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It's true, Guitar Hero II price and tracks confirmed
Last week an employee at EB Games wrote in telling us that Guitar Hero II for the Xbox 360 was available for preorder and was going to cost us $89.99. There was no preorder page online at the time, so we couldn't confirm the price. But now the page is up and you can preorder Guitar Hero II online at EB Games and check out the song tracks too! Head over there to reserve your $89.99 copy and read through the track listings. See guys, our readers are the best tippers on the net and you doubted them? For shame! Complete track listing after the break and preordering info after the jump.[Thanks, to everyone who sent this in]
Neversoft to develop Guitar Hero sequel
Activision looks to be taking full advantage of the Red Octane acquisition as Neversoft is gearing up to take on the illustrious Guitar Hero franchise. While there was a small blurb in the latest issue of EGM concerning this very arrangement, Neversoft has updated their website tonight in hopes of bringing some new talent to the board specifically to rock. GameDaily seems confident that Neversoft will take over the franchise beginning with Guitar Hero III, but this is only one possibility. Other current Guitar Hero rumors (again, perpetuating from EGM) include an 80's version of the series to see release this year, which Neversoft could be working on, leaving the brand name sequels to Harmonix.And where does this leave Harmonix? While one would assume they'll still be involved with the series, they could very well be off starting up a new franchise, or perhaps working on one of those rumored Amplitude sequels. Regardless, they've laid out the foundation for an extremely popular and established series. Hopefully this changing of the guard will be more like a Sammy Hagar and less like a Gary Cherone.
Guitar Hero II for preorder, $89.99
Mark, an employee at his local EB Games, sent us a tip that the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II is now available to preorder at their stores. He also mentioned that the full price of the game, including guitar, will be $89.99. Currently, there is no page up on either Gamestop.com or EBgames.com to preorder the bundle, so we can't actually confirm the price. If anyone is heading to Gamestop or EB Games in the near future please ask about Guitar Hero II and how much you can preorder it for. We're an army, a fanboy army, who hungers for knowledge![Thanks, Mark Z.]
Learn to rock and achieve in GHII
Today, Xbox 360 Achievements posted every last achievement for RedOctane's Guitar Hero II. And there's a lot of 'em. Our favorites have to be the Extra Credit Award, Long Road Ahead Award, and for all those rockers who don't give a damn about their fans, the Rock Snob Award. We cannot stress enough how much we enjoy achievements that are spread out in a game making you take in everything it has to offer. Don't you just love well thought out achievements?[Thanks, DaKing240]
Guitar Hero II: online play? Maybe
GameSpy has posted a new preview of Guitar Hero II that answers some of our most burning questions. Of course, no GHII interview would be complete without asking about a wireless guitar. The answer, unfortunately, is the same as always: Microsoft still isn't allowing 3rd party wireless peripherals. Bummer. What about online play? Right now, the game will be limited to leaderboards, but Red Octane is considering adding real online multiplayer via an update in the future. We're keeping our fingers crossed. Finally, the cost of downloadable songs is expected to be on par with other music download services. In other words, it should be something to the tune of $1 a song (get it, tune? Get it? Oh, never mind.).This game cannot come out fast enough.[Thanks, Jonah Falcon]
Video: 360 exclusive GHII song
We are mucho excited for Guitar Hero II to finally make its debut on 360. We're just dying to live out all of our broken dreams. Recently we've been lucky enough to learn about the impending bundle as well as the 360 exclusive songs. Today, we bring you a video of one of those songs, "Possum Kingdom" by the Toadies -- oh, those middle school memories. It's a good song and a great addition to Guitar Hero II. Check it out after the break.
Guitar Hero: distortion pedals on the way?
Game Informer has posted a pretty straightforward preview of the Xbox 360's version of Guitar Hero II, listing the ten exclusive tracks and some of the achievements waiting to be unlocked (both lists after the break). Things get a little more interesting, however, when the focus shifts to a mysterious port situated on the X-plorer controller."While RedOctane wouldn't elaborate on that port's function other than saying it will be 'gnarly,' it's the same port that's used to connect the pedals to the base station on Microsoft's steering wheel. Let's just call that a coincidence for now..." The folks at BBPS stomp the subtlety out of the article and venture that distortion pedals might be due for the next Guitar Hero installment. We don't use the word much, but that really does sound gnarly.[Via BBPS]
GTR interviews Red Octane [update 1]
Godfree of Gamertag Radio had a chance to sit down with Red Octane and discuss Guitar Hero II. He discusses the leaderboards, plans for tournaments, what sorts of downloadable content we can expect (hint: songs), and what's in store for Guitar Hero III. Also, a wireless guitar is in the works but right now it's not even close to official. If you have an idea for songs you'd like to see available for download, head over to the Guitar Hero forums and let your voice be heard.GTR also got a chance to chat with Old Grandma Hardcore, so be sure to check it out.Update: Clarified the wording regarding the wireless guitar.
GH II: 360 exclusive tracks revealed [update 1]
Joystiq brings word that Guitar Hero II info is to be revealed today by TeamXbox. It is expected that they will confirm the March release of the game (just in time for tax season, yay!). Already revealed are 7 of the 10 exclusive Xbox 360 bonus tracks. These eight tracks are: Billion Dollar Babies (Alice Cooper) Dead! (My Chemical Romance) Hush (Deep Purple) Life Wasted (Pearl Jam) Rock N Roll Hoochie Koo (Rick Derringer) Possum Kingdom (Toadies) Salvation (Rancid) The Trooper (Iron Maiden) While most of these songs will be typical covers, it's rumored that Dead! and Possum Kingdom will be the original recordings. So, let's ask the important question: are you ready to rock? We can't here you! We said are you ready to ROCK?!On a side note, what tracks would you like to see available for download?[Via Joystiq]Update: Found a muppet, learned to count to eight.
RedOctane dropping new Xbox 360 Guitar Hero II info tomorrow
RedOctane will be rockin' the Xbox 360 world tomorrow when they make their announcement regarding the upcoming release of Guitar Hero II for that console. They are expected to confirm the March release date, and to cover the new songs this version will have. TeamXbox has the scoop on almost all of the ten new tracks that 360 players will get, which is ten more than the PS2 version for a total of 74. Additionally, Xbox Live will let rockers download songs from the original Guitar Hero (hope that includes the ones you can buy, like The Slip's "Even Rats"), as well as the ability to purchase new songs in the future.Check out their complete coverage, and stay tuned (get it? tuned? Okay, slap us) tomorrow for more after the word hits the show floor.
Guitar Hero II box and bundle pics
RedOctane released some pictures of both the box art and bundle for their upcoming 360 game Guitar Hero II. Not only does the white guitar look sexy, but the promise of additional songs and downloadable content ... we love you RedOctane. Even with the release of these pictures there is still no firm release date set. We're ready for the release though, already bought the purple hair dye, tight leather pants, and Super-X hold hair gel ... let's rock!
Win Guitar Hero II, 'graphed by Dave Navarro
So, maybe the hardcore Guitar Hero thrashers that queued up at the LA Best Buy Monday night didn't care if it was Dave Navarro or Trogdor pimping the sequel to the hit rockstar simulator (groupies and crippling drug addiction not included). But that didn't stop us from getting him to autograph a guitar (and box), along with some Guitar Hero II posters.Of course, we're going to give everything away to a handful of lucky readers. The rules are simple Record a video of yourself playing Guitar Hero 1 (pizza suit optional) Upload that video to Netscape with the tag "GH2contest" Double check to make sure you tagged it right ... otherwise, no prize for you! Vote on your favorite entries, conveniently compiled at Netscape.com/tag/gh2contest We'll give the autographed guitar and game to the entry with the most votes, while the two runners-up will each get a t-shirt and autographed poster So, those are the entry rules ... but what about the fine print? Pretty simple: the contest will be open for three weeks, so you've got some time to get something together; you need to be a US resident (or at least know someone in the US who can receive your prize for you); and you need to own the video content you upload, you can't just submit something you found on the net.
Guitar Hero 2 experts are already better than you
You might think that today's release of Guitar Hero 2 marks the official start of the race to master the game's new songs. But that would be naive. The real battle for Guitar Hero perfection started when the demo was released to the general public in Official Playstation Magazine issue 110. In honor of the official release of the game, we've scrounged up some highly-variable-quality videos showing off some people who are already on their way to true Guitar Heroism.
Report: Microsoft not down with third-party 360 wireless peripherals
In case you haven't been following the virtual rock and roll scene lately, videogame publisher Red Octane recently revealed that there would be no wireless ax for the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II -- even though owners of a "last-gen" console, PlayStation 2, will be able to jam out sans tether. Now since the 360 already ships with wireless technology on board, it would seem relatively simple to implement a cable-free controller for this particular deployment. Not so fast, says Red Octane. According to the studio, Microsoft isn't actually allowing third-party manufacturers to make anything using its proprietary wireless standard -- so while the capability is there, the all-important green light from Redmond is not. It's not clear at this point why a year-old system is being stifled by this seemingly arbitrary restriction, but with the PlayStation 3 offering developers Bluetooth out of the box, it seems that Microsoft either needs to change its tune or risk losing the small-but-vocal "rocker wannabe" demographic to the enemy.[Via Joystiq]
Incoming: official wireless Guitar Hero controllers
A technical marvel and a symbolic gesture of freedom shoved into the grimacing face of the everpresent Man, the wireless controller is practically indispensable in this day and age. As a company that's adequately adjusted to modern times, RedOctane has announced that official and, more importantly, wireless Guitar Hero controllers will be hitting store shelves next month. Eurogamer confirms that the gheetarz will be priced at $59.99 and be fully compatible with both heroic strum sims on the PS2. You can also expect RedOctane to not be sued for making these.Whether this announcement affects the currently tethered (or more "realistic," as the back of the box will point out) Xbox 360 version of the controller remains to be seen, though one can hope that RedOctane's designers are gnawing through prototype cables at this very moment. Incidentally, that suggestion leads to the visual image of their employees being gigantic rats wearing lab coats and wielding plastic guitars in an altogether frightening manner. We're not sure how we feel about that yet.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]See also: Wal-Mart selling Guitar Hero II early? Guitar Hero makes cameo in Veronica Mars The Ant Commandos counter RedOctane and Activision lawsuit
Full Guitar Hero II setlist with 24 bonus tracks
No sooner did we let y'all know that DethKlok, the fictional band in Adult Swim's Metalocalypse, would be making an appearance as an unlockable bonus track in Guitar Hero II, than we found out the entire bonus song list ... 24 tracks in total! It appears certain Wal-Marts, depending on how many copies of Guitar Hero they sold, have demo kiosks with the sequel set up and ready to rock! Twenty-four low-res pictures later, we know the entire list of unlockable songs. Combine those with the forty tracks already confirmed, and you've got yourself quite the rock feast.A notable addition: Popular Flash cartoon -- and Nintendo Tag Team Wrestling alum -- Strong Bad's metal/dragon opus Trogdor (The Burninator). Check out the video -- and the entire 64-track setlist -- after the break, then play the Trogdor game, to hone up on your burninating.[Thanks, notafan]
Guitar Hero II tracks Warrant attention
Check out the list of riff-ready songs Red Octane is including in Guitar Hero II. Of course, we all expect a bunch of extra tracks via XBLM. Speaking of guitar heroes, isn't it satisfying (in a VH1 sort of way) to finally meld your love of all things Xbox with your older sister's crush on erstwhile glam metal heart throb Jani Lane. Have you seen this guy lately? Way too much cherry pie.
Guitar Hero II setlist speculation is over
Over the past several weeks, crafty netizens have managed to piece together an almost comprehensive account of Guitar Hero II's setlist, taking most of the wind out of IGN's big exclusive. Yesterday, IGN had the names of all forty songs delivered unto them on a silver platter -- or maybe it was a fax ... probably an email. The missing tracks: Living End's "Carry Me Home" and Suicidal Tendencies' "Institutionalized."Phew. It's over. Now we know all forty songs; all the names, artists, versions, everything. Except the fifteen unlockable bonus tracks that Red Octane claims are being kept under wraps until the game's November 7th release. Alright crafty internet sleuths, you know what you need to do.The rest of you can peep the entire confirmed list after the break.[Via videogamesblogger.com]
Guitar Hero II setlist finds hell with Danzig, et al
MTV Overdrive's video gaming show, The G-Hole, spent some time with Guitar Hero II at Harmonix's studios in Boston and accidentally let their nosy camera spy some of the title's top secret tracks. This isn't the first time MTV let something slip. Last month, MTV's GameTrailers property accidentally revealed Megadeath's "Hangar 18" and Aerosmith's "Last Child" before their video got pulled. Good thing MTV owns Harmonix now too, eh? The G-Hole episode is still online, but all of the unknown tracks have been blurred out ...... but not before one diligent forum-goer copied down the entire list. Included in the newly revealed tracks are Danzig's "Mother," Kansas' "Carry on My Wayward Son," The Stray Cats' "Rock this Town," and more. In total, 38 of the reported 40 licensed songs have been discovered, with 15 more bonus tracks to come.Check out the list, clipped after the break and -- before you have a temper tantrum 'cause your favorite face melter isn't on there -- tell us what's still missing? We'll take this opportunity to formally request some Tenacious D. Make it happen, Harmonix. [Thanks, Supa]More Guitar Hero:MTV snaps up Guitar Hero developerJoystiq interviews Rob Kay of HarmonixActivision paid nearly $100 million for RedOctaneSpotlight on Harmonix Music
Xbox 360 guitars tethered down by the man
The man, of course, being represented here by a wire. According to a posting on Major Nelson's blog, the Xbox 360 guitar controller (in its current state) is not wireless as many free souls had hoped. Given these wired confines, perhaps the guitar's name, X-plorer, wasn't the greatest of choices. Still, we got along just fine with the PS2 version, so this tidbit of news hardly represents the end of the world as we know it.If you're unwilling to let go of the wireless dream, perhaps you can read something into Major's final statement. "Not sure what the plans are for wireless and the people from Guitar Hero were not talking."
