Band Hero DS attachments revealed, gameplay details

by Griffin McElroy { Jul 23rd 2009 at 1:16PM }

Click for life-size DS!

If you and your bandmates are ready to take your five-star show on the road, get ready to grab your DS Lites and crank the speakers up to elev ... well, push the little volume switch all the way to the right. Activision's Band Hero is coming to the DS, and includes four-player ad-hoc for full-band rocking. Players can use the On Tour guitar attachment, drop some vocals on the system's built-in mic, or use the drum skin attachment pictured above to supply the percussional accompanyment.

There's just one minor caveat -- if you've already upgraded to the DSi, then you're S.O.L. Not only will the guitar attachments not be able to plug into the GBA cartridge port that the system doesn't have, the drum skin won't fit on the handheld's svelte frame. Sorry, early adopters!

Gallery: Band Hero (DS)

Tags: activision, band-hero, peripheral, rhythm, vicarious-visions

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Duke @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:19PM

Though I wouldn't get this game anyway, I am a little annoyed that those of us who got the DSi seem to be left in the rain a bit.

Ignatius @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:21PM

It's Activision, you're not missing anything.

Akuma FTW @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:24PM

Its as if Activision hates us right back

Cody @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:38PM

It's ok Duke. Us DSi owners aren't the only ones.

Please see PSP Go! And that thing ain't even out yet!!

BigD145 @ Jul 23rd 2009 3:08PM

DS Phat users have been left out for years.

Vegnagun bwf @ Jul 23rd 2009 5:15PM

Akuma, seriously, I laughed harder at your comment than I should have.

T @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:20PM

So is the drumskin actually doing anything new? Or is it just providing you a means of hitting the two buttons at the same time?

Cheesus(Crust) @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:20PM

OH MY GOD

Activision: SERIOUSLY STOP WITH THE FREAKING PERIPHERALS!

Martin @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:34PM

A handheld overlay is hardly a peripheral.

Oh, and you might want to question just how much you let game company's decisions affect you.

Duke @ Jul 23rd 2009 2:13PM

Martin, you have to understand that whatever you call overlays, there is a point where people can understandably be annoyed with needing any further plastic pieces to play their games.

BxGT @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:20PM

That has to be the dumbest thing i have seen this side of the mississippi.

Akuma FTW @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:20PM

DS I told ya so

eat my face @ Jul 23rd 2009 6:58PM

LOL!!!!

juangrande386 @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:21PM

wow if you told me those were pics from the DS Guitar Heros I would believe it in a heatbeat. I have a DSi and a DS Lite so I could get this but im not, I probably wont even download this to my Acekard 2i.

Chris Are @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:24PM

Idk why they got rid of that port. That's like a laptop maker thinking USB takes up too much room.

Spike @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:52PM

but macs always suck

Chris Are @ Jul 23rd 2009 5:03PM

Good job?

WiredKnight @ Jul 24th 2009 2:15AM

...because a lot of people never use it (like me, for one). It's more like a laptop maker saying a serial port takes up too much room.

edes @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:24PM

That looks like sh-

WHEN WILL IT COME OUT?!?!?!

Colinohyeah17 @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:25PM

Soooo... How do you play the bass drum?

Akuma FTW @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:26PM

you throw the DS against concrete

Martin @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:36PM

You shut the lid and open it again.

BigD145 @ Jul 23rd 2009 3:09PM

You shut the lid, crack your hinges, and open it again.

Snake Robot Podium @ Jul 23rd 2009 3:22PM

Possibly the touch screen? Maybe you have to yell into the mic?
They'll probably dump it like the fifth guitar button.

WINterfang @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:28PM

Does the DS really needs peripherals?

BigD145 @ Jul 23rd 2009 3:10PM

Nintendo never intended for its users to use the touchscreen.

/sarcasm

Luke @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:29PM

lmao.

Drum fail.

You play guitar with your fingers, so I'll excuse the guitar grip, but you don't play the fucking drums with your fingers. Playing with the stylus would have been stupid too, but it wouldn't have been as stupid as this.

This genre shouldn't have ever been made portable. I like Vicarious Visions, they do a great job with what Activision forces them to do, but this is a game that should be restricted to the living room. Not where you can go out in public and look like a douche playing thumb drums.

I'm surprised Activision hasn't made a finger board that connects to the DS for a portable Tony Hawk.

WINterfang @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:33PM

I know, Drums aren't bongos T_T.

AsherR @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:36PM

What have you done?! Don't give them ideas!

GohanGVO @ Jul 23rd 2009 2:00PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AXflEPKpGI

Close enough?

WiredKnight @ Jul 24th 2009 2:21AM

Naw man, it totally comes with a set of tiny drumsticks.

Or you could use spoons.

WiredKnight @ Jul 24th 2009 2:23AM

Oh, but I would like to point out that hip-hop artists and turntablists do play drumlines with their fingers.

Obviously, the genre of music is different here, but the concept is the same.

Spike @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:30PM

this is what HMX has to do with LRB, this doesn't look all that bad

Archon (PSN: Archonik, XBL: DarkARHN) @ Jul 23rd 2009 4:01PM

Hope you are kidding. If not, I recommend operating that brain tumor.

Solace (Only on PSN) @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:30PM

They won't stop here.. next it's the iPhone/Touch

Markez @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:34PM

Lord how I wish they somehow threw a hi-hat and some cymbals on this. They could connect into the GBA slot and arch over to hang over the speakers on the top part. T'would be hilarious.

Luddiz-Boi @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:35PM

I don't have a DS. HOORAY, MY WALLET IS SPARED!

MLS @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:47PM

I didn't realize all DS users were required to buy it. :-/

Enjoy playing your whatever game that isn't Scribblenaus this fall, btw.

Captain Planet @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:37PM

I often wonder if Guitar Hero was an actual person, would he/she sue Activision for rape?

flamesbane @ Jul 23rd 2009 1:52PM

Yeah, let's all be mad at a company for making a game from it's best selling franchise on a system that millions of people own, knowing that they will make a huge profit! Companies shouldn't make money or sell products to average consumer, that's just bad business!

/sarcasm

The Aquacharger @ Jul 23rd 2009 2:27PM

@Flame
Sir, there's making sequels and then there's just whoring out. The fact that this would be like the 6/5th Guitar Hero to come out this year says a lot. Then throw in DJ Hero. Their Hero series has gone to hell.

Flamesbane @ Jul 23rd 2009 4:01PM

@Aqua

So are you suggesting that they don't try to make money? No one says McDonalds is whoring out their franchise by putting one on every corner, or Apple for releasing a new slightly upgraded media player every year, or Dell for making new PC's every few months. They aren't forcing you to buy their game/burger/ipod/pc, they are simply making the smartest business decisions that allow their company to stay afloat in perilous economic times.

While we as gamers prefer that companies come out with new IP's you should recognize that doing so puts them on unstable ground. The simple fact is that the market can, and WILL support another hero game as there are millions of children who MUST have it for Christmas (b-day, w/e). Admittedly it isn't creative, and I for one am tired of both RB and GH, but you cannot honestly complain about a company doing what is best for their own interests.

Also, keep in mind that while DLC does provide income (look at RB) it is much easier to sell an actual copy to their target audience (kids) and adding new peripherals means that they can charge at a higher price point. While to an adult another guitar might seem like a waste of space, to a child it is another toy, and if you have ever been in a 10 - 12 year old's room you will see that they love toys. You should also think about the fact that Activision has really gone beyond a game franchise and has created a brand, complete with clothing lines and action figures.

If you were CEO at Activsion wouldn't you do the same thing? If this were a sequel to a AAA franchise no one would be complaining (well I am sure some would).