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Guitar Hero World Tour Xbox bundles $99 at Wal-Mart
Now, we know that Guitar Hero World Tour isn't nearly as a good as that other rhythm title, but if you're a starving faux-artist on a budget, you might be interested to know that Wal-Mart is offering the Xbox 360 version of the full band World Tour bundle for a mere $99. We'd rather see a price cut for that other game, but you can't really complain about all the plastic instruments you can bring home for that kind of cash. There's no telling how long this "Rollback" offer will last, so if you'd best act quick, lest you be stuck with having to pick up the other, much better rhythm title.Oh, who are we kidding. Wal-Mart doesn't sell Gitaroo Man anymore.
Guitar Hero: Smash Hits trailer has that old familiar feeling
The debut trailer for Activision's "greatest hits" collection of classic Guitar Hero tracks, aptly titled Guitar Hero: Smash Hits, is fairly straightforward in purpose. Yes, it explains you'll be playing through 48 formerly guitar-only songs with a full band. Yes, it reveals a number of the tracks appearing on the setlist -- namely, "I Love Rock N' Roll," "Carry On Wayward Son," "I Wanna Rock," "Message in a Bottle," "Bark at the Moon," "Through the Fire and Flames," and "Freebird."However, does it reveal the inclusion of Spinal Tap's masterpiece, "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight?" No, it does not -- and so we shall wait, arms folded, face frozen in a skeptical sneer until next Thursday, when the next batch of Hits will be revealed.
Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits' smashing new title
Activision must have been under tremendous pressure to develop an empirical method of determining the greatest songs in the Guitar Hero series for Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits. It would be difficult to pick the determining factors: fan votes? Number of notes? Length? Sales as DLC? Sales of the original record? Some kind of measure of volunteers' brain activity while playing? It's a big question. And what if songs came out after the release of the collection that were even greater than the Greatest Hits? Then the title would be a lie!Activision's solution: change the title to Guitar Hero: Smash Hits. That's safe from potential inaccuracy, because it doesn't really mean anything! That "The best of Guitar Hero music" line at the bottom kind of ruins our theory about the name change. Ignore that part.%Gallery-46942%[Via GoNintendo]
Guitar Hero: Metallica supports Lips mic, Rock Band 2 patch 'this summer'
Microsoft has issued a plea to new and future purchasers of Guitar Hero: Metallica for Xbox 360 to also please, please, PLEASE buy its Lips karaoke game -- for the microphones. Didn't you know? The metal music game features built-in support for those uh-huh-they-do-sparkle mics. Neversoft, the current Guitar Hero developer, initially confirmed this compatibility -- which isn't coming to World Tour -- on its Twitter feed last month, but the posting has since been removed. Nevertheless, Guitar Hero: Metallica is the first music game to support the much praised, wireless Lips peripheral, which has been unsuccessfully bundled with a mediocre singing game.Additionally, Microsoft has tentatively dated that long-ago-promised Rock Band 2 patch for "this summer" and suggested that additional titles supporting its mic will be available later this year. When, surely, we'll be able to purchase a standalone Lips mic. Pretty please?
Guitar Hero: Metallica ads ditch Heidi Klum for college basketball coaches
According to an Activision Blizzard press release, we won't be seeing more Heidi Klum in ads for upcoming Guitar Hero: Metallica, as the company has revealed a new advertising campaign focusing on college basketball coaches. In an attempt to capitalize on all of this March Madness hoopla, the new ad features four famous college basketball coaches (from left to right: Roy Williams, Rick Pitino, Bob Knight, and Mike "Coach K" Krzyzewski) and their "surprise encounter" with Metallica. As you can tell from the image above, the new ad will continue the Risky Business theme, but includes a surprise ending where we see all all four coaches walking home through the snow, uphill, with no shoes on. Watch it for yourself after the break.
PSA: Guitar Hero: Metallica melting faces, store shelves today [update]
We thought we'd pass along a courteous reminder from Activision informing the gaming community that Guitar Hero: Metallica began rocking store shelves today. If you haven't found current full-band simulators to be punishing enough, Metallica promises to deliver with an "Expert +" mode, double kick pedals, and guitar solos capable of turning even the sturdiest fingers into tiny puddles of red goo. If you've got $59.99 lying around (or $49.99 for the Wii version, $39.99 for the PS2), you can simulate "riding the lightning"* with unparalleled accuracy.*Warning: Riding lightning can lead to unintended health consequences in the groin region, including serious unsightly burns and impotence. Consult your doctor before deciding to mount any arcs of electricity.Update: The PS2 version isn't actually dropping until Sunday, May 24 -- meaning Activision is effectively tainting two of 2009's Sabbath days with a touch of unholy metal.
GH Metallica demo on XBLM, nothing else matters
Ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys, get your plastic instruments ready: A demo for Guitar Hero: Metallica is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. The demo allows you to rock out on bass, drums, guitar and vocals.Undoubtedly the most exciting Guitar Hero release since the last Guitar Hero release -- but not nearly as exciting as the next Guitar Hero release -- Guitar Hero: Metallica is one seriously heavy metal game. It seems pretty heavy anyway, considering the demo weighs in at over one gig. Queue it up for download by clicking here.[Via Major Nelson]
Joystiq impressions: Guitar Hero: Metallica
Imagine if Guitar Hero: World Tour featured a song selection consisting mostly of songs by Metallica, contained trivia about Metallica and let you play as video game-ified likenesses of Metallica. That is Guitar Hero: Metallica. Is it fun? Sure. Is it for non-fans? Eh, maybe. Is there anything remotely new about it apart from the fact that it's totally, completely, fully and thoroughly Metallica? Yes.In a move to make the game more party-friendly than GHWT from the get-go, Neversoft has thoughtfully unlocked every song on the disc in Quick Play mode; playing through career mode is mainly about unlocking items and the overall Metallica "experience." Which, as we found, starts out by having you play a couple of songs by the metal legends then becoming so inspired that you start your own band (who you play the games non-Metallica songs as).%Gallery-47658%
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."
Guitar Hero exclusive: Rise Against's 'Death Blossoms'
Punk rock band Rise Against will exclusively debut its previously unreleased track "Death Blossoms" as Guitar Hero World Tour downloadable content.The new song, along with the band's "Audience of One" and "Ready to Fall" tracks, will be released on both XBLM and PSN on March 12 as the Rise Against Track Pack (440 / $5.49). Each track will also be available as an individual download for 160 / $2.We're told the band's lead singer, Tim McIlrath, will log onto Xbox Live on March 14 (Gamertag: GHRiseAgainst1) to participate in a Br-br-br-brush "Game with Fame" session, allowing would-be wailers to participate in a karaoke-style showdown with the singer. Mind the coffee table!
World Tour adds Queen, Hendrix and European DLC in March
Activision decided today was the opportune date to announce all of the upcoming Guitar Hero World Tour downloadable content to be released in the month of March.Musical goodness from Queen, Jimi Hendrix and a handful of European bands will be bicycle racing to the XBLM and PSN this month, including three songs from Vanilla Sky, Rasmus and Les Rita Mitsouko that'll be available this Thursday.A complete listing of all the upcoming World Tour DLC can be viewed after the break, but be warned that some may find the release of both Queen and Hendrix songs in one month to be too overwhelming. For those music enthusiasts, we recommend taking a seat before continuing.
Guitar Hero World Tour standalone drums arrive Feb. 15, priced at $100
Attention virtual rockers, Neversoft has announced that the Guitar Hero World Tour drum set will finally be available as a standalone product beginning February 15. The drums will come at a price of $100 -- $10 more than the Rock Band 2 drums -- and will be available at Best Buy and GameStop. Unfortunately, this only applies to North America, as Neversoft notes the drums will arrive in Europe and Australia "at a later date."While the World Tour drums are more expensive than the base Rock Band 2 set, it's worth noting that adding the cymbal expansions to Rock Band 2's set makes them slightly more expensive. Taking a look at Amazon (with prices lower than retail), the Rock Band 2 set with a two-cymbal expansion amounts to $107.92.Be sure to check out Joystiq's Instrument Compatibility Matrix if you plan to pick up a set.
Guitar Hero World Tour Monthly: Wings, Bob Seger, Shins, Incubus, Ryan Adams
Much like it did last month, Activision Blizzard has announced three new DLC packs for Guitar Hero World Tour due out in February. Let's hope this remains a dodeca-annual affair.Acoustic Track Pack (440 / $5.49) "Drive" - Incubus (160 / $2) "New Slang' - The Shins (160 / $2) "Wonderwall (Oasis cover)" - Ryan Adams (160 / $2) Wings Track Pack (440 / $5.49) "Junior's Farm" (160 / $2) "Hi Hi Hi" (160 / $2) "Jet" (160 / $2) Bob Seger Track Pack (440 / $5.49) "Old Time Rock and Roll" (160 / $2) "Her Strut" (160 / $2) "Get out of Denver (live)" (160 / $2) The Acoustic Track Pack is coming Thursday, February 12, followed by Wings and Seger on the two Thursdays after that, respectively, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii. Check out videos for the first trio after the break.
NPD: Guitar Hero World Tour outsells Rock Band 2 by 2:1 in 2008
The NPD Group has tallied up all of the SKUs for Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero World Tour -- both multi-instrument packs and separate games -- and found that Activision / Neversoft's rocker came out on top with 3.4 million units sold last year, twice the number achieved by Rock Band 2 (1.7 million). Though the staggered release dates (especially for Wii) didn't help matters, this hardly indicates a terrible loss for EA's side. The Guitar Hero branding is, after all, a powerful force to be reckoned with. We'd be interested to see how the original Rock Band fared last year, given that it's also competing for living room space alongside the other two. And hey, why not throw in some Rock Revolution sales data? We could use a laugh.
2008 showed World Tour defeat Rock Band 2 in sales
In 2008, Guitar Hero World Tour sold a lot of copies to anxious would-be rockers. Its competition, Rock Band 2, also sold a lot of copies, but, in the end, was not enough to best Activision's title. So, you want exact figures? Well, World Tour unloaded 3.4 million copies on consumers, across all platforms, whereas Rock Band 2 only sold 1.7 million, across all platforms, according to the NPD. Interesting stuff.What we'd like to know, however, is how World Tour stacks up against Rock Band when including the first game into the mix. Has the Rock Band franchise sold more than 3.4 million units? Guess we'll have to wait and see on that one. Considering how well Rock Band did on Wii and other platforms, it would be very interesting to see them stacked side-by-side.%Gallery-23491%
GH World Tour DLC: Aussie rock lives!
Australian rock has just made its way to Guitar Hero World Tour thanks to today's released Aussie Track Pack downloadable content. Three songs from artists Silverchair, Wolfmother, and The Vines are individually available for 160 Microsoft points or as an Aussie Track Pack for 440 points. It's Aussie rock without the kangaroos or bitey crocs. Aussie Track Pack - 440 "Tomorrow" by Silverchair - 160 "Dimension" by Wolfmother -160 "Outtathaway!" by The Vines - 160 [Image]
Guitar Hero: Metallica lands March 29 in NA, other regions in May
It's not just a rumor anymore, metal-heads. The official release date for Guitar Hero: Metallica has been announced. The game will be launching in North America on March 29 and will release in other regions sometime in May. So, start preparing your fingers for the inevitable calluses and start drinking all the Red Bull you can stomach, because Guitar Hero: Metallica is going to be hard. With 28 Mettalica tracks and plenty of guest artists, it's not a game for lightweights. No, you'll need to be a serious fake musician if you want to hang with the big boys. What you do with your fake groupies, well, that's up to you.[Via Joystiq]
Guitar Hero DLC: Travis Barker track pack
World renowned drummer Travis Barker from such bands as blink-182, +44 and Transplants has been graced with his own dedicated track pack today in Guitar Hero: World Tour. At 440 for the entire three-song pack or 140 160 per track, gamers can rip through three very different Barker sets at different times in his 15 year career. The Travis Barker DLC consists of: "What's My Age Again" by blink-182 "Lycanthrope" by +44 "Low (Travis Barker Remix)" by Flo Rida [Feat.T-Pain] Jump in to check out videos for this week's content.
Neversoft prez says studio has parted ways with Tony Hawk
Believe it or not, it has been just over two years since the last Xbox 360 release of a new Tony Hawk title. Shockingly, Activision decided the series needed a break ... to search for innovation, presumably. Since the first Pro Skater title in 1999, Neversoft has been at the helm of the extreme sports series but according to a high-level executive, Neversoft has seen the last of Tony Hawk. Speaking with his hometown newspaper the Great Falls Tribune, Neversoft Entertainment co-founder and president Joel Jewett confirmed his studio is no longer working on the Tony Hawk series. "It's time for someone else to add fresh ideas to it," Jewett told the Tribune. Neversoft is currently the development team behind Activision's popular Guitar Hero franchise. While Activision has not confirmed a Neversoft / Tony Hawk split, rumors are already pointing to newly formed studio Robomodo, which includes refugees from the unfortunate EA Chicago and Studio Gigante closures, as the new home for the skateboarding series. At this point, the series would benefit from a fresh set of eyes.
Neversoft bails: Tony Hawk's next game developed by another studio
We haven't heard much on the latest Tony Hawk game that is supposed to be in development, aside from there supposedly being a peripheral key to gameplay that Activision is designing themselves. Well, we've got some news now: Neversoft, the developers who started the franchise, have handed off the duties to another developer. Why? Because they need to concentrate on Guitar Hero.So who's working on the new game? Well, word is that it's Robomodo, a developer that has some ex-EA employees within its ranks. Turns out part of that rumor from EGM was true. We're fully expecting an announcement soon, with a look at a new peripheral to play the game. Just look at what they're doing with the DS game.[Via Joystiq]
