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Guitar Hero 5 box art revealed (find the guitar!) [update]
It's not like the previous Guitar Hero boxes set the world on fire, but the recently revealed box art for Guitar Hero 5 is ... well it's definitely different. At least the previous boxes had, you know, guitars on them. As one Joystiq blogger put it, the Guitar Hero 5 art looks more suited to an expansion or a DLC voucher than it does to a full release. Still, we suppose we can appreciate the backstage insider appeal it exudes. Besides, it's not like there are many people left that are unfamiliar with the title at this point.See the full monty after the break.Update: It looks like there is a guitar on the box. See if you can find it!
Retailers list DJ Hero for $120, handful of other Activision titles detailed
Pegging the release date of DJ Hero as October 27, GameStop is listing the game with a $120 price tag across all consoles -- turntable peripheral in-tow. While we are, at very best, suspicious of any release dates or price tags attached to retailer listings, both GameStop and Amazon have details on not just DJ Hero, but also Guitar Hero 5, Band Hero and, strangely, Modern Warfare 2 (in Collector's Edition form, priced at $80). Those with a keen eye and a nose for all things "exploitable" will note that these titles all come from mega-publisher Activision, making us wonder if the company has simply released the information to retail before anyone else.Considering the price for Tony Hawk Ride (and its living room-destroying peripheral of $120), a precedent for unproven peripheral pricing has certainly been set. We've asked for comment from Activision regarding the release dates and pricing, though had yet to hear back as of publishing.
Logitech's premium guitar controller hits in August, carries high axe-ing price
If you were to trade in or sell all eleventy plastic guitars crammed into the corner of your living room, you might just be able to afford Logitech's newly announced premium wireless Guitar Hero controller. Priced at $199 and pegged to street in August, the peripheral is a feature-for-feature equal of the previously revealed PS2 / PS3 model, only it's orange. (Why not Xbox green? We know at least one band who'd endorse it.)Like the PS3 unit, it has a real wooden neck (maple, if you're curious), a rosewood fingerboard and some seriously tough -- yet quiet -- strum and whammy bars. While it's designed with GHWT (and all 70 other Guitar Hero titles) in mind -- hence the slider/tapping area on its neck -- you'd know if you checked out our instrument compatibility matrix that it'll work with Rock Band, too. (And Rock Band 2 ... too.) Watch the video we've placed after the break to witness a Logitech rep get all touchy-feely with the controller. [Via Engadget]
Neversoft would like to add turntable support to Guitar Hero
During E3, we got to check out the folks from FreeStyleGames playing DJ Hero -- Activision's upcoming rhythm/music game -- using blasphemous guitar controllers in-tandem with the ubiquitous plastic turntable (seen above). While Activision is still keeping mum on whether or not the ability to use guitars in all tracks of the game (none the less vocals) will be shipping with DJ Hero, apparently the folks working on the game think including their turntable in Guitar Hero titles "Sounds like a great idea!"In fact, both the DJ Hero team and Neversoft (developers of the Guitar Hero franchise) seem open to the idea of cross-game instrument implementation (say that three times fast). GH director Brian Bright told Eurogamer, "We would love to integrate in the future," speaking to the cross-franchise possibilities with each game's respective peripheral. So if we can use a turntable, have a group of folks on various instruments, and get someone spitting hot fire into a mic, what's the point of Def Jam Rapstar again?
E3 2009 highlights: The Xbox roundup
E3 was brütal! If you blinked, for a split/second, you missed something. Even if you were trine to keep up, it was a blur -- staying a.wake like that, you only pushed yourself to the brink of your own dark void. That's where Joystiq comes in; to crackdown on the madness; to reach out ... with conviction -- phew! Crysis averted. We've scoured the dark corners and survived the inferno to piece together this roundup of all things Xbox at E3. Why? Just 'cause we love you. So, draw nier and shift your eyes past the break.
Watch Neversoft play Guitar Hero 5 on a stage in LA
Before Travis Barker and DJ AM took leave of the stage here in LA, we were promised Guitar Hero 5 in action. And we got it! Neversoft's "official" band took to the mic, two plastic guitars and two drum sets, in order to regale us with their rendition of Wolfmother's "Back Around," repeatedly showing off the new drop in and out feature. Though the plastic peripheral performance was a bit less than enthralling -- especially considering the fact that we just watched an actual musical performance -- we've been promised a DJ Hero performance up next. And yes, video is forthcoming!
These are the artists rocking out in Guitar Hero 5
When Activision announced Guitar Hero 5, we knew little more than the game would include some notes, and possibly a popular ditty or two. Now, we know all sorts of stuff, like the proposed "Band Moments" and the game's release date (9/1/09). But, we still haven't seen anything on what we've all wanted to know: The included artists. Now, we're happy to report that would-be rockers and rockettes now have a definitive list of talent featured in Activision's latest cash generator music rhythm game. And, it's staggering. So much so that we were forced to place the info past the break, for fear of an avalanche on the front page.
Guitar Hero 5 starts the party on September 1
The website for Guitar Hero 5 opened, revealing the release date for this year's biggest Guitar Hero sequel: September 1. Expect to somehow end up purchasing it whether you want to or not, just like every Guitar Hero game.If you'd like more info on this inevitable purchase, Gamespot posted, in addition to some new screens and brief footage, some details on the game's new "Party Play" mode. This feature is designed to allow total flexibility in social situations. Party Play allows you to start the game with no players, using a playlist of Guitar Hero music as a sort of jukebox. When people decide they want to play a song, they can pick up an instrument, push a button, and begin playing immediately. This is also where the game's instrument flexibility comes in. Party Play is designed to allow any combination of instruments, in case you want to play Barbershop Quartet Hero.%Gallery-63471%
Guitar Hero 5 getting Music Studio tweaks, Band Moments
We've got just a few more notes to add to your compendium of Guitar Hero 5 knowledge this morning. First, we learned today that the game will add Band Moments, which rewards the band for hitting certain strings of notes together. (Note, both guitarists must rub their shoulder blades together with totally gnarly looks on their faces to activate.) These will be placed in songs from the game's 85 different artists, more than 25 of which have never appeared in a video game before, we're told.Also, the GHMusic Studio will be getting a redesign, though no further details are offered. We always thought the studio was a cool idea, but we didn't play with it much in World Tour. Did any of you create any masterpieces with it? What would you like to see changed?%Gallery-63471%
Guitar Hero 5 makes room for four drummers, axe slingers or screamers
Alright, so you know Guitar Hero 5 is on the way -- that's all fine, well and good. But, did you realize that the birth of that game will also enable you to destroy your den by making room for four drum kits? Yes, we're serious. GH 5 promises any kind of musician mix 'n match you can dream up, enabling gamers to play with three singers and a drummer, four bassists (imagine someone cloning Sting and replacing the other Police with artificial Stings) or four skin slammin' drummers. With possibilities this endless, you know things are bound to get savage.
Guitar Hero 5 lets you cram 4 drumsets into your living room
You already know Guitar Hero 5 is coming, but did you know it'll let you amass even more little plastic instruments? The new game offers the ability to create any combination of rock you want. Three microphones and one guitar? Okay. Two drummers and two guitars? No problem. Four drummers? Insane, but yes. We just hope that doesn't mean a Guitar Hero 5 Super Mega Ginormous Box Set: Limited Edition with four of everything is coming. Also new to the game is RockFest, which has five competitive head to head modes that are playable "online or in your living room." Er, aren't most people online in their living room? Other tweaks: you can play the entire set list from the moment you pop the disc in, no more unlocking songs, and all of the Guitar Hero: World Tour DLC will be playable in GH5. Thanks for not locking us out of the music we've previously paid for.Of course, there are some new songs coming as well. So check out the only two screenshots we've seen so far in the gallery below, and head over behind the break to peep the tunage.%Gallery-63471%
DJ Hero announced at last, along with Band Hero for the family and Guitar Hero 5 for the face melters
Activision just confirmed a whole lot of heroes: the long-teased DJ Hero being the most notable among them. Many trivial humans had conjectured what a "Hero"-style DJ controller would look like, and at last we have our first look (above, and there's another shot after the break). Sure, we have no idea how we're supposed to play it -- where's the whammy bar, for instance? -- but we're sure once we tape a couple of our mom's Perry Como records to the sides we'll start to get the picture. Music genres include "hip-hop, R&B, Motown, electronica and dance," and the game will allow turntablists to create "original mixes" of songs. Additionally, Activision is also prepping a family-friendly Band Hero game, and a Guitar Hero 5 followup to its flagship title, with all three new Hero games hitting sometime this fall.
Activision announces Guitar Hero 5, Band Hero and DJ Hero for fall
Activision continues to "exploit" its Guitar Hero franchise this year with three new full titles coming this autumn. The newly announced Guitar Hero 5 will offer "the ability to drop in and out of songs and change band members, instruments and difficulty levels on the fly." The press release contains no other details regarding the game, but you can bet it'll be pretty similar to Guitar Hero: World Tour. Band Hero is the second of Activision's Hero trifecta for this fall. Don't be confused, Band Hero is completely separate from Guitar Hero. Except it's very similar -- it's Activision's attempt at a family-oriented Guitar Hero game, rated E10+, and will be facing off against Harmonix's Lego Rock Band later this year. Finally, DJ Hero is something we've been hearing a lot of murmurs about for a while. It will feature "diverse music genres including hip-hop, R&B, Motown, electronica and dance" and will include the turntable controller, images of which we posted earlier. Apparently the title "transforms players into DJs who rule the club scene by creating original mixes of popular songs and music from the world's most exciting artists and DJs." We have to wonder, does the world need this many heroes?
Rumor: 'Guitar Hero 5,' 'Band Hero' coming this year
*ring* "Hello, you've reached Joystiq. We can't come to the phone right now, but if you leave your name and number after the beep we'll return your call as soon as possible." *beep* "Um, hi guys ... it's me again. You know, The Post About Another New Guitar Hero Game. Look, I know you guys just used me for the Van Halen game like an hour ago. Anyway, I just thought you might want me to come back into the office because of this Eurogamer rumor? It's about Guitar Hero 5 and something called Band Hero supposedly coming out this year. There's also another DS Guitar Hero game, apparently. Anyway, I just thought you'd be interested." *click* "Oh well. Guess they're out 'watching the Watchmen.' I'm just gonna check after the break to see what's on YouTube."
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Guitar Hero 5 and Tony Hawk announced
[Update: Activision tells Videogamer that MTV's report is "speculative as far as we're concerned." Yeah, sure.]MTV Multiplayer reports that at a Massive (Microsoft-owned advertising firm) event yesterday in New York City, Activision Blizzard revealed a number of sequels to their popular franchises, such as Guitar Hero 5 and a successor to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. The sequel will be named ... Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. And here we thought they were going to do away with the numbers! Unfortunately, no gameplay details were mentioned for either title.Finally, it sounds the rumors we heard earlier during the summer might be true: a Tony Hawk game is scheduled for release in October that "you're not going to be playing ... with a controller in your hands."
Activision: COD 6, Tony Hawk, Guitar Hero 5 talk 'speculative'
Following reports taken directly from an upfront with Massive Inc. that sequels were on the way for Tony Hawk, Call of Duty -- specifically, a follow-up to Modern Warfare -- and Guitar Hero, and that a new Bond game is in the works, Activision informed VideoGamer.com that such reports are "speculative." In other words, Activision declined to confirm the projects it confirmed only yesterday. In other news, when asked whether or not it intended to poop in the woods, a bear told us that such reports were "speculative." The Pope also declined to confirm whether or not he wears a funny hat.[Via Joystiq]
