Lots of anger divorced from reality in this thread, especially considering the double-standards at play. Yes, Activision is the new Evil Empire and hating them is just as easy (and mostly justifiable) as hating EA was a couple of years ago, but some of the complaints are specious.
* "It costs too much!" - Um, how is charging $100 for a plastic guitar and game bundle OK, but $110 for a new turntable controller and a game with 93 tracks a bridge too far? Oh, it's Activision. If it was EA/Harmonix, it'd be OK.
* "It should've come with two turntables. It's too easy - I'm beating it on Expert." - I don't know if these comments are coming from liars or savants, but it sounds like the people who bragged about how they pwned Guitar Hero on Expert the first time they played as if chicks will dig them for this.
The first part ties in to the last complaint - people complain about having to give Activision money and then whine that they didn't get twice as much hardware. (I blame modern education with its Marxist, anti-capitalist, bent that programs kids into thinking profit is stealing from the people for this.) Also, if they had it playable with GH guitars, the same people would be whining about how inauthentic it was.
The second part is ludicrous. I'm a real guitarist for whom Hard on GH/RB is too hard and Expert a dream like dating a Victoria's Secret model. (Actually, I've got a better shot at the model.) I tried DJ Hero at Beast Buy y'day on Medium and was flailing miserably. Not having done the tutorials didn't help, but it's a totally different mechanic than playing guitar (real or plastic) but it felt representative of the little scratching I've done.
Where DJ Hero is in trouble is that nearly everyone knows and understands what a guitarist does in a rock band and has played air guitar, but what a turntablist does is limited to hip-hop and related genre fans. Also, as the guitar games have evolved into full band experiences where multiple players can form a "band" - great for parties - this is a throwback to the first two Guitar Hero games which were single player only. My girlfriend observed that it didn't look like as much fun to even watch. That it's a controller for a single game, too, doesn't help. (I'm able to use my wired GH2 guitar to play Beatles Rock Band but this turntable and Scratch won't work together? Way to be d*cks, Activision.)
I think there are going to be a lot of used bundles in Gamestops and on Craig's List soon as people discover it isn't as easy or fun as it looks. I was having trouble keeping my fingers on the buttons after scratching sections and the ergonomics of standing at the Hobbit-sized kiosk (I'm 6'3") forced my wrist in an odd, uncomfortable position.
Finally, it's telling that for a game that's supposed to be about being a DJ, they aren't featuring any DJs on the packages. Eminem and Jay-Z are monster MCs, but have nothing to do with being DJs; they don't even have notable DJs behind them like Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay, the Beastie Boys' Mix Master Mike, Public Enemy's Terminator X, or even good old Jazzy Jeff who was top-billed over his rapping sidekick, the Fresh Prince.
