RipTen Videogame Blog » RedOctane

Guitar Hero III Air Guitar Contest

Chad Lakkis — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 05:44:49 +0000

We want to reward one lucky Riptenner with a copy of Guitar Hero 3 and the wireless Les Paul guitar for the Xbox 360.

The rules are simple, just register to be a member of our community, upload an avatar and leave a comment below with the words”air guitar”. We will pick one lucky Riptenner at random and send them out a Wireless Les Paul Guitar and Guitar Hero 3 game for the Xbox 360. Contest ends February 29th at Midnight EST. Good luck.

Guitar Hero, Rock Band, & DDR Knock-Offs Target Unsuspecting Consumers

Chad Lakkis — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:40:47 +0000

Gift givers looking for Guitar Hero, Rock Band, or Dance Dance Revolution merchandise this holiday season beware, knock-offs are out there, and while you may not know the difference, the individual receiving the gift likely will.

I recently found myself shopping for a birthday gift for my niece, having no luck finding anything that I thought a 6 year old girl would like, I called my sister, and she said ‘buy her a webkinz’. A what? I had no idea what the damn thing was until she explained it to me, and when I went to pick one up, I was bombarded with knock-offs galore.

The same reality exists for the popular Guitar Hero and Rock Band merchandise, as knock-offs have already made their way to store shelves.

Before you check off “Guitar Hero” on your list, make sure you didn’t pick up “Guitar Superstar” instead, as the rip off available at Macy’s is no where near the same quality. Is your little one hoping for a Rock Band drum set? Well, make sure you aren’t fooled into purchasing the “Drum Star” knock off instead.

The attack of the clones doesn’t stop there, as the popular gaming craze that is “Dance Dance Revolution” finds itself duped by the lesser quality “Dance Mania” knock-off.

The rule of thumb here, is that there are no stupid questions. Ask store associates, family, and friends. Most of all, do your research before you buy.

Source: Engadget

First Guitar Hero III DLC Packs Hit Xbox Live & Playstation Network Today

Josh Pankratz — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 22:14:37 +0000

In a press release sent out today, Activision announced the release of two new track packs that hit the Xbox Live Market Place this morning. While the release stated that the Playstation Store would be receiving them later this month, we have confirmed that they are in fact available on the Playstation Network right now as well.

Prospective plastic-shredding rockers can elect to download the Velvet Revolver Pack, which includes master recordings of “Messages,” “She Builds Quick Machines”, and the Grammy Award winning “Slither”. Alternatively, players can also choose from the Foo Fighter Pack, which includes “The Pretender”, “This Is a Call” and “All My Life”.

With the release of so many amazing titles this month, most people haven’t had the chance to process everything GH3 has to offer yet. That makes this move even more interesting. Is Activision amping up its track list in preparation for EA’s Rock Band? Or is it trying to start a new business model for the rhythm game genre? Regardless, this can only be seen as good for fans of the series. We don’t need anymore sequels, and we already have the instruments, so just give us the music!

Activision Rocks Store Shelves with Guitar Hero & Guitar Hero II PS2 Bundle

Denise Rodano — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:38:15 +0000

Activision has bundled Guitar Hero and Guitar Hero II in time for the holidays. The bundle is a PS2 exclusive, so you will need the Playstation 2 or a Playstation 3 with backwards compatibility to take advantage of this deal. Press release after the jump.

ACTIVSION ANNOUNCES DUAL PACK OF GUITAR HERO® AND GUITAR HERO® II NOW AVAILABLE ON STORE SHELVES

SUNNYVALE, CA – November 7, 2007 – For those looking to rock out even harder this holiday season, Activision will deliver a special dual pack that includes the hit titles, Guitar Hero and Guitar Hero II. The two-disc software-only set is now available exclusively on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system in retail stores nationwide, and aspiring rock gods can add these legendary games to their expanding Guitar Hero collection.

Guitar Hero, the original title of the wildly popular franchise, allows fans to choose from multiple rock characters and jam at concert venues that grow in size as their rock career progresses. Players can choose from various guitar options, exclusive character outfits, and unlockable songs while they perform to secure endorsements and reach ultimate rockstar status. Over 40 incredible rock anthems fill every stage of the game as axe-shredders rip through tracks such as “Iron Man” (as made famous by Black Sabbath), “More Than a Feeling” (as made famous by Boston), “Bark at The Moon” (as made famous by Ozzy Osbourne), “I Wanna Be Sedated” (as made famous by The Ramones), and many more.

Guitar Hero II, the sequel to the smash hit Guitar Hero, melts the knobs off players’ amps with an expanded track list of over 60 new songs, characters, guitars, exciting gameplay modes, and visually-stunning rock venues that range from high school gyms to sold-out arenas and Stonehenge. Fans also have the opportunity to compete with their friends head to head in all new multiplayer modes, or form their own guitar duo and riff cooperatively by rocking the rhythm, lead, and bass. In addition, an all-new practice mode is included that will allow players to select specific sections of a song, slow it up, and master the difficult solos. Tracks from the set list include “Sweet Child O Mine” (as made famous by Guns N’ Roses), “Free Bird” (as made famous by Lynard Skynard), “Woman” (as made famous by Wolfmother), and “You Really Got Me” (as made famous by Van Halen) among many others hit songs.

The dual pack of Guitar Hero and Guitar Hero II, published by RedOctane and developed by Harmonix, is rated T for Teen by the ESRB and now available in retail stores for the suggested price of $59.99. For more information about the Guitar Hero franchise, please visit the dedicated community site: www.guitarhero.com.

Review: Guitar Hero 3 (360/PS3)

Andrew Podolsky — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 06:05:36 +0000

“For those about to rock……”

It’s not Warped Tour or Coachella, but this yearly concert tour is still one of the best shows in town. It’s got roaring crowds, outrageous stages, and even some special guest appearances. Best of all, they want you to play lead guitar.

The thrill of gaining admission into the world of Guitar Hero hasn’t diminished, even though this is the third time we’ve been to the show. For those unfamiliar with the series, Guitar Hero is a rhythm and music game played using a colorful plastic guitar. Any strange looks you get from the uninitiated are quickly dispelled when they pick up this odd peripheral and “feel” like they’re making the music themselves, even if they’re only hitting a combination of five fret keys.

The soundtrack of the Guitar Hero games is what sets this series apart. Except for perhaps the Tony Hawk series, there hasn’t been as big a videogame music breakthrough as Guitar Hero. The set list of GH3 is just as strong as the first two, with modern hits like “When You Were Young” by The Killers and “Miss Murder” by AFI alongside classics like “Paint it Black” by the Rolling Stones and “Anarchy in the UK” by the Sex Pistols.

Each track scales very nicely, allowing younger or inexperienced players to follow along on easy or medium while hardcore thrashers can turn it up to 11 with hard or expert mode. The challenge of Guitar Hero is what keeps people playing it year after year, and there’s a ton of replay value to be enjoyed in beating over 40 popular songs and two dozen indie bonus songs.

This year’s set list may be a bit divisive, as each new Guitar Hero tends to be. With pricey downloadable songs on the way, you’ll want to make these built in tracks last as long as possible. Fortunately there’s a good variety of old and new, but also some really clever riffs that are great fun to master. “Lay Down” by Priestess, for example, will urge you to master the hammer-on and pull-off techniques.

Though the difficulty might have been toned down slightly, it doesn’t detract from the fun. It can even result in higher scores and combos, as there’s a little more leeway now when you hit a note.

Guitar Hero has sold millions of copies by creating a specific formula for rock sauce, but what happens when you throw in a few new ingredients? The battle mode (which holds up well in multiplayer) and celebrity guest appearances (Slash just happened to be in the neighborhood?) might not be for everyone, but in terms of making this game feel like a star-studded MTV special they are pretty fun. It’s not a revolutionary step forward for the series, but Guitar Hero only needs to gradually refine its formula.

In terms of refinement, the greater number of master tracks gives Guitar Hero 3 a more genuine feel than its predecessors. While it’s still disconcerting to hear KISS songs by a crappy cover band, the authentic voices in other songs go a long way towards improving the series.

There are a few, slight missteps. The lip-synching, while improved in Guitar Hero 3, leaves the male singer looking like a creepy wide-mouthed monster. The animated cutscenes between venues look great, but they’re extremely short and don’t really qualify as a reward for beating a set of five songs. Otherwise, the background graphics and general presentation are colorful and extremely attractive.

The new publisher of Guitar Hero 3 has also apparently taken the approach of sexing up the characters unnecessarily. Judy Nails is so tarted-up in this game that she’s practically unrecognizable. Midori, a perky Japanese schoolgirl, looks very punk but also seems to be there solely for fanboy service. One level even features midriff-baring pole dancers, which may give pause to parents who would otherwise buy Guitar Hero for their kids without hesitation.

Despite these few missed notes (blame it, perhaps, on a bad sound engineer or unplugged amp) Guitar Hero is still the best show in town. Competitor Rock Band has a lot to prove, as Guitar Hero has made the stage dive to next-gen almost perfectly.

Guitar Hero III To Hit Stores 10/28 – 3,000 Retailers Offering Midnight Release

Chad Lakkis — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:23:33 +0000

The much anticipated Guitar Hero III sequel from Activision and RedOctane is set to hit shelves October 28th (this Sunday), with an estimated 3,000 plus retailers organizing midnight release parties.

Hit up your local Wal-Mart beforehand, and buy that cranky neighbor of yours a few extra pillows to block out the sounds, cuz’ practice makes perfect, and you my friend are on a quest for perfection that starts at midnight, and stops when you damn well say so! Press release after the jump.

ACTIVISION TEARS IT UP ON STORE SHELVES WITH LAUNCH OF GUITAR HERO® III: LEGENDS OF ROCK

SUNNYVALE, CA – October 26, 2007 – Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced that Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock will officially rip it up on retail store shelves nationwide this Sunday, October 28. To help celebrate the legendary launch, over 3,000 stores across the country are expected to organize their own midnight launch events this weekend, allowing all aspiring axe-shredders to unleash their inner-rock star.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock will include explosive new content and features including a multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a host of exclusive unlockable content and visually stunning rock venues. Expanded online multiplayer game modes will also allow fans worldwide to compete head-to-head for true legendary rock status. Fresh downloadable content will also be offered on multiple platforms, and players can now shred to a killer set list from many of the most popular rock songs ever recorded.

“Where there is music this holiday season, there is Guitar Hero, and we’re excited to deliver Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock as the ultimate guitar-bending experience for our fans,” said Dusty Welch, head of publishing for Activision/RedOctane. “With an amazing set list, added gameplay features, online functionality, and new wireless guitars, aspiring rock stars are going to shred harder than ever before.”

For the first time ever, Guitar Hero® fans will also be able to thrash and burn with new wireless guitar controllers available for each platform, including exclusive Gibson Guitar’s Les Paul model for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo, and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system gamers will also get to shred on a new exclusive shape, Gibson’s Kramer guitar, popularized by hard rockers and known for its body design, pickups, electronics and construction for furious finger fretting.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, published by RedOctane® and developed by Neversoft, is rated ‘T’ for Teen by the ESRB and will be available October 28, 2007. For more information about the Guitar Hero franchise, please visit the dedicated community site: www.guitarhero.com.

Guitar Hero III Rocks iTunes with 61 Face-Melting Tracks

Derek Matias — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 01:52:33 +0000

Can’t wait until the release of Guitar Hero III to start jamming to some of the awesome rock music? Well now you don’t have to, because iTunes has published playlists for all past versions and the upcoming version of GH. This means that you can listen to all of the songs on your Apple iPod or iPhone, and that is no small feat, as Guitar Hero III alone, will host 61 face-melting rock tracks. Hit the jump for a complete list.

1. Welcome to the Jungle – Guns N’ Roses
2. Sunshine if Your Love – Cream
3. Anarchy In the U.K. – The Sex Pistols
4. Sabotage – Beastie Boys
5. Paint It Black – The Rolling Stones (One of my votes)
6. Even Flow – Pearl Jam
7. Rock ‘n Roll All Night – Kiss
8. Black Magic Woman – Santana
9. One Way or Another – Blondie
10. One – Metallica
11. Suck My Kiss – Red Hot Chili Peppers
12. School’s Out – Alice Cooper
13. Barracuda – Heart
14. La Grange – ZZ Top (One of my votes)
15. Bulls On Parade – Rage Against the Machine
16. Hit Me With Your Best Shot – Pat Benatar
17. The Devil Went Down to Georgia – The Charlie Daniels Band
18. Cherub Rock – Smashing Pumpkins
19. Rock You Like a Hurricane – Scorpions
20. The Number of the Beast – Iron Maiden
21. Talk Dirty to Me – Poison
22. Mississippi Queen – Mountain
23. When You Were Young – The Killers
24. The Seeker – The Who
25. My Name Is Jonas – Weezer
26. Pride and Joy – Stevie Ray Vaughan
27. Slow Ride – Foghat
28. Holiday In Cambodia – Dead Kennedys
29. Black Sunshine – Iggy Pop & White Zombie
30. Story of My Life – Social Distortion
31. Cult of Personality – Living Colour
32. Kool Thing – Sonic Youth
33. Miss Murder – AFI
34. Raining Blood – Slayer
35. Before I Forget – Slipknot
36. Reptilia – The Strokes
37. Stricken – Disturbed
38. 3’s & 7’s – Queens of the Stone Age
39. Ruby – Kaiser Chiefs
40. Cities On Flame With Rock and Roll – Blue Oyster Cult
41. Knights of Cydonia – Muse
42. Helicopter – Bloc Party
43. Prayer of the Refuge – Rise Against
44. She Bangs the Drums – The Stone Roses
45. Cliffs of Dover – Eric Johnson
46. My Curse – Killswitch Engage
47. The Metal – Tenacious D
48. I’m In the Band – The Hellacopters
49. Go That Far – Bret Michaels
50. Can’t Be Saved – Senses Fail
51. Closer – Lacuna Coil
52. Take This Life – In Flames
53. Monsters – Matchbook Romance
54. F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X. – The Fall of Troy
55. Through the Fire and Flames – Dragonforce
56. In the Belly of a Shark – Gallows
57. Avalancha – Heroes Del Silencio
58. Metal Heavy Lady – LIONS
59. Lay Down – Priestess
60. The Way It Ends – Prototype
61. Don’t Hold Back – The Sleeping

To download the list and listen to samples of all the songs above, visit www.itunes.com.

Activision Announces Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Weekend – Demo on XBL

Michael Bencic — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:37:57 +0000

My fingers have BARELY begun the healing process from Guitar Hero II on the 360. My left hand is stiff, achy, swollen, and just exhausted from earning 5-stars, and what’s worst is … I love it! If you also suffer from Hero-Hand, then get out the ice-pack and rest up, because Activision has a TON of GHIII content on the way. Press release after the jump.

***

Fans Can Download Game Demo and Shred Against Guitar Hero® Developers Online to Win Prizes and Ultimate Bragging Rights

SUNNYVALE, CA – October 22, 2007 – Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced a special Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network weekend for the highly anticipated title, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. Beginning November 2, 2007, fans 13 years old or older will be able to participate in a number of exciting activities online including a 72-hour Play & Win Sweepstakes where every hour winning axe shredders who register and play are awarded with special prize packages, such as a limited edition guitar faceplate signed by Slash, as they battle in a multiplayer showdown against the developers of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, as well as an exclusive Xbox LIVE leaderboard tournament to crown the top Guitar Hero player.

Before Guitar Hero fans sign up for this gnarly shredfest, they will have the rockin’ opportunity to practice their skills with a free game demo available for download on Tuesday, October 23 exclusively through Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. The free game demo, playable with either the X-Plorer guitar or Xbox 360 controller, will include the following 5 finger-melting songs:

- Even Flow (by Pearl Jam)
- Lay Down (by Priestess)
- The Metal (by Tenacious D)
- Hit Me with your Best Shot (as made famous by Pat Benatar)
- Rock You like a Hurricane (as made famous by Scorpions)

To kick off Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Weekend, fans will have the coveted opportunity to secure the rare and elusive “Meet Your Maker” Xbox LIVE achievement, where axe-shredders can beat the creators at their own game, while competing online against the developers from Neversoft on Friday, November 2 from 6:00pm – 9:00pm EST. Be on the look-out for the following development team Gamertags:

- GH DesLead, Alan – Design Lead
- GH AsstProd, Lee – Asst Producer
- GH SrProdTech, Clive – Sr. Producer Technology
- GH OnlineEng, Mario – Online Engineer
- GH OnlineEng2, Tim – Online Engineer
- GH MidiDes2, Chris – Midi Designer
- GH MidiDes3, David – Midi Designer
- GH MidiDes4, Geoffrey – Midi Designer
- GH MidiDes5, John – Midi Designer
- GH MidiDes6, Brian – Midi Designer
- GH MidiDes7, Kyle – Midi Designer

More details on registering for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Weekend, and information regarding terms, conditions, and official rules will be available on Tuesday, October 23 through the official event page: www.xbox.com/gh3weekend. Open registration will begin when the site goes live and will end at 11:59pm (EST) on November 4, 2007.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock will include explosive new content and features including a multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a host of exclusive unlockable content and visually stunning rock venues. Expanded online multiplayer game modes will also allow axe-shredders worldwide to compete head-to-head for true legendary rock status. For the first time ever, Guitar Hero fans will also be able to thrash and burn with new wireless guitar controllers available for each platform. The game will feature a star-studded soundtrack including master tracks by such legendary artists as Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, The Rolling Stones, Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam as well as original songs by guitar icons Slash and Tom Morello. While continuing to retain all the key features from their prior legendary performances, fresh downloadable content will be offered on multiple platforms, and players can now shred to a killer set list from many of the most popular rock songs ever recorded.

For the first time ever, Guitar Hero fans will also be able to thrash and burn with new wireless guitar controllers available for each platform, including exclusive Gibson Guitar’s Les Paul model for the Xbox 360®video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo, and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. PlayStation®2 gamers will also get to shred on a new exclusive shape, Gibson’s Kramer guitar, popularized by hard rockers and known for its body design, pickups, electronics and construction for furious finger fretting.

***