Kotaku Australia » guitar

Mad Catz’s Wireless Fender Telecaster Is Distressed

Mike Fahey — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:20:00 +0000

The legendary Fender Telecaster comes to life and is quickly beaten half to death in Mad Catz new Rock Band Wireless Fender Telecaster ‘Player’s Edition’ guitar for the Xbox 360.

More than just an extremely pretty face, the Fender Telecaster ‘Player’s Edition’ comes complete with fast-action ‘Shredderz’ fret buttons, an exclusive addition to the model with a rapid action that the company says is perfect for difficult solos. The Telecaster also has four different methods for kicking Rock Band into overdrive — the optional Electro-Harmonix Overdrive Pedal, the back tuning button, the old-fashioned tilt mechanism and a new touch sensitive pickup, conveniently located above the strum bar.

The Telecaster retails for $US109.99 and is now shipping to stores across North America. It’s a little on the pricey side, but it sure has a hell of a lot of character.

Guitar Hero Standalone Controllers Hit This Week

Brian Crecente — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Finally. Starting Sunday Guitar Hero World Tour players will be able to purchase individual guitar controllers and drum kit controllers in stores in North America.

While the quite lengthy press release goes into all kinds of details we already knew about the drum, the guitar and the songs you can use to play them with, it doesn’t actually list a price.

Fortunately GameStop, which has the correct date, does.

According to the online retailer the Wireless Drum kit will sell for US$100, while the guitar will sell for US$70.

Kotaku AU Note: We asked Activision if we’ll see these here. They said they currently have “no plans” to bring them out locally. For now, you’ll have to make do with grabbing a standalone Guitar Hero III guitar to complete your four-man band.

Wii-Sporting, Foot-Pedaless Foot Pedal Hits The Boston Globe

Brian Crecente — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:40:00 +0000

The Boston Globe has a short but sweet piece in their paper today about the man behind the Nintendo Wii hack that turns a remote into a wireless foot pedal of sorts.

Rob Morris’ Wii hack for his guitar gets quite a bit of play in Marros’ Boston band Vivian Darkbloom, the Globe reports. Morris uses a remote, with the help of a laptop, to alter the pitch of his sound and add echo by tilting the guitar around.

Here’s how he did it:

1. Attach the remote to the guitar Duct tape works. Velcro is a little fancier. Morris says the important thing is to make sure it doesn’t fall off in the middle of a performance.

2. Make the Wiimote and computer talk Morris runs “Bluetooth Setup Assistant” on his Mac to synch up the Wiimote to the computer.

3. Get the right software Morris uses the Max/MSP multimedia suite to translate the controller’s motions into any guitar effect he wants. Besides pitch and echo, he likes the “granular synthesis” effect, which can create blips and beeps that sound like old video games.

4. Convert to audio Plug the guitar and laptop into a PreSonus Firebox, which converts the computer signals into audio signals and spits them out through a guitar cable.

5. Turn it up Plug the guitar cable from the Firebox into your amplifier, and you’re ready to rock.

His guitar’s got game

Wii Rage Guitar Recalled Due To Chemical Burnination

Stuart Houghton — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:20:00 +0000

The Rage Wireless Guitar Controller for the Wii is being recalled after a fault left one gamer injured.

Performance Designed Products Inc has issued a recall notice for 57,000 of the Guitar Hero controllers. A manufacturing fault means that improperly installed batteries can leak. PDP have been informed that one gamer has suffered chemical burns due to the fault.

The affected units are Blue or White and were purchased between June and September this year. If you think you have been affected, go to www.pdp.com, where you can apply for a full refund.

Rage Wireless Guitar Used with Nintendo Wii Recalled [Consumer Affairs]

The Jonas Brothers And Rihanna Join PopStar Guitar

Mike Fahey — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:20:00 +0000

It seems recently that a day doesn’t go by without some rhythm game announcing new artists, new albums, or new features for the forthcoming versions of their franchise, and XS Game’s PopStar Guitar wants in on some of that hot announcement action. In a press release that claims to be announcing four new blockbuster tracks, five new tracks are listed, which I assume means one of them isn’t blockbuster enough. Is it Rihanna’s “Shut Up and Drive”, “SOS” by the Jonas Brothers, “See You Again” by Hannah Montana, or “Wake Up Call” and “Makes Me Wonder” from Maroon 5?

Whichever of the selections is deemed unworthy of blockbuster status, one thing is perfectly clear: the demographic for this Wii and PS2 game does not include me. Should sell like hotcakes to preteen girls and their creepy admirers though.

XS GAMES TURNS UP THE VOLUME ANNOUNCING FOUR NEW BLOCKBUSTER TRACKS FOR POPSTAR GUITAR™

Master Tracks From Rihanna, The Jonas Brothers and Maroon 5 to be Featured in New Music Rhythm Game for the Wii™ and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system

NEW YORK, NY – September 10, 2008 – Videogame publisher XS Games announced today that hit songs from 2008 MTV Video Music Award nominees and performers Rihanna and The Jonas Brothers, will be featured as master tracks in PopStar Guitar, a new music rhythm game for the Wii™ and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. Players will be able to unlock their inner pop star as they perform live versions of these chart-topping hits by popular artists.

Pop Star Guitar # 1 Hits include:
· Shut Up and Drive by Rihanna
· SOS by The Jonas Brothers
· See You Again by Miley Cyrus
· Wake Up Call by Maroon 5
· Makes Me Wonder by Maroon 5

“To deliver an authentic pop music experience in PopStar Guitar, we knew we had to include original music from today’s hottest artists,” said Steve Grossman, chief executive officer of XS Games. “PopStar Guitar’s music coupled with the innovative AirG peripheral for the Wii, will enable players to jam like a real star.”

In PopStar Guitar, players assume the role of a lead guitarist on a musical journey, beginning in a garage band and eventually progressing to the main stage of a worldwide “Battle of the Bands” competition. The game features twelve playable characters, 25 visually stunning venues and more than 50 pop songs, including many # 1 Hits from the original artists. Players can customise their band and give them a unique look, as well as win a number of VIP vehicles, so their band can travel like real pop stars! With three difficulty levels, PopStar Guitar will feature a single player Career Mode along with single player and multi-player mini-games.

Developed by Broadsword Interactive, PopStar Guitar will be available for the Wii™ and the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The Wii™ version of PopStar Guitar will feature the AirG™, an exciting new peripheral that snaps onto the Wii Remote™ and transforms the controller into an air guitar. For PlayStation®2 system players, PopStar Guitar will function with any 5 button PlayStation®2 system compatible guitar.

Available November 2008, PopStar Guitar is rated “Teen” by the ESRB.

Mad Catz Ships Fender Rock Band Bass

Mike Fahey — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:40:00 +0000

It’s here, it’s here! It’s finally here! Well, it’ll shortly be here at least. Mad Catz has announced that the first in their line of third-party Rock Band instrument alternatives is shipping today, and bassists of the world rejoice. The Fender Precision Bass guitar is an extremely sexy piece of fake guitar-shaped plastic, featuring all the standard guitar features, including solo keys, overdrive mode, and a unique whammy feature integrated into the volume control to give the bass an authentic feel. Probably the best feature of the Fender Precision is the split strum bar, which allows for two-finger plucking in classic bass style. The only way they could capture the bass experience any better would be to include someone to (severely edited) the bassist in between sets.

I crave this like I have craved no other plastic musical instrument before, to the point where I’m completely bypassing my own built-in safeguards against buying Mad Catz products and actively considering making the purchase. Scary, I know!

Mad Catz Ships the First-Ever Rock Band™ Bass Guitar
Fender Precision Bass Guitar Kicks Off a Full Line of New Rock Band Products

SAN DIEGO—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (AMEX/TSX: MCZ), a leading third-party interactive entertainment accessory provider, announced today that it has begun shipping its Fender™ Precision Bass guitar for the Xbox 360™, the initial offering under its licence with Harmonix and MTV Games to produce and distribute game peripherals and other products for the critically acclaimed Rock Band™ game.

“We are excited to be providing an opportunity for the millions of Rock Band fans to enhance their game-playing experience with our Fender Precision Bass guitar,” commented Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz. “This is the first in a series of Rock Band products we expect to release this fall, each of which we believe will add to the realism and enjoyment of this immensely popular game.”

This premium bass guitar provides gamers with a licensed, authentic Fender Precision Bass guitar to complete their ensemble. Compatible with both Rock Band and the upcoming Rock Band 2 games, the Fender Precision Bass can be used to play both lead and bass guitar portions of a selected track. Incorporating all the features of the standard guitar, including Solo Keys, Whammy, and Overdrive Mode, the Fender Precision Bass comes equipped with innovative features designed to enhance the Rock Band experience.

The unique Split Strum Bar allows gamers to strum and pluck notes faster and with more precision, vital for fast tempo tracks. The genuine Fender Precision Bass does not have a whammy bar. To respect the accuracy of the bass, Mad Catz has engineered whammy compatibility by discreetly incorporating it into the volume knob of the bass, providing gamers with essential functionality when playing both lead or bass guitar portions of the track while preserving the timeless authenticity of the original design.

Published by MTV Games and developed by MTV Network’s Harmonix Music Systems, Rock Band is a leading platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music, challenging users to master the lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals as solo artists or cooperatively as part of their own band. Built on deals with the world’s biggest record labels and music publishers, the music featured in Rock Band spans all genres of rock and includes many master recordings from the greatest songs and artists of all time. Rock Band is currently available for the Xbox 360, Wii™, PlayStation® 3 and PlayStation® 2 consoles in North America and for the Xbox 360 in Europe. Rock Band 2 will make its debut on Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft this September and have an exclusive launch window in North America. Rock Band 2 will be available for the PLAYSTATION® 3 and PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment systems and Wii™ later this year.

PopStar Guitar – Oh Look, Another Guitar Game

Mike Fahey — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:20:00 +0000

Electronic Arts. Activision. Konami. XS Games? The relatively tiny publisher is wading into deep waters this October when they ship PopStar Guitar, a guitar playing game for the Wii and PlayStation 2. The game features more than 50 pop songs from artists such as 3 Doors Down, Simple Plan, Blink 182, and many other bands you’d be likely to find on that damn Buzz Cuts CD they keep advertising on television. The game includes single player and co-op mode, allowing one or two players to visit 25 unique venues on their road to making their hands tired.

The difference with PopStar Guitar is the way you control it on the Wii. While the PS2 version is compatible with Rock Band or Guitar Hero controllers, the Wii version ships with something called the AirG, which attaches to your Wii remote to form “an electrifying air guitar”. Sounds dangerous. Look, I’m all for competition in the marketplace, but you have to bring something more to the table than a one-shot accessory and more than 50 pop songs ” including several masters performed by the original artists”. Several?

XS GAMES ANNOUNCES POPSTAR GUITAR™, NEW MUSIC RHYTHM GAME FEATURING HITS FROM TOP POP RECORDING ARTISTS

PopStar Guitar For the Wii™ Includes the Unique AirG™ Peripheral,
Turning your Wii Remote into an Air Guitar

NEW YORK, NY – July 22, 2008 – Videogame publisher XS Games announced today its new music rhythm game, PopStar Guitar™, featuring songs from top pop music stars including 3 Doors Down, Simple Plan, Blink 182 and many more. PopStar Guitar allows players to unlock their inner pop celebrity and star as the lead guitarist in their very own band. Shipping in October 2008, PopStar Guitar will be available for the Wii™ and the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The Wii™ version of PopStar Guitar will feature the AirG™, an exciting new peripheral that turns the Wii Remote™ into an air guitar.

“The popularity of music rhythm games is at an all time high, but to date the games have primarily featured hard core metal, classic and alternative rock music,” said Steve Grossman, chief executive officer of XS Games. “With popular songs from today’s top pop artists, PopStar Guitar is a game the whole family can enjoy. We’ve also created a dynamic new air guitar game play experience with our AirG peripheral for the Wii, allowing players to have a blast as they unleash their inner pop star.”

PopStar Guitar features a single player Career Mode and two-player Co-operative Mode, along with single player and multi-player mini-games. The game takes the player on a musical journey that starts with forming a garage band to playing at 25 unique venues and eventually performing in the worldwide “Battle of the Bands” contest. Twelve playable characters are featured in the game and can be customised to give the band its own unique look. PopStar Guitar features over 50 pop songs, including several masters performed by the original artists.

Exclusively for the Wii™, PopStar Guitar will come with the AirG™, a peripheral that snaps onto the Wii Remote and turns the controller into an electrifying air guitar. For PlayStation®2 system players, PopStar Guitar will function with any PlayStation®2 system compatible guitar peripheral.

PopStar Guitar has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

Build A Guitar Hero Auto Whammy Barless Bar

Mark Wilson — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:20:05 +0000

While most of this circuit soldering fun is over our heads, for those interested, you can modify your Guitar Hero (or Rock Band, we’re assuming) controllers to automatically whammy through entire songs at inhumanly fast theoretical maximums by replacing the whammy output with a 555 timer circuit. Essentially this circuit automatically alternates proper voltage to build up your star power fast.

Also of note, this mod requires no external power (like batteries) and it can be toggled on and off for the times when you don’t want to be an evil awful horrible cheater.

HOWTO Hack Your Guitar Hero Whammy Bar [Gogglemarks via MAKE]

8-Bit Guitar Straps

Brian Crecente — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:00:13 +0000

I Am 8-Bit and Couch have teamed up to sell these spiffy Space Invader-infested guitar straps, perfect for dangling faux guitars from your neck between sets on Rock Band or Guitar Hero.

The vinyl straps feature a swarm of Space Invaders at either end in either blue or black and sell for $US 33 a pop. Best part? It’s wearable art.

“I am 8-bit by Couch” Rock Band/Guitar Hero Strap [Couch]

Guitar Hero III Controllers Break Apart for Storage

Brian Crecente — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 21:00:24 +0000

Stephen Totilo just posted a video that reveals that the Guitar Hero III guitars actually break apart for storage. How cool is that? It’s certainly going to save some space in my closet. Kinda like how snuggly the Wii Remote fits in there too, though I’m not sure why they even bother. Why not just use the guitar?