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Serious H2V Delay
Wow. According to Microsoft’s Life Cycle Support page, Halo 2 for Windows Vista won’t be available until July 4, 2007. That’s a heck of a recall! Thanks, Aj Collins. Update: TheGhost writes to say that that page has been up for at least a month, and so probably has no relation at all to the current recall. He also says that folks at h2vista.net are already well along in their efforts to unlock the editing kit, and new maps are already being created. Good to hear!(Louis Wu 21:46:03 UTC)
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GD talks to Frankie
GameDaily interviewed Frank O’Connor a little while back – nobody told us about it until today (thanks, Impervium) – mostly common-knowledge stuff about the Beta at this point, but hey – go read!(Louis Wu 21:43:10 UTC)
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Guitar Hero 3: Wireless Axes Ready to Burn…Through a TV Near You
Great news, according to TeamXbox:
Not only will we have some wireless guitars, but new songs from Alice Cooper, Kiss, Beastie Boys, Smashing Pumpkins, and Tenacious D. Too bad we had to wait through the second generation of guitar hero before we could have wireless controllers for the Xbox 360. They have only been available for PS2 for over a year…Enough gripes though, below is the story.Activision officially announced today the next iteration of the Guitar Hero franchise. The publisher also revealed that the game will feature Gibson Guitar’s Les Paul and Kramer models and more important, they will be wireless. These 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. Below is the press release with all the details:Activision Shreds New Details on Next Guitar Hero(TM) Game
SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — After warming their amps in the basement garage to rocking sold out shows at Stonehenge, fans of Activision, Inc.’s wildly popular Guitar Hero(TM) 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(R)2 computer entertainment system and PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Wii(TM) 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(TM), PLAYSTATION(R)3 system, and Wii(TM). After much anticipation, PlayStation(R)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(R) and developed by Neversoft, is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information about Guitar Hero, please visit the dedicated community site http://www.guitarherogame.com/.
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Rule of 3 – Finally
w00tw00tw00t! The Rule of Three contest winners who still haven’t received a beta code finally have a way to get in to the beta! Read this. (Louis Wu 17:49:55 UTC)
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Halo 3 At Night
Mariachi (who’s clearly pushing for the Daily Postactular, but currently only has a Triple Post) has put up a couple of photoshopped images; they show off Halo 3 Beta maps… at night. First was High Ground, followed quickly by Snowbound. Personally, I’d LOVE to play on these!(Louis Wu 17:43:51 UTC)
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Sorting the wheat from the chaff
Also at Bungie is a new top story – Frankie interviews Kari Erickson, Bungie’s recruiter, about what it takes to get a job at the Best Microsoft Game Studio Evar. Thanks, Stuntmutt.(Louis Wu 17:28:17 UTC)
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Whaddaya wanna know?
Over at Bungie.net, a news post suggests you can submit questions to this week’s Bungie Weekly Update in this forum thread. (I’m pretty sure Achronos meant ‘subject’, rather than ‘succept’ – but maybe Bungie knows more words than me.) Thanks, calmkiller.(Louis Wu 17:25:41 UTC)
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Rule of Three Update!
Still waiting for a code to arrive in your Inbox? Did your spam blocker filter you from fun for the last week? Finally, there’s a solution.
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Work at Bungie: Getting Past the Gatekeeper
This recruiter holds a key to getting inside these walls. Here’s how to impress her and how to alienate her completely.
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Beta: We’re Taking Your Questions
Are some things about the Halo 3 Public Beta confusing you? Do you want to know more about a feature or why you keep getting owned in Oddball on Snowbound? Here’s where to ask.
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Re:Loading.
Stuntmutt looks at buttons in today’s One One Se7en. I hate to say it, but I have the same problems he does.(Louis Wu 16:33:55 UTC)
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MSNBC goes Halo-crazy
Two new articles on MSN.com this morning – a listing of the top 5 games that should be movies (thanks, Mariachi), which includes Halo, of course (would we be mentioning it if it didn’t?), and a beta writeup (thanks, JeSteR 343) that suggests that since everyone who’s currently playing the beta is already a fan (they’re mostly self-selected, after all), the overwhelming praise should be taken with a grain of salt.(Louis Wu 16:29:40 UTC)
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Strongside Gives Pointers
MLGPro.com has a new Player Commentary vid – Strongside looks at a couple of games from Charlotte – really interesting discussion. Check it out! Thanks, 3Suns.(Louis Wu 15:54:08 UTC)
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He’s at it again.
Whee doggies. Jack Thompson, the self-aggrandizing lawyer bent on shutting down the violent video game industry (or at least making a decent profit off suing it) has fired his next shot across the bow of the SS Microsoft. According to GameAlmighty.com (thanks, Mariachi), Thompson has written a threatening letter to Bill Gates – ‘make sure that no copies of Halo 3 [The BabyKiller™ -ed] get into the hands of minors, or “I shall proceed to make sure that Microsoft is held to that standard by appropriate legal means.” I’m sure Bill’s gonna get right on that.(Louis Wu 14:00:45 UTC)
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Another reason to buy a Zune
Nice… if you read the description of the new Halo 3 Zune at Gamestop, you’ll see it comes preloaded with “collection of music, videos and artwork” – and the artwork is described as “Over 120 different images, including game concept art, storyboards, paintings, and conceptual marketing imagery”. I guess I figured they were simply bundling up what Bungie has to offer on Bungie.net. I was wrong. Deepblue pointed out a gallery at Gismodo that contains dozens of new pieces – concept art, poster ideas, sketches… I wish the quality were higher, but the artwork itself is amazing!(Louis Wu 13:32:26 UTC)
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Marvel Info Emerges
Two new tantalizing tidbits on the Marvel Comics website – a short summary of the second episode of Halo: Uprising (the 4-part series coming this summer), and a description of an episode of ‘Marvel Spotlight’ that focuses on the Halo universe. Thanks, pish.(Louis Wu 12:29:58 UTC)
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Gamepro Weapons Showcase
Gamepro.com has put up a short vid they call a ‘Weapons Showcase’ – it’s designed to show you some of the Halo 3 Beta guns in action. I suppose if you haven’t looked at any of the OTHER beta footage that’s been released… thanks, demus.(Louis Wu 12:25:30 UTC)
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Guitar Hero Expansion Pack Coming?
Today the upcoming PS2 exclusive Guitar Hero Encore: Rock the 80s had new tracks announced for inclusion. Is Activision planning to release the content to Xbox 360 users as well? Read on for the titles and discussion.
The total list now stands at
* 18 and Life (as made famous by Skid Row)
* Bathroom Wall (as made famous by Faster Pussycat)
* Lonely is the Night (as made famous by Billy Squier)
* Nothing But a Good Time (as made famous by Poison)
* Play With Me (as made famous by Extreme)
* Shaken (as made famous by Eddie Money)
* Synchronicity II (as made famous by Police)
* I Wanna Rock (by Twisted Sister)
* I Ran (by Flock of Seagulls)
* Round and Round (as made famous by Ratt)
* I Want Candy (as made famous by Bow Wow Wow)
* Metal Health (as made famous by Quiet Riot)
* Holy Diver (as made famous by Dio)
* Heat Of The Moment (as made famous by Asia)The title is supposedly “exclusive” to the PS2, but does that mean exclusive in stores? Could the 360 receive the new game via an expansion pack? Ted Lange, the associate producer for Guitar Hero II, said in this interview that Guitar Hero II for 360 would feature more downloadalbe content than any title as of that date. Let’s hope they’ll give us a bulk discount for an expansion pack, as the current track list of 14 would cost about $30 alone at their current price point for DLC, and there are 16 more tracks to be announced for a total of 30.
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H2V – Recall?
We got word from NecroDragonX, who works at a Circuit City in Pennsylvania, that his store received a recall notice for Halo 2 Vista:Halo 2 for the PC has been recalled due to manufacturer issues with the discs, please pull all product from the shelves and send back to our claims department with your DEF’d merchandise. Thank you for your co-operation.
Apparently, this is an issue even though the street date for the game is tomorrow, because many stores have been selling it early. More on this as we learn about it…(Louis Wu 22:08:14 UTC)
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TSL Ep4 Module 6: Epilogue
This Spartan Life has posted Module 6 of Episode 4 – the Epilogue (plus end credits). 3 minutes long, a wrapup of the Mr. Poopy Doo situation. (If you don’t understand – go watch.)(Louis Wu 21:40:36 UTC)
The latest news about the Halo series of games from Microsoft