Licks and Clicks

Slow News Day: Too Much Guitar Hero Makes You Sore

Another pointless news story. Too much of any activity can make your muscles sore.  But for some reason, this news story says that too much Guitar Hero will make you sore.  Whatever.

Nice Day For a Rock Band Wedding

Two members of the videogame journalism industry got married last weekend.  Not exactly earth-shattering news.  But it turned out to be a rather cute affair with Portal's theme song "Still Alive" being played during the procession, and their first dance was followed by a rousing round of Rock Band.

Continue reading "My Nerdy Zoo Wedding"...

Def Leppard is Live on Guitar Hero, May Not Be a Good Thing

The Def Leppard Guitar Hero DLC was released yesterday, and there's something you need to take into consideration before you make your purchase.  While the new single Nine Lives is a studio recording, both Rock of Ages and Photograph are LIVE tracks, and not the versions you most likely know inside and out.

While I'm not sure how I feel about this yet, plenty of people out there are none too happy that this whole "concert recordings" thing wasn't mentioned earlier.  So, you know, buyer beware and all that.

Robot Plays Guitar Hero

"Slashbot" is the name of the Electrical Engineering senior design project at Texas A&M.  The robot has been programmed to play Guitar Hero by analyzing the video signal, in this case from a PS2.

Next up for the design team: building a robot to have sex with their girlfriends, taking all the joy out of that activity too.

For more information about Slashbot you can visit its blog.

Little Girls Shredding

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I believe these girls would kick my ass in Guitar Hero.  Seriously.  Maybe in a fight too.  I'm not so tough...

(Via the internets)

Rumours: Guitar Hero to Gain Instruments, Lose Identity

In an interview in the May issue of Conde Nast Portfolio magazine (why does news always come from the smallest, most obscure sources?), Activision CEO Bobby Kotick mentioned a new direction for the Guitar Hero franchise: rip off Rock Band.

The as-of-yet-unannounced-but-no-doubt-coming Guitar Hero IV should sport additional instruments, like say drums, and a microphone.  Whee.

So let's break this down to exactly what it'll mean for us, the gamers.  There will be two almost identical games on the market, and aside from minor graphical differences the only noteworthy difference between them will be which artist they've signed an exclusive contract with.

That's right folks... that's where we're headed.  Which game will have the exclusive agreement with your favorite band?  Activison is merging with Vivendi, which owns Universal Music Group, and you can bet that there will be deals made to keep certain bands exclusive to whatever this new version of Guitar Hero ends up being.

I don't think this is what Guitar Hero fans want.  How many Guitar Hero songs either don't feature vocals or have vocals that are damn near impossible to sing?

Leave Guitar Hero alone.  Leave it as it is, a guitar simulator.

Tournament Round-Up - Issue #003

Local teens win honors in local Guitar Hero Challenge - Jefferson County Journal - St. Peters, MO
Tyler Salinski, left, of High Ridge was runner-up in the Expert division of the recent Guitar Hero Challenge at Six Flags St. Louis.  Read the full story.

Guitar Hero fuels competition - Naperville Sun - Chicago, IL
John Roskopf's guitar playing draws a response from Damien Kulash, lead singer for the band OK Go, during a "Guitar Hero" contest at the House of Blues. Roskopf advanced to the finals after winning a contest at the ampm store at 901 N. Washington St., Naperville.  Read the full story.

Full Albums Arrive as Rock Band DLC

As promised, Rock Band is finally releasing full albums as DLC.  First up is a surprise pick though, Judas Priest's 1982 album Screaming for Vengeance.  Each track is available for $1.99 (160 Microsoft points) or you can get the entire album for $14.99 (1200 Microsoft points).  All tracks are master recordings.

Screaming for Vengeance track listing:

• “The Hellion/Electric Eye”
• “Riding on the Wind”
• “Bloodstone”
• “(Take These) Chains”
• “Pain and Pleasure”
• “Screaming for Vengeance”
• “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’”
• “Fever”
• “Devil’s Child”

Two more albums were mentioned as coming soon: The Cars album The Cars, and The Pixies album Doolittle.

(via the official Rock Band forum)

Look Like a Formal Dork With a Guitar Hero Tie

Okay so maybe the title is a bit harsh, but yeah... Guitar Hero tie.  Okay.

Well maybe you think they're cool and want to wear one to your upcoming GH tournament?  Go here to order.

Rock Band Goes On Tour With Motley Crue

Rock Band will be joining Motley Crue on tour for this year's much-buzzed-about CRUE FEST, a 40-city summer blockbuster that will see the Crue headlining an all-star bill featuring Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Sixx: A.M. and Trapt.  At each stop on tour, the fold-out Rock Band Second Stage Experience will give fans the on-site opportunity to become their very own rock star - by trying out the Rock Band game as a bassist, guitarist, drummer, or vocalist!  In every tour market, Crue Fest fans will get the chance to battle it out in their very own Rock Band for the chance to take the Crue Fest concert stage between acts and become the local Rock Band champion!

(via press release!)