Guitar Hero: On Tour Full Size Guitar Mod

Now this is more like it. GH:On Tour is all well and good, but it is hard to feel like yer actual axe-wielding rock warrior when you are hunched over a DS with a soppy-looking 'Guitar Grip' attached to your hand like a Nerf knuckleduster.

Eric Ruckman was so desperate to give the DS port of Guitar Hero the thrashing it so richly deserves that he scooped out the innards of his PS2 guitar and melded it with a DS. The DS touch screen is still used for strumming - the plectrum stylus works even better in this context - and the crafty sod even bolted on an FM transmitter to pump stereo sound through his hi-fi.

Hack Guitar Hero DS into a guitar controller [Hack-A- Day via Engadget]

Follow the jump for a video of the mod in action

More DS Strumming - Guitar Hero On Tour Decades

In case you didn't get enough of looking completely ridiculous while strumming your Nintendo DS while it plays music, Nintendo has revealed the next version of Guitar Hero: On Tour, Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades. Details were slim on the new title...basically it was Nintendo letting us know that it was on its way ...but they did reveal that the game will feature song sharing between Nintendo DS handelds, which would mean one copy of the game has the potential to have a song the other doesn't? Could there be DS downloadable tracks in the near future? The mind boggles!

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.

Finally, Metallica is coming to Guitar Hero in a big way, with DLC being readied to release alongside their new album, Death Magnetic, which is guaranteed to completely make up for Saint Sinner...as if any album could actually contain such power.

GH: On Tour Activision's Largest DS Launch Ever

A whole slew of gamers are awkwardly strumming their Nintendo DS systems this week as Activision announces the tremendous success of Guitar Hero: On Tour. According to the publisher the title has sold over 300,000 copies since its release, making it Activision's largest North American DS launch eight times over. CEO of Activision Publishing Mike Griffith took the opportunity to try and sell a couple more.

“Guitar Hero is one of the most successful entertainment properties and continues to push the boundaries of innovation with Guitar Hero: On Tour,” said Mike Griffith, President and Chief Executive Officer, Activision Publishing, Inc. “The game’s breakthrough peripheral brings the Guitar Hero experience to the 41 million DS users in North America and Europe, where they can play anywhere, anytime.”

I almost bought the game myself, but $50 for a limited set of songs and a chance to look ridiculous on public transportation didn't quite add up for me. For me, Guitar Hero: On Tour will always be the game that made me feel much better about strumming a full-sized plastic guitar.

It's official, Nintendo will be selling a new silver and black DS branded with the Guitar Hero logo as part of a limited-time bundle with Guitar Hero: On Tour, the company announced today.

“This one-of-a-kind bundle makes Nintendo DS even more appealing to our ever-growing audience of players,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Like Nintendo DS itself, the Guitar Hero franchise has attracted millions of new players to the world of video games.”

The bundle, which hasn't been priced yet, will be available starting on June 22 when the game goes on sale.

Guitar Hero: On Tour for the DS will be making an appearance at Toys R Us stories nationwide on June 14, giving gamers a chance to go hands on with the portable rhythm game.

“There is no better place to introduce Guitar Hero: On Tour than Toys“R”Us,” said Karen Dodge, Senior Vice President, Chief Merchandising Officer Toys“R”Us, U.S. “Millions of kids are looking forward to jamming with their friends while playing the first portable version of Guitar Hero, and we’re thrilled that Activision is partnering with Toys“R”Us to bring this special sneak peek experience to our customers.”

People checking out the game at the toy store will also have a chance to get a free Guitar Hero sticker, dog tag and temporary tattoo and anyone who reserves a copy of the game, due out on June 22, will receive a Guitar Hero pick-stylus.

Full details on the jump.

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.

The first thing I took a look at upon arriving was the "guitar grip" peripheral. It was a pretty sturdy little piece of a equipment that fits snugly into the GBA slot of the DS. The clear plastic cover is removable and the logo can be pulled out so you can customize the look of it. The strap is likewise customizable, no doubt providing plenty of opportunity for merchandising. As you may know, there are only four buttons in this iteration of the game and while some players may find this disconcerting, there is actually a good reason for it. With the DS literally strapped to your hand, it would make it impossible for you to be able to slide your hand to reach the fifth button. Then of course there is the space issue. After looking at it close up, it seems the addition of the fifth button would make it a bit crowded.

A memorial service shall be held next Tuesday. Flowers and donations may be forwarded to Vicarious Visions and Activision Corp. Guitar Hero is survived by its sole sibling, Rock Band. Rest In Peace.

[Thanks Josh!]

Activision today officially announced Guitar Hero: On Tour for the DS, dropping a few more details about the portable rhythm game.

On Tour will use a pick-stylus and touch screen strings for strumming and that fancy Guitar Hero Guitar Grip for fretting. The game will include a local wireless co-op mode and a Guitar Duel battle mode with battle items unique to the DS. Some examples include forcing a player to blow into the microphone to put out pyrotechnics gone wrong and being forces to autograph the touch screen to stave off crazed fans in the middle of a set.

The game will have five new unlockable venues. You can customize the game a touch by changing the color of your guitar and picking outfits for your guitarist. The DS version will come with six characters, two of which are new to this version. The rated E 10+ game is due out this summer.

Hit the jump for the full release, complete with quotes!!!

The Guitar Hero: On Tour Teaser Trailer

There's little in the way of gameplay, with a focus on dramatic "Guitar Grip" strapping-on and goofy rockin' out, but if you need a better visual demonstration of how Guitar Hero: On Tour for the Nintendo DS works, this will be right up your alley. It's cute, but certainly not something I see myself paying actual money for. But if Harmonix can make a dual-guitar and drum set attachment work for Rock Band DS, that I might buy.

IGN has the scoop on the controller for the eagerly anticipated DS version of Guitar Hero. Guitar Hero: On Tour will come with a Guitar Grip that plugs into the GBA slot of your DS and allows players to fret along with a song while strumming digital strings on the screen. The Guitar Grip includes a hand strap and a little storage compartment for the specially designed stylus pick.

IGN reports that the microphone will also be used, probably to activate Star Power mode with a Jack Black-esque rock scream.

On Tour, due this summer, will support both co-op and competitive multiplayer using the DS' local wireless functions, a battle mode and come packed with more than 20 songs.

Exclusive Reveal: Guitar Hero DS [IGN]

Yes, Guitar Hero : On Tour Is A DS Game

Activision May Take Guitar Hero "On Tour" To Nintendo DS

All that "hoping" and "exploring" in regard to a Nintendo DS version of Guitar Hero may become reality soon. And that reality may be named Guitar Hero On Tour, if a recently unearthed trademark filed by Activision matches up. The filing, which was discovered by Trademork, is dated January 19th of 2008, is certainly video game related, as it applies to an "interactive video game comprised of a cartridge or DVD sold as a unit with a video game controller."

RedOctane co-founder Charles Huang mentioned to GameSpot last summer that a DS-specific controller peripheral was "definitely one of the options we're exploring." We have little doubt that Activision and RedOctane will be doing their best to capitalize on the Guitar Hero name on every single platform they can, so we expect an announcement soon.

Guitar Hero On Tour [Trademork]