Next venue for 'Guitar Hero III': PCs, Macs

Aspyr Media announced a partnership with Activision and RedOctane to bring Guitar Hero III to two more platforms: the PC and Mac.

While Tony Hawk studio Neversoft handles the console versions of Guitar Hero III, Aspyr will be independently developing and producing the two new editions of the game. However, the two new platforms will feature an experience similar to that described in GameSpot's coverage of the console versions, including more than 70 songs in its set list, as well as online multiplayer modes.

Belying its humble roots as a Kentia Hall diamond at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo, the Guitar Hero franchise has grown to become a pop-culture juggernaut.

That's in part due to the ever-growing reach of the game, which expanded onto the Xbox 360 with Guitar Hero II. For the third iteration in the series, RedOctane and Activision have already planned on doubling the number of platforms the series will appear on, with versions for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2 and Wii having already been announced. (A Nintendo DS Guitar Hero game is also planned.)

GameSpot had an opportunity to speak with Chance Copeland, associate producer for Aspyr Media, at this year's Austin Game Developers Conference to get more details on Guitar Hero III for the PC and Mac. Rated T for Teen, these versions will be available this fall.

Currently, the music-game genre has very little representation on the PC and Mac platforms, and we think it's past time someone blew that wide open with a powerful franchise like Guitar Hero. Another concept we're trying to transmit to gamers is the idea of "Guitar Hero on the go." Take your laptop with you in the car or on an airplane, put on your headphones, and rock all you want using one of our keyboard configurations for the game. Consoles just aren't travel-friendly the way a good laptop is.

And I'd also like to point out that more and more people are integrating PCs into their primary entertainment system, so playing Guitar Hero III PC in your living room isn't hard to imagine.

Wii controller strap

Play tennis, bowling and other Wii games at full strength without fear of the dreaded fling.

Following on the heels of New York Fashion Week, Atlantic's GameKeeper has unveiled a fashion accessory at DigitalLife 2007 that doubles as a safety device.

The Wii Strap for the Wii controller fastens through the controller loop and onto your wrist with Velcro. But the thick band also looks as if it might double as a wristband. They'll be available this November in sets of blue and black or pink and green for $9.99.

Sorry, fellow WristStrong fans, Atlantic's bands don't have a cause other than protecting your flattie.

Still, it's never too early to start thinking about stocking stuffers for the gamer in your life.

Source: CNet

Images: Atlantic

Finding the art in gaming

A gaming conference taking place at The University of Western Ontario is not an eyebrow raiser.
Western’s Department of Computer Science has been exploring serious gaming for a few years now.

The real news about Playing The Gallery: The Art of Games is that it comes to campus via the McIntosh Gallery.

“It’s a serious investigation of the creative side of the internet as seen through gaming, computer games, video games on the internet and what the implications are for society,” he says.

The conference combines presentations by worldwide leaders, such as Spiegel with workshops focusing on critical social and technical issues that underline the art of games.

“Of particular focus in Playing the Gallery will be the technology-driven environments for co-creative expression, such as online social communities,” says Gustafson.

The conference has raised quite a bit of interest from the gaming world, prompting a former Visual Arts grad to sponsor $100-conference scholarships to cover registration fees for 25 students. “Dan Miller of the Investors Group wanted to make it a learning experience for students who were interested in the topics,” Kennedy says. “For example we’ve got a medical student who’s coming because he’s interested in video games and their effect on physical well being.” There are still some scholarships available for students.

More information on the conference can be found at Playing the gallery.

Astronaut's Son Buys $30M Space Ticket

The son of a retired astronaut is about to follow his father into orbit, after buying a $30 million ticket for a seat on a Russian rocket.

Richard Garriott, who made his fortune in computer games, is scheduled to blast off aboard a Soyuz rocket from Kazakhstan in October 2008 on a one-week trip to the international space station.

Garriott is 46 and lives in a medieval-style mansion in Austin, Texas, complete with its own dungeon and secret passages. The house is modeled after the setting of his "Ultima" video games.

Richard Garriott, a University of Texas dropout, developed the "Ultima" series, a computer game franchise, and with his brother, Robert, founded Origin Systems, a computer game developer and publisher. He also co-founded the North American arm of NCsoft, an online game developer and publisher. His newest game, "Tabula Rasa", is due out in October.

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Orchestrated games come to London

A BIZZARE concept is about to hit London.

The Philharmonia Orchestra accompanied by the London Chorus choir is going to perform the backing tracks taken from leading computer games.

The vent has been labelled Video Games Live and coincides with the opening of the London Games festival.
The INQ could understand somebody wanting to hear the score from Halo 3, perhaps, but Space Invaders and Pong? It appears to us to be a cunning ploy to hype up Xbox 360 titles before Christmas.

The event is being held at the Royal Festival Hall and is described as "an explosive one-of-a-kind entertainment experience." Wasn't that the same venue where the Mageek famously booed an Apricot sponsored event?
Anyway, if you're at a real loose end on 22nd October 2007, you'd better get yourself a ticket. There will, of course, be the chance to see and play games before and after the music has kicked off. And you can get to meet Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall

Prices range from£19.50 to £32.50 and are available from the South Bank box office.

Source: Inquirer

This is part of the London Games festival - see earlier post