Play custom songs on hacked Guitar Hero II
by Kyle Orland 
{ Jan 23rd 2007 at 6:30PM }
Ever wanted to play your favorite song in Guitar Hero II? I don't mean tapping away at your keyboard on some competent PC clone, I mean actually strumming along to your favorite rock anthem on your TV with your favorite Guitar Hero controller. Apparently it's possible with a DVD burner, a modded PS2, and a handful of hacking programs as outlined on the ScoreHero.com forums.
The 12-step process requires that you to handle some pretty complicated file juggling, but the end results are impressive. Keep reading for a couple of examples of some custom songs inserted into everyone's favorite Guitar game.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
carlos @ Jan 23rd 2007 6:54PM
first o and sweet the only thing i need is a moded ps2 or swap magic
+Leetbunny+ @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:00PM
Or you could just hook up a Guitar Hero controller to your pc and use that with Frets on fire..
meh.. @ Jan 23rd 2007 7:01PM
hey! You added a new comment thing! Is that why you guys were down a few minutes ago?
Anyway: GHII with custom playlists? Nice. Too much work for me though.
Norm @ Jan 23rd 2007 7:02PM
Might try this, seems interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Miniboss @ Jan 23rd 2007 7:03PM
If only I actually wanted to mod my PS2. Then I could play the GH1 songs again...
Logrithmic @ Jan 23rd 2007 7:09PM
Is the mp3 supposed to sync up with the midi file?
If that's the case, there's no way that would work well enough to enjoy it.
Dan @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:42PM
Your welcome for the heads-up, Joystiq.
I gets no respect I tell ya!
DeadPlasmaCell @ Jan 23rd 2007 7:15PM
Nice new setup.. I always wondered what the password deal was for in the confirmation emails
Shibathedog @ Jan 23rd 2007 7:19PM
I have been waiting SO LONG FOR THIS! CUSTOM SONGS! YES!!!! Thats the biggest thing i was was in GH
Norm @ Jan 23rd 2007 7:39PM
Whoa- is that an offical GH controller? do they really just use hacked Dual Shock controllers?
LordMinogue @ Jan 23rd 2007 7:42PM
Nice!
One of my programming buddies wrote a music-to-sheat music translator last year (got a patent for it too), so I knew this was possible.
I look foreward to playing my favorite songs on my friend's PS2!
Also nice to see the "Star" system done in and the Password system finally running!
Megaqwerty @ Jan 23rd 2007 7:48PM
Uh, you guys do realize that you CAN use a GH controller on PC for Frets on Fire, right. Right? Right.
And...it's a lot easier to use for most people.
_spike @ Jan 23rd 2007 7:52PM
i will try it out when the nerds release the iso. other than that, too much work for a videogame.
breachless @ Jan 24th 2007 9:28AM
Looks sweet... now you sucka's can finally play Dragonforce... ;)
I'll be impressed when someone actually manages to translate a good Meshuggah or Candiria tune with all the crazy time-signatures and tempo changes...
Joe @ Jan 23rd 2007 8:06PM
yay! im so happy my wireless guitar pic was used for this story. i am absolutly honored to be chosen as "image that represents someone modifying guitar hero"
:)
Patrick @ Jan 23rd 2007 8:34PM
sweet, now i just need a modded ps2, guitar hero, and hacking skills! cant wait for 360 guitar hero 2
Ark @ Jan 23rd 2007 8:37PM
Is there a DDR version of this sort of manipulation?
LordMinogue @ Jan 23rd 2007 8:45PM
Imagine playing Guitar Hero & DDR
...AT THE SAME TIME!
the ultimate rythim game!!!
flamingsquirrel @ Jan 23rd 2007 9:28PM
Frets on Fire is AWESOME! Besides, you can always just get a PS2 to USB adapter, and play it with your GH controller. And if your smart, you'll find the way to get all the GH 1&2 songs on there...
Crummy @ Jan 23rd 2007 9:41PM
It's worth noting that there is an ISO floating around with all the songs replaced (made by the guy who discovered the hack, I think). Some songs are great, some aren't synced up so good. Only about half of the difficulty levels are done. The names havn't been changed.
Still... more songs to play on GH. This is all I want :)
Splinter @ Jan 23rd 2007 9:57PM
GH God: Guess what guys! After spending 150 hours, i can finally play the new Fall Out Boy song on guitar hero!
Regular Guitar Guy: Uhh... couldnt you have just learned how to play it on a REAL guitar? Seems like a waste of time really.
GH God: NO! Well..., now that i think about it...
Huzzah!! @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:22PM
What's up with the first minute? I'd fall asleep!
cheesebanana @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:02PM
Check out scorehero.com forums like he suggests.
Theres hundreds of songs on there and so many better examples of this than these song. This guy has pathetic note charts. Boring as hell
Check out stuff like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_29IFMJNt7s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkfArvJWHBQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV0qM6-HLuk
Really good examples. Considering putting them in the article as well maybe kyle to show what you can really do if you want.
F mon @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:40PM
I so agree with some of the musicians who have commented on similar posts.
3-600 bucks machine
?? for custom controller
hours to "practice" air guitar.
Go get a cheap guitar and amp and actually learn to play the god-damned thing.
Who's gonna get laid
Guy #1 who gawking at a TV wailing away at air guitar. Usually sweating like a coke fiend and wearing a Led Zep reprint concert shirt.
or......
Guy#2 who can grab an acoustic thats sitting in the corner behind the 360 and actually play a song?
Who do yo think will win?
+Leetbunny+ @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:05PM
Dang it, I just got the conformation to my comment above just now.. I Should have checked first..
anonim1979 @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:21PM
Nice!
Anonim @ Jan 24th 2007 1:50AM
#19
Nice links. Worth checking.
IMandIR @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:43PM
On systems like the 360, PS3, and Wii. Hopefully we will be able to put MP3s on the storage of the system with the proper name, artist, and album and then through the internet just download the tabs and midi files since they should be pretty small and store them on the system to play whatever song we own. So I can finally play Blue Collar Man by Styx.
Blake @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:53PM
If you want this, but think it's too much work, try goggling "Guitar Hero 2 : Hacker's Edition".
Christopher7xii @ Jan 24th 2007 12:01AM
Yeah, got the hacker's edition. Some song syncs suck, and most of the "difficulties" are easier than said. Still, pretty damn amusing. Hopefully enough to keep me afloat til Guitar Hero 360 requests all my money.
Christopher7xii @ Jan 24th 2007 12:01AM
1
duff @ Jan 24th 2007 1:02PM
Old news.. Saw this months ago..
and @ F mon.. true that guy #2 may have a better chance, however I actually have a JOB and a LIFE and don't have 10 years to perfect playing a real guitar.. Why do musicians always pull the "higher than thou card" when GH news shows up on websites.. If you were such a good musician you wouldn't be commenting on GAME BLOGS ON THE INTERNET, you would be playing the guitar, for money.
joe smith @ Jan 24th 2007 9:08PM
You know, if people would put this much effort into it, they could learn to play any song they wanted on a REAL guitar...
mikeagby @ Feb 9th 2007 4:35AM
for this hack you do have to come up with your own score or will it doo all the calculating or whatever and have a score ready?
cjkin @ Feb 25th 2007 3:09PM
looks pretty cool. wish i didnt have to mod my ps2 to do it though. do you think there will be a way to do this on the xbox360 version coming out in april?
Kevin @ Mar 3rd 2007 1:50AM
PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO DO THIS!!!
Amin @ Mar 29th 2007 4:59PM
Hi! Could somebody please help me to fix custom songs? I really dont get it!
aaronn @ Apr 9th 2007 9:35PM
WHY DO YOU NEED ALL OF THIS TRASH TO MAKE A SIMPLE SONG ON GUITAR HERO 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eric @ Apr 11th 2007 10:50AM
dang that seems soooo aesome but i dont really understand what all of the talk was on scorehero.comso if som one could email me about it i would appreciate it because i really wanna try thi out its seems soo cool.
thanks if u do email me
^_^ \,,/(+_+)\,,/ rock on.