Guitar Hero 2 360 = Triple A

[Glockstar]

IGN, Game Informer, The Official Xbox Magazine, GamePro, and Play Magazine are among the seven early reviewers who rave about the 360 version of Guitar Hero II - and assuage all doubts. This is the best Guitar Hero version yet.

Not a single one of the seven have scored it below 90%.(!) (With The OXM scoring it the lowest, at 9/10.)

[Glockstar]

IGN - who scored it a 9.4/10, and is at the virtual mean of the overall GameRanking for the game thus far - closed their review with the following summation:

Guitar Hero II on Xbox 360 is the best iteration of the hit music rhythm game yet, but it's also an important addition to the Xbox 360 library. On a console dominated by shooters and action titles, it is one of the few titles that everyone can and will enjoy. RedOctane and Harmonix put their best foot forward with this release The result is a port that adds enough content to make it worth a second look from the hardcore fans, especially with the downloadable songs, and a game that is put together so well that all newcomers should give it a try. It's a bit pricey at $90 and doesn't have the wireless guitar we all hoped for, but worth it.

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/777/777444p2.html

[Mochan]

Not interested.

[Cuddly Knife]

Very interested. GH2 is the best Gh game to date, and hands down, the best rythm game ever. New downloadable songs(like a few of the better ones from GH1 with the easier handling of GH2), 10 additional songs on top of the 60+ already in the game, and Leaderboards and achievements!

The only thing I haven't seen on any reviews is if there is any kind of online MP, but I'm guessing no, or they would've been all over it.

It's no surprise that it scored what it did, since part 2 for the PS2 ranks well over 90% still.

[Glockstar]

I know that GH2 for the PS2 was already a AAA game, but I thought RedOctane might do just a quickie port and the 360 game would come up rather short, scorewise, because of it.

-

Oh btw, it's done well enough... so well, in fact... that it's convinced me to get the game. And I hate rhythm and timing games. It's going to be work... but I'm going to give it a try. The game sounds too stacked for me not too - even for a $90 game.(!)

[ilnadmy]

Not interested.
Same.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

I know that GH2 for the PS2 was already a AAA game, but I thought RedOctane might do just a quickie port and the 360 game would come up rather short, scorewise, because of it.

-

Oh btw, it's done well enough... so well, in fact... that it's convinced me to get the game. And I hate rhythm and timing games. It's going to be work... but I'm going to give it a try. The game sounds too stacked for me not too - even for a $90 game.(!)

My local GameRush is supposed to be getting the game (how shocking). I'm sure your local GR will get it as well, in case a trade is needed to lower the price.

I don't see this going on sale anytime soon, since I never saw the two for PS2 on sale. If it does, it will be posted in the Bargain Hunter's Thread.

[Tappy_Tibbons]

GH is actually what made me a PS2 fanboy. No joke. When you do get it, trust me, go ahead and spring for another guitar controller. You'll thank me later.

Best music game ever and among the best games I've ever played.

[Mochan]

You know, maybe I need to buy me this game and like play it for a few weeks to see why everyone is so into it. I've tried it out and played it but just briefly, it just holds no appeal for me. It feels like a chumped up glorified trying hard game that doesn't even come close to the real thing. I mean I can understand non-musicians getting into it (sameway I get into shooter games because, well, I'm no soldier) but is anyone here a guitarist who really digs this game?

[Gadfly2317]

If they'd made the wireless guitar controller the standard one for the 360 version, this game is good enough I'd buy it again even though I have the Ps2 version; I've considered picking up the wireless controller anyway for the Ps2 version.

Mochan's question. . . how do guitarists like it; I play guitar, and I love GH 1&2; they are totally different experiences. I like rhythm games, this one just happens to be around guitar music as opposed to the more simon-says like gameplay of Parappa the Rapper, or the DJ/mixing styled Amplitude. Amplitude isn't the same as being a DJ anymore than Guitar Hero is actually like playing guitar, but it is a mix of hand-eye coordination challenges with hypnotic visuals and great music. What's for a music/game fan not to love?

GH is an actual game, too, with specific challenges, scoring and unlockable, unlike Electroplankton which you hated. I'm not sure where you're coming from really-- as a fan of gadgets, electronics, trippy visuals, music and creative play I can't even comprehend how you can't get into these things.

[DrunkenThumbmaster]

Rock Band looks to out do GH2 in every possible way. It's by Harmonix


Gamers and music fans alike have been eagerly awaiting the details of Harmonix Music System's next project. Today, the development team behind Guitar Hero announced Rock Band, a PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 title that expands on the formula of its monster hit by adding drumming and singing.

With MTV onboard as a partner, Harmonix was able to sign deals with the major forces in the music publishing industry and has access to the master recordings of music from popular artists. Electronics Arts is also involved, and will use its global reach to help distribute the game.

GameSpot had a chance to chat with Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos and EA Partners vice president David DeMartini to get more details on this ambitious project.

GameSpot: Alex, please explain Rock Band in your own words.



2005's mega-hit Guitar Hero.
Alex Rigopulos: Sure. I guess what I would say about it is that Guitar Hero is a game that we made with a tiny budget and a fraction of a year to build it. And we're fortunate enough now to be in a position as part of MTV, where basically we're being given the creative freedom and the resources to really make the huge game that we've wanted to make for years, which is Rock Band.

It's essentially taking the core play premise of Guitar Hero, but just expanding it hugely along every axis. We're building it out into a complete band experience with guitar and bass and drums and singing, including very deep and expansive online game play. Huge recording artists are going to be in the game, including original multi-track master recordings in a lot of cases, which has been amazing.

We've also really just amped out the graphical impact on the next-gen consoles in a way that we're just very fired up about, because we think that this game is going to--in some ways--just fundamentally alter the way that people who play it experience music.

GS: There are going to be three peripherals with the game. How will they ship? Will there be different SKUs?

AR: We haven't made final decisions yet about the SKU configuration.

GS: But there will be three distinctly different peripherals, correct?

AR: Yes, there will be a guitar controller for playing the guitar and the bass parts, a drum peripheral for playing the drum parts, and a microphone for singing.

GS: Can you go into more detail about the drum peripheral?

AR: I guess I can just say that it's a really impressive piece of hardware. I'm a drummer myself, so we weren't going to settle for anything less than something that felt like a real instrument.

GS: Obviously there is going to be a lot of downloadable content, right?



Alex Rigopulos speaking at the 2007 D.I.C.E. Summit.
AR: Indeed. This is an area where we have very ambitious plans. Because for us, this game really blurs the line between gaming and music, and music-making. And we view Rock Band not just as a game, but as kind of a platform for consuming and experiencing music. So in addition to the music that ships with the game, we have very big plans for building out a huge library of online expansion content.

GS: Is any of that going to be free? Lots of musicians are living paycheck-to-paycheck.

AR: I expect it's very likely that there will be.

GS: The players onscreen...how will they be represented? Will they have avatars, or will there be camera support?

AR: We're not really ready to dive much more into gameplay details at this point in time.

GS: Fair enough. Because you're bringing together a drummer, bass player, guitarist, and such, is there going to be a way for people to search for bandmates online?

AR: Absolutely. The whole experience is actually about reaching out to other people and forming a band together in that kind of collaborative experience of working with a group of people to form a band--to rise from obscurity into stardom and fame, and to go through that experience together.

So yes, [Rock Band will feature the] kind of community features that allow people to connect. You can play the game with a group of people in your living room if you want, but with next-gen consoles, we're really excited to allow a group of people--potentially a guitarist in Germany, a bassist in Texas, a drummer in New York, and a singer in Tokyo--all get together and form a band and compete on the world stage against other bands.

GS: Will gamers be able to do their own original stuff?

AR: I cannot really talk about that at this time.

GS: Were there any other reasons why you decided to make it strictly PS3 or Xbox 360? Is it mainly the online capabilities of those two consoles?

AR: Well, the PS3 and the 360 are the two platforms that we're prepared to talk about right now. But they're technologically the leading edge platforms, and we're pushing so many boundaries with this game from a design and technology standpoint that those are the platforms that we felt we had to lead off with.

GS: Is there a possibility that it could reach other platforms?

AR: Certainly. We're considering a lot of options, but we're not ready to make any specific announcements about that at this point.

GS: You are obviously attracted to MTV because they were able to help you secure these really good deals with the labels.

AR: Yeah, they have longstanding, deep relationships with the music industry, and it's been incredible working with MTV to forge these new relationships with the record companies. All of the major record companies are onboard with this project: Universal, Warner, Sony, BMI, Hollywood, even. Basically, every major label group that is significant is onboard and opening up their vaults of original masters to us for this game, which is really exciting for us.

It's also exciting for us because the record companies have by and large not been able to really benefit financially from the video game industry over the last decade, and we're offering them an opportunity to participate in a meaningful way in the video game business by offering their content to people to experience on a deeper level.

Dave DeMartini: To a large extent, Alex is creating a platform from which the music labels can launch things or even just get distribution and span generations with various titles. This is the ultimate family collaboration game, because you have the ability for people of a variety of ages to play the game simultaneously, and people of a variety of skill levels get the opportunity to play the game simultaneously.

GS: Say you play a song and really like it. Will there be a way to buy it right there from the game?

AR: Well, again, we'll have lots to say about that down the road a little bit.

DD: That sounds like a really good idea, though.

GS:EA is going to be distributing the title and obviously has a huge reach globally. Will there be region-specific playlists or can someone in the U.S. rock out to some hardcore Japanese punk?

DD: Alex is making all the key creative decisions with regard to content going into the products, and we're just trying to be a supportive partner with regards to suggestions and other things. Certainly content that is specific to different regions of the world is incredibly important, and I certainly think Harmonix recognizes that.

AR: For us, music games are at least as much about the music as they are about the game...It's critical that when we go into international territories, we're working with local artists in those [areas] who have the greatest meaning and impact for the audiences in those regions.

GS: Back to the labels and the catalogs. Do you know how much of their catalog they're offering you?

AR: Essentially we have a very broad blanket relationship with all the major label groups, so at this point we're working with artists on an individual basis to get them involved in the game.

DD: I also think Alex is moving in a direction of trying to get away from a one-off track and giving the game player the opportunity to look at a recording artist's entire catalog of songs and potentially allow you to play the entire catalog rather than a specific song.

AR: Absolutely true.

GS: How did the music publishers react to your proposition for the deal?

AR: At this point we're opening up Rock Band as a platform for music entertainment in making both the record labels and the music publishers major partners in that financially. So for them it's actually an incredible opportunity to really benefit from gamers' fanaticism about the interactive entertainment by delivering their content to gamers in a way that they're thrilled to consume.



David DeMartini announces that Harmonix has teamed up with EA Partners at GDC 2007.
DD: It's an interesting evolution in the industry, which MTV and Harmonix have largely been a part of. Prior to MTV, people listened to music. Then with MTV, people were then watching music. And now Alex has basically defined a space in gaming where people are interacting with music in an entirely new way.

So, experience with music has evolved over these three revolutions, and I think it's made people's enjoyment of music move to that next level. People who don't have any musical skills at all--ergo me--have an opportunity to be a rock star, and that's something I'm never going to experience with "a real instrument" in my hands. But to have that ability to have that experience...I mean, to a large extent, Alex and the team are bringing a certain rock-band life experience to people who would have never otherwise experienced it.

GS: Rock Band is clearly ripe for some sort of talent contest or maybe even a reality show. Anything in the pipeline like that for MTV?

AR: It's certainly the case that these are some ideas that we're thinking very actively about right now.

GS: And any chance to expand Rock Band into other genres, like maybe hip-hop or dance music?

AR: Well, certainly. For us, this is just at the very front of what will be a major transformation in music entertainment. I really believe that four or five years from now, this kind of active participation in music-making is going to be how people expect to experience the music that they love. So, certainly, Rock Band is a huge first step in that direction. But the sky is the limit in terms of the span of genres we eventually intend to reach with this.

DD: Just from what we've seen in the demos that Alex and his team have put on, it is going to be the ultimate party experience. I could see Rock Band parties forming in a neighborhood near you, where people just get out there to entertain their friends, and just love the music and interact with the music that they love.

GS: Alex, I saw your speech at the D.I.C.E. Summit and you went about a dozen years in the industry before your first big hit with Guitar Hero. Do you feel any sort of pressure for your follow-up?

AR: There's always pressure. I think the prevailing sentiment is just a sense of excitement about everything having finally come together for music games in the U.S.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6168398.html?tag=topslot;title;1&om_act=convert&om_clk=topslot

Now for a DJ version of this game.

[Gadfly2317]

"a platform for consuming and experiencing music."

That's a developer quote from the interview you posted. This better sums up what I was trying to tell Mochan how, as a guitarist, I enjoy guitar hero even though it's not really like the experience of playing guitar.

[Mochan]

Gadfly, I guess it's more about being a Rhythm game rather than being a Guitar simulation. I guess the reason I got that idea was because a lot of reviews and people I hear talk about it "Being cool to play riffs like Edie Van Halen" and stuff like that, as if it were a chance to become a rockstar and to replace guitar playing.

I have a friend who is a pro-drummer (million times better than me in terms of skill in our respective disciplines) and he can't get into the drum game either, I guess that's the kind of perspective I had.

I guess the problem is I never really got into rhythm games. Although I guess the great thing about this game is that, of all rhythm games, it's the one that has the best track selection. I'm so not into the techno you get from the DDR games, this is more up my alley. I guess that's where the appeal could come from.

But for some reason I'm just not into rhythm games, I guess that's all there is to it.



That Rockband game sounds better though; it has access to the actual tracks as opposed to GH which only has covers.

[Cuddly Knife]

GH doesn't just have covers. But there are only a few that have leant their masters to the game(like Primus).

As for Rockband,I just hope we don't see a bunch of crap mixed in with a few good songs, like it was when they did Amplitude after Frequency. I want quality music, not what the devs would think I want to listen to and play because it's top 40.

[Mochan]

Ah my bad then.

[Gadfly2317]

"Being cool to play riffs like Edie Van Halen" and stuff like that, as if it were a chance to become a rockstar and to replace guitar playing.

I guess the problem is I never really got into rhythm games.

Well, that would pretty much explain that. It's interesting how we know there are genres that we dont' really care for that much, but when some big sensation comes out in that genre, we want to try it out anyway.

As far as being Eddie, I got the drinking part down. I don't know, there's something about guitar hero that's like playing air guitar blended with a music/rhythm game. Even though I play, I don't play like Eddie or MonkeyManX. So there is a sort of fantasy rock star element to the game that's pretty captivating. It's also fun to play with friends. Maybe if I actually played as well as MonkeyManX or Eddie, my perspective on the game would be different. Speaking of which, I'd like to hear our resident guitar god weigh in on the game.

For the life of me, I still can't see how any musician wouldn't enjoy Electroplankton, even if they still saw it as simply a music toy.

[Glockstar]

It's interesting how we know there are genres that we dont' really care for that much, but when some big sensation comes out in that genre, we want to try it out anyway.

For me, part of it's because I know my friends and family would enjoy the game. Probably - most assuredly - more than me. But they'd never buy it on their own. None of them have probably even heard of it. And well, watching others play a game can be good fun too.

[Glockstar]

And oh yeah, with regards to Rock Band (and System Wars): It's coming out for 360 and PS3, eh? And the Wii continues to get eck. Haw!

[Fivespot]

I'm a guitar player and are not interested in this game. The way I look at it is why spend time playing a sim type game when I can play the real thing. Plus, I like to practice my guitar as often as possible and playing GH always makes me feel guilty as the time spent would be better served on an actual guitar.

It's a fun game however and I really enjoy playing it.

[Gadfly2317]

And oh yeah, with regards to Rock Band (and System Wars): It's coming out for 360 and PS3, eh? And the Wii continues to get eck. Haw!

The developer said "absolutely" in answer if the game is coming to Wii. It will be late, of course, and hasn't had an official announcement, because developers were caught with their pants down. . . which isn't to criticize: no one could have had any idea what a global sensation the Wii is turning out to be.

http://wii.ign.com/articles/777/777553p1.html

[Glockstar]

Aha... a "Wii-specific version".

Wouldn't it be cool if they had it to where the Wii-mote was utilized as a guitar pick? Hah? Can the Wii-mote track movements that are that sharp and fast?

[Glockstar]

Score going UP!

5 more review sites have weighed in. And the GR now sits at 95.8%!

[Glockstar]

Boy, is this game fun!

But because I'm not online at the moment - and thus not "Live" - I'm really only experiencing it as a PS2 game - I'll acknowledge that my enthusiasm should be taken with a 'no duh; you're only a few months behind the times' flavored grain of salt.

This is a killer app tho'! And I see this game/accessory achieving what it takes the whole of the Wii to do: it's super appealing to casual gamers and non-gamers, as well as hardcore gamers. My sister dug it. My friend was immediately hooked on it. I'm definitely going to get a second guitar when one comes out! (Want to hold out for wireless one tho'.)


I wanted to include the updated GameRankings in this post as well but GR is down. And has been for a couple of days now. Wassawihdat? Last I saw tho' the games' GameRanking went down. No Top 10 all-time for GH2-360. Killed by GameSpot (who are the only ones who thought that GH1 was better than GH2) and some other bastich site who scored it an 8.0... not giving enough credence to the fact this is a new audience that's being reached here with this version. Boo.

[folken001]

I'm a guitar player and are not interested in this game. The way I look at it is why spend time playing a sim type game when I can play the real thing. Plus, I like to practice my guitar as often as possible and playing GH always makes me feel guilty as the time spent would be better served on an actual guitar.

It's a fun game however and I really enjoy playing it.
Agree. You can get a beginner's guitar for like 150. It's either that or live in the illusion that you can actually play something, imo.

[Mochan]

Wouldn't it be cool if they had it to where the Wii-mote was utilized as a guitar pick? Hah? Can the Wii-mote track movements that are that sharp and fast?


Call me crazy but I think the Wiimoto is too big to be a guitar pick, and if you had a Guitar Hero guitar strapped on using the Wiimoto as a pick I bet you'll:

a.) let go of the Wiimoto and it crashes into your HDTV or $1,000 Ming Vase
b.) whack the Wiimoto into the guitar and get pretty scratches on both pieces of equipment
c.) have the missus walk in saying, "why are you fondling the remote!?"
d.) all of the above

My sister dug it. My friend was immediately hooked on it. I'm definitely going to get a second guitar when one comes out! (Want to hold out for wireless one tho'.)

Wireless guitar pfft real guitarists play plugged!

[Gadfly2317]

I'm a guitar player and are not interested in this game. The way I look at it is why spend time playing a sim type game when I can play the real thing. Plus, I like to practice my guitar as often as possible and playing GH always makes me feel guilty as the time spent would be better served on an actual guitar.

It's a fun game however and I really enjoy playing it.

You know, I mentioned I'd considered picking up the wireless guitar for GH2, but DAMN! I could buy a new effects pedal for that price! I do enjoy GH2 a lot, but in general, I've actually been buying a lot of new music equipment again and spending more time writing and recording, which is one of the bigger reasons I haven't bought a Ps3 or 360 yet. I dropped 3 Ps3's worth of dough at the music store yesterday, and honestly, I'm having more fun than I think I would on a Ps3.

But don't get me wrong, sometime later this year I still want one of the hi-def gaming systems. The Wii simply needs a supplement.

[Fivespot]

You seem alot like me Gadfly with respect to music and videogames and here is how-
You use the same pool of money for both music equipment and games and also use the same extra time to play one or the other.

So more money spent on music means less money on games and vice versa. More time on recording, less time playing God of War 2 (or whatever).....

I'm also cutting back on games while my music time increases.

We should start a thread someday in the miscellaneous area to discuss music/recording equipment. I'd really like to learn more about your written music and what everyone else is into in addition to the type of equipment you're using.

[Gadfly2317]

You seem alot like me Gadfly with respect to music and videogames and here is how-
You use the same pool of money for both music equipment and games and also use the same extra time to play one or the other.

So more money spent on music means less money on games and vice versa. More time on recording, less time playing God of War 2 (or whatever).....

I'm also cutting back on games while my music time increases.

We should start a thread someday in the miscellaneous area to discuss music/recording equipment. I'd really like to learn more about your written music and what everyone else is into in addition to the type of equipment you're using.

Would be a cool thread. MonkeyManX seems to be the most talented and technical musician here, at least based on what I've listened to. He knows what he's doing when it comes to recording. I'm still pretty low-fi; I still like four-tracks and free software like Audacity. And unless you like Nurse With Wound or Merzbow, you're not gonna really like the music I post online. I write and play more traditional music too, but it's pretty simple stuff. I prefer extreme noise and ambient experimentalism. Feel free to PM me, I'll send you a link, and I know other musicians here have their music online, be it a real website or just myspace.

Speaking of God of War 2, I just saw the movie 300 last night. It really made me want to play Gow2, just some bad ass violent action. Not sure when I have the time, but aside from spending money on music, that stuff this good is coming out on Ps2 is also why the newer consoles just can't quite get me to commit.

[Glockstar]

I don't know... maybe it's just me... but it does feel like I'm playing a guitar. I think this game does a great job of emulating that... guitar feel.

I've tried playing a real guitar. One of my bestest friends is a guitar wiz. I suck. Just the same as I suck at GH2; it seems like I get tripped up at just about the same places. I can play a few notes - without error - in a row, as long as they are slow, but after a little success I get all spazzy and start making up $#!%. I'll never make it beyond Easy.(!) :( And my pinky finger is good for nothin'...


-


PS. Anybody know what the frack is up with GameRankings?

[Mochan]

I'm the complete opposite, as I get older my music time has decreased and my playtime increases. It doesn't help that I also split my game time with anime time.

Guitar Hero doesn't let me "cut loose" the way I would on a Yamaha Pacifica jamming to high heaven with sweet bends or slapping away on a Washburn Taurus. I'm not exactly a very technical or masterful guitarist and I'm sure most of you are better than me at playing, but I couldn't get "the jive" as I do playing with a band in Guitar Hero. It was just flipping a switch while pressing buttons timed with the screen cues. I can't even headbang if I wanted to (unless I memorize the screen patterns, which is not gonna happen...)

[Fivespot]

I've had a change of tune. A good friend brought over his copy the other day and now I can't stop thinking about it; I want to play some more!!!

It's differenent enough from my regular playing that I don't think it will interfere.