Activision's DJ Hero: gaming's next phenomenon?

MTV News has learned the publishing giant Activision, responsible for the cash cow Guitar Hero series, is developing what it hopes will be the next big thing: DJ Hero.

The game will, of course, be bundled with some expensive music-related contraption that will no doubt hike the price above $100. Kotaku says that contraption will be a turntable controller, allowing gamers to scratch to the beat of popular mash-up songs. Activision is clearly putting thought and resources into the title, given that it's been in development for two years and the turntable controller has been through about half a dozen redesigns and modifications.

The wireless controller will apparently be molded to fit comfortably on the player's lap. Even better, the game will likely allow the option to hook up the Guitar Hero guitars for some multi-player face-offs. Precise game mechanics and modes have yet to be revealed since Activision has yet to formally introduce the game to the public.

Licensing has been the biggest obstacle thus far, with an anonymous source calling the game a "licensing nightmare."  The game is tentatively on the docket for the summer of 2009.

So let's take a step back and think about this music game genre for a second. Rock Band 2  (the Xbox 360 version, others due later this year) just came out this week. Sega has the Wii-imagining of its Dreamcast maraca-shakin' classic Samba de Amigo later this month. Konami will jump into the fray with its "me-too" game Rock Revolution Oct. 14. And Nintendo just announced its gimmicky Wii Music, which is apparently "more interesting" than a video game, hits stores Oct. 20. All of these are released before the sure-to-be behemoth of Guitar Hero: World Tour.

That isn't even considering games like Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party 2 and Ultimate Band. At what point does the video game market become oversaturated with music games? And when will consumers get fed up of having a closet full of fake plastic guitars, drums and other miscellaneous instruments? Activision, for one, hopes it won't be before next summer.

Related links:
News: Activision unveils Guitaro Hero: World Tour line-up
News: Rock Band 2 set for September release
MTV: Guitar Hero Published Working on DJ Hero

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