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GI: Mad Catz Reports Debt Warning And Secures Additional Credit To Ship Rock Band
- Thread starter Tripon
- Start date
Mushroomer25
Member
Well, this is certainly a risky maneuver. I think Rock Band 4 will do fine for Harmonix, but Mad Catz' end of the deal looks shaky. Backwards compatibility with the last-gen instruments will severely cut into their instrument sales - which will be further dented by retailers not wanting to get back into the 'huge $250 box of plastic shit' business. Oh, and competing with Guitar Hero.
All indications seem to be that the big box will be largely restricted to preorders only. They've said over the past 5 years repeatedly that they know and were aware of retailers not liking the big boxes eating up shelf space.
Interestingly enough, the big box at 250$ is cheaper than buying new RB3 drums+cymbals on their own, which regularly go for 300$+. It's actually cheaper to get the RB4 bundle if you're looking to even just get a drumset.
Karsticles
Member
I own a HRAP V3 SA and a MADCATZ TE, and I find them to be of comparible quality. This gen, though, Madcatz has stepped its game up with the TE2 design, while Hori has slightly downgraded.
TAJ
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
I paid $250 for my RB drums, but they were Ions and came with six games and a vast assortment of extra cymbals, specialty hardware and homebrew hardware. The pedal setup had a DW 5000-series pedal striking a mesh drum trigger, run through a Kick Box trigger adapter. But the real mind-bender was a custom piece of hardware where they took a real high-hat pedal/stand, put e-drum cymbals on it (the bottom just for show) and added homemade electronics to make the pedal switch between blue and yellow for open/closed high-hat. (as well as physically open the cymbals!)
Seeing someone ask $300 for RB1 drums that break in a night is amazing.
Seeing someone ask $300 for RB1 drums that break in a night is amazing.
thelastword
Banned
Don't Qanba have the best sticks now anyway? Good quality parts and the best response times as per lag tests?
The_R3medy_
Neo Member
jadedm17
Member
Last I remember they were taking the same stance on this as transferring DLC, which is to say understanding we spent a fortune already and trying to make them work. I'm not sure the result but I know it was a priority.
DieAntwoord
Banned
I want to feel bad. I really do. But all the years of shoddy hardware and underhanded practices have finally caught up with them. Can't say I'm surprised.
toddhunter
Member
You what?
Granted I don't follow the guitar side, but their fighting game support has been brilliant and their hardware extremely solid.
If anything it has been too good, my TE stick is still going strong.
Yeah, I play with that is basically a $2000 drum set (although I am a drummer outside of these games) that's all wired up and set up to work fully with the game with hihat switches etc and for me, well I really don't see me moving back to that stock rock band drum kit that I've destroyed 5 of already, that drops notes etc. I'll just stick with my RB3 setup. I feel awful because I want to support Harmonix, I have all DLC on 360 and about a good 500 or so songs on PS3, I wanted to get guitar bundles on both Xbox One and PS4 but the missing features is really making it a hard sell. By connecting a proper drum kit to the game, Rock Band became more than a game, it became a legitimate practice tool for drummers
notworksafe
Member
I wish they sold a PS4 TE or TE-S. I'm not a fan of the TE2s but it might be a good idea to buy one anyway, just in case.
I had a gut feeling Mad Catz was on the downslide. They used to be the only ones making game controllers that weren't official controllers, but there was a ton of competition last gen to the point they had to differentiate and expand their portfolio.
With the death of Rock Band/GH too, it probably really hurt their bottom line. My gut feeling on this isn't great.
With the death of Rock Band/GH too, it probably really hurt their bottom line. My gut feeling on this isn't great.
DieAntwoord
Banned
Yeah but one line of products can't make up for YEARS of shoddy ones. I didn't even know they were the ones to make the rock band accessories last gen and I'm not surprised they had so many problems.
http://kotaku.com/5049110/mad-catz---give-us-a-chance-and-well-change-your-mind
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/for...ripherals-why-does-everyone-seem-to-hate-them
One is coming.
purpletentacle
Member
Is this why there are no plans to sell guitars separate from the game bundle at launch? Can they not afford to manufacture as much? Very confused by the rollout of this game to be honest.
notworksafe
Member
That's good to know! I guess I'll hold off on buying a stick for now.
ZeroTheShadow
Member
I hope for MarkMan's sake this works out. If not FGC might be in some trouble.
Quadraphonic
Member
Mad Catz were also behind so many fucking worthless Rock Band accessories, I'm not surprised.
Remember the cymbals add-on? Those things registered double-hits almost 5 minutes after using them. It's a fucking insult they thought they could get away with selling those.
Remember the cymbals add-on? Those things registered double-hits almost 5 minutes after using them. It's a fucking insult they thought they could get away with selling those.
outunderthestars
Banned
Technically a series of bad decisions, poor marketing, etc have led MC to a position where they have large inventory of products that are selling fast enough.
They officially announced that old Rock Band instruments will work (wireless ones). Xbox 360 instruments used on Xbox One will require an adapter. PS3 on PS4 will use the old dongles. They haven't said for sure if old wired instruments will work.
Passive Assassin
Member
markman... pls!
Unfortunately Qanba doesn't have any PS4/XONE sticks out at the moment. Someone correct me if i'm wrong but Hori and Madcatz are the only companies that currently have ps4 sticks out, right?
I never had issues with their cymbals.
those first gen strats were straight poop tho
I'd be very surprised if a HRAP had its internals and mounting points fixed in place with hot glue. Is this what you mean by comparable quality, or are you talking about externals only?
BumblebeeCody
Member
Will Daigo go homeless?
toddhunter
Member
Those links are before the products I mentioned, so you are not really backing up your argument.
Yes Madcatz products used to be absolutely crap, no argument about that. But they turned it all around with some really high quality gear and amazing community support. That is the only way you make up for years of shoddy products and why them being in trouble is such a shame.
Hopefully this isn't as bad of an idea as it seems to be.
storafötter
Member
Going to be a shame if they go bankrupt. I also seriously doubt that the Rock Band plastic toys will be profitable enough. I must say I am super happy about their arcade sticks, best gaming controller I ever bought.
I'm not familiar with their catalog but is there anything they sell that is a quality product and not a fightstick? I'd be happy if the team that makes their sticks could still exist if they go bankrupt. Although Markman is moving on soon so maybe the quality won't stick around even if Madcatz does.
I bought a PS4 TE2 so I should good for a generation, at least.
Real talk, I've wanted a VLX for years, but didn't want to pay that much for one. Guess I'll have to now unless I mod my dual modded TE2. :/
sixteen-bit
Member
I wonder how much the FGC will contract without Madcatz' support in the future.
Robot Pants
Member
Excited for the TE stick clearance sale.
No reason they should be 150 dollars.
No reason they should be 150 dollars.
I think the FGC will be fine, though sponsored players might take a hit. SFV is going to be the big factor in how the FGC does over the next five years.
The Mojo was never going to do well for them.
Oh wait, you're talking that Android "console" and not the transforming controller. Well, still applies to both. Android one should've saw the Nvidia Shield's "struggle"s and went "Yeah, no."
Disagree. Rock Band 3 released 5 years ago. Guitar Hero was 6 years ago. That is just enough time for audiences to wax poetic over it, but recent enough that it wouldn't fall into obscurity. With the wide variety of new Rock music over the last 5-6 years, Rock Band can definitely succeed in a new generation, but they have to advertise this successfully as the ultimate party game. I went to a BBQ over the weekend and everyone was playing Just Dance on Wii U. The conversation then turned to Rock Band which had a very lively discussion. The main sticking point of the conversation to me was the fact that the people who remembered the game the most fondly were the casual gamers who weren't into hardcore gaming. That's the crowd Harmonix will need to appeal to to save themselves and Mad Catz.
yankeeforever2
Member
http://finance.yahoo.com/q;_ylt=A0L...mYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDRkZHRTAyXzEEc2VjA3Nj?s=MCZ
They really don't seem healthy at all based on there stock price they fell under a dollar a share back in 2011. They have gotten lower even since.
*Note: This is the stock price before this report came out, it might drop more based on this report.
So if MadCatz went under after the release of RB4, what would that entail for the future of the game as a viable platform? What exactly is the division of labor between Harmonix and MadCatz -- Harmonix are self-publishing, but MadCatz are handling distribution, or something like that?
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