Rhythm games existed way before GH and still do in that form (taiko, beatmania ect...). This new school of rhythm games is about immersion and less about gaming.

interesting post, i would like to see where they go with the rhythm games myself. i remember a while ago on the bombcast they were talking about how maybe eventually you would be playing a real guitar and stuff. that would be awesome, like the game would teach you to play the instrument.

So, there's been the news that there's going to be a new Beatles game (wait --  is "new" the right word? I'm not sure that The Beatles have had a game before?) coming from Harmonix. Being a massive Beatles fan myself, this instantly filled me with joy ... but then I started to think about what a Beatles game would actually be like? Harmonix have already stated that it's not going to be a Rock Band title, but that's not to say it's not going to be a music rhythm game, which I hope that there's going to be more to it than just that. As much as I love The Beatles, their tracks aren't exactly the most complex. There's no face-melting shredding guitar solos, and let's face it, Ringo was no master of the skins. I always think of the interview once with John Lennon around the time that people were again attacking Ringo's drumming ability, and was asked if he thought that Ringo was the greatest drummer in the world, and John replied with "I don't think he's even the best drummer in The Beatles".

But anyway, I kinda hope that there's more to it than simply a Rock Band expansion pack of 45 Beatles tracks. Mainly because, well, something that leads me onto the next thing that's kind of bugging me, the fairly mediocre reviews that Guitar Hero World Tour has been getting. Now, I haven't played the game yet, so I can't comment too much, but it just seems to me that the whole rock music rhythm games have almost done their dash. I mean that, I think that they'll still continue to make titles and DLC and all that, but I just don't see what other boundaries that can be pushed. I'm not sure if you can even throw down your alliance to either GH and RB. There's things about the RB series that I like and don't like and the same goes to the GH series. Ultimately it just comes down to which title has more of your favourite songs, or alternatively, can you afford to buy both titles, and the DLC that goes with it?

Guitar Hero World Tour is released in Australia this Wednesday, November 12th, 2008