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Today's shredingest video: Guitar Hero III victor
Game Revolution's Nick Tan recently played Guitar Hero III song, Through the Fire and Flames by Dragonforce, on expert. That website describes it as the hardest in the game, designed to be "unbeatable." And Nick conquered it.Yes, weeks before you adoring, fake guitar fans get a chance to play, the hardest song has been bested by a player on his fourth attempt. The video of the event is mediocre, and the moment of triumph is anticlimactic. ("Go balloons, go balloons, we need more balloons. ...") But we were still floored watching this face-melting song --and player -- in action.Be amazed by the clip after the break.
Aerosmith, Cream, Disturbed, many others added to Guitar Hero III
Activision released a ton of Guitar Hero III (due out on Oct. 28) tracks this morning, some you've probably heard rumored before, some of which are likely surprises to you. Either way, we've provided a ridiculously clickable list that may or may not include a little profanity. We apologize in advance. Same Old Song and Dance (by Aerosmith) Helicopter (by Bloc Party) Stricken (by Disturbed) Monsters (by Matchbook Romance) Before I Forget (by Slipknot) Kool Thing (by Sonic Youth) When You Were Young (by The Killers) Devil Went Down to Georgia (as made famous by Charlie Daniels Band) Sunshine of Your Love (as made famous by Cream) Holiday in Cambodia (as made famous by Dead Kennedys) Cliffs of Dover (as made famous by Eric Johnson) Hit Me with Your Best Shot (as made famous by Pat Benetar) Black Magic Woman (as made famous by Santana) Story of My Life (as made famous by Social Distortion) Pride and Joy (as made famous by Stevie Ray Vaughn) The Seeker (as made famous by The Who) Black Sunshine (as made famous by White Zombie) What's that? You've already forgotten the previously announced songs? There's a big list after the break.
Guitar Hero III's Les Paul in the wild
Yeah, we've seen this puppy around before, but never gotten this close. This here's the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero III's Les Paul, complete with green-glowing Xbox 360 Guide button and wirelessness. Big ups to Red Octane for the extra fret board stylings and refined look, but we'd to look forward to playing with this one come October if they wired up a cardboard box to do the honors.%Gallery-7822%
It's Guitar Hero Day in New York, apparently
The city of New York must have a lot of time on its hands. After all, they have enough time to spare to declare today, Sept. 26, 2007, as Guitar Hero day throughout the city.Never mind that Guitar Hero III doesn't actually come out until Oct. 28, or that the original game came out on Nov. 7, 2005. Never mind that publisher Activision is based in Santa Monica and developer Neversoft is from Westlake Village, CA. Never mind that the city saw a massive publicity blitz for another game as recently as yesterday.Forget all that... "fans are ready to rock the streets of Manhattan," according to the press Activision press release, with "thousands ... expected to gather in celebration of the day, with guitar controllers in hand." This is kind of surprising to us, seeing as we hadn't even heard about the event before today, but we suppose getting thousands of people together on short notice can't be too hard in a city of millions.Apparently, the day is just "one of many Guitar Hero events taking place in New York City this week," including an opportunity for members of the public to actually play Guitar Hero III at the DigitalLife festival starting tomorrow. So while we're generally against pointless publicity stunts like this, we suppose we can turn a blind eye given the public demo. Citizens of New York, do yourselves a favor and go check it out.
Sex Pistols reunite for Guitar Hero III track
In what is perhaps the first incidence of the phrase "You know, just like Living Color" being accurately applied to the Sex Pistols, Activision has announced that the U.K. punk outfit has gotten back together to rerecord "Anarchy in the U.K." for Guitar Hero III. The song had to be recreated, as the original master tapes had been melted down by Sid Vicious shortly before his death and injected into his blood stream. No, just kidding. He crushed them up and snorted them.We'll admit to being of mixed opinion on this news. While we're happy that enough members of the band are still alive to make this sort of thing worthwhile, we're a little bummed that we'll be pretending to be the Sex Pistols circa 2007 when we pick up our plastic axes instead of Sex Pistols circa edgy.
Red Octane confirms GH III Xbox wireless guitar same price as PS3 version
Red Octane has confirmed to us that the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero III will be $99 and include a wireless guitar. The question was up in the air of whether they would bundle a wired guitar like Rock Band, or pass along the extra cost of Microsoft's proprietary wireless license to consumers -- it looks like Xbox 360 owners preparing to rock will win on both fronts. Furthermore, Red Octane went on to say, "All platforms will be bundling wireless guitars and the prices for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions are set at $99.99 while the Wii and PS2 versions are $89.99."So far we've been very happy with what we've seen from Red Octane's new guitars. It's also nice to note that the wired Xbox 360 controller retails for about $60, so getting a wireless guitar plus the new game at $99 actually ends up sounding like a really good deal. We're happy to know that Red Octane and Activision took the route of consumer friendliness on this wireless guitar deal.
Guitar Hero III soundtrack to unlock bonus tracks, Sonic Youth added
You'll have plenty to occupy yourself with when Guitar Hero III drops at the end of next month. But if you still haven't gotten enough, Billboard is reporting that a soundtrack album for the game will be released on Oct. 30 (two days after the game). But this is no mere soundtrack. It has been imbued with the power to unlock three additional songs for the game via Xbox Live with an included code. They include "Carcinogen Crush" by AFI, Flyleaf's "Tina" and a remix of Marilyn Manson's "Putting Holes in Happiness" by Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs fame.Also included in the announcement is the nugget that Sonic Youth's "Kool Thing" will be included in the game, which is one we haven't heard before. (There's a full list after the break.) As far as we know, there will be no similar code for PS3, but Billboard makes no mention of it, so it seems unlikely.[Thanks, Jack]
Guitar Hero III coming to the Mac this year
If you've never played Guitar Hero, you've been missing out. It's quite an experience - you play with a special guitar controller, and as notes fly towards you on the screen, you hit both fret buttons and a strum bar in time to real life rock music. I'm a huge fan of the series, having played the original on PS2, and Guitar Hero II on my Xbox 360. Now, Mac owners will can to take the stage: Aspyr Media has announced that they're bringing the series' third iteration to the Mac.Guitar Hero III is scheduled to be released in October on the consoles and PC. Aspyr will release a hybrid Windows/Mac box, complete with USB guitar. System requirements haven't been released yet, but I'd expect any PC version to have everything the console versions do. The complete setlist contains pretty much any kind of rock you're interested in, from Rage to Bloc Party to Kiss, and even the D and gamer favorite DragonForce.Sounds awesome. Considering the guitar is just a USB device, how cool would it be to integrate it with Garageband? Here's hoping Aspyr stays on beat, and makes the PC/Mac version available shortly after the console release. Until then, you may always rock it out with Frets on Fire. Throw the horns!
Tom Morello to appear as Guitar Hero III boss
Whether or not you're in to the music that Rage Against the Machine makes, we imagine you're cool enough to admit that Tom Morello is an astounding, exciting guitarist. Now, you'll be able face off against him as one of the bosses of Guitar Hero III. Like patients at STD clinics across the country, he'll be in the company of Poison's Bret Michaels and Guns 'n' Roses' Slash.While Morello's busy rocking your face off, you'll be able to play Rage classic "Bulls On Parade." You'll be able to recognize it in family-friendly GH III from its frequent sections of lyrical silence. Rather than expose you to profanity, we've posted a video here of Morello's folksy alter-ego The Nightwatchman. Enjoy.[Thanks JL & Matthew]
Guitar Hero III coming to Mac and PC this fall
No longer content to be hooked up to your big screen HDTV and 7-channel surround sound system, Aspyr and Activision have announced that Guitar Hero III is rockin' on over to the more moderately sized screens of your Mac and/or PC this fall. We imagine legions of cubicle dwellers violating their company's IT policies, bringing their axe into work, and shredding the pain of office life away. More likely, we can imagine a portable rig on your laptop, just in case that whole Guitar Hero DS thing doesn't work out. GameDaily spoke with Aspyr's Jay Gordon about the port, and got some burning questions answered: the game will ship simultaneously with its console counterparts; the guitar will be a USB model of the Gibson (sorry 486 gamers); and no word on how downloadable songs will be distributed but they'll share soon. And with this, the PSP remains alone, the only major gaming platform without Guitar Hero.
Wii Guitar Hero III gets no online initially [Update]
In an interview with ProG, Red Octane pres. Kai Huang confirmed there would not be any online play for the Wii version of Guitar Hero III initially. No time frame is given when the feature would be implemented. He said there will be online play for the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. Huang says, "There won't be online initially for the Wii, but we are working with Nintendo to see how we can get those features in."Oh please, that's easy. First you start by talking 12-digit codes with Nintendo and then pinky-swear that there won't be any guitar playing pedophiles on the other end of that game -- to prove this each purchaser of Guitar Hero III who wants to go online will submit two forms of ID and authorize a criminal background check by Nintendo. It's as simple as that.Update: Red Octane contacted Joystiq to say that Huang was talking about downloadable content to ProG, not online play. There will be no DLC initially for the Wii, but they reaffirm that there will be online play. Of course, our first question was, "How are you implementing that?" They have to check with the developer and get back to us.%Gallery-4675%
Video: DragonForce will own you in GHIII
Not too long ago, it was revealed that DragonForce would finally be gracing Guitar Hero for it's third outing. The song chose for the game: the incredibly difficult "Through the Fire and Flames." But hey, don't take our word for it, just check out the video above. The amount of skill and practice required to nail this song borders on lunacy. Wherever the song isn't a maelstrom of hammer-ons and pull-offs, it is filled with machine gun strumming on multiple frets. It is both a nightmare and a beauty to behold, and we bet your little brother will master it in a week.
GH III demo to be included in Proving Ground
Yesterday, Activision announced that they'll be including a special Guitar Hero III demo on the disc of the October 9th release of Tony Hawk's Proving Ground. Proving Ground purchasers will be treated a GH III demo featuring five musical tracks which include "Lay Down" by Priestess, "Even Flow" by Pearl Jam, "The Metal" by Tenacious D, "Hit Me with your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar and "Rock You Like a Hurricane" by the Scorpions. But fret not rockers who dislike skating games, because the GH III demo will be available for download off the XBLM two weeks after Proving Ground hits retailers, sometime around October 23rd. Now we have a reason to get our X-plorer guitar tuned before October rolls around.
GH III demo on Tony Hawk for Xbox 360 and XBM, where's PS3?
Guitar Hero fans rejoice, the demo for Guitar Hero III will be available on the Xbox 360 version of Tony Hawk's Proving Ground releasing October 9. Two weeks after that it will be available to download on Xbox Live Marketplace. The demo will feature: Lay Down (by Priestess) Even Flow (by Pearl Jam) The Metal (by Tenacious D) Hit Me with your Best Shot (as made famous by Pat Benatar) Rock You like a Hurricane (as made famous by Scorpions) We had a positive experience with Guitar Hero III during E3, despite its different look and feel, the gameplay is exactly what you expect from the series. What about the PS3 version of Tony Hawk's Proving Ground having the GH III demo or release on PSN for those with the adapter? That's a very good question and one we made sure to ask Activision. Well, they told us to go ask Red Octane. We've sent emails to Red Octane and will update as soon as we get responses.
New GHIII tracks with international flair
Not to be outdone by the peripheral wizardry of Rock Band, for which ten new tracks were announced today, Activision has announced a new set of tracks for Guitar Hero III as well. The new tracks are comprised mainly of international bands with which our American readers likely won't be familiar. All 11 of the new tracks are master tracks, meaning that fans won't be forced to cringe at the sound of horribly impersonated lead singers. Behold: "Minus Celsius," by Backyard Babies "Hier Kommt Alex," by Die Toten Hosen "In the Belly of a Shark," by Gallows "I'm in the Band," by The Hellacopters "Avalancha," by Heroes Del Silencio "Take This Life," by In Flames "Ruby," by Kaiser Chiefs "Closer," by Lacuna Coil "Generation Rock," by Revolverheld "Mauvais Garcon," by NAAST "Radio Song," by Superbus You'll find a list of all other confirmed tracks after the break.
Rockin' some Guitar Hero III achievements
Even though you are still diligently strumming away at Guitar Hero II, working on that "Start a Real Band Already Award" achievement, now you have a new set of achievements to look forward to with the release of Guitar Hero III. Over at Xbox360Achievements they've discovered and posted all 59 achievements for upcoming rocking game GH III and there are some doozies. A few notable achievements that stand out would be "Buy a Guitar Already", "Tone Deaf" and "Meet Your Maker" where you have to (somehow) beat one of the creators of GH III. It'll be another nearly impossible 1000 gamerscore coming from this third installment, but really ... would you have it any other way?[Thanks, SpaceGhostFlyer]
GH III pre-order box reveals Killers and Santana
Adding to the ever expanding list of Guitar Hero III tracks comes two new songs via a pre-order box. The fuzzy image you see above (bigger one after the jump) was taken from the back of a retail pre-order box for GH III and lists two yet to be announced songs. The two newly new songs listed are The Killers' "When You Were Young" and Santana's "Black Magic Woman". So, adding these two new tracks to the previously listed ones we're at a comfortable 33 musical tracks-o-greatness. And since we're all about stealing Joystiq's recap idea we've posted all 33 confirmed Guitar Hero III songs after the break. So go ahead, look at 'em all in their rockin' glory.[Via Joystiq]
Guitar Hero III pre-order box promises Killers, Santana
According to a pre-order box for Guitar Hero III, the Killers and Santana will be joining the roster of tracks that will help the game do battle with Rock Band this fall. The Killers will be supplying "When You Were Young" from their album Sam's Town. Santana volunteers one of his blessedly Rob Thomas-free songs: "Black Magic Woman." (At least, we're pretty sure that's what it says. Sorry about the image quality.)While the Killers track seems like kind of an out-of-left-field selection, "Black Magic Woman" is a natural fit. We're curious though: Does this mean that we'll get to battle Santana as a Legend of Rock? We'd love to punish thank him personally for Supernatural. We've got a list of all the songs so far after the jump.[Thanks, NX03]
Bret Michaels to talk dirty to you in Guitar Hero III
It's true, you know. Every rose does have it's thorn. Just like every Guitar Hero game has it's Bret Michaels. ... Well, not every one. But we imagine that Guitar Hero III has enough Bret Michaels to make up for it. Taking a break from tending to his STD farm VH1's Rock of Love, the Poison frontman has lent scans of his face, body and clothing as well as his (swoon!) "signature moves" to the game.Also included in the game: Poison's "Talk Dirty to Me," as made famous by Poison and "Go That Far," a master track from our favorite band named after Bret Michaels, the Bret Michaels Band.
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]
