Vicarious Visions
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Guitar Hero World Tour can save DLC to an SD card
Vicarious Visions' Karthik Bala has once again confirmed paid downloadable content in the Wii version of Guitar Hero World Tour, though current Wii guitar games have left us doubtful of any feature. Furthermore, you'll be able to save your songs to a "Rock Archive" on an SD card, and even play songs from the card without copying them over first. But ... but isn't that completely impossible?Bala also confirmed that despite the new guitar's wacky gimmickry, your old Guitar Hero III (or Guitar Hero: Aerosmith) guitar will work just fine, and that "any USB microphone should work." With all these features, Vicarious Visions is going to have to be really creative if they want to disappoint us.%Gallery-23491%
On Tour finds a home ... page
If you want a simultaneous injection of cheese and rock, head over to the official website for Guitar Hero: On Tour. Even with all the stuff now located in one handy site, it's still hard to tell whether On Tour is meant to be taken seriously, or if it's all just a big funny party. It's probably the most heavily-promoted DS game to come around in a long while, with its own bundle and everything. If you can handle a bit more On Tour media (and an immediate onslaught of rockin' 90s Blink 182) then the website should be pretty enjoyable. Either way, fans will be using the almighty dollar to show their support (or lack thereof) when the game hits stores on June 22. %Gallery-19362% [Via videogamng247]
New Nintendo Channel video goes On Tour
We've gotten a little developer insight into Guitar Hero: On Tour before, but a new video on the Nintendo Channel delves even more into the brains of the Vicarious Visions team. If you want to know things like how the idea for a handheld Guitar Hero came about (besides the fact that Karthik Bala thinks there are no good portable rhythm games), or were curious about the decision to use a DS peripheral with only four buttons, this video will answer all your burning questions. The developers seem more than happy with their final product, so hopefully On Tour lives up to everything they're promising. In any case, playing the game while whitewater rafting seems like a bad idea. The best part of it all is that we've ever-so-kindly put the video right here for your viewing pleasure. So, don't even bother firing up that Wii of yours and just check out the video above. %Gallery-19362%
Guitar Hero DS bundle Tours Europe in July
The force of totally rocking out knows no limits, and cannot be contained by mere geographical boundaries. We like to think that that's why Europe will also be receiving the limited edition Guitar Hero: On Tour DS bundle that we're so on the fence about. It'll come with everything that's the U.S. bundle carries -- silver/black DS Lite with horrible transfer, Guitar Grip, and the game -- and is due out in the region on July 18th. No idea on price yet, but surely anything above £130 would be too much, right? Besides, it's not like we're suffering from a lack of awesome options when it comes to DS hardware. %Gallery-19362% [Via press release]
Guitar Hero: On Tour DS bundle dated for June 22
Ahead of Guitar Hero: On Tour's release later this month, Nintendo has confirmed plans to release a new DS bundled with the portable rhythm game. First revealed in May by Activision publishing boss Mike Griffith last month, and later spotted where a kid can be a kid, the bundle is set for release on June 22 alongside the game, rather than a week later as previously reported. An official price for the package, which will include a new black and silver DS Lite branded with the Guitar Hero logo, has not yet been announced. However, Toys 'R' Us earlier listed the bundle for $179.99 (a listing that has since been removed), giving rockers on the go an idea of how much to scrape together before going on tour.
Checking out Guitar Hero Aerosmith in action
We're interested in the above video of Guitar Hero Aerosmith because it shows what the game will be like when playing with other listed musicians. Unfortunately, it looks like you still have to look at Steven Tyler's scary avatar during songs featuring Aerosmith, like Run D.M.C.'s version of "Walk This Way."You'll also get a glimpse of three of the revealed tracks, which we've heard are easier than their Guitar Hero III counterparts. What say you, Guitar Hero experts? Does the game look less difficult, or is it too hard to tell without knowing more setting details? Gallery: Guitar Hero: Aerosmith (Wii)
Get On Tour one week early at Toys R Us
For those of you looking to take part in the Guitar Hero franchise's transition to the DS, it will delight you to know that big retail chain Toys R Us will have Guitar Hero: On Tour available for you to play a full week before the game's release. On June 14th, between noon and 4pm, shoppers will be able to try the title out at a kiosk set up in the store for it.Any of you going to head down to your local Toys R Us to check this out? Does a week's jump on the game's release actually get you down to the store to play?%Gallery-19362%
Try Guitar Hero: On Tour one week early at Toys R Us
Some of us here at Joystiq still remember the first time we played Super Mario 64, at a Toys "R" Us kiosk set up a month before the game and the Nintendo 64 system were officially released. Compared to that, a four-hour long in-store sneak peak for Guitar Hero: On Tour might not seem as revolutionary, but hey, we'll take what we can get. Players eager for some portable shredding can head to their local TRU between noon and 4 p.m. on June 14 -- one week before the game's June 22 release. Besides getting the opportunity to "prove their shredding skills on the most diverse set list of master tracks ever offered in a Guitar Hero game," as the release puts it, attendees will also receive a "complimentary Guitar Hero sticker, dog tag, and temporary tattoo." Caution: Wearing all three at once may actually transform you into a rock god, accidentally raining rock-infused destruction on the surrounding area. You've been warned. [Via Press Release]
Rock out! Guitar Hero: On Tour DS bundle spotted
Toys 'R' Us has given us the first look at a definite must-have for any on-the-go wannabe rock god. Priced at $179.99, the limited edition Nintendo DS Guitar Hero Bundle includes the game, Guitar Grip, and a swanky two-toned silver & black DS Lite with silkscreened Guitar Hero logo. (You know, in case the stylus strumming and shouts of "Star Power!" don't give away what game you're playing.) The bundle goes on sale June 29, one week after the, er ... "light rock" version of Guitar Hero: On Tour. Given all the evidence, we're pretty much convinced Nintendo is going for some kind of record for "most bundles and color variations of a handheld gaming system ever." [Via 1UP] Read – Joystiq hands-on: Guitar Hero: On Tour
Guitar Hero DS bundle is almost perfect
We love our two-tone DSes around these parts, and the model that will ship as part of the Guitar Hero: On Tour bundle is especially delicious. Frankly, silver and black will always be a winning combination. It's a color scheme that cannot fail to look classy and sleek.Alas, whoever designed this model didn't stop at just silver and black, but also decided to slap that ugly transfer onto the DS's upper lid. We appreciate some Guitar Hero branding was probably required for this, but couldn't it have been a little ... subtler? For those of you who are fans, Toys "R" Us currently has this down for a June 29th release on its site, one week after the game itself hits shelves.%Gallery-19362%[Via Go Nintendo]
Guitar Hero's Bala gives an interview On Tour
In the video above, the awesomely named, handheld rhythm game blasphemer Karthik Bala (not to mention, CEO of Vicarious Visions) explains the perks and inner-workings of Guitar Hero: On Tour. If you're still skeptical about the game's appeal, you'll probably be seduced just by how fun it looks. Of course, there are those of us who can't let go of the all-over-the-place track list, but even so, this video interview makes On Tour look mighty tempting. We're definitely turning into believers for a DS Guitar Hero, but how about you?
Duties of a Guitar Hero #291: Signing fish
Wiiz has several new Guitar Hero: On Tour screens, mainly showing off some of the dastardly tricks you'll be able to pull on your human opponents in the game's multiplayer mode. We still think the idea of setting fire to your foe's guitar and forcing them to extinguish it by blowing on the DS's microphone is really silly, but silly works for us!That said, the above trick is easily our current favorite: sending your opponent a fish mid-strum and getting them to autograph it; because signing fish is just so rock and roll. Check out the gallery for more.%Gallery-19362%
Let's all chip in and buy Karthik Bala a copy of Ouendan
Earlier today, we pointed you in the direction of Joystiq's hands-on impressions of Guitar Hero: On Tour, itself on tour as various websites tried the game out for themselves.One of those sites was ShackNews, which also got to speak to Vicarious Visions CEO Karthik Bala. And we had only just started reading when one of Bala's opening statements got our blood boiling: apparently, Guitar Hero: On Tour was developed to "see if it was even possible to do a really good music rhythm game on a handheld."Altogether now: "WHAAAAAT?!"We can only assume that Bala is totally unaware of the vast treasure trove of rhythm-based awesomeness already available on the DS -- never mind what is still to come, or even on other handhelds.
Friday Video: Samus joins the Ultimate Alliance
For those of you who noticed the PS2 buttons make their way into the video, know that this does come from the PS2 build of the game. You see, Vicarious Visions, the developers behind Marvel: Ultimate Alliance for the PS2, wanted to include both Samus and Link into the game and apparently did without Nintendo's consent. There's a lot of confusion surrounding it and, supposedly, when Nintendo was shown the characters were included in the PS2 version of the game, told Activision to cut them out. The rest is just a bunch of confusing history.
Joystiq hands-on: Guitar Hero: On Tour
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Hands_on_Guitar_Hero_On_Tour_DS'; You've heard about the game. You've seen the crazy "Guitar Grip" peripheral. You've wondered: "Can the DS really pull off a proper Guitar Hero?" Last night we sat down, strapped a DS to one hand, and held a special pick-shaped stylus in the other to answer that question for you ... and ourselves. Surrounded by a gaggle of other gamers having their first go on the game, we heard shouts of "Rock on!" and "Star Power!," cementing in our minds that this was going to be an even more atypical Guitar Hero experience than we had imagined. Fortunately, it was a lot like the Guitar Hero experience we've grown to love over various console incarnations, too. %Gallery-24019%
Vicarious Visions confirms DLC for Guitar Hero World Tour
We can't help but be skeptical about the DLC in Guitar Hero World Tour. As Wii owners, we're used to being burned when it comes to this kind of thing, and we hate getting our hopes up. "Fool me once ..." and so on, right?Vicarious Visions is trying to assuage our fears, though, confirming to MTV Multiplayer that Wii version will have downloadable content. According to Karthik Bala, CEO of the company, the DLC will even be actual songs (as opposed to the user-created content that's also a feature in Guitar Hero World Tour).Bala didn't elaborate on that last feature (called GH Tunes), so we're not sure if it will make an appearance on the Wii; the CEO says that more details on GH Tunes are still to come. We do feel better about the downloadable content though -- at least a little bit (old habits die hard). Gallery: Guitar Hero World Tour
Guitar Hero: On Tour's disturbing demo video
Good news: There's a video that demonstrates what the gameplay for Guitar Hero: On Tour is going to be like on the Nintendo DS. Bad news: The video is painful to watch. Like, cringe inducing to the point that you may break your neck as your head tries to bury itself into your body. We don't know if this video was even officially released; as of this writing, the versions on both GameVideos and GameTrailers were user submitted. We checked with contacts at both sites but, to the best of our knowledge, Activision didn't send this out in any official capacity (after watching, it's pretty easy to guess why).
Follow the blog On Tour
When you're not cool enough to follow a real band around, you can hop on over to IGN and do the next best thing. The team from Vicarious Visions have started up a blog to share some of their hotel-smashing experiences with the readers as they went about creating the first portable iteration of the popular chick-magnet rhythm series -- Guitar Hero: On Tour. The first entry chronicles some of the initial problems and questions the team faced, such as "Are we crazy?" and "Is this possible?". The above image is an example of some of the original prototypes that were developed, including the three-button design which was scrapped in favor of the current model. Go check it out!%Gallery-19362%
Guitar Hero World Tour has DLC, or it doesn't
Even an official press release can't convince us that the Wii version of Guitar Hero World Tour will support downloadable content -- mostly because the press releases can't keep their stories straight. We've seen two versions of the press release: the first, on Activision's own site, claims that World Tour is the "First Game Ever in the Guitar Hero Franchise to Allow In-Game Downloadable Content on Wii," while the second, found on GamesIndustry.biz, is exactly the same minus the mention of DLC. Was the line excised mid-release? Did it get added later? Will it be in the game? We have no idea. What we do know is that the only reason Activision can tout World Tour's "first-ever Wii Guitar Hero DLC" is because they never followed through on their promise to put it in Guitar Hero III.We've got new screens in our gallery which obviously aren't from the Wii version of the game, but which show off new features like character creation, guitar customization, and the awesome music-recording function that we have no idea if we'll get. Maybe the Wii drum kit will make extra noise when you hit it.%Gallery-23491%
Sublime joins Guitar Hero: World Tour, Activision confirms previous acts, details
Activision made Guitar Hero: Rock Band Edition World Tour official today, confirming the details leaked from the current issue of Game Informer. World Tour will feature an all-master track cast, filled with previously named acts like Van Halen, Linkin Park, and The Eagles, plus today's confirmation of Sublime and "many more." The announcement also highlights the "Music Studio" mode (create-a-song), which allows players to "compose, record, edit and share music," and the 8-player "Battle of the Bands" mode.World Tour will also feature so-called "new state of the art wireless instruments" (as sorta seen yesterday), meaning mom won't trip over the coil of wires when she walks in front of the TV and totally destroys the rock mojo; and the still curious, but ambitious sounding promise to add "significantly more localized downloadable music than ever before on all of the next-generation consoles." Yep, that includes the Wii version (developed by Vicarious Visions). Activision confirms that World Tour will be the "first game ever in the Guitar Hero franchise to allow in-game downloadable content on Wii" -- just make sure your SD card is inserted. %Gallery-23477%
