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DJ Hero now rolling out around the world, around the world
It's been a long haul since it was first announced way back in May, but Activision's DJ Hero is now finally available in North America, and will be making the trip across the pond on October 30th. That includes both the standard $120 version, and the "premium" Renegade Edition, which runs a full $200 and includes an upgraded turntable, a hardshell carrying case that converts to a DJ stand, and a Jay-Z and Eminem two-CD set -- and the game, of course. Anyone have any brief first impressions? Let us know in comments. Update: Looks like Eminem is doing more than just slapping his name on the Renegade Edition. Check out the video after the break in which he sits down to talk about the game and issues a challenge to none other than DJ Jazzy Jeff.
Guitar Hero co-founder expects DJ Hero to have slower initial sales
It's rare that we hear anything but doe-eyed optimism from publishers of yet-to-be-released games -- however, Activision's Kai Huang, co-creator of the Guitar Hero franchise, recently voiced some fairly realistic expectations for the upcoming disc-spinning rhythm title, DJ Hero. "We're expecting this to be the type of game that may come out of the gate a little bit slower, but continue to grow over time," Huang explained during a speech at the PLAY Digital Media Conference in Berkeley. Huang mentioned that while overall sales will be bolstered by the Hero part of the game's moniker, the DJ portion may scare potential players off -- causing Activision to focus on in-store demos to push the product on passersby. If we were unenlightened of DJ Hero's existence, we'd probably be snared by the siren call of the demo unit's mash-up of "Hollaback Girl" and "Give it to Me." Curse you, Stefani/James! [Via VG247]
Altec Lansing Stage-Gig monitor further enforces faux rock fantasies
And you thought $300 fake guitars were too much? They ain't got nothing -- nothing -- on this. Altec Lansing, the outfit famous for making those tinny speakers slammed into your laptop, has just popped out what could very well be the most hilarious non-KIRF product of the year. The Stage-Gig is modeled after a traditional wedge monitor, complete with the perforated grille, white spray-paint logo and carry handle (for "authentic roadie portability"). Within, you'll find a 6.5-inch driver and a 40-watt amplifier, and the idea here is to plug your console's audio directly in, enabling the Rock Band / Guitar Hero axe-slinger in your life to feel as if they're "playing in a live concert." It'll land next month for $99.95, and despite the fact that we can't stifle our chuckling, we want one in the worst way. And so do you, Dr. Love.[Via Electronista]
Activision wisely promotes DJ Hero with Daft Punk
If Activision really wants to reach the widest possible audience with DJ Hero, TV commercials are probably the best way to expedite that process. If said TV commercials happen to feature Daft Punk's wonderfully catchy "Around the World," even better.After the break, see one TV ad starring a digital version of Daft Punk (though, since the band is ostensibly robotic, what's the difference?) and another featuring both a clip of Justice vs. Public Enemy, and an improbably shiny DJ Hero controller. And if you like those, Activision continues to upload preview clips of in-game songs to its YouTube channel.
Activision: DJ Hero's 'diversity' key in attracting 'Hero' newcomers
While the Guitar Hero franchise has ensnared many a casual passerby with its infectious mix of rock tunes, Activision senior brand manager Ian McClellan believes that the publisher's next rhythm release, DJ Hero, will draw in people who have yet to become acquainted with musical protagonists. "With the kind of diversity DJ Hero offers, we expect it to appeal to people who may not have yet discovered the Hero franchise," he told MCV. "The key is that the music – which comprises of over 90 mashups that are unique to DJ Hero – is still very accessible." Of course, they're only accessible through a large turntable peripheral, which doesn't seem to offer the same warm reception that a guitar and a Bon Jovi number might. The game's sales performance later this month should be a good indicator of how music lovers -- some of whom have yet to purchase a music game, McClellan believes -- respond to this Hero's cultural shift. In other news: Nepalese GameStops have begun surveying all customers claiming to be unfamiliar with Guitar Hero games. Their responses are to be documented and shared in November's nationwide educational seminar, "How To Avoid an Avalanche."
DJ Hero intro video destroys the world with beats
Activision has sent out the intro cinematic for DJ Hero, and we can't help but think of Brütal Legend set in a hip-hop / club universe. A world filled with monstrous record needles and gigantic subwoofers. A place where DJs -- and truck drivers, apparently -- are kings, battling it out for rhythmic supremacy. We're not sure if the actual gameplay experience of twirling plastic records and tapping buttons will evoke the same feelings -- the signs are good so far -- but the intro video certainly has us pumped. You'd best check it yourself, lest you wreck yourself.
DJ Hero Renegade Edition's Jay-Z, Eminem compilations detailed
When you get home with your gigantic DJ Hero Renegade Edition box, make sure to get everything out of it. We know the temptation to just unfold the case/table thing and start playing the game with that kind of irresistible-looking novelty controller will be overwhelming, but if you turn the package over and shake it, exclusive greatest-hits CDs from Jay-Z and Eminem will fall out.Rolling Stone got the full list of tracks on both sets. Jay-Z's disc sticks exclusively to past hits, but Eminem's includes a brand-new song, "Taking My Ball." That's right, the "unreleased tracks" mentioned on the box is really unreleased track. And it'll premiere on Eminem's Sirius radio station over a week before the game comes out, so it's more like no unreleased tracks.After the break, as a reminder, we've included the full list of the songs in the actual game.%Gallery-68978%[Via Kotaku, This is 50]
Play DJ Hero at GameStop this Sunday
Activision has announced that GameStop will be hosting a special DJ Hero demo event this Sunday, October 11. The event is taking place at all United States GameStop locations from 10:00am to 6:00pm, and will give gamers the chance to try out the game a full three weeks in advance. Gamers will also have the opportunity to win prizes, including a trip to meet Eminem and see him perform in New Orleans. Naturally, a few copies of the game and some Xbox 360s will be up for grabs as well. Oh, and before you go, be sure to get a quick primer on the game by reading our recent hands-on impressions. After all, you wouldn't want to embarrass yourself in front of the whole mall. See the full prize details after the break.
Retail roulette: Who has the best DJ Hero pre-order bonus?
Round and round the DJ Hero pre-order bonuses go. Who has the best one? Nobody kn -- oh wait, we do! Planning on putting down the cash for the Activision turntable simulator at the end of October? Let's see which major retailer has the best deal: Amazon – $10 video game credit. (Sounds solid.) Best Buy – Receive a free code that unlocks a Daft Punk level. (A "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" level?) GameStop – Two free playable song downloads. Guitar Hero Store – Free two-day shipping (Sooo, pre-order to get the game two days later?) Hollywood/GameCrazy – Receive an exclusive turntable slipmat. (A turntable doily.) Walmart.com – $10 electronic gift card. (Bingo!) Those who are preparing to scratch, what say ye to these offers? %Gallery-64592%
DJ Hero's full track list revealed
Activision Blizzard has dropped the list of all DJ Hero's block-rockin' beats that players will be mixin' for mad points. The full catalog on the disc consists of 93 tracks covering several genres of music -- the kids (both young and old) aren't likely to be disappointed.DJ Hero releases on October 27 and October 30 in North America and Europe, respectively. Expect DLC tracks soon after (and maybe a sequel soon after that). Check out the full scratchable set list after the break and let us know what you think. %Gallery-64592%
DJ Hero mashes up Europe on October 30
During GamesCom, Activision said that DJ Hero would come to Europe in "late October." The good news is that the publisher didn't pick the very last day in October to release the game ... though it's awfully close. Today, Activision told Eurogamer that all versions of DJ Hero will be out in the UK and mainland Europe on October 30. The previously-announced price of £109.99 (roughly €120) still stands, meaning that gamers may have to sell off some of their record collections to get the game and turntable deck. Of course, with many of DJing's biggest stars repping Europe, the territory is a key -- and potentially profitable -- market for Activsion.%Gallery-70460%
Feign surprise: DJ Hero 2 allegedly in the works
With Activision already asking consumers to plunk down over $100 for the DJ Hero peripheral later this month, it's only fair that more games use it -- but only if those titles belong to the publisher. With that, GI.biz reports that "at least one independent UK games developer" is working with Activision's Freestyle Games on DJ Hero 2. Go on ... pretend you're in any way surprised.Considering what Activision has done with the Guitar Hero franchise, it wouldn't exactly be a shock if DJ Hero 2, DJ Hero 3 and DJ Hero: Scratch the '80s all hit within a year of each other.
DJ Hero turntables won't be compatible with any other game
Due to the obvious differences between the respective turntable peripherals for DJ Hero and Scratch: The Ultimate DJ, this may not come as much of a shock to you: In a recent interview with Destructoid, FreeStyleGames' Jaime Jackson shot down the idea of Hero's peripheral being compatible with other DJ titles. "If someone needed to use our controller, then they would basically have to rip our game off," Jackson noted. In other words, if you're looking to tap into all the DJ-centric rhythm offerings available in the future, you're going to be adding a few more feet to that ever-growing mound of fake instruments in your den. At least there will be a bit of variation towards the peak, eh? %Gallery-64266%
Cut Chemist and J.Period adding three mixes to DJ Hero's ... mix
Comprising approximately 3.22% of DJ Hero's 93-song list of tracks, Cut Chemist and J.Period were announced today as joining the enormous list of artists contributing to the game. According to an emailed press release from Activision, J.Period will be creating two "exclusive" new mixes for the game, Q-Tip's "Good Thang" vs. Billy Squier's "Big Beat" (as seen above) and Gang Starr's "Just to Get a Rep" vs. Mobb Deep's "Shook Ones, Part 2." Elusively, Activision says Cut Chemist will be offering "a mix featuring unreleased music from one of the biggest bands in the world." The publisher didn't offer word on whether or not that's a confirmation of the JoBro "Burnin' up" vs. Tupac's "All Eyez on Me" mash-up we've been hoping for, unfortunately.%Gallery-64592%
DJ Hero's Daft Punk trailer will 'Robot Rock' you
Let's say you couldn't believe the news that Daft Punk will appear in DJ Hero. Then how do you explain this trailer featuring the robotic duo pitting their track "Robot Rock" against Queen's "We Will Rock You?" Simple, silly -- it's real, and you really should watch it. Y'know, "support robot musicians" and all that.As the trailer points out, the diode-packing DJs will also be mashing their music up with tracks from No Doubt, Young MC and Gary Numan, to name a few. Now, if you'll excuse us, we've got to get back to work on our DJ Hero playing robot.
DJ Hero controller hands-on faceoff with an SL-1200MK2
Activision was kind enough to send over an early evaluation copy of DJ Hero, and while we haven't had a chance to dive deeply into the game yet, we thought you might want to see how the controller itself stacks up against one of our Technics SL-1200MK2s. As you might expect, compared to the legendarily tank-like construction of the MK2, the DJ Hero controller looks and feels exactly like the plastic game controller it is, although the wheel itself is nice and weighty and the buttons are pleasantly clicky. We definitely have some doubts about how this is all going to work when actually trying to mix tunes together, but we're eager to try it out -- in the meantime, hit the gallery for the full set of pics. %Gallery-72951%
Hands-on: DJ Hero
As anyone who's ever seen me tickle the colorful neck of a Guitar Hero guitar or keep impeccable time upon a Rock Band drum kit will attest, I've got a knack for rhythm games. I've never placed my hands on a peripheral that I wasn't immediately able to mentally deconstruct and use to its fullest rockin' potential [I'm only allowing this catastrophic failure of modesty because it's true. - Ed]. My first few minutes with the Xbox 360 version of DJ Hero, however, initially left me flummoxed. That's not to say the turntable peripheral therein is poorly designed or difficult to use. No, my inability to pick up and expertly play Activision's newest bundle of musical joy is due to the fact that for the average rhythm genre veteran, DJ Hero is a horse of an entirely different color. %Gallery-64592%
Daft Punk assembling 11 unique mixes for DJ Hero
Rolling Stone reveals that the upcoming DJ Hero won't just feature DJ Jazzy Jeff and Grandmaster Flash, as the robotic rockers themselves, Daft Punk, will also make a very shiny appearance. Along with their signature sets and outfits, the French beat blasters are also crafting 11 unique mixes for the game. Fans will be pleased to know that favorites "Around the World" and "Robot Rock" will indeed make the cut, among others.To check out eight of the Daft Punk tracks, you'll have to go around the break (around the break).
Activision remembers DJ AM's work on DJ Hero
Late last week, Adam 'DJ AM' Goldstein tragically and suddenly passed away. He was known in the world of gaming for his work on DJ Hero, contributing both music and ideas to the upcoming music/rhythm project. We watched as he and Travis Barker warmed up the crowd for Eminem and Jay-Z just a few short months ago at E3 2009. Having worked with Goldstein so closely as of late, we asked Activision for comment. VP of music affairs Tim Riley told us over the weekend:We are deeply saddened by the loss of DJ AM, who was a tremendous talent, a trusted partner and friend to DJ Hero. Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family. AM was instrumental in the making of DJ Hero and we hope that his work on the game will be a fitting tribute to his creative spirit and musical talent.Joystiq would like to offer our condolences to DJ AM's family, friends, and anyone else effected by his passing.
DJ Hero gets sized up by Mixmaster FCC
Activision's DJ Hero controller hasn't exactly been making itself scare since its debut way back in May, but those looking for their closest look at it yet need look no further than the FCC, which recently got its hands on the device for the usual tests and dissection. Of course, there's not a whole lot of surprises to be found, but we do also get a look at a somewhat sparse but straightforward user manual, and a couple of the usual dark and dreary test setup photos, which unfortunately don't feature the FCC folks showing off their skills. Hit up the link below to check out the whole lot for yourself.[Via Joystiq]
