My favorite type of arcade game is a pinball machine. Fuck those first person shooters and zany graphics, I want old school two-button pinball! Which is why I was completely enamored when I saw this: A METALLICA pinball machine?! Yes, please! Sadly, the photo you see above is the only existing version. BitMob, who discovered this masterpiece of arcadery, reports that the machine is actually a mod(ification) of a pre-existing pinball machine called Earthshaker. Bummer!! Metallica should probably take note and actually do this. If they don't sue these guys first. But hey, if KISS can have a pinball machine, why can't METALLICA? (more…)

There is this new musical short-film type ad for a Guitar Hero/Dorities tie-in happening in the UK. It tells the story of Allen, a dude who was just destined to rock. Started out kind of cute at first and then you realize "Hey, this guy is sort of a loser." He can't handle getting a tattoo, dresses all glam and can't hold a motorcycle up. He fails at all these things and then gives up hope, until he discovers Guitar Hero. Heck, even the lyrics to the song in the background go Allen you are a Guitar Hero, trapped in the body of a natural zero. Well, then kudos to the marketing department for validating the criticism every musician has of the game — that it's for pussies too shitty to learn how to play real guitar. Is this really the type of message you want to send out about your game?

The Fall semester has just started for college students, and for young hipsters attending NYU one of the classes offered will be a glorified Guitar Hero sesh. The course is called "Guitar Heroes (and Heroines): Music, Video Games and the Nature of Human Cognition." So, you mean now I can pay 10 grand for a class where I match my button-tapping skills with fellow nerds? They quoted the professor offering the course who had a very "deep" comment to make:

"Video games are an understudied area," said Marcus. "People dismiss them unfairly, but 'Guitar Hero' is a good tool for teaching and I'm interested in the nature of learning." The course will tackle questions such as: "Why are human beings so easily sucked in by video games?" The class, which Marcus capped at 16 students, had a waiting list, he said.

Another question should be "Why are human beings sucked in to pay for an overpriced school with a meaningless educational program? The big question here is, will there be homework?

MTV interviewed some haggard looking tranny, who took a few minutes out of her busy schedule of cosuming copious amounts of drugs and being completely boring live to explain the difference between being in a rock band and playing the game Rock Band:

We've been covering the Brutal Legend video game for quite a while now, and I have yet to see one thing to turn me off to it. Today, the makers of the game released a new trailer, revealing more awesome gameplay, a multi-player mode and just sick ass visuals. I just can't get over that we are on the heels of a fucking full-on metal video game! Fuck yes. Also, as previously reported, the game will feature guest appearances by Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Halford, Dio, Lemmy from Motorhead and star the voice of Jack Black. This game comes out October 13th and is one not to be missed!

The GUITAR HERO franchise is still going strong. They are set to release the 5th iteration of their game on September 1st. Some familiar GH bands made the cut such as MEGADETH, MUSE, NIRVANA, KISS and MOTLEY CRUE. Check out the full tracklisting after the jump. (more…)

Oh snap, our bro-hos at MetalSucks got some news on a Dethklok game coming to X-Box Arcade, titled (what else?) Metalocalypse: Dethgame. Overseen by Brendon Small. As Axl (Hi Axl!) described it, the game will allow you to "play as a Klokateer, one of Dethklok’s roadies, and [you] will be charged with the task of protecting the band and their own mega-mansion, Mordhaus, from 'rabid mutant fans.' There will also be mini-games." Sounds like a fun concept. How awesome would it be if Dr. Rockso was some sort of boss-type mutant?

The above image is not a screencrap from the game, but it would be really cool if this was a throwback to '90s arcade games with simple cheesy plots like the Simpsons game and the Teenange Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade games. Dethgame is still in development with scheduled to be released in the game which just so happens to be when the band's upcoming new CD comes out.

Woah! This may be the heaviest song pack ever to be released on Rock Band or Guitar Hero. Next week, you will be able to download killer tracks from the likes of Behemoth, Black Dahlia Murder, Cannibal Corpse, God Forbid, Job for a Cowboy, Marilyn Manson, Slayer, and Whitechapel. You read that correctly! Cannibal Corpse is now in Rock Band! So is JFAC and Whitechapel. WHAT? Full tracklisting below. Mayhem Fest of course starts on July 7th. If you haven't gotten your tickets yet, enter our giveaway!

Behemoth "Conquer All"
Black Dahlia Murder "What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse"
Cannibal Corpse "Hammer Smashed Face"
God Forbid "Empire of the Gun"
Job for a Cowboy "Embedded"
Marilyn Manson "Disposable Teens"
Slayer "Black Magic"
Whitechapel "This Is Exile"

The more I hear about BRUTAL LEGEND, the more pumped I get. For those of you who are unfamiliar, here is the official description:

Brütal Legend tells the tale of Eddie Riggs, played by Jack Black. The ultimate roadie, Eddie is the first person anyone calls when they need guitars tuned or stages rigged, and has a love for hot rods and a photographic memory for every heavy metal album cover, and the lyrics those albums contained. One night, a stage accident knocks Eddie unconscious, and he awakens in a world that looks very strange yet oddly familiar, a world where every heavy metal album cover and lyric Eddie knows has come to life, and where the evil emperor Doviculus and his demon army, The Tainted Coil, have enslaved the last remaining humans. When an oppressed people request Eddie's knowledge of modern warfare, he pulls from his own experience in the only occupation he's ever had, a roadie for a heavy metal band, and under his command, this barbaric force of hot-rods, Marshall stacks, leather, and chrome will bring this ancient world into the age of metal.

Yes! Also, the game features the voices of Lemmy, Ozzy, Rob Halford Dio and Lita Ford. One look at the newly debuted trailer (below) and you can clearly see this game was made by metalheads for metalheads (and other gamers…I guess). October 31st can't come soon enough.

We can't shutup about this Guitar Hero: METALLICA game and we just found out that Activision, the makers of the game have posted a demo on Xbox Live for all you plastic-shredders to get your fingers sweaty until the full version of the game comes out. We don't have many details because I don't have access to my XBox right now but Kotaku is reporting that it's a 1GB file and requires a Gold membership. Lame! If anybody has any info, please let us know in the comments. Also, check out this demo of Dyers Eve:

Above you will find official screen shots of King Diamond and Lemmy from Motorhead as playable characters in the upcoming Guitar Hero: Metallica release. Both artists will appear during their respective songs. You can sing as each of them (or in Lemmy's case play along on bass) or just rock along side them. For full tracklisting and details about the game, check out our previous coverage.

When the full tracklisting for Guitar Hero: Metallica was announced the song I was most excited to play was definitely War Ensemble. Recently, a video surfaced showcasing the gameplay for that song and my arms hurt just watching it. I can't wait to fake-shred this bitch! Check out the video:

Headbangers Blog and Talking Metal teamed up to present the video piece below, which features an interview with one of the makers of the upcoming Guitar Hero: Metallica game. Ever since the full tracklisting leaked, I have been really excited to play the game. I can't wait to check it out. Some more gameplay videos and info on the story of the game are in the video. Check it out:

UPDATE: The embed functionality seems to be broken. Way to go MTV.com! Anyway, click here to watch the video)

I have to be honest. I haven't picked up Guitar Hero or Rock Band in months. The only time I even think of dusting off the plastic instruments is when I have a group of people over and somebody in a drunken stupor thinks its a good idea and eggs everybody else on to play. With that said, I am very excited for the upcoming Guitar Hero: Metallica game, because it's basically a full game of songs that I want to play. With each current Guitar Hero or Rock Band there are maybe a handful of songs that I go back to. Not so much with this one. Check out this killer lineup: (more…)

According to a post from video game website, Kotaku, the "Metal God" himself has copyrighted the title of a video game; Metal God.  The trademark was filed on January 11th, and covers "computer games; video games; and game controllers for computer games."

I really hope this is going to be something cool, and not just a karaoke to Judas Priest hits type of game. With Rob Halford already dipping his toes into the video game field, with the full album DLC of "Screaming For Vengeance" being released in Rock Band, and portraying the main evildoer in the upcoming Tim Schaeffer Metal opus; Brutal Legend, methinks that Rob has figured out there is a lot of money to be made from video games, and he wants more.  Can ya blame him?

What do you think the game should play like? Should it be a karaoke game, or a Rock Band clone? How about a side scroller through all the classic Judas Priest albums? There has to at least be a lot of dressing up in leather, and riding huge motorcycles. If not, well, then it is just not worthy of Rob Halford's name.

Over a year ago we posted a teaser trailer for a game called BRUTAL LEGEND that looked very promising having this description:

Enter Brütal Legend . The game stars a metal roadie named will star metal roadie, Eddie Riggs voiced by Jack Black, on his tour of destruction through a mystical world of rock and roll legend. Riggs, armed with a battle axe, guitar and a V8 engine will battle ogres, demons and other assorted mytholigical creatures. His goal is to assemble an army of headbangers and attempt to save the day and get the girl. The game also has several big names donating their vocal talents to the cause. The likes if Lemmy Kilmister , Rob Halford , and Ronnie James Dio will all lend voices to the game. The game is set for release sometime in 2008.

After much delays, a new trailer has been released and it looks awesome! The game cannot come out soon enough.

The newest issue of Game Informer has some exclusive scoops on the upcoming Guitar Hero: Metallica game. Much like with Guitar Hero World Tour, this version will allow all four instruments to be playable (including a "Expert Plus" drum mode which would allow use of a double-bass pedal). Additionally, you will be able to create new songs using tones from James Hetfield's ESP Truckster guitar and Slayers Tom Araya's ESP Bass. The coolest thing about the game is that there will be non-METALLICA songs featured as well by bands that somehow are connected to the Bay Area thrashers. Check out the confirmed song listing:

METALLICA Songs:
Enter Sandman
For Whom The Bell Tolls
Fuel
Hit The Lights
King Nothing
Master of Puppets
No Leaf Clover
Nothing Else Matters
Sad But True
The Unforgiven
Where I May Roam

Songs by other bands:
Alice In Chains: No Excuses
Bob Seger: Turn The Page
Judas Priest: Hell Bent For Leather
Kyuss: Demon Cleaner
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Tuesdays Gone
Mastodon: Blood and Thunder
Michael Schenker Group: Armed and Ready
Samhain: Mother of Mercy
The Sword: Black River
Confirmed artists are Foo Fighters, Queen, and Slayer

This looks pretty great! Sign me up!

Maybe this will help you clear the taste out of your mouth from all that Jesus Hero. A group of kids recreated the gameplay in our favorite video game, Guitar Hero on a bike. Just check it out…