Title: Guitar Hero DS
vix - March 19, 2008 07:34 PM (GMT)
No Joke...
| QUOTE |
| March 19, 2008 - More than a year ago, Activision revealed that the company was interested in branching its Guitar Hero franchise onto platforms such as the Nintendo DS. It's been a long wait, but the company has finally revealed exclusively to IGN and Yahoo the Guitar Hero game that will soon hit the dual-screen handheld later this year. The Nintendo DS version -- Guitar Hero: On Tour -- is in development at Vicarious Visions, the team best known for the Tony Hawk and Spider-Man series on the dual-screen handheld, as well as the Nintendo Wii conversion of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock released late last year. This portable version will feature the same rhythm-based "play to the music" gameplay of the big boys, and will even have its own peripheral to get the job done: Red Octane has developed what it's calling the Guitar Grip to give players the ability to finger chords in similar fashion as the console version's guitar peripheral. The Guitar Grip will plug into the Game Boy Advance slot at the bottom of the Nintendo DS system. Players put their hand through the strap of the Guitar Grip for a firm hold on the system, and then position the system in its vertical book form. The peripheral has a storage area for a specially designed stlyus pick, which is used to strum the guitar strings on the touch-screen. As the notes slide down the screen, players strum the strings while pressing the corresponding fret buttons, all to the rhythm of the song that's being played. According to the video released by Activision, the microphone comes into play during songs -- we're guessing it'll be used as control to activate Guitar Hero's "Star Power" mode to increase the points multiplier. The idea for the peripheral came during the prototyping phase of getting Guitar Hero working on the Nintendo DS. "We began prototyping ideas for Guitar Hero on DS in early 2007," said Karthik Bala, CEO of Vicarious Visions. "We quite frankly didn't know whether it would be possible to bring the core essence of the franchise to handheld and have it actually work. It was 20-something gameplay prototypes that were built, all trying different mechanics and uses of the hardware. Some were pretty cool, others were total disasters! "At some point, we hit upon the idea of creating a peripheral that would have the fret buttons plugging into the GBA slot of the DS," he recalled. "We ripped apart an old GBA cartridge and did some electronics work on it to rig up a prototype device. As awkward and crude as that prototype was, that's when we knew we were onto something. We figured that attaching a full-size guitar or even a mini-guitar would be too awkward to play on the road, hence the design of the more compact Guitar Grip, which gives you the tactile sense of the fret buttons, with the touch screen depicting the strings of the guitar." Activision's hasn't released all details regarding Guitar Hero: On Tour, but we do know that the Nintendo DS version will feature similar single player Career Mode progression as the console game. On Tour will contain a line-up of more than 20 licensed songs from bands as Nirvana, OK Go, and No Doubt; Activision will most certainly reveal the full list of bands and songs as we get closer to the game's summer release date. Players will be able to pick from six different guitarists to represent them in-game -- while four guitarists have been in Guitar Hero before, two of the characters have been designed exclusively for the Nintendo DS game. As they get through career mode, they'll unlock venues as well as outfits to deck out their chosen persona. Along with the single player campaign, Guitar Hero: On Tour will also support multiplayer. The game will feature both co-op as well as competitive two player options using the local wireless functions of the Nintendo DS system. The game's battle mode will feature similar gameplay as the mode created in Guitar Hero III, with power-ups created specifically for Guitar Hero: On Tour. For example, players can activate power-ups that'll send raving fans to the other screen, and the opponent will have to sign autographs on the touchscreen to get rid of them. Or out-of-control pyrotechnics will be set ablaze, and players will have to blow them out using the Nintendo DS microphone. Activision has yet to announce a price-point or a release date, but the company did reveal that it's shooting to ship Guitar Hero: On Tour this summer. While console games have been branded with ESRB's T for Teen rating mostly due to song lyrics, Guitar Hero: On Tour will be rated E10. |
[dohtml]<embed src='http://videomedia.ign.com/ev/ev.swf' flashvars='object_ID=899093&downloadURL=http://dsmovies.ign.com/ds/video/article/860/860545/GH_On_Tour_Reveal_031808_flvlowwide.flv&allownetworking="all"' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' width='433' height='360' ></embed>[/dohtml]
s0njas0n - March 19, 2008 08:11 PM (GMT)
yeah, i've known this was coming out for a long time. i was wondering how they were going to do the peripheral, that's .... um, interesting, lol.
that video is a joke though. omg. :lol
that video is a joke though. omg. :lol
vix - March 19, 2008 08:16 PM (GMT)
oh, the video is awesome. :P
not something i'd probably want but you never know. i think i would enjoy taiko on the ds more, lol.
but um it does look interesting...:lol
not something i'd probably want but you never know. i think i would enjoy taiko on the ds more, lol.
but um it does look interesting...:lol
discostu - March 19, 2008 09:38 PM (GMT)
youve all said what i was gonna :D
interesting
id never buy it
interesting
id never buy it
katamari > kalamari - March 19, 2008 11:10 PM (GMT)
That looks really awkward to play. Are you supposed to strum on the touch screen? If so how in the world are you supposed to hold it?!
EDIT: Saw the video. It still looks pretty awkward. Also, the DS' sound quality isn't really that good...
EDIT: Saw the video. It still looks pretty awkward. Also, the DS' sound quality isn't really that good...
Arctic Phoenix - March 20, 2008 12:56 AM (GMT)
That does look......interesting.
But is that Pandora in the screenshot? If so, yay. :woot
But is that Pandora in the screenshot? If so, yay. :woot
s0njas0n - March 20, 2008 02:32 AM (GMT)
you know this trailer proves that the ds has good sound quality. truth in advertising. you know it.
marbig - March 20, 2008 02:37 AM (GMT)
Alright. I am definitely done with Guitar Hero.
vix - March 20, 2008 02:40 AM (GMT)
considering the rumor is upr to four console version coming out this year as well as a ds version, i too think i am done with the series until the games go bargain bin.
katamari > kalamari - March 20, 2008 02:43 AM (GMT)
Guitar Hero is becoming the biggest cash cow I have seen in a long time.
vix - March 20, 2008 02:52 AM (GMT)
I think it's coming really close to surpassing FF in that regard. But at least the FF series are of quality but then again at the same time you can't compare a music game to an rpg series.
But FF is likley the biggest cash cow out there(ffvii ahem) between all the games, remakes and actual toys etc but moronvision is ruining gh just enough i think to eventually eclipse that.
But FF is likley the biggest cash cow out there(ffvii ahem) between all the games, remakes and actual toys etc but moronvision is ruining gh just enough i think to eventually eclipse that.
katamari > kalamari - March 20, 2008 03:10 AM (GMT)
Yeah, I think Activision knows how to do that to games.
Arctic Phoenix - March 20, 2008 03:39 AM (GMT)
This is why I consider the Harmonix GH games and the Activision GH games to be separate series. I think it's unfair to dismiss the entire series because of what Activision is doing, but I do agree that they are going too far.
Besides, the DS version has been announced for awhile, and it has potential to be good. It doesn't seem as bad of a cash in as the Aerosmith game.
I don't know, I guess I'm just optimistic.
Besides, the DS version has been announced for awhile, and it has potential to be good. It doesn't seem as bad of a cash in as the Aerosmith game.
I don't know, I guess I'm just optimistic.
vix - March 20, 2008 03:44 AM (GMT)
Oh, I loved the first GH. The second not as much as the first due to the fact I wasn't feeling some of the songs but yeah, not faith in the series now.
Arctic Phoenix - March 20, 2008 03:56 AM (GMT)
I hear you. I started with GH II on the 360 so I feel sort of partial to it. I'm not so much attuned to music so I didn't mind the song list.
As with the future of the series, it seems I'll just be selective which ones I buy instead of going for the game because of the brand. I'll probably skip the Aerosmith one unless the price goes down and it's used. But the DS version could have potential.
As with the future of the series, it seems I'll just be selective which ones I buy instead of going for the game because of the brand. I'll probably skip the Aerosmith one unless the price goes down and it's used. But the DS version could have potential.
elitebeatagents - March 24, 2008 03:07 AM (GMT)
It looks pretty schweet! I'm guessing you hold it like Brain Age by keepings your fingers on the GBA cart (To press the buttons.) Then you strum the touch screen. COOL! :drool Although I'm definately not interestedd in GH: Aerosmith, Van Halen, or Beatles etc... Rock Band Forever!!
Breninator - April 26, 2008 02:04 AM (GMT)
I think the game's going to be pretty good. They made the right choice by not making a mini-guitar (although that would've been awesome). I'll probably buy it, but then again, I'd buy any game with the words "guitar" and "hero" in the title. lol
vix - May 28, 2008 05:28 PM (GMT)
This trailer makes me want to cry. R.I.P. Guitar Hero. :crybaby
[dohtml]<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="392"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?umid=222607"/> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?umid=222607" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392"></embed> </object>[/dohtml]
[dohtml]<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="392"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?umid=222607"/> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?umid=222607" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392"></embed> </object>[/dohtml]
s0njas0n - May 28, 2008 06:25 PM (GMT)
oh... my... god...
wiggle wiggle!!!
oh no, my guitar is on faia!
that was something all right. it reminds me of the geico commercials with the voice over and singing exchange. anyway, wow, that was lame :lol
wiggle wiggle!!!
oh no, my guitar is on faia!
that was something all right. it reminds me of the geico commercials with the voice over and singing exchange. anyway, wow, that was lame :lol
marbig - May 28, 2008 07:41 PM (GMT)
Sometimes! You can't yell!
Awesome. Not in a good way.
Awesome. Not in a good way.
s0njas0n - May 28, 2008 07:45 PM (GMT)
yeah, could you imagine screaming "ROCK ON!" in a public place, :lol... wow
vix - June 24, 2008 04:24 AM (GMT)
it didn't fair so well on gamespot: http://www.gamespot.com/ds/action/guitarhero/review.html
got a 6. i think ign gave it a 9. that's quite a jump...
got a 6. i think ign gave it a 9. that's quite a jump...
marbig - June 24, 2008 05:08 AM (GMT)
Ouch, that's even worse than the...fire!
Arctic Phoenix - June 24, 2008 05:30 AM (GMT)
I got this yesterday. Played it a little, and I admit, it's actually more fun than I thought. Though the learning curve's a bit steep even on easy.
Not to mention Pandora's in it. It seems like Neversoft is showing some signs of listening to their fans.
Even with the GS score, this game's getting a solid 8-8.5 average in most places from what I see.
Not to mention Pandora's in it. It seems like Neversoft is showing some signs of listening to their fans.
Even with the GS score, this game's getting a solid 8-8.5 average in most places from what I see.
vix - June 24, 2008 07:12 PM (GMT)
i thought about getting this but i'm just gonna stick to console versions until it's price goes down.
s0njas0n - June 24, 2008 07:31 PM (GMT)
yeah, but i probably won't get it because it's $50 for 26 songs, and i probably won't play it that much. i don't see the price going down that much, the gh series games seem to stay up there.
vix - June 24, 2008 07:49 PM (GMT)
yeah, i know. maybe in a year or two the price will go down. :lol
Arctic Phoenix - June 24, 2008 11:17 PM (GMT)
Yeah the 26 songs is pretty dissapointing, though they probably couldn't add a lot because of the space they take up.
That sounds like a good idea to wait for a price drop but it probably wouldn't be for awhile. The first GH is still around $35. Though it could be different for this game.
That sounds like a good idea to wait for a price drop but it probably wouldn't be for awhile. The first GH is still around $35. Though it could be different for this game.
vix - June 26, 2008 07:39 PM (GMT)
i was at a game store today and overheard two guys talking about how awful the game is. i keep seeing and hearing more people complain about it. though this guy i know, he got it, he likes it. he says it's fun and that actually strumming feels better.