Texas teen sets new Guitar Hero world record

Posted in World Records by Shane McGlaun on February 5th, 2009

Guinness Gamers EditionIf you are too young to drink or simply don’t drink you might not realize that the Guinness Book of World Records was started by the managing director of the Guinness Brewery. The first edition of the book was bound in August 27, 1955 and came from an idea stemming from an argument over which game bird was the fastest.

Today the Guinness Book of World Records covers a litany of records and has spawned a version just for gamers. A 14-year-old boy named Danny Johnson from Texas has grabbed the record for “Highest Score on a Single Song on Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.” The teen scored a whopping 973,954 points on the singe track.

Funny Band: Keyboards, drums and guitar in one freakish controller

Posted in Musical Instruments by Conner Flynn on December 11th, 2008

Funny Band: Keyboards, drums and guitar in one freakish controllerBy now you must have a zillion fake plastic instruments taking up room in your home, thanks to the endless Guitar Hero type games that have entered your life. You might want to check out the Korean-made Funny Band, which takes a guitar and shoves drums on the back and a keyboard on the front for some reason.

I have no idea how you’re supposed to use this thing, but I’m dubbing it The all-in-one, one-man-nerd-band plastic-ono experience. If you think this weird mash-up lives up to it’s name, you’ll get a kick out of reading the press release below where we learn that Funny Band “will be loved by dance game to lots of users who just fall in to rhythm game.” and that “there was no game like performing on on-line such as funny band.”

Guitar Hero World Tour Mobile launches

Posted in Games by Shane McGlaun on December 2nd, 2008

Guitar Hero World Tour MobileMusic games are among the most popular video games around right now and they are available on virtually all gaming systems form consoles to the PC. Mobile phone users that like to play games while on the go can also get into the action with a new Guitar Hero game.

Guitar Hero World Tour mobile is available now on all major carriers nationwide and will be debuting for the Android platform in January. The game offers real-time multiplayer gaming capabilities for players no matter what network their handheld device operates on.

Trumpet Hero

Posted in Musical Instruments by Conner Flynn on November 24th, 2008

Trumpet HeroIf you are a band geek who prefers getting wedgies instead of having panties thrown on stage, this is for you. Though I’m not sure you can fit this Trumpet back in it’s case after it’s been modded. What we have here is GH for the Trumpet.

Who knows, maybe you too can be a star between bouts of getting your head stuck in the toilet and getting beat up on the bus. This is simply a Trumpet hooked up to a computer. Since the trumpet has only three buttons on it, it should be easy to make a video game for it that would easily teach others the trumpet. Sadly it has 3 less buttons then GH so you can’t use it to play GH.

Some guy plays Guitar Hero on a bike

Posted in Games by Conner Flynn on November 20th, 2008


This is one hell of a bike/Guitar Hero mashup. Who knows how long it took these GH geeks to set the whole thing up. All I know is that this dude and his friends had wayyy too much time on their score-marked hands. It’s just further proof, as if we needed any, that rock nerds go freakin crazy for GH, while the rest of us are doing stuff like, I don’t know, kissin girls. Okay, I admit it rocked just a tad. They get points for a crazy ride. It just leaves ya feeling like, “What the hell did I just watch?”.

Guitar Hero World Tour: Heidi Klum

Posted in Games by Conner Flynn on November 6th, 2008


The video speaks for itself. The lovely Heidi Klum playing GH World Tour. Very clever marketing. How I wish I were that Guitar.

Gene Simmons’ Battleaxe Guitar for Rock Band and Guitar Hero

Posted in Musical Instruments by Conner Flynn on October 27th, 2008

Gene Simmons’ Battleaxe Guitar for Rock Band and Guitar HeroHere’s something for those who like to paint their faces while playing Rock Band and Guitar Hero, after a healthy argument over the merits of belonging to the KISS army. Even if you aren’t a KISS fan, this is a badass Rock Band and Guitar Hero compatible replica of Gene Simmons’ signature bass. It also features a bi-directional strum bar, ultra-responsive fret buttons, an analog whammy bar for $80. It will be released on Halloween. Demon boots and outlandishly long tongue clip-on not included.

Wayne Coyne’s Guitar Hero controller mod

Posted in Controllers,Games by Conner Flynn on October 27th, 2008

Wayne Coyne’s Guitar Hero controller modWayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips has built imself an awesome looking Guitar Hero guitar mod that marries a Korg Kaoss pad, working GH controller and a white Gibson double-neck guitar. He’s even using this beast to film an 8-second spot for NBC. Okay, so why did he create it? Because of those damn kids. “there’s a lot of kids out there that think this is actually how you play guitar now — that you just press a series of four or five buttons and and sort of different sort of sequences and it makes every sound that the guitar can make,”

You can check out a video here. The Kaoss pad is used to control a synth tone that can be modulated by the five colored neck buttons. No word on whether he’s using it on tour or not, but it will be playing the three-note NBC chime in a promo spot. Pretty cool.

Guitar Hero World Tour now on store shelves

Posted in Games by Conner Flynn on October 27th, 2008

Guitar Hero World Tour now on store shelvesFaux rockers have waited long and hard for this day. At long last, Activision’s next installment of the Guitar Hero franchise is officially available. With Activision’s formal announcement, you’ll be able to pick one up and once again rock out. There’s a few different bundles that range from the game alone which will cost $49.99 to $59.99, the game and guitar together will be $89.99 to $99.99 and the band kit will run you $179.99 to $189.99. Since most of you already rock a plastic Axe, it will be a choice between the first and the last.

Logitech unveils Guitar Hero wireless controller

Posted in Logitech by Shane McGlaun on October 23rd, 2008

Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller Premiere EditionGuitar Hero and Rock Band are huge games that have been credited with reviving more than one bands career. The games are so popular that they have spawned a host of aftermarket controllers and gear to help gamers get into the music play.

Logitech announced back in July that it would be unveiling a premium line of Guitar Hero controllers. Logitech has made the first controller in the line official and it’s called the Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller. The device is only compatible with Guitar Hero on the PS2/PS3, Rock Band fans are SOL.

Atari Hero: Play Atari 2600 like a rock god

Posted in Games by Conner Flynn on September 28th, 2008

Atari Hero: Play Atari like a rock godThis is not my first console mod, but I think it’s the neatest. As far as I know it hasn’t been done before. I wanted to be able play Atari 2600 games like you play Guitar Hero… With a guitar. With this mod, you just pop in your favorite 2600 cartridge, and play the game on your guitar. The screen is right in front facing you as you hold it. Instead of strumming, just use the small joystick on the upper right, or for games like Breakout use the paddle controller below the screen. The fire button is the top button on the neck of the guitar, so yes, you really hold it in guitar fashion as you play.

I had originally intended to make an NES-Hero, taking advantage of all the guitar buttons, but didn’t have a spare laying around. Which was just fine with me because this Atari-Hero turned out just awesome. It took me about 2 months more or less, simply because it was hard to find the time with my duties here at the ‘Brick, but it’s finally finished. I incorporated actual pieces of the Atari console itself, like the faux woodgrain front panel with logo and the grill from the top of the console, even the cartridge slot itself. The circuit boards all had to be fabricated and custom shaped, then put in place. The Atari console combined with the circuit boards makes for a stunning look in person. (Sorry about the crappy pics. It’s so shiny it’s hard to get a good shot) More pics below.

Move over Guitar Hero, Guitar Praise is here

Posted in Games by Conner Flynn on August 27th, 2008

Move over Guitar Hero, Guitar Praise is hereSo everyone and their dog are playing Guitar Hero, but what about your neighbor Ned Flanders? What with Rock and Roll being charged with sex, drugs and everything a good Christian could hate, it’s great for heathens, but what about little Rod and Todd? How is good old Reverend Lovejoy going to rock in his spare time and still be holier then thou?

Enter Guitar Praise, sure to be the boring-est, most goody two shoes, and holiest answer to Guitar Hero yet. I can’t confirm this, but I’m thinking you can unlock heroes from the 700 Club complete with polyester suit as well as big haired female pitchmen who will praise the lord, ask for donations and then rock your socks off with no suggestive or lewd content whatsoever. The game will be coming soon to Mac and PC for $100. It’s bundled with one wireless guitar, that surprisingly doesn’t sport a cross on the end and there’s a long list of exciting music from people you don’t know.

Teen girls get Aly & AJ guitar controllers

Posted in Controllers,Games by Shane McGlaun on August 21st, 2008

Aly & AJ Guitar ControllersWhen most people think of gamers, they think of guys. While that is fairly accurate, many girls also enjoy playing video games. One the most popular genres with the ladies are music games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band. The plain and masculine guitar controllers typically available with the games can be a problem for the ladies. Thankfully girly controllers are available in the aftermarket.

PDP has announced that new guitar controllers compatible with both Rock Band and Guitar Hero will be available in mid-October for $69.99 each. The controllers were designed with cooperation from teen rock star’s Aly & AJ. The guitar designed by Aly features a heart and cross bone print in pink and brown.

Guitar Hero cake rocks the bakery

Posted in Games by Conner Flynn on August 12th, 2008

Guitar Hero cake rocks the bakery
If you’re a fake guitar aficionado and have rocked out in all possible ways playing Guitar Hero and yet still can’t get enough, check out this cake. While it’s not an Atari cake or a confectionery Millenium Falcon, it’s the latest geek pastry to wash down nerd gullets chased by Mountain Dew. And you just know that whoever ate this thing had stray icing marks on the air guitar string area of their jeans.

Never fear, there’s a detailed explanation available on how to bake/build one for yourself. A Guitar Hero widow made the cake for her boyfriend’s birthday and when he saw it, he must have been in rocker heaven because he proposed.

Logitech & Activision to develop premium instruments for Guitar Hero

Posted in Musical Instruments by Conner Flynn on July 31st, 2008

Logitech & Activision to develop premium instruments for Guitar Hero
Activision and Logitech have announced a partnership where Logitech will create “premium” instrument controllers for Guitar Hero: World Tour. The press release isn’t very clear, but we take that to mean that Logitech will be making nicer, more beautiful and more expensive versions of the stock Guitar Hero guitars for the PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 and the Wii. .

The new gear will be fully compatible with World Tour. This is probably good news for fans of GH since Logitech makes quality stuff. Soon you’ll be rocking a far better ax then you rock now.