Guitar Hero III gets subtitle, cool guitars

by Kyle Orland { Jul 9th 2007 at 7:29PM }

Since the amazing success of its first two games, the Guitar Hero series has gotten a little subtitle happy. First it was the mouthful of Guitar Hero Encore: Rock the '80s, now Activision has revealed a new subtitle for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.

In addition to the new title, Activision has also released some nice, high-res pictures of the previously announced faux-Gibson guitars that will be used to control the game -- a Les Paul model for the PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 and a Kramer model for the PS2. Note that the fret buttons are now all black with thin colored outlines to maintain a cleaner, less toy-like look on the neck. The wireless guitars will also have removable faceplates to let you customize your rock experience.

The characters in the game will also be rocking out on Gibsons. Check out a list of all the unlockable axes after the jump.

Gallery: Guitar Hero 3

Gibson:
· ES-335
· Explorer
· Firebird
· SG
· Les Paul
· V-Factor
· Super CES400
· Marauder
· Corvus

Epiphone:
· Casino
· Coronet
· Sheraton

Kramer:
· 650
· Vanguard

Bass Guitars
· Marauder
· Corvus
· Les Paul
· LP Double Cutaway
· EDS 1275
· ES335
· Firebird
· Flying V
· Moderne
· SG
· X-Plorer

Tags: activision, gh3, guitar hero, Guitar Hero 3, Guitar Hero III, GuitarHero, GuitarHero3, GuitarHeroIii, Red Octane, RedOctane

Related From Joystiq

Activision's Guitar Hero CEO replaced
7 days ago
Megadeth's Dave Mustaine says 'high-level' talks with Neversoft, Activision could result in ... something
22 days ago
Kotick: Activision 'sticking with' DJ Hero franchise
22 days ago

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Jul 9th 2007 7:35PM

Looking pretty good!

ALH @ Jul 9th 2007 7:35PM

wow, nice

im still not that convinced about spending more money on guitars when i spent so much on the ps2 ones though

Charron @ Jul 9th 2007 7:40PM

I asked this elsewhere, but what's with that "render time" stuff at the bottom? It's clearest on the Wii guitar image. Are these renders or real photos?

Mikeawesome @ Jul 9th 2007 8:03PM

I believe they're renders of the final product.

As in, they were just captured through the V-Ray software and the images were sent out to the press.

So these aren't final models, but the ones we will see will likely have the same body/shape. Colors may vary.

Psaakyrn @ Jul 9th 2007 8:06PM

to #Charron

Likely renders as you noted. But still likely similar, if not identical to the final version. (products are usually designed completely via computer before going through the process of making the molds necessary to mass-produce them.)

(for note: they have sheen (so not diffuse lighting) yet produce no shadow (diffuse lighting))

Charron @ Jul 9th 2007 8:06PM

That's what I figured. I just ask 'cause, with these images, it looks like the Wiimote would be very hard to get in or out. Also, a flap to cover it would be nice.

faceless coward @ Jul 9th 2007 8:35PM

Judging by the size of the Wii remote in the picture, I'm getting that the Wii guitar is about 2.66 feet (0.81 meters) long, which is obviously not right. So, yeah, I'd say you guys are correct in assuming this to be a render.

Skippy @ Jul 9th 2007 7:43PM

The Kramer PS2 guitar is completely awesome and I've never liked the look of a Les Paul. Why does PS2 get all the love? There should be different models for the Wii, PS3 and 360 versions.

Ant @ Jul 9th 2007 7:52PM

i like the way the black one looks but ill pass on the guitar.im still buying gh3 but i got my 360 guitar ill just that and buy the rockband guitar.

RT @ Jul 9th 2007 7:57PM

I'll gladly pass. At least the Rock Band Stratocaster peripheral is making gameplay improvements in that game. I see nothing interesting about the GHIII guitars. (Or that game as a whole, really.)

Ian Von Porter @ Jul 9th 2007 8:01PM

Can you use your old GH2 or GH1 guitars? Or, do you need to buy completely new ones? That wouldnt make any sense in the case of the 360 version.

And what about wii.. is Nintendo going to let their revolutionary wiimote be overshadowed by a guitar peripheral? After all, they brought out DKJet with air bongos via wiimote rather than the real thing.. so, as not to over shadow the wiimote.

Mikeawesome @ Jul 9th 2007 8:05PM

Yes to using old guitars.

Wii-mote functionality? Remains to be seen. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a way, though. After all, you can play GHII with a controller.

ibike2live @ Jul 9th 2007 8:22PM

The hardware is not the only thing that where GH3 looks better the GH2.

Casey is FOXY! Oh and HOPO's are a lot easier to spot.

Ska Oreo @ Jul 9th 2007 8:30PM

oh god. The subtitles just scream tacked on story mode.

Acceptable Risk @ Jul 9th 2007 8:46PM

I'm not real crazy about the flat front with the square edges. I understand that it's probably to make the swappable faceplates easier, but I don't see it helping the ergonomics.

zwarrior @ Jul 9th 2007 9:22PM

me too

Jeff @ Jul 10th 2007 12:22AM

"I'm not real crazy about the flat front with the square edges. I understand that it's probably to make the swappable faceplates easier, but I don't see it helping the ergonomics."

It's more likely because that's the shape of the real guitar. Les Paul's have squared edges. Most of them are also bound (which makes any rounded edge square), but even the unbound ones are still squared-off on the edge... see here: http://www.stevesmusiccenter.com/GibsonLPStudio.html

JodyAnthony @ Jul 9th 2007 8:52PM

ok, that wii one looks great. I love me some les paul.

have a les paul guitar and a les paul-esque bass. i love the body style.

JodyAnthony @ Jul 9th 2007 8:53PM

oh, ps3, wii, and 360 are all les paul shapes. even better! this will be the first guitar hero i buy

the_boo @ Jul 9th 2007 8:56PM

Anyone else notice that there are apparently two different wii models? One appears to have built in wireless, it just has the four indicator lights, the other the wiimote attaches to. Also, whats up with the analog stick on the wiimote model?

Mabui @ Jul 9th 2007 9:28PM

I suppose it might be like a Wii remote, with nunchuk in one package. I think I'd almost buy one of those, out of sheer coolness..

collectadot @ Sep 24th 2007 8:58AM

man thats not a 2nd wii model its the ps3 model, ps3 controllers have 4 leds that let you know which controller number your controller is.

Matt B @ Jul 9th 2007 9:13PM

I personally like the Explorer guitar.

What they should do with the series is make the guitars with touch sensitive LED's in the fret board and actually TEACH you the song through various forms of difficulty. Actually forming the chords and progressions through your progression of difficulty could prove a major commercial success since it is actually teaching you how to play songs for real instead of a cheap mimic.

Sure the fake guitars would be more expensive, but education through fun adds to the value.

zwarrior @ Jul 9th 2007 9:22PM

I barely noticed that wii remote. I preferred its placement on the render that IGN had

Mr Khan @ Jul 9th 2007 9:56PM

Shouldn't the PS3 and Wii guitars be mutually exclusive?

Come on, people, embrace teh BlueTooth!

...Jan... @ Jul 9th 2007 10:03PM

- Oh...for a moment I was wondering why the Wii version didn't have a button under the analog stick. Apparently, that's the Home button. Well, hopes it's cheaper.

Hey Apples @ Jul 9th 2007 10:11PM

The Rock Band Stratocaster has already won this fall's controller wars. It is providing something new and interesting, as opposed to some gimmicky faceplate and a visual retooling.

The swarms of GH2 players with their Xplorers are going to all have the following internal discussion:

Do I want a new guitar with new features and solid improvements, or do I want a retooled copy of what I already have?

Advantage: Rock Band

Jason @ Jul 9th 2007 10:39PM

You can use your 360 Xplorer on Rock Band, but can you do the opposite?

So far, GH3 wins hands down with their song list. Rock Band has only confirmed maybe 8 songs, but they almost all suck. That is not how you garner attention out of the gate!

I've been waiting for GH3 to get a 2nd guitar. Guests can have the old corded model!

Double J @ Jul 10th 2007 9:33AM

Okay....are there two Wii models rendered there? One of them has a Wii Remote stuck in it, and another one, the second picture, has the four square blue lights on it, but no Wii remote. Did I miss something? Or am I just being a total goober?

gordon @ Jul 20th 2007 2:53PM

ok heres how i see it the wii version takes the wii remote. the one with the four lights is the ps3 version as like its controllers and notice no analog stick like the on the wii remote version. the other one with no lights as far as i can see unless it has the xbox360 controller light somewhere is for exactly that the 360.

personally i think all the older controllers should be still usable as its a bit of a rip to make us buy two to play 2player. and id much rather pay out for the new strat one.(rock band)

also why didnt they just make a choice of shapes and allow them to work all consoles wireless as then you can play at friends and not need to waste money on more controllers for the same game and a diferent console.all 3 console have up to four players after all.

one other thing is their any cross over of controllers between rock band and guitar hero?