Success breeds competition, and in the case of games, some very interesting ideas.
Guitar Hero and Rock Band are now institutions, spinning variations and drawing lots of gamers. But on the periphery, unusual competitors continue to emerge.
That includes Brutal Legend, a metal-inspired “rock adventure” from Rock Band distributor Electronic Arts (EA). At the center of the action is Jack Black, who will play the role of a roadie on a mission. According to a description offered on Friday, Black will morph into Eddie Riggs, a modern-day metal-head juxtaposed into a mystical time when “great metal titans once ruled” and “power chords rang from the countryside” for everyone to hear. The game is slated to hit retails in the fall of 2009.
Also behind the game is independent developer Double Fine Productions and gaming innovator Tim Schafer. “Some people were starting to wonder if the saga of Eddie Riggs would ever see the light of day, but now I think it’s clear that this game, like metal itself, cannot be killed,” Schafer said.
Double Fine is represented by CAA. More at brutallegend.com.