This 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.

How does Robin crank up the tunes while Batman is out cleaning up the streets of Gotham? With Batman’s boombox of course. While it’s not shaped like a bat-wing or anything, it has a strange shape that resembles a…bat-something or other, with colors that go more with the comic books then the movies.

Features include such things as a tuner with LCD display, the ability to play CDs, CD-R and CDRW format, dynamic bass boost, line-in for portable MP3, player support, and top load media. It’s not hard to imagine Batman entertaining Catwoman one night and as he goes to put on some soft romantic tunes, the sound of Robin’s hardcore heavy metal deafens him as it sends bats flying everywhere. After a moment he switches CD’s, but sadly Catwoman’s purr is now gone. Such is the sad and lonely life of the Batman. Sigh.

So 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.

If you happen to be in Las Vegas this weekend, you might want to check out the 2008 USA Rock Paper Scissors League Championship on June 20 in Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The Champion with the best hand skills will win a $50,000 prize and a ticket to compete in Beijing,China during the Summer Olympics, where they will represent the U.S. in the inaugural International Rock Paper Scissors Federation Championship.

I’ve never been entirely clear on the official rules. It always gets tricky with rock against paper. Paper can wrap around a rock and strangle it, but on the other hand, rock can beat paper to a pulp. Check out the video below. It’s strangely mesmerizing.

Most of you have heard the rumors about a touchpad on the new guitar, well now we get to see it for real. IGN previewed the new gear, and they say that the strip will be used for notes during sustains, tapping to play notes, and interfacing with the new music creator.

Interestingly, the guitar is larger than those that have come before it. Back to the drums. They’re pressure sensitive, with a plain jane mic, and the music creation software is apparently very awesome. Sadly, you can’t record vocals for songs though. The Wii version of the game will have all of the same features, which is good news for Wii owners.

Putting a high-tech sound system in your car is easy. Making the actual car into a “sight of sound” is a little harder. Vox is well known for making the Vox AC30 guitar amplifier, the Vox electric organ, and other innovative electric and bass guitars. So, they approached George Barris to build them a Voxmobile guitar. They wanted a custom roadster that would function as a car and as a mobile amplifier at the same time, for promotional purposes.

It turned out pretty well as the Voxmobile, a vehicle with a Vox guitar silhouette that also is a functioning amp that can support up to 32 guitars. It also features a working Vox organ in the rear. How much? Just $30,000! You’ll attract every Guitar Hero wannabe from miles around.

This news should make both Guitar Hero fans and Aerosmith fans very happy. Activision announced plans to base an installment in the Guitar Hero series around America’s best selling hard rock band Aerosmith. The new title is scheduled for a June release and will be available for the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and PS2.

Players will be able to play as the band’s guitarists Joe Perry, Brad Whitford and bassist Tom Hamilton. Just like other versions of the hit game, players will progress from an unknown band to rock legends, this time following the story of the band, with some Aerosmith concerts and venues. Interestingly, Activision has promised Aerosmith’s extensive back catalog, as well as other songs from other artists that inspired the group.