VanHalen
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Live your life like there's no tomorrow with David Lee Roth in a box (video)
Seriously, guys, when was the last time you ran with the devil? It's been a while, hasn't it? Leave it to David Lee Roth to show us all the way, yet again, this time courtesy of Arduino-based soundbox created with help from the Adafruit Wave Shield. The box runs on a nine-volt battery and has a big trigger button on the top that plays what sounds like Roth's infamous "Runnin' With the Devil" isolated vocal tracks through a speaker on the bottom. The box's builder has promised more to come -- we'd like to request a Murry Wilson "I'm a genius, too" box, if one isn't already in the pipeline.
We're hot for the Van Halen-style DS
Now this is how you play Jam Sessions. Flickr user Mr. Atrocity and his girlfriend gave their DS systems (both Phat, and we're happy to see people sporting them) custom paint jobs-- his a replica of Eddie Van Halen's guitar finish, and hers a lavender with gold details. Not only does the gallery contain pretty pictures of modded systems, but it is a great tutorial for spraypainting your own DS, which is exactly the kind of thing you should have a tutorial for, unless you want to play New Super B Button Is Stuck Down Bros. or Trauma Center: Under the Red Blob.
Neversoft to develop Guitar Hero sequel
Activision looks to be taking full advantage of the Red Octane acquisition as Neversoft is gearing up to take on the illustrious Guitar Hero franchise. While there was a small blurb in the latest issue of EGM concerning this very arrangement, Neversoft has updated their website tonight in hopes of bringing some new talent to the board specifically to rock. GameDaily seems confident that Neversoft will take over the franchise beginning with Guitar Hero III, but this is only one possibility. Other current Guitar Hero rumors (again, perpetuating from EGM) include an 80's version of the series to see release this year, which Neversoft could be working on, leaving the brand name sequels to Harmonix.And where does this leave Harmonix? While one would assume they'll still be involved with the series, they could very well be off starting up a new franchise, or perhaps working on one of those rumored Amplitude sequels. Regardless, they've laid out the foundation for an extremely popular and established series. Hopefully this changing of the guard will be more like a Sammy Hagar and less like a Gary Cherone.
The Van Halen Clause
Applications for high-end raiding guilds are kind of like job applications. You have to list your experience, your availability, and why you'd be a better player than every other mage/priest/warrior applying. On the other hand, as an officer or leader of a successful guild, you have tens or hundreds of qualified people applying. How do you decide who gets in and who gets shut out? Lucas, guild master of Gods on the Arthas server, has come up with an interesting way to weed out lazy applicants: the Van Halen clause. Lucas explains a Van Halen clause as such: "placing a frivolous and easily accomplished requirement in a contract to make sure that the other person actually read it." Apparently, Van Halen used to demand a bowl of non-brown M&Ms at every venue they played at to make sure the promoter actually read their contract. All Gods applicants must read the guild rules page, and if they don't find the Van Halen clause and do what it says, they're unlikely to get in. Can you find it? So is Lucas's policy a good way to keep uncommitted people out of the guild, or is it just a frivolous test of someone's skimming ability?
