Guitar Hero Ported To...Widgets

Guitar Hero Goes $1 Billion

Around 26 months ago, Guitar Hero was an instant cult classic. Today, it's officially a $1 billion franchise. Apparently this milestone comes in video game record time (not partially fueled by the ease with which developers can churn out new versions of the game). In addition, since the launch of Guitar Hero III, users have downloaded five million songs (we're guessing they mean just for GHIII, but the press release is a bit unclear). If so, that total is double the figure that Rock Band has released (granted, GHIII has been out longer).

Activision pats themselves on the back after the jump. Rock Band awaits penalties for extended celebration.

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.

RedOctane Adds GHIII Backing To Music-Making Campaign [gamasutra]

Zero Punctuation Rocks Guitar Hero III, Asserts Heterosexuality

Every week I fear watching Zero Punctuation. It's true. My tiny mind can't comprehend how "Yahtzee" can maintain the hilarity from week to week, let alone his not-so-subtle poignancy regarding the factors that make a decent game fall short of its potential. So far my fears have been unrequited, and now that I've enjoyed his latest review of Guitar Hero III, I will sleep soundly...until next week...if by "soundly" you mean waking in cold sweats with images of oral to anal barbed wire flossing.

[theescapist]

Some Guitar Hero Bundles Lack The Bundle

October Software Sales Predicted Up 50%

GHIII Wii Only Offers Mono Sound

The consumer is officially prepared for the Wii graphics letdown, and if a you buy a game on the Wii that's uglier than the PS3/360 version, you wouldn't be surprised. But when Guitar Hero III is found to only play mono sound on the Wii (as opposed to the box-advertised stereo and Dolby Pro Logic II options), heads turn. According to one affected forum member on the Guitar Hero site, Activision is "looking into it right now," and the implication is that some horrible software problem is preventing users from playing a music game in its full spectrum—not that the Wii is incapable of the task.

No surround sound? [via opposablethumbs]

Guitar Hero 3 DLC Leaked?

One good soul playing close attention to the leaderboards has noticed a few songs that aren't in the standard Guitar Hero III track list. So what's this mean? DLC for everyone*!! Specifically, users have spotted three more songs from both the Foo Fighters and Velvet Revolver. But the biggest surprise may be that boss battle tracks are listed as well, so it will be interesting to see how the content is dealt with from a purchaser's standpoint. Hit the jump for a complete list.

*"everyone" most probably refers only to those who pay to be part of this privileged group.

A war is brewing. Just as Man fights over the superiority of various football teams, cars, female hair colors and brand of fiber supplement, so too will Man fight over whether Guitar Hero is a better series than Rock Band.

While Rock Band won't be on store shelves for a few weeks, we do have at least 50% of the equation to ignite the flame wars. So hit the jump for our Frankenreview of the Harmonixless Guitar Hero III—all the answers to all of life's problems in five short paragraphs.

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.

Exclusive Target Guitar Hero III Bundle With Two Wired Guitars [gamelife]

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.

It's not the end of the world, by any means. But I'm a gear guy and stuff like this makes me tear up a bit, even if the receiver is in the shape of a guitar pick.

Pics: Guitar Hero III's PS3 Dongle Dangles [gamelife]

Despite a catchy 1890s soundtrack and realistic-feeling game play, Sousaphone Hero, the third installment of Activision's massively popular Guitar Hero video game franchise, sold a mere 52 copies in the United States in its opening week, the company reported Monday.

I blame genetics, poor lineage, on why I cannot assemble guitar hero controllers from Radio Shack components and bits of twigs/leaves/string. Because this PS2 GH controller looks like the work of dark magic, a Frankenstein's Guitar, if you will. Just check out the process on assembling the strum button:

I took apart a small switch, put a broken drill-bit into the upper part of the switch (not the electric, but the mechanical), because it is hard, so it won't break (it will be pushing the buttons). After that i cut the trigger-pad in half, soldered it (common GND!!) glued the button gums to the trigger pad, placed it to the switch as seen on the pic and glued the whole thing. It works perfectly!!!!!

How to make a PS2 Guitar Hero controller out of scratch [via engadget]

Rumor: More GH II Song Packs on the Way

Guildhall Teams With Army For New Pack