mentioning.
The Very Best of the Rest
There are several artists with sales in the 100 million range. We'll take a quick look at some of the most notable, listing some brief thoughts as to the likelihood of a band-centric music game. The number of songs currently released on either the Rock Band or Guitar Hero platforms are noted.
Bon Jovi - 120 million sales (3 songs in RB, 2 in GH)
A strong candidate, with recent popularity, a large body of work, and star appeal.
Bruce Springsteen - 120 million sales (2 songs in GH)
The only strike against the Boss is genre. Would his music work in a band game?
David Bowie - 140 million sales (1 song in RB, 1 song in GH)
Strong sales and a definite lasting appeal, but best known as a solo artist.
Deep Purple - 100 million sales (1 song in RB, 2 in GH)
A classic band, but apart from a Saturday Night Live skit, not much recent exposure.
Dire Straits - 120 million sales (no songs available)
They truly are "Guitar Heroes", but lack enough long-term popularity for a full game.
The Eagles - 120 million sales (4 songs in GH)
A strong possibility, with a recent album and current tour. Could support a full game if solo member tracks were included.
Fleetwood Mac - 100 million sales (1 song in both RB and GH)
Sustained popularity for years, but largely absent from the charts for 2 decades.
Guns 'N Roses - 100 million sales (13 songs in RB, 2 in GH)
To say the band's history is tumultous is an understatement. Plus, with a large number of tracks already available, a GNR game seems unlikely.
U2 - 150 million sales (no songs available)
Another front runner. Critical acclaim, sustained popularity, and mega star power make U2 a good choice.
The Who - 100 million sales (12 songs in RB, 1 in GH)
Hot off the Super Bowl appearance, and with an established relationship with Harmonix, the rumors of The Who Rock Band will likely come to fruition.
If there's one thing we know for sure, it's that there are plenty of options out there for new band-centric music games. Even without straying far from the hard rock genre, there are several bands who could support a game devoted to their music. For a time, many wondered if music video games were merely a passing fad. Years of excellent sales for such games have proved that music games are here to stay. Bands should embrace this new medium, and allow their music to reach a whole new generation of fans who want to experience music in video game form.
As of right now, the only future music game we know of is Green Day Rock Band. This is a bit unusual, given the large amount of titles released last year. Has the genre reached the point of saturation? It could be. Or, perhaps Harmonix and Activision are merely focusing their efforts on downloadable content. There are, however, some things you just can't do in DLC. A shift from collections of different types of music to band-centric titles could be just what the music game genre needs. In the meantime, we can all wonder: Who's Next?