Guitar Hero World Tour Announced

We recently attended a Darksiders II preview event in San Francisco to see what Vigil Games have in store for the next Horseman of the Apocalypse, Death. Check out our preview!

Ghost Recon Future Soldier Preview!

We recently got a sneak peek at the upcoming new Ghost Recon Future Soldier from Ubisoft. Check out our in-depth preview for a closer look at the action!

We Chat with Yager and 2K Games

We got a good sandblasting when getting hands-on with Spec Ops: The Line, so we returned the favour with a full video interview with Yager and 2K Games.

The Old Republic Reviewed!

Read the AusGamers review to find out if importing Star Wars: The Old Republic is worth the hassle, or if you should wait for the local release to get your Force on!

Guitar Hero World Tour Announced

Post by Dan @ 10:16am 23/05/08 | 30 Comments

Well Activision's big announcement today turned out to be something we were already aware of, the official revealing of the next game in the acclaimed Guitar Hero series, Guitar Hero World Tour. Nevertheless, there's a stack of delicious new details to be digested.

We've updated yesterday's trailer with a new lush hi-def version for download, but more importantly we now have the low-down on the game's new features. Here's the big ones:

newly designed more responsive instruments, including a microphone and a bigger (more expensive) drum kit than EA's Rock Band.
An all new music studio allowing players to compose their own tracks and share them online
100% master tracks (no cover versions). Soundtrack to include Van Halen, Linkin Park, The Eagles and Sublime (and presumably Lenny Kravitz from the trailer).
dynamic character creation and instrument customisation interfaces.
eight player multiplayer (four vs four).
The Wii version will offer downloadable content, the first game on the platform to do so.

The first batch of screenshots from the game can be found in our new online gallery for Guitar Hero World Tour.

Tags: guitar hero world tour

Link

fpot
Posted 10:20am 23/5/08

Do you sing as well?

Link

Dan
Posted 10:24am 23/5/08

There's a mic, yeah.

Link

fpot
Posted 10:26am 23/5/08

Cool.

Link

Hyperslide
Posted 10:34am 23/5/08

Guitar hero ...hmmm
So So over it

Link

DM
Posted 11:08am 23/5/08

wow so... the BIG announcement was that they are ripping off rock band because it's better than GH3 was. I do like the drumkit render though. Seems a little over the top though. Mabye putting 1 of the symbol like pads onto a rock band drumkit would be better.

EDIT - hey with a bit of luck, this will see a release date sometime before rock band does in AUS. it sure seems likely.

last edited by DM at 11:08:39 23/May/08

Link

Kamma
Posted 11:22am 23/5/08

With any luck this'll allow the ability to use the Rock Band instruments, and Rock Band will do the same with these. It'd be a really stupid move on both company's part to not allow this, I can't see anyone shelling out for 2 sets of plastic instruments, but I can imagine people buying both games if there's cross-compatability.

Link

Khel
Posted 11:22am 23/5/08

I dunno about those drums, sure, its got 1 extra pad than the rock band ones, but the set as a whole looks way cheaper and not as good as the rock band ones.

Unless this works with rock band peripherals (which is doubtful, seeing as how theres an extra pad on the drum set), I'll pass.

Link

darkjedi
Posted 11:36am 23/5/08

What? DLC on the Wii version?

I'm more suprised than you think@!

Will laugh if this comes out before RB does in Australia.

Link

trog
Posted 11:56am 23/5/08

I must confess, I am already so over platform specific downloadable content. I don't want to get an inferior product because of some deals cut with some console manufacturer - I'm sure as shit not going to go out and buy a Wii just so I can get DLC. I already _know_ my console can handle DLC, so the reasons I'm not getting it cannot be technical. WHY DO THEY MOCK US SO!

Link

WetWired
Posted 12:00pm 23/5/08

fuck rock band, they've taken too long to release in Aus, I'll be getting this instead just out of spite, not to mention the fact you can make your own music with this one, plus the motherfucking EAGLES! sold

Link

Reverend Evil�
Posted 12:06pm 23/5/08

I'm gonna buy both and have twice as much fun as you Wet!

so ner...

Link

Midda
Posted 12:06pm 23/5/08

Yeah, I agree with WetWired, I was excited for Rock Band about a year ago. They've proven that they don't want my money with the stupid delays and sodomising prices that they want to charge us. I really don't give a fuck about it anymore, so I'll probably just get this instead. At least we'll probably get it the same time as everyone else.

Link

Dan
Posted 12:25pm 23/5/08

I'm sure as shit not going to go out and buy a Wii just so I can get DLC. I already _know_ my console can handle DLC, so the reasons I'm not getting it cannot be technical. WHY DO THEY MOCK US SO!

I think you misinterpreted. There was nothing saying 360 and ps3 wouldn't be getting downloadable content, only that the wii version would be getting it as well, where it had missed out with GH3 (and ever other game, ever).

Link

maxe
Posted 12:32pm 23/5/08

that drum kit looks fucking retardo

you would have to break it apart to put everything in the right position to play it properly, ie

Link

Khel
Posted 12:55pm 23/5/08

I imported Rock Band, because at the end of the day, Harmonix just make better rythym games than Activision and whoever they hire to copy Guitar Hero/Rock Band. After playing Guitar Hero 3 for a while, and going back to Guitar Hero 2, it was immediately obvious to me how much better and how much more fun GH2 was. Harmonix = win, Activision = fail.

Also, Activision fail at downloadable content. Look at downloadable content for GH3 (which came out before rock band btw), compared to Rock Band. Activision have released, what, 15 songs for GH3? Maybe? And some of those are pretty mediocre at best. Rock Band is currently up to about 120 downloadable songs, with more coming out every week.

not to mention the fact you can make your own music with this one

I remember seeing an interview with Harmonix guys when Rock Band came out, and they were talking about how they're making a system where people can author their own tracks for Rock Band (using a program you run on your PC I think it was from memory), then you can submit them to Harmonix, and they'll put the best ones up for download. Haven't heard much about it lately, so I dunno, maybe its been put aside as something for a sequel or maybe its still in the works, but it still sounds like a better solution than some gumby, crippled in-game interface for authoring your own music imo.

Oh, and thats not even mentioning Activision's stance on not allowing their peripherals to be used in any other game. Harmonix had a patch to let Guitar Hero 3 guitars work in the PS3 version of Rock Band, written and ready to go, and Activision blocked it. Personally I'd rather support an open platform, than closed proprietary bullshit.

last edited by Khel at 12:55:17 23/May/08

Link

Dan
Posted 01:12pm 23/5/08

Do you find it kind of ironic that you're sledging one product to support another that's published by Electronic Arts?

Link

Khel
Posted 02:36pm 23/5/08

Yeah, it makes me feel a whole new kind of dirty. No matter how much I scrub, and scrub, the dirt won't come off, the taint is in my soul. But the writings on the wall, I can't deny it, Rock Band is the most fun I've ever had with my pants on.

Link

Tollaz0r!
Posted 03:30pm 23/5/08

And in some cases with your pants off.

Link

B.Hardball
Posted 03:55pm 23/5/08

After just reading the OP, this is kind of appealing for songwriters like me. Consider myspace's and youtube's impact on promoting people's original music: if you could also make it fun for other people to play the music that you've written, then you're gaining heaps more popularity.

I'm going to keep a very close eye on this.

Link

Kamma
Posted 05:27am 24/5/08

Fingers crossed the Eagles song is Life in the Fast Lane, although I can't seeing it being anything else. Hotel California is a great song, but I can't see it being played on Guitar Hero.

Link

gimpy
Posted 12:53pm 24/5/08

What's the cheapest place to import PAL Rock Band for xbox 360?

Link

Khel
Posted 04:01pm 24/5/08

PAL Rock Band isn't cheap at all unfortunately :( Its out in the UK now, thats probably your best bet, but after exchange rates, it works out to be about $350 AU or so, before shipping.

I got mine for PS3, so it was region free, and got it from the US for $190 + $110 shipping, which is probably cheaper than what you'll pay when it comes out here anyway.

Edit: Actually, check this out. Looks like its in Brisbane too, and you can go pick it up in person, solves the whole shipping problem.

last edited by Khel at 16:01:39 24/May/08

Link

gimpy
Posted 05:18pm 24/5/08

MMm, interesting, dunno if I can justify $389

Last I checked, ETA for Rock Band is Sep? Some people are now saying June?

Wouldn't it be $170-ish when it comes out?

Link

DM
Posted 06:35pm 24/5/08

Yeah if your american. they had to pay like $170ish US for everything. Europe has to pay like $170 for the instruments alone, and then another $100 for the game itself. I really hope that doesn't happen here

Link

Khel
Posted 06:42pm 24/5/08

I don't think they've announced a price yet, but predictions are $350 or so when it comes out here. I mean, Guitar Hero was $150 - $170 depending where you bought it, and that was just the game and 1 guitar.

Link

Midda
Posted 06:51pm 24/5/08

Rock band will be more than $300 here, for sure. Fucking bullshit.

Link