<![CDATA[Kotaku: Red Octane]]> http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/kotaku.com.png <![CDATA[Kotaku: Red Octane]]> http://kotaku.com/tag/red octane http://kotaku.com/tag/red octane <![CDATA[Billion-Dollar Expectations Caused Activision to 'Abuse' Guitar Hero, Says Ex-Publisher]]> The ex-CEO of Guitar Hero's original publisher, RedOctane, has weighed in on Activision's decision to close down the franchise, completing the cycle of reaction. Kelly Sumner says the publisher "abused" the franchise and had unrealistic expectations for it. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5765520&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Cabela's Is Back, And This Time It's Packing Heat]]> To video games, Cabela's means The Gun, the pump-action piece of plastic with which you mow down herds of deer and squadrons of waterfowl. Yet it's never appeared for any Cabela's game on Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3. Until now. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5670196&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Activision Shutters Guitar Hero Creators, GH: Van Halen Developers [Update]]]> In addition to sackings at Neversoft and Luxoflux, Kotaku has learned today that publisher Activision has also laid off employees at RedOctane and internal studio Underground Development. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5470149&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Guitar Hero Ponders A Subscription Model For DLC]]> As Guitar Hero's catalogue of downloadable content grows larger, it gets harder and harder to make a buck selling the older stuff individually. So...what about a subscription to the whole service instead? More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5411431&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Guitar Hero, Madden, Eliminate Play The Monetization Game]]> Kai Huang, Peter Moore and Neil Young forecast a grim future for physical media at the University of California at Berkeley's PLAY Conference this past weekend. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5384534&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[RedOctane Chief Says Natal 'Likely' for Guitar Hero]]> When last we heard about Natal, and the possibility of air guitaring Guitar Hero, a Neversoft producer said they were 'interested.' If they're not, RedOctane is. Their president just upgraded the Natal/Guitar Hero connection to "likely." More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5364574&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Guitar Hero 5 Gets New Drums, 22 New Tracks]]> Guitar Hero 5's tracklist water torture continues today, with Activision announcing 22 more tracks for the game, along with shots of the game's new drum kit. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5315787&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[DJ Hero Website Has Two Turntables And A Sign Up Form]]> Activision and RedOctane have thrown up an official web site for their upcoming music mixing rhythm game DJ Hero, complete with two turntables and a cheering Flash crowd. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5180581&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Red Octane Starts Black Friday Early]]> Red Octane is kicking off Black Friday a few days early with several amazing deals on older Guitar Hero products, which make perfect gifts for your friends and family who don't know any better. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5098687&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[GH World Tour Drum Tuner Is PC App]]> Activision and RedOctane has been working furiously to deal with issues Guitar Hero World Tour players have been having with their over and under-sensitive drum kits, and to that end they've released a Guitar Hero World Tour Drum Tuning Kit, as promised back on Tuesday. The kit takes the form of a 10MB PC application, which features a simple interface that allows you to assign a sensitivity level from 1-20 for each pad and the pedal. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5072183&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Activision Addresses GHWT Drum Sensitivity]]> Reports are popping up all over the internet regarding sensitivity issues with the new drum controller that comes packaged with Activision's Guitar Hero World Tour. Some complain the drums are too sensitive; others that they aren't sensitive enough, and then there's folks like me whose green one rattles when you hit it, but that will have to be addressed another time. If only there was some sort of drum tuning kit that would allow owners to optimize the drums to their liking. Oh look, an official statement from Activision. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5069895&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Guitar Hero World Tour Facing Drum Issues?]]> Reader DarthMetalHope was scanning boards in advance of picking up Guitar Hero: World Tour today, and notices that for those who already have it, some are seeing sensitivity/operability problems with the drum kit. Enough that it's raising a big stink, and Activision has noticed. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5068898&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Guitar Hero: World Tour Bags Deluxe $240 Version]]> Guitar Hero co-publisher RedOctane is looking to squeeze a few more Ulysses S. Grants out of gamers, providing fans of the rhythm genre with a more expensive, but of questionable value, edition of Guitar Hero: World Tour. For $239.99, exactly $50 more than the standard retail price, you get... a t-shirt, two recharge kits, a gig bag and a keychain? Surely, that can't be everything. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5059879&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Guitar Hero III Gets Eyeliner Pack Thursday]]> Guitar Hero III owners — PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 only, natch — will get three new downloadables this Thursday with the "Interscope Track Pack." The bundle features tunes from Flyleaf, AFI and Marilyn Manson, with the last of three three coming to Guitar Hero as a remix by Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner. Truly a potpourri of sound. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5033561&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Guitar Hero News From MS Presser - Van Halen, The Eagles, Metallica]]> Red Octane founder Kai Huang took the stage today at Microsoft's E3 2008 presser to toss out a few pertinent Guitar Hero related tidbits. First up, REM DLC is coming, and Xbox 360 owners will get first shot at it when it drops. Then Huang revealed that Van Halen and The Eagles will be completely exclusive to Guitar Hero: World Tour. No Hot For Teacher for Rock Band? Not fair. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5025010&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Hands On With Guitar Hero: Aerosmith]]> While I was busy checking out Guitar Hero: On Tour on the DS last week, on the other side of the hall I could hear everyone rocking out to the strains of Aerosmith. Being somewhat of a classic rock fan myself, I headed over to see what the hub bub was all about. Clearly it would be folly to try and explain the ins and outs of the workings of Guitar Hero at this point. If you haven't played it or at least watched it being played live or via videos, you must be living under a rock. Instead I will endeavor to cover all the new features that this particular iteration includes. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5012306&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Fingers On With Guitar Hero: On Tour]]> By now I'm sure most of you are familiar with the seemingly odd transition of Guitar Hero from consoles to handhelds, namely the DS. When Guitar Hero: On Tour was announced a few months ago it left many of us scratching our heads wondering how they would pull it off. Even with the addition of pictures of the add-on peripheral it was still hard to imagine exactly what it would be like trying to play. I finally got my chance to check it out for myself a few days ago and despite former misgivings I actually found it quite fun. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5011881&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Guitar Hero: World Tour Priced; More Expensive than Rock Band]]> No official pricing info was included in the voluminous news release, but the Band Kit for Guitar Hero World Tour has been priced on Gamestop, which is (of course) also accepting pre-orders. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5010849&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Guitar Hero IV To Feature A Slew Of Instruments]]> Conde Nast Portfolio magazine isn't generally our number one source for gaming news, but Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has told the publication that Guitar Hero IV will...well...we'll just let him say it.
It's not just about guitars. We'll include a lot of other instruments, vocals. It will help us expand internationally. It's the first game we've had in which we can use local content and local bands.
Ooh! I vote on guitar, bass, drums, Giant Axe Body Spray Bottle and vocals. Though I also wouldn't scoff at a rebreakable guitar, implemented for extra Star Power. In all seriousness, the "local bands" idea is intriguing. I wonder how far they'll actually flesh that one out. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=382246&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Pro Wrestling Has Discovered Guitar Hero]]> Yes, this TNA Wrestling clip is from way back in January, but after MTV spotted it and we hit the play button, it was truly one of those magical gaming sights that one simply can't unsee. Two 250+ pound men running around a ring while pretending to play fake, plastic guitars in front of thousands of fans is such a sight. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=378419&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[RedOctane Making Up For GHIII Wii Problems With Freebies]]> Anyone who picked up Guitar Hero III on the Wii, you've had problems. Multiple problems. Our hearts go out to you. And while nothing anybody can ever say or do will give back to you the hours spent playing a game with 20th-century sound output or weeks spent waiting for replacement discs to arrive, RedOctane sure would like to try. Seems users who sent their "busted" GHIII discs back to Activision, then were forced to endure the long wait for Pro Logic discs to be shipped back, are being sent guitar faceplates. Rather snappy fire-and-phoenix-ones, too, may I add. How poignant. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=370964&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Guitar Hero Carabiner Rocks Little]]> Activision's Guitar Hero licensing fest continues as they team up with toy maker Basic Fun for the Guitar Hero Carabiner. This pocketable Guitar Hero is about 7-inches long—75% smaller than the original controller—and it folds up even smaller to prevent dreaded unintentional pant-tenting.
More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=356911&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Guitar Hero Vs. Open Mic Night]]> Guitar Hero tournies have been floating around bars since the game's inception, and the trend has only grown since. But not everyone is so happy about the popularity of drunks pretending to be rockstars on stage—namely musicians. And while these comments were just from one guy who liked to jam at one bar, we have a feeling that he speaks for a multitude of others.
Yea, it's fun. Yea, it's cool and difficult to master (nowhere near on the level of a real musical instrument), and yea it's an escape from your miserable existance [sic] but it's not something I want to see LIVE ONSTAGE in a venue that should have a REAL musician Performing! Anyone who has even the slightest bit of culture and refinement would agree. GUITAR HERO belongs in the home, at house parties or in a Frathouse basement but it DOES NOT BELONG AT HUMPY'S GREAT ALASKAN ALEHOUSE, REPLACING OPEN MIC MONDAYS!!!!!
Oh, and Humpy's actually exists, by the way. This only gets better. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=356142&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Wireless GHIII Guitars Dated, Priced]]> Since Guitar Hero III's launch back in October, I have been on a quest for standalone wireless guitar controllers. Having purchased the game by itself thinking I would be satisfied playing while tethered to my Xbox 360, the videos of GH fans jumping off furniture soon swayed me to the wireless cause. My quest hit a snag when I realized the wireless controllers weren't out yet, but Activision promised they would be on the shelves in early 2008, and now they may be delivering on said promise. According to a source over at Primotech March is the month in which retailers will begin receiving shiny new standalone wireless guitar controllers for Guitar Hero III, with the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions running $69, and the Wiimote-embedded Wii version $10 cheaper at $59. Then shortly after we all run out to snag ours, Activision will no doubt reveal all new guitars for GHIV that will make us feel like idiots for buying these. Woot! More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=351080&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Build A Guitar Hero Auto Whammy Barless Bar]]> While most of this circuit soldering fun is over our heads, for those interested, you can modify your Guitar Hero (or Rock Band, we're assuming) controllers to automatically whammy through entire songs at inhumanly fast theoretical maximums by replacing the whammy output with a 555 timer circuit. Essentially this circuit automatically alternates proper voltage to build up your star power fast. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=350226&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[RedOctane Wants You To Play Music]]> The story doesn't seem like a big deal: RedOctane partners with NAMM (the giant International Music Products Association) to promote music awareness and creation in the "Wanna Play?" campaign. Big whoop, right? But when you realize that RedOctane is NAMM's first ever video game industry partner, the story's significance shifts a bit. In partnering for cross promotional events and kiosks, not only is NAMM acknowledging RedOctane's ability to recruit youngsters to play music (and buy real instruments), they are also publicly acknowledging RedOctane's (and Guitar Hero's) legitimate seat at the giant table that is the musical world. It's like they're holding hands in public or something and NAMM is totally cool with it. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=346083&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[GHII Gets Xbox Live Indie Lovin']]> While the rest of creation has since moved on to Guitar Hero III or Rock Band, there are still some Xbox 360 owners out there who prefer the great taste of Guitar Hero II, and to you Red Octane is sending out some love. The Indie Label Pack has just gone up on Xbox Live, featuring three songs from artists whose names are only vaguely familiar to me. . For the standard Guitar Hero DLC price of 500 Microsoft points, you'll get "State of Massachusetts" by Dropkick Murphys, "You Should Be Ashamed of Myself" by The Bled, and "Memories of the Grove" by Maylene & The Sons of Disaster. Of the three, Dropkick Murphys is the most vaguely familiar, and so they get a nice giant picture atop the article. The other two must try harder, and maybe next time you'll make it! More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=328482&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Johnny Rotten Loves Guitar Hero, Talking Like A Sailor]]> To be exact, Johnny Rotten "fuckin' loved" Guitar Hero III, when he finally got his hands on it. It teaches you "how not to be a rock star and not to be a [unknown expletive] in your life... cause the whole fucking thing is a joke." He was present at the game's launch party in the UK, quickly turning his thoughts on the Activision and RedOctane published game into a fun little expletive filled tirade. Sure, he mentions re-recording "Anarchy In the UK" and "Pretty Vacant" for Guitar Hero III, due to Virgin Records "losing" the masters, but then proceeds to make with the verbal diarrhea. It's a combination of insulting (and throwing microphones at) journalists, random asides, and length. The insanity goes on for some time. The full, unedited clip is at OXM. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=327702&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Are Musicians Getting The Shaft From Guitar Hero?]]> There's no denying that Activision, RedOctane and Harmonix have been making money hand over fist with stellar sales of the Guitar Hero franchise. All involved are thrilled to have taken part in this very successful venture, right? Wrong. The little people, the studio musicians responsible for Guitar Hero's cover versions, are crying foul, unable to take part in the high-class hooker and champagne parties that assuredly everyone from QA tester to producer to CEO are enjoying on a regular basis. They've been financially "left in the dust" writes free paper Metro and may be the forgotten, abused cogs in the new "creative sweatshop" machine. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=327186&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Guitar Hero III - Will It Blend?]]> How does the Guitar Hero III X-plorer guitar controller fare when faced with the whirring blades of the BlendTec Total Blender? I won't spoil it, but know that it doesn't hold up too well to a Pete Townshending. For a blender that costs as much as a PlayStation 3 it had better fuck this thing up. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=325699&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Band Sue Harmonix, RedOctane Over Guitar Hero Cover]]> Rock band The Romantics have filed suit against Harmonix, RedOctane and Wavegroup Sound for the cover version of "What I Like About You", included in Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s, reports Billboard. The suit claims that the re-recording of the group's 1980 hit is "virtually indistinguishable from the authentic version" and that consumers may become confused into believing the original recording was used. This would, I assume, lead to many disoriented gamers who might simply go mad from attempting to process the information and cause injury. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=325653&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Free Halo Rocker Coming To Guitar Hero III Tomorrow]]> This Thursday, November 22nd, Microsoft, Neversoft, Bungie, Activision and Red Octane will give thanks to Guitar Hero III owners with a bonus freebie song, the Halo theme (MJOLNIR Mix), via Xbox Live Marketplace. The song, penned and performed by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori, features a guitar track perform on a three or four-necked guitar, I assume, by rocker Steve Vai. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=325592&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Black Friday Deals At Red Octane Revealed]]> Red Octane is getting into the Black Friday Madness with some pretty decent savings on Guitar Hero III bundles. Grab the Guitar Hero X-plorer Ultimate Bundle for Xbox 360, one guitar and Guitar Hero II and III for $140, or about $40 in savings. Unfortunately, your basic kits didn't get any cheaper. But we listed all the deals after the jump, so take your pick—pun definitely intended. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=324989&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[GHIII Target Bundle Offers Double Trouble (Second Guitar)]]> We're not sure how this news slipped by us, but we wanted to let potential PS2 Guitar Hero III buyers know about yet another exclusive GHIII bundle on the market. While Wal-mart may be offering GHIII with a wired controller, Target is offering a Dueling Axe Pack version packaged with not one but two SG controllers for $110 (or $100 this week). While the guitars are wired, tethering you to your PS2 like a rocker on a heroin drip, it's not a bad deal if you haven't owned a Guitar Hero game before and wanted the option to play with a buddy. Yes, we did just say heroin and buddy within the same breath. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=316898&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Red Octane Has No Plans For Xbox 360 DDR Pads]]> With Konami's second DDR game coming to Xbox 360, a lot of us have still been waiting patiently for the announcement of a better Xbox 360 dance pad—you know, a non-plastic version that won't cause us to get permanently injured and subsequently permanently need to lie about the cause of said injury. While MadCatz produces a few better-than-stock pads, you can't find metal pads anywhere. And hardcore DDR players are left unable to really enjoy the newest DDR titles on the 360. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=316220&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[The Guitar Hero Recharge Kit]]> For all you Guitar Hero III rockers who are ready to shred with those fancy wireless guitars, Red Octane is releasing their first party Guitar Hero Recharge Kit. The kit, available only on Red Octane's website, will recharge the batteries on your 360 or PS3 wireless GH guitar so you can keep on rockin' all through the night (Sorry Wii, no recharge for you). It is available for pre-order now and will begin shipping Oct. 30. Look for the sub standard Mad Catz version soon at a store near you. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=315867&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Wireless Guitar Hero 3 for PS3, Almost Lacks Wires]]> While the PS3 uses the superb wireless Bluetooth standard offering open compatibility, free love and unicorn rides, Red Octane's Guitar Hero III controllers will not play so nice. Apparently they are working on a non-Bluetooth wireless standard requiring USB dongles that hang out the front of your PS3 like skinny mutant phalli. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=307585&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Everybody Loves Guitar Hero]]>
RedOctane held a press event today, with company president Kai Huang on hand to make sure everyone knew that Guitar Hero III was coming out in a month. Nick McGlynn was on hand to get the crowd's opinion on the Guitar Hero series. He covers a nice cross section of the public here, from the very old to the relatively hot, to Maxim employees that don't qualify for either category. The appeal of Guitar Hero is near universal, even if you don't play. It's that karaoke crowd that Activision has to watch out for. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=304088&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Guitar Hero DS Rocks Without Touch Screen]]> Guitar Hero DS will definitely not be using the touch screen. Instead, as rumored, developer Vicarious Visions is planning the game for a peripheral (which may or may not look strikingly similar to the above concept). So it's confirmed at last: you will look like a total tool playing Guitar Hero DS. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=298209&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Guitar Hero DS Concept Rocks my Socks]]> We're in love with this Guiter Hero DS concept. Sure, its tiny form will cause us carpal tunnel out the whazoo, but the rotating fretboard is a brilliant design to make hand held jamming a reality in a variety of play environments. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=286427&view=rss&microfeed=true