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Red Octane on GHII X-plorer issues
After a request for comment from Joystiq, Red Octane has officially responded to the reported problems with the Xbox 360 Guitar Hero II X-plorer guitar. For those that missed the news, it seems that many people are experiencing problems using the whammy bar on the X-plorer guitar for the Xbox 360 version of GHII. Some claim that it is slow to respond to input, or that it doesn't respond at all. Users are also complaining of faulty tilt controls. There are two different controller models, distinguishable by the location of the pedal jack (either near the power cable, or near the headset jack and shoulder strap; both models pictured above). We've received reports of problems with both models.In response to the reported problems, a spokesman from Red Octane told Joystiq, "In regards to the controller, we're currently in the process of having our internal QA and production teams look into this possible issue, and are working to quickly isolate this if there is one. In the meantime, we suggest our fans try to replug in their guitars without holding down any buttons or the whammy bar, and that may help immediately resolve the issue." You heard the man, you'd best resist the urge to fiddle with your whammy bar when plugging in your guitar. As for the "recall," Guitar Hero's street date lockout caused Target computers to register the product as "Recall for Sale." For now, there is no official recall of Guitar Hero II and its X-plorer guitar. In the meantime, Red Octane is investigating any flaws in the X-plorer hardware.
GH II event in NYC featuring Gene Simmons
Major sent word that Microsoft will be hosting a Guitar Hero II event featuring KISS rocker Gene Simmons in New York City. The event will be held next Wednesday, April 11th at the NYC Virgin Megastore starting at 12:30PM and should wrap up around 2:30PM. Not only will Gene Simmons be rocking it out on stage, but five GH II champions will be competing and Major Nelson will be floating around doing his thing. NYC residents mark your calendars, because next Wednesday you'll be in the presence of five rock gods and Gene Simmons too. Don't you just love marketing events?[Via Major Nelson]
X-plorer problems, potential recall?
Apparently, all is not well in the land of rock. Reports are coming in to Joystiq that many Guitar Hero X-plorer guitars have unresponsive whammy bars. We've also received reports, along with Joystiq, that some Target stores are refusing to sell the game, saying that there has been a recall. We have been unable to confirm whether or not there has been a recall yet, though we should know sometime today.Here at Fanboy Towers, we have at least one broken X-plorer, owned by none other than our own David Dreger. It seems that there are two variants of the X-Plorer, one with the pedal jack near the power cord and one with the pedal jack on the bottom of the guitar (near the headset jack and shoulder strap). Joystiq reports that the problem exists in the variant with the pedal jack near the power cord, but David claims otherwise, as his pedal jack is on the bottom. If you've been upset because you cannot yet afford Guitar Hero II (like me), then you may want to hold off a bit longer to see where this all goes. We'll keep you posted on the situation as it develops.[Via Joystiq]Update: Added some language to clarify what is meant by the "bottom" of the guitar.
GHII X-plorer plays nice with Rock Band
For those about to rock that just plunked down $90 for Guitar Hero II, we have some good news. On the official Rock Band website, a Harmonix developer by the name of Jason Booth has confirmed that older Guitar Hero guitars will work with the upcoming title. We assume he's referring to the Xbox 360 X-plorer guitar, as the PS2 guitars are essentially incompatible with the PS3.The politics of this announcement are interesting, as the next iteration of Guitar Hero will be developed by Neversoft instead of Harmonix. Harmonix, meanwhile, is working with MTV and Electronic arts on Rock Band. If Harmonix owns the rights to the Guitar Hero controller, it could mean Neversoft will have to develop a completely new one for Guitar Hero III. Throw in RedOctane's (and thus Activision's) legal battle with The Ant Commandos and it gets even more confusing.Granted, GHIII is still a ways off, but we don't relish the idea of dishing out gargantuan sums of money every time a new music game hits.Here's hoping the X-plorer will be compatible across the board.[Via TeamXbox]
Former RedOctane employees legally lose their rhythm
Two former RedOctane employees, Guitar Hero II executive producer John Tam and brand manager Corey Fong, have settled with Activision regarding a lawsuit the publisher filed against the duo, GameSpot reports. The other parties involved -- PR firm Reverb Communications, peripheral manufacturer The Ant Commandos and former RedOctane employee Jamie Yang -- have not currently settled.Activision claims that Tam and Fong had used their knowledge of its rhythm games improperly in creating and showcasing a demo that aimed at getting funding for a new development house, Lodestone Entertainment (formerly Hourglass Interactive), that intended to develop rhythm titles. Tam and Fong have consented to the judge's permanent injunction that bars the duo from the following: Using the demo they created, which is said to have incorporated elements of Guitar Hero and StepMania, in any way Disclosing or act upon any Activision trade secrets Developing drum-, guitar-, or synthesizer-based games for the next year Working on any Guitar Hero II controllers for the Xbox 360 until six months after the game's release this week Developing any sort of competition for unspecified peripheral devices (effects pedals, perhaps?) found on a confidential list held by Activision until six months after they are released Additionally, Tom and Fong are to turn over "all documents, files, or materials they might have relating to the publisher's proprietary information, Lodestone Interactive, or communications with Reverb and The Ant Commandos" to Activision, according to the report.
As if you need it: Guitar Hero II metareview
Yeah, we know, you're probably sick of all the Guitar Hero II coverage by now, but we promise this we be the last GHII story for at least the next hour or so. Without further ado, behold what the critics have to say about Guitar Hero II. IGN (9.4/10) - "Guitar Hero II on Xbox 360 is the best iteration of the hit music rhythm game yet, but it's also an important addition to the Xbox 360 library. On a console dominated by shooters and action titles, it is one of the few titles that everyone can and will enjoy. RedOctane and Harmonix put their best foot forward with this release The result is a port that adds enough content to make it worth a second look from the hardcore fans, especially with the downloadable songs, and a game that is put together so well that all newcomers should give it a try." TeamXbox (9.3/10) - "The audio was also enhanced in the title's move to the Xbox 360, so if you have a surround-sound setup, you'll really enjoy GHII. On the other side of the coin, the well-defined audio makes some of the weaker song covers stand out that much more. Every time the singer overemphasizes the "RRRRR" in Nirvana's Heart-Shaped Box, [it] felt like fingernails on a blackboard to my ears. " Game Informer (9.5/10) - "Guitar Hero II is a fantastic game. If you haven't already, go out and buy it. It's just that simple." As you can see, a negative review was difficult to find. In fact, 4 of the 12 reviews on Metacritic scored the game at an even 100 out of 100, and none of the remaining reviews dipped below 90. If you believe the critics, it's going to be hard to find a better way to spend $90. What say you fanboys, is it worth it?
Guitar Hero II Rocks out today
We've waited for months for this day, and lo, it has arrived. Guitar Hero II is out and ready to allow you to jam to the likes of Aerosmith, KISS, Alice Cooper, Stone Temple Pilots, and even shed a tear for My Chemical Romance. Packed with 74 songs and downloadable content available in the coming weeks, this spring is starting off with a bang. So here at Fanboy Towers, only two Fanbloggers have the intention of getting the game, half of which are able to pick it up today, and we'll let you take the wild guess who's who in that situation. But the situation we want to know is whether any of you, dear readers, are planning on busting out the tunes today. Who here is going to rock out and grab GHII today? How about later?
1600 MSFT points free with GH II purchase
Guitar Hero II is coming out tomorrow (even though some of you have your hands on it already) and we feel that our blogging duty requires us to tell you about the best deal out there. Enter Circuit City's gracious offering. This week at Circuit City, when you pick up Guitar Hero II for $89.99 they'll give you a FREE 1600 Microsoft Points card. Yup, that's a $20 value kids. You can then use those points to purchase the recently confirmed Guitar Hero tracks that will be on the XBLM next week or just splurge on random XBLA games or themes. Now, who says corporate retail giants don't care about the consumer's best interest?
Instruction Manual confirms pedal for Guitar Hero's future
When you get your hands on a copy of Guitar Hero II, tomorrow, you'll find in the instruction manual the answer to the question which many inquisitive gamers have been pondering: What's that port on the bottom of the axe for? While it's been rumored for an effects pedal since the first shots showing it were released, it can now be confirmed. The manual explicitly states three things, first that it's for an effects pedal. Secondly, it will, naturally, be sold separately, and finally, that the feature is currently unavailable. We'll probably see it get use in the next iteration of Guitar Hero's series. Would you welcome some footwork when rocking out?
Guitar Hero II getting original's tracks
In their recent Guitar Hero II review, IGN confirms that the original Guitar Hero tracks will be available for purchase from the XBLM. They are reporting that one week after GH II's release (which would be next week) Red Octane will be releasing various original GH tracks for the Xbox 360 version including Ozzy's "Bark at the Moon", Incubus' "Stellar", and "Higher Ground" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The other obvious question would be how much each track will end up costing, something we'll only know when the new tracks hit the XBLM. We're hoping the downloadable tracks end up being relatively cheap, but we're wondering how much you would be willing to shell out per new song.[Thanks, murph]
Video: Fan Made Mjolnir Mix on GHII
So, last month we reported the OXM rumor about Halo 2's "Mjolnir Mix" getting into Guitar Hero II for the 360. Well, GameTrailers user moistpjs (heh) made a video from the PS2 version of the game that gives an interesting take on how it would play. Due to our newbian skills, however, we can't figure out if we can embed User made content from Gametrailers, or how he made it all happen. Either it was some very impressive editing skills, or most likely, he haxx0red the song into the game on his PS2 and set the note structure to the music. Whatever way he managed to pull it off, it's a job very well done on his part and we hope to see something official from RedOctane that follows suit in the form of downloadable content off of Xbox Live Marketplace. What did you think of the video? Would you play that song on your 360 version of GHII in a heartbeat?[Via HBO]
A Guitar Hero noob: the obsession begins
So, we went to Best Buy earlier today to nab a replacement headset -- Fancast recording sessions can get a little ... rough -- and then we saw it. Sitting next to the demure Wii kiosk and the somewhat more imposing PS3 kiosk was, naturally, the 360 kiosk. But what was this attached to it? A ... a guitar? We strapped on the white X-plorer guitar, hit up the tutorials, and began to learn about rocking. It wasn't long before we were champing at the bit to play the real thing. Picking Nirvana's "Heart-shaped Box," we began our first foray into Guitar Hero II (die-hard Xbox fanboys that we are, we hadn't experienced the game on PS2). We were ready to rock, or at least that's what we thought. The song, in a twisted reversal of the natural order, proceeded to own us, and on medium (medium!) difficulty, no less. After a quick switch to easy difficulty (oh the shame), we slowly came to grips with the controls and managed to recreate a reasonable facsimile of Nirvana.But that was on easy and our fingers were already cramped. Still, we want more, a lot more. It took some willpower to walk out of that Best Buy and continue blogging, knowing that Guitar Hero II was only 2 miles away. We take considerable comfort knowing that $90 will be ripped from our wallet next week when Guitar Hero II finally arrives. We take comfort because that transaction is no longer a choice. It's a necessity.
Snag Guitar Hero II for $10 less
360 Fanboy reader, Nitin, sends us word that he received a coupon from Best Buy offering $10 off games and accessory purchases of $75 dollars or more. Now, it just so happens that Guitar Hero II will set you back 90 clams when it debuts on Arpil 3rd, and it just so happens that the Best Buy coupon expires on April 4th. You see where we're going with this? Of course, there is one possible caveat. According to the fine print, the coupon doesn't include video game hardware. Now, we're pretty sure that refers to actual consoles, but don't blame us if the guy behind the counter says the guitar counts as hardware.At any rate, you were going to pick up GHII anyway, right? You might as well try and save 10 bucks.[Thanks, Nitin]
Guitar Hero II tourney in Florida April 7th
With Guitar Hero II mere weeks away from release, competitions were bound to start to get planned. GameHQ is holding a tournament on April 7th, sponsored by Red Octane. The catch, of course, is that it takes place in Deland, Florida at the Sunshine Bowling Center. Festivities start at 7:00 pm and there are unspecified prizes to be given to true rockers. We do like the name of the group, though: G.H.O.U.L., the Guitar Hero Organized Underground League. So, if you live in that region of America's wang, are you going to see what all the fuss is about? If so, will you start practicing now on the PS2's version, or wait until you pick it up for 360?
Guitar Hero II hits UK on Good Friday
So on Friday, or maybe it was Thursday, we told you that Guitar Hero II was releasing on April 3rd in North America. Well, fortunately the blokes over in the UK won't have to wait too much longer after the fact to get their grubby hands on a guitar controller. According to Eurogamer, Activision US also announced that the UK should have Guitar Hero II hit store shelves on April 6th, Good Friday. Hopefully there will some stores open for business to sell it to eager gamers looking to rock out on the long weekend. [Via QJ.net]
Guitar Hero II rocks 360 on April 3rd
Screw Guitar Hero II demo stations! Why waste time with a puny demo station when you can bag the real thing in just two weeks? That's right, Activision has officially announced that Guitar Hero II will release on April 3rd. Wait a minute, that sounds awfully familiar. Oh, that's because we reported it two months ago, booyah!At any rate, in just over two weeks, budding 360 rockers will finally get to lay down some righteous chops with the best of them. The 360 version of GHII features the all new X-plorer guitar, updated graphics, and 10 exclusive new songs. Not only that, but Red Octane already has a ton of downloadable content in the pipeline.So, 360 fanboys, we ask you: are you ready to RAWK?![Via Joystiq]
Guitar Hero II surfs Xbox 360 crowd on April 3
Activision has grabbed the nearest microphone and screeched out the official release date for the Xbox 360's Guitar Hero II. "Pay attention you motherfrackers, drop the keyboards PC hackers, Guitar Hero II drops April three, get out your wallets these frets ain't free! Woooowrgh!" You'll likely be able to obtain much better tunes than that lyrical atrocity later on, thanks to this version's ability to download a "consistent stream of new tracks" from Xbox Live. RedOctane's Dusty Welch notes in the press release that the online component "is going to provide an incredible opportunity for our fans to extend the gameplay experience, and we have ambitious ideas to continue to fully support these efforts." Sadly, said ambitious ideas don't include online multiplayer just yet. [Image: NeoGAF]
Guitar Hero II demo stations next week?
One of X3F's regular anonymous tipsters has given us ... um ... an anonymous tip. What tip you ask? It looks like we might start seeing Guitar Hero II demo stations as early as next week in retailers like Wal-Mart. Our tipster reports that demo units are already being delivered to retailers. What is more, the X-plorer guitar that comes with GHII will feature a normal USB connection -- not exactly a surprise really -- which may allow PC users to find ways to utilize the controller.So, there you have it, start looking for Guitar Hero II demo kiosks starting next week. Be sure and send the news to X3F when you find one. We're just as excited to get our hands on the game after all.[Thanks, Anonymous Rep]
EA busting into rhythm games 'sooner than you think'
Much like its title implies, Guitar Hero arrived as a sort of savior for a rhythm genre that had grown a little too obsessed with hypnotic arrows for its own good. The rocking success of Red Octane's franchise thrust the genre back into the console limelight, with its financial gyrations quickly drawing the fixation of several publishers. According to a recent interview conducted by Stephen Totilo of MTV News, EA is one such a publisher.Upon being asked about EA's plans in response to the success enjoyed by titles such as Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution, EA's Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing indicates that the gigantic publisher is already positioning itself on the diving board. "I've been pushing for a long time to be honest with you," says Steve Schnur. "I think you'll see us breaking into the genre sooner than you think."Of course, one could argue that EA is already doing so with the upcoming Boom Boom Rocket, an Xbox Live Arcade title which sees (and hears) players detonating fireworks in rhythm to music. Is the Bizarre-developed title merely the first step in an increasingly complex dance maneuver? And more importantly, will there be an insane peripheral? If anybody's going to exploit the untapped Glockenspiel-breakdancing market, it'll be EA.See also: Electronic Arts mixes on iTunes
Video: Guitar Hero II DLC Details and More???
GameTrailers sat down with Bryan Lam of Red Octane to talk about Guitar Hero II, and he touches on a lot of the latest topics regarding the title. He brings up the amount of downloadable content they're bringing, the availability of the original Guitar Hero songs on Marketplace, wireless guitar controllers, Neversoft taking the helm for the next game, and even implementing online co-op in the future. All in all it's a very interesting sheds light on many things that are on gamer's minds about GH II. It's also available in HD if you're into that resolution.
