guitar

So we talked about a lot of serious news today including the Justin.tv suicide, the new Google wiki search, and the unauthorized access of Barack Obama's Verizon calling records. But really, Rafe's description of Net-connected Deer is what I'll remember about this episode. How about you?

19-year-old Commits Suicide on Justin.tv http://newteevee.com/2008/11/20/19-year-old-commits-suicide-on-justintv/ http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10104716-93.html

SearchWiki: Make search your own http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/searchwiki-make-search-your-own.html http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/google_to_turn_search_into_wik.php http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081120-roll-your-own-search-results-with-googles-new-searchwiki.html… Read more

With enough passion, skill, and time on your hands you can do anything. IMO though, the most important of these three attributes is "time on your hands." This is made evident by the coolest Guitar Hero video that I've yet to see. Bike Hero is just what its name implies, Guitar Hero recreated on a bike.

Now before you start prepping your "Bike Band" (you know, Rock Band on a bike) video, it should be noted that according to Creativity Online, this video was created by ad agency, Droga5, and not just a couple of … Read more

What's better than jamming along to guitar rock on Guitar Hero Mobile? Smashing some drums and battling other players to climb the charts of mobile stardom on the latest in the mobile franchise, Guitar Hero World Tour Mobile (review).

The handheld version of Activision's Guitar Hero World Tour console game is making its way around the carriers; at the time of writing, it's already available on AT&T and Sprint (Verizon is expected on November 28.)

Before you subscribe or buy, check out our First Look video to see the new drumming gameplay, hear the better … Read more

If you've been champing at the bit to play some Guitar Hero, but have found that the music contained therein just doesn't meld with your Christian values, you may be in luck.

Digital Praise, a maker of Christian computer games, has released Guitar Praise, which is basically a Christian rock version of Guitar Hero.

The game replaces such Guitar Hero staples as Primus, Rage Against the Machine, and Butthole Surfers with artists including Nate Sallie, Petra, and Jonah33. As far as I can tell from the promotional video there is no other difference.

The complete package retails for $… Read more

When you've got a game as compelling and competitive as Guitar Hero World Tour, you get it on as many platforms as you can as fast as you can, including the mobile phone. On Thursday, the mobile version of Guitar Hero World Tour became available on AT&T phones. We got to try it out.

On the PlayStation, Wii, and Xbox, this fourth Guitar Hero installment counters Rock Band's drum and vocal tracks, which themselves had one-upped Guitar Hero's original stringed instrument. Vocals aren't practical for the mobile version--which still rocks, by the way--but a drum track is. Activision and game-maker Hands-On Mobile have introduced a drum choice for every song.

There's a lot more news here--the updated game, which has a new look and two fresh game-playing features (can you say "battle mode"?). There are also technical details that could make a difference to how the game looks and sounds on your individual phone. Finally, there's all the practical stuff about when your carrier will stock the game and how much it'll cost you. Let's take one at a time.

Gameplay

Anyone who has played Guitar Hero III Mobile (video review) will feel right at home with Guitar Hero World Tour Mobile, which begins with fifteen new songs for guitar and drums, and which uses the phone's keypad buttons instead of guitar frets. When it comes to customization, you drummers out there are an afterthought--guitarists can choose their instrument, but not you. Also, when you're playing drums, the bottom row of keys (7, 8, 9) stand in for the kick-drum, which is represented in the game by a horizontal purple line that floats at you along with the notes. I played several songs in the drummer's mode, where the kick-drum line helped keep the game interesting.

Also new to the mobile game is the multiplayer battle mode, where Hands-On Mobile has created a good way to pair you up with similar players all over the world. You'll be matched by skill level and by phone type (more on this below.) You'll divvy up picking a song and the instrument, and will have to use your star power strategically (called battle power in this mode) to keep your opponent from scoring. After playing, it'll be easy to track your score from the accompanying Web site (launching Friday). This is neat, but what if you want to play your friend? You should be able to duke it out with personal pals as well as with perfect strangers.… Read more

As a member of the old-people-who-used-to-play-in-rock-bands demographic, I've never found much appeal in Rock Band or its competitor/predecessor Guitar Hero. But they obviously have a lot of devoted fans, including, apparently, "the only Beatles in the world" (and the others' designated heirs).

On Thursday, Rock Band creators MTV Music-Harmonix teamed up with Apple Corps and announced a forthcoming video game that will let you play along with Beatles songs. The game won't merely be another Rock Band version or Track Pack, but will rather be an entirely new game that will presumably work with the … Read more

Personally, I'm more of a karaoke buff, but for those of you who aren't as secure about your voice as I am about mine, I got something you might want to check out.

It's a fully equipped, axe-shaped guitar controller for PlayStation Guitar Hero and Rock Band games. The controller is a three-quarter replica of Kiss bassist and vocalist Gene Simmons' signature bass guitar and is slightly larger than standard video game guitar controllers.

The Gene Simmons Axe controller is compatible with both PlayStation 2 and 3. It's customized with a replicated paint finish of the … Read more

We've all been there. You walk into your buddy's place, ready to rock the house in a little Guitar Hero, only you're carrying some old and busted POS that's seen way too many sessions and is probably being held together by superglue and duct tape.

After wiping the tears from your eyes from all your buddies laughing hysterically, it's finally your turn to jam. Only now, your gaming impotence strikes and this time you're laughed right out of the house.

For $250 and two AA batteries--which will supposedly last you "hundreds of hours"--you'll never have to go through such a traumatic experience again. On Thursday, Logitech announced its new wireless guitar for Guitar Hero for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2. Also, it's compatible with all Guitar Hero games, including Guitar Hero World Tour.

Called the Wireless Guitar Controller Premiere Edition, the guitar--which will be available in December--features a wooden neck, metal frets, metal tuning peg handles, and a rosewood fingerboard. Now, this means absolutely nothing to me as I know absolutely nothing about guitars, but man is this thing sexy-looking. It also offers a one-piece contoured shape that, according to Logitech, is the preferred design by many of the world's leading rock guitarists (the real kind, I think). … Read more

There is no Guitar Hero or Rock Band game for the iPhone and iPod Touch. There are other rhythm games like Tap Tap Revenge andDrummer available, but what do these games really teach you about music?

Well, I wouldn't know personally as I've not played Drummer orTap Tap Revenge. I do know this, though: you may be making straight As playing those games--if by "straight As" I mean enjoying playing them--but let's face it, you're only living in the dumb daze--if by "dumb daze" I mean "did you catch my clever … Read more