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Guitar Hero II gets three new international tunes

by Justin McElroy { Oct 16th 2007 at 8:25AM }

It's apparently International Day at Guitar Hero II HQ, and Activision is celebrating with three new downloadable tunes from outside the United States (who knew other countries made music?). First up is "Sin Documentos" by Los Rodriguez, a track that comes to us all the way from Spain. How exotic!

Next up is a French track by Pleymo called "Sept" which proves that no matter how loud your band is, no one will be intimated if you're singing in French. Finally, there's "Exile" by ~~Germany's~~ Sweden's Soilwork, which ~~, let's be honest, probably would have been more intimidating in German~~ had the good sense not to sing in Swedish. The good news with these tracks is that they're not bundled, the bad news is that, with each at 200 points, you're going to be paying for the privilege.
[Thanks, Grant]

GHII gets some heavy DLC tomorrow

by Richard Mitchell { Sep 19th 2007 at 5:30PM }

Even with Guitar Hero III just month's away, it looks like Activision is still keen to milk its very lucrative downloadable content business. As such, the company has announced a new song pack for Guitar Hero II. Like the previous packs, the new song pack includes three new tracks for you to shred to your heart's content. The song pack includes the following tracks.

Trivium - "Detonation"
Atreyu - "Right Side of the Bed"
Protest the Hero - "Bury the Hatchet"

Lest you are unfamiliar with the new tracks, let's just say they're a bit on the hard side, especially compared to last month's DLC. According to ScoreHero, the new content will be available tomorrow at 2:00AM (PT) for the still onerous price of 500 MS Points. Now, if Activision would finally release some Fine Young Cannibals, we'd be in business.

[Via Joystiq]

New Guitar Hero II DLC adds Trivium, Atreyu and Protest the Hero

by Justin McElroy { Sep 19th 2007 at 8:30AM }

Guys who we were always afraid of in high school rejoice! The new pack of Guitar Hero II songs dowloadable through Xbox Live tomorrrow morning (according to ScoreHero) is sure to bring a smile to the Endless Mikes of the world. 500 points will net you (careful of profanity in these links) Trivium's "Detonation," Atreyu with "Right Side of the Bed" and Protest the Hero's "Bury the Hatchet." Wow, why do we have the sudden urge to draw pentagrams on a binder with Wite-Out?

This pack comes a month after the last offering: A My Chemical Romancextravaganza, and we're wondering if they're still going to feel like trotting out the black paramilitary gear when they hear how loud their new neighbors can scream. Here's hoping everyone gets along just fine.

[Thanks, Pat]

GH II downloadable tracks total 2 million

by Dustin Burg { Sep 11th 2007 at 1:30PM }

Today, Activision is touting the success of their Guitar Hero II downloadable content claiming to have sold 650,000 song packs via the XBLM, which totals over 2 million songs. Activision says that the "song packs are some of the most popular content on Xbox Live and are quickly becoming a very lucrative revenue stream" and announced that their latest GH II My Chemical Romance song pack has been purchased over 55,000 times. Cha-ching!

So, everything is peaches and fresh daisies over at the Activision camp as it pertains to the success of GH II's downloadable content, but we ask what happened to the community's complaints about the price? Back when the new tracks became available everyone was up in arms at the cost, refused to support the expensive content and even went as far as to create online petitions. But now it's looking like it was the vocal minority who were expressing their distaste or those who were complaining just gave in and purchased new tracks. We aren't sure if we should applaud the success of GH II's DLC or be somewhat sad that the "success" of it may just have solidified the high price point for the future. We guess we'll just have to see how it all works out when Rock Band puts its first round of content on the Marketplace.

X3F Achievements 101: Star Power, Summon, Strangle, & Sniping

by David Dreger { Aug 24th 2007 at 11:00AM }

While a little later than usual, there's another wonderful X3F Achievements 101 for you this week. A first for the column, a reader organized a gaming session in Shadowrun, and the latest downloadable content for Guitar Hero II threw some Achievements that are now easier to get, if you're willing to pay for the content. We're also testing out a new timeslot, posting the column at the tail end of the work week instead of at the beginning. So, continue on to another action packed Achievements 101.

Continued →

Don't cut yourself just yet, MCR pack on Guitar Hero II

by David Dreger { Aug 14th 2007 at 9:15AM }

Major Nelson gives word that Guitar Hero II has another track pack available on Marketplace. This time, though, it's not a rehash of Guitar Hero I songs, but actually a band themed packed full of master tracks. Sounds too good to be true, right? Precisely, as it still costs 500 Microsoft Points, which is not as bad for fresh content, and the band in question is My Chemical Romance. Now, we've had a couple of rants about reader response to anything involving MCR and their 360, and expect to see more of the same here. In any case, the songs in the pack are "Famous Last Words," "This is How I Disappear," and "Teenagers." Now, remember that it's down the road, and not across the street.

Guitar Hero II on 360 gets My Chemical Romance pack

by Justin McElroy { Aug 14th 2007 at 8:35AM }

Bust out the eye-liner, paramilitary garb and misplaced anger: A three-pack of My Chemical Romance songs have just hit the Xbox Live Marketplace. If you haven't darkened a Hot Topic door in a few years, the rest of this sentence won't make sense to you, but "Teenagers," "Famous Last Words" and "This is How I Disappear" (all from The Black Parade) are included in the pack.

The price is 500 points ($6.25) for the new songs, which are master tracks from the band. We don't understand why these cost the same as the Guitar Hero I rehashes, but we have to say this is a much better value for some great songs, sure to brighten the day of even the most tortured emo kid.

[Thanks, Dylan]

Buy Guitar Hero II, get 1600 MSFT points free

by Dustin Burg { Jul 16th 2007 at 2:30PM }

From now through August 18th, when you purchase Guitar Hero II from Circuit City you'll get 1600 Microsoft points for free and free shipping on your online order. This offer is available online and in-store, but you'll have to send in a rebate form to get your money back. Check out the offer here.

True, we have seen a similar free 1600 Microsoft points offer before when GH II released and there was no forms to send in. But if you're willing to send in a rebate and wait for your cash this is definitely a good deal. Or you could just wait for Guitar Hero III or the game X3F is in love with ... Rock Band. Decide and plan your purchase accordingly.

Activision sticking to GH II DLC pricing

by Dustin Burg { Jul 13th 2007 at 3:30PM }

The consumer versus Guitar Hero II downloadable content pricing war rages on with Activision taking the defensive on their pricing strategy. According to Dusty Welch, the head of Red Octane publishing, the downloadable track packs have been a "tremendous success" and that "demand seems to be insatiable" as they're reporting that 300,000 song packs have been purchased since April. Mr. Welch goes on to say that they have been listening to Guitar Hero II customers, but will still be "offering even better music at current price points" due to the success of the previous song packs.

So guys, who's to blame? We know we didn't purchase those overpriced track packs, but know there are a bunch who did. This is just another case of the financial bottom line being more important than the vocal majority, so quit buying the songs already! .... now back to the corner to cry myself to sleep again.

[Via Joystiq]

Guitar Hero II gets new song pack

by Justin McElroy { Jul 12th 2007 at 10:15AM }

Boy, that Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and Rock Band sure look exciting, don't they? The inclusion of Slash, new downloadable content every week? It's a very good time to love pretending to play guitar. But doesn't the axiom go "Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold"? You've got an opportunity to show a little love to an old friend with a new downloadable song pack for Guitar Hero II on Xbox Live.

For 500 points ($6.25) you can pick up "I Wanna Be Sedated," "Smoke on the Water" and "You've Got Another Thing Coming." So, go ahead, spend some time with an old friend. Yes, he's an old friend who charges you six bucks to listen to old songs at his house, but he's a friend just the same.

[Thanks, everyone who sent this in!]

They didn't listen. New GH II tracks still 500 points

by Dustin Burg { Jul 11th 2007 at 12:45PM }

In a slap to their fans' faces, Activision released a new Guitar Hero II music pack to the Marketplace and it's still overpriced. Up for download is the Guitar Hero Track Pack 4 featuring three songs including "I Wanna Be Sedated" by The Ramones, "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple, and "You've Got Another Thing Coming" by Judas Priest for the ouch that hurts price of 500 Microsoft points.

We really thought Harmonix and Activision were taking a while to release new content, because they were actively negotiated and reworking their pricing strategy seeing that fans have been very vocal about the pricing of the last three DLC offerings. But our extended wait was for no gain, because the pricing hasn't changed. Try and keep your anger civil fanboys ... or at least pointed towards the guilty parties.

Pink Spartans know how to rock

by Dustin Burg { Jun 28th 2007 at 12:15PM }

What's better than a pink Master Chief, a replica Guitar Hero II X-plorer guitar, and over 70 sparkly jewels? The answer: nothing! Girly Halo fan bs angel created a jewel encrusted X-plorer guitar for her pink Master Chief spartan to rock out with. The project took around two hours to complete with most of that time dedicated to attaching the little jewels. You can check out more pictures of this pink wonder after the break. Now only if bs angel can hook us up with a few tickets to the pink Master Chief rock concert that's going down this Summer ... our fingers are crossed.

[Via HBO]

Xbox 360 goes disco at Bonnaroo

by Alisha Karabinus { Jun 26th 2007 at 1:58PM }

The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival can be described in many ways, but gamer's paradise is not the first phrase that comes to mind. Monstrosity of music, perhaps, or neo-hippie nirvana -- these are much more apt descriptions. However, one tiny corner of the farm was in fact an electronic Eden, gamer style, at this year's festival.

We were curious about the console's presence at the festival, and the Microsoft rep on hand wasn't shy about answering questions. "Why not Bonnaroo? There are tons of people, it's good exposure for the system, and it's a great chance to demonstrate the 360." From what we saw of the crowds in the tent, she was right about the exposure. The Arcade was never empty, and several of the consoles had small crowds clustered around the screens.

The Xbox 360 Discothéque Arcade, like so many of the enclosed structures at Bonnaroo, didn't look like much from the outside. Dust-streaked white walls shielded gamers from the boiling Tennessee sun, and the doorway was perfectly positioned to catch the occasional (and very welcome) breeze. Inside, thick shag rugs and battered sofas turned the Arcade into the perfect chill-out area. While the tent wasn't air-conditioned, the simple presence of shade made the Arcade a big draw for gamers and nongamers alike.

Gallery: Xbox 360 Arcade at Bonnaroo 2007

Continued →

Red Octane: new GHII DLC in July

by Richard Mitchell { Jun 19th 2007 at 5:30PM }

As the promises of loads of downloadable content echo through the empty halls of memory, Red Octane has let out a squeak, nay, the smallest chirp of information regarding the next batch of downloadable songs for Guitar Hero II. According to a forum post by a Red Octane admin by the name of rodth, new downloadable content for Guitar Hero II should drop sometime in July. Specifically, rodth noted, "While nothing's been formally announced, look for something to come down the pipeline around the July timeframe ...."

If you've been keeping track, this would be the second batch of DLC we've seen since April. We're not experts, but we're not sure that qualifies as the most DLC for any 360 game evar.

[Thanks, Aragorn]

GHII guitar gets peed on, Harmonix to the rescue!

by Dustin Burg { Jun 14th 2007 at 3:30PM }

Back in May, Rock Band forum member (and obsessed Guitar Hero II fan) Bloodlust told of his tragic GHII experience and asked Harmonix to include one of his favorite songs for all the pain he has gone through. You see, Bloodlust not only ended up with a broken 360, a scratched GHII disc, and heartache, but his X-plorer guitar ended up getting peed on. Yes, you read that correctly, his nephew urinated on his guitar controller. And Harmonix, being the kind developers that they are, kindly disregarded such song suggestion and sent him a brand new X-plorer controller signed by the entire team in urine colored yellow Sharpie. Those Harmonix guys are a funny bunch and are now officially included in our book of kickass developers.