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 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Buy Guitar Hero II, get 1600 MSFT points free]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/16/buy-guitar-hero-ii-get-1600-msft-points-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/16/buy-guitar-hero-ii-get-1600-msft-points-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/16/buy-guitar-hero-ii-get-1600-msft-points-free/#commentsFiled under: ,

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.

JoystiqBuy Guitar Hero II, get 1600 MSFT points free originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Jul 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dealsgh iiGhIiguitar hero iiGuitarHeroIiharmonixmicrosoft pointsMicrosoftPointsred octaneRedOctaneMon, 16 Jul 2007 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision sticking to GH II DLC pricing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/13/activision-sticking-to-gh-ii-dlc-pricing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/13/activision-sticking-to-gh-ii-dlc-pricing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/13/activision-sticking-to-gh-ii-dlc-pricing/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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]

JoystiqActivision sticking to GH II DLC pricing originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisiondlcgh iiGhIiguitar hero iiGuitarHeroIiharmonixred octaneRedOctanexblmxbox live marketplaceXboxLiveMarketplaceFri, 13 Jul 2007 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[They didn't listen. New GH II tracks still 500 points]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/11/they-didnt-listen-new-gh-ii-tracks-still-500-points/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/11/they-didnt-listen-new-gh-ii-tracks-still-500-points/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/11/they-didnt-listen-new-gh-ii-tracks-still-500-points/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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.

JoystiqThey didn't listen. New GH II tracks still 500 points originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisione3e307ghiiguitar hero iiGuitarHeroIiharmonixmarketplacexblmxbox live marketplaceXboxLiveMarketplaceWed, 11 Jul 2007 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Pink Spartans know how to rock]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/28/pink-spartans-know-how-to-rock/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/28/pink-spartans-know-how-to-rock/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/28/pink-spartans-know-how-to-rock/#commentsFiled under: ,

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]

JoystiqPink Spartans know how to rock originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Jun 2007 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gh iiGhIiguitar hero iiGuitarHeroIihalomaster chiefMasterChiefpinkpink spartanPinkSpartanThu, 28 Jun 2007 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox 360 goes disco at Bonnaroo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/26/xbox-360-goes-disco-at-bonnaroo/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/26/xbox-360-goes-disco-at-bonnaroo/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/26/xbox-360-goes-disco-at-bonnaroo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


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

Continue reading Xbox 360 goes disco at Bonnaroo

JoystiqXbox 360 goes disco at Bonnaroo originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActionbonnarooCrackdowndiscotheque arcadeDiscothequeArcaforza 2Forza2gears of warGearsOfWarguitar hero iiGuitarHeroIimadden 2007Madden2007Microsoftmlb 2k7Mlb2k7music festivalMusicFestivalRealtime-WorldsRiot-ActSandboxxbox 360Xbox-360Xbox360Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Octane: new GHII DLC in July]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/19/red-octane-new-ghii-dlc-in-july/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/19/red-octane-new-ghii-dlc-in-july/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/19/red-octane-new-ghii-dlc-in-july/#commentsFiled under: ,

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]

JoystiqRed Octane: new GHII DLC in July originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Jun 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisiongh 2gh iiGh2GhIiguitar heroguitar hero iiGuitarHeroGuitarHeroIiguiter hero 2GuiterHero2harmonixred octaneRedOctaneTue, 19 Jun 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GHII guitar gets peed on, Harmonix to the rescue!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/14/ghii-guitar-gets-peed-on-harmonix-to-the-rescue/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/14/ghii-guitar-gets-peed-on-harmonix-to-the-rescue/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/14/ghii-guitar-gets-peed-on-harmonix-to-the-rescue/#commentsFiled under: ,

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.

JoystiqGHII guitar gets peed on, Harmonix to the rescue! originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gh iiGhIiguitar hero iiGuitarHeroIiharmonixpeeThu, 14 Jun 2007 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GHII tourney at the Mall of America]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/05/ghii-tourney-at-the-mall-of-america/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/05/ghii-tourney-at-the-mall-of-america/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/05/ghii-tourney-at-the-mall-of-america/#commentsFiled under: ,

You're a Guitar Hero II rockstar god, aren't you? Well, if you think you're good enough and are willing to travel, the Mall of America in the lovely state of Minnesota is holding a Guitar Hero II tournament this Saturday, June 9th. The guitar gaming fun will take place in the mall's rotunda from 10:00AM-4:00PM with prizes including a Guitar Hero II game pack, Fender Squier Strat Pack, and a pair of airline tickets. And if your dress up skills are better then your guitar playing, dress up like your favorite rocker and win prizes for your creativity. Practice a few expert songs, make a trip to the MOA and win a few prizes. Living the life of a rockstar is good.

JoystiqGHII tourney at the Mall of America originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Jun 2007 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisiongh iiGhIiguitar hero iiGuitarHeroIimall of americaMallOfAmericamoared octaneRedOctanetournamentTue, 05 Jun 2007 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[For fanatics: custom GHII guitar on eBay]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/01/for-fanatics-custom-ghii-guitar-on-ebay/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/01/for-fanatics-custom-ghii-guitar-on-ebay/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/01/for-fanatics-custom-ghii-guitar-on-ebay/#commentsFiled under: ,

Thanks to seemingly never ending supply issues, finding a second guitar for Guitar Hero II can be quite a challenge. Now, if you want to spend a little extra scratch, you can find custom guitars on eBay. Put up for auction by sheppyboy2000, the guitar features an original black-on-red paint job. This is actually his second guitar (you can see the first one here). Apparently stickers weren't enough for sheppyboy2000. You'd better really want this puppy, though: the current high bid is $85 with $11 more for shipping. For that price, you could buy a brand new copy of Guitar Hero II and give it to a friend. Still, if you like custom gaming accessories, this one seems pretty nice. Oh, and sheppyboy2000 plans to make more, so keep your eyes peeled if you like what you see.

[Thanks, Adam Wessel]

JoystiqFor fanatics: custom GHII guitar on eBay originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Jun 2007 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionghghiiguitar heroguitar hero iiGuitarHeroGuitarHeroIiharmonixred octainRedOctainFri, 01 Jun 2007 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[New Guitar Hero III tracks revealed, Les Paul guitar coming]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/new-guitar-hero-iii-tracks-revealed-les-paul-guitar-coming/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/new-guitar-hero-iii-tracks-revealed-les-paul-guitar-coming/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/new-guitar-hero-iii-tracks-revealed-les-paul-guitar-coming/#commentsFiled under:


As we're still struggling to crank out perfect scores on Hard difficulty in Guitar Hero II, Activision goes and announces a whole slew of new tracks coming to Guitar Hero III. Seriously, just look at all these damned tracks (which we have politely lifted from Joystiq)!
First thing's first, please recognize the distinction between "by" and "as made famous by" in that list. You'll notice that a full 7 of those tracks appear to be recorded by the artist themselves. That's worth throwing up the horns right there. In some more exciting news, Activision has announced that Guitar Hero III's guitar controller will be modeled after the Gibson Les Paul, and will feature customizable faceplates. Furthermore, there will be wireless controllers available for the game, though it is unclear if said guitars will be included with the game or if they will be separate purchases. There is one troubling note in the press release, though: the new guitars will feature a new "button color design" in order to create a more authentic experience. Hopefully, this doesn't hinder the performance of the (very expensive) guitars we've all purchased for Guitar Hero II.

So, what's your favorite song on the list?

JoystiqNew Guitar Hero III tracks revealed, Les Paul guitar coming originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 May 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisiong h iiigh iiGhIiGHIiiguitar heroguitar hero iiguitar hero iiiGuitarHeroGuitarHeroIiGuitarHeroIiiguiter hero 3GuiterHero3neversoftWed, 23 May 2007 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Power made easy: an X-plorer mod]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/21/star-power-made-easy-an-x-plorer-mod/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/21/star-power-made-easy-an-x-plorer-mod/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/21/star-power-made-easy-an-x-plorer-mod/#commentsFiled under: , ,


You know the feeling. You're playing Guitar Hero II, you've got full Star Power and here comes that sweet string of notes that will send your score into the stratosphere. Only one thing to do: tilt that controller and rock like you mean it. But what's this? You tilt the control and nothing happens, or maybe it's a little delayed, or maybe the act of tilting screws up your fingering. Whatever happened, you're stuck with a piddly x2 multiplier and a lot of wasted Star Power. If this sounds familiar to you, you may want to check out the fancy Star Power button mod at GrownUpGamers. As is the case with most mods, this will require you to crack open your X-plorer and do some soldering, so it's not for the timid. The mod also instructs users how to install a "kill switch" which essentially gives you a second strum button, helping you land those wicked solos.

If you're chops are righteous enough for this mod, click the "read" link and check it out.

See Also:
Guitar Hero II cardboard fret mod

JoystiqStar Power made easy: an X-plorer mod originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 May 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimgh iighiiguitar hero iiGuitarHeroIihacksharmonixmodsred octaneRedOctaneMon, 21 May 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[First tracks from Guitar Hero: Rocks the 80's revealed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/10/first-tracks-from-guitar-hero-rocks-the-80s-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/10/first-tracks-from-guitar-hero-rocks-the-80s-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/10/first-tracks-from-guitar-hero-rocks-the-80s-revealed/#commentsFiled under: , ,

An alarming abundance of outrageous attitudes? Check. Enormous shoulder pads and poor color coordination? Check. Extravagantly large hair and excessively shiny accessories? Check. With this Summer's upcoming Guitar Hero expansion, Rocks the 80's, publisher Activision is dangerously close to delivering their first Japanese RPG. Thankfully, Opposable Thumbs reminds us that it's all about the music and lists the first seven tracks from the game's 30-strong list.
  • I Wanna Rock (by Twisted Sister)
  • I Ran (by Flock of Seagulls)
  • Round and Round (as made famous by Ratt)
  • I Want Candy (as made famous by Bow Wow Wow)
  • Metal Health (as made famous by Quiet Riot)
  • Holy Diver (as made famous by Dio)
  • Heat Of The Moment (as made famous by Asia)
Given the lack of the "as made famous" bit, it seems original recordings are provided by everybody's favorite contorted siblings and maritime birds. Curiously, Opposable Thumbs notes that Guitar Hero: Rocks the 80's will be "exclusive" to the PlayStation 2. Does that imply exclusivity for the in-store version, with the Xbox 360 receiving the expansion in downloadable form? Why would Activision limit the game's reach? After all, the pricing of Guitar Hero's online tracks makes it pretty clear that the publisher enjoys making money.

[Thanks, Jess]

JoystiqFirst tracks from Guitar Hero: Rocks the 80's revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 May 2007 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionGuitar HeroGuitar Hero 2Guitar Hero IIGuitarHeroGuitarHero2GuitarHeroIiNeversoftPS2Red OctaneRedOctaneThu, 10 May 2007 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Rock Band to feature Fender guitars and equipment]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/08/rock-band-to-feature-fender-guitars-and-equipment/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/08/rock-band-to-feature-fender-guitars-and-equipment/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/08/rock-band-to-feature-fender-guitars-and-equipment/#commentsFiled under:

Harmonix and EA announced that their upcoming rhythm game, Rock Band, will feature a Fender Stratocaster guitar peripheral, and Fender guitars, basses, amps, and other equipment in game. Rock Band will also feature BOSS and Roland in game. CEO of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation Bill Mendello showed great interest and enthusiasm in Harmonix using Fender equipment in the game, commending the developer's ability to capture the essence of rock 'n' roll in digital entertainement. So, since the GH II Gibson X-plorer will play nice with Rock Band, which one are you going to side with? Fender or Gibson?

JoystiqRock Band to feature Fender guitars and equipment originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 May 2007 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>E AEAElectronic artsElectronicArtsFenderFender StratocasterFenderStratocasterG H IIGHIiGuitar Hero IIGuitarHeroIiHarmonixRock BandRockBandStrato casterStratoCasterTue, 08 May 2007 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Guitar Hero II ad by Gorillaz animation director]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/08/guitar-hero-ii-ad-by-gorillaz-animation-director/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/08/guitar-hero-ii-ad-by-gorillaz-animation-director/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/08/guitar-hero-ii-ad-by-gorillaz-animation-director/#commentsFiled under: ,

You know that badass commercial for Guitar Hero II that we first showed you that later came to Marketplace? Yeah, the one that looks strikingly similar to Gorillaz music videos' artistic style? Well, evidently that comparison is with good reason, at it turns out that the credits to the animation go to Peter Candleland, the Gorillaz animation director from Passion Pictures had a hand in the style of the 360 rock title's TV spot, so the similarities are justified. We also hunted down the animator for the piece, Robert Valley, and a lot of his other work is consistent with the feel throughout. Still, the "Woman vs. Meteor" ad is right up there with Mad World in our books, what about you?

JoystiqGuitar Hero II ad by Gorillaz animation director originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 May 2007 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>G H IIGHIiGorillazGuitar Hero IIGuitarHeroIiPassion PicturesPassionPicturesWomanTue, 08 May 2007 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Guitar Hero II cardboard fret mod]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/05/guitar-hero-ii-cardboard-fret-mod/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/05/guitar-hero-ii-cardboard-fret-mod/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/05/guitar-hero-ii-cardboard-fret-mod/#commentsFiled under: ,


Over at GrownUpGamers.com they've posted a helpful tutorial to fix those unreliable Guitar Hero II fret buttons on your X-plorer guitar. Their tutorial is for those of you who experience not so responsive fret buttons when rocking out to your favorite jam. This unresponsive fret button problem occurs when the fret buttons don't fully press down on the contact due to some shifting action. And all you need to fix those buttons is some confidence to open up your guitar, some cardboard, scissors, and tape. And voila! Fret buttons fixed. We're just wondering what type of cardboard would work best. Gushers, Pop-Tarts, Fruit By the Foot, or Cheerios ... oh the choices.

[Via Digg]

JoystiqGuitar Hero II cardboard fret mod originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 May 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gh iiGhIiguitar hero iiGuitarHeroIimodred octaneRedOctaneSat, 05 May 2007 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Canadian and UK Guitar Hero II supply woes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/04/canadian-and-uk-guitar-hero-ii-supply-woes/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/04/canadian-and-uk-guitar-hero-ii-supply-woes/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/04/canadian-and-uk-guitar-hero-ii-supply-woes/#commentsFiled under: ,

Joystiq reports that Guitar Hero II supply problems are becoming prevalent to gamers in Canada and the UK. This has been confirmed by one of Joystiq's UK bloggers, who states, "I've tried about a dozen retail stores, [it's] harder to find than a Wii." Wow, that is hard to find. When reached for comment, Red Octane told Joystiq that the supply issues were purely a result of an "insane amount of demand" for the title. Furthermore, they note that there are still many retailers in the United States experiencing supply troubles as well.

Red Octane's advice? Buy directly from the Red Octane store. If you just have to have Guitar Hero II (and honestly, you do), ordering from Red Octane may be your only hope. Be warned though, shipping costs are not cheap.

JoystiqCanadian and UK Guitar Hero II supply woes originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 May 2007 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gh iiGhIiguitar heroguitar hero iiGuitarHeroGuitarHeroIiharmonixred octaneRedOctaneFri, 04 May 2007 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: beta late than neva edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/27/wrup-beta-late-than-neva-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/27/wrup-beta-late-than-neva-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/27/wrup-beta-late-than-neva-edition/#commentsFiled under:


So, the weekend is officially upon us, and at least in the Great White North, the forecast is wet and gloomy, which pretty much means sitting back in a Sumo lounge chair and gaming away. We'll probably try to get some final matches of Shadowrun in before the beta ends Monday night, rock out to Guitar Hero II, or go back to old favorites like Oblivion and Gears of War. But that's us. What of you, fellow fanboy, what are you going to be playing?


Leaderboards:
Xbox 360 Fanboy Leaderboard
Xbox 360 Fanboy Leaderboard Mk. II

X360F Gamertags:
Richard Mitchell -- SenseiRAM
Dustin Burg -- SuperDunners
David Dreger -- Knuckles Dawson

JoystiqWRUP: beta late than neva edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>G H IIG o WGearsGears of WarGearsOfWarGHIiGOWGuitar Hero IIGuitarHeroIiOblivionShadow RunShadowRunw r u pwhat are you playingWhatAreYouPlayingWRUPFri, 27 Apr 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Possible leak: New GH II downloadable tracks]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/23/possible-leak-new-gh-ii-downloadable-tracks/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/23/possible-leak-new-gh-ii-downloadable-tracks/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/23/possible-leak-new-gh-ii-downloadable-tracks/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The guys over at HarmonixFans received some special insider's information on the new Guitar Hero II downloadable content that will be coming to the XBLM. The information supposedly came from Microsoft certification documents that were obtained and detail three new track packs including songs from Pantera, The Ramones and ZZ Top. Complete listings of the rumored songs are posted after the break.

And even if this information turns out to be false, we know more DLC is coming and pray to the gaming gods and executives at Red Octane that they listened to their fans and adjusted their prices. How can they deny our loud and abrasive fanboy whining?

[Via Arrogantics]

Continue reading Possible leak: New GH II downloadable tracks

JoystiqPossible leak: New GH II downloadable tracks originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Apr 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gh iiGhIiguitar hero iiGuitarHeroIimarketplacered octaneRedOctanerumorsxblmxbox live marketplaceXboxLiveMarketplaceMon, 23 Apr 2007 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[RedOctane promises new Guitar Hero every year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/17/redoctane-promises-new-guitar-hero-every-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/17/redoctane-promises-new-guitar-hero-every-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/17/redoctane-promises-new-guitar-hero-every-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Tina Turner be damned, you're getting a new Guitar Hero game every year. In a Eurogamer interview, RedOctane co-founder and president, Kai Huang, reveals that every guitar freak's favorite franchise will soon have something in common with large men tossing balls and slamming into each other. "I think that fans can definitely expect that we're going to have one major release a year," says Kai. Following that, the peripheral manufacturer plans to "release update packs and content packs so there's more songs."

And what about the controversial pricing of already released song packs? The pricing's "competitive," says Huang, though his comment may have been slightly garbled due to the degradation of interplanetary transmissions. "We've done a lot of evaluation on the pricing and the costs for each of the songs and how they work for each of the packs, and we think that they're priced competitively, but certainly we listen to the fans and we take that feedback, and if that's something we'll need to evaluate we'll do that."

An annual release of Guitar Hero is hardly something we'd consider to be terrible news, but one caveat certainly needs to be heard -- not many franchises keep their sparkle on a yearly release schedule. Even fellow music maniac, Dance Dance Revolution, has taken a few bad steps in its rapid-fire career. We cringe at the thought of seeing a great franchise doing a power slide... down a set of stairs.

JoystiqRedOctane promises new Guitar Hero every year originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Apr 2007 20:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionDSGuitar HeroGuitar Hero 2Guitar Hero 3Guitar Hero IIGuitar Hero IIIGuitarHeroGuitarHero2GuitarHero3GuitarHeroIiGuitarHeroIiiMusicPS2PS3RedOctaneWiiXbox-360Tue, 17 Apr 2007 20:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Octane 'looking into' Guitar Hero II patch problems]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/red-octane-looking-into-guitar-hero-ii-patch-problems/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/red-octane-looking-into-guitar-hero-ii-patch-problems/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/red-octane-looking-into-guitar-hero-ii-patch-problems/#commentsFiled under: ,


"We're aware of the problem and we're looking into it." So says RedOctane in response to complaints of a Guitar Hero II patch leaving Xbox 360s paralyzed by the dreaded red ring of death. A string of users have posted their tales of woe on the official Xbox forums, noting post-patch game freezes, startup glitches and eventual system lockups. The patch was initially issued to correct unresponsive whammy bars in some guitar controllers.

Though Red Octane doesn't divulge to Eurogamer just exactly what "we're looking into it" entails, there's little hope that a further software patch could repair completely inoperative consoles. There's also no direct evidence to suggest that the patch itself is causing the Xbox 360 hardware to malfunction. The operating system might be fooled into thinking there is, however, which isn't much better than a physical malfunction. This occurrence is awfully similar to what transpires whenever a new Xbox 360 game is released -- is software causing a new problem, or is it letting you know that you had a rotten system to begin with?

We'll let you know as soon as RedOctane or Microsoft comment further.

JoystiqRed Octane 'looking into' Guitar Hero II patch problems originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Apr 2007 21:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Guitar HeroGuitar Hero 2Guitar Hero IIGuitarHeroGuitarHero2GuitarHeroIiHarmonixMicrosoftMusicPatchRedOctaneRockXbox-360Mon, 16 Apr 2007 21:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Online multiplayer coming to Guitar Hero III]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/online-multiplayer-coming-to-guitar-hero-iii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/online-multiplayer-coming-to-guitar-hero-iii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/16/online-multiplayer-coming-to-guitar-hero-iii/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Recently announced Guitar Hero III will be sporting something we wish Guitar Hero II would have included ... online multiplayer. In an interview with Red Octane president Kai Huang, Pro-G confirmed that GH III would indeed include an online component. So fanboys, does this mean that a rumored future GH II update to include online multiplayer will never see the light of day? Well, it doesn't sound overly promising seeing that they'll probably use "Super Duper Online Multiplayer" as a new feature and bullet point for their third installment. Oh well, we still love you GH II and will wait to see if you'll grace us with online play later this year.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqOnline multiplayer coming to Guitar Hero III originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisiongh iigh iiiGhIiGhIiiguitar hero iiguitar hero iiiGuitarHeroIiGuitarHeroIiired octaneRedOctaneMon, 16 Apr 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GH II updated, no more whammy problems]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/14/gh-ii-updated-no-more-whammy-problems/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/14/gh-ii-updated-no-more-whammy-problems/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/14/gh-ii-updated-no-more-whammy-problems/#commentsFiled under: ,


Red Octane, being very stealth like, released an auto update for Guitar Hero II early this morning fixing everyone's whammy bar woes. The other day, we learned that people's broken whammy bars weren't a result of malfunctioning hardware, but were software based. Red Octane said that whammy bar problems were being caused by a chunk of anti-cheating dev code that they added late in the development cycle. So, the newly released auto update fixes this code problem and whammy bars the world over can go back to whammying. Fire up your copy of Guitar Hero II, download the update, and whammy until your heart is content.

Now, we just have to get Red Octane to acknowledge that they over priced GH II's DLC and fix that whole mess. But we'll deal with that next week.

[Thanks, DeadPlasmaCell]

JoystiqGH II updated, no more whammy problems originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Apr 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gh iiGhIiguitar heroguitar hero iiGuitarHeroGuitarHeroIired octaneRedOctaneupdatewhammySat, 14 Apr 2007 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP Fanboy Theatre: Volume 15]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/14/psp-fanboy-theatre-volume-15/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/14/psp-fanboy-theatre-volume-15/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/14/psp-fanboy-theatre-volume-15/#commentsFiled under:

PSP Fanboy offers the latest and greatest movie and game trailers, formatted for the PSP in this new weekly feature. Check it out every Saturday. PSP owners can download files wirelessly via m.pspfanboy.com.

Instructions: Save all movie and thumbnail files to the VIDEO folder. These high resolution 480x272 videos require firmware 3.30 or above. (Note: OE custom firmware will also play these videos.)


Manhunt 2
Download MP4 (6.8MB) | Download JPG

The following videos are featured after the break: Blue Dragon, Gene Simmons - Guitar Hero II Tournament, God of War II: Mythology, Guitar Hero II [360]

Continue reading PSP Fanboy Theatre: Volume 15

JoystiqPSP Fanboy Theatre: Volume 15 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Apr 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blue dragonBlueDragongene simmonsGeneSimmonsgod of wargod of war iiGodOfWarGodOfWarIiguitar hero iiGuitarHeroIimanhuntmanhunt 2Manhunt2theatreSat, 14 Apr 2007 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Octane says Xbox 360 guitars patched via Xbox Live]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/14/red-octane-says-xbox-360-guitars-patched-via-xbox-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/14/red-octane-says-xbox-360-guitars-patched-via-xbox-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/14/red-octane-says-xbox-360-guitars-patched-via-xbox-live/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Apparently Red Octane discovered the problem in their guitars and fixed it with a software patch this morning. On Red Octane's website they're saying that as of 4 AM pacific today a patch is available via Xbox Live that "should resolve the situation where input from the whammy bar was not always recognized."

Red Octane admitted a week ago that two models of their Xbox 360 guitars were "defective." This followed a week of wannabe guitar heroes discovering that their axes were having problems with their whammy bar, strangely the whammy defect seemed to have a higher prevalence in the first batch of guitars with a 95055 on the box. Red Octane says the situation is fixed now. This doesn't explain the sticky yellow fret button or the complaints of "shocks" by some people, but the original whammy bar issue seems resolved. People with "defective" guitars, after downloading the patch, is it fixed?

[Thank you James]

JoystiqRed Octane says Xbox 360 guitars patched via Xbox Live originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Apr 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>busted guitarsdefective whammy barsguitar hero IIGuitarHeroIixbox 360Xbox-360Sat, 14 Apr 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Killer Queen on GHII, worth $6?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/13/video-killer-queen-on-ghii-worth-6/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/13/video-killer-queen-on-ghii-worth-6/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/13/video-killer-queen-on-ghii-worth-6/#commentsFiled under:


So, Red Octane and Activision have taken some flack for the pricing of of the Guitar Hero II downloadable content. As a quick reminder, the song packs costs $6.25. With three songs to a pack, that's a little more than 2 bucks a song. Regardless of whether or not the pricing is truly reflective of the licensing costs and other related costs, many folks out there think the price is too high. So, we found this video on GameTrailers showcasing one of the new tracks, Queen's "Killer Queen." The pack also includes "Frankenstein" by the Edgar Winter Group and "Take It Off" by The Donnas, which are both decent songs in their own way. The question is then, now that you've seen "Killer Queen" as it plays in Guitar Hero II, is the $2/song price any more palatable? Would any of you be more amenable to paying 160 points for individual songs?

JoystiqVideo: Killer Queen on GHII, worth $6? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Apr 2007 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisiongh iighiiguitar heroguitar hero iiGuitarHeroGuitarHeroIiharmonixred octaneRedOctaneFri, 13 Apr 2007 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[GHII problems software based, patch inbound]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/13/ghii-problems-software-based-patch-inbound/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/13/ghii-problems-software-based-patch-inbound/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/13/ghii-problems-software-based-patch-inbound/#commentsFiled under: ,


Guitar Hero II, we've been writing about it nonstop since it was released. It was the major topic of our most recent Fancast. The song packs have outraged us. The game itself, however, is basically pure gaming gold. At least, it's gold so long as you have a functional guitar. Our own David Dreger, for example, has a broken whammy bar. Or does he? According to a recent statement from Activision, it looks like the whammy bar issue may actually stem from software, not hardware. Activision and Red Octane's support pages note that the issue is caused by an element of Guitar Hero II that was added to "ensure accurate scoring". In other words, it was placed there to prevent cheating. Activision plans to release a patch that should rectify the issue within the coming weeks. So, if you were planning on fixing that guitar yourself, you may want to wait for the patch. After all, if you fix your guitar, and then Activision patches the game, you may wind up with the same problem all over again.

JoystiqGHII problems software based, patch inbound originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Apr 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisiongh 2Gh2ghiiguitar heroguitar hero 2guitar hero iiGuitarHeroGuitarHero2GuitarHeroIiharmonixred octaneRedOctaneFri, 13 Apr 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Major Nelson on GHII DLC, Halo 3, Sony]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/major-nelson-on-ghii-dlc-halo-3-sony/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/major-nelson-on-ghii-dlc-halo-3-sony/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/major-nelson-on-ghii-dlc-halo-3-sony/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Before the NYC Guitar Hero II event with Gene Simmons got into full swing, Joystiq got the chance to sit down with Larry Hryb (AKA Major Nelson) and talk about all things Xbox. Speaking about the highly priced Guitar Hero II downloadable songs, Major Nelson states that it's not analogous to iTunes. In other words, the interactivity, the licensing, and the testing all go into creating a price for the new tracks. Furthermore, since the tracks are on a new platform, all the contracts have to be renegotiated. Of course, Red Octane wants to make some money as well. When asked about the bundling issue -- i.e. "I have to buy two crappy songs to get the one I like" -- Major Nelson says that bundling was probably done to bring the cost down. By working on three songs at once, rather than individual songs, Red Octane could conceivably cut down on development costs, thus reducing the price to consumers. In other words, individual songs would likely be even more expensive.

Major Nelson also discusses the upcoming Halo 3 beta, the competition from Sony, the Spring Update, and the Wii. Hit the "read" link for the full interview.

See Also:
Xbox 360 Fancast 010 (featuring Major Nelson)

JoystiqMajor Nelson on GHII DLC, Halo 3, Sony originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ghiiguitar hero iiGuitarHeroIilarry hrybLarryHrybmajor nelsonMajorNelsonThu, 12 Apr 2007 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[GH II and Gene Simmons rock NYC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/gh-ii-and-gene-simmons-rock-nyc/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/gh-ii-and-gene-simmons-rock-nyc/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/gh-ii-and-gene-simmons-rock-nyc/#commentsFiled under: ,


Joystiq was in NYC to capture all the Guitar Hero II festivities at the Virgin Megastore and almost got to touch KISS rocker Gene Simmons. The event featured a few of the best Guitar Hero II players this side of Texas who battled it out for a chance to rock with Mr. Simmons. Think of it as a one big marketing event where you mix one part old rockstar with three parts video games and watch the magic happen. The video above features the GH II winner rocking it out withe Gene and also a few awkward moments, but overall it was a pretty entertaining show. Also, be sure to check out both Joystiq and Major Nelson's photo galleries from the event to get a real sense of what it's like to be in the presence of a "rock god". The event looked fun, but now it's time to watch our favorite TV show, Family Jewels ... that Gene Simmons is such a character.

JoystiqGH II and Gene Simmons rock NYC originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eventgene simmonsGeneSimmonsgh iiGhIiguitar heroguitar hero iiGuitarHeroGuitarHeroIimicrosoftred octaneRedOctanexbox 360Xbox360Thu, 12 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fans revolt! GH II DLC is just too spendy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/fans-revolt-gh-ii-dlc-is-just-too-spendy/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/fans-revolt-gh-ii-dlc-is-just-too-spendy/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/fans-revolt-gh-ii-dlc-is-just-too-spendy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Yesterday, the first batch of downloadable content for Guitar Hero II released onto the XBLM with a very negative reception from fans. Red Octane released three packs to the Marketplace each containing three songs from Guitar Hero and costing 500 Microsoft points ($6.25 US) each. And there in lies the problem ... this content is expensive! The negative buzz surrounding the new tracks has not only spilled onto Major Nelson's website sparking a 560+ comment debate, but inspired angry fans to take action.

Enter an online petition aimed at getting Red Octane and Microsoft's attention to do something about the over priced DLC. The online petition has gained a bunch of steam racking up over 3,600 signatures and is sure to gain more throughout the next few days. Will Red Octane respond to fan's anger towards the DLC's pricing scheme, or will they simply turn a blind eye? Well, there's only one way to find out. If you don't agree with the pricing for Guitar Hero II's new DLC and are willing to boycott any such purchase until the price comes down, then sign the online petition. If it's one thing we've learned in the past few weeks it's that sometimes those online petitions actually do work.

[Thanks, MightyHealthy]

JoystiqFans revolt! GH II DLC is just too spendy originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 01:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcgh iiGhIiguitar heroguitar hero iiGuitarHeroGuitarHeroIimicrosoftred octaneRedOctanexblmxbox live marketplaceXboxLiveMarketplaceThu, 12 Apr 2007 01:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Gene Simmons rocks Times Square with Guitar Hero II]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/11/gene-simmons-rocks-times-square-with-guitar-hero-ii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/11/gene-simmons-rocks-times-square-with-guitar-hero-ii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/11/gene-simmons-rocks-times-square-with-guitar-hero-ii/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The legendary Gene Simmons (of KISS fame) rocked hard in Times Square promoting the newly released Guitar Hero II for Xbox 360. The nation's (supposed) top Guitar Hero masters were invited to perform in NYC's Virgin Megastore, and the top hero would be gifted with an autographed guitar and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play with Simmons. Of course, as any legitimate rock star would do, he played with the ladies too.

The large audience may have proven too nerve-wracking, as many of the performances were stiff, littered with missed notes, and lacking personality. Of course, everything changed when Simmons walked in the room, tongue intact. His charismatic interaction with the audience proved that it takes a lot more than fast fingers to become a real rock star. Remember that, next time you "strap on."

Gallery: Guitar Hero 2 rocks NYC

JoystiqGene Simmons rocks Times Square with Guitar Hero II originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gene simmonsGeneSimmonsguitar heroguitar hero iiGuitarHeroGuitarHeroIixbox 360Xbox-360Xbox360Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:25:00 EST<![CDATA[First wave of Guitar Hero II songs rock Marketplace]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/11/first-wave-of-guitar-hero-ii-songs-rock-marketplace/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/11/first-wave-of-guitar-hero-ii-songs-rock-marketplace/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/11/first-wave-of-guitar-hero-ii-songs-rock-marketplace/#commentsFiled under: , ,


3 sets of 3 songs from the original Guitar Hero have landed on Xbox Live Marketplace for GHII. Track Pack 1 has Ozzy's "Bark at the Moon", "Ace of Spades" by Motörhead, and The Exies' "Hey You". Pack numero dos is rockin' "Killer Queen" by Queen, The Donnas' "Take it Off", and "Frankenstein" by The Edward Winter Group. Finally, the third Pack gives you "Higher Ground" by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Incubus' "Stellar", and "Infected" by Bad Religion.

Note that all of these songs are covers and not master tracks, like they were before. Each pack weighs in a 500 MS points. That means, at this price point, to get all 47 of the original Guitar Hero tracks, it would cost you roughly 7,850 MS Points or $98.09 USD. So, will you be picking up any of these packs, if so, which one?

JoystiqFirst wave of Guitar Hero II songs rock Marketplace originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>G H 2G H IIGH2GHIiGuitar Hero 2Guitar Hero IIGuitarHero2GuitarHeroIiMarketplaceRed OctaneRedOctaneXbox Live MarketplaceXboxLiveMarketplaceWed, 11 Apr 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Playing Halo PC with a ... guitar?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/10/playing-halo-pc-with-a-guitar/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/10/playing-halo-pc-with-a-guitar/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/10/playing-halo-pc-with-a-guitar/#commentsFiled under: ,


Trying to use the Guitar Hero II guitar controller for other applications may be a tad difficult, especially if you try to play a first person shooter with it. But AMarine decided to do just that and setup his guitar to control Master Chief on Halo PC. After mapping the buttons and demoing it in game we're going to say it seems ... awkward. But that's expected. We totally give AMarine props for taking the jump and trying it out, but would love to see someone crazy enough to master the use of the guitar in Halo. That's the challenge guys, get twenty kills in a ranked Halo PC game using the Guitar Hero II guitar as a controller and send us the vid. Anyone up for the challenge?

[Via 360style.net]

JoystiqPlaying Halo PC with a ... guitar? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Apr 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-IndustriesBungieBungie-StudiosFPSguitarguitar heroguitar hero iiGuitarHeroGuitarHeroIihalohalo pcHalo-Combat-EvolvedHaloPcMicrosoft-Game-StudiosTue, 10 Apr 2007 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Guitar Hero III60 encore this fall]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/10/guitar-hero-iii60-encore-this-fall/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/10/guitar-hero-iii60-encore-this-fall/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/10/guitar-hero-iii60-encore-this-fall/#commentsFiled under: ,

RedOctane's Support Center has an interesting tidbit of information regarding the next installment of Guitar Hero, and it's release schedule. The PS2, PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360 can expect to be rocking out to a new set of songs to unlock in Guitar Hero III this Fall (for North America). This also will be Neversoft's first shot at the game, so it will interesting to see what direction they take the series, and if the pedal jack will be used or not. Do you think that this is too soon for the next game? Or is it justified as the PS2 release was back in November?

[Via QJ.net]

JoystiqGuitar Hero III60 encore this fall originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Apr 2007 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionG H 3G H IIIGHIiiGuitar HeroGuitar Hero 2Guitar Hero 3Guitar Hero IIGuitar Hero IIIGuitarHeroGuitarHero2GuitarHero3GuitarHeroIiGuitarHeroIiiNever softNeverSoftRed OctaneRedOctaneTue, 10 Apr 2007 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Octane says two Xbox guitar models 'defective']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/07/red-octane-says-two-xbox-guitar-models-defective/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/07/red-octane-says-two-xbox-guitar-models-defective/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/07/red-octane-says-two-xbox-guitar-models-defective/#commentsFiled under: , ,

After awaiting an official response all week on what Red Octane plans to do about defective guitars some customers received with their copies of Xbox 360's Guitar Hero II, we've received from several tipsters the responses they received from Red Octane. The response brings up nothing but more questions.

Red Octane writes to those with complaints about the guitar, "We have isolated this issue to two model numbers that can be found on the guitar's packaging. The numbers are 95065 and 95055. We are asking that customers who puchased [sic] their items from a retailer perform an exchange with that respective store (for a model number other than the defective two listed above). Customer's [sic] who purchased through our online story [sic] can complete an rma request for their defective item and we will exchange it for a fully function [sic] guitar controller. We do apologize for the inconvenience and will resole [sic] these matters."

Joystiq has been interviewing people all week trying to make sense of this entire issue as Red Octane is less than forthcoming with information. For example, here at Joystiq, we have a 95055 box, with a 95065 sticker placed over the UPC (originally 95055) and a 95065 guitar in the box - everything works fine so far (except star power activation is far less responsive than the PS2 guitar). Over at sister site Xbox 360 Fanboy, where they received a broken controller, they had a 95067 (that is not a typo) box with a 95065 guitar inside. At this point Red Octane acknowledges "defective" models as 95065 and 95055. If you have a defective model guitar, go ahead and return it with Red Octane's blessing.

[Thank you to everyone we've interviewed and those who sent in tips]

Continue reading Red Octane says two Xbox guitar models 'defective'

JoystiqRed Octane says two Xbox guitar models 'defective' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 07 Apr 2007 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As if Guitar Hero II wasn't enough on its own, it seems the X-plorer guitar does even more than expected. Our overlords and fellow slaves of rock at Joystiq have discovered that the X-plorer guitar controller that ships with the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II works flawlessly with Windows. The device reportedly works in both Windows XP and Vista. The fret buttons correspond to buttons 1 through 5, back and start control 7 and 8, the D-pad and strummer control the Point of View Hat, the whammy bar controls X rotation, star power controls Y rotation and the Z-axis moves as you move the guitar.

With some control configuration, the peeps at Joystiq even managed to get the guitar up and running with the freeware PC Guitar Hero clone, Frets on Fire. Getting the guitar to control a guitar game is interesting, but we're not satisfied. No, we won't be satisfied until we're pulling off headshots with our guitar. Even better, we'd like to see someone rig a music program to use the guitar as an actual instrument. Maybe someone could whip something up with Game Studio Express. Anyone care to take up the challenge?

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqGHII guitar works on Windows, Frets on Fire originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Apr 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gh 2gh iiGh2GhIiguitar hero 2guitar hero iiGuitarHero2GuitarHeroIiharmonixred octaneRedOctaneFri, 06 Apr 2007 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GHII trailer rocks on Marketplace]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/ghii-trailer-rocks-on-marketplace/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/ghii-trailer-rocks-on-marketplace/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/ghii-trailer-rocks-on-marketplace/#commentsFiled under: ,


If by some insane chance you've missed the metric ton of Guitar Hero II coverage this week, you may be interested to know that the official commercial is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. If you don't know what Guitar Hero II is all about, the commercial should give you an idea. Basically, rock and roll can (and does) save the world. You won't be destroying any meteors during the game, though you may feel like you have that kind of power once you finish playing. Go download and enjoy (unless you already have the game, in which case you'd probably prefer not to be bothered).

You can check out the "as seen through a screen door" version here.

JoystiqGHII trailer rocks on Marketplace originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ghiiguitar heroguitar hero iiGuitarHeroGuitarHeroIiharmonixred octaneRedOctaneFri, 06 Apr 2007 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[GH II: Shouldn't we get all the songs? [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/gh-ii-shouldnt-we-get-all-the-songs/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/gh-ii-shouldnt-we-get-all-the-songs/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/gh-ii-shouldnt-we-get-all-the-songs/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ever think about Guitar Hero II's advertised song list? On the box it clearly states the game features 70 songs, but if you don't already know, you only have access to 6 off the get go as others are only playable if you unlock them. Though, this may be obvious and even acceptable to some, over at Game Stooge they've openly expressed their distaste with this unlocking method. Ultimately they feel ripped off by paying $90 for the game and then having to unlock new songs just to get to play the content that was promised on the box. If you beat the game in easy, you only have access 36 of the 70 tracks and the rest could potentially be too difficult for some to unlock. Heck, Game Stooge would settle for having access to the tracks in just practice mode. Then at least a person could play them.

What do you guys think? If you're plopping down $90 on a game do you think you it's your right to have access to all the content in the game or do you feel it's okay for the developers to make you work for it? We're not sure if it the comparisons Game Stooge uses are fair, but we agree ... we just want a way to rock out to all 70 songs.

Update 1: It looks like GH II's game designer Chris Canfield responded to Game Stooge's post with insight into their decisions and, for those of you who want their songs now, an unlock all tracks cheat code. Also note that if you are going to be using the cheat code think about your guitar's button colors ... yeah, the "O" had us thrown off a bit.

JoystiqGH II: Shouldn't we get all the songs? [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Apr 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guitar heroguitar hero iiGuitarHeroGuitarHeroIired octaneRedOctaneFri, 06 Apr 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GHII X-plorer problem explored, culprit found?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/ghii-x-plorer-problem-explored-culprit-found/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/ghii-x-plorer-problem-explored-culprit-found/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/ghii-x-plorer-problem-explored-culprit-found/#commentsFiled under: ,


Possessing a Geraldo-like level of journalistic investigation skills, our cruel masters at Joystiq have uncovered more info on the faulty X-plorer guitars that shipped with the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II. It seems that the majority of whammy bar problems are being reported by owners of the guitar with the pedal jack near the power chord, model 95055. The other model, with the pedal jack near the headset jack and shoulder strap, model 95065, doesn't seem to be generating as many complaints (though our own David Dreger is reporting issues with his). Red Octane hasn't made any official announcements regarding its investigation of the matter.

For clarity's sake, your best bet is to look for a box with Part No. 95065. The part number is located above the ESRB rating on the back of the box. Find a detailed image of the part number location after the break.

Continue reading GHII X-plorer problem explored, culprit found?

JoystiqGHII X-plorer problem explored, culprit found? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Apr 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ghiiguitar heroguitar hero iiGuitarHeroGuitarHeroIiharmonixred octaneRedOctaneFri, 06 Apr 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Why GH II's guitar gets no wireless magic]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/05/why-gh-iis-guitar-gets-no-wireless-magic/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/05/why-gh-iis-guitar-gets-no-wireless-magic/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/05/why-gh-iis-guitar-gets-no-wireless-magic/#commentsFiled under: ,

We all wished it would happen, we all prayed to the powers that be it would happen, but in the end we were sadly let down. We're of course talking about the long rumored Guitar Hero II wireless guitar that everyone wished they'd see, but ultimately ended up being one wired disappointment. And our friends over at Ctrl+Alt+Del have finally gotten to the bottom of all the politics and discovered the real reason why we aren't rocking out to "Possum Kingdom" on our wireless X-plorer guitar. It was those darn Microsoft product developers who hoarded all the wireless magic. Yes sir, they're holding onto their precious wireless and aren't sharing. If you're reading this Microsoft, please let us have your proprietary wireless magic. We'll totally trade you one brand new ring ... straight up.

[Thanks, Paul]

JoystiqWhy GH II's guitar gets no wireless magic originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gh iighiiguitar heroguitar hero iiGuitarHeroGuitarHeroIired octaneRedOctaneThu, 05 Apr 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Octane on GHII X-plorer issues]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/red-octane-on-ghii-x-plorer-issues/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/red-octane-on-ghii-x-plorer-issues/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/red-octane-on-ghii-x-plorer-issues/#commentsFiled under:


After a request for comment from Joystiq, Red Octane has officially responded to the reported problems with the Xbox 360 Guitar Hero II X-plorer guitar. For those that missed the news, it seems that many people are experiencing problems using the whammy bar on the X-plorer guitar for the Xbox 360 version of GHII. Some claim that it is slow to respond to input, or that it doesn't respond at all. Users are also complaining of faulty tilt controls. There are two different controller models, distinguishable by the location of the pedal jack (either near the power cable, or near the headset jack and shoulder strap; both models pictured above). We've received reports of problems with both models.

In response to the reported problems, a spokesman from Red Octane told Joystiq, "In regards to the controller, we're currently in the process of having our internal QA and production teams look into this possible issue, and are working to quickly isolate this if there is one. In the meantime, we suggest our fans try to replug in their guitars without holding down any buttons or the whammy bar, and that may help immediately resolve the issue." You heard the man, you'd best resist the urge to fiddle with your whammy bar when plugging in your guitar.

As for the "recall," Guitar Hero's street date lockout caused Target computers to register the product as "Recall for Sale." For now, there is no official recall of Guitar Hero II and its X-plorer guitar. In the meantime, Red Octane is investigating any flaws in the X-plorer hardware.

JoystiqRed Octane on GHII X-plorer issues originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ghiiguitar hero iiGuitarHeroIiharmonixred octaneRedOctaneWed, 04 Apr 2007 17:00:00 EST