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Face-melting deal: GHWT guitar and mic for $50, today only

by Ben Gilbert { Jul 1st 2009 at 11:00AM }

Everyone's favorite plastic peripheral purveyor, Red Octane, is having a bit of a deal today. The normally $60 wireless guitar and $20 wired microphone for Guitar Hero World Tour (across all platforms) are being offered together in a $50 package -- today only!

If you're less than impressed by the GHWT deal from today, why not get into your fancy schmancy time machine and head back to yesterday when you could've gotten an even better deal? Oh, what's that -- you don't have a time machine? Guess you're stuck with the $50 dollar deal over at Red Octane's website then, fancy pants.

Guitar Hero 5 box art revealed (find the guitar!) [update]

by Richard Mitchell { Jun 22nd 2009 at 5:45PM }

It's not like the previous Guitar Hero boxes set the world on fire, but the recently revealed box art for Guitar Hero 5 is ... well it's definitely different. At least the previous boxes had, you know, guitars on them. As one Joystiq blogger put it, the Guitar Hero 5 art looks more suited to an expansion or a DLC voucher than it does to a full release. Still, we suppose we can appreciate the backstage insider appeal it exudes. Besides, it's not like there are many people left that are unfamiliar with the title at this point.

See the full monty after the break.

Update: It looks like there is a guitar on the box. See if you can find it!

Continued →

Retailers list DJ Hero for $120, handful of other Activision titles detailed

by Ben Gilbert { Jun 18th 2009 at 3:22PM }

Pegging the release date of DJ Hero as October 27, GameStop is listing the game with a $120 price tag across all consoles -- turntable peripheral in-tow. While we are, at very best, suspicious of any release dates or price tags attached to retailer listings, both GameStop and Amazon have details on not just DJ Hero, but also Guitar Hero 5, Band Hero and, strangely, Modern Warfare 2 (in Collector's Edition form, priced at $80). Those with a keen eye and a nose for all things "exploitable" will note that these titles all come from mega-publisher Activision, making us wonder if the company has simply released the information to retail before anyone else.

Considering the price for Tony Hawk Ride (and its living room-destroying peripheral of $120), a precedent for unproven peripheral pricing has certainly been set. We've asked for comment from Activision regarding the release dates and pricing, though had yet to hear back as of publishing.

Neversoft would like to add turntable support to Guitar Hero

by Ben Gilbert { Jun 12th 2009 at 9:15PM }

During E3, we got to check out the folks from FreeStyleGames playing DJ Hero -- Activision's upcoming rhythm/music game -- using blasphemous guitar controllers in-tandem with the ubiquitous plastic turntable (seen above). While Activision is still keeping mum on whether or not the ability to use guitars in all tracks of the game (none the less vocals) will be shipping with DJ Hero, apparently the folks working on the game think including their turntable in Guitar Hero titles "Sounds like a great idea!"

In fact, both the DJ Hero team and Neversoft (developers of the Guitar Hero franchise) seem open to the idea of cross-game instrument implementation (say that three times fast). GH director Brian Bright told Eurogamer, "We would love to integrate in the future," speaking to the cross-franchise possibilities with each game's respective peripheral. So if we can use a turntable, have a group of folks on various instruments, and get someone spitting hot fire into a mic, what's the point of Def Jam Rapstar again?

Sixth European Track Pack invades Guitar Hero: World Tour

by David Hinkle { Jun 12th 2009 at 4:00AM }

For those of you stuck in the Guitar Hero: World Tour bus, looking for some new tunes to crank out, know that some international influence is about to rock your copy of Activision's game. The sixth European track pack is now available for download, and includes the following songs:

Placebo – "The Bitter End" (France) - 160 / $1.99 / 200 Wii Points
Loquillo y Trogloditas – "Cadillac Solitario" (Spain) - 160 / $1.99 / 200 Wii Points
Finley – "Adrenalina" (Italy) - 160 / $1.99 / 200 Wii Points

You can download each track individually for the listed price, or if you would like to grab them all together in one fell swoop, you can nab the pack for 440

or $5.49 on Xbox Live and PSN, respectively.

EB Games hosting huge Guitar Hero and Rock Band sale

by Griffin McElroy { Jun 9th 2009 at 4:50PM }

If you're one of the few people left on this planet whose living room, den and foyer aren't littered with fake plastic instruments, it's time for your induction. EB Games is doing a huge online sale right now for slightly "worn" copies of nearly every peripheral-centric rhythm title to come out of Activision and Harmonix. Act quickly, and you can pick up the PS3 or 360 version of the Rock Band 2 SE Bundle or the PS3 or PS2 version of the Guitar Hero World Tour Band Kit plus free 3-day shipping for just $94.99.

You could also pick up the other discounted items -- the original Rock Band bundle, Guitar Hero II, Guitar Hero III and Guitar Hero Aerosmith -- but the resulting necessary architectural extension of your gaming den might strip the deal of its cost efficiency.

Watch Neversoft play Guitar Hero 5 on a stage in LA

by Ben Gilbert { Jun 2nd 2009 at 4:30AM }

Before Travis Barker and DJ AM took leave of the stage here in LA, we were promised Guitar Hero 5 in action. And we got it! Neversoft's "official" band took to the mic, two plastic guitars and two drum sets, in order to regale us with their rendition of Wolfmother's "Back Around," repeatedly showing off the new drop in and out feature.

Though the plastic peripheral performance was a bit less than enthralling -- especially considering the fact that we just watched an actual musical performance -- we've been promised a DJ Hero performance up next. And yes, video is forthcoming!

Guitar Hero Smash Hits demo rocks Xbox Live

by David Hinkle { Jun 1st 2009 at 1:45PM }

Those of you looking to check out Guitar Hero Smash Hits, know that a demo for the title is available now on Xbox Live Marketplace. If your internets are particularly tired today, or your hard drive can't bear the massive 498 MB in space needed for the demo, you could always just play one of the other previously released Guitar Hero games. Just saying ...

[Thanks, Mike W!]

These are the artists rocking out in Guitar Hero 5

by David Hinkle { May 31st 2009 at 2:00PM }

When Activision announced Guitar Hero 5, we knew little more than the game would include some notes, and possibly a popular ditty or two. Now, we know all sorts of stuff, like the proposed "Band Moments" and the game's release date (9/1/09). But, we still haven't seen anything on what we've all wanted to know: The included artists. Now, we're happy to report that would-be rockers and rockettes now have a definitive list of talent featured in Activision's latest ~~cash generator~~ music rhythm game. And, it's staggering. So much so that we were forced to place the info past the break, for fear of an avalanche on the front page.

Continued →

Guitar Hero 5 starts the party on September 1

by JC Fletcher { May 27th 2009 at 11:15AM }

The website for Guitar Hero 5 opened, revealing the release date for this year's biggest Guitar Hero sequel: September 1. Expect to somehow end up purchasing it whether you want to or not, just like every Guitar Hero game.

If you'd like more info on this inevitable purchase, Gamespot posted, in addition to some new screens and brief footage, some details on the game's new "Party Play" mode. This feature is designed to allow total flexibility in social situations. Party Play allows you to start the game with no players, using a playlist of Guitar Hero music as a sort of jukebox. When people decide they want to play a song, they can pick up an instrument, push a button, and begin playing immediately.

This is also where the game's instrument flexibility comes in. Party Play is designed to allow any combination of instruments, in case you want to play Barbershop Quartet Hero.

Gallery: Guitar Hero 5

Guitar Hero 5 getting Music Studio tweaks, Band Moments

by Justin McElroy { May 18th 2009 at 10:03AM }

We've got just a few more notes to add to your compendium of Guitar Hero 5 knowledge this morning. First, we learned today that the game will add Band Moments, which rewards the band for hitting certain strings of notes together. (Note, both guitarists must rub their shoulder blades together with totally gnarly looks on their faces to activate.) These will be placed in songs from the game's 85 different artists, more than 25 of which have never appeared in a video game before, we're told.

Also, the GHMusic Studio will be getting a redesign, though no further details are offered. We always thought the studio was a cool idea, but we didn't play with it much in World Tour. Did any of you create any masterpieces with it? What would you like to see changed?

Gallery: Guitar Hero 5

Guitar Hero 5 lets you cram 4 drumsets into your living room

by Kevin Kelly { May 15th 2009 at 1:25PM }

You already know Guitar Hero 5 is coming, but did you know it'll let you amass even more little plastic instruments? The new game offers the ability to create any combination of rock you want. Three microphones and one guitar? Okay. Two drummers and two guitars? No problem. Four drummers? Insane, but yes. We just hope that doesn't mean a Guitar Hero 5 Super Mega Ginormous Box Set: Limited Edition with four of everything is coming.

Also new to the game is RockFest, which has five competitive head to head modes that are playable "online or in your living room." Er, aren't most people online in their living room? Other tweaks: you can play the entire set list from the moment you pop the disc in, no more unlocking songs, and all of the Guitar Hero: World Tour DLC will be playable in GH5. Thanks for not locking us out of the music we've previously paid for.

Of course, there are some new songs coming as well. So check out the only two screenshots we've seen so far in the gallery below, and head over behind the break to peep the tunage.

Gallery: Guitar Hero 5

Continued →

Guitar teacher claims music games helping his business

by Ben Gilbert { May 11th 2009 at 11:59PM }

Anecdotally speaking, the guitar teaching business has never been better for Bo Moore, a West Pennsylvania guitar teacher. Speaking with The Tribune-Democrat, he says, "We're so busy right now, and I think these games have been a big factor behind it," referring to the likes of Guitar Hero and Rock Band inspiring young musicians to pick up the real thing after playing the plastic equivalent. Quick, somebody tell Prince to chill out!

Moore says he's seen a 35 percent uptick in guitar lessons over the past two years, an increase he attributes to the mainstream ubiquity of Activision and EA's rhythm-based music games. In fact, around 80 percent of the over 100 students currently enrolled with him have taken to the guitar. Unfortunately for those teaching other instruments, business hasn't been so hot. Moore claims, from conversations he's had with other teachers, that business is down if you're not teaching the guitar. "We need more kids learning to play woodwind instruments ... we need more piano players," he says. The piece's author opines that titles like "Xylophone Xanadu" might help to push kids into other instruments, though we all know Sitar Hero is going to be the one to do it.

[Via GamePolitics]

Guitar Hero: Metallica faceplate bundle will be Europe exclusive

by Jem Alexander { May 11th 2009 at 7:30PM }

Activision Blizzard has announced that European territories will be receiving an exclusive "Solo Guitar Game" bundle when Guitar Hero: Metallica launches on May 22 (May 29 in the UK). The bundle will contain a copy of the game, a wireless guitar controller and the exclusive faceplate which you can see in the image to the right.

By now, ardent followers of the rhythm genre should have more peripherals than they can count, but it doesn't end there. With four new games having just been announced, there'll be plenty more plastic instruments -- and DJ decks -- where that came from.

Guitar Hero: Smash Hits (now with more Guitar Hero II)

by David Hinkle { Apr 23rd 2009 at 3:45PM }

Activision has been holding open voting to determine in what order Guitar Hero: Smash Hits' tracks will be revealed. First came tracks from the first Guitar Hero, now followed by the second winner: Guitar Hero II. We imagine the slow process of revealing the Smash Hits tracks is kind of like when Voltron forms, except there are no animals involved and it takes way longer. After giving the list a once-over ourselves, we're confident fans will be satisfied with what's here.

As per our thing, we've tucked the list past the break so all 3 of you that have never played Guitar Hero II can see what the fuss is about.