Seth Schiesel reports that Johnson recorded a score of 973,954 in a roughly seven-minute rendition of DragonForce's Through the Fire and Flames at a Best Buy in Midtown Manhattan.

Johnson says he owes his record-setting play through, in part, to strategic use of Star Power.

"You really have a choice of using Star Power during Red Snake or during the Twin Solo," he said, referring to guitar passages in "Through the Fire and Flames."

Sort of a no-brainer, but what is surprising is how many plastic guitars Johnson went through preparing for the record run. About 80 of the Guitar Hero controllers were destroyed over the last nine months in practice sessions by Johnson.

"When you're hitting that many notes and playing that fast, it just terrorizes the controller," said Scott Johnson, 45, Danny's father.

Johnson's record and his frightening practice didn't just land him story in the gray lady, it also got him an endorsement deal with gaming team and event promoter eMazingGaming.com.

Leaving a Broken Record (and Guitars) in His Wake

Big pic after the jump.

First Pic Of Slash’s ‘Guitar Hero’ Action Figure [Multiplayer]

Not only has Ant Commando's spokesperson Chris Chike reclaimed the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Guinness World Record taken from him back in June by a Texas teen, he managed to do it with his whole family looking on, including one small child who clearly needs to learn some important lessons about duct tape. The video is nice and all, but what I want to see is all the takes that ended with Chike screaming profanity while his family looked hopelessly at their watches.

Nice camera work at the end there, Mom. Way to accentuate the cleavage.

CHRIS CHIKE REGAINS HIS GUINNESS WORLD RECORD TITLE FOR GUITAR HERO

The Ant Commandos Spokesperson Retakes His Crown For Highest Score on a Single Song in Guitar Hero® III: Legends of Rock

Ontario, Calif-September 11, 2008 - Chris Chike, official spokesperson for The Ant Commandos (TAC) and record-setting Guitar Hero player has officially reclaimed his Guinness World Record Title for High Score on a single song in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.

Chike (also known as iamChris4Life online), the first official Guinness Record holder for Guitar Hero was crowned as such in March of this year. In June, a teenager in Texas beat that score and temporarily held the record before Chike won it back this week.

With a new high score of 899,703 points with 97% accuracy and a 1,084 note streak, Chris officially overtook the score of 890,971 points that temporarily cost him his title. With this new high score Chike will go down in the Official Guinness Record Book of 2008 as THE 2008 Guitar Hero record holder on a single song.

When asked about his recent re-crowning, Chris Chike commented "I knew I would get my world record title back. I have already scored 100% on the song; millions of people have seen on Youtube, but it wasn't official for Guinness because I didn't have multiple witnesses in the room. Now it is official! I am THE Guitar Hero record holder for 2008!"

The Minnesota 17-year-old's first Guinness World Record was set earlier this year at the launch of the inaugural "Guinness World Records:
Gamer's Edition 2008" in March 2008. Chike earned the new Guinness World Record for the "Highest Score for a Single Song on Guitar Hero®
III: Legends of Rock" with 840,647 points (a 97% completion on Expert
Level) for the song.

"Chris is an amazing talent," said Raymond Yow, Chief Operating Officer of The Ant Commandos. "Not only has he been assisting The Ant Commandos with the design of our new TAC guitar controller which will be launched later this year, but he has also successfully regained his World Record Title-and all while he was on summer vacation."

For more information about Chris Chike and his accomplishments please
visit: www.theantcommandos.com.

Better still the Guitar Hero downloadable album will include two exclusive renditions of Suicide & Redemption with extended solos by James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett. And to wrap up the good news, Activision says the album will be fully forward compatible with Guitar Hero World Tour, which is quite a trick considering the additional instruments in the new game.

“We’ve been working very closely with Metallica and we’re extremely excited to offer Death Magnetic not only in its entirety, but also with the exclusive recordings of ‘Suicide & Redemption’ as downloadable content to Guitar Hero fans,” said Tim Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs for Activision Blizzard. “We’re proud to be setting a new precedent for our two industries, making an entire new album available in two different mediums simultaneously.”

Death Magnetic will hit the 360 for 1,440 Microsoft Points and the Playstation Network for $17.99 on Sept. 12.

METALLICA BRINGS DEATH MAGNETIC TO GUITAR HERO® III: LEGENDS OF ROCK THIS FRIDAY TO MAKE MUSIC AND VIDEO GAMING HISTORY
Guitar Hero® to Feature Two Exclusive Versions of “Suicide and Redemption”
Downloadable Death Magnetic Album Also Forward Compatible with Upcoming Guitar Hero® World Tour

SANTA MONICA, CA – September 8, 2008 – In a monumental first for the gaming and music industries, Metallica’s highly anticipated ninth studio album Death Magnetic will be available in its entirety as downloadable content for Activision Publishing, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) Guitar Hero® III: Legends of Rock day and date with the album release this Friday, September 12. Featured on the downloadable album will be two Guitar Hero® exclusive renditions of “Suicide & Redemption” with extended solos by James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett. Gamers looking to shred, drum and wail away to the Death Magnetic downloadable album need only purchase the content once as it is forward compatible and will integrate seamlessly with Guitar Hero® World Tour when it launches this October.

In addition to the two exclusive versions of “Suicide & Redemption,” Guitar Hero fans will live out the surreal Metallica experience with: “That Was Just Your Life,” “The End of the Line,” “Broken, Beat & Scared,” “The Day That Never Comes,” “All Nightmare Long,” “Cyanide,” “The Unforgiven Ill,” “The Judas Kiss” and “My Apocalypse.”

“We’ve been working very closely with Metallica and we’re extremely excited to offer Death Magnetic not only in its entirety, but also with the exclusive recordings of ‘Suicide & Redemption’ as downloadable content to Guitar Hero fans,” said Tim Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs for Activision Blizzard. “We’re proud to be setting a new precedent for our two industries, making an entire new album available in two different mediums simultaneously.”

Metallica’s Death Magnetic album will be available for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock on September 12, 2008 for download on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft at a cost of 1440 Microsoft Points and in the PLAYSTATION®Store for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system at a cost of $17.99.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock offers the ultimate rock experience with new wireless guitars, freshly added content and features including a multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a host of exclusive unlockable content and visually stunning rock venues. Expanded online multiplayer modes allow axe-shredders worldwide to compete head-to-head for true rock status as they riff through a star-studded soundtrack including master tracks by legendary artists such as Aerosmith, Guns 'N' Roses, The Rolling Stones, Beastie Boys, Rage Against the Machine and Pearl Jam, as well as original songs by guitar icons Slash and Tom Morello. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is now available and is rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB.

When the house lights go down this fall, a new generation of guitarists, drummers and fearless frontmen will come together and rock with Guitar Hero World Tour. The latest installment in the #1 best-selling video game franchise of 2007, Guitar Hero World Tour transforms music gaming by expanding Guitar Hero’s signature guitar gameplay into a cooperative band experience that combines the most advanced wireless controllers with new revolutionary online* and offline gameplay modes including Band Career and 8-player “Battle of the Bands,” which allows two full bands to compete head-to-head online for the first time ever. The game features a slick newly redesigned guitar controller, drum kit controller and a microphone, as well as an innovative Music Studio music creator that lets players compose, record, edit and share their own rock ‘n’ roll anthems. Music creators will also be able to share their recordings with their friends online through GHTunesSM where other gamers can download and play an endless supply of unique creations.

Guitar Hero World Tour is being developed by Neversoft Entertainment for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. The Wii™ version is being developed by Vicarious Visions. The PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system version is being developed by Budcat. The game is rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB. For more information on Guitar Hero World Tour, please visit www.guitarhero.com.

Heroes of Our Time, the debut single off their new album Ultra Beatdown, will come with Revolution Deathsquad and Operation Ground and Pound, both from DragonForce's third album Inhuman Rampage.

The three-song DragonForce Pack will the Playstation Store and Xbox Live on Aug. 21.

The Guitar Virtuoso Track Pack will be available July 24th via PlayStation Store and Xbox Live Marketplace.

Anthem is the guitar-heavy song from Top Gun, not to be confused with Kenny Loggins's Danger Zone. Unfortunately the free DLC won't include a heavy metal fro or aluminum parachute pants.

“TOP GUN ANTHEM” TO LAND ON GUITAR HERO® III: LEGENDS OF ROCK AS FREE DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT FOR FOURTH OF JULY

SANTA MONICA, CA – July 1, 2008 – Grab your wingman and fire up the F-14 for the announcement today of a special Fourth of July treat for Activision, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) Guitar Hero III®: Legends of Rock fans. Beginning July 3, 2008, the legendary, GRAMMY® award-winning “Top Gun Anthem” will be available as a free downloadable song for the game.

The instrumental, guitar-heavy theme was immortalized in the hit film that inspired a generation of young men to awkwardly serenade women at bars, perform perfectly-timed “flipside” high fives and threaten to “buzz the tower.”

The song will be available as a free download to Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock mavericks and their wingmen everywhere for Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and in the PLAYSTATION®Store for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system on July 3, 2008.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock offers the ultimate rock experience with new wireless guitars, freshly added content and features including a multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a host of exclusive unlockable content and visually stunning rock venues. Expanded online multiplayer modes allow axe-shredders worldwide to compete head-to-head for true rock status as they riff through a star-studded soundtrack including master tracks by legendary artists such as Aerosmith, Guns 'N' Roses, The Rolling Stones, Beastie Boys, Rage Against the Machine and Pearl Jam, as well as original songs by guitar icons Slash and Tom Morello. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is now available and is rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB. For more information visit http://community.guitarhero.com.

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!!!!!

And I can play a guitar pretty Damn well...A REAL guitar that is..So you mean to tell me, watching some drunk ass GI or Fratboy attempting to play "Sweet Child O Mine" on a guitar shaped GAME CONTROLLER,. flubbing notes at that, is a more soulful experience then hearing me play and sing? IF so, FUCK YOU! That's what I have to Say...That says it all. Remember....We Reap what we sow and we've got some major fucking problems. I say we who do give a shit, need to vote with our wallets.

THIS IS A CALL TO ARMS. IT'S IN YOUR HANDS PEOPLE.

The downside is that GameStrata registration is currently using a token system, requiring you to sign up in hopes of receiving an invite (similar to the moderate pain it was to first join Gmail). But we tested the service and received an invite with no problem after our registration. Here's the full list of games that GameStrata will be supporting at launch:

Lost Planet: Extreme Condition (PC, Xbox 360, PS3) Battlefield 2 (PC) Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC) Universe at War (PC, Xbox 360) The Club (Xbox 360) - Coming February 19th

"We continue to see strong consumer response to our wholly owned and internally developed titles — Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare," said Robert Kotick, Chairman and CEO, Activision, Inc. "We are well positioned to continue our leadership position through the remainder of the year and are on track to delivering another record year of revenue growth and the most profitable year in our history."

Activision Ranks #1 U.S. Console and Handheld Publisher January - November 2007, According to NPD

SANTA MONICA, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATVI) was the #1 U.S. console and handheld publisher for the first eleven months of calendar 2007, according to The NPD Group. The company increased its market share for the eleven month period to a record 16.8%, a 7.9% increase over the same period last year.

For the month of November, Guitar Hero® III: Legends of Rock and Call of Duty 4™: Modern Warfare™ were the #1 and #2 best-selling titles respectively in dollars across all platforms, according to The NPD Group. Activision also had five of the top-10 best-selling games in dollars, including Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock for the PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and the Wii™ home video game system. Additionally, Guitar Hero has remained the #1 best-selling franchise in the U.S. since January, according to The NPD Group.

"We continue to see strong consumer response to our wholly owned and internally developed titles — Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare," said Robert Kotick, Chairman and CEO, Activision, Inc. "We are well positioned to continue our leadership position through the remainder of the year and are on track to delivering another record year of revenue growth and the most profitable year in our history."

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Founded in 1979, Activision posted net revenues of $1.5 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's World Wide Web site, which is located at www.activision.com.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Wireless Guitar Controllers Hitting Retail Shelves in Early 2008

SANTA MONICA, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATVI) today announced that standalone wireless guitar controllers for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock will be available at retail stores nationwide by early 2008.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock lets fans thrash and burn with new wireless guitar controllers available for each platform, including exclusive Gibson Guitar's Les Paul model for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo, and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. PlayStation®2 gamers will also get to shred on an exclusive shape, Gibson's Kramer guitar, popularized by hard rockers and known for its body design, pickups, electronics and construction for furious finger fretting.

In Game Content: Guitar Hero III [Xbox Live's Major Nelson]

Forums on GameSpot and the official Guitar Hero site are getting hit with a number of complaints about faulty Guitar Hero III controllers. Apparently some of the buttons will flake out over time with some controllers. It seems that a lot of gamers suspect that the guitar's detachable neck is to blame.

There's a lot of speculation so far, but no official word from Activision or RedOctane, which is unfortunate. I contacted the company this morning for a comment and they've yet to get back to me. We'll update or do another post once we hear some sort of official word. What about you, have you had any problems? The 360 I demoed with was fine and the Wii guitar had a momentary problem but seems fine again.

Guitar Hero III: Problems with the Detachable Neck [Law of the Game]

K, show's over folks. Thanks for watching and commenting.

For the release of Guitar Hero III, however, we're starting to see some evidence of the licensing of Konami's patents for the ultra-successful Activision franchise, now at developer Neversoft. Gamasutra's Simon Carless explains the relationship between multiple parties, including one that, oddly enough, was originally in an MTV branded product, not unlike the upcoming Rock Band.

A fine piece of investigatin' by the gang at Gamasutra.

Exploring Guitar Hero III's Patent Secrets [Gamasutra]

It looks like an interesting experiment for Guitar Center, one that might have great crossover potential in-store. It will also surely push the number of times the question "Why don't they just play a real guitar?" is asked well into the billions.