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Point/Counterpoint: Guitar Hero: On Tour
Welcome to Point/Counterpoint, in which two DS Fanboy bloggers get into a verbal slap-fight over a divisive topic in the field of DS gaming. Few DS-related topics are more divisive right now than Guitar Hero: On Tour. Activision and Vicarious Visions have tried to cram the experience of one of the best-known party games onto the DS by grafting a big ... thing onto the side of the system. We can all agree that the Guitar Grip doesn't look anything like a guitar, but is it sufficient for Guitar Hero? Is there any chance that this game could shred, or is it going to be all guitar face and no totally sweet solos? On Tour could strike a power-chord %Gallery-19362%
Guitar Hero: On Tour grip works with DS Phat
We have to admit that the first time we saw the elegant, though not particularly guitar-like peripheral Activision had created for the DS' Guitar Hero: On Tour, we were concerned. It wasn't the missing orange button (we're fans of anything getting easier, whether it's fake guitar playing or cutting things), no, we were more worried that owners of the original DS (the DS Phat, on the streets) would be excluded from the fun by their system's girth. But now, Activision has dispelled our fears with the announcement that the Guitar Grip will work with both of the models. Now, Phatties, as for actually being able to see the notes in anything but perfect lighting, we're afraid you're on your own on that one. [Thanks, Kaelora]
Gamestop shreds out Guitar Hero price, release date
A listing for Guitar Hero: On Tour has appeared on the site of retailer Gamestop, revealing both a release date and price for Vicarious Visions' shred-a-thon. While neither has been officially confirmed by publisher Activision, Gamestop's date (June 29th) does at least fall in line with Activision's announcement from Wednesday regarding a summer release. What's probably of greater interest is the price. Because the title is to ship with the much-discussed Guitar Grip, Gamestop has On Tour listed for $49.99. Which begs the next, obvious question: will you pay the extra monies to rock out portably? [Thanks, Max!]
Guitar Hero: On Tour to feature Nirvana, No Doubt, OK Go
Okay, so maybe they don't look all that elated to hear about Nirvana's inclusion in Guitar Hero: On Tour, but we struggled to contain our glee upon reading that Kurt and co. would be appearing in the game (despite some reservations about how it actually plays). We consider ourselves experts, don'cha know. Nirvana will be joined by west coast warblers No Doubt and OK Go, but there's no news on which songs will feature. That said, we're going to go out on a limb and suggest that the OK Go song will be the only OK Go song that anybody knows anything about. Bet we're not wrong. We'll be able to play as one of six characters, and there'll be five different venues for us to get kicked off stage at. Don't think the DS's other features are getting neglected, either -- the microphone can be used to "extinguish a pyrotechnics effects gone wrong," (hark, do we hear the sound of barrels being scraped?) and it's possible to autograph the shirts of your adoring fans in the middle of a set (which actually sounds quite novel). [Via Games Press]
Guitar Hero: On Tour and 'Guitar Grip' DS peripheral revealed
click to enlarge Finally, after months of speculation and funny Photoshop mockups of little guitars, Activision has spilled some details on the portable DS release of Guitar Hero dubbed, as expected, Guitar Hero: On Tour. Most notable is the hardware peripheral that looks decidedly unlike a mini-guitar. Instead, the "Guitar Grip" gives you not only a place to grip your DS while playing, but four "fret" buttons and a storage slot for the game's sure-to-be-lost-quickly "guitar pick" that you "strum" on the touch-screen. Since the luckier amongst us have a full set of five fingers – with our poor thumbs reduced to simply gripping things – we're anticipating a significantly easier gameplay experience than On Tour's five-buttoned siblings. But what about the music, man? Karthik Bala, CEO of developer Vicarious Visions, says "There are more than 20 songs in the game, with the majority being exclusive to Guitar Hero: On Tour." he continues, "We've done custom note tracking for all the songs and over 80 percent of the songs are original, master recordings." We're not sure what 20 master recordings are going to sound like once they've been squished into a DS cart, but we're hopeful they've addressed that concern. Close-up shot of the Guitar Grip and cheesy marketing vid embedded after the break. Read – Exclusive Reveal: Guitar Hero DS [IGN] Read – Guitar Hero: On Tour Interview [Yahoo]
At last: Guitar Hero on Tour, now with wacky peripheral
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Guitar_Hero_DS_confirmed_with_pics_of_wacky_peripheral'; More like Tiny Accordion Hero, amirite? Dying to know how you'll shred in portable fashion? The wait is over, Guitar Hero fans -- at least, the DS peripheral has been revealed, along with some screenshots from the title. It's called the Guitar Grip, and it will fit snugly into the GBA slot and wrap around while players hold the system sideways. Gameplay-wise, it's -- no surprise here -- Guitar Hero, as it should be. The touchscreen is where it all happens; you follow the song on the left screen, and strum on the right. You even get to throw down with Star Power, and for those of you who take your throwdowns seriously, there's a strap to ensure that your handheld stays held. The Grip also includes a slot for a special pick stylus. However, as you can see, there are only four buttons for the DS version ... and we can't help but wonder how the different slot on the Lite vs. Phat will be handled. On Tour features multiplayer via local wireless, in which players will have access to unique powerups that disrupt their opponents by, among other things, setting their guitars on fire and forcing them to extinguish the blaze with the microphone. Guitar Hero on Tour is set for some time, some day this summer -- all we know is that it's not soon enough. For now, hit the jump for some additional shots, as well as a video.
Rumor: Guitar Hero DS nameless no longer
It looks like the filing of a new trademark may have inadvertently exposed the real name of Guitar Hero DS, after online trademark-spotters at Trademork picked up on Activision's registration of the words "Guitar Hero On Tour." Obviously, some company filing something doesn't always mean what we think it means. But then again, there's decent evidence in this case to suggest that the DS game will be known as Guitar Hero: On Tour (indeed, we're so confident that we're already italicizing it). For a start, that "On Tour" suffix suggests portability. Secondly, the game is supposedly due out soon. And finally, French site Wiiz mentions the game under the title of, yep, Guitar Hero: On Tour. [Via Joystiq]
'Guitar Hero: On Tour' trademarked, possible name for DS version
The trademark hunters over at Trademork have latched on to a Jan. 19 trademark filing by Activision for the words "Guitar Hero On Tour." "Big deal," you might well say. "That trademark could be for anything. A national promotional tour ... a Guitar Hero themed safari adventure ... a new show on the Travel Channel ... anything!" That's a good point, but when you put the trademark together with a Wiiz.fr post (picked up by GoNintendo) that lists Guitar Hero: On Tour as the name for the previously confirmed DS version of the game, then things get interesting. Of course, knowing the probable name of the upcoming DS game doesn't really tell us much about how Activision is planning to squeeze Guitar Hero's larger-than-life gameplay onto the DS' small screens. Still, this information could be useful for impressing friends. Try this: The next time Guitar Hero comes up in conversation, casually mention that you "can't wait for Guitar Hero: On Tour" and watch your buddy's face sink in awe of your amazingly wide gaming knowledge. You can thank us later. We accept checks and money orders. [Via CVG]
