What, Ben Heck, coming up with excellent, craft, gaming-related things? You don't say. This is his latest contraption, a heavy-duty pedal designed to work with Guitar Hero to give it that extra dash of authenticity. After Heck did some one-handed GH controllers for the Games for Health conference, Activision decided to send him some guitars for further experimentation, and these are what he came up with. Although primarily designed to allow someone with the use of only one hand to play Guitar Hero (as the pedal allows them to strum with their feet), they can also be used to activate the whammy bar, giving them a much more general application. While they look nice and rugged, the highlight's got to be the fact he wired them using the controller cables from an old Jaguar controller.

Guitar Hero pedal controllers [Ben Heck]

Forget the list Miyamoto made. That one was an internet popularity contest, and considering the mobilisation powers of Nintendo fanboys, his prominence should surprise nobody. What is a pleasant surprise, however, is the presence of some gaming luminaries on the real Time 100, the list put together by the magazine themselves. They've honoured Harmonix's Alex Rigopolous and Eran Egozy, both for their innovation with Guitar Hero & Rock Band, as well as the knock-on effect of saving "classic rock for generations to come". Rock Band: not just a game, an instrument of history.
Alex Rigopulos & Eran Egozy [The Time 100] [Pic]

Newsweek this morning is reporting that Aerosmith and their music will be a Guitar Hero exclusive for an "unspecified period of time." Activision CEO Bobby Kotick first hinted that the band would be "proprietary to our format" at last month's Morgan Stanley Technology Conference.

"It's an exclusive deal for this game," Aerosmith publicist Marcee Rondon told Harris. We confirmed this with Tim Riley, Activision's vice president of music affairs, who told us through Activision PR that "I can say that we do have the band exclusively, and their catalogue should be exclusive to us beyond the one or two tracks they had licensed out to Rock Band before we made our deal." (According to MTV's Rhythm Game Track Finder, it's one song: "Train Kept a Rollin'.")

Hit the link for N'gai's take on the info he uncovered and why it was both inevitable and, likely, will not be the last time this happens in the increasingly broad genre of rhythm games.

The Guitar Heroes at Red Octane Lock Up Aerosmith With An Exclusive Arrangement, Leaving Harmonix and Rock Band to Dream On [Newsweek]

Here's some great news...that possibly comes a few months too late. TAC has released an adapter that will make your PS2 Guitar Hero controllers compatible with PS3 versions of Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Running $19.99, the company promises the adapter makes guitars "100% compatible" for use, supporting: regular PS2 controllers, Red Octane's and Activision's SG Controller, the Kramer Wireless, Nyko's PS2 Frontman guitar, the DreamGear Shredster, all React PS2 guitar controllers and all Psyclone PS2 guitar controllers. While the $20 sticker price is a bit steep to make this purchase a no-brainer, many of us have been sitting on otherwise useless PS2 guitars. So we'll just label this a good thing and call it a day. You can buy one here, hit the jump for the full details.

DUST OFF YOUR FAVORITE PS2 GUITAR CONTROLLERS! THE ANT COMMANDOS' PLAYSTATION® 2 TO PLAYSTATION® 3 ADAPTER IS NOW AVAILABLE TO REVITALIZE YOUR PS2 GUITAR HERO CONTROLLERS

TAC's Universal Adapter Is The First On The Market That is 100% Compatible With Guitar HeroT 3 & Rock BandT Features

April 28, 2008 - Ontario, CA- The Ant Commandos (TAC), a leading provider of innovative wireless video game music peripherals and accessories, announced today its universal PlayStation 2 to PlayStation 3 adapter for guitar and game controllers is now available at retail for an SRP of $19.99.

This is great news for Guitar Hero and Rock Band fans as they can protect their investment in PS2 guitar controllers and revitalize them for Guitar Hero 3 and Rock Band for PS3. Gamers will no longer have to throw away all of the valuable PS2 hardware they have accumulated over the years. The new PlayStation 2 to PlayStation 3 adapter enables all PS2 controllers, such as PS2 Guitar Hero guitars, to be utilized on
the PlayStation 3. Unlike previous attempts from other companies, TAC's universal adapter is 100% compatible with all of the popular guitar controllers on the market, and is engineered to function
perfectly with every feature in the Guitar Hero 3 and Rock Band games for PS3.
"When consumers purchase a PS2 to PS3 adapter for their favorite PS3 games, they expect everything to be compatible. It is devastating for a player to discover that certain game features such as hammer on,
hammer off don't work with other adapters on the market," said Jesse Manwill, Senior Manager, Product Management at TAC. "The great thing about the new TAC universal adapter is that we take into account every feature that players love in Guitar Hero 3 and Rock Band for PS3, and ensure that every gamer can have an enjoyable experience with their video game peripherals. We spent an incalculable amount of engineering and testing time with almost all guitar controllers in the market to make sure it is compatible."

The new TAC universal adapter is guaranteed to work on all of TAC's PS2 guitar controllers. The adapter is also compatible with regular PS2 controllers, Red Octane's and Activision's SG Controller, the Kramer Wireless, Nyko's PS2 Frontman guitar, the DreamGear Shredster, all React PS2 guitar controllers and all Psyclone PS2 guitar controllers, along with many other brands. Additionally, the TAC adapter features
a Power On Indicator LED, Easy Plug-N-Play installation, and supports multiple PlayStation 2 to PlayStation 3 adapters. The Universal PS2 to PS3 adapter is available now.

Cute. Currently on sale at Zazzle, and taking the 80's keyboard tie as inspiration, this Guitar Hero-themed neck tie is subtle enough that the bolder office workers amongst you may actually be able to pull it off. So long as you explain to your co-workers that horizontal patterns are all the rage in Milan this year. And don't explain that you set a new Tie Hero high score this morning when you totally nailed a double windsor in less than 30 seconds.
Guitar Hero Key Neck Tie [Zazzle, via 4CR]

We've seen various Guitar Hero mods to help interested parties artificially enhance their game, but the systems are imperfect and lack that 100% flawless automation that can confirm, yes, we're wasting away our lives by mastering properly timed button presses. But this Auto Guitar Hero mod subverts our work ethic with ease. Streaming the Wii's composite output directly into the guitar, software can detect precise timing on each button press, guaranteeing perfect accuracy every time. Oh, and you know there's gonna be video:

In the future, robotic slaves will play all of our video games for us. And it will be awesome.

Project Page [Air Guitar Hero via DCEmu]

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.

Guitar Hero IV Branching Out [IGN via Maxconsole][image]

Alright ... there's "Bark at the Moon" on expert, and then there's "The Swan" by the Berliner Philharmoniker's number one asskicking cellist, whomever that is. Considering that success in this genre involves at least knowing the major riffs before you play it, I'm thinking that this flash game is more difficult by half than anything Guitar Hero or Rock Band has ever cooked up.

The game helpfully advises us that there are "one million possibilities to get tones from a cello." I am definitely expert on the first: a sphincter-clenching, fingernails-against-the-chalkboard grind.

Post your high scores in the comments. I can get to about 455 points before I start writing apologies to everyone who has ever handled this graceful instrument.

Cello Challenge [Berliner Philharmoniker, via Reddit]

Oh, we knew from the get-go that Guitar Hero: Aerosmith wouldn't just feature the middling, aging bad boys from Boston, saving us from gagging on a disc full of the band's signature schlock. The original press release even says that "celebrated artists that the band has either performed with or has been inspired by in some way" will appear. Who? Well, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry has been pretty mouthy about that lately, with the latest issue of Game Informer revealing that Cheap Trick, Mott the Hoople, Joan Jett and The Kinks will have their own tunes on the next Guitar Hero release.

We've also heard that the guitarist dropped additional names earlier this month, spilling that tracks from Lenny Kravitz, The White Stripes and Deep Purple would appear in the game. If you want to read the Q&A with Perry and bassist Tom Hamilton at Game Informer, you'll have to be a subscriber. Just kidding, obviously! No one cares what a band's bassist has to say.

Guitar Hero Aerosmith - Joe Perry [Game Informer]

Few more bits of info regarding the freshly-announced Wii version of Rock Band, courtesy of Harmonix. First is that the game's almost a straight-up port of the PS2 version, so don't expect any Wii Remote-specific treats like you got in Guitar Hero. And while we're on the subject of Guitar Hero, Harmonix have also said that the Wii's Guitar Hero controller won't - as you've probably guessed by now - work with the Wii's Rock Band. As with the PS3 version, they're instructing all upset gamers to go right ahead and blame Activision.
[GH compat via Joystiq]

After slapping retailers selling Guitar Hero with a lawsuit, Gibson today said it has also filed suit against EA and MTV, publisher of Rock Band and parent company of Harmonix, respectively. While the Reuters report doesn't mention Rock Band by name, which happens to use Fender brand guitars and controllers, the suit may implicate clearly implicates the EA/MTV Games title as violating Gibson's patent for "simulating an on screen musical performance." It is, after all, simply a better Guitar Hero. Let's hope Guitar Center has a big Gibson blow out sale this weekend, setting the manufacturer up with some obviously much needed cash.

Update: Gibson has provided a statement indicating that it "had no alternative but to bring the suit", naming Rock Band and developers Harmonix in court documents. More info after the jump.

A portion of the statement from Gibson provides more insight and reasoning into the action against MTV Networks (Viacom), Electronic Arts and Harmonix.

This new lawsuit relates to the same U.S. Patent involved in the lawsuit filed by Gibson Guitar recently against various retailers in the same court. Gibson Guitar had made good faith efforts to enter into a patent license agreement with the defendants in this case. The defendants have not responded in a timely manner with an intent to enter into negotiations for a patent license agreement. Gibson Guitar had no alternative but to bring the suit, and it will continue to protect its intellectual property rights against any and all infringing persons.

The law suit mentions the Guitar Hero products for which Harmonix was responsible—Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II and Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s—and Rock Band as the infringing products at issue. We've contacted Gibson and Harmonix for further statements.

Gibson sues MTV, EA over "Guitar Hero" [Reuters]

Last week, Guitar Hero III came out in Japan. The game sold something like 3,000 copies fore both the PS3 and the PS2. Ouch. Not surprising as guitar-based music games were popular in Japan nine years ago. Nine years ago? As game site Next Generation points out, that's the same number that guitar manufacturer Gibson pulled out for its legal suit. As Next Gen points out:

1999, hmm? A quick visit to our good friend Wikipedia reveals that Konami's GuitarFreaks game made its debut in Japan in 1999, meaning it was most likely in the production and planning phases since 1998 at the latest.

My guess is that someone in the Gibson corporation's marketing department heard of GuitarFreaks in 1999 and immediately checked to see if Konami had filed a patent in the US. When their search revealed no results, they filed a patent themselves, and waited patiently. For nine years. How utterly slimy.

The mind boggles. Truly.
This Week In Japan [Next Generation]

It would appear that Harmonix isn't the only Activision partner who has is in a legal tiff with the publisher. Guitar manufacturer Gibson, whose guitar body styles are licensed for Guitar Hero controllers, says Activision is infringing on a nine year old patent for technology to simulate a musical performance. Reuters reports that Activision has in turn filed suit in federal court to render that patent claim invalid.

According to the report, Gibson sent Activision a letter in January requesting that the Guitar Hero pub apply for a license or stop selling the game. Activision essentially responded, "We thought since you didn't say anything about it, we were cool." Then it went in for a high-five/extended secret handshake thing. It was awkward.

Activision's "Guitar Hero" violates patent: Gibson [Reuters]

More Guitar Hero lawsuits! Don't make that face, you know you can't get enough of them. This time around, courtesy of Variety's snooping, it's series creator Harmonix on the legal warpath, who have (briefly) sued current franchise holders Activision over unpaid royalties. Seems the contract signed by Harmonix and RedOctane over the original Guitar Hero contained a clause that said Harmonix would earn one of two royalty payment schemes if they ever left the series. One, a lower figure, would be paid if another dev team took over the series and made fundamental changes to the game mechanics. The other, a higher figure, would be owed if another team took over and released a game that "incorporates, uses, or is derived from Harmonix property". Guitar Hero III is definitely the latter, with minimal changes to the previous games, but Harmonix claim they're only being paid the lower royalty scheme, and are owed around $14.5 million worth of Guitar Hero III's profits.

Those hoping this will translate into a catty legal fracas will be deflated to hear, however, that the suit had a shelf-life of about five seconds. No sooner had it been filed than Harmonix owners Viacom withdrew the suit, with even the hint of a long, bitter legal battle enough to convince Activision that taking this to court would not end well. Both sides are expected to instead "discuss" the issue privately, outside of the courtroom. Meaning that while this won't be settled cheaply, it'll at least be settled quietly.
Viacom withdraws 'Guitar' suit [Variety]

Best way to celebrate not getting the Republican Party presidential nomination? Booze! Second best way? Gaming! After former Arkansas Gov. Mike Hukabee bowed out of the Republican presidential race, he and staffers retired to Little Rock where he unwound with Rock Band. His campaign team members gathered in Huckabee's basement, ate lasagna and played Rock Band. As game site GamePolitics points out, this isn't Huckabee's first time shredding virtual, as he was spotted playing Guitar Hero last September. Wonder if he'll get fat again...
Prez Bid Knockout [GamePolitics] [Pic]

Making your own songs within a game like Guitar Hero, then self-publishing those songs, is a big deal, right? So you'd expect companies like Activision would be toiling day and night to get that kind of power into consumer's hands, right? Notsomuch. As part of his address at the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference yesterday, Activision boss Bobby Kotick says that while his company recognises that it's a big, big deal for a game like GH to incorporate its own user-generated content, he also says that making that kind of software available is "not easy", and that it won't be happening within the next five years. It will happen, he reiterates, just not soon. In the meantime, users will have to instead prepare for things like tournaments and playing for cash, which Kotick says are "the evolution of the medium".
[Pic]

During his address at the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference earlier today, Activision boss Bobby Kotick was talking up Guitar Hero's plans for world domination. While Rock Band remains focused solely on North America, Activision have outlined Guitar Hero's potential to take over not just Europe, but Asia as well.

As far as Europe's concerned, it's a simple approach. The first step is getting enough product on the market, which they're already doing: Kotick says that while North America was the focus in 2007 as far as shipping allocations and marketing went, in 2008 they'd be focusing on Europe. The second step was in securing more local content: Activision's "relationship" with Universal music has given the company access to a huge roster of European acts, not only for the primary markets of Britain, France and Germany, but also bands that will let them target other areas, such as Spain and Italy.

Sounds familiar, I know, and probably not enough to win out over Rock Band's charms. Then again, so long as Rock Band remains a ghost on European release schedules, that's a moot point: Europeans can play Guitar Hero III, right now. They can't play Rock Band, and don't know when (or even if) they'll be able to play Rock Band.

As for Asia (Kotick only specifically addresses China and Korea), well, things are a little more ambitious. Citing experience they've already picked up from Blizzard - one of the few Western devs to crack the Asian market - Kotick says that future success in the region will rest not on boxed products like it does in the West, but in getting the game into internet cafes.

There are, Kotick says, 300,000 of them just in China. They're trusted local institutions. They have credit and billing structures already in place, and are a place where people meet, hook up and hang out. Using the PC version of GHIII as an example, all they'd need to do would be to hook a USB guitar into a PC, flood the game with local content (again, thanks to their new relationship with Universal), set up organised competitions and ladders and watch the cash money come flooding in.

"It's an incredibly natural way to think about Guitar Hero in a market like China", said Kotick, who also stated that such a move would be entirely on a pre-paid basis, and that they could have "multiple instruments in the same room". Funny. He could have just said "guitars", but no, he said "instruments". Multiple instruments.

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.

But we're left wondering, why the hell is that neck attached in the first place if you aren't using the frets? The LCD streams notes ala Guitar Hero, but the frets tower above the system, unused and waiting to scratch someone's elbow bad. Do we really need the whole guitar if we aren't using it?

Songs include Smoke on the Water, Rock this Town, Cherry Pie, Killer Queen, You've Got Another Thing Comin', Miserlou, Heart Shaped Box, Message in a Bottle, Jessica, and Surrender. And at $14.99, we can only assume that those songs absolutely rock through the system's tiny speaker.

Pocket Sized Guitar Hero Arcade Game [ChipChick via Technabob]