Catch some concepts at the New York Auto Show!
Posts with tag guitar-hero

Another Week in Europe

Wii Fit is selling like gangbusters in Britain, where it accounts for half of all Wii software sold in the last week, and has given Nintendo its first one-two finish in the All Formats Chart since 2003. And guess what? It's more or less the same story throughout the rest of Europe.

The Irish are shedding the Guinness pounds, the Germans are working off those brätwurst, and Sweden ... well, we don't really have a lazy, go-to food stereotype for the Swedes. Anyhow, the point is: they're all loving it, and if Wii Fit doesn't appear in a chart (see: Spain, Denmark), it's probably because a country hasn't got it yet, or the charts have fallen behind.

Mind you, don't expect any of this Nintendo dominance to last: next week's charts are guaranteed to be all about one game (yet we suspect Wii Fit might give you have better legs than GTA IV in the long-term). Lean past the break for this week's European charts.

Continue reading Another Week in Europe

Necktie Hero

If you love Guitar Hero so much that you can feel it like it's right in your neck, be sure to check out this geektastic tie. Since your boss will likely have absolutely no idea what this represents (unless he's so hip that he can't see over his pelvis), you can probably get away with showing your video game pride at work in this instance.

Are you ready to rock this tie? Then go buy it at Zazzle for $29.95.

[Via Technabob]

Guitar Hero rumored to add peripherals

There are rumors abound that Activision will be adding new instrument peripherals and a microphone to Guitar Hero IV, because of statements made by Activision's CEO Bobby Kotick in a recent interview with Conde Nast Portfolio. Should these bode true, though, we think this is a questionable move by the company. Although Rock Band is widely hailed as the better game, it seems lazy for Activision to turn its franchise into exactly (or at least, almost exactly) the same thing.

Let's think of the other negatives. Since Guitar Hero and Rock Band guitars are incompatible with the competing game (thanks to Activision), we can assume that if drums become a part of the GHIV experience, they will be, too. This means that people who want to own both will not only have to deal with a mountain of guitars (supposing they enjoy a good bout of local multiplayer), but also two drum sets cluttering up their homes. Moreover, this blogger has come to think of Guitar Hero as "the poor man's Rock Band," meaning that you don't have to pay an arm and a leg (just an arm) to get it. It's not cheap, but it's cheaper. Should the series turn into Rock Band, however, that will take away its economic edge.

Now, there could be good things about this rumored change. If Activision added some unique instruments (maybe a keyboard?), the game could offer something that Rock Band can't. Should it turn into nothing but a clone, though, we can't say we support that.

Kotick also mentioned that the game will include a feature that utilizes local bands, but what the CEO meant by this has yet to be clarified.

[Via Joystiq]

GHSkinz adds style to your fake instruments

Folks looking to jazz up their plastic Les Pauls for Guitar Hero or instruments they'll be jamming with in Rock Band, take note. Website GHSkinz is looking to offer you skins and other accessories for your fake instruments.

The skins themselves look like they're high quality, but with that comes the problem of price. It won't be cheap to outfit your instruments. But, then again, when your guitar looks as badass as this, we're not sure you're going to care about how much you spent to make sure it looks this way.

See also: Give your Rock Band drums some extra lives

Guitar Hero III still on sale at Amazon

You may have missed out on Amazon's Gold Box deals, but the online retailer is still selling Guitar Hero III for cheap. Sure, it's not as cheap, but it's $15 off the MSRP, nonetheless.

Since the Les Paul guitar will cost you $59.99 alone, buying the set for $74.99 isn't too bad of a deal. Also, it seems that Amazon is selling the fixed edition of the game, so you won't have to worry about mono sound issues or future disc swapping with your purchase.

[Thanks, David!]

Guitar Hero III replacement process begins in Europe

Folks in Europe no longer have to be the only Guitar Hero III owners suffering through the game in mono sound, as Activision has finally started the replacement process in the neglected continent.

In order to register for your replacement discs, just go to this site, enter the appropriate information, and print out the shipping label. Then, you just send out your glitched version and wait for your new disc to arrive.

Better late than never, we suppose.

[Thanks, Ashlee and Locke2007!]

Activision settles Guitar Hero III class action suit

Activision has been dealing with the anger of Guitar Hero III owners, which culminated four months ago in a class action lawsuit. The plaintiff, Sam Livingston, filed the suit against Activision because of the company's "deceptive" conduct regarding the lack of Dolby Pro Logic II.

Instead of letting the case get to court, though, Activision decided to offer a settlement. The amount of cash that exchanged hands in the deal was not made public, but we bet a check will be more satisfying than a complimentary faceplate. Oh, and speaking of those? They were actually less of an act of kindness on Activision's part, and more of a required legal stipulation from the settlement.

Even though Activision probably lost a whole lot of pennies in order to settle, we're sure the company is happy that there's now one less lawsuit to worry about this year.

[Via Game|Life]

Charlie Daniels: Guitar Hero 'perverted' my song

While a lot of people here may have spent hours rawking out and pulling buffoonish poses to Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, it's safe to say that country rock musician Charlie Daniels wasn't quite as enthusiastic. Firstly, the guy is 71, and if performing high kicks and the splits is beyond us flexible twenty-somethings, it's probably going to be unrealistic for anyone who qualifies for a free bus pass. Secondly (and a lot more relevantly), he's not too chuffed about how one of his songs, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," has been presented by Legends of Rock.

According to an entry by the musician on his blog, the song in question is "a lighthearted novelty about a fiddling contest between a country boy and the devil and the devil always loses," but try telling that to Guitar Hero III. Instead, the game has players competing on the song with old Beelzebub himself, in a face-off which the devil can win. Insert outraged gasps here!

Anyway, this is the main sticking point for Daniels, who accuses developer Neversoft of "perverting my song," and huffs that he's "disgusted with the result." He also describes the game as having "a dark side, complete with grotesque monsters on stage with the band, strange, eerie lighting effects and all manner of weird things popping up on the stage," and reckons it's "not the healthiest thing in the world for young, impressionable minds to be exposed to."

As it happens, Daniels' complaints look set to fall on deaf ears, because he sold off the publishing rights to the track. Nevertheless, his diatribe is worth a read, if only for a chuckle.

[Via Kotaku]

Another Week in Europe

Featuring charts from across the region, Another Week in Europe documents the buying habits and quirky tastes of a whole continent of Wii lovers.

Unlike reigning full beard freestyle world champion Elmar Weisser of Germany (who we admire fiercely), we have mixed feelings about this week's European sales charts.

For example, while we're heartened by the success of debutant Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (5th in the UK, and the Wii edition supplemented sales of other versions across Europe -- not bad for a game that appeared on every other console last October), we're irked by the flat performance of House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return (15th in Britain, and nowhere to be seen in the charts of mainland Europe).

Europe, if you're reading, stop buying Game Party (7th in UK), Smarty Pants (10th in Spain), and Mario & bleeding Sonic (high everywhere) and let's get something half-decent up there for a change. Sega Bass Fishing should make next week's chart, so that'd be a good place to start -- let's have that top ten somewhere, please. Sigh. At least Elmar will never fail to impress us. Click on for the charts.

Continue reading Another Week in Europe

Les Paul costs less money


Those of you in the market for another guitar for Guitar Hero III will be happy to know that RedOctane has dropped the cost of the wireless Les Paul guitar. Originally fetching a price of $69.99, it is now $10 cheaper.

Have you been holding off on picking up an extra guitar until the price dropped? Have you been waiting to get one but just can't find one? Want a free one? Or do you go from hotel to hotel enjoying the Guitar Hero III they have to offer?

[Thanks, Eric!]

Come for the soft beds, stay for the Wii Sports



What's a good way to get folks into your hotel? We have no clue, what with being a game blog and all, but it looks like some hotels might have found a good way to get folks in their doors: gaming. We imagine if you have something the people like and want, they'll flock to you. That must be the thinking behind some hotels in the U.S. incorporating some of the most popular games into their repertoire of activities available to patrons. Games such as Wii Sports and Guitar Hero III.

While we can't comment on whether this is a good decision from a business perspective, we can comment that this is a good decision from a customer service perspective. Now top Wii Sports bowlers and fast-fingered freaks in Guitar Hero III need not worry about getting rusty while they're attending that convention in Tuscaloosa.

[Via Joystiq]

New Guitar Hero: Aerosmith video (Looks Like a Cash-in)



Okay, so that title is (possibly) the last time we're going to be snide about Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. The band might not be our cup of tea, but heck, Guitar Hero is fun, and the not-Aerosmith tracks are actually showing real promise for non-Aerosmith fans.

However, just in case you forgot who the real headline act is, Activision cooked up a video of the title in action, and it oozes Aerosmith. There's plenty of bragging about the band's (admittedly very impressive) achievements, before we cut to 3D models of Stephen Tyler and his fellow grandfathers bouncing about the stage to "Sweet Emotion." Actually, the rubber-lipped, leathery-skinned Tyler proves to be perfect fodder for a caricature -- visually at least, he and Joe Perry seem to be a good fit for a Guitar Hero game.

Gameplay-wise -- and we barely need to mention this, but we shall -- it looks identical. And why not? It's a winning formula.

Gallery: Guitar Hero: Aerosmith

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith gets more non-Aerosmith tracks


For all of you that were hoping a game called Guitar Hero: Aerosmith would contain as littleAerosmith as possible , know that today pushes the title further into your good graces. A slew of new bands were confirmed to be in the game and not a single one of them is called Aerosmith.

New tracks confirmed for Guitar Hero: Aerosmith (via Game Informer) include Mott the Hoople's "All the Young Dudes", The Kinks with "All Day and All Night," Joan Jett with "Hate Myself for Loving You" and Cheap Trick with "Dream Police." While not entirely clued in to the kids and their crazy music, our interest in this game is growing through each new non-Aerosmith song. What about you all?

[Via Joystiq]

Guitar Hero: Beatles has been 'talked about'



Guitar Hero: Aerosmith? Thanks, but we'll pass. Guitar Hero: Beatles? We're listening! Not that such a game has been officially announced, but Martin N. Bandier, the biggest of all bigwigs at Sony/ATV Music Publishing (the company that owns the John Lennon/Paul McCartney copyrights), would like to see the Liverpudlian legends in their own Guitar Hero game.

"It's something we have talked about and something I'd like to pursue," Bandier told the LA Times. Hear that? They've talked! It's surely only a matter of months until we're strumming our plastic axe to I Am The Walrus!

[Via IGN]

Wii Warm Up: One band hero


After Activision announced its decision to release Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, we starting wondering -- are Guitar Hero games that showcase one band a good idea? Yes, there may be some other bands sprinkled throughout the game, but there's still going to be a lot of music just from Aerosmith.

Keep in mind, this question isn't about Aerosmith, it's about the bigger picture. Even if it was <insert favorite band name here,> would you be excited? Or, do you find the concept to be monotonous, no matter who the band is?

Next Page >

Wii Fanboy celebrates Mario Kart!Read our interview with Johnny Chung Lee!We highlight a Smash Bros stage, from the community, every week!
Features
Another Week in ... (30)
Brawl Stage of the Week (4)
Contests / Giveaways (71)
Friday Video (60)
Game Night (18)
Metareview (37)
Mii Spotlight (17)
Point/Counterpoint (1)
Revolutionary (34)
The VC Advantage (43)
VC Monday Madness (123)
Virtually Overlooked (63)
What are you playing? (77)
Wii Fanboy poll (34)
Wii Warm Up (431)
Bits
Channels (64)
Cheats (7)
Controller (384)
Fan stuff (1026)
Features (250)
Homebrew (69)
How-tos (57)
Imports (331)
Interviews (273)
Meta (43)
Mods (117)
News (2804)
Nintendo Wi-Fi (113)
Peripherals (214)
Reviews (90)
Rumors (407)
Sales (72)
Screens (501)
Tech stuff (122)
Video (706)
Virtual Console (414)
Walkthroughs (31)
WiiWare (120)

RESOURCES

RSS NEWSFEEDS

Powered by Blogsmith

Sponsored Links

Featured Galleries

Protothea
Nick Magdoza's GameCube clock
Nyko Energy Pak for Wii Fit
Retro Mods
Zoo Hospital
Brawl Stage of the Week: Sziltoj 2
Wonderworld Amusement Park
Brawl Stage of the Week: The Web
Order Up!

 

Most Commented On (14 days)

Recent Comments

Weblogs, Inc. Network

Other Weblogs Inc. Network blogs you might be interested in: