Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[360's Guitar Hero II guitar works in Windows, Frets on Fire]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/360s-guitar-hero-ii-guitar-works-in-windows-frets-on-fire/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/360s-guitar-hero-ii-guitar-works-in-windows-frets-on-fire/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/360s-guitar-hero-ii-guitar-works-in-windows-frets-on-fire/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The USB-equipped X-plorer guitar that ships with the just-released Guitar Hero II for Xbox 360 has some interesting tricks up its nonexistant but metaphorically convenient sleeve. No, we're not talking about breaking or shape-shifting (sheesh) -- we're talking about things like effects pedals and oh, what's this, Windows support? Randy tipped us off that the guitar controller works in Windows Vista, but we had to check for ourself. The above image was captured in Windows XP. The five frets control the first five buttons, Back and Start control buttons 7 and 8, the d-pad and strummer control the Point of View Hat, the whammy bar controls the X Rotation, Star Power controls the Y Rotation, and the Z Axis sorta just wiggles when you move the guitar. The X Axis / Y Axis does nothing (gotta save something for that effects pedal, no?).

Of course, we quickly fired up freeware PC clone, Frets on Fire, to see if we could manage to get these two to play nicely together. Sure enough, after a minute of changing the control configuration, we were able to rock out! Unfortunately, while Mac OS X recognized the device immediately (pic after the break), it failed to be detected as an HID-compliant gamepad by either GamePad Companion or the open source Xbox 360 Controller driver. Additionally, this blogger couldn't convince the Mac OS port of Frets on Fire to load so we're unable to determine if the game would support the device directly. Any Mac using 'stiqers able to get the X-plorer to work?

Continue reading 360's Guitar Hero II guitar works in Windows, Frets on Fire

Joystiq360's Guitar Hero II guitar works in Windows, Frets on Fire originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Apr 2007 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GuitarHeroPCWindowsX-plorerXbox-360Fri, 06 Apr 2007 15:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Instruction Manual confirms pedal for Guitar Hero's future]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/02/instruction-manual-confirms-pedal-for-guitar-heros-future/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/02/instruction-manual-confirms-pedal-for-guitar-heros-future/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/02/instruction-manual-confirms-pedal-for-guitar-heros-future/#commentsFiled under: ,


When you get your hands on a copy of Guitar Hero II, tomorrow, you'll find in the instruction manual the answer to the question which many inquisitive gamers have been pondering: What's that port on the bottom of the axe for? While it's been rumored for an effects pedal since the first shots showing it were released, it can now be confirmed. The manual explicitly states three things, first that it's for an effects pedal. Secondly, it will, naturally, be sold separately, and finally, that the feature is currently unavailable. We'll probably see it get use in the next iteration of Guitar Hero's series. Would you welcome some footwork when rocking out?

JoystiqInstruction Manual confirms pedal for Guitar Hero's future originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Apr 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionG H 2G H IIGH2GHIiGibson X-plorerGibson XplorerGibsonX-plorerGibsonXplorerGuitar Hero 2Guitar Hero IIGuitarHero2GuitarHeroIiHarmonixRed OctaneRedOctaneX-plorerXplorerMon, 02 Apr 2007 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Guitar Hero: distortion pedals on the way?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/09/guitar-hero-distortion-pedals-on-the-way/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/09/guitar-hero-distortion-pedals-on-the-way/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/09/guitar-hero-distortion-pedals-on-the-way/#commentsFiled under: ,

Game Informer has posted a pretty straightforward preview of the Xbox 360's version of Guitar Hero II, listing the ten exclusive tracks and some of the achievements waiting to be unlocked (both lists after the break). Things get a little more interesting, however, when the focus shifts to a mysterious port situated on the X-plorer controller.

"While RedOctane wouldn't elaborate on that port's function other than saying it will be 'gnarly,' it's the same port that's used to connect the pedals to the base station on Microsoft's steering wheel. Let's just call that a coincidence for now..." The folks at BBPS stomp the subtlety out of the article and venture that distortion pedals might be due for the next Guitar Hero installment. We don't use the word much, but that really does sound gnarly.

[Via BBPS]

Continue reading Guitar Hero: distortion pedals on the way?

JoystiqGuitar Hero: distortion pedals on the way? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Jan 2007 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionGH2Guitar HeroGuitar Hero 2Guitar Hero IIGuitarHeroGuitarHero2GuitarHeroIiRed OctaneRedOctaneX-plorerXbox-360Tue, 09 Jan 2007 16:25:00 EST