I wouldn't blame the God-awfulness of the figures on the sculpts. The character designs themselves are some of the most hideous in all of gaming.

MSUSteve

@Arsenicberyllium: see thats being creative, a highway that u could move notes around, then pressa button and hear it? its like your own personal jingle machine, noit that id endorse that anymore but at least its more creative than idiots idolized in resin.

JDWRudy25

To this effect, I want a note chart action figure.

With detachable notes that I can slide up and down.

Arsenicberyllium

@kathartik:
He probably means that he is annoyed with how much Activision is milking a once lovely franchise. Remember when the Shrek movies came out and you couldn't turn your head without seeing his big, ugly green mug plastered to something? Guitar Hero is kinda like that now. Guitar Hero is Shrek.

CorrinZGW

@kathartik: argh ninja'd my point >_>

Ghar

@kathartik: i think we just wish they were more respectful than money hungry is all; like buy just making money off game sales, not Slurpee cups and crummy action figures and removal of peripheral licensing (Gibson) in order to increase their own profits...

JDWRudy25

Meh everyone hates on Activision for "selling out" and whatnot but I don't really see a problem with it... I mean they're a company and their goal is to make money. So, if they think that making more games and making some toys will bring in more money then I see nothing wrong with it. And it's not like they're the only ones who do this kind of thing. Look at Mario & other such Nintendo characters that now appear in their own version of just about every kind of popular sports game. They also have toys, shirts, etc... Same with Halo with figures, shirts, books, etc... All these companies are out to make money. We are the consumers, so if you don't like something then don't buy it. Personally with these figures, I've never really cared for McFarlane's work and no Metalhead or Rojimbo guitar = failure.

Ghar

and another note, does all of this selling out just echo Tony Hawk? Why cant Activision let good things stay good?

JDWRudy25

@JDWRudy25: how does marketing make them sellouts? GH is a commercial brand, and commercial brands have the ultimate goal of incresing profits. GH isn't exactly an underground movement. I don't understand how anyone here (not just you, I see other sellout comments there) can accuse a CORPORATION of being sellouts. their job is to make money and bring in as much of an audience as possible. they are not your buddies. they're a company.

kathartik

@JDWRudy25: I actually agree with you. While the characters from gears of war and halo are actualy characters, these guys are are sort of bland eye candy in the game and not much more, no?

Fishballs

No Clive Winston, No NERD!!! money for you.

NerD!!!

why would anyone want to collect those ugly pieces of crap? What a stupid idea. "Let's make plastic figurines of fake rock stars jamming to cover tunes onf real songs!" pffft.

target_render

No female characters? wtf is that crap?

Rajolae

I'm beginning to become infuriated with Activision now. I keep seeing this shit and saying "What could they possibly do to make themselves look even more like sell-out douchebag fuckshits?" and they do this. What's next? A Guitar Hero show at the super bowl? An MTV show for celebrity Guitar Hero players? I mean, really, they're just pissing on my face now.

enigma89

No Judy Nails? Fail

gyroball

well let me get back to real discussion then.. one, i too dont understand the need for toys for adults. I mean it makes sense for a Gears of War or a Halo because that's the sort of thing their audience looks for, and you're actually playing as those characters in their respected games. Guitar Hero is probably one of the most casual games out there, I don't care how hardcore you think you are, if you know music because of Guitar Hero, I'm sorry for you. You're not even playing "as" these characters, they're just something for spectator to look at, you can easily have guitar hero with nothing but the "highway" but you cant have Zelda without Link. It'd be like selling action figures of Toad, but not having mario.. i think...

JDWRudy25

It has already been asked, but... WHY?

Most of the characters in Guitar Hero are the very EPITOME of generic. Boring. Not something I'd want in an action figure, doll, collectible, or anything else of the sort. Excuse me while I find a good way to justify this.

2NinjasTapedTogether

@JDWRudy25: Don't sweat it. Just learn from it, and live. Don't take any of the critics to heart.

@dunetiger reads kotaku, seems pleased: Dang! NOW what am I going to buy you for your birthday?

wild homes has particularly attractive fries today

@Arsenicberyllium: Actually, looking at his history, this isn't the first time he's tried to link to his blog for no apparent reason.

Fishballs

Hideous, just like the characters they're based on.

I'd probably buy a figure of "Swamp Man we recruited to play bass" though. That guy's awesome.

Cyanotic

I liked how they looked on the first guitar hero. Ever since guitar hero 3 they look creepy and gritty. But i guess they must be marketing this to the younger audience of the GH fans so, eh. still looks decent.

BryanGuitarDude

@JDWRudy25: No big deal, we learn from our mistakes.

On topic: I'm not sure why someone would buy guitar hero action figures.

Pyro Jack

Also, I don't get the toy thing (Guitar Hero, Gears of War, Halo, etc.). Playing video games as an adult is one thing, but playing with toys?

CorrinZGW

@Arsenicberyllium: well my self esteem is at 0 :D

JDWRudy25

@JDWRudy25: @CorrinZGW: Actually, I was referring to the fact that you posted first, phoned in the actual message for your comment, and blatantly linked to your own blog with no justification.

You're like the Guitar Hero franchise of commenters.

Arsenicberyllium

Oh wow, did they intend to make the God of Rock's head look like it was done in five minutes by some drunk or was that a design choice?
@JDWRudy25: Hmm, "First", a link to what I assume is your blog... Your future looks bleak.

Erwin

Hmm, I always found the character models in Guitar Hero to be monstrously ugly. I think...I'm fairly certain I'll pass on these.

Neo Deus

Wow... I DON'T need one!

dunetiger reads kotaku, seems pleased

@JDWRudy25: They don't like firsties here. And are you trying to push your own blog in the comments?

For shame.

Fishballs

I would buy some, but my self respect and my dignity is holding me back. I think I'll pass.

Amazon_Chris

@CorrinZGW: news to me .. sorry i guess?

JDWRudy25

@JDWRudy25:
Posting "First!" is retarded and you can get banned for it.

CorrinZGW

I didn't know God rocked out.

Arkley

@bobeotm: i think it cause theyre not like retail version, they may be the finalize scultpure but not the finalized product

JDWRudy25

The only cool thing about these turds is that they all have bonus guitars. What's stupid is why the God of Rock is not using his shiny Gibson SG. These are all super crappy in any event.

shintobreak

@Arsenicberyllium: excuse me?

JDWRudy25

Oh wow, I take it back. I hope they don't end up butchering a rendition of Judy Nails.

lonkley

They all have a wierd wonky claymation vibe. Nothing about them seems sharp or crip, they appear like they are made from painted play-doh. They just dont have that precision to them like some figures i have seen.

bobeotm

@Kanik:
No way dawg, get this...it's the God Of Rock!!!

CorrinZGW

See. It just proves that everything about the Guitar Hero franchise has just been phoning it in for years now.

@JDWRudy25: BANNEDED! Well, not yet, because I'm not an editor or BanHammer, but just wait 3 seconds.

Arsenicberyllium

Now, I'm not familiar with Guitar Hero or any of the Rock Legends that it boasts. But...

Is that second figure Zeus?!?

Kanik

Why...would anyone want to pay money for toys based off of a game where you play with a toy guitar???

CorrinZGW

Bad. Just Bad. Milk it for what its worth, I suppose.

KoopaTroopa

First!

wow, sell outs...

[v-f-h.blogspot.com]

JDWRudy25

lol that model just made me laugh so hard

Solidsky

What? How could they not have Midori?

Coquiton

@MSUSteve: Yes, the actual character models are hideous. These are somehow much worse

Defenestrated

Wow, that's so Robot Chicken!

TheDollHouse

And to think Guitar Hero 1 was so good!

SuperCollider

why all the hate? lars and johnny dont look too bad, but why do they all include the gay novelty guitars?

zakky venom

Amen to the haters here. Sure, Activision has the market-their-butts-off thing down, but there has always been something generically tacky about the GH characters.

jasoncourt

@lonkley: Don't worry, they're gonna give her a MASSIVE chest. Like, even more massive than the implants she got between II and III.

Americo

Not only do these not entice me to spend money on poseable "action figures", but it also does not make me want to play Guitar Hero.

And yes, I'm probably the only person who has not played Guitar Hero. And I don't really care to.

Eltigro

MacFarlain and co have been phoning in their shit for years.

That being said I'm actually surprised these are as blad as they are, I'd have thought that a series of "Rock N' Roll" characters would allow Todd to engage in his favorite hobby, adding skulls and blood splatter to things that don't need or deserve it.

On a side note, I'm about as big of a "Games as art" "legitimate storytelling medium" dork as they come, but come on, are you people really trying to tell me that video games are a significantly less nerdy hobby than toy collecting?

Diddy_Mao

I personally would have liked some figures of the girl characters as eye candy for my desk, were they of at least minimal quality. These are like the boot-legs you find in the Chinese Exchange magazine at $10 for 500.

KentKarma

@MSUSteve: True, I bet they will make the male singer from Guitar Hero III with the huge ass chin.

Fireblast

It's not the McFarlane way to not have a lineup without ONE figure with cleavage. Maybe that's a surprise for later.

I...can't...wait...zzzzzzz

boopadoo

I'm shocked by the lack of Judy Nails.

DTJAAAAM

Guitar Hero: Sausage Fest!

i wouldn't mind some product overkill if it meant having some Guitar Hero II Pandora in my house.

Rendo

Where in the world is Clive Winston!

Nessman

@Nessman: For serious. Its like these are geared toward people who haven't even played the game, just seen the cover art. Like parents, I guess.

SuperCollider

@gyroball: @DTJAAAAM:

Yeah, I know, wtf, no Judy? I'll take her in the flavor of her second costume in GHII, III's version of Judy Nails just kinda sucks. :|

jello44

@wild homes is weathering cephalopod trouble!:

What else would I expect from you, dude? A chocolate dick-hat! lololol

dunetiger reads kotaku, seems pleased

What the hell happened to McFarlane Toys? These look even much worse than the figures of their first line...

Bluetribal

Those things are hideous.

SovietEngland

Where's Pandora? =(

RageW

Wow, I think I'll pass.

Wubbytoes

Looks about as horrible as you would expect. I mean, Todd could only do so much with the shitastic character designs of the game, right?

Zyzex_Remix

I was hoping for the Guitar Hero I or II Johnny Napalm. Oh well. It's odd that they have guitar straps, the in-game models never had straps. XD

ST19AG_WGreymon

Something tells me half of EA/Harmonix staff are commenting in here. Evidently the millions of people that bought Guitar Hero III don't post on Kotaku...

Anyway, what's not to love about a toilet shaped guitar? It even has turd pickups.

geffel12

"...McFarlane Toys, known for its exceptional sculpts and attention to detail..."

You forgot craptastic construction and paintjobs that look like they were applied by a crew of drunk monkeys. I've seen McFarlane action figures with limbs that snapped in half _in_ a factory-sealed package, and paintjobs that look, well, like a crew of drunk monkeys had a hand (or twelve) in their creation.

Purple Dave

FAIL

I would've been interested in a Casey Lynch or Judy Nails...but not if they look like those.

eugaet

Wow, the God of Rock is terrible looking...and with them all having those unlockable guitars it's really lame.

Valiant Goat

Ugh, why?

The Guitar Hero characters are awful! Every time I see them, I feel like I'm watching those bad animatronics at the gross pizza arcade.

Xagest

To Quote Yahtzee, where the fuck is Clive Winston?
[www.escapistmagazine.com]

ferroptic

Why come out with collectible figures for a party game? There aren't really any Guitar Hero "collectors" out there, are there?

So I'm guessing they'll be putting out t-shirts that say "Red Blue Blue Green Orange Yellow Orange Green Red WAAAHHH" now, too. Wait, let me guess...

Chilibob

Personally I like the Lars one. But the other ones are pretty blah.

Zenatrul

Not only can you PRETEND to play guitar, but now you can stare at the toy of the person that was playing your fake concert!

UCB-Disco