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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.
Viewing 9 responses
Tf53 said:
Is he still oblivious to the fact that Harmonix made Guitar Hero? Or that Guitar Hero was in and of itself a knockoff?
patlike said:
He does say in the full comment that he’s aware the two were designed by the same company.
dQuarters said:
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.
Tonka said:
He is both right and wrong at the same time.
Blerk said:
That’s the worst back-pedal I ever did see!
gorman said:
Wow… colour coded prompts moving on screen. Never seen those before Guitar Hero. No sir. Never.
Go figure…
Whizzo said:
Can you actually knock off yourself?
As it were.
Hero of Canton said:
Presumably by that token, Guitar Hero World Tour is a ’shameless knock-off’ of Rock Band. Which kind of takes things full circle.
Retroid said:
/Cough