Video Games

New GUITAR HERO ad basically says the game is for losers

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?

Video Games

Now you can pay NYU to play Guitar Hero!

guitarheroschoolThe 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?

Video Games

GUITAR HERO: METALLICA – New video features a ton of new info on the game

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)

Video Games

Rob Halford trademarks "Metal God" video game

rob-halford-resurrection-357534

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.

Video Games

Jesus Meets Guitar Hero

Those Christians are persistant. They take anything going on in modern culture and Chistianize it. But, oh my god (pun intended) this is unbelievably stupid (and kind of scary). Guitar Praise "Rocking Jesus" is here, featuring a ton of Christian friendly tracks from such house hold names as 12 Stones, tobyMac, Family Force 5, The Crucified and Skillet. Watch this trailer while I excuse myself to go vomit…

Video Games

GUITAR HERO WORLD TOUR Entire Track Listing Posted

A few months ago we revealed the entire track listing for Rock Band and today Activision announced the full track listing for it's main competitor, Guitar Hero: On Tour, which will feature, for the first time ever, drums, mic and bass. Full tracklisting below. To view all our previous Guitar Hero: On Tour coverage, click here.

311 – "Beautiful Disaster"
30 SECONDS TO MARS – "The Kill"
AIRBOURNE – "Too Much Too Young"
THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – "Ramblin' Man"
ANOUK – "Good God"
THE ANSWER – "Never Too Late"
AT THE DRIVE-IN – "One Armed Scissor"
BEASTIE BOYS – "No Sleep Till Brooklyn"
BEATSTEAKS – "Hail to the Freaks"
BILLY IDOL – "Rebel Yell"
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY – "Stillborn"
BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB – "Weapon of Choice"
BLINK-182 – "Dammit"
BLONDIE – "One Way or Another"
BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND – "Hollywood Nights"
BON JOVI – "Livin' On A Prayer"
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE – "Scream Aim Fire"
COLDPLAY – "Shiver"
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – "Up Around The Bend"
THE CULT – "Love Removal Machine"
DINOSAUR JR. – "Feel The Pain"
THE DOORS – "Love Me Two Times"
DREAM THEATER – "Pull Me Under"
THE EAGLES – "Hotel California"
THE ENEMY – "Aggro"
FILTER – "Hey Man, Nice Shot"
FLEETWOOD MAC – "Go Your Own Way"
FOO FIGHTERS – "Everlong"
THE GUESS WHO – "American Woman"
HUSH PUPPIES – "You're Gonna Say Yeah!"
INTERPOL – "Obstacle 1"
JANE'S ADDICTION – "Mountain Song"
JIMI HENDRIX – "Purple Haze (Live)"
JIMI HENDRIX – "The Wind Cries Mary"
JIMMY EAT WORLD – "The Middle"
JOE SATRIANI – "Satch Boogie"
KENT – "Vinternoll2"
KORN – "Freak On A Leash"
LACUNA COIL – "Our Truth"
LENNY KRAVITZ – "Are You Gonna Go My Way"
LINKIN PARK – "What I've Done"
THE LIVING END – "Prisoner of Society"
LOS LOBOS – "La Bamba"
LOST PROPHETS – "Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast)"
LYNYRD SKYNYRD – "Sweet Home Alabama (Live)"
MARS VOLTA – "L'Via L'Viaquez"
MC5's Wayne Kramer – "Kick Out The Jams"
METALLICA – "Trapped Under Ice"
MICHAEL JACKSON – "Beat It"
MODEST MOUSE – "Float On"
MOTÖRHEAD – "Overkill"
MUSE – "Assassin"
NEGRAMARO – "Nuvole e Lenzuola"
NIRVANA – "About a Girl (Unplugged)"
NO DOUBT – "Spiderwebs"
NOFX – "Soul Doubt"
OASIS – "Some Might Say"
OZZY OSBOURNE – "Crazy Train"
OZZY OSBOURNE – "Mr. Crowley"
PARAMORE – "Misery Business"
PAT BENATAR – "Heartbreaker"
R.E.M. – "The One I Love"
RADIO FUTURA – "Escuela De Calor"
RISE AGAINST – "Re-Education Through Labor"
SEX PISTOLS – "Pretty Vacant"
SILVERSUN PICKUPS – "Lazy Eye"
SMASHING PUMPKINS – "Today"
STEELY DAN – "Do It Again"
STEVE MILLER BAND – "The Joker"
STING – "Demolition Man (Live)"
THE STONE ROSES – "Love Spreads"
STUCK IN THE SOUND – "Toy Boy"
SUBLIME – "Santeria"
SURVIVOR – "Eye of the Tiger"
SYSTEM OF A DOWN – "B.Y.O.B."
TED NUGENT – "Stranglehold"
TED NUGENT's Original Guitar Duel Recording
TOKIO HOTEL – "Monsoon"
TOOL – "Parabola"
TOOL – "Schism"
TOOL – "Vicarious"
TRUST – "Antisocial"
VAN HALEN – "Hot For Teacher"
WILLIE NELSON – "On The Road Again"
WINGS – "Band on the Run"
ZAKK WYLDE's Original Guitar Duel Recording

Which game do you think has the better songs? Will you be getting both or just one? Let us know in the comments.

Video Games

TOOL tracks to be featured in Guitar Hero World Tour

TOOL

Mutha fuckin' TOOL will be featured in the upcoming Guitar Hero: World Tour video game. Their hit songs "Schism", "Vicarious" and "Parabola" will be playable. The game will also include an all new-venue designed in collaboration with the band showcasing their unique art style, whatever that means. Either way, this has me slightly more interested in this game, as my original plan was to just buy Rock Band 2, because the Rock Band setlist just looks really sexy but this certainly makes GH a little more enticing. Are you going to buy the game? Let us know in the comments…

Video Games

GUITAR HERO Metal Edition now avaiable (for hackers only)

It's safe to say that a sizeable percentage of the Guitar Hero audience are metal heads, and every metal head would dream of not having to suffer through pussy songs from the likes of BLOC PARTY and THE POLICE to get to the good stuff. Looks like some Playstation 2 modders agree. As some kind gentleman (I assume its a dude) with perhaps too much free time on their hands completely gutted a Playstation 2 version of Guitar Hero 2 to create a metal version…every song a metal classic with every one from CARCASS, TESTAMENT and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY to AS I LAY DYING, DEVILDRIVER and JOB FOR A COWBOY.

The downside? This is all terribly illegal. You need to have a custom modded PS2, and then download and install the game yourself. For full instructions on how you can be on your way to metal heaven, Guitar Hero style click here. Maybe some of the makers of Guitar Hero are reading this, if so…I WOULD DEFINITELY BUY THIS GAME LEGALLY…MAKE IT HAPPEN! Check out a few videos and the tracklisting after the jump… (more…)

Video Games

ROCK BAND 2: FULL Tracklisting and tons more info revealed

Rock Band 2 Drums

Over the last few days, a ton of news has come out about Rock Band 2. Leaked photos of the new issue of Game Informer made their way online on the ScoreHero Forums and we found out this awesome info:

- All songs from the first iteration of the game will be portable to the new version, including downloaded songs.
- "No Fail" Mode for people who just want to have a good time and not get booed off stage.
- Drum trainer mode which will teach you howto play drums, and even a freestyle mode to just let you jam out on drums. New quieter drums will also be produced (including the premium drum set with cymbal attachment pictured above).
- Solo World Tours for each instrument (including bass) as well as simpler tours for those not out for world domination
- Easier navigation through screens, overall improvement to all gameplay, calibration and setup screens.

Oh and the songs! 84 master tracks from the likes of GUNS N ROSES (unreleased track), MEGADETH (Peace FN Sells!), METALLICA, MASTODON, MOTORHEAD, DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and more. Full list after the jump… (more…)

Video Games

Konami Announces Rock Revolution Video Game. Ugh.

The latest GameInformer magazine has a one page spread on Konami's new music-based instrument video game entitled Rock Revoluton. Yet another game, by another developer, trying to cash in on the Guitar Hero/Rock Band dynasty. Albeit, Konami was the first with GuitarFreaks, Bemani, DrumMania and the Dance Dance Revolution series. However, there are some minor differences with this game and the GH/RB conglomerate. Here are the most essential parts of the article:

Rock Revoluton via Gameinformer

Rock Revolution features 40 cover songs, and apart from playing through all the songs, its three instrument career mode (drum, bass, and guitar) contains challenges such as having to avoid poison notes while playing or making your way through a song without the benefit of seeing any of the falling notes. Although the game doesn't use master tracks, it is turning this to its advantage by letting you perform fills at any time that will sound out along with the song in real-time. It also features a Jam Mode where you head into the studio and create your own music.

Konami isn't talking about instrument controllers for the game beyond a drum set, but the recent demo we saw was being played with a Guitar Hero Les Paul controller. The company says downloadable content will be available, and Rock Revolution's online mode will feature band vs. band play, co-op, and multi-instrument face-offs.

After the jump, we have the track listing (including PANTERA, METALLICA and SYSTEM OF A DOWN), trailer and first look at the whacky drum controller… (more…)

Video Games

GUITAR HERO IV Video Teaser posted

The above commercial has already been posted online of the new Guitar Hero game, which is seemingly going to be titled Guitar Hero On Tour . As we've previously reported , GH IV will not only have drums, but bass and microphone as well. The first bands to be featured in the game which are VAN HALEN, THE EAGLES, LINKIN PARK and SUBLIME. Going by the commercial, its safe to say LENNY KRAVITZ will be featured in the game as well.

Video Games

Guitar Hero IV drums revealed

Somebody over at the Destructiod blogs managed to scan in the first image of the new Guitar Hero drums expected in the fourth iteration of the game. As we've previously reported, GH IV will not only have drums, but bass and microphone as well. After seeing this photo, its safe to say that your Rock Band drums will not be compatible with the Guitar Hero series (which is pretty lame). Also revealed recently, were the first bands to be featured in the game which are VAN HALEN, THE EAGLES, LINKIN PARK and SUBLIME.

Video Games

Guitar Hero IV First Details: Drums with cymbals coming, Make your own songs! (Updated)

It's been a solid few months since we posted anything about GUITAR HERO. The franchise has been kind of weak lately, recently releasing a AEROSMITH compilation and treating it like a new version of the game, except nobody cared!

Now, news is beginning to trickle through the cracks about the next iteration of the game. According to the June issue of Game Informer, the new version of the game will take after Rock Band and feature other instruments including a bass guitar, a microphone, and (topping Rock Band) a 6 piece drum kit, featuring 2 cymbals, and presumably 4 drum pads and the kick trigger.

Also, don't expect any Gibson replicas in the next iteration of the game. Due to a falling out, Guitar Hero will not be licensing the controller out to any guitar maker but instead design their own controller which allegedly will have a feature that will “directly impact the way you play Guitar Hero in the future.”

A feature that sounds like it could be tons of fun, is the new Guitar Hero Tunes service, which will allow gamers to create their own songs and share them with other players online, but these tracks will be devoid of vocals. Additionally, users will be able to create custom musicians, album art, and instruments.

The game will be released by years end on all major next-gen gaming consoles. I'm getting a little excited.

UPDATE – We can also confirm that VAN HALEN, THE EAGLES, LINKIN PARK and SUBLIME have been confirmed for the game.

[ Game Informer via Primo Technology ]