Why Guitar Hero Aerosmith Is Not a GH3 Download: DLC Provides Song But Not 'Experience'

Limitations regarding downloadable content is the reason that the tracks of Guitar Hero: Aerosmith are a separate $60 release instead of DLC for Guitar Hero 3, according to Neversoft senior producer Chris Parise.

"I think DLC limits what you can do," Parise told Shacknews. "I think DLC means you have to have Xbox Live [on Xbox 360] or PlayStation Network [on PlayStation 3] Whereas I think your install base is still [mostly] PS2, they don't get [DLC]."

When asked about competitor Harmonix's strategy with Rock Band, which has the studio providing weekly PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 tracks as DLC and releasing a separate retail expansion for PlayStation 2 and Wii, Parise said that approach "gives you the song, but we're giving you the experience."

"All you're getting there is note tracks," he explained. "I don't think you can encompass Aerosmith--the animations of Steven Tyler, Joe Perry's stuff--by doing a DLC pack. I think what we wanted to capture really is the performance of the band. We couldn't really do that by doing a DLC version of it."

Parise went on to specify that the team at Neversoft had recreated a number of real-life venues for Guitar Hero: Aerosmith inspired by the band's rich history, utilized motion-capture sessions with Aerosmith to animate the entire band in-game, and peppered the title with numerous factoids and Aerosmith-related bonuses.

Guitar Hero 3, which arrived last fall, allows PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 owners to download new tracks. The tracks range in price from free to $6.25 for a three-song pack.

While that functionality isn't built into the PlayStation 2 or Wii editions, the Wii version of this fall's multi-instrument Guitar Hero World Tour will support DLC.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith arrives on PS3, PS2, Xbox 360 and Wii on June 29. As with GH3 and World Tour, Neversoft in handling the $60 PS3 and 360 editions, with Vicarious Visions on the $50 Wii version and Budcat developing the $50 PS2 release.

Publisher Activision is also planning to release Guitar Hero: Metallica by April 2009, though no developer or platform details have been released.