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[Joystiq eyes and ears-on: Guitar Hero: World Tour]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/joystiq-eyes-and-ears-on-guitar-hero-world-tour/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/joystiq-eyes-and-ears-on-guitar-hero-world-tour/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/joystiq-eyes-and-ears-on-guitar-hero-world-tour/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Activision invited us out to the House of Blues last week, which was a fitting place to give us a first look at Guitar Hero: World Tour in action. Though we didn't get to play it, we did watch the folks from RedOctane take a spin through all the new features. Suffice it to say, this isn't simply Guitar Hero: Rock Band ... which is what we thought it might turn out to be. Read on after the break to find out why you'll soon have a closet filled with enough peripherals to make your own one-man band.

Gallery: Guitar Hero World Tour (06/20/08)

Continue reading Joystiq eyes and ears-on: Guitar Hero: World Tour

JoystiqJoystiq eyes and ears-on: Guitar Hero: World Tour originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionGuitar HeroGuitarHeroPS3RedOctaneWiiWorld TourWorldTourXbox-360Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ted Nugent confirms his appearance in Guitar Hero IV on talk radio show]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/18/ted-nugent-confirms-his-appearance-in-guitar-hero-iv-on-talk-rad/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/18/ted-nugent-confirms-his-appearance-in-guitar-hero-iv-on-talk-rad/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/18/ted-nugent-confirms-his-appearance-in-guitar-hero-iv-on-talk-rad/#commentsFiled under: ,


For a game subtitled "Legends of Rock", Guitar Hero III didn't feature that many real-life six-string virtuosos. Sure, you had Rage's Tom Morello, GnR's Slash and a brief cameo by VH1's latest lothario, Poison frontman Bret Michaels -- but many classic rock aficionados who tried their hand at Activision's shredding simulator were left unsatisfied in terms of quantity (and in the minds of those belonging to the churches of Hendrix and Clapton, quality).

Until now, we've yet to hear anything about the roster for the next legit entry in Activision's golden goose franchise (no, we're not nor will we ever count Guitar Hero: Aerosmith), however, that silence was recently broken by the whistle of a flaming arrow through the night air, fired from the heavenly compound bow of the Motor City Madman himself, Ted Nugent. Listen to his radio interview on Detroit's WRIF (about 12:30 in), where he uses all manner of colorful language to describe the mocap process. Now, if they could only get the rest of the Damn Yankees involved, it would definitely ensure a purchase on our end. How 'bout it, Blades?

[Thanks, Tyler.]

JoystiqTed Nugent confirms his appearance in Guitar Hero IV on talk radio show originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 18 May 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionguitar heroguitar-hero-ivGuitarHeroguitarheroivnugetedtednugentSun, 18 May 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guitar Hero III Guinness record holder wins tournament, beats previous record]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/gh-guinness-record-holder-wins-gh-iii-tournament-beats-previous/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/gh-guinness-record-holder-wins-gh-iii-tournament-beats-previous/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/gh-guinness-record-holder-wins-gh-iii-tournament-beats-previous/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Chris Chike, currently the Guinness world record holder for points in Guitar Hero III, won the Play N Trade GHIII tournament last weekend and bested his record-setting score. Chike's Guinness score was 870,647 (seen in video above) before he won the tournament, along with $2000 of in-store credit, with 889,256 points.

The best part of this story is that Chike actually drove two hours to compete at the Play N Trade store in Bloomington, Minnesota. Guess when you're the world record holder the trip seems worth it, considering you've probably got the win in the bag. Chike says he still hasn't done as well at any tournament event than he's done at home. The good thing about tournaments and competition is you only have to be better than second place.

JoystiqGuitar Hero III Guinness record holder wins tournament, beats previous record originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chikechris-chikeghgh3ghiiiguitar heroguitarheroguitarheroiiiplay-n-tradePS3WiiXbox-360Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Two feet, two guitars, one interesting Guitar Hero phenomenon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/two-feet-two-guitars-one-interesting-guitar-hero-phenomenon/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/two-feet-two-guitars-one-interesting-guitar-hero-phenomenon/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/two-feet-two-guitars-one-interesting-guitar-hero-phenomenon/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Have no friends? No self-respect? No foot fungus? Then the below video of an unorthodox method for playing two Guitar Hero parts at once might just be for you!

When tipster Rob first sent us this extraordinary video, we thought it was somewhat unique. Apparently, though, playing Guitar Hero with your feet became a minor internet trend while we weren't looking. Some wimp out by only doing a solo part, or using their hands for one of the parts. Some use their feet out of necessity, others out of camaraderie. Some take it seriously and some just ham it up. But all of them use their feet for a game that ostensibly requires hands.

One other thing seems constant too... they all pretty much suck. Unsurprisingly, hitting those fret buttons with your stinky toes makes it nearly impossible to play on anything past Easy difficulty ... and even then it's no bed of roses. Think you can prove us wrong? Send us your video of Expert-level, foot-controlled Guitar Hero and we guarantee you a spot of internet semi-fame on this very page. To those about to rock with their feet ... we salute you.

Continue reading Two feet, two guitars, one interesting Guitar Hero phenomenon

JoystiqTwo feet, two guitars, one interesting Guitar Hero phenomenon originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionfeetGHguitarguitar heroGuitarHeroharmonixPS3red octaneRedOctaneWiiXbox-360Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rock Band guitar gets real string mod]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/rock-band-guitar-gets-real-string-mod/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/rock-band-guitar-gets-real-string-mod/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/rock-band-guitar-gets-real-string-mod/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Practically anyone who's played Guitar Hero and/or Rock Band has probably come across that one jerk who just can't help denigrating the simple fun of the rhythm game experience. "That's not even close to playing a real guitar," he'll say in a snide, nasally voice. "The guitar doesn't even have strings!" Well, if you want to show up that pompous prick, may we suggest you queue up the below video of a modded, stringed Rock Band guitar on a laptop and then RUB IT IN HIS FACE AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Ahem. Anyway, while this single-stringed beast still has a ways to go to match a real six-string guitar, it looks like it captures the axe-grinding experience a little more authentically. Here's hoping that some sort of officially licensed, purchasable version of this type of guitar will be available soon.

[Via Engadget]

Continue reading Rock Band guitar gets real string mod

JoystiqRock Band guitar gets real string mod originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionEAElectronic-Artsguitarguitar heroGuitarHerohackmodMTVPS3rock bandRockBandstringWiiXbox-360Tue, 05 Feb 2008 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Learn your way around a six-string with Guitar Wizard]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/13/learn-your-way-around-a-six-string-with-guitar-wizard/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/13/learn-your-way-around-a-six-string-with-guitar-wizard/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/13/learn-your-way-around-a-six-string-with-guitar-wizard/#commentsFiled under: ,


Think your ability to five-star "Green Grass and High Tides" means you can actually handle a real guitar? We're not talking about a five-buttoned plastic peripheral, mind you, we're talking about the real thing, steel and strings. We understand that some of you might be scared off by the transition from digital to analog, and the idea that big boy guitars are played without colorful tracks and Star Power. Luckily, the Music Wizard Group has developed a system for Guitar Hero-spoiled technophiles like us to learn how to shred on a real axe.

While we're not sure how well the system will handle, the teaching methods in Guitar Wizard are pretty clever. Each string is designated a specific shape, and each fret on that string is designed a specific color. On a side-scrolling track, colorful shapes move across the screen in a manner that the Rock Band crowd would be very comfortable with. While we're fairly certain that Hendrix didn't learn to play by watching Lucky Charms float across a computer screen, we're excited to get our rock-thirsty hands on the Guitar Wizard bundle (which includes software, a MIDI pickup and a real Washburn guitar) when it drops this fall.

JoystiqLearn your way around a six-string with Guitar Wizard originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guitar heroguitar wizardguitar-heroguitar-wizardGuitarHeroGuitarWizardmusicwizardgroupPCrock-bandrockbandSun, 13 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guitar Hero Mobile trailer is unsurprisingly terrible]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/09/guitar-hero-mobile-trailer-is-unsurprisingly-terrible/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/09/guitar-hero-mobile-trailer-is-unsurprisingly-terrible/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/09/guitar-hero-mobile-trailer-is-unsurprisingly-terrible/#commentsFiled under: ,


You know it's a bad sign when the trailer for a game only uses six seconds of gameplay footage. To be fair, what did you expect? When we first heard the idea of Guitar Hero on a cell phone, we scoffed so hard that we needed to sit down. You may feel just like Hendrix as you shred on your touch-tone pad, but something tells us if we saw anyone actually playing this in public, it would look like they were trying to disarm a tiny cellular bomb.

JoystiqGuitar Hero Mobile trailer is unsurprisingly terrible originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 09 Dec 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionGuitar HeroGuitar-HeroGuitarHeroMobileRed-OctaneRedOctaneSun, 09 Dec 2007 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guitar Hero, Tony Hawk getting in-game ad treatment]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/14/guitar-hero-tony-hawk-getting-in-game-ad-treatment/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/14/guitar-hero-tony-hawk-getting-in-game-ad-treatment/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/14/guitar-hero-tony-hawk-getting-in-game-ad-treatment/#commentsFiled under:


Anyone who's spent even a little time rocking out to Guitar Hero III has likely noticed the game's heavy-handed approach to product placement, with stages littered with cans of Red Bull and billboards hocking everything from Axe Body Spray to Pontiac. The whole thing feels oppressive and graceless as even the game's underground rock venues are reduced to feeling like props to corporate shilling. And things are likely to get worse before they get better, as Activision today announced that it has inked a deal with Microsoft-owned Massive to provide in-game ads in not only Guitar Hero III, but Tony Hawk's Proving Ground as well.

The two titles have been added to the growing Massive Network advertising collective, which also includes Activision's Transformers adaptation, and will made to include "contextually relevant" dynamic ads. Interestingly, it's unclear if this partnership extends to all versions of the affected (afflicted?) games, or just those for Microsoft's console. What is clear, however, is that as games are now a big business, more and more companies are beginning to get in line for their slice of the money pie, and while game companies and advertisers reap the benefits of this arrangement, gamers are left holding the controller wondering just when their games became interactive commercials.

JoystiqGuitar Hero, Tony Hawk getting in-game ad treatment originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionadsadvertisingguitar heroguitar hero 3GuitarHeroGuitarHero3in-game adsIn-gameAdsmarketingmassiveproving groundProvingGroundtony hawkTonyHawkWed, 14 Nov 2007 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[iTunes gets 'Guitar Hero Essentials']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/23/itunes-getting-guitar-hero-essentials/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/23/itunes-getting-guitar-hero-essentials/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/23/itunes-getting-guitar-hero-essentials/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


While armchair rockers eagerly await this fall's showdown between Rock Band and Guitar Hero, Activision has released a series of song compilations now available from the iTunes Store featuring music from all four Guitar Hero games, including Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. The so -called "Guitar Hero Essentials" collection is made up of more than 1300 different tracks, including "nearly every song" from the rhythm game franchise, making us curious as to just what songs didn't make the cut.

In addition, unlike the lion's share of the covers featured in earlier released Guitar Hero titles, these songs are the original artist master recordings from bands such as Pearl Jam, Aerosmith, Rage Against the Machine, and Metallica. Also included in the set are also guitar-themed playlists from Steve Jones and Slash, no doubt ideal for those who cannot get enough of living life vicariously through their favorite guitar virtuosos.

However, before you jump off the deep end and begin offering money to the iTunes gods for downloading rights, Activision notes that while some songs from the Guitar Hero series represent newly re-recorded master recordings, these appear to not be included in this collection, making this less an "essential" compilation of Guitar Hero tracks, and more just an assembly of rocking tunes. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

JoystiqiTunes gets 'Guitar Hero Essentials' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Every Tuesday, Mike Sylvester brings you REVOLUTIONARY, a look at the wide world of Wii possibilities.

Traditionally, consoles have had to carry over hardware from previous generations in order to offer backward compatibility. This can be thought of as a burden, as the costs of including that hardware might be better used increasing the specs and features of the system for the benefit of new games.

This generation marks a change in the method of operations in providing backward compatibility. The Xbox 360, Playstation 3 (in select models and territories), and Wii use a process known as software emulation to provide backward compatibility with their predecessors, so that they don't have to include that old hardware. What emulation does is allow one set of hardware to mimic the functions of another set of hardware. Emulation isn't a new technique, and it isn't exclusive to consoles. In fact, many people have been using it for years to play games on hardware other than for which it was developed.

Continue reading Revolutionary: Emulation-ary

JoystiqRevolutionary: Emulation-ary originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DreamcastemulationFrets On FireFretsOnFireGuitar HeroGuitarHerojoystiqfeaturesOsu Ouendan TatakaeOsuOuendanTatakaeRevolutionaryRezSNESStarfoxTue, 25 Sep 2007 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[I wanna spend $399 all night (and play Guitar Hero every day)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/i-wanna-spend-399-all-night-and-play-guitar-hero-every-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/i-wanna-spend-399-all-night-and-play-guitar-hero-every-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/i-wanna-spend-399-all-night-and-play-guitar-hero-every-day/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Okay, before you lolz out loud at people willing to spend $399 on a plastic Guitar Hero controller painted with some KISS artwork, read the fine print: it's actually a real guitar that's been modded to have the GH fret buttons and strum bar put in. Who's laughing now, eh?

Well, we would be, if this wasn't so freakin' cool. Gamespot has the details on this axe, which is currently only for the PlayStation 2. The question remains though: Can you re-string this sucker and jam out for reals? No one knows. Maybe that's just too much rockination for one instrument to bear. Come on, it already has Gene Simmons' tongue on it, what more could you ask for?

JoystiqI wanna spend $399 all night (and play Guitar Hero every day) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Sep 2007 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gene SimmonsGeneSimmonsGuitar HeroGuitarHeroKISSPS2Wed, 12 Sep 2007 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nyko's Xbox 360 wireless guitar -- an alternative?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/16/nykos-xbox-360-wireless-guitar-an-alternative/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/16/nykos-xbox-360-wireless-guitar-an-alternative/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/16/nykos-xbox-360-wireless-guitar-an-alternative/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Nyko is still not sure if they'll go to market with this concept for a wireless Xbox 360 guitar, and until we saw the Red Octane wireless guitars it was an option which made sense. The guitar is still viable, anything for a buck, but it just seems strange now given the relatively close future option. The reason for this guitar and its awkward set-up goes back to the whole mess with Microsoft's proprietary wireless. Nyko came up with a wireless guitar (seen above left) which uses a wired Xbox 360 controller and the white box (center) as a receiver for the signal. The box acts as a bridge for the wireless. The catch is the fact you need a wired controller which retails at $39.99. The guitar could either be -- they're floating prices -- $59 or $69 dollars, raising the question of whether people would pay $10 or $20 less for a wireless guitar which avoids the possibility of the Microsoft licensing fee being passed on to consumers. Once again, the licensing fee is pure speculation at this point, but nobody is saying anything at Red Octane, Harmonix, or Microsoft about it -- send up the red flags.

But here's the key to this guitar -- it works really well. Really, really, well! While testing it we walked out of the room, across the hall, hid behind a stand and the only reason we started missing notes was because it was hard to see the screen from 60+ feet. Is the guitar worth filling the wireless gap for the few months that Red Octane waits to release their guitars with Guitar Hero III? That's up to the consumer, if Nyko decides to release the guitar. The hidden cost in this product is the wired controller, which raises the question of how big will they have to put those words on the box for the average consumer to see and register the information? The whole thing is still a toss-up about what they'll do, but as for the quality and functionality of the guitar -- it's definitely working.

JoystiqNyko's Xbox 360 wireless guitar -- an alternative? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Jul 2007 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisione3e307guitar heronykored octantwireless guitarXbox-360Mon, 16 Jul 2007 10:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Slash will rock out in Guitar Hero III]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/10/slash-will-rock-out-in-guitar-hero-iii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/10/slash-will-rock-out-in-guitar-hero-iii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/10/slash-will-rock-out-in-guitar-hero-iii/#commentsFiled under:

A new trailer for Guitar Hero III has dropped from the heavens of rock, and lo and behold, the game officially features legendary guitarist, Slash. Made famous by Guns N' Roses and now rocking with Velvet Revolver, Slash will be featured in the upcoming game, which is now subtitled Legends of Rock. Naturally, this leads us to believe there may be a few other famous rockers in the game as well, though this is only speculation at this point. Check out the latest trailer after the break.

Continue reading Slash will rock out in Guitar Hero III

JoystiqSlash will rock out in Guitar Hero III originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Activision and RedOctane have finally unveiled the Wii's Guitar Hero 3 controller. Like the one for the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, it's based on the Gibson Les Paul shape, with a removable solid white faceplate. However, unlike the version for the other systems, it's got a big cavity in it for the Wiimote, which a lot of us expected.

Does the fact that we have already bought about $40 worth of this controller make the $90 price for game and guitar too high? It's an old argument, but now that we have a little more information, it may be worth thinking about again.

[Via GayGamer]

JoystiqThe Wii Guitar Hero controller: First image! originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Jul 2007 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ghgh3gibsonguitarguitar heroguitar hero 3GuitarHeroGuitarHero3les paulLesPaulnintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiiwiiTue, 10 Jul 2007 09:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Guitar Hero III gets subtitle, cool guitars]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/09/guitar-hero-iii-gets-subtitle-cool-guitars/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/09/guitar-hero-iii-gets-subtitle-cool-guitars/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/09/guitar-hero-iii-gets-subtitle-cool-guitars/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



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

Continue reading Guitar Hero III gets subtitle, cool guitars

JoystiqGuitar Hero III gets subtitle, cool guitars originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Jul 2007 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisiongh3guitar heroGuitar Hero 3Guitar Hero IIIGuitarHeroGuitarHero3GuitarHeroIiiPS2PS3Red OctaneRedOctaneWiiXbox-360Mon, 09 Jul 2007 19:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Guitar Hero III rocking European PS3s in October]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/guitar-hero-iii-rocking-onto-european-playstation-3s-on-october/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/guitar-hero-iii-rocking-onto-european-playstation-3s-on-october/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/guitar-hero-iii-rocking-onto-european-playstation-3s-on-october/#commentsDo you live in Europe? Ready to rock out with Guitar Hero III? Well you don't have too long to wait. A representitive from Activision has confirmed to InsideGamer.nl that the game will be one shelves, for all consoles, on the 28th of October. It's a good thing it's coming out early. Just in time to keep us busy for a month or so before Rock Band gets released. Then it's "Guitar Hero who?"

It is still unknown when the US release is set for, though it will be sometime this autumn. We'll let you know as soon as we find out.

[Via N4G]

JoystiqGuitar Hero III rocking European PS3s in October originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jul 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guitar heroguitar hero 3guitar hero IIIGuitarHeroGuitarHero3GuitarHeroIiiMon, 02 Jul 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[IGN's GHIII Preview on XBLM]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/30/igns-ghiii-preview-on-xblm/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/30/igns-ghiii-preview-on-xblm/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/30/igns-ghiii-preview-on-xblm/#commentsFiled under: , ,

IGN has put a preview for Guitar Hero III up on Xbox Live Marketplace in all its HD glory. The video gives us a first look at the new Les Paul wireless guitar, as well as some other cool features. One thing that impresses us was their use of face capture to have the lead singer properly lip-synced to the songs lyrics, as opposed to the previous iterations generic lip service. The video also touches on some of the visual changes, in the HUD as well as the art direction. A solid watch, if you're a fan of the series.

JoystiqIGN's GHIII Preview on XBLM originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Jun 2007 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionG H IIIGHIiiGuitar HeroGuitar Hero IIIGuitarHeroGuitarHeroIiiRed OctaneRedOctaneSat, 30 Jun 2007 23:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Octane says more Guitar Hero II songs coming in July]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/19/red-octane-says-more-guitar-hero-ii-songs-coming-in-july/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/19/red-octane-says-more-guitar-hero-ii-songs-coming-in-july/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/19/red-octane-says-more-guitar-hero-ii-songs-coming-in-july/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's been a long while since the last group of downloadable songs came out for the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II and it looks like those who are prepared to rock will need to wait just a bit longer. A post on the Red Octane site says that we'll finally get more songs come July. An administrative poster on the site by the name of Rodth says, "While nothing's been formally announced, look for something to come down the pipeline around the July timeframe."

Being as there is nothing "formally announced," we have no idea if they'll be more GH 1 rehashes or actual new songs. It's probably a safe bet that the $6.25 price tag for three songs like last time won't be changing. Although, it would be nice that the genres of the songs sync up a little better this time. At this point, all major announcements seem to have the smell of Min-E3 all over them.

JoystiqRed Octane says more Guitar Hero II songs coming in July originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Jun 2007 20:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>downloadguitar heroGuitarHeromarketplacexbmXbox-360xbox360Tue, 19 Jun 2007 20:55:00 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[First glimpse at ten-button Rock Band guitar controller]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/19/first-glimpse-at-ten-button-rock-band-guitar-controller/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/19/first-glimpse-at-ten-button-rock-band-guitar-controller/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/19/first-glimpse-at-ten-button-rock-band-guitar-controller/#commentsFiled under:


Harmonix was just getting us warmed up, it seems. Instead of the five fret buttons we've grown accustomed to on the past Guitar Hero series, the Rock Band official Stratocaster-based guitar controller displays ten fret buttons. On the second pic embedded below, you'll notice the five new buttons down at the base of the neck. We can only imagine what kind of sick guitar solo action Harmonix has in store for us with these.

The pics arrive courtesy of a Gamestop newsletter, which also details the new features embedded into the guitar controller. As we reported earlier, guitar effects will play a large role, allowing the player to flange, wah, reverb and delay their way into guitar gaming bliss. No official pricing was included at this time, though we wouldn't be surprised to see something closer to $79.99 or thereabouts for the controller alone. Price be damned, we're still going to have to give this bad boy a spin. Anyone else?

Continue reading First glimpse at ten-button Rock Band guitar controller

JoystiqFirst glimpse at ten-button Rock Band guitar controller originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buttonsfret buttonFretButtonguitar controllerguitar heroGuitarControllerGuitarHeroharmonixmtv gamesMtvGamesrock bandRockBandstratocasterTue, 19 Jun 2007 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask PS3 Fanboy: Volume 1]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/17/ask-ps3-fanboy-volume-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/17/ask-ps3-fanboy-volume-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/17/ask-ps3-fanboy-volume-1/#commentsFiled under:



Welcome to the inaugural addition of Ask PS3 Fanboy, the feature where we do our very best to answer your pressing questions. Don't be shy! You can e-mail me anytime at colin.torretta@weblogsinc.com and we'll put your question in the running for our next Ask PS3 Fanboy segment. Sorry for the initial delay, but this will be a weekly special ever Sunday -- so ask away!

Q: Is there an effect solution for playing Guitar Hero on the PS3?
A: There is currently no device that offers a 100% support for Guitar Hero 1 and 2, though Pelican has recently released an adapter that provides maybe 70-80% compatability. According to reviews, the adapter works flawless on Guitar Hero but has some issues on its sequel. Unfortunately, you cannot do hammer-ons or pull-offs in Guitar Hero 2 while using the adapter -- making it more or less impossible to play the harder difficult levels of the game. You don't really need to do hammer-ons or pull-offs for the earlier levels so it's not a complete deal killer but definitely annoying. Also, while the Pelican adapter supports Dualshock controllers, it doesn't support rumble at all which is a bit of a bummer.


Q: Have you heard anything about Afrika recently?
A: Very little has been heard about Afrika since it was announced, though three months ago Phil Harrison did mention it briefly in an interview with British gaming site Pro-G. He didn't get into specifics, but did say that he's seen the game and that it's coming along nicely. Unfortunately, he was being very coy about the whole thing so there wasn't a lot to get out of the interview. As for release date, the last time Sony talked about the release date of Afrika, they were saying it will still be coming out in 2007. I think it would be a safe bet that we'll get another taste of Afrika come the mini-E3 next month -- but don't expect an avalanche of info. According to my completely unscientific guesstimates, I'd say TGS '07 will be the big unveiling with a 2008 launch.

More questions after the jump!

Continue reading Ask PS3 Fanboy: Volume 1

JoystiqAsk PS3 Fanboy: Volume 1 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 17 Jun 2007 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>afrikaask ps3 fanboyAskPs3Fanboyguitar heroGuitarHeroXMBSun, 17 Jun 2007 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Battle mode power-ups revealed in new Guitar Hero III videos]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/15/battle-mode-power-ups-revealed-in-new-guitar-hero-iii-videos/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/15/battle-mode-power-ups-revealed-in-new-guitar-hero-iii-videos/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/15/battle-mode-power-ups-revealed-in-new-guitar-hero-iii-videos/#commentsFiled under:


When Neversoft took over the Guitar Hero franchise from Harmonix there were worries that the gameplay would change unrecognisably. While the interface of the game has remained largely the same (surely lumped into the "if it aint broke, don't fix it" category), there seem to be a couple of new features shown in this newest batch of Guitar Hero III vids.

The video above, showing Living Colour's "Cult of Personality", gives us some insight into the new additions to the battle mode. It's fairly widely accepted that the multiplayer mode in Guitar Hero I was pretty bad, but Guitar Hero II more than made up for it with its co-op and battle modes. Even then the battle mode could at times feel like little more than comparing scores. With the inclusion of power-ups in Guitar Hero III we will be able to directly affect our opponent's guitar playing abilites by making their markers blink, their fret board tremble or even increasing the difficulty level temporarily.

Sounds like a great update to us. Once all the songs are unlocked, multiplayer really is where it's at with the Guitar Hero series, so it's good to see Neversoft are doing their best to improve on it. As for the single player, there's not much there to improve. Unless, maybe, you included a couple of other instruments? Maybe a singer? Oh wait, nevermind. Be sure to watch the rest of the vids after the jump.

Continue reading Battle mode power-ups revealed in new Guitar Hero III videos

JoystiqBattle mode power-ups revealed in new Guitar Hero III videos originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jun 2007 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guitar heroguitar hero 3guitar hero IIIGuitarHeroGuitarHero3GuitarHeroIiivideosFri, 15 Jun 2007 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Slow Ride intro in GH III]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/14/video-slow-ride-intro-in-gh-iii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/14/video-slow-ride-intro-in-gh-iii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/14/video-slow-ride-intro-in-gh-iii/#commentsFiled under: ,


Unfortunately, the videos of Guitar Hero III we showed you at the end of May are no longer available on YouTube. Gametrailers fortunately came to the rescue and put up the first minute or so of Foghat's "Slow Ride" on Expert difficulty. It definitely looks pretty and leaves us only wanting more. Hopefully we're get more details on the song list, possible online multiplayer, or when the wireless Les Paul will be available. Where does this stand on your holiday wishlist?

JoystiqVideo: Slow Ride intro in GH III originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionG H IIIGHIiiGuitar HeroGuitar Hero 3Guitar Hero IIIGuitarHeroGuitarHero3GuitarHeroIiiNever softNeverSoftThu, 14 Jun 2007 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Guitar Hero III videos return for second look]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/04/guitar-hero-iii-videos-return-for-second-look/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/04/guitar-hero-iii-videos-return-for-second-look/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/04/guitar-hero-iii-videos-return-for-second-look/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Last week IGN posted some videos of Guitar Hero 3 -- and then unceremoniously pulled them. But, the internet never forgets, and the videos were disseminated anyway. Well, Red Octane now informs us that IGN has the proper videos and you can view them in "HD" above and after the break. The two videos are Slow Ride and Weezer's My Name is Jonas.

Even with the clearer videos, it's quite obvious that Harmonix is no longer in charge and Neversoft is putting this one together. It just looks ... different, kind of like Tony Hawk characters in Guitar Hero. Although, we'll see how much the look contributes to the "feel" of the game when the title releases this fall. So far, we're excited about the track list featuring Heart's Barracuda and the Rolling Stone's Paint It Black.

What we do know is we're keeping an eye on the incoming rhythm game war between Rock Band and Guitar Hero III. It's poetic in its father vs. son drama. Analyst Michael Pachter is starting to waffle on who he thinks is going to come out on top, after his firm belief that Activision was right to buy Red Octane (who owns the rights to Guitar Hero) instead of GH's original developer Harmonix (who was purchased by MTV). We're waiting to see some videos from Rock Band, hopefully by next month's E3, to get an idea of how this rock opera is going to play out.

Continue reading Guitar Hero III videos return for second look

JoystiqGuitar Hero III videos return for second look originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Jun 2007 21:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionguitar heroGuitarHeroharmonixPS3red octanerock bandWiiXbox-360Mon, 04 Jun 2007 21:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Pachter: Hey Activision, watch out for Rock Band]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/04/pachter-hey-activision-watch-out-for-rock-band/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/04/pachter-hey-activision-watch-out-for-rock-band/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/04/pachter-hey-activision-watch-out-for-rock-band/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Unfortunately, we can't attribute Michael Pachter's warning to Activision as a direct quote, as analysts are forbidden from saying "Hey" and are forced to substitute the informal greeting with "pardon me" or "pay attention to me, please." In commenting on Activision's glowing fiscal report and strong NPD presence to GameDaily BIZ, Pachter draws attention to several challenges Activision faces in the coming months. "All things are not perfect in Activision's world," he says.

Pachter predicts that the glaring imperfections (to put it mildly) highlighted by reviewers in the Spider-Man 3 games will curtail sales, and that Call of Duty 4's proposed Iraq setting may prove to leave an equally bad taste in the consumer's mouth. More interestingly, the analyst notes that if Harmonix's EA-published Rock Band is fully playable with just a guitar controller, it will "compete quite favorably with Activision's [Guitar Hero]." He suspects the instrument protagonist genre will remain kind to RedOctane's owner, but adds that "new entrants will impact future growth of the band." Or did he mean brand?

Once the dust settles in the battle of the fake bands, will Pachter still stand by his belief that Activision was right to buy RedOctane over Harmonix?

JoystiqPachter: Hey Activision, watch out for Rock Band originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Jun 2007 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionAnalystCall of DutyCall of Duty 4CallOfDutyCallOfDuty4Guitar HeroGuitarHeroMichael PachterMichaelPachterPachterPS2PS3Spider-Man 3Spider-man3WiiXbox-360Mon, 04 Jun 2007 12:01:00 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[Activision tries to one-up Ubisoft at being sorry]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/01/activision-tries-to-one-up-ubisoft-at-being-sorry/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/01/activision-tries-to-one-up-ubisoft-at-being-sorry/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/01/activision-tries-to-one-up-ubisoft-at-being-sorry/#commentsFiled under:

Yesterday we reported that Ubisoft owned up to their lazy Wii ports. Today, Activision CEO Robert Kotick reminded Next-Gen.biz readers that his company was dumping ports on Nintendo systems before it was cool.

Konick admitted that the GameCube was a "non-strategic platform" for them, which meant that they couldn't be bothered to put significant effort into it. But now that the Wii is huge, they're putting more attention into Nintendo releases. Like Guitar Hero: "There probably is no better product to take advantage of the capabilities of the Wii than Guitar Hero."

But ... isn't Guitar Hero probably going to be a port of some kind? Or if it's not, why develop a Wii-specific version? And how is a game that requires a specialized controller going to take advantage of the capabilities of the Wii, when most of the capabilities are tied to the system's standard controller? Isn't this exactly the kind of thing that was the problem before?

JoystiqActivision tries to one-up Ubisoft at being sorry originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Jun 2007 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionguitarguitar heroGuitarHeroheronintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiiportsubisoftwiiFri, 01 Jun 2007 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision shoots first against Harmonix in rhythm game war]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/activision-shoots-first-against-harmonix-in-rhythm-game-war/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/activision-shoots-first-against-harmonix-in-rhythm-game-war/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/activision-shoots-first-against-harmonix-in-rhythm-game-war/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In a conference call with investors, Activision, who received Guitar Hero as part of their acquisition of Red Octane, threw the first grenade against Harmonix's upcoming Rock Band saying that it "wasn't surprising that [Guitar Hero] has attracted imitators." Activision is essentially saying that Harmonix was imitating Guitar Hero by creating Rock Band. The humor here being that Harmonix actually created Guitar Hero for publisher Red Octane before the Activision buyout. If Activision wants to get technical, their Guitar Hero is an imitator of Konami's Guitar Freaks ... but that's getting nitpicky.

We can only imagine the Activision execs didn't take their modern gaming history, because without Harmonix they wouldn't be bathing in their Guitar Hero money in the first place. In the call to the investors the Activision execs say they do have a competitive advantage against Rock Band due to Guitar Hero's significant brand recognition. They also said they've done well in the downloadable sales department with 200,000 takers of the Guitar Hero II song packs on the Xbox 360's marketplace. And those song packs were from the original Guitar Hero, which was done by what company again? Oh, that's right -- Harmonix.

JoystiqActivision shoots first against Harmonix in rhythm game war originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 May 2007 21:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionguitar heroGuitarHeroharmonixPS2rock bandWiiXbox-360Thu, 31 May 2007 21:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Rock out to the first vids of Guitar Hero III]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/rock-out-to-the-first-vids-of-guitar-hero-iii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/rock-out-to-the-first-vids-of-guitar-hero-iii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/rock-out-to-the-first-vids-of-guitar-hero-iii/#commentsFiled under:


Yup, these are videos of Guitar Hero III. Yup, they look pretty much like Guitar Hero II (and Guitar Hero I for that matter). Of course, no one really cares do they? It's Guitar Hero! With that said, there are some small differences worth noting. First of all, the character models look like they've received some new-gen love and are more detailed. The HUD has some slight graphical tweaks as well, though none of them seem to affect gameplay. The star power meter has been replaced with a series of light bulbs. As you fill the meter, more of them light up. They slowly fade out once star power is activated. In addition to displaying your current multiplier, the left side of the HUD now keeps track of how many notes you've hit consecutively. Frankly, we'd like the ability to turn that feature off, as it could add undue stress to achieving those perfect runs. You'll find another video embedded after the break. Check it out and tell us what you think.

Continue reading Rock out to the first vids of Guitar Hero III

JoystiqRock out to the first vids of Guitar Hero III originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 May 2007 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimgh 3gh iiiGh3GhIiiguitar heroguitar hero 3guitar hero iiiGuitarHeroGuitarHero3GuitarHeroIiineversoftThu, 31 May 2007 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Game therapy at Walter Reed Medical Center]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/29/game-therapy-at-walter-reed-medical-center/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/29/game-therapy-at-walter-reed-medical-center/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/29/game-therapy-at-walter-reed-medical-center/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mike Musgrove of the Washington Post has written a touching piece on how soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center have been using video games as both mental and physical therapy.

The story opens on a monthly gathering scheduled by soldiers aid group Cause and highlights how video games have helped soldiers socialize -- both as inpatients and on the battlefield. Said Chuck Ziegenfuss, an Army Major who spent six months at the hospital after being wounded in 2005, gaming in Iraq "gives [soldiers] back a sense that they're normal."

Army Spec. Juan Alcibar has suggested to physical therapists that the use of games like Guitar Hero to help soldiers rebuild hand strength and dexterity. The article, published in time for Memorial Day, exemplifies how video games as an interactive medium can and have contributed to society.

Those who wish to help Cause and Soldiers' Angel, another organization cited by the piece for its game-related donations, can do so at the embedded links. It couldn't hurt to donate any games you have lying around.

[Via Evil Avatar]

JoystiqGame therapy at Walter Reed Medical Center originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 May 2007 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>causecharityguitar heroGuitarHeromike musgroveMikeMusgrovemusgrovesoldiers angelSoldiersAngelwa powahsington postWahsingtonPostwalter reedWalterReedWaPoTue, 29 May 2007 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Today in Joystiq: May 23, 2007]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/today-in-joystiq-may-23-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/today-in-joystiq-may-23-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/today-in-joystiq-may-23-2007/#commentsFiled under: ,


We did a story on the Seattle animal shelter holding a benefit using Guitar Hero as their draw. The winner received a controller autographed by the developers. Adam Barrus, the guy who won, said on this Flickr: "Joystiq asked who would win this tournament: dog people or cat people? My pug Sophie can tell you it was definitely one of the dogs." Check out the highlights for today:

Joystiquery
SGD '07: Joystiq hands-on with John Woo's Stranglehold
Today's newest game video: Assassin's Creed trailer

News
Dark Messiah blesses Xbox 360, forsakes PS3 and Wii
First Guitar Hero III tracks revealed, Les Paul guitar licensed
Ubisoft's Ghost Recon team developing Beowulf game
PS3 firmware 1.8 to upscale your old games and DVDs
Assassin's Creed will have limited edition
No Final Fantasy XIII this fiscal year, not before April 2008
PSP getting VoIP'ed in UK
Wii quit: Taiwanese company making LCD shield
Duke Nukem Forever image again released via job posting
Haze coming 2007 for PS3, may only be timed exclusive
R-Type Tactics makes shooting a strategic experience
Improove you're verbage with My Word Coach for DS, Wii
Raving Rabbids 2 ravaging Nintendo systems exclusively
Super Smash Bros. Brawl still on for 2007
Joust to impale the PS Network tomorrow for $5
Exit escapes the PSP to Xbox Live Arcade
English-subtitled Blue Dragon released in Asia
'Jackass' game much less threatening than TV show
Gameloft brings Lost mobile game to iPod
Sin City becomes a game to kill for
Dragon Quest remakes coming before DQIX

Rumors & Speculation
Sony says PS3 80GB may come to US
Nintendo says 35 million Wiis by 2012

Culture & Community
Gamertag Radio marks 100th episode with Halo 3 Zune giveaway
WiiHealthy.com sets your wii-kly workout regimen
A Splinter Cell: Conviction trailer and apology to Sam
Creepy Pac-Man skeleton will give you nightmares
When artists don't pay attention: Rabbids meet Sam & Max

JoystiqToday in Joystiq: May 23, 2007 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 May 2007 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily recapDailyRecapguitar heroGuitarHeroWed, 23 May 2007 23:59:00 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[Wireless 'Les Paul' guitars revealed with Guitar Hero III details]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/guitar-hero-3-details-released-track-names-and-wireless-guitar/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/guitar-hero-3-details-released-track-names-and-wireless-guitar/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/23/guitar-hero-3-details-released-track-names-and-wireless-guitar/#commentsFiled under:

Today RedOctane have released some new details about Guitar Hero 3. Perhaps most excitingly, they have revealed that controllers for the next gen consoles will be wireless. Great news for everyone who kept getting tangled up whilst rocking out to the previous two games. The controller itself will be in the shape of a Gibson Les Paul (pictured) for the PlayStation 3. The Playstation 2, however, will have a Gibson Kramer shaped controller instead. Presumably this is due to the PS2's lack of bluetooth, so expect it to be either wired or to include some kind of USB plug-in.

Other announcements for the game include 'a new multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a bevy of exclusive unlockable content and authentic rock venues', as well as online play. The game will take advantage of RedOctane's partnership with MTV by including a large number of original tracks, rather than covers. Hopefully this will reduce the production time for downloadable songs. Speaking of tracks, below are a few names to get your juices flowing. Let us know what you think of them. Expect the game out before the end of the year.

  • Paint It Black (by The Rolling Stones)
  • Cherub Rock (by Smashing Pumpkins)
  • Sabotage (by Beastie Boys)
  • The Metal (by Tenacious D)
  • My Name is Jonas (by Weezer)
  • Knights of Cydonia (by Muse)
  • Rock And Roll All Nite (as made famous by Kiss)
  • School's Out (as made famous by Alice Cooper)
  • Slow Ride (as made famous by Fog Hat)
  • Cult of Personality (by Living Colour)
  • Barracuda (as made famous by Heart)

JoystiqWireless 'Les Paul' guitars revealed with Guitar Hero III details originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 May 2007 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Guitar HeroGuitar Hero IIIGuitarHeroGuitarHeroIiiMTVRedOctaneWed, 23 May 2007 12:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Rock Band to empty Wii owners' wallets?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/12/wii-warm-up-rock-band-to-empty-wii-owners-wallets/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/12/wii-warm-up-rock-band-to-empty-wii-owners-wallets/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/12/wii-warm-up-rock-band-to-empty-wii-owners-wallets/#commentsFiled under: ,

A Gamespot reader participated in a focus group about Harmonix's Rock Band, and then, being a civic-minded individual, did the Right Thing and blabbed about it to the Internet. Apparently, he was told by the test administrators that the rhythm game would be coming to the Wii. Don't hyperventilate-- we know the idea of an EA game going multiplatform shatters your worldview, but we will get through this together.

Harmonix (developer of the wonderful Frequency and Amplitude, as well as Genuine Cultural Phenomenon Guitar Hero) is considering selling the game, a wireless controller, a microphone, and a drum kit (with a kick pedal) as a bundle. They tested price points of $150, $175, and $200 on the focus group, looking for reactions. Guess which one they preferred?

We don't want to know if you aren't planning on buying this (Harmonix music game = insta-buy for us), but we would like to know which configuration interests you the most. Are you interested in any one instrument in particular? Plan to go in with some friends and form a band? Or are you just going to buy the whole thing yourself?

[Via NeoGAF]

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Rock Band to empty Wii owners' wallets? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 May 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banddrumeaguitarguitar heroGuitarHeroharmonixmicrophonemusicnintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiirockrock bandRockBandwiiwwuSat, 12 May 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Review: Pelican PS2 to PS3 controller adapter]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/11/review-pelican-ps2-to-ps3-controller-adapter/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/11/review-pelican-ps2-to-ps3-controller-adapter/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/11/review-pelican-ps2-to-ps3-controller-adapter/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The whole point of backward compatibility for most PS3 owners is being able to get rid of that PS2 in the old entertainment center. Yet many PS3 owners have had to keep their PS2 units hooked up for a few reasons, namely:
  1. Support for our old memory card saves.
  2. Support for rumbling controllers.
  3. Support for the Guitar Hero controller.
The first problem is solved by an official Sony adapter which you can buy for $15, use once, and then throw away, we suppose. The second problem is solved by the recent firmware update 1.7, which added rumble support for old controllers hooked up via any number of USB to PlayStation controller adapters. Yet the third and most important problem remained -- if you want to play Guitar Hero, you need to keep a PS2 handy. Pelican's new controller adapter promises to fix this final problem, but the execution is less than perfect.

Continue reading Joystiq Review: Pelican PS2 to PS3 controller adapter

JoystiqJoystiq Review: Pelican PS2 to PS3 controller adapter originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 May 2007 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adaptercontrollerconverterforce feedbackForceFeedbackguitar heroguitar hero 2GuitarHeroGuitarHero2pelicanPS2PS3rumbleFri, 11 May 2007 11:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Thank you, Pelican PS2 to PS3 adapter]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/10/thank-you-pelican-ps2-to-ps3-adapter/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/10/thank-you-pelican-ps2-to-ps3-adapter/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/10/thank-you-pelican-ps2-to-ps3-adapter/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you were unfortunate enough to sell your PS2 before reading about the failed attempts to play the original Guitar Hero on PS3, you aren't alone. In fact, upon first hearing the news of this little gadget, you probably jumped up for extreme joy and knocked yourself out on a low-hanging ceiling fan. Jeesh, be more careful! Now, we've all been patiently awaiting this very product since it was known to be in the works since November. Thanks to Pelican and their beautiful PS2 to PS3 adapting magic, we can finally rejoice, hold our original Guitar Hero controllers high, and rock ourselves out silly.

See, some of us actually made the tragic mistake of assuming everything would be fine, without bothering to physically check adapters or reading any news about incompatibility. And so, with rage-like Hulk powers, we may very well have smashed everything in our living rooms when we realized the horrible, staggering truth. While most of our audience was probably savvy enough to avoid this type of disastrous end, we were stubbornly unwilling to part with this cherished product that literally, brought us tears of joy. Yes, tears of joy. Game on, beautiful rock stars of the gaming world. Game on.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqThank you, Pelican PS2 to PS3 adapter originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 May 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adaptorguitar heroguitar hero 2GuitarHeroGuitarHero2Pelicanps2 controllerPs2ControllerThu, 10 May 2007 13:00:00 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[New Rock Band details - Fender Strat controller coming]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/08/new-rock-band-details-fender-strat-controller-coming/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/08/new-rock-band-details-fender-strat-controller-coming/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/08/new-rock-band-details-fender-strat-controller-coming/#commentsHarmonix have signed an exclusive deal with Fender, guitar maker extraordinaire, to design the upcoming Rock Band controller around their ultra-popular Stratocaster model. There's a bit more teaser information on the game itself to follow.

When asked about whether the new controllers will be compatible with Guitar Hero III onwards, or vice-versa, Harmonix responded saying that they would love for that to be the case. Guitar Hero I and II controllers will be compatible with Rock Band (cutting the price slightly for those wanting the Ultimate Rock Band experience), but that the new controllers would have a couple of new features over the old ones. Whether the new Fender Strat controllers will be compatible with Guitar Hero III, however, is up to Activision but is something the guys at Harmonix would be very interested in making happen.

Responding to worries of a lack of single player mode, due to the apparent focus on online-play, Harmonix made sure to reassure everyone that there will be a "deep, complete solo experience" for each of the different instruments. So that Guitar Hero, Donkey Konga, Singstar combination idea you thought up down the pub last year is even closer than you think. As for fears that the online play might be ruined by lag, we're told not to worry. It's a problem "for which we have a unique solution...and it's a heck of a lot of fun in action."

JoystiqNew Rock Band details - Fender Strat controller coming originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 May 2007 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FenderFender StratFenderStratGuitar HeroGuitarHeroHarmonixRock BandRockBandStratocasterTue, 08 May 2007 10:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Guitar Hero: Save the Seattle kittens edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/04/guitar-hero-save-the-seattle-kittens-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/04/guitar-hero-save-the-seattle-kittens-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/04/guitar-hero-save-the-seattle-kittens-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Who rocks out harder: cat people or dog people? The Seattle/King County Humane Society is looking to find out by holding a Guitar Hero inspired benefit. The event is on May 22 at Dante's in the U-district of Seattle (it's a bar so you must be over 21). The event is expected to go until 1:30 AM and starts at 7 PM for attendees, 5:30 PM for participants. Participants will need a minimum of $70 in pledges to participate and the winner receives a Guitar Hero controller autographed by the Harmonix development team. But seriously, it's Guitar Hero + booze + saving fluffy animals, gaming doesn't get more guilt free than this.

The Humane Society is also looking for tech volunteers to make sure that everything is set up properly for the benefit. The event hopes to raise $5000 -- come on gamers, we can totally blow that number out of the water! The Humane Society deserves way more than that for this simple and brilliant benefit idea.

JoystiqGuitar Hero: Save the Seattle kittens edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 May 2007 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>benefitcharityguitar heroGuitarHeroFri, 04 May 2007 17:55:00 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