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DS version of Guitar Hero III to feature a guitar controller?
It's not set in stone, but in an interview with CNET.au, RedOctane cofounder Charles Huang suggested that the DS version of Guitar Hero III would include a guitar controller "as long as it makes sense and it plays well." Huang went on to say that RedOctane is "exploring ways to get peripherals on a DS game," and that the company is working on approach with Nintendo's assistance. Given the novel controllers we've already seen hit the DS, RedOctane's got some work to do to back up Huang's assertion that GHIII on the DS "will play probably unlike any other DS game that has come out," but we're willing to give the company the benefit of the doubt -- they seem to have a handle on that whole "gameplay" thing.[Via DS Fanboy]
Guitar Hero III DS may include a peripheral
At this point, even if there hadn't been official confirmation, it would be no surprise that Guitar Hero III is on the way to the DS. Never mind that the DS is ill-suited for the Guitar Hero experience-- it's a game console.At least there's evidence that the RedOctane/Neversoft/Activision Power Team is considering ways to make the DS less ill-suited for the game, including the method they used to make the original Guitar Hero something other than just a simplified Frequency: peripherals. "It's an integral part of the Guitar Hero experience, so as much as possible, we would like to keep it within the experience as long as it makes sense and it plays well," RedOctane's Charles Huang told CNET. Bring on the peripherals, RedOctane. The more ridiculous the better. We're already pretending we're playing guitar on the DS-- we don't need to look dignified doing it.
Metallica in Guitar Hero III, not just Rock Band
In a conference call where Activision re-tooted their own horn about how much money they made so far this year, they also let it slip that Metallica would be in Guitar Hero III. The song will be One, a master track off of Metallica's ...And Justive for All album. This may sound like old news, but you're probably getting confused with Rock Band also having Metallica. Yes, it is going to be hard to keep track of what games have which songs in this holiday rhythm showdown.During the conference call Activision also said that Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the '80s was the best-selling game on its first day in Activision history. They also said they are significantly increasing guitar production to meet the expected demand of Guitar Hero III this holiday season.
Guitar Hero III Euro debut at Edinburgh festival
Europeans will get their first chance to play the game on the continent when Activision debuts Guitar Hero III at the Edinburgh Interactive Festival in a couple weeks. Codemasters will also premiere Turning Point and Rise of the Argonauts.The new Red Octane wireless controllers for Guitar Hero III are pretty sweet, especially now that they are travel and storage friendly. The festival runs August 13-14 and tickets are still available. If you can't make it to Edinburgh, Leipzig is sure to have your chance at Guitar Hero III the following week.
Activision overtakes EA as top third party publisher
Activision has surpassed EA by approximately $20 million in sales the first half of this year, making it the top third party publisher on the block. Well, that explains how they could afford to hire Jamie Kennedy to make a mockery of their press conference. If this information causes a massive "¡¿QUE?!" in your mind, Activision has done insanely well with their acquisition of Red Octane (Guitar Hero), their movie license games (which people are compelled to purchase for ungodly reasons) and franchise staples like Tony Hawk and Call of Duty.Activision made $387 million up until June, versus EA's $365 million. This would be the first time somebody else has held the top third party publisher spot in ... well, a very long time. Activision's aquisition of Red Octane was obviously a smart move on their part, as the franchise is expected to break $1 billion in sales very soon and makes up a fifth of the company's revenue with $360 million in sales this year according to analysts. For the EA fanboys, don't worry, Madden still hasn't come out this year and that game always boosts EA's bottom line.[Via Gamasutra]
Buy Guitar Hero II, get 1600 MSFT points free
From now through August 18th, when you purchase Guitar Hero II from Circuit City you'll get 1600 Microsoft points for free and free shipping on your online order. This offer is available online and in-store, but you'll have to send in a rebate form to get your money back. Check out the offer here.True, we have seen a similar free 1600 Microsoft points offer before when GH II released and there was no forms to send in. But if you're willing to send in a rebate and wait for your cash this is definitely a good deal. Or you could just wait for Guitar Hero III or the game X3F is in love with ... Rock Band. Decide and plan your purchase accordingly.
Activision sticking to GH II DLC pricing
The consumer versus Guitar Hero II downloadable content pricing war rages on with Activision taking the defensive on their pricing strategy. According to Dusty Welch, the head of Red Octane publishing, the downloadable track packs have been a "tremendous success" and that "demand seems to be insatiable" as they're reporting that 300,000 song packs have been purchased since April. Mr. Welch goes on to say that they have been listening to Guitar Hero II customers, but will still be "offering even better music at current price points" due to the success of the previous song packs.So guys, who's to blame? We know we didn't purchase those overpriced track packs, but know there are a bunch who did. This is just another case of the financial bottom line being more important than the vocal majority, so quit buying the songs already! .... now back to the corner to cry myself to sleep again.[Via Joystiq]
Slash will rock out in Guitar Hero III
A new trailer for Guitar Hero III has dropped from the heavens of rock, and lo and behold, the game officially features legendary guitarist, Slash. Made famous by Guns N' Roses and now rocking with Velvet Revolver, Slash will be featured in the upcoming game, which is now subtitled Legends of Rock. Naturally, this leads us to believe there may be a few other famous rockers in the game as well, though this is only speculation at this point. Check out the latest trailer after the break.
Slash cleared to rock in Guitar Hero 3
Seen in a new trailer (and just confirmed via a press release Activision sent out), legendary guitarist of Guns N' Roses / Velvet Revolver and hat aficionado Slash will be featured in the upcoming Guitar Hero 3.According to the press release, the Guns N' Roses track "Welcome to the Jungle" will also be included in the game, as well as an unnamed track from Pearl Jam's Even Flow.Video embedded after the break.[Thanks, NX013]
Guitar Hero III gets subtitle, cool guitars
Since the amazing success of its first two games, the Guitar Hero series has gotten a little subtitle happy. First it was the mouthful of Guitar Hero Encore: Rock the '80s, now Activision has revealed a new subtitle for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.In addition to the new title, Activision has also released some nice, high-res pictures of the previously announced faux-Gibson guitars that will be used to control the game -- a Les Paul model for the PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 and a Kramer model for the PS2. Note that the fret buttons are now all black with thin colored outlines to maintain a cleaner, less toy-like look on the neck. The wireless guitars will also have removable faceplates to let you customize your rock experience.The characters in the game will also be rocking out on Gibsons. Check out a list of all the unlockable axes after the jump. %Gallery-4675%
IGN's GHIII Preview on XBLM
IGN has put a preview for Guitar Hero III up on Xbox Live Marketplace in all its HD glory. The video gives us a first look at the new Les Paul wireless guitar, as well as some other cool features. One thing that impresses us was their use of face capture to have the lead singer properly lip-synced to the songs lyrics, as opposed to the previous iterations generic lip service. The video also touches on some of the visual changes, in the HUD as well as the art direction. A solid watch, if you're a fan of the series.
Red Octane: new GHII DLC in July
As the promises of loads of downloadable content echo through the empty halls of memory, Red Octane has let out a squeak, nay, the smallest chirp of information regarding the next batch of downloadable songs for Guitar Hero II. According to a forum post by a Red Octane admin by the name of rodth, new downloadable content for Guitar Hero II should drop sometime in July. Specifically, rodth noted, "While nothing's been formally announced, look for something to come down the pipeline around the July timeframe ...."If you've been keeping track, this would be the second batch of DLC we've seen since April. We're not experts, but we're not sure that qualifies as the most DLC for any 360 game evar.[Thanks, Aragorn]
GHII tourney at the Mall of America
You're a Guitar Hero II rockstar god, aren't you? Well, if you think you're good enough and are willing to travel, the Mall of America in the lovely state of Minnesota is holding a Guitar Hero II tournament this Saturday, June 9th. The guitar gaming fun will take place in the mall's rotunda from 10:00AM-4:00PM with prizes including a Guitar Hero II game pack, Fender Squier Strat Pack, and a pair of airline tickets. And if your dress up skills are better then your guitar playing, dress up like your favorite rocker and win prizes for your creativity. Practice a few expert songs, make a trip to the MOA and win a few prizes. Living the life of a rockstar is good.
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Wireless 'Les Paul' guitars revealed with Guitar Hero III details
Today RedOctane have released some new details about Guitar Hero 3. Perhaps most excitingly, they have revealed that controllers for the next gen consoles will be wireless. Great news for everyone who kept getting tangled up whilst rocking out to the previous two games. The controller itself will be in the shape of a Gibson Les Paul (pictured) for the PlayStation 3. The Playstation 2, however, will have a Gibson Kramer shaped controller instead. Presumably this is due to the PS2's lack of bluetooth, so expect it to be either wired or to include some kind of USB plug-in. Other announcements for the game include 'a new multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a bevy of exclusive unlockable content and authentic rock venues', as well as online play. The game will take advantage of RedOctane's partnership with MTV by including a large number of original tracks, rather than covers. Hopefully this will reduce the production time for downloadable songs. Speaking of tracks, below are a few names to get your juices flowing. Let us know what you think of them. Expect the game out before the end of the year. Paint It Black (by The Rolling Stones) Cherub Rock (by Smashing Pumpkins) Sabotage (by Beastie Boys) The Metal (by Tenacious D) My Name is Jonas (by Weezer) Knights of Cydonia (by Muse) Rock And Roll All Nite (as made famous by Kiss) School's Out (as made famous by Alice Cooper) Slow Ride (as made famous by Fog Hat) Cult of Personality (by Living Colour) Barracuda (as made famous by Heart)
Star Power made easy: an X-plorer mod
You know the feeling. You're playing Guitar Hero II, you've got full Star Power and here comes that sweet string of notes that will send your score into the stratosphere. Only one thing to do: tilt that controller and rock like you mean it. But what's this? You tilt the control and nothing happens, or maybe it's a little delayed, or maybe the act of tilting screws up your fingering. Whatever happened, you're stuck with a piddly x2 multiplier and a lot of wasted Star Power. If this sounds familiar to you, you may want to check out the fancy Star Power button mod at GrownUpGamers. As is the case with most mods, this will require you to crack open your X-plorer and do some soldering, so it's not for the timid. The mod also instructs users how to install a "kill switch" which essentially gives you a second strum button, helping you land those wicked solos.If you're chops are righteous enough for this mod, click the "read" link and check it out.See Also:Guitar Hero II cardboard fret mod
First tracks from Guitar Hero: Rocks the 80's revealed
An alarming abundance of outrageous attitudes? Check. Enormous shoulder pads and poor color coordination? Check. Extravagantly large hair and excessively shiny accessories? Check. With this Summer's upcoming Guitar Hero expansion, Rocks the 80's, publisher Activision is dangerously close to delivering their first Japanese RPG. Thankfully, Opposable Thumbs reminds us that it's all about the music and lists the first seven tracks from the game's 30-strong list. I Wanna Rock (by Twisted Sister) I Ran (by Flock of Seagulls) Round and Round (as made famous by Ratt) I Want Candy (as made famous by Bow Wow Wow) Metal Health (as made famous by Quiet Riot) Holy Diver (as made famous by Dio) Heat Of The Moment (as made famous by Asia) Given the lack of the "as made famous" bit, it seems original recordings are provided by everybody's favorite contorted siblings and maritime birds. Curiously, Opposable Thumbs notes that Guitar Hero: Rocks the 80's will be "exclusive" to the PlayStation 2. Does that imply exclusivity for the in-store version, with the Xbox 360 receiving the expansion in downloadable form? Why would Activision limit the game's reach? After all, the pricing of Guitar Hero's online tracks makes it pretty clear that the publisher enjoys making money.[Thanks, Jess]
Guitar Hero II cardboard fret mod
Over at GrownUpGamers.com they've posted a helpful tutorial to fix those unreliable Guitar Hero II fret buttons on your X-plorer guitar. Their tutorial is for those of you who experience not so responsive fret buttons when rocking out to your favorite jam. This unresponsive fret button problem occurs when the fret buttons don't fully press down on the contact due to some shifting action. And all you need to fix those buttons is some confidence to open up your guitar, some cardboard, scissors, and tape. And voila! Fret buttons fixed. We're just wondering what type of cardboard would work best. Gushers, Pop-Tarts, Fruit By the Foot, or Cheerios ... oh the choices.[Via Digg]
Canadian and UK Guitar Hero II supply woes
Joystiq reports that Guitar Hero II supply problems are becoming prevalent to gamers in Canada and the UK. This has been confirmed by one of Joystiq's UK bloggers, who states, "I've tried about a dozen retail stores, [it's] harder to find than a Wii." Wow, that is hard to find. When reached for comment, Red Octane told Joystiq that the supply issues were purely a result of an "insane amount of demand" for the title. Furthermore, they note that there are still many retailers in the United States experiencing supply troubles as well.Red Octane's advice? Buy directly from the Red Octane store. If you just have to have Guitar Hero II (and honestly, you do), ordering from Red Octane may be your only hope. Be warned though, shipping costs are not cheap.
Xbox 360 Guitar Hero II supply issues in Canada and UK
RedOctane's Guitar Hero II has been such a success on the Xbox 360 there seems to be a little supply issue. Not so much in the US -- although it is tough to get in some cases -- but we know of supply issues in Canada and the UK. One of our own writers living in jolly ol' England told us, "I've tried about a dozen retail stores, [it's] harder to find than a Wii." Yeah, supply is that bad.Joystiq received comment about the supply issues form Red Octane, telling us, "We can confirm we definitely are selling Guitar Hero II for the Xbox 360 in Canada. The issue of being sold out isn't just in Canada, as many other retailers in the US are experiencing the same situation as well, as there's just been an insane amount of demand for the game and can't stay on the shelves. The best tip we can provide is to either stay patient as more supply will be available to everyone shortly, or purchase from the RedOctane online store since it is still available there."We've been told that conspiracy theories in Canada about the supply issues revolve around a recall due to broken whammy bars and that RedOctane is trying to control Canadian supplies by milking them quietly by doubling shipping costs from $17 to $35 (we're guessing that's in Canadian dollars). Anyway, for those looking to rock out in the Great White North or Europe it may be time to bite the bullet and pony up the cash for shipping from RedOctane's store. Although supplies are tight at retail, their store seems capable of supplying the guitar faithful.[Thanks, Chris N.]
Guitar Hero '80s edition in June -- maybe July
A Guitar Hero: '80s Edition for PlayStation 2 was unofficially announced back in January by EGM. Although the game still hasn't been officially announced -- like some other games that kept popping up without official confirmation -- sites are starting to show release dates for GH: '80s.Gamespot says GH: '80s is being released June 4, 2007. However, Gamefly and Amazon Canada (but not US) have the title slated for a July 31 release. Gamefly has been a pretty reliable source for a title being legitimate, but the release date is up for debate. What we do know is that the ESRB has not rated the game yet. So rockin' to the '80s is in the cards for the near future, but we hope to get a solid date real soon for this still officially unannounced game.[Thanks, Brian]
