Christmas lights synced with Guitar Hero axe
By Darren Murph 
posted Dec 24th 2007 10:26AM
posted Dec 24th 2007 10:26AM
While we already knew Sony's mysterious Rolly got down to holiday tunes, this installation managed to capture our attention just a wee bit more. Rivaled only by the famed TSO project from 2005, this guitar-controlled setup transforms a traditional office into a holiday funhouse by enabling rockers to control the light patterns within the building. Open source software, dubbed Frets on Fire, was modified to generate controls for dozens of light strings around the cubicles, with the corner plant being used to "keep the beat" and the trash can fittingly being lit only when someone missed a note. Click on through to catch this madness in action -- and yeah, it's pretty evident the boss left weeks ago to enjoy the rest of '07 from afar. 
This beats DDR whack-a-mole.
He's using a Guitar Hero guitar controller, but the game he's playing is Frets on Fire, not Guitar Hero. :P
Which is why the headline said "Guitar Hero axe" (axe being slang for guitar if you didn't know) and the actual article said "Open source software, dubbed Frets on Fire."
At least this is slightly less nerdy than using your keyboard with function keys for the chord buttons.
Oh, lol.. I guess I only read half before I decided to watch the video. xD
Is activision going to demand payment for somebody using their hardware without using their software?
lawl the way he looks gives nerds/geeks bad rep
or better rep at that.
Logitech X-230's! I love those
me too!! the sub woofer freakin bumps. the cords are messy tho.
Me three.
Hehe those are my speakers, actually..., and yes, the subwoofer definitely thumps. The song we originally demoed was Lay Down (Priestess), and the whole floor could hear it with those puppies at full blast. If you have any questions about the display, feel free to post here and we'll get back to you! Thanks!
GH is the only game that makes huge nerds look mega cool, but somehow this guy, even whilst shredding, still looks like a geek. harsh.
They need to play "Through the Fire and the Flames" or "Jordan" on those lights.
The lights would catch fire and explode.
I second that...
Hey, just wanted to update you...we did! Through the Fire and Flames is now up on YouTube, here http://youtube.com/watch?v=GEaERyASXVY . Hope you enjoy it!
If they can do that with Christmas lights, whats to stop somebody from doing the same thing with Pyro? Flams, sparks, flashs, etc would be cool as hell. Not in an office, i hope not atleast.
ahh and make it like a real concert! wait i dono if id want to go to a concert to watch someone play guitar hero, no matter how many pyrotechnics they had
They could have at least used LED strands instead of the old school lights.
His boss was in all likelihood completely aware of his project. That's NI (National Instruments) and they've all got awesome stuff like that set up.
I was there for the unveiling. Quite cool. He modified the Python source code to use the CompactDAQ system (his baby) to switch the lights on and off. This is his fourth or fifth year of lighting his cubicle, and his manager surely got the invite.
This is def creative and fun!! Very nice job!!
-Rene
what was the song playing at the beginning and end of the vid?