Guitar Hero DS hack lets you shred on a full-size guitar

Like many others, Eric Ruckman found that the DS controller add-on for Guitar Hero: On Tour left a bit to be desired but, unlike most folks, he didn't just go back to playing on his console of choice -- he actually went all out and pieced together a full-size rig out of a PS2 Guitar Hero controller. As you can see above, that includes a special housing for the DS itself (it's still used for strumming), and even a built-in FM transmitter with its own screen, which lets him pump the audio through his home sound system. Still not impressed? Head on past the break to see it in action.

[Eric @ Aug 20th 2008 8:58PM]

I'm waiting for some self-righteous "real" guitar hero to point out that it isn't a full-size guitar, and how stupid everyone is to play Guitar Hero.

Other than that, I can't see how this would be at all convenient to play.

[Ignatius @ Aug 20th 2008 9:00PM]

I think a snide comment would be more worthy of laughing at Guitar Hero: On Tour.

...

OOOOO WIGGLEWIGGLEWIGGLEWIGGLEWIGGLE!

[Montey @ Aug 20th 2008 10:19PM]

While I must give kudos to the modder's skill, I fail to see the point. Doesn't this make the DS a little less portable?

[frank @ Aug 20th 2008 11:02PM]

Should add a magnifying glass in front of the DS top screen so it looks bigger

[The Dude @ Aug 21st 2008 1:24AM]

Wait no more. Guitar Hero IS stupid, it IS a fake guitar, this IS time better spent trying to play a REAL guitar. And no, you can't say that of every game. At least when you play Halo, you can't say it's time better spent kicking real Covenant ass and getting down with Cortana as Master Chief. Because Halo is an existential impossibility. Guitars do really exist, on the other hand. Ergo, this fascination with fake guitar playing is pathetic. Why not dust off the ol' Easy Bake Oven, play house and forfeit your 'nads at the door while you're at it.

[Nathan Smart @ Aug 21st 2008 7:25AM]

real guitar is for poseurs

[Ryan Trevisol @ Aug 21st 2008 12:47PM]

The Dude ABIDES! Amen to that brother!

[morose @ Aug 21st 2008 2:08PM]

@ The Dude: I hope you don't play any sports games then. I mean... you could be doing the real thing after all.

[jamesp @ Aug 20th 2008 9:06PM]

someone give the guy who made this a job with nintendo

[who? @ Aug 20th 2008 9:04PM]

FAIL

If only I didn't have a DS. I would be $129 richer.

[Cody @ Aug 20th 2008 9:08PM]

I don't know about the rest of you all but imo, considering where the DS is positioned at, that would get really uncomfortable looking down at the screen. Although I'm probably overlooking a major design aspect but nonetheless still a great mod, now if it had a TV Output.... :-)

[Hafk @ Aug 20th 2008 9:36PM]

You would also want a sideways oriented monitor. So unless you are some hardcore arcade gamer who can't play a vertical shmup with black bars on the side, you most likely don't have one.

Well, you CAN do it with a CRT, but it's an easy way to get a broken TV. I haven't heard of bad effects from LCD's though, but it would be more difficult to place one of them on it's side.

I would love to make a niche LCD monitor with a swivel on the base which lets you rotate the screen 90 degrees for vertical screen games.

Wow...after reading all that, I really went off topic.

Anyway, the main problem is that the top screen's notes scroll sideways when playing due to the orientation. Looking down at the screen, in comparison, is much less of a problem.

This is really the best you can do without taking apart and modding the DS, though.

[shadowarmy75 @ Aug 20th 2008 10:17PM]

They do. Some people prefer the vertical real estate of two widescreen monitors together vertically.

[Alex McKee @ Aug 21st 2008 1:31AM]

I've used one before in CAD class. made certain things easier, like objects that were longer than they were tall. also made it easier to slip engadget behind the main window :D

[greggo @ Aug 20th 2008 9:12PM]

creepy voice!

[Hguh @ Aug 20th 2008 9:15PM]

this is pure LOL

[Apple FTW @ Aug 20th 2008 9:26PM]

get a real guitar

[pagancollective @ Aug 20th 2008 9:42PM]

Video Games are SIMULATED ENTERTAINMENT for christ's sake. I can't shoot for shit, but love CoD4. Can't drum for shit either, but love Rock Band because it allows me to - simulate - the experience of playing the drums.

I'm an apple fan but your name embarrasses me.

[Matthewmongan @ Aug 20th 2008 11:07PM]

@ pagancollective, by your logic a person who sucks at life would naturally play the sims or perhaps a MMORPG? yeah, somehow the applicable skill of being able to slap and tap on the bass is way more enjoyable than rock band's bass. probably because its real. just like sex is better with a woman than with a toaster.

[Ignatius @ Aug 20th 2008 11:32PM]

A lot of people who suck at life play WoW...

And that comment is going to get me flamed into oblivion, but that only proves my point.

[MuffinMan @ Aug 21st 2008 12:05AM]

@ Mathew, have you seen most the people that play sims/mmorpgs?

[BoardkilL @ Aug 21st 2008 4:28AM]

[Matthewmongan @ Aug 20th 2008 11:07PM
... just like sex is better with a woman than with a toaster.]

I reckon getting it on with Caprica Six would be pretty sweet, she's a toaster... ;)

[gabe @ Aug 20th 2008 9:30PM]

i'd love to download that game but - not going to buy the add'l hardware

[Rubicon @ Aug 20th 2008 9:34PM]

fail for pirate, extra phail, since you have to get the hardware with the game, therefore pointless to download

[iruka @ Aug 20th 2008 10:43PM]

there's a hacked version of it already if you didn't know. you get to play using the buttons. sounds pretty hard to play though

[gabe @ Aug 20th 2008 11:59PM]

@Rubicon - u 'fail' at spelling

thanks iruka - going to give it a try - found it :thumbup:

[evo @ Aug 20th 2008 9:31PM]

.

[jere @ Aug 20th 2008 10:08PM]

?

[tha-don @ Aug 20th 2008 10:12PM]

$

[Eddie @ Aug 20th 2008 9:47PM]

Impressive indeed.

[Fernando @ Aug 20th 2008 9:49PM]

how is he seeing the screen? must suck to play

[AbsoluteZero @ Aug 20th 2008 10:01PM]

FM Trasmitter for the lose. He should have gone with bluetooth, A2DP.

[jere @ Aug 20th 2008 10:13PM]

One small thing that annoys me as a (admittedly amateur ) guitar player and a guitar hero player is that so many people play exclusively with down-strokes. It makes no sense.

[dvsbstrd @ Aug 20th 2008 11:17PM]

No, everybody wants to be Johnny Ramone.

[G @ Aug 21st 2008 6:18AM]

alot of people do that on real guitar too, mostly players who aren't that technical and like to do everything with power chords because it's a shortcut to sounding good, but in the long run will hinder your technique. I know what you mean though it annoys the hell out of me too, triplets ftw.
However can't see why anyone would do that on guitar hero, I don't really know anyone that plays guitar hero though. I've played alot of guitar hero before but I find playing a real guitar much more rewarding, it's too bad that being good at guitar hero won't really get you anywhere on a real guitar...

[David @ Aug 20th 2008 10:13PM]

Patrick Bateman plays Guitar Hero?

[Sam @ Aug 20th 2008 10:14PM]

Even though they had to do it through Guitar Hero: On Tour, this is still the closest I've seen to the GH fan's dream of a guitar hero game contained completely in the guitar.

[Chris @ Aug 20th 2008 10:28PM]

This kinda takes the "on tour" part out of it, it would be better if he used a GH3 guitar so he could detach the neck for easier traveling.

[d @ Aug 20th 2008 10:30PM]

the other day I saw a kid on the city bus playing guitar hero on tour. next week I want to see him with this.

[Setnev @ Aug 20th 2008 11:15PM]

This is what they should of did in the first place with the DS or should of offered it as an add-on later.

[tiuk @ Aug 21st 2008 12:05AM]

So clean, really nice work.

[anti-depressant @ Aug 25th 2008 1:17AM]

AND if you added a bigger screen it would be just like playing .... guitar hero...

[Todd Smith @ Aug 21st 2008 4:00AM]

Cool mod, having a fifth button is a bit useless, but I guarantee the ds will stay mounted in the body of that guitar better than the ontour accessory stays in your GBA slot.

[sleeman99 @ Aug 21st 2008 5:21AM]

test comment

[Max @ Aug 21st 2008 5:31AM]

Why not in the Crapgadget section ???

[wild bill @ Aug 21st 2008 6:58AM]

I bet I could get that neck up my ass

[ikebana @ Aug 22nd 2008 6:35AM]

It is hard to believe this....

http://ashopping.biz/

[Spanky @ Aug 21st 2008 12:43PM]

What wrong with you people?

Great mod, well done.

[Chad @ Aug 21st 2008 2:01PM]

Awesome Hack.... Now, if there were only instructions on how to do this....

[makeluv247 @ Feb 10th 2009 1:07PM]

This is ridiculous. I mean, great modding, looks nice and professional, but if you took the time you played simulated guitar for and focused it on the real thing, you'd be pretty good by now. Oh, and modding a real guitar actually counts for something. Enhanced playability, sound, even looks, and it can earn money. This is just pointless. Kinda cool, but impractical and pointless. Learn guitar. It's cheaper.