Fri, Jan 23, 2009 | 07:15 GMT
Forbes writer defends Rock Band “shameless knockoff” accusation
After calling Rock Band a “shameless knockoff” in an article profiling Guitar Hero boss Bobby Kotick, Forbes writer Peter Beller has defended the accusation, saying his assessment was appropriate.
“If you define knockoff as ‘a copy or imitation of someone or something popular’ the way Merriam-Webster does, then I think Rock Band fits the bill nicely,” Beller told GameDaily.
The similarities between Rock Band and Guitar Hero are “obvious,” Beller said.
“My terming Rock Band a ‘shameless knockoff’ of Guitar Hero was based on the fact that it came out after Guitar Hero and sported very obvious similarities with Guitar Hero, including color-coded prompts moving onscreen along a fret board,” he said.
“It even accepted the same Guitar Hero guitar controller, I believe.”
Beller’s initial comments caused something of an internet firestorm.
More through there.
Related posts
Forbes: Rock Band is “shameless knockoff” of Guitar Hero
9 
Posted in: Activision Blizzard, EA, Hot, Journalism, Rhythm action
Tags: forbes, guitar hero, peter beller, rock band
9 comments
#1
Tf53
23/01/09, 7:26 am
Is he still oblivious to the fact that Harmonix made Guitar Hero? Or that Guitar Hero was in and of itself a knockoff?
#2
patlike
23/01/09, 7:50 am
He does say in the full comment that he’s aware the two were designed by the same company.
#3
dQuarters
23/01/09, 7:54 am
Beller should just admit that he was kissing Activision’s ass for the story’s purposes. He obviously didn’t know the facts before he wrote it. Though I admire his further “stick-it-to-ya” attitude, as I’d expect more vigorous back-peddling in his response.
#4
Tonka
23/01/09, 7:55 am
He is both right and wrong at the same time.
#5
Blerk
23/01/09, 8:32 am
That’s the worst back-pedal I ever did see!
#6
gorman
23/01/09, 9:25 am
Wow… colour coded prompts moving on screen. Never seen those before Guitar Hero. No sir. Never.
Go figure…
#7
Whizzo
23/01/09, 9:55 am
Can you actually knock off yourself?
As it were.
#8
Hero of Canton
23/01/09, 10:20 am
Presumably by that token, Guitar Hero World Tour is a ‘shameless knock-off’ of Rock Band. Which kind of takes things full circle.
#9
Retroid
23/01/09, 3:21 pm
/Cough