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Details for Guitar Hero 4 Released

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the nothing-like-wailing-on-a-plastic-ukulele dept.

GameSpot is reporting that details for Guitar Hero 4 have been released. The biggest news seems to be that the new release will be adding drums and vocals a la Rock Band. The new drums are to offer three pressure-sensitive pads (which can tell if you are just tapping or really wailing), two elevated cymbals, and a pedal. "The details in Game Informer also clear up the mystery surrounding the 'innovation' which Activision promised was coming to the Guitar Hero series in a recent earnings report conference call. The article outlines the game's studio mode, which will give users a variety of ways to create their own songs. Players will be able to jam along with one of the game's existing tracks, record songs as they're played, or meticulously detail note charts."

46 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. Never got why people like Guitar Hero by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I must be the only one, but I never understood why people (and gaming society as a whole) goes ape-shit over this game?

    1. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by Karma+Sink · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Because it's an amazing rhythm game that gives a vague impression of playing awesome guitar riffs.

      In turn, playing awesome guitar riffs is one of the most bad-ass feelings in the world. There are just few things that are cooler than pulling off anything on a guitar, really.

      It's basically DDR for people who don't like dancing and don't want to put in as much physical effort to play. And, of course, for people who like to rock.

      --

      When encryption is outlawed, ?o'AZ-,++o+i++##4AoA+-/-C++bI+/.+~
    2. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by Karma+Sink · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yes, and Medal of Honor is for pussies who don't want to go fight Nazis.

      Video games exist to give you experiences that you normally wouldn't be able to get in real life without years of training or superhuman powers. Why is it that guitarists get so pissy about Guitar Hero when I never hear any space marines complaining about Metroid?

      --

      When encryption is outlawed, ?o'AZ-,++o+i++##4AoA+-/-C++bI+/.+~
    3. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by morari · · Score: 3, Informative
      http://www.guitarrising.com/

      ;)

      --
      "He who can destroy a thing, controls a thing." --Paul Atreides, Dune
    4. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 5, Funny

      Why is it that guitarists get so pissy about Guitar Hero when I never hear any space marines complaining about Metroid?

      And therein lies the genius of making Samus a female. ; )

      --
      This guy's the limit!
    5. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by geekoid · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Ironically, the people I know who whine about this aren't Guitar players.

      It's just a fun game when you pick up a gun, steal a car and beat hookers, but it's a crime against humanity when someone pretends to play a guitar.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    6. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by dafrazzman · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Why is it that guitarists get so pissy about Guitar Hero when I never hear any space marines complaining about Metroid? You should not assume that anyone who complains about Guitar Hero actually plays the guitar.

      The reason some people don't like Guitar Hero is because it looks nerdy and lame (it really does). Those people need to get over their sense of pride before they can enjoy Guitar Hero. It's a matter of general pride, not a matter of pride in any actual abilities.

      --
      My preferred name is frazz, but someone keeps taking it. If you see him, tell him I said hi.
    7. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by NotBornYesterday · · Score: 3, Interesting

      My two sons and their friends played GH3 a lot (prior to GTA4, that is). When I would mention that there were a couple real guitars and a foundation-shaking amp down in the basement, all I ever got were funny looks. Man, I would have killed to have an electric guitar as a kid. But like others have said, it's easier to play a game than it is to grow some talent. I've tried it, and I've got to admit, it's fun.

      On the other hand, getting semi-competent on a guitar really isn't that hard, either. Power chords are easy. 1-4-5 chord progressions are easy. Spend a little time memorizing a couple riffs, and you can make some remarkably satisfying noise.

      Sounding great is hard. Sounding okay is easier than it looks.

      --
      I prefer rogues to imbeciles because they sometimes take a rest.
    8. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by Omestes · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It's a stupid party game, and thus damn enjoyable. You get music (can't lose, there), interaction (its a party, thus the point), and look like a bigger fool when your drunk (party, natch). I don't think anyone has the preconception of actually being a guitar god while playing it.

      Play Rock the 80's, and tell me your not having fun?

      At my last party is was on rotation with Mario Kart Wii, and Smash Brothers Brawl. Mario Kart isn't for people who fail at NASCAR, and Brawl isn't for aspiring Chuck Norrises, so why should Guitar Hero be for the Jimi Hendixes among us? Its about imagination, and fun. Not about realism or some idiotic version of elitism.

      Learn to have fun.

      --
      A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government. -edward abbey
    9. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by Anonymous+Cowpat · · Score: 3, Funny

      that has got to be the fastest that we've achieved Godwin on such an uncontrovertial topic!

      --
      FGD 135
    10. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by somersault · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Agreed. I'm a guitar player, and I thought it was lame until I played it. Then I just realised how much fun it is!

      I can't wait til the drums and stuff are added, as I'm also a drummer, and it will make practicing much more fun and varied (I have an electronic kit but I never make time to use it). Simulating drums is pretty easy so at least the drummers definitely can't whine :) At the very least games like Guitar Hero are good for improving your rhythm and coordination.

      --
      which is totally what she said
    11. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by amRadioHed · · Score: 2, Funny

      The slight difference is that anyone can play guitar. Really, unlike being a space marine we actually have the technology.

      --
      We hope your rules and wisdom choke you / Now we are one in everlasting peace
    12. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by aztektum · · Score: 4, Interesting

      a girl i know has a 9 year old son who recently began guitar lessons. he became interested after playing Guitar Hero. also, i'm sure guitar hero doesn't not help with practical guitar skills (chord changes, strumming), but this kid seems to have picked up a good deal of skill when it comes to rhythm and tempo thanks to the game. he's actually rocking ass on a real guitar compared to others in his guitar class.

      --
      :: aztek ::
      No sig for you!!
    13. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by somersault · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Some of the songs on Guitar Hero are actually more difficult to play on Expert than they would be on a real guitar (at least that's what I find, yes IAAG). I'm serious about that. I think a lot of that is just down to having to have the timing so precise, whereas irl you can get away with a bit of artistic license if you know what you're doing :)

      Main differences on a real guitar are that it HURTS for a while until your fingers toughen up and get used to pressing strings, and you need more strength to do hammer-ons and pull-offs (which are absurdly easy on guitar hero because the buttons are so light). Then of course there's the whole extra dimension of up/down over the 6 strings, but if you can get used to using all 5 buttons on guitar hero without looking to see where your fingers are, then you can probably get used to 6 strings on a guitar too, it's just a matter of spacial awareness and muscle memory. The final difference between Guitar Hero and a real guitar is that you need to get some friends who play drums, bass and sing, and are free whenever you want to jam :)

      --
      which is totally what she said
    14. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by bogjobber · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It also helps with hand/finger strength. One of the hardest parts of beginning at guitar is only being able to move your fingers quickly and hold chord shapes for the first fifteen minutes before getting tired. If you were good at guitar hero, you should already have a lot of the muscles developed to progress more quickly.

    15. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by NeilTheStupidHead · · Score: 4, Funny

      This is directed towards Rock Band, but applies equally to Guitar Hero: http://xkcd.com/359/
      We're having fun and not hurting anyone so kindly fuck off.

      --
      Lose: misplace or fail || Loose: not bound together
    16. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      On the whole, it's not as fun as tonguing another man's balls. I mean as it used to be. I'm NOT GAY.

    17. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by superslacker87 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      As am I. Honestly, as a guitar player, I find it more challenging to play the songs on lower difficulty levels. I almost always start out on hard or expert depending on the song and try to play it there. When I hear a song coming out of my TV speakers (especially when it's one that I already know how to play on a real six-string or know really well) and the notes I'm looking at on screen don't mesh, I actually do worse. I have to train myself to play what I see, not what I hear.

      --
      I run Ubuntu skinned to look like a Mac on a PC. Go figure.
    18. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by somersault · · Score: 2, Interesting

      That's true actually, and gives people a false impression of the game when they first try it, because if you tell them to play along to the music then it can screw them up. If you are trying too hard to hit the notes by watching when they pass the bottom of the screen then that will screw you up for the higher difficulties as well. I get the impression from the people I know that aren't very good at the game, that they are trying to use the screen too much for timing. I basically just look at the screen to see which notes are coming rather than when I have to hit them.

      --
      which is totally what she said
    19. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by uhlume · · Score: 4, Informative

      Heh. Lest you get troll-modded into oblivion by people who missed the reference, here's a link to the Zero Punctuation review of GH3:

      http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2716-Zero-Punctuation-Guitar-Hero-III

      --
      SIERRA TANGO FOXTROT UNIFORM
    20. Re:Never got why people like Guitar Hero by naoursla · · Score: 5, Funny

      Technically, Guitar Hero, GH2 and RB are amazing rhythm games that give you a sense of playing awesome guitar riffs.

      GH3 is a rhythm game that gives you a sense of mashing buttons on a guitar shaped piece of plastic while listening to music.

  2. They didn't like my idea... by Mordok-DestroyerOfWo · · Score: 5, Funny

    I thought with the success of Guitar Hero, the world would be ready for the obvious next step. Say hello to Jug Hero. It comes with washtub bass, spoons, jug, and a washboard. You spend your time going around the south playing in various redneck bars. When you start to get behind in a song, just tip your jug for special moonshine power!

    --
    "Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right" - Salvor Hardin
    1. Re:They didn't like my idea... by Rod+Beauvex · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yeah, you go in the south and do that. You'd have the living piss beat out of you.

    2. Re:They didn't like my idea... by geekoid · · Score: 4, Funny

      I see you have managed that well known southern sense of humor.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  3. My little brother by electrosoccertux · · Score: 5, Funny

    He stopped playing GH3 2 weeks ago, and it has been the most peaceful 2 weeks in months.

    Thank you, Activision, now I will have to listen to his voice too.

  4. Good Move. by morari · · Score: 2, Interesting

    All good news. I just wish that developers would stop giving the PS2 any thought and instead focus on making the Wii version the best it can be. I'd hate to see another enhanced PS2 port on the Wii. I suppose though that even if it does come down to that, at least it won't be as butchered as the Wii version of Rock Band. Activision has already shown that they're willing to at least tailor a majority of the game to the Wii's strengths. It does have the best guitar, after all.

    --
    "He who can destroy a thing, controls a thing." --Paul Atreides, Dune
    1. Re:Good Move. by Blahbooboo3 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      All good news. I just wish that developers would stop giving the PS2 any thought and instead focus on making the Wii version the best it can be. I'd hate to see another enhanced PS2 port on the Wii. I suppose though that even if it does come down to that, at least it won't be as butchered as the Wii version of Rock Band. Activision has already shown that they're willing to at least tailor a majority of the game to the Wii's strengths. It does have the best guitar, after all. Sure, why not just ignore the 103 million PS2s out there?
    2. Re:Good Move. by josteos · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Many of the 103M ps2 owners probably own another console and would buy that version instead.

      But quite a few wouldn't, so it would be kinda lame to ignore them.

      I have a PC & a PS2, but I'd rather buy it for my Wii.

      --
      Save the Music; Save the World at http://www.TuneTriever.com (Our latest Android game)
  5. What about.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...Guitar Villain?

    Sounds like a much more fun game.

    1. Re:What about.... by SiriusStarr · · Score: 2, Funny

      http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comic.php?d=20060419

      You mean like this?

      --
      Fear the penguin.
  6. Bass? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    No one ever wants to be on bass :-(

    1. Re:Bass? by KnightNavro · · Score: 4, Funny

      That's because they're scaly and slimy. Trout are better.

  7. Keytar Hero by prockcore · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It's a shame they don't add synths so you could do keytar hero.

    Hell, I have a usb synth, they should add the ability.

  8. Re:I already own Rock Band, thank you by DevNull+Ogre · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How many plastic instruments do these guys really expect me to buy? That's a good point. My wife instantly disliked Mario Kart (while watching the preview on Nintendo Channel on our Wii) because of the wheel. She hated the idea of yet another thing to find a place for. I don't think four Wiimotes, two nunchucks, a zapper, and a guitar are a problem at all. But if I came home adding a plastic drum kit to that collection, I don't think she'd let me in. (At least the balance board that's on preorder will slide under the couch.)
  9. Stealing the Credit by DrGamez · · Score: 3, Funny

    When Rock Band and Guitar Hero 3 both came out I was excited. On one hand Rock Band was really pushing the "genre" forward, by making one of the most fun party games I've ever played. On the other hand, Guitar Hero 3 was pandering to the score-heads, those hoping to full combo a song with perfect bonus star power paths and everything. The only downside to this was Rock Band hasn't been selling as well because of the name. Harmonix did a great job of getting Guitar Hero popular, and now that they had to drop the name it hurt them.

    To describe Rock Band most people will go with the, "It's like Guitar Hero but..." route - which leads some to believe Guitar Hero might be the better and Rock Band is a cheap knock-off novelty. But now that Activision has seen the light they are doing their own full Rock Band ensemble game. This means to describe Guitar Hero 4, everyone is using the, "It's like Rock Band but..." line.

    Hopefully this leads to many more people seeing that Harmonix knows how to make rhythm games, and perhaps Activision should stick with what the do "best".

    (Also if Tony Hawk or Bam Margera is unlockable in Guitar Hero 4 I'm going to lose it)

  10. I will not buy two frigging drumsets. by Seor+Jojoba · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I got Rock Band and all the instruments that come with it. Harmonix was gracious enough to let you use the GH guitar in Rock Band. I don't see why the hell Activision can't let us plug in Rock Band instruments into their game. Particularly lame to change the drumkit in one tiny little way (add one extra pad) to "improve" it. It is stupid to buy new hardware with every music game out there. It wastes money and living room space.

    1. Re:I will not buy two frigging drumsets. by xero314 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Harmonix was gracious enough to let you use the GH guitar in Rock Band. What? You can use your GH guitars with Rock Band? I guess you don't have a PS3 and had to watch Activision actively block the release of a patch that would have solved the issue. It was big news, but not big enough to get on slashdot, no matter how high it was voted in the fire hose.
  11. Re:nope by amRadioHed · · Score: 4, Funny

    I hereby predict that Guitar Hero 11 will come with a real guitar and that gamers will think it's the coolest thing ever.

    They will also declare that Guitar Hero 4 is lame and only for little kids and posers.

    --
    We hope your rules and wisdom choke you / Now we are one in everlasting peace
  12. Big deal... by jonwil · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Let me know if they actually decide to get some DECENT music...
    How can they make 7 games in the series (6 if you dont count the Aerosmith one) and not have a single AC/DC song (for those who dont know, AC/DC are the best ever Australian band when it comes to playing guitars, drums and rock music fast and loud)

  13. Re:I already own Rock Band, thank you by Chris+Pimlott · · Score: 3, Informative

    My wife instantly disliked Mario Kart (while watching the preview on Nintendo Channel on our Wii) because of the wheel. Offtopic, but you don't really need to use the wheel; in fact you don't even have to use tilt controls at all. You can use the nunchuck, the classic controller or a gamecube controller and use the joystick, or just tilt the normal wii controller without putting it in the wheel.
  14. Re:nope by DeathCarrot · · Score: 4, Interesting
    I've been playing the guitar for nigh on a decade (I've just turned 21) and I absolutely adore Guitar Hero, as does a guitarist friend of mine. To most people I know Guitar Hero isn't about pretending you're a rock star, it's just a game, no different to WoW or the FPS du jour.

    Granted, if someone comes up to me boasting how their 5* on expert Cliffs of Dover was more of an accomplishment than being able to play the same song on a real guitar, they really do deserve a slap. One takes 8 months to reach a suitable level of proficiency, the tends to take more than 8 years.

  15. Re:nope by siride · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Maybe I don't want to learn how to play the guitar, but I do want to have some fun? Is that allowed? Or does everything I do have to be a fucking chore?

  16. Re:nope by xero314 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I want people to go out and have real experiences that aren't limited by a machine, or set of rules. He says on an internet forum...
  17. Oh lovely, by Amy+Grace · · Score: 2, Funny

    as if life in a basement suite isn't bad enough with Rock Band. Now there's going to be a whole new selection of shitty radio rock for my upstairs neighbors to sing to.

    PS To my upstairs neighbor: You have a voice that only a mother could love. Please stop trying to sing "Say it Ain't So", it hurts everyone involved.

  18. Re:nope by Saint+Gerbil · · Score: 2, Informative

    They are already there.

    http://www.guitarrising.com/

  19. Re:nope by siride · · Score: 3, Insightful

    No. Life is a mix of passionate exertion, love and recreation. Sometimes, you just have to have fun and it doesn't have to be this great work of skill or talent. That's all. Elsewhere in my life I most certainly apply myself greatly and am justly rewarded. I don't, however, care to do that with a guitar. But Guitar Hero is fun all the same and I don't think you can fault me for occasionally coming home from work and playing a couple of songs I like on a stupid game.