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Ubisoft announces Jam Sessions 2: Jam Harder
Okay, so we made up the title, but the news is true: Ubisoft has announced Jam Sessions 2, a sequel to its musical DS title from 2007. Ubisoft promises the Plato-developed sequel will add more to the first game's formula when it releases this fall, along with a slew of new bands, including REM, Heart, The Ramones, The Clash, Doobie Brothers, Plain White-T's, The Black Crowes and The Pixies.According to the game's official site, some of the DSi's sound distortion capabilities will come into play and "enhance sound effects while playing." The sequel's included song creation utilities sound most interesting, allowing users to share their creations, made with the game's multi-track recording software, with each other. Just remember, kids: Friends don't let friends share remixes of Europe's "Final Countdown." We can ill afford further acoustic tragedies.
Ubisoft site reveals Jam Sessions 2
There hasn't been an official announcement that we know of, but a sequel to Plato's guitar simulator Jam Sessions is on the way this September. We first noticed a listing for Jam Sessions 2 at GameStop, then found it at Ubisoft.com. The Ubisoft product page has a fairly detailed list of features for the game. Players can now record their "freestyle" creations and make them into playable levels for other players. A multi-track song editor is now included. In addition, there are now multiple selectable guitars, including Fender and Gibson models, and both acoustic and electric guitars. Jam Sessions 2 features songs from artists including REM, Heart, The Ramones, The Clash, Doobie Brothers, Plain White-T's, The Black Crowes, and The Pixies. Some kind of DSi-based "features to enhance sound effects while playing" are also included.Ubisoft lists a September 29 release date for Jam Sessions 2. We're contacting Ubisoft to try to learn more about this currently unannounced title.
DS Daily: Dual Screen Songs
Thanks to powerful, feature-rich music creation software like Korg DS-10 and Jam Sessions and weird musical toys like Electroplankton and Axe, the DS has become a multifaceted instrument for electronic music.If you've been using your DS for music, we'd love to hear about it! And, of course, hear it. But also, we'd like to talk about the experience. Is it enjoyable or frustrating? Is the portability convenient enough to positively affect your musical life? Is the software powerful enough for you to accomplish anything?
Mega64's 'undisclosed DS guitar game' ad gets rejected
The above video was a proposed advertisement from comedy group Mega64 for Ubisoft's Jam Sessions an undisclosed DS guitar game. Instead of actually being used, the ESRB put the smack down on the troupe's ad for ... well, we'll just let you watch and find out for yourself. We don't want to spoil it for you.If you liked that, then be sure to head past the break for the "safe for the ESRB" version.
See Mega64's rejected 'DS guitar game' ad [updated]
We think the ESRB is, as a rule, pretty OK. They make it so the kids of good parents can't get adult games and the bad parents at least are forced to walk all the way into the store, which is just fine by us. But sometimes they can keep you from seeing perfectly good, perfectly surreal video game ads such as the one above made by our friends at Mega64 for an "unnamed DS guitar game" (spoiler alert, it's Jam Sessions).The most heartbreaking thing, as revealed at the end of the ad, is why the video was rejected, which we can guarantee you won't guess. But, always obliging, the guys also made a "safe for the ESRB" version, which you can find just after the break.[Update: Hey gang, the ESRB says they never saw the ad. We're not sure what the confusion is. The ESRB isn't specifically named in the ad, but we don't know who else they could have been referring to. We'll try to get to the bottom of it for you.]
Jam Sessions drops to a more musician-friendly price
Ubisoft's DS guitar ... thing Jam Sessions has dipped down to $20 before as part of a sale, but now the drop is permanent. Both GameStop and Amazon are now selling the novel virtual instrument at a $19.99 price point. As a bonus, GameStop has also dropped the price of the Nyko JAMMIN' Guitar Pick Stylus set, from $7 to $5. A fake guitar pick seems like an appropriate accessory for a fake guitar.Now, for the same price, you can have an all-DS trio instead of an all-DS duo! Just in case the lack of a third bandmate was the only thing keeping you from starting a Jam Sessions-only band.
Pocketguitar for the iPhone lets you strum on the multitouch
Engadget found this slick little gem over the weekend for your jailbroken iPhone. It's a virtual guitar (a lot like Jam Sessions if you've ever played that, actually -- reaffirming my thought that the iPhone is the best handheld gaming device ever made), where you can put your fingers over the strings at the top, and then strum on the bottom to play notes and chords. Not only can you play your own songs, but you can even play along with any stored music you have on your iPhone, too. And every song, I tell you, can be improved by throwing in another guitar solo.Pocketguitar for the iPhone and iPod touch is available on the ModMyiFone.com Community Sources packing in Installer under Toys. Load it up and strum away.
Best of the Rest: Scott's Picks of 2007
Odin Sphere (PS2) Vanillaware's side-scrolling action RPG caught me completely off guard when it came out, but I fell instantly in love with the game's style. Practically everything about Odin Sphere is unique: the circular levels; the gigantic, beautifully-drawn sprites; the bizarre food-crafting mechanics. Toss in a healthy amount of Norse mythology, and you've got one damn fine, under-appreciated game. Here's hoping Vanillaware's upcoming Wii title is up to snuff.
DS Daily: Advertising and you
Last night we commemorated (a pretty good amount of) a year of the excellent Promotional Consideration column, which deals with game advertising. There's no doubt that game advertising has the power to entertain, but can it also, you know, sell games? Take the Let's Tarot campaign, for example. Did anyone see popular actress Kanako Yanagihara in the ads and think, "I believe I will purchase this product. The reason is that I am a fan of Ms. Yanagihara's work, and she has accepted money in exchange for the association of her likeness with the item in question."? Or Jam Sessions's bizarre New Zealand ad campaign, which associates receiving the product with becoming an awful person. Is being memorable all it takes to be successful as an ad? Have you ever been swayed by game advertising, or reminded sufficiently of something you were interested in to go get it?
UK Frag Doll uses powers for good
We don't normally have any reason to talk about the Frag Dolls at all, since the "competitive gaming" community doesn't really associate itself with the DS that often. And we really try to avoid that Portal song whenever possible, which is usually pretty easy for a DS site to do. (Yes, it's a funny song, but it has been run into the ground, okay?) But we do cover Jam Sessions advertising, and that's exactly what this video blog entry from UK Frag Doll Kitt is.In this video, Kitt performs Jonathan Coulton's "Still Alive" using nothing but a DS Lite and a copy of our favorite guitar non-game. And it's pretty good! If you don't mind listening to "Still Alive" again. At least the computer-simulated guitar is thematically appropriate.
Best Buy offering $5 gift cards with kid-friendly games
Likely positioning this deal as an incentive for Christmas shoppers to purchase family-oriented titles for younger gamers, Best Buy is throwing in a $5.00 gift card with every video game purchase from its selection of E (Everyone) and E10+ (Everyone 10+) ESRB-rated offerings. Here's a list of the electronic retailer's DS games currently on that list: Ben 10: Protector of Earth - $29.99 Cars (GBA) - $19.99 Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker - $29.99 Drawn to Life - $29.99 Jam Sessions - $19.99 Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck - $29.99 Ratatouille: Food Frenzy - $29.99 Aside from Jam Sessions, these aren't really great bargains, but if you were planning on eventually buying one of these games anyway, why not do it now and pick up a free gift card with your order? [Via CAG]
New Wiimote hack for the air guitarist in all of us
The idea of using the humble Wiimote to create music seems to have really fired the imagination of the hacking community recently. DJing WiiJing and drumming are already both possible with the waffly versatile controller and a bit of know-how, and now those of you who lack the funds for Guitar Hero III can get your virtual shred on for free.Hacker Evan, maker of the Wiimote drum sampler we linked to exactly one paragraph ago, has developed software that allows users to play air guitar, simply by "strumming" the Remote while holding down the d-pad to alternate between chords, or the B button to toggle between major and minor chords. As Evan points out, this has a similar feel to Jam Sessions on the Nintendo DS, which is far from a bad thing if you ask us.[Thanks, Evan!]
Today's most vulgar videos: Jam Sessions' instant rockstar
The North American marketing for DS guitar simulator Jam Sessions has been pretty low-key, comprised of a MySpace page, uninspired print ads, and a bevy of videos showing real artists using the non-game to play fake guitar.Off the charts, then, are New Zealand's excellent television spots for the title, which emphasize how having Jam Sessions in your DS repertoire can transform you into an instant rockstar. According to the ads, being an instant rockstar involves hitting on your buxom aunt, and cursing out your mum for baking you the wrong birthday cake. Honestly, the things those New Zealanders can get away with on television!If we haven't made it abundantly clear, these videos are definitely not-safe-for-work material. Catch all the raunchy, raucous action after the break (and not a single shot of gameplay, either!).
Promotional Consideration: Party Like a Rock Star
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/videos/gaming/Outrageously_saucy_Jam_Sessions_commercials_in_New_Zealand'; Promotional Consideration is a weekly feature about the Nintendo DS advertisements you usually flip past, change the channel on, or just tune out. This marks the third time we've featured Ubisoft's Jam Sessions in our Promotional Consideration column, but these latest ads for the New Zealand market are the best ones yet. We're not going to ruin their illicit content for you before you've had a chance to watch these not-safe-for-work commercials yourselves, so hurry past the break and see what all the kids are nattering about at recess.
Promotional Consideration: Santeria
Promotional Consideration is a weekly feature about the Nintendo DS advertisements you usually flip past, change the channel on, or just tune out.It physically pained us to see Ubisoft's print campaign and European boxart for Jam Sessions, but the publisher came through with its commercial for the recently-released guitar sim. The 30-second spot is broken up into three scenes of alleged teenagers playing and enjoying the game, all of them singing along to Sublime's "Santeria," a track that isn't actually included on the Jam Sessions cart. It's a catchy tune, one we're sure you've heard many times on the radio, and we can see why it was picked for the piece. Continue past the jump for the commercial and this week's installment of Promotional Consideration.
DS Fanswag: Brain builder blowout
Are you feeling mentally down? Does calculating the cost of your groceries at your local supermarket taking you longer than usual? Well, we might just have something that can help you get mentally fit again. Whether you're 88 or 18 (sorry, if you're under 18 years of age or live outside the United States, you are not eligible), everyone can always use some extra mental exercises to help them get fit again.What will you win? Well, that's simple. One grand prize winner will receive a copy of Brain Age 2 (valued at $20), Picross DS (valued at $20) and Brain Buster Puzzle Pak (valued at $20). With all those puzzle titles, you should be as mentally fit as a young Albert Einstein.So, do your brain a favor and make a comment below. All we're asking is that you tell us the last time you were feeling mentally sluggish. Hey, we're all friends here, no need to feel embarrassed when you had some difficulty adding and subtracting with The Count.Before you do that, though, make sure that you read the official rules before entering. The contest will be open from Wednesday October 10th, 2007 9:45am EST until Sunday October 14th, 2007 11:59PM EST.
Ubisoft looking for Jam Sessions musicians
Up until October 23rd, those who're able to construct their own tunes, complete with vocals, in Ubisoft's Jam Sessions have the chance to win a trip to New York city. There, 2 winners will perform live on Fuse TV. All one has to do is upload a video of themselves performing their track to Ubisoft's YouTube page, where winners will be selected on November 6th.So, any of our fine readers plan on participating in this contest?
DS Fanswag: And the Jam Sessions winners are ...
All good things must eventually come to an end, and that includes our latest giveaway of Jam Sessions. The three winners have been selected, and the copies will go to:Tom, who said:"How 'bout Over the Hills and Far Away by Led Zeppelin?"Kronus, who said:"For the songs in the game, I would really enjoy to learn to "No Rain"by Blind Melon. As for original songs, I know one of the five will be"MakeDamnSure" by Taking Back Sunday."and finally, Michael Dotson, who promised he would,"ROCK you like a HURRICANE"Congratulations to our winners on both their free games and their taste in music, and we hope they have fun practicing their prowess. Keep your eyes peeled for the next DS Fanboy contest, and maybe you'll end up in this space!
DS Fanswag: Jam Sessions giveaway almost over!
We just wanted to remind you that the Jam Sessions giveaway ends this Sunday at 11:59 pm EST. If you want a crack at one of the three copies we have available, head on over and leave a comment about the first song you'd like to learn to play on Ubisoft's guitar simulation. We'll announce the winners on Monday!
The Jam Sessions bundle-within-a-bundle
The Jam Sessions Performance Bundle, with its included amplifier, was only kind of big. It was an "awesome" bundle, but not a "DUDE OMG AWESOME" bundle. If you want to give a loved one a "DUDE OMG AWESOME" gift this holiday season, GameStop may have the solution with their DS Lite Music Bundle.Comprising a Polar White DS Lite, the Jam Sessions Performance Bundle, and a set of JAMMIN Guitar Picks, the set makes up a complete musical instrument (and a set of JAMMIN Guitar Picks). And it only costs $207.97, a savings of ... hey, wait! Nothing! This bundle is just three currently-available regular-priced items sold together! Well, even so, this would make a great gift for the musically adventurous.
