Kotaku: Guitar

Wii Rage Guitar Recalled Due To Chemical Burnination

Stuart Houghton — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:20:00 MDT

The Rage Wireless Guitar Controller for the Wii is being recalled after a fault left one gamer injured.

Performance Designed Products Inc has issued a recall notice for 57,000 of the Guitar Hero controllers. A manufacturing fault means that improperly installed batteries can leak. PDP have been informed that one gamer has suffered chemical burns due to the fault.

The affected units are Blue or White and were purchased between June and September this year. If you think you have been affected, go to www.pdp.com, where you can apply for a full refund.

Rage Wireless Guitar Used with Nintendo Wii Recalled [Consumer Affairs]

The Jonas Brothers And Rihanna Join PopStar Guitar

Mike Fahey — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:20:00 MDT

It seems recently that a day doesn't go by without some rhythm game announcing new artists, new albums, or new features for the forthcoming versions of their franchise, and XS Game's PopStar Guitar wants in on some of that hot announcement action. In a press release that claims to be announcing four new blockbuster tracks, five new tracks are listed, which I assume means one of them isn't blockbuster enough. Is it Rihanna's "Shut Up and Drive", "SOS" by the Jonas Brothers, "See You Again" by Hannah Montana, or "Wake Up Call" and "Makes Me Wonder" from Maroon 5?

Whichever of the selections is deemed unworthy of blockbuster status, one thing is perfectly clear: the demographic for this Wii and PS2 game does not include me. Should sell like hotcakes to preteen girls and their creepy admirers though.

XS GAMES TURNS UP THE VOLUME ANNOUNCING FOUR NEW BLOCKBUSTER TRACKS FOR POPSTAR GUITAR™

Master Tracks From Rihanna, The Jonas Brothers and Maroon 5 to be Featured in New Music Rhythm Game for the Wii™ and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system

NEW YORK, NY - September 10, 2008 - Videogame publisher XS Games announced today that hit songs from 2008 MTV Video Music Award nominees and performers Rihanna and The Jonas Brothers, will be featured as master tracks in PopStar Guitar, a new music rhythm game for the Wii™ and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. Players will be able to unlock their inner pop star as they perform live versions of these chart-topping hits by popular artists.

Pop Star Guitar # 1 Hits include:
· Shut Up and Drive by Rihanna
· SOS by The Jonas Brothers
· See You Again by Miley Cyrus
· Wake Up Call by Maroon 5
· Makes Me Wonder by Maroon 5

"To deliver an authentic pop music experience in PopStar Guitar, we knew we had to include original music from today's hottest artists," said Steve Grossman, chief executive officer of XS Games. "PopStar Guitar's music coupled with the innovative AirG peripheral for the Wii, will enable players to jam like a real star."

In PopStar Guitar, players assume the role of a lead guitarist on a musical journey, beginning in a garage band and eventually progressing to the main stage of a worldwide "Battle of the Bands" competition. The game features twelve playable characters, 25 visually stunning venues and more than 50 pop songs, including many # 1 Hits from the original artists. Players can customize their band and give them a unique look, as well as win a number of VIP vehicles, so their band can travel like real pop stars! With three difficulty levels, PopStar Guitar will feature a single player Career Mode along with single player and multi-player mini-games.

Developed by Broadsword Interactive, PopStar Guitar will be available for the Wii™ and the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The Wii™ version of PopStar Guitar will feature the AirG™, an exciting new peripheral that snaps onto the Wii Remote™ and transforms the controller into an air guitar. For PlayStation®2 system players, PopStar Guitar will function with any 5 button PlayStation®2 system compatible guitar.

Available November 2008, PopStar Guitar is rated "Teen" by the ESRB.

Mad Catz Ships Fender Rock Band Bass

Mike Fahey — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:40:00 MDT

It's here, it's here! It's finally here! Well, it'll shortly be here at least. Mad Catz has announced that the first in their line of third-party Rock Band instrument alternatives is shipping today, and bassists of the world rejoice. The Fender Precision Bass guitar is an extremely sexy piece of fake guitar-shaped plastic, featuring all the standard guitar features, including solo keys, overdrive mode, and a unique whammy feature integrated into the volume control to give the bass an authentic feel. Probably the best feature of the Fender Precision is the split strum bar, which allows for two-finger plucking in classic bass style. The only way they could capture the bass experience any better would be to include someone to (severely edited) the bassist in between sets.

I crave this like I have craved no other plastic musical instrument before, to the point where I'm completely bypassing my own built-in safeguards against buying Mad Catz products and actively considering making the purchase. Scary, I know!

Mad Catz Ships the First-Ever Rock Band™ Bass Guitar
Fender Precision Bass Guitar Kicks Off a Full Line of New Rock Band Products

SAN DIEGO—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (AMEX/TSX: MCZ), a leading third-party interactive entertainment accessory provider, announced today that it has begun shipping its Fender™ Precision Bass guitar for the Xbox 360™, the initial offering under its license with Harmonix and MTV Games to produce and distribute game peripherals and other products for the critically acclaimed Rock Band™ game.

“We are excited to be providing an opportunity for the millions of Rock Band fans to enhance their game-playing experience with our Fender Precision Bass guitar,” commented Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz. “This is the first in a series of Rock Band products we expect to release this fall, each of which we believe will add to the realism and enjoyment of this immensely popular game.”

This premium bass guitar provides gamers with a licensed, authentic Fender Precision Bass guitar to complete their ensemble. Compatible with both Rock Band and the upcoming Rock Band 2 games, the Fender Precision Bass can be used to play both lead and bass guitar portions of a selected track. Incorporating all the features of the standard guitar, including Solo Keys, Whammy, and Overdrive Mode, the Fender Precision Bass comes equipped with innovative features designed to enhance the Rock Band experience.

The unique Split Strum Bar allows gamers to strum and pluck notes faster and with more precision, vital for fast tempo tracks. The genuine Fender Precision Bass does not have a whammy bar. To respect the accuracy of the bass, Mad Catz has engineered whammy compatibility by discreetly incorporating it into the volume knob of the bass, providing gamers with essential functionality when playing both lead or bass guitar portions of the track while preserving the timeless authenticity of the original design.

Published by MTV Games and developed by MTV Network’s Harmonix Music Systems, Rock Band is a leading platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music, challenging users to master the lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals as solo artists or cooperatively as part of their own band. Built on deals with the world’s biggest record labels and music publishers, the music featured in Rock Band spans all genres of rock and includes many master recordings from the greatest songs and artists of all time. Rock Band is currently available for the Xbox 360, Wii™, PlayStation® 3 and PlayStation® 2 consoles in North America and for the Xbox 360 in Europe. Rock Band 2 will make its debut on Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft this September and have an exclusive launch window in North America. Rock Band 2 will be available for the PLAYSTATION® 3 and PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment systems and Wii™ later this year.

PopStar Guitar - Oh Look, Another Guitar Game

Mike Fahey — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:20:00 MDT

Electronic Arts. Activision. Konami. XS Games? The relatively tiny publisher is wading into deep waters this October when they ship PopStar Guitar, a guitar playing game for the Wii and PlayStation 2. The game features more than 50 pop songs from artists such as 3 Doors Down, Simple Plan, Blink 182, and many other bands you'd be likely to find on that damn Buzz Cuts CD they keep advertising on television. The game includes single player and co-op mode, allowing one or two players to visit 25 unique venues on their road to making their hands tired.

The difference with PopStar Guitar is the way you control it on the Wii. While the PS2 version is compatible with Rock Band or Guitar Hero controllers, the Wii version ships with something called the AirG, which attaches to your Wii remote to form "an electrifying air guitar." Sounds dangerous. Look, I'm all for competition in the marketplace, but you have to bring something more to the table than a one-shot accessory and more than 50 pop songs " including several masters performed by the original artists." Several?

XS GAMES ANNOUNCES POPSTAR GUITAR™, NEW MUSIC RHYTHM GAME FEATURING HITS FROM TOP POP RECORDING ARTISTS

PopStar Guitar For the Wii™ Includes the Unique AirG™ Peripheral,
Turning your Wii Remote into an Air Guitar

NEW YORK, NY - July 22, 2008 - Videogame publisher XS Games announced today its new music rhythm game, PopStar Guitar™, featuring songs from top pop music stars including 3 Doors Down, Simple Plan, Blink 182 and many more. PopStar Guitar allows players to unlock their inner pop celebrity and star as the lead guitarist in their very own band. Shipping in October 2008, PopStar Guitar will be available for the Wii™ and the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The Wii™ version of PopStar Guitar will feature the AirG™, an exciting new peripheral that turns the Wii Remote™ into an air guitar.

"The popularity of music rhythm games is at an all time high, but to date the games have primarily featured hard core metal, classic and alternative rock music," said Steve Grossman, chief executive officer of XS Games. "With popular songs from today's top pop artists, PopStar Guitar is a game the whole family can enjoy. We've also created a dynamic new air guitar game play experience with our AirG peripheral for the Wii, allowing players to have a blast as they unleash their inner pop star."

PopStar Guitar features a single player Career Mode and two-player Co-operative Mode, along with single player and multi-player mini-games. The game takes the player on a musical journey that starts with forming a garage band to playing at 25 unique venues and eventually performing in the worldwide "Battle of the Bands" contest. Twelve playable characters are featured in the game and can be customized to give the band its own unique look. PopStar Guitar features over 50 pop songs, including several masters performed by the original artists.

Exclusively for the Wii™, PopStar Guitar will come with the AirG™, a peripheral that snaps onto the Wii Remote and turns the controller into an electrifying air guitar. For PlayStation®2 system players, PopStar Guitar will function with any PlayStation®2 system compatible guitar peripheral.

PopStar Guitar has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

Guiness ...

SSJPabs — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:30:27 MDT

Guiness Certifies Minnesota Teen as World's Best at Guitar Hero

I'm sure there are better people out there at Guitar Hero, but few have the personal vanity to call in Guiness and get the official sanction. I admire his sense of personal aggrandizement.

Build A Guitar Hero Auto Whammy Barless Bar

Mark Wilson — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:20:05 MST

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.

Also of note, this mod requires no external power (like batteries) and it can be toggled on and off for the times when you don't want to be an evil awful horrible cheater.

HOWTO Hack Your Guitar Hero Whammy Bar [Gogglemarks via MAKE]

Wireless Wishes Granted By Nyko

torif — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:20:00 MST

Wireless Wishes Granted By Nyko

Gamers of every system will likely be pleased with the line-up of new products announced by Nyko Technologies at CES. Wii fans should be especially pleased, as Nyko will be coming out with the Wireless Nunchuck, and The Frontman wireless guitar (you'd think some other third-party manufacturer would have jumped on this sooner, but hey, I'll take what I can get). Some of Nyko's upcoming and recently released products will be available for a hands-on demo at CES, although I imagine there won't be much of a line-up to try the new Charge Base 2, as recharging batteries isn't the thrill it once was.

Hit the jump for some early 2008 goodies.

The Wireless Nunchuck (MSRP: $29.99) has full accelerometer support and is fully compatible with all games that use the Nunchuck, and offers 30 hours of battery life on two AAA batteries. It's currently scheduled to be released early 2008.

The Frontman wireless guitar is available for the Wii and the PS3 (costing $49.99 and $59.99 respectively), and comes with all your standard guitar bits and notions of rock-and-roll grandeur, along with interchangeable pick guards. The Wii guitar is compatible with Guitar Hero III, while the PS3 version will work with Guitar Hero III and Rock Band.

The Charge Base 360 is Nyko's offering of a convenient way to keep those Xbox 360 controllers charged. It comes with two custom-designed NiMH batteries, plus additional spaces to drop in and charge. The included docking station will charge two controllers for up to 25 hours of game play, and the whole unit should be available Q1 2008, for MSRP: $29.99.

For the PSP fans, there's the PSP Charger Grip (although it's only compatible with the PSP-2000), designed to simulate holding a controller and be more ergonomic. It also extends battery life by up to ten hours, thanks to the rechargeable lithium-ion battery built in. It's scheduled to be out Q1 2008 for MSRP: $29.99.

And the PSP gets another offering, with the TV-Link cable for the PSP-2000, enabling players to connect the system to their HDTV through high definition component cable. Those who want to see all the UMD action on the big(ger) screen, look for the TV Link in Q1 2008, for MSRP: $14.99.

Finally, Nyko announced one more item for the PS3, the Zero Wireless Controller. It has a metal polymer hybrid design, and provides up to 25 hours of gameplay with the included rechargeable NiMH battery. It also features a wireless range of up to 30 feet, durable backlit LED buttons, curved triggers, full six axis motion, dual vibration motors, and comes in three colours. It will be available for MSRP: $59.99 in Q1 2008.

The Kill Bill GH Guitar

fdemarco — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 13:00:00 MST

Inspired by yesterday's Evil Dead guitar, artist Jonathan Nagle sent in this pic of his sweet customized Kill Bill guitar. Whenever I see these custom controllers I always think "Hey, I could do that!" I've even gotten as far as pulling the paints out and putting newspaper down but them I chicken out . Knowing my luck I would render the thing completely hideous and unusable. I suppose I could do a test run on one of these old PS2 GH guitars. It's not like I'll ever be able to use them on my PS3... (and before you comment in saying there is an adapter, I tried it and it's shite)

The Evil Dead GH Guitar

fdemarco — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 13:00:00 MST

From artist Frank C., the creator of the No More Heroes Wii, comes this custom Evil Dead Wii GH Guitar controller. Who doesn't need a little more Bruce Campbell in their life? Great work Frank, can you teach me how to to that? I'm feeling the need for some kind of customized system or peripheral. Better yet, I'll just send you a check and you can do it for me. I'm too ~~lazy~~ busy writing.

Harmonix Replacing Broken Rock Band Guitars

Brian Crecente — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:40:15 MST

Some good, scratch that, great news for Rock Band fans from Harmonix today. They wrote to tell us that gamers who are experiencing problems with their guitars (or any of the Rock Band instruments) should contact EA's customer support website and they will send out a replacement immediately.

As sometimes happens when new products first go into manufacturing, we discovered an imperfection with the strum bar in an early production run of guitars that were shipped at launch. We've since identified and fixed the issue in all subsequent production runs of the guitars. If users are experiencing a problem with their guitars or any of the Rock Band instruments, they can visit the customer support website ( http://support.ea.com/rockband) and we will send a replacement immediately. Harmonix is dedicated to creating 100% customer satisfaction and to the users who have encountered any hardware issues, we are sorry for the hassle.

Harmonix also took the time to address some of the concerns about the Playstation 3 guitars.

We've seen all the message board posts, discussions and stories regarding the PS3 edition of Rock Band—from issues with guitar compatibility to frustration that stand-alone guitars and drums for Rock Band have not yet hit stores. We want people to know that these issues have our full attention. We are listening and we read everything that is posted on our forums and we're committed to providing the best play experience possible. We're working hard to ensure that we solve these problems as soon as possible. We promise to keep the community updated and, in the meantime, we thank them for their patience.

Excellent. We all make mistakes, it's how a company deals with them that matters and this is exactly how it should be done.

Rock Band Support [EA]

Guitar Hero III Tournament: Win A Car!

geoff — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:40:00 MST

Think you're the world's best Guitar Hero III player? Activision has just announced that your skills on the colored keys might net you a Pontiac G5. The only problem? You have to go to a Hot Topic store to enter the competition. Seriously. The song you have to play is undisclosed, and child prodigy Guitar Hero fans need not apply. (You have to be 16 or older, which makes sense given that they are giving away a car). If you want the schedule, put on your best emo rock band shirt and read the details after the jump.

ACTIVISION, PONTIAC AND HOT TOPIC PARTNER ON A NATIONAL PROMOTION GIVING GUITAR HERO FANS THE CHANCE TO WIN A PONTIAC G5
Details of Guitar Hero® III: Legends of Rock Tournament
Powered By The Pontiac Garage Revealed

SUNNYVALE, CA - November 6, 2007 - To support the launch of Guitar Hero® III: Legends of Rock, Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), Pontiac and Hot Topic are teaming up on a national promotion giving Guitar Hero fans, ages 16 and older, the chance to show off their fret burning skills and win a 2008 Pontiac G5. During the one month tour, consumers around the country can play the game that everyone is talking about at Hot Topic stores in the following cities:
Date City Mall
11/8 Orland Park, IL (Chicago) Orland Square
11/12 Paramus, NJ (New York/Newark) Garden State Plaza
11/15 Buford, GA (Atlanta) Mall of Georgia
11/19 Austin, TX Barton Creek
11/26 Phoenix, AZ Metro Center Mall
11/29 Las Vegas, NV Meadows Mall
12/3 Northridge, CA (Los Angeles) Northridge Fashion Center
12/5 San Francisco, CA San Francisco Center

Qualifying will take place from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at each stop on the tour. The top eight scores from the Qualifying Round will proceed to the Semi-Final Rounds which will immediately follow.

Winners at each of the eight stops will receive a $100 gift card from Hot Topic. Additionally, winners will submit their high score on an undisclosed song to determine the two national finalists to advance to the Grand-Finals Round. The two Grand-Finals Round participants will win a trip for two to Los Angeles where they will compete in front of the game creators at Activision for the right to drive away in a 2008 Pontiac G5.

Individuals interested in participating can pre-register for the tournament by visiting the designated Hot Topic store starting at 10:30 a.m. five days prior to the tournament date. Pre-registration will close at 5:00 p.m. the evening before the tournament date. Pre-registering is highly recommended as space is limited.

For complete rules visit participating Hot Topic stores or www.guitarhero.com.

Guitar Hero 3 DLC Leaked?

Mark Wilson — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 12:20:46 MDT

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.

Foo Fighters
* "All My Life"
* "This is a Call"
* "The Pretender"

Velvet Revolver

* "Slither"
* "She Builds Quick Machines"
* "Messages"

Boss Battles

* "Tom Morello Guitar Battle"
* "Slash Guitar Battle"
* "The Devil Went Down to Georgia"

FUTURE DLC LEAKED!!! PIC INSIDE!! [via opposablethumbs]

Guitar Hero III Guitar Problems

Brian Crecente — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:00:22 MDT

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]

Wal-Mart Version of GH III Comes With Old Guitars?

fdemarco — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 09:00:00 MDT

When I got the first email about this I thought perhaps it was some shipping mistake, but as more reports come in, it seems like something else my be afoot. Apparently, folks who have purchased Guitar Hero III from Wal-Mart are reporting that the game comes with the old guitars rather than the new ones. This problem seems to extend to both the PS and Xbox 360 versions of the game. So, if you were planning on picking up the game from Wal-Mart and you really want that wireless Les Paul, you may want to consider going to another retailer or at the very least, be sure to check the front of the box before you purchase.

React Brings Guitars For The Holidays

Mike Fahey — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:00:48 MDT

After the warm reception their red and black Reaper model received earlier this year, React is introducing two new models of wireless guitar controllers for the PS2. The blue, green and white number is called the Odyssey and is pretty enough, but The Legacy is the one that has me drooling. Not only does it have a very classy wood grain finish, but it also comes with a pair of wireless foot pedals. One pedal controls star power, while the other acts as a whammy bar. Perfect for those of us who constantly screw themselves up while flailing about to get star power going. Both new models should be available from Best Buy in November.

REACT ADDS TWO NEW "HIGH-DESIGN" PS2 GUITAR CONTROLLERS
(MINNEAPOLIS, MN) Adding to their current line-up of charismatic guitar controllers, React will introduce their two newest wireless models, The Legacy and the Odyssey, in time for the 2007 holidays.

The Odyssey conveys a fresh, vibrant, and modern sensibility and is equally accessible to both male and females, while The Legacy is a vintage throwback with a timeless wood grain finish. And as a revolutionary add-on, The Legacy includes a wireless dual-effect pedal that allows the gamer to initiate star power or the whammy bar with a tap of their foot. Use of the pedal is optional, but highly encouraged.

The Legacy and Odyssey, the newest in the line of React "high-design" guitars controllers, will launch in November at all Best Buy locations nationwide.

The Kiss Guitar Hero Contoller Made From a Real Guitar

fdemarco — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 14:00:00 MDT

Art Guitar is creating some very special, limited edition Guitar Hero guitars called the AG Riff Master Guitar Controller. But, these aren't your average tiny plastic versions, oh no! These are made from actual real Peavy guitars and are full sized to heighten your gameplay experience. As an added bonus, each guitar will be decorated with paintings of some of rocks most beloved iconic stars including Kiss and a few more that will be announced soon. The fancy peripherals are set to drop in the holiday season this year. No word yet on how much these puppies are going to cost , but we'll be sure to keep you updated as more is known.
[via GayGamer]

PS2 Guitar Hero Controller Built From Ground Up

Mark Wilson — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 12:20:39 MDT

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!!!!!

To my feeble mind, there's simply no way that nonsense is possible. I believe this controller to be the work of conjuration and propose its maker be burned at the stake.

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

Rock Band's Drumkit and Microphone

Brian Crecente — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 18:11:59 MDT

You've seen Rock Band's Stratocaster, but that's just a neat looking faux guitar. This drumkit looks amazing. I especially like how it comes with what looks to be a collapsible stand and includes four drum pads and a foot pedal. Heck, even that stainless steel microphone looks sexy. I wonder if it will ship with a stand for those guitar/singer people out there. Brian Crecente

Eds Note: Keep in mind that Harmonix hasn't finalized these mic/drums designs, and that these are prototypes. The guitar, however, is final.

Rock Band DRUMS! [TV.com, thanks everyone for the tips]

Guitar Hero 360 Kiosks Arrive

Mike Fahey — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 12:20:20 MDT

These Xbox 360 Guitar Hero kiosks should be showing up at your favorite electronics retailers around the country as we speak. This shot was found on Flickr by the folks over at Xbox Collector.

What this means is that you'll finally be able to play Guitar Hero II for the PS2 in the store, as that one creepy guy who always seems to be at Best Buy moves over to the 360 version to get a leg up on Possum Kingdom and ~~Heart-Shaped Box~~ The Trooper. Michael Fahey

Xbox 360 Guitar Hero 2 Kiosk [the xbox collector - thanks Chris!]
edit - Stupid coworker, getting Heart-Shaped Box stuck in my head.

Turn Your DS Into a Guitar

Brian Crecente — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 10:00:49 MST

Simon over on Game Set Watch points out that New York-based game importer NCSX is raving about DS guitar "game" Utaeru DS Guitar M-06

With 16 chords to use at any time from a library of 120, users may strum out a song relatively easily if you're familiar with basic guitar playing. We were able to play the Main Riff I for "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman and "Torn" from Natalie Imbruglia this morning by following guitar tabs found on the web. In addition to its function as a guitar, the software also includes a library of 20 songs and a listening-then-repeating exercise."
"On the touch screen, a thick crop of vertical lines represent the guitar string. It's pasted against a black background so that the focus is the line itself. To play, strum the line with your touch pen or finger and you'll hear a twang. Change chords with the D-pad by moving it in the direction of the chords shown on the top screen and the tone of the twang changes every time you move the D-pad to another chord."

I'm not so sure about changing chords with the D-pad, but I'm loving the rest of this. Brian Crecente

Your DS Is Now A... Guitar? [GameSetWatch]

Clips: Wii Sex Movie Redux

fdemarco — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 07:30:17 MST

Alrighty! Several desperate emails, disgruntled commenters and much overloaded bandwidth later, we've resolved the issue of the now infamous Wii Sex video that was posted yesterday.

Apparently, the link that was sent to me was not meant to go public (which the person who sent it should have known!) and we've been asked to take the link down so it doesn't continue crashing their server. Thankfully, Craig over at ScrewAttack was kind enough to get me a YouTubed version of it so we could post it here and all can share in the wonder and glory that is "Wii Sex."

NSFW!!

The Wii Sex Movie

fdemarco — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 12:00:39 MST

UPDATE: We have removed the link to this video at the request of it's maker since it was crashing their server. You can now watch it here.

I've seen a lot of Wii videos in the past few months, but this one really takes the cake. I was a little reticent to watch it at first since the email announcing it had the subject line of "I'm so sorry." But, when I saw that it was sent from none other than Mario Opera creator and GameJew about town, Jonathan Mann, I decided to give it a shot.

The video was not made by Mann, however, and according to his email came from his keyboardist's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend who got it from this guy who knows this kid who's going with a girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night.

This is absolutely NSFW and while I was skeptical at first, I got a good larf out of it in the end. It's as wrong as it is hilarious. I won't give anything away, but the final shot and sound effect is worth the price of admission. Flynn De Marco

Custom Guitar Hero Guitar Sells for $1k

Brian Crecente — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 12:00:36 MST

That sweet custom crafted Guitar Hero controller that Joel Johnsn was selling on eBay for his Child's Play Funde Razor wrapped up recently, bringing in another $1,026 to the charity. That pushes the charity drive to more than three times what it made last year. Brian Crecente

Guitar + NES = NES Paul

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 20:40:26 MST

Music man XOC, also known as Jason Cox, responsible for arguably the best video game cover album of ALL TIME, has made the penultimate sacrifice. Okay, not even close. But he did turn his original NES—the one he's had since age ten!—into a functioning guitar.

Now if it still also worked as a functioning Nintendo Entertainment System, that'd be something. Something impossible.

Check out the handful of in process pics, including my personal favorite of the mangled guitar looking terrified just before going under the knife. Michael McWhertor

The NES Paul [via GameSetWatch]

M-06: Be A Nintendo DS Guitar Hero

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 16:20:07 MST

This video pretty much explains it all. Strum the bottom screen, use the d-pad to choose your chord (from a selection of 120), and sing in a slightly off-key manner for maximum non-game enjoyment. Check out one more video at the official site, then pray that some brave publisher will bring it stateside. Michael McWhertor

M-06 Official Site (Japanese)

TAC Guitars Don't Work with Guitar Hero 2

Brian Crecente — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 09:03:59 MST

That's the bad news. The good news, according to The Ant Commandos, is that they are coming out with some sort of device or attachment that will allow gamers to plug their old school Guitar Hero guitars into the PS2 and play Guitar Hero 2.

According to a source, the peripheral will make all Guitar Hero guitars work with the news game. Yep that includes the wireless ones. I'm not sure if this compatibility issue is an ANT issue, or one that effects all Guitar Hero guitars, official and not so much. Brian Crecente

BREAKING: G4 Makes Kissyface to Aeropause, Tranquility Returns to the Internet

egauger — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 00:58:58 MDT

In the coolest move they've ever made, gaming network G4's Attack of the Show has posted a very sincere, very well-worded apology to our darling Aeropause.

G4's slight, as mentioned earlier today, was using Aeropause's instructional Dead Rising video on Attack of the Show without giving credit for the fantastic clip, which demonstrated how to attain the coveted Megaman blaster by destroying nigh unto 60,000 zombies.

The Attack of the Sorry:

What happened was awful, embarrassing and it doesn't matter why it happened, it was wrong. We're a corporation (although we have Space Invaders on the carpeting) and we take copyright law extremely seriously. We get pissed off when people show our stuff and don't give us credit; I wouldn't expect anyone out there to feel differently.
Like I said before, we take our role as citizens on the information superhighway very seriously. However, unlike a lot of people out there in the universe of the worldwide web, we aren't afraid to fess up to our mistakes and say we're sorry.

And so on. But they don't stop there! Not only do they fill a page with gracious explanation and apology, they go above and beyond and actually compose a little I'm Sorry song to Aeropause, complete with acoustic guitar and stylish hat.

Let this be a lesson to all tubedwellers: eating humble pie earns you a high score. As a bonus lesson, let it be known that a slick little grandpa hat and some nice glasses can dress up your jeans n' teeshirt geek uniform something fierce. Eliza "I wish I had a grandpa hat. And a song." Gauger

This post goes without a photo because our uploader is broken.

Attack of the Show apologizes as great length [G4]

James Carey's Amazing Frets on Fire Guitar

brownlee — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 13:40:19 MDT

As a no-good potato humper, I loathe the brown-toothed, red-coat British. Not only did they steal all of Ireland's trees to replant Sherwood Forest (or so my codgery, Ivor-Cutler-like father liked to rave when in his cups), but they're just so smug and self-satisfied, which really honks me off: another smug, self-satisfied Eurocunt in the room really does degrade my entire (dare I say only?) schtick.

But I think I can forgive James Carey, editor of PC Format Magazine UK, for being British. Because not only is he a fellow Guitar Hero fan, but he built his own USB guitar for the Guitar Hero clone, Frets on Fire. He built it out of a toy guitar and an old USB joystick.

Jesus. Totally cooler than thou. How about sending one along for one of the lowly inhabitants of a land your people have spent hundreds of years gouging, enslaving, raping and exploiting, James? The least you can do, really. Florian Eckhardt

James Carey's Frets on Fire Guitar [PCFormat Blog]

Extra-Squishy Dead Rising Trailer

egauger — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 20:20:28 MDT

This vid comes from Aeropause. I'm leaving on a road trip on the 5th, but will be bringing a 360 with me so that on the 8th, somewhere in eastern Montana in some god-forsaken Walmart host body of a town, I can plug that sucker into a hotel TV and rock out, zombie-style.

But I'm scared, see. The last time I got really excited about a zombie game, it was Stubbs the Zombie. Thinking about it just makes me weep with disappointment all over again. Eliza Gauger

Jamming With Contra

egauger — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 17:40:51 MDT

Extremely hardcore gamer Chris "Vertexguy" Kline wants the whole world to see him melt his own face with a solo so intense, the cat walked by his bedroom during his recording session and literally turned inside out. With his mother knee-deep in cat intestines, pounding angrily on the door, he becomes the rock god he always wanted to be. And we're his witnesses. Party on, Chris.

Gitaroo Man Lives! Preview

brownlee — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 13:40:01 MDT

The E3 content just keeps on trickling out! Kikizo has posted up their hands-on E3 preview of that other guitar game, Gitaroo Man Lives!, a remake of Gitaroo Man for the PSP.

What's changed between the two games? Not much, actually. There will be as many as six new tracks to play. the game will also have some new multiplayer modes, including an expanded versus mode and a co-operative duet mode.

They aren't very pleased about the controls, pointing out that the PSP's nub is not particularly good for tracing the winding worm of notes overlaying the screen. That nub can be a pain even in games that don't require such specific input... let's hope this is just a programmable sensitivity issue and not a gimping of the controller. FLORIAN ECKHARDT

Hands-On: Giaroo Man Lives! [Kikizo]

What Are You Playing This Easter Weekend?

brownlee — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 14:40:04 MDT

It's Easter Weekend and in the time honored tradition of the Christian faith all of us are off work and school for the next three days, celebrating one of the most fundamental moments of the history of Western Civilization, a mystical religious event which shaped the world for millennia to come. I refer, of course, to the crucification and eventual resurrection of our Leponidae and Savior, the Easter Bunny.

So what will you be playing this holiday weekend? Having finally got myself a copy of Guitar Hero, I will spend the next few days practicing hammer ons and pull offs, which I can't quite seem to master but at the far end of Medium seem to be a required skill. I hope to unlock that Grim Reaper shortly. As an ancillary note, while playing Guitar Hero, I was pleased to discover that one of the songs is by my friend's band, Burning Brides. Great taste.

So join us in the comments to brag about your latest purchases, share your latest video game adventures or just give me Guitar Hero advice, because I suck.

Own a Guitar Signed by Shiggy

Brian Crecente — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 07:00:07 MST

Now you can get your geek and your rock on at the same time. Some guy is selling a guitar that was strummed and signed by Shigeru Miyamoto. The Shiggy played the opening notes of the Mario theme after the guitar owner waited in line for 8-hours at the Nintendo World store in September for him to sign in. Nice. The reserve price is a whopping $700, maaaaaay be worth it.
Who wants to own a piece of gaming history [Press the Buttons]