Dave Navarro & Guitar Hero II at Best Buy coverage [update 1]
by Kevin Kelly 
{ Nov 8th 2006 at 9:58AM }
Hot guitar strummin' and finger pickin' action collided with the corporate man at Best Buy in Los Angeles on Monday, with Dave Navarro (because real rockers love the game too) on hand to promote Guitar Hero II, and Joystiq was there. We lined up about half an hour early to get pix and vids, quietly slipping in amidst the obsessive fans of either Navarro or this game. After talking to about a dozen people, we realized that they could have sent James Taylor to plug this thing, and the same people would've shown up. Everyone was stoked for the midnight release of the game, and one hardcore fan even drove up from San Diego, just to get his axe signed.A representative from BB handed tickets out and told us that they were only giving out 50 so that you could get in line to have things signed. Once they finally opened the doors and let us flood in, we spent some time at the various demo stations they had set up (with pretty sweet speaker systems that looked like they were on loan from a K.I.S.S. concert), and then dutifully took our spot in the signing line. We grabbed a game en route to the table and pulled the guitar out of the box, got it signed by Navarro, and then -- surprise! We were told that Activision was buying the game for those first 50 tickets. Score! Big announcement about that guitar & game soon on Joystiq, so keep your eyes open.
Pictures and video after the jump, but sadly no Carmen Electra since she and Dave went splitsville earlier in the summer.
[Update: added some rockers]
Once we left we were deaf, dumb and blind, kid.
It was corporate giant versus the rock world tonight. Of course, the corporation won, but what can you do? We have to play nice with them until we get our Wiis and PS3s.
The line wasn't horrendous when we got there, but by 10:30 when the doors opened, it was a tad crazy.
There was even some hot PlayStation Portable action going on, although they were listening to music and not playing Loco Roco. What gives?
For those about to rock...
We salute you.
Once inside, we were witness to the altar of Guitar Hero II. Navarro later smashed this guitar to bits. The shrapnel missed our head by inches. We were too busy ducking to get pix of that.
This rack full of GHII was signed and gone by midnight.
Although they had quite a few posters left over. These are surely destined for a dorm room somewhere.
Overall, not a bad game launch in our opinion, but that's because we had starry eyes. Not because of Navarro, but because of the free game. Toastyyyyy!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
The Intangible Fact @ Nov 8th 2006 10:21AM
Lol
Lets play a plastic video game guitar and pretend that we can play real songs.
*Press red button to play riff one*
*Press blue button to play riff two*
Hours of fun??!
HaloBreaker @ Nov 8th 2006 10:28AM
Let's play a plastic controller and pretend we can really play professional football.
*press X to hike*
*press O to throw*
Hours of fun??!
Let's play a plastic controller and pretend that we're really saving a land from a dark evil.
*press A to swing sword*
*press B to block*
Hours of fun?
do I need to keep going?
C.A. @ Nov 8th 2006 10:28AM
@2.
Easy? It can be depending on the setting. Fun? EXTREMELY! Try playing the game, there is a reason it is such a psychotically big hit, you know, unless you hate music or something...
baby sea tuna @ Nov 8th 2006 10:28AM
"2. Lol
Lets play a plastic video game guitar and pretend that we can play real songs.
*Press red button to play riff one*
*Press blue button to play riff two*
Hours of fun??!
Posted at 10:20AM on Nov 8th 2006 by The Intangible Fact 0 stars"
Dude, get off the internet. You're ruining it for the rest of us.
The Intangible Fact @ Nov 8th 2006 10:35AM
I don't hate music. I play guitar. Real guitar. Yea Dave might like to play this every once in a while but when its time to get serious pull out the real one.
Next game to be released "Flute Hero" or "Sax Hero".
killcount @ Nov 8th 2006 10:45AM
I wish the "real" guitar players would grow up. I play the electric and bass, both in bands that that perform locally. I love Guitar Hero 2 though because I can pop into my living room, and just have a little jam by myself or with some non guitar playing friends.
Just because you think playing guitar is so cool and hip, doesn't mean you have to hate on those who want to play a video game.
EdEN @ Nov 8th 2006 10:46AM
Look, playing an actual instrument doesn't mean you can't enjoy playing a "fake" one as you imply. Same thing goes for all videogames. Soccer players enjoy a little game of virtual soccer here and there. Football players are the same. Why is that? Because it's FUN.
I'm a Drummer and I sure as hell enjoy guitar hero and would enjoy "Drum Hero" as well because it is a fun game and the experience is great. Plus, it's an excellent party game that anyone, no matter their skill level, can enjoy.
And stop being an ass just because you play a "real guitar". Unless you're Dave Mustaine (instead of thinking you are), you have no place in complaining about people having fun because they:
*Press red button to play riff one*
*Press blue button to play riff two*
Don't like Guitar Hero? Don't buy it and don't play it. Plain and simple.
Todd @ Nov 8th 2006 10:52AM
* cough * sell out * cough *
crono141 @ Nov 8th 2006 1:26PM
I wonder what the "big announcement" about guitar hero II is? I bet it'll go something like:
Guitar Hero II production well underway and on schedule.
Man, thats so cool!
(Sorry Joystiq)
Joe @ Nov 8th 2006 11:17AM
Well since the DDR craze was so big overseas, we had to "Americanize" the rhythm genre video game and put our own little spin on it. We're all too fat and lazy to dance and hop around, but holy crap we can stand there and play air-guitar while strumming on a big piece of plastic!
I play real guitars but this is still fun. It's no substitute for the real thing though.
sonofnone @ Nov 8th 2006 5:33PM
An $80 game for free? Now that's worth lining up for.
matthew @ Nov 8th 2006 11:37AM
You guys should give the game and guitar away to a stiqer yeah?
The G @ Nov 8th 2006 11:53AM
Todd: "cough * sell out * cough *"
Totally... Dave Navarro is the biggest corporate schill on the planet.
loomis @ Nov 8th 2006 12:00PM
I have a hair cut and a real job... no time to waste on a real guitar. Fun games like GH for me.
Richard @ Nov 8th 2006 12:11PM
@11 I dislike DDR because the music in it mostly sucks. I tried it and it wasn't fun couldn't get into the music. I suck at both DDR and Guitar Hero. But I can get through more of guitar hero because the music is worth it (can't beat medium.) Now if they made a DDR with "GOOD" music I would try it.
Greg @ Nov 8th 2006 12:26PM
@ #1 Agent Moo: Prince landed her back in the day. You think she just MIGHT have a thing for that type?
Revolution @ Nov 8th 2006 1:05PM
On one of the Guitar Hero levels, there is a scoreboard that has things like "69" or "666" or "ROCK". One other thing that's on it is 88. I thought that was odd because I remembered 88 having something to do with white power or something. I looked it up and 88 is code for Heil Hitler as H is the 8th letter of the alphabet. I wonder if they just thought that it was something rock related. Oops. haha
Devin @ Nov 8th 2006 12:40PM
I'm pretty sure The Intangible Fact lost this battle.
/in a band
//we all love GH
Bryan t @ Nov 8th 2006 3:28PM
FYI...
KISS, not K.I.S.S.
Would have been nice to be there, what an awesome suprise it would have been to learn that you got the game for free. Score! indeed
ackmondual @ Nov 8th 2006 4:54PM
Guitar Hero series is just for kicks, just like many other video games. Acing GH doesn't mean you can sign deals with record label companies, acing Call of Duty doesn't mean you're ready to be shipped off to Iraq, acing Company of Heroes doesn't mean you're fit to command military forces, and acing NBA Live '05 doesn't mean you'll be in the NBA yourselves. A vid game is more or less a movie that the players participate in. It's not a How TO, do it yourself manual