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Activision trademarks 'DJ Hero'

USPTO filing could be precursor to turntable-based spinoff to billion-dollar Guitar Hero franchise.
By Randolph Ramsay, GameSpot AU
Posted Feb 19, 2008 2:04 am GMT

Activision Blizzard certainly has big plans for its Guitar Hero franchise, with a fourth game in the series apparently slated for this year and a new Aerosmith-focused addition due out in June 2008. And the newly created megapublisher looks to be planning to increase its footprint in the rhythm game genre, with news appearing over the weekend that the company has trademarked the name DJ Hero for "video game software" and "video game controllers."

As reported by trademark-focused Web site Trademork, Activision Publishing first filed the trademark request on February 8, 2008. According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office's Trademark Application and Registration Retrieval System, the DJ Hero trademark applies to "computer game software and related instruction manual sold together as a unit; interactive video game programs; computer game discs; downloadable software for use in connection with computer games; video game controllers; Interactive video game comprised of a CD or DVD sold as a unit with a video game controller."

The trademark filing is the first official move by Activision into the turntable-based music sphere, a move many game watchers had predicted after Guitar Hero's massive success. Last month, the publisher announced that the rhythm game franchise, which it bought in 2006 for nearly $100 million, has generated over $1 billion in sales worldwide.

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311 Comments

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reneetruss

I knew it! I knew they would eventually get around to a hip hop music theme rhythm game.

Posted May 12, 2008 7:07 am GMT
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charlieprince

ok dj hero... HOW WILL WE ADJUST KNOBS!!!? and the scratching will prob be EZ cuz it looks like u just put ur fingers on the scratch base and wala... still doesnt catch my eye even a lil bit

Posted Apr 20, 2008 6:19 pm GMT
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Adam_the_Nerd

I'd like to see how the PC variant would work. We have Frets on Fire for PC, now what'll we have for DJ Hero?

Posted Mar 5, 2008 4:16 pm GMT
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smbius

it just depends on how much that's all gonna cost now.

Posted Feb 22, 2008 10:04 pm GMT
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LittleBigGamer1

sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

Posted Feb 21, 2008 2:52 am GMT
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Fable_fan88

Drum Villain . . . that would be awesome...

Posted Feb 20, 2008 8:00 pm GMT
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deadarknight

next they will come up with the game that was made up by the south parks creators in the ep "guitar hero" u know wat i am talking abt

Posted Feb 20, 2008 2:45 pm GMT
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FreddieGermany

Bob Marley hero... when is that comming out

Posted Feb 20, 2008 9:33 am GMT
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David_Kniffin

rockstar_88, I'll agree with you. I can't see myself listening to (mainstream) Hip-Hop music when I'm chillin' by myself, but it's badass when you're out in a club. Terrible or not, whenever it plays, hot chicks from all over start dancing and there's something to be said about that. Any music tha creates that kind of a good time gets plus points in my book.

Posted Feb 20, 2008 3:16 am GMT
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David_Kniffin

CommanderShiro, GH is a ripoff of Guitar Freaks! Rock Band is a ripoff of GH/GF, Percussion Freaks/Drum Mania and Karaoke Revolution! Oh no, looks like your head exploded!

*rolls eyes*

Posted Feb 20, 2008 3:10 am GMT
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TehUndeadHorror

Lol groovy.

Posted Feb 19, 2008 11:20 pm GMT
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syafiqjabar

Hey, I don't hate them, it's just freaky when you see one and then immediately the other. Like an acid trip, or something.

Posted Feb 19, 2008 10:12 pm GMT
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syafiqjabar

DarthMegalon and Topherrawks, do NOT post next ot each other!!!!! Seeing Alf then the colour psychedelia so close together does not do a person's mind good.

Posted Feb 19, 2008 10:08 pm GMT
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MikeMoose

No.... Just no.....

Posted Feb 19, 2008 7:17 pm GMT
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HardBUCKSHOT

this will be good to play.

Posted Feb 19, 2008 7:13 pm GMT
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LordGavo

going to FAIL.

Posted Feb 19, 2008 6:59 pm GMT
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soccerdude256

Hurray for Activision, they're really taking big successful strides in the rhythm industry. Hopefully once they establish DJ Hero they can also release 'Cowbell Hero' and 'Bagpipe Hero'...

Posted Feb 19, 2008 6:57 pm GMT
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The_Houston_Kid

I love how all the guys in the picture are dressed gangster but are all asian... lol

Posted Feb 19, 2008 6:14 pm GMT
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McHenry2

ready steady go!

Posted Feb 19, 2008 4:50 pm GMT
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ghost867

Forget all you little rock heads who are so anti rap and couldn't bear to see a game like Guitar Hero in the hip-hop genre. If this does actually get made into a game (its just a trademark for now as far as we know) then it could have of potential to be a great game. You could have a guy on the turn tables, a guy on the beat machine, maybe a guy on the mic if you could find a way to combine tone rather then note recognition and vocal recognition.

This has a lot of potential to be a great game. So all you little anti-rap kids out there need to grow up and realize your genre of music isn't the only genre out there. Grow up. I like Guitar Hero and Rock Band. I own both of them, but I prefer hip-hop and if this game let's me take the best of Guitar Hero and combine it with a genre of music that I love, I'll buy it.

Posted Feb 19, 2008 3:25 pm GMT
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killerbrothers

holysocks: "Activision is just doing what Konami failed to do here in US with their beatmani series."

That's right. And the Guitar Hero games did what Konami's Guitar Freaks couldn't do in the US.

Posted Feb 19, 2008 2:26 pm GMT
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kirbykook

Maybe next we'll get Trombone Hero!

Posted Feb 19, 2008 2:18 pm GMT
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Imhotepp

I have an MPC1000 with JJ OS 2 ($1,000.00+) and Two Technique turntables $600. a piece) and vinyl, why game when I can make a beat and create a CD of my own music.....


I won't spend the money. Didn't even care that guitar hero came out....

Posted Feb 19, 2008 2:17 pm GMT
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HALCONAZUL Posted Feb 19, 2008 1:52 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)
black_ice23

hopefully we get hip hop and not techno im talking old school run DMC , DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, maybe some new stuff like DJ Khaled, or put some classic Hip Hop Bweat i'm Talkin The Notorious B.I.G.

Posted Feb 19, 2008 1:28 pm GMT
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peeweeshift

guitar hero never reinvented the wheel. it just added a gimmick and the gameplay doesn't match up to some others in its genre. dj hero sounds like another way to milk their franchise gameplay type. lets see its turnout

Posted Feb 19, 2008 1:18 pm GMT
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frano911

this is real stupid
just make like guitar hero 4 or sumfin
stop giving us this other junk

Posted Feb 19, 2008 1:14 pm GMT
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holysocks

Activision is just doing what Konami failed to do here in US with their beatmani series.

Posted Feb 19, 2008 1:12 pm GMT
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eezzy_rider

something i'll totally get

Posted Feb 19, 2008 1:05 pm GMT
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Black_Dragon159

At this rate all the music games will shoot off in a hundred different directions. I mean I understand adding new features and songs. Maybe a new instrument, but really wow. Soon we will also have Jazz Band or the mmo version Orchestra.

Posted Feb 19, 2008 1:01 pm GMT
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me_rock

I'm waiting for Ukulele Hero. Boss Battle, Tiny Tim!

Posted Feb 19, 2008 12:52 pm GMT
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powerframe8

am i the only one who thinks itll be alrite?
Id rather wait for rock band 2. With like... keyboard and better drums.

Posted Feb 19, 2008 12:45 pm GMT
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elitedead

Lord have mercy. The audience...wannabe gangsters

Posted Feb 19, 2008 12:44 pm GMT
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GuitarsOfWarr

Wtf popular songs could the put in this?

Posted Feb 19, 2008 12:35 pm GMT
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padrenes86

it was just a matter of time i knew they would try this.

Posted Feb 19, 2008 12:30 pm GMT
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DoomBringer2010

I agree wit DerekLee anybody up for some Kazoo Hero?

Posted Feb 19, 2008 12:28 pm GMT
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Homsar13

and this marks the downfall of the 'Hero' franchise. it was nice knowing you.

Posted Feb 19, 2008 12:20 pm GMT
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SeanN003 Posted Feb 19, 2008 12:17 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)
DerekLee688

Kazoo Hero anybody? Oooh, what about Beat Box Hero you can follow the steps of hip-hop legend Biz Markie!

Posted Feb 19, 2008 11:57 am GMT
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Wolfcp11

ew.

Posted Feb 19, 2008 11:49 am GMT
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xBlitzerx

Fail.

Posted Feb 19, 2008 11:33 am GMT
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rasterror

I hope it's not all techno,man I hate that horrible music. It's made only for either drug trippin' idiots or for those that really can't dance to a beat because there really is no structured beat. Well if so get your glow sticks everybody.

Posted Feb 19, 2008 11:33 am GMT
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htkenbo

I may be thinking too much but I have a lot of questions as to how this game could work. The good thing about GH/Rock Band is that it simplified the instruments. How do you simplify a turntable and a mixer? Not to mention the setup is not going to be very portable like GH/RB. Turntables need a nice chunk of space in relation to a guitar. You will also need a HUGE library of included songs. It will get boring mixing the same songs over and over. Then you have to consider BPM restrictions. The dance songs should be ok in that aspect but hip-hop/rap songs only allow for so much deviation from the BPM before the song begins to sound really fast or or really slow. At that point, it just doesn't sound good anymore.

Posted Feb 19, 2008 11:27 am GMT
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dmish82

Next up...Whistle Hero: Whistle your way through 32 exclusive tracks on four difficulty settings...Novice Whistler, Experienced Whistler, Skilled Whistler, Extreme Whistler. You'll wet your whistle you didn't get this one folks!

Posted Feb 19, 2008 11:16 am GMT
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Pandemic-7

Booya! I've been a rocker all my life. But over the last few years the only interesting progressive music has been electronic! So I'm definitely up for for checking this one out. I hope they put Daft Punk in there!!! They should just make Daft Punk hero!

Posted Feb 19, 2008 11:12 am GMT
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BarkotGamer

DJ Hero, because all you want to be is a DJ, yeah right, WTF, wheres the BANJO HERO? -.-
id say if they wanted to make another "instument hero" they should go for drums, at least that makes you learn something.

Posted Feb 19, 2008 11:04 am GMT
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Jrodsly

next stops: "Flute Hero", "Harmonica Hero", "Accordion Hero", and the ever popular...... "UKELELE HERO"!

Posted Feb 19, 2008 10:51 am GMT
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Dymedropp3r

Come on,where's 'Bagpipe Hero' at?

Posted Feb 19, 2008 10:36 am GMT
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