KISS gets a $399 Guitar Hero axe

For Guitar Hero fans who find that going Pete Townshend on a plastic toy guitar after a monster encore is a little anti-climactic, a company called Art Guitar is offering an alternative with a little more heft. The company is now taking preorders for a life-size alternative to RedOctane's official ax, the limited edition AG Riff Master Guitar Controller for the PlayStation 2.

The AG Riff Master is actually a real guitar from Peavey, but it's been heavily modified to have the standard Guitar Hero fret buttons and strum bar embedded within it. The strings have been removed so players can actually use the guitar to play the game, but the rest of the guitar--including the rosewood neck, tuning pegs, and frets--are all intact.

As for the body design, Art Guitar's first offering will feature the iconic masters of merchandizing, KISS, decked out in full stage garb and ready to rock and roll all night, with the obligatory partying every day to follow. KISS is no stranger to the series, having lent their song "Strutter" to Guitar Hero II, and having signed the aforereferenced "Rock and Roll All Nite" to appear in Guitar Hero III.

Authenticity and eye-catching novelty have a price, however. The AG Master Riff will sell for $399. And those who like the idea of the guitar but don't cotton to KISS can take heart; Art Guitar plans to announce a variety of other body designs for the AG Master Riff in the coming months.

Guitar Hero III Aspyr-ing on PC, Mac Associate producer Chance Copeland talks about the two new platforms recently added to RedOctane and Activision's setlist for GHIII. By Staff, GameSpot Posted Sep 11, 2007 1:31 pm ET

Belying its humble roots as a Kentia Hall diamond at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo, the Guitar Hero franchise has grown to become a pop-cultural juggernaut. That's in part due to the ever-growing reach of the game, which expanded onto the Xbox 360 with Guitar Hero II. For the third iteration in the series, RedOctane and Activision have already planned on doubling the number of platforms the series will appear on, with versions for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, and Wii having already been announced. (A Nintendo DS Guitar Hero game is also planned.)

Today, Aspyr Media announced a partnership with Activision and RedOctane to bring Guitar Hero III to two more platforms: the PC and Mac. While Tony Hawk studio Neversoft handles the console versions of Guitar Hero III, Aspyr will be independently developing and producing the two new editions of the game. However, the two new platforms will feature an experience similar to that described in GameSpot's coverage of the console versions, including more than 70 songs in its setlist as well as online multiplayer modes. Rated T for Teen, the PC and Mac versions of Guitar Hero III will be available this fall.

We had a chance to speak with Chance Copeland, associate producer for Aspyr Media, at this year's Austin Game Developers Conference to get more details on Guitar Hero III for the PC and Mac.

GameSpot: Tell us why Aspyr decided to make PC and Mac ports of Guitar Hero III. After all, isn't this the kind of game that's best played in the living room?

Chance Copeland: Currently, the music-game genre has very little representation on the PC and Mac platforms, and we think it's past time someone blew that wide open with a powerful franchise like Guitar Hero. Another concept we're trying to transmit to gamers is the idea of "Guitar Hero on the go." Take your laptop with you in the car or on an airplane, put on your headphones, and rock all you want using one of our keyboard configurations for the game. Consoles just aren't travel-friendly the way a good laptop is.

And I'd also like to point out that more and more people are integrating PCs into their primary entertainment system, so playing Guitar Hero III PC in your living room isn't hard to imagine.

GS: Give us an overview of what we can expect from Guitar Hero III for the PC and Mac.

CC: We'll assume that the majority of your PC gaming readers are familiar with the Guitar Hero franchise. With Guitar Hero III, the idea was to make incremental improvements that would make the gameplay better and provide an experience that gives the closest feel to playing a real guitar, without actually playing a real guitar, ever. Hammer-on and pull-off functionality has been improved. The timing window for hitting notes has also been increased slightly so there are fewer clinks when notes are missed by the smallest fractions of a second.

Of course, the one thing most people will notice is that the game looks incredible. The new engine created by Neversoft makes everything pop with tremendous detail, and this time around you'll notice that the drummer, bassist, and singer's lip-synching all match the song that is being performed. The new venues are stunning, crazy to watch, and all react uniquely and in real time to the song that is being performed.

And of course we have to talk about the music. Guitar Hero III's setlist features more master tracks than the previous iterations--more than 70 percent, in fact. These master tracks make a huge difference, and gamers will notice right off the bat when they are playing along with Metallica, the Rolling Stones, Pearl Jam, or any of the other legendary acts. The songs are a great sample of almost every era of rock and are a fantastic mix of genres.

Finally, let's not forget online play, the new boss battles, and guitar battle mode. There will be so much rocking to do, gamers won't know what to do with themselves.

GS: Will the two new versions have their own unique guitar model?

CC: The PC version of Guitar Hero III will ship with a USB Guitar Hero guitar controller. We'll be able to talk more about the exact model soon.

GS: Will the game's content be essentially identical to that of the console versions? All the songs intact, for instance? Assuming Guitar Hero III for the Xbox 360 is later supplemented with downloadable songs via Xbox Live Marketplace, how will the PC/Mac versions "keep up" with content updates?

CC: We're certainly dedicated to making sure PC/Mac gamers get just as much content as the console crowd. From launch, the songs available will be identical. As for matching Xbox Live's extended content, we're exploring a few different delivery methods to access downloadable tracks for our PC/Mac guitar heroes and keep them rocking in step with console players. Stay tuned for more on that.

GS: Is there any chance of exclusive content for the PC and Mac versions, such as new or different songs?

CC: That's the first thing we started talking about internally when we got brought into the Guitar Hero family. But for now, we are only focused on delivering the absolute best PC/Mac version of Guitar Hero III possible. Including exclusive content in our version is still a very exciting idea, and something we hope to look at more once we get the game on shelves.

GS: How, if at all, will players be able to use a traditional Guitar Hero controller? For instance, will they be able to use the Xbox 360 guitar controller with a USB adapter? Are any other considerations for control schemes being made for the PC and Mac? How will people who don't own a guitar controller play the game...with their keyboard and mouse, perhaps?

CC: A USB Guitar Hero guitar controller will be included with the game, and the title will work with any USB Guitar Hero guitar controller.

Since this is a PC title, we have of course created some fun and creative keyboard and keyboard/mouse configurations. We'll have a keyboard/mouse configuration and a keyboard-only configuration as presets, but players will also have the options of binding their own keys for gameplay.

Having so much flexibility with the keyboard and keyboard/mouse lets gamers play however they would like. It also allows players to take Guitar Hero III "to go" on their laptops and play in cars, on planes, at that boring relative's house during the holidays, or wherever. In addition, it makes two-player gaming on the same PC possible if there is only one guitar controller available.

GS: Could you tell us about what plans you have for the game's multiplayer? Will it support local network play? Will the game use a third-party application for online play, or possibly Microsoft's Live Anywhere technology?

CC: For online play, we are using Demonware's networking technology. Since multiplayer features two players competing on the same screen, we didn't think a local network play option would be essential.

GS: One of the most well-known and popular advantages of the PC and Mac as game platforms is how malleable the games end up, given that enthusiastic fans create modifications and custom content to extend the life of their favorite games. Are there any plans to build in any tools to let players get creative with the PC or Mac version? Any concerns that enthusiasts might get a little too creative with the game's content, such as using the game to distribute unlicensed songs online, or posting gameplay videos with unlicensed songs to the Internet?

CC: As gamers ourselves, and a company that has roots in the Mac and PC market, we appreciate the incredible skill and creativity that gamers display when digging around inside certain titles. But right now, our only focus is porting Guitar Hero III to the PC and Mac and making sure that both meet the standards of high quality set by the franchise. We are not building any tools into the game that will allow users to mod or create tracks, and we definitely do not support any altering of the game or the songs contained within.

Oh, and I encoruge you to read the comments for these articales/

I am thinking of writing down a couple of editorials. My ideas are:

~Gamespot's current HUGE and small faults, bugs, glitches, and a snall rant about the review system. Title: "Has GameSpot gone to hell?"

~The current level of elitisim on most forums, and why it could be a problem on GameSpot. Title: N/A.

~A look on the history of music videogames and why they are so popular, from Freqency, to Karakoke Revolution, to Guitar Hero. Title: "We Got The Music Videogame... Beat." (Lame title, I know. )

~Why and how RPG's define the way most of our playing and how it brought a whole new generation of gaming to us. Title: "How one certian genre changed the way we game."

And finally:

~Why sequels are both good and just some quick cash-making and why we most likely don't need them. Title: N/A.

Out of what you guys think would be a nice editorial, I may make a couple of rough drafts, ask for your guy's opion, ideas, and comments, then in the final draft, I can credit you all.

The reason why I am asking is because the best writing I can do is my review of Deal Or No Deal, but that was a sucky game, so it doesn't count. I enoy and look forward to seeing what you guys think is best. I'll only do like 2 editorials out of this list.

GODAWFUL GAME WTF ZOMG

Do not buy. Please.

Rock Band going on tour

MTV Games revs up the synergy machine for Harmonix's rhythm game with nationwide bus-based promotion, band battles, and TRL appearance. By Tor Thorsen, GameSpot Posted Sep 6, 2007 8:45 am ET

When MTV bought Harmonix for $175 million last year, it was clear it would heavily promote the studio's first project with every arm of its media empire. When that project turned out to be Rock Band, a multi-instrument, karaoke-enhanced rhythm game, that became even more obvious. Then, when Viacom announced it planned to invest a half-billion dollars in its MTV Games unit, it appeared no expense would be spared on fine-tuning Rock Band's hype machine.

This week, in conjunction with the Summer Showcase of Rock Band's distributor, Electronic Arts, MTV Games announced the latest promotional offensive for the title. Like many actual rock bands before it, the game will embark on a cross-country bus tour. The orgy of synergy will begin at the MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas September 9, when several buses equipped with Rock Band demo stations will fan out across the country. Stops will include several college campuses.

MTV will also use the Rock Band bus tour to indulge in another rock-and-roll tradition, the battle of the bands. Every "band" that plays the game on the main stage will have their performance recorded, with the resulting video being sent back to the casting directors responsible for MTV's battery of reality shows. Of those, two groups will be flown to MTV's New York City headquarters to practice with an actual famous rock band before appearing on the network's popular TRL program. The winner of the two will then "open" for an unnamed top musical act by playing the game on stage during the Rock Band launch event/concert. Those who attend bus tour dates following Rock Band's still-unspecified "holiday" launch will obviously not be eligible.

Details about Rock Band bus tour venues can be found on the game's official Web site. A full list of dates is below.

Las Vegas, NV
September 9-16, 2007

Milwaukee, WI
September 13-16, 2007

Sacramento, CA
September 20-23, 2007

Columbus, OH
September 20-23, 2007

Seattle, WA
September 27-30, 2007

Chicago, IL
September 27-30, 2007

Portland, OR
October 4-7, 2007

Pittsburgh, PA
October 4-7, 2007

Oakland, CA
October 11-14, 2007

Cleveland, OH
October 11-14, 2007

San Francisco, CA
October 17-21, 2007

Philadelphia, PA
October 18-21, 2007

San Diego, CA
October 25-28, 2007

Baltimore, MD
October 25-28, 2007

Los Angeles, CA
October 31-November 18, 2007

New York, NY
November 1-4, 2007

Boston, MA
November 8-11, 2007

New Jersey
November 15-18, 2007

Phoenix, AZ
November 27-30, 2007

Atlanta, GA
November 27-December 2, 2007

Austin, TX
December 6-9, 2007

New Orleans, LA
December 6-9, 2007

Dallas, TX
December 13-16, 2007

Orlando, FL
December 13-16, 2007

Oh, and I begged my mom to preorder GH3 AND I got Teh Logerrz. Now I need to 5* TLTB and Six, and everything in the whole game is 5* and 100%!

Rock Band digs up Grateful Dead

Eighteen master tracks from hippie phenomenon will be available for digital download via Harmonix and MTV Games' upcoming rhythm title, including "Truckin'" and "Casey Jones." By Tor Thorsen, GameSpot Posted Sep 5, 2007 12:05 pm ET

Jerry Garcia's death in 1995 nailed shut the coffin on the phenomenon that was the Grateful Dead. For the previous 30 years, the jam band he fronted had numerous hits, with 11 gold, four platinum, and three double-platinum records. It also was on tour virtually nonstop, trailed by thousands of loyal fans known as Deadheads. The band became a symbol of the psychedelic culture of the 1960s, and its various icons--dancing teddy bears and blue-and-red-adorned skulls--remain required insignia on the hippie uniform.

Now, 12 years after his demise, the beard that sold a million Birkenstocks is being dug up--in video game form. Today, MTV Games and Harmonix announced that the Grateful Dead will appear in the forthcoming rhythm game Rock Band. Some 18 master recordings of the group's biggest hits--including "Truckin'," "Uncle John's Band," "Touch of Grey," "Sugar Magnolia," and "Casey Jones"--will be made available for the game on license from Rhino Records. The songs will "be available as digitally distributed game levels following Rock Band's release this holiday season," according to MTV Games.

The Grateful Dead becomes the third famous musical act whose master recordings will be available for digital distribution via Rock Band. At the E3 Media & Business Summit in July, MTV Games announced that original songs from The Who and Metallica could also be downloaded in the forthcoming rhythm game for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. At last month's Games Convention in Germany, a PlayStation 2 edition was revealed, but it was not mentioned in today's Grateful Dead announcement.