NEW YORK, 10:27 AM, TUE DEC 2 | 15 POSTS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS | tips@idolator.com | SUBMIT A TIP | RSS

Posts Tagged “Guitar Hero”

done with mirrors

Will Video Games Save The Music Industry? Dream On

"Can Guitar Hero Help Save the Music Industry?" asked a post to the New York Times' "Freakonomics" blog recently. And while our natural inclination is to yell "we hope so," it's worth examining the claims made before we go down that path—especially since the author of the piece is "the worldwide games portfolio manager for Xbox Live Arcade" and thus not really that unbiased an observer. While it makes logical sense that a massively popular video game would help increase the sales of the music featured within, the article throws in another claim to bolster its argument for the gaming industry's eventual overtaking of the music biz: that the Aerosmith edition of Guitar Hero "resulted in more revenue for the band than any individual Aerosmith album." Well! But how much revenue is that, exactly? And does it really make up for lost sales? More »

2:00 PM on Mon Dec 1 2008
By Mike Barthel
341 views, 3 comments

Latest by owenmeany: This piece got it wrong from the title. The music industry doesn't need to be saved. The RECORD industry does. And honestly? Who the fuck cares about the record industry? more »

it's the economy

"Guitar Hero" And "Rock Band" May Not Be Selling Great, But They're Selling Better Than Most New Albums

Retail sales fell by a record amount last month across the board, although for the most part, the video game industry did OK. But it's the part of the video game industry that didn't do OK that might cause some consternation among certain Idolator readers—none of the Guitar Hero or Rock Band titles landed in October's top 10. "The performance of the broader music genre as well as key new music genre releases 'Guitar Hero World Tour' and 'Rock Band 2' were probably the most negative data points of last night's release," an analyst wrote upon reviewing video-game-related data from the NPD Group, and the stock prices for both Activision (which publishes Guitar Hero and EA (Rock Band suffered today. But is there more to that story? Another analyst thinks so: More »

5:00 PM on Fri Nov 14 2008
By Maura Johnston
490 views, 2 comments

Latest by cheesebubble: When I read the headline for this story, it made me sad. more »

anonimous interview series

"Shhhh-it!": Idolator's Super-Secret Music Interview Series Plays Some Games

Every week in the "Shhhh-it!" AnonIMous Super-Secret Music-Biz Interview Series (S-I!AS-SM-BIS for, uh, short) we interview a grizzled music industry veteran via the stream-of-consciousness power of instant messaging. We talk about the person's job, the state of the industry, and whatever else comes to mind. This week, we bring you music/rhythm game programmer GeorgeTardasin. Tardasin worked with a big-time music game developer on an iteration of a big-time music game (hint: you use plastic guitars to play it). Tardasin worked as a Gem Author, which is the name for the programmer who encodes the songs into the program, aligning the colored circles, or "gems," that correspond with the buttons on the controller. In this interview, Tardasin discusses the challenges of transposing the songs, how long the process takes, and the joys of lighting and animations:

StumpyPete1975: you did the lights and the animations?
GeorgeTardasin: yup.
StumpyPete1975: that seems to me like it would be lots of fun
GeorgeTardasin: yeah... you get to choose what animation is going to show...so if you have like a really dramatic part of the song... there is an option to flare the lights out on the crowd.
GeorgeTardasin: ha ha
GeorgeTardasin: Its kinda cheesy but in a really awesome way.
GeorgeTardasin: and change the colors of the lights and make the characters do funny tricks while they are playing.

The whole thing after the jump!

More »

10:00 AM on Thu Oct 23 2008
By Lucas Jensen
235 views, 4 comments

Latest by Lucas Jensen: @Lucas Jensen: @Lucas Jensen: I didn't think it went through the first time. Ergh! more »

leak of the day

Billy Corgan Has Some New Entrance Music

ARTIST: Smashing Pumpkins
TITLE: "G.L.O.W."
WEB DEBUT: Oct. 13, 2008 More »
pay you? no, you pay me!

The "Guitar Hero" People Don't Think Much Of The Music Biz

Sure, Edgar Bronfman Jr. would like to figure out a way for the music business to make a little more cash from that Guitar Hero all the kids are talking about. The man running the company that makes the plastic-guitar-powered game must sympathize with the Warner Music Group head's plight, right? Um, no. More »

4:00 PM on Fri Sep 26 2008
By Dan Gibson
741 views, 9 comments

Ick Chicken-slinging fast food chain KFC has teamed up with Activision for some sort of promotion involving the newest edition of Guitar Hero. You know, not for nothing, but the use of "finger-lickin' good" in this particular press release can be construed as kind of gross, since it's those same licked fingers that can transmit grease and spittle and itty bits of biscuit all over the nice, shiny plastic guitars that one is supposed to play Guitar Hero with. Talk about initiatives that will make me want to exclusively play games that are described as "antisocial." [Marketwatch]

4 comments

the last level is a showdown with the devil, charlie daniels style

Christian Rock Nerds, Rejoice In Your Button-Mashing!

Anyone who's spent any amount of time around the Christian retail industry can tell you that the genesis of most ideas within that business come from the following formula: "Let's make a Christian version of [fill in the blank]". Which is why this generation of youth group children can now put down their Rock Band instruments and cleanse their ears of all that secular claptrap that game calls "music," and instead start praising God while pressing buttons on plastic guitars hooked into the new game Guitar Praise. More »

11:00 AM on Fri Aug 29 2008
By Dan Gibson
612 views, 11 comments

Latest by so1omon: OK... so I'm late to the party here.. but @DocStrange: Have you been paying any attention to modern rock over the last several years? It's FULL of Christian bands. They may not be on "CCM" labels, but they're more »

Someone In The Music Business Is Kind Of Making Sense Harmonix audio director Eric Brosious on why you won't see the makers of Rock Band making "exclusive" content deals with any bands: "We prefer not to sign exclusive deals with artists because while it seems like the competitive 'business' thing to do, in the long run, it's really not good for anyone. We think we should be working to get more music out to more people." [Kotaku via LPTJ]

3 comments

list of demands

Bronfman To Video Game Makers: "F U, Pay WMG"

During Warner Music Group's earnings call today, chairman and CEO Edgar Bronfman darkened the bright mood set by his company's narrower-than-expected quarterly loss when he poured cold water on the future of his company's music existing on video games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band. He sniped that the companies behind those participation-heavy enterprises paying out what he called "a very paltry licensing fee per song," and continued: "I think the industry as a whole needs to take a very different look at this business and participate more fully and in a much more partnership way," he said. "And if that does not become the case, as far as Warner Music is concerned, we will not license to those games." Could Bronfman be turning into the Doug Morris of the video-game world, strong-arming game makers into giving his empire large sums of cash? And if the video game companies balk, what will happen to that long-rumored Metallica-centric edition of Guitar Hero? [AP via Forbes]

1:00 PM on Thu Aug 7 2008
By Maura Johnston
202 views, 2 comments

Latest by CortneyH: If he wanted to make a real impact, he should have added, "or my foxy terrorist daughter-in-law will come after you. She'll blind you with neon before cutting your head off." more »

rumors

"Guitar Hero World Tour" Brings Together The Plastic Instrument-Players Of The Universe

Another day, another list of rumored songs for one of those games where you pick up a plastic guitar and try to be more proficient at recreating yesteryear's hits than the guys in Rush. This time, the alleged list is for Guitar Hero World Tour, which is set to come out in October, and some of the songs seem like they'll be fun to try and recreate, particularly "Hot For Teacher." (Who else is looking forward to being America's favorite game show host in the privacy of your own home?) While there are some dubious picks ("Santeria" by Sublime will make any Guitar Hero party approximately 62% more unbearable, for example), there are also a few songs that I would kill to try out (hint, hint)—like "Hold The Line" by Toto, which, as some of you might know, is one of my favorite songs of all time, and Stone Temple Pilots' somewhat underrated "Vasoline." The full list (via Joystiq) after the jump. More »

11:30 AM on Thu Jul 24 2008
By Maura Johnston
1,246 views, 13 comments

Latest by blobby: So many D songs to choose from, and they go with "Car Chase City"? Come on guys, let's get some "Wonder Boy" or at least "Beelzeboss." more »

pointless compilation curating

The "Pretend To Be A Musician" Game Expansion Pack Of My Dreams

I got a little excited yesterday by the news of Bikini Kill's "Rebel Girl" being included in the next iteration of Rock Band, even if the idea of reissuing a song via video game is probably something my 1993 self would have sneered at. But I'm all about embracing the new millennium these days (or at least tryingto), so I came up with an expansion pack that draws on the Kill Rock Stars catalog of that era. It has a slight focus on the three fantastic "Kill Rock Stars"-themed compilations that the label put out in the mid-'90s, because all of those albums are 100% fire. (And yes, the first track on it is kind of absurd, given that the band in question wasn't exactly the greatest live act. But that's part of the fun, no?) My list is after the jump; I invite you to take a moment or two out of your All-Star Parade watching to create an expansion pack of your own, around whatever theme you'd like. More »

2:00 PM on Tue Jul 15 2008
By Maura Johnston
540 views, 21 comments

Latest by mike a: Although I do wonder what David "How To Play Guitar" Fair thinks of Rock Band. I'd guess he disapproves. more »

from plastic guitars to world domination

"Guitar Hero" Creators: "Sure, Let's Go Head To Head With iTunes"

As probably could have been predicted, the folks behind Guitar Hero are looking for ways to make a bit more cash off their massive success catering to frustrated music fans. If people will buy a game dedicated to Aerosmith, surely they're willing to buy anything with the Guitar Hero brand slapped on. So why not take on the most powerful music retailer in the country? More »

11:30 AM on Fri Jul 11 2008
By Dan Gibson
632 views, 2 comments

they gotta use 'and your bird can sing'

Beatles Inching Closer To Their Own "Guitar Hero"

Sony honchos in charge of the Fab Four's publishing first voiced their enthusiasm for a Beatles-specific Guitar Hero game back in March, and now Apple Corps and EMI are meeting with both Activision (makers of Guitar Hero) and MTV Games (makers of Rock Band). Since the death of unofficial CEO Neil Aspinall, Apple has lost some of its usual promotional hesitancy, finally giving American Idol the opportunity to perform Lennon-McCartney songs. If plans for the game come to fruition, it may only be a matter of time before the band invades the digital marketplace in a big way. Surely the other Apple would be happy to see them warm up to it. More »

3:00 PM on Mon Jun 23 2008
By Anthony Miccio
691 views, 4 comments

Latest by mcqueen2: Neil Aspinall was the Chairman of Apple not 'unofficial CEO'. Neil's death has nothing to do with the 'loss of usual promotional hesitancy'. 'Idol' played Beatles songs years ago- and it was quite unpleasant. Apple were approached by Guitar Hero more »

i wanna scream metallica at the top of my lungs

John Mayer: Less Guitar Hero, More "Hero Of The Day"

Despite recording that Michael Jackson cover with Fall Out Boy, John Mayer told Rolling Stone that "Guitar Hero was devised to bring the guitar-playing experience to the masses without them having to put anything into it. And having done both, there's nothing like really playing guitar. I mean, what would you rather drive, a Ferrari or one of those amusement-park cars on a track?" See, guitars mean a lot to John. "It's my flotation device, because I now exist in this celebrity sort of world. But I don't feel like anybody's been able to truly knock me off my legs, because I have a trade. You can't just walk onstage and start playing guitar 'cause you thought it looked neat. With guitar, you get out what you put in, and it's the ultimate shield for other people trying to fuckin' take away your heart and soul. It's a completely exposed craft. There is no facade." When John stops getting to nail celebrities, he'll still gonna be able to show up at a bar and wail for his pretzels. Can Guitar Hero players say that? Maybe someday he'll be as awesome as Kirk Hammett, who recorded one of his "favorite guitar solos in the world." On Load. More »

1:00 PM on Thu Jun 5 2008
By Anthony Miccio
1,151 views, 9 comments

Latest by RaptorAvatar: I call bullshit on him saying you can't bullshit people on guitar. You can be bankrupt as a musician and just be naturally fast enough that trilling two notes approximates actually playing for a moron. more »

for whom the joystick tolls

Metallica Gets The "Guitar Hero" Treatment, And We Have A Few Suggestions

Following in the proud tradition of, well, Aerosmith, Metallica will be honored with its own version of Guitar Hero sometime in 2009. Of course, with Metallica's recent track record, I'm a little concerned that the song selection might be a bit troublesome for the band, and by that, I mean the game might feature any of its recent material. As a helpful service, a few suggestions below the cut. More »

11:30 AM on Tue Jun 3 2008
By Dan Gibson
817 views, 7 comments

videodrone

Queens Of The Stone Age Bring Back Memories Of "MTV2 Video Mods"



The new Queens Of The Stone Age video, "3s & 7s," their second for the track, finds the band replaced by Rock Band avatars considerably more skinny and twirl-prone than their human counterparts. Oddly, the previous video for the song, which attempted to swipe the Grindhouse zeitgeist, didn't feature much more of the band (p.s. this track fucking smokes, but anyone who plays Guitar Hero III already knows that). More »

5:45 PM on Fri May 16 2008
By Anthony Miccio
1,068 views, 7 comments

backlashes

"Guitar Hero": Already Over?


Will getting together with your friends for the purpose of being in a plastic cover band be the first 2007 trend to fall by the wayside? The answer: Maybe! Our pals at MetalSucks have some anecdotal info: "Plastic guitars sit in corners of my friends' apartments rarely used. Occasionally the 'Hero comes out for some drunken fun, but for the most part this trend seems to have passed; people have had their fill. And frankly, I have to agree that at this point Guitar Hero seems quite passé." And the introduction of Guitar Hero for the Nintendo DS—which seems to me more an exercise in trying to extend the barriers of antisociability—may very well be the final news item to propel the anti-Hero movement; many of the people who forwarded me that particular announcement appended a "WTF???" to it. Whether or not this will lead to parties where people actually talk to one another coming back into vogue is uncertain, but either way, I'm sure Steven Tyler is not happy at all. [MetalSucks]

5:20 PM on Thu Mar 20 2008
By Maura Johnston
2,159 views, 13 comments

Latest by Kimona: Guitar Hero 3 = hardcore game that appeals largely to the competitive spirit. If you want to progress, you have to compete. Developer = guys who made the Tony Hawk games and GUN. Rock Band = co-op game that just plain more »

somewhat pointless listmaking

The Top Five Songs That Need To Be On The Aerosmith "Guitar Hero"

Today, Activision announced that an Aerosmith-themed* edition of Guitar Hero, the cleverly titled Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, would be available in stores come June. The press release heralding the game's launch contained a baffling quote from Steven Tyler, who said: "Any band that can go from 'Don't Want to Miss A Thing' (Aerosmith's #1 smash hit) to the ass-kicking 'Sweet Emotion' to the cheekiness of 'Love in an Elevator,' to the classic ballad 'Dream On' shows why Activision chose us to headline this game based on the diversity of the Aerosmith catalog. Not only is songwriting a bitch, but then it goes and has puppies." Odd dog-related metaphors aside, what is up, Mr. Tyler, with naming a freaking Diane Warren track before anything else from your catalog? Clearly you need some help picking the right songs for your game, so after the jump, I've selected five songs that are definitely ripe for inclusion. (And no, "Sweet Emotion" and "Walk This Way" aren't on there because we pretty much can figure that the songs you trot out for every TV appearance will be front-and-center, probably in multiple versions.) More »

2:00 PM on Fri Feb 15 2008
By Maura Johnston
9,590 views, 44 comments

Latest by JebusDaEternal: well dont forget thought that there will also be some other songs on this one that aerosmith says inspired thier music so it wont be only aerosmith on this game and besides its guitar hero what do you expect theyre more »