Guitar Hero 3 details revealed, finally online play and wireless guitars

SUNNYVALE, CA – May 23, 2007 – After warming their amps in the basement garage to rocking sold out shows at Stonehenge, fans of Activision, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) wildly popular Guitar Hero™ franchise will now be able to shred like never before with the next iteration of the game that will be available this fall. The new game will be released on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Wii™ video game system from Nintendo.

Turning it up to 11, Guitar Hero fans will channel their inner rock god using Gibson Guitar’s Les Paul and Kramer models as the industry standard. In addition, players will experience an incredible number of newly added features and explosive content including a new multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a bevy of exclusive unlockable content and authentic rock venues. Expanded online multiplayer game modes will also allow axe-shredders worldwide to compete head-to-head for true legendary rock status.

While continuing to retain all the key features from their prior legendary performances, fresh downloadable content will be offered on multiple platforms, and players can now shred to a killer set list from many of the gnarliest rock songs ever recorded. Delivering more master tracks than ever before, strategic partnerships have been secured with all the major and independent music record labels and publishers to allow unrivaled access to their deep history of music catalogs, along with supplying artists’ original recordings for even greater authenticity.

The initial list of face-melting awesomeness includes:

• Paint It Black (by The Rolling Stones)
• Cherub Rock (by Smashing Pumpkins)
• Sabotage (by Beastie Boys)
• The Metal (by Tenacious D)
• My Name is Jonas (by Weezer)
• Knights of Cydonia (by Muse)
• Rock And Roll All Nite (as made famous by Kiss)
• School’s Out (as made famous by Alice Cooper)
• Slow Ride (as made famous by Fog Hat)
• Cult of Personality (by Living Colour)
• Barracuda (as made famous by Heart)

For the first time ever, Guitar Hero fans will also be able to thrash and burn with new wireless guitar controllers available for each platform. The exclusive Gibson guitars will include innovative features such as removable faceplates that will allow fans to later personalize their guitars and make it their own, and a new button color design that will be integrated for an even greater authentic feel and rock experience. Gibson Guitar’s Les Paul model will be the battle axe of choice, and an industry standard for all rock gods on the Xbox 360™, PLAYSTATION®3 system, and Wii™. After much anticipation, PlayStation®2 system fans will also be receiving a new exclusive shape as well, the classic Kramer guitar, also a Gibson brand, popularized by hard rockers and known for its body design, pickups, electronics, and construction for furious finger fretting.

“The development team at Neversoft has been exceptional, and we’ve been able to incorporate a host of fresh new online and multi-player game play modes, along with exciting content into this version of Guitar Hero that our fans have been asking for. Also, many of the top bands and songs we’ve tried to get in the past are now on board, and we’ve definitely got some giant aces in the hole to say the least,” said Dusty Welch, head of publishing at RedOctane. “In addition, offering a new line of Gibson wireless guitars for each platform is going to truly add to the authentic rock star experience like no other.”

The next iteration of Guitar Hero, published by RedOctane® and developed by Neversoft, is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information about Guitar Hero, please visit the dedicated community site www.guitarherogame.com. ;

All of this should have been in Guitar Hero 2 for the 360 but I guess I’m not one to complain(ok I am). Also all this talk of a new “line” of guitars means that there will be more ways for us to waste our money on another studio that has been bought by EA. They will more then likely pull a Madden on us and leave out 80% of the key features because it is “truly next-gen”.

Halo 3 Beta is a giant turd

After reading on bungie.net, which I figured was pretty damn official that the Halo 3 Beta would be released at 12AM on May 16th I let the countdown begin. I good friend came over, a bottle of Jim Beam, and a 2 liter of Coke. Waiting until midnight was hard enough then we found out that it wasn’t coming out until 5, no problem. I pass out and wake up at 8 only to see that my brother in law has passed out on the coach. He later informs me that he stayed up until 5 and the download still wasn’t available.

I did some searching on bungie.net and found that there only answer was “be patient we are trying”. Trying isn’t good enough for the 360’s first killer app and a studio whos ONE job is to make Halo. When you hype up Halo 3, make gamers buy a great although rushed game in Crackdown and then 3 hours and 41 minutes later we can’t even download the damned beta. Thanks Bungie, thanks a lot.

new multiplayer maps for Gears of War, unfortunately cost money

Almost a year after it’s release Gears of War is trotting out 4 new maps for Xbox Live Multiplayer. I’ll be checking this out tonight so send me a friend request and destroy me at some Gears of War. The new maps are

Bullet Marsh: In this Kryll-infested swamp, an old generator still powers the area lights. A few stray bullets could easily knock out the generator, leaving combatants to fend for themselves against the Kryll.

Garden: This overgrown and crumbling conservatory still has a working fertilization and pesticide system. This system can pose a serious hazard to anyone who ventures into the greenhouse without first venting the air.

Process: Teams must fight for control of this subterranean Imulsion processing plant, still active despite the cessation of the Pendulum wars.

Subway: Timgad’s Central Subway station used to serve as a central hub for commuters. Now the tunnels are crawling with Locust.

These will cost 800 Gamerpoints but will be available on September 3rd for free. Good move Microsoft.

Our biggest apologies

Between finals, being sick, work scheduling mishaps, and more responsibility we just haven’t had to much time to update this lovely blog. We are not dead however and have some rad things in line for the future.

1. More top 10 lists. I can’t get enough of these.

2. We have a new website that we hope to launch very soon. This blog will become world-8.com. We hope to encorporate new features such as user reviews, message boards(an official one), a better release schedule, and more.

For now however we will continue to update like we did before, with news and information that we care about.

Thanks for continuing to visit this site, we are excited about the future.