In Real Life

Ever Wonder What’s Inside A Guitar Hero Guitar?

Sure, you could smash one open, but these are pieces of consumer electronics, not Easter eggs. Why do you always have to go for the violent option first?


February 23, 2012
In Real Life

Air Guitar Hero Works, Lets Amputees Rock Out

A pair of bright sparks from Johns Hopkins University have taken the Wii version of Guitar Hero and turned it into a rehab tool for amputees. Specifically, people missing their hands/fingers.


February 2, 2012
In Real Life

While My Guitar Controller Gently Weeps

As both a game developer and a gamer, I am sad to see the guitar controller fading into obscurity. Guitar controllers are a fun and unique interface to control games, but unfortunately, it seems as though their time may have passed. I reject that.


January 16, 2012
In Real Life

The Greatest Music Game Never Made?

The music game boom is done and dusted (RIP), but don’t tell Grant Woolard. In his head bangin’ head, it still lives on. And it’s totally awesome.


October 19, 2011
News

Should You Buy Rocksmith? No.

Today marks the release of Ubisoft’s Rocksmith, a music game that may seem a bit on the late end of the Great Music Game Craze of 2009. All the same, it comes with a tantalising promise: it allows players to plug a real guitar into their game console via a 1/4 inch-to-USB cable and play real notes along with the game.


September 27, 2011
News

The Worst Music Video Games Ever

Music games aren’t what they used to be, and in some cases, the world is safer for that. Video game expert Scott Steinberg and author of the new digital book “Music Games Rock”, tells us what the seven worst music video games of all time are.


August 15, 2011
News

One Of England’s Biggest Rock Stars Blames Games For Riots

The reason for a city’s youth rioting for days are no doubt complex and many. But, hey, let’s blame video games, because that’s exactly what rocker Noel Gallagher is doing.


August 5, 2011
News

Activision Is Getting Sued Over A Music Game. Again.

A few years back, it was all the rage for musicians to sue Activision over appearances in Guitar Hero. Courtney Love was doing it, The Romantics were doing it, No Doubt was doing it, even Axl Rose was in on the action.


July 21, 2011
In Real Life

Activision Boss Says DJ Hero Helped Kill Guitar Hero

I like video games. I like turntables. I like DJ Shadow, I like the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, the Scratch Perverts. Yet I’ve thought DJ Hero was a stupid idea from the moment the series was first announced.


May 31, 2011
PC

Fretlight Guitar Sets A Shining Example For Hopeful Guitar Heroes

With Guitar Hero on extended leave and no new Rock Band title coming out this year, now is the perfect time to trade in our toy guitars for something a bit more substantial. Going from five colourful plastic buttons for six strings with 22 frets each is a daunting task however, especially when music games have trained you to respond to visual cues to guide your playing; you see a green circle, you hold down the corresponding button and strum. A regular guitar won’t flash little circles in front your eyes to help you hit the right notes.