Just as console wars have been heating up the games industry for decades, we are witnessing the birth of a new struggle as both Rock Band and Guitar Hero jockey for fake plastic instrument supremacy. Each side is taking their shots, introducing new instruments and killer bands that make us long for the latest in each game’s series. In fact, this healthy competition has been great for the fledgling market, as it has driven both camps to go bigger, better, and ballsier than ever before, leaving consumers as the ultimate winners in all this.

Some believe, however, that things have gone a step too far and that business is starting to get in the way of the mission, as Harmonix is calling out Guitar Hero for essentially selling out and trying to buy up big-name artists and lock them into exclusivity deals. Eric Brosious sums up his company’s feelings, stating:

"We prefer not to sign exclusive deals with artists because while it seems like the competitive "business" thing to do, in the long run, it’s really not good for anyone. We think we should be working to get more music out to more people."

Look everyone, Harmonix is just totally trying to spread peace and love through song, and Activision is really harshing their buzz with all these repressive contracts, you know? I mean, it’s like, how can we all live in harmony if you can only play Metallica songs in Guitar Hero from now on? Dude, that’s way not cool, bro.

We all know what happens now: all the "cool kids" will stop playing Guitar Hero because they "sold out" and have now "gone corporate." Then they’ll delight in how awesome they are for abandoning the series they loved when everyone else started to like it, and they’ll all defect over to Rock Revolution and turn it into the next big thing. I know I’m right about this, just watch.