At last: Guitar Hero on Tour, now with wacky peripheral
by Alisha Karabinus 
{ Mar 19th 2008 at 1:55PM }
Dying to know how you'll shred in portable fashion? The wait is over, Guitar Hero fans -- at least, the DS peripheral has been revealed, along with some screenshots from the title. It's called the Guitar Grip, and it will fit snugly into the GBA slot and wrap around while players hold the system sideways. Gameplay-wise, it's -- no surprise here -- Guitar Hero, as it should be. The touchscreen is where it all happens; you follow the song on the left screen, and strum on the right. You even get to throw down with Star Power, and for those of you who take your throwdowns seriously, there's a strap to ensure that your handheld stays held. The Grip also includes a slot for a special pick stylus. However, as you can see, there are only four buttons for the DS version ... and we can't help but wonder how the different slot on the Lite vs. Phat will be handled.
On Tour features multiplayer via local wireless, in which players will have access to unique powerups that disrupt their opponents by, among other things, setting their guitars on fire and forcing them to extinguish the blaze with the microphone.
Guitar Hero on Tour is set for some time, some day this summer -- all we know is that it's not soon enough. For now, hit the jump for some additional shots, as well as a video.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Roto13 @ Mar 19th 2008 2:08PM
... Ok.
TheCoats @ Mar 19th 2008 2:30PM
disappointed about the 4 button thing.......and i thought they said....."hey no touch screen strumming"?
but i will be buying this
Jackson H @ Mar 19th 2008 2:31PM
As excited as I am for this game to come out, that commercial was not... good.
imaginary thomas @ Mar 19th 2008 2:31PM
Really? I thought guitar hero DS was a joke...
Someone needs to stop them from making the same game over and over.
Huh... @ May 27th 2008 12:08AM
Just like Sony and all their consoles. The same fucking game for all the consoles. So stupid...
Austin @ Mar 19th 2008 2:33PM
Yeah... gonna be like $70
94 taurus owner @ Apr 7th 2008 5:58PM
Actually 50$
jason @ Mar 19th 2008 2:39PM
Trying to imagine playing this, wrapping my left hand around the back of the ds to reach the buttons on the far right, trying to watch the left screen and strum on the right.... seems very awkward to me.
Candace Savino @ Mar 19th 2008 3:49PM
I was thinking (as a lefty) that this didn't look very lefty friendly. But when you put it like that, it doesn't look very righty friendly, either.
Andrew @ Mar 19th 2008 4:03PM
I'm guessing this'll have an option like Brain Age's where you can choose which way to hold the DS, solving the possible lefty problem.
And while I was buzzed for this, that commercial just killed my buzz in the most violent, traumatizing way possible. "Hello DS players! Are you ready to do something that vaguely resembles a watered down attempt to ROCK??"
tamriel @ Mar 19th 2008 2:50PM
I like it and I am a sucker for GH, so I will buy it. However, two questions:
1. Would it not have been possible to use the L or R button on the thumb for a fifth button? I am no guitarist, but I know some players sometimes play the sixth string with the thumb or something. Could such a move have been integrated in the experience?
2. It is known that, for Space Invaders Extreme, the GBA-slot paddle controller disables clamshelling. I wonder whether the Activision people have thought about a way to enable sleeping when the DS's lid is closed.
Oh, and this commercial totally fails. I mean, flailing around with the GH controller already makes you look like an utter dork, but these kids? This is beyond any amend.
Candace Savino @ Mar 19th 2008 3:48PM
Putting something in the GBA slot doesn't disable clamshelling -- you can still close the DS and the game itself will go to sleep. However, the periph plugged into the GBA slot will continue to suck the juice out of your DS at a normal rate.
bluezy @ Mar 19th 2008 3:04PM
Looks weird, but hey, i'm interested.
spideyman @ Mar 19th 2008 3:36PM
Being 50 years old, the Guitar Hero phenomenon escapes me. Just not interested in playing the game. Perhaps if there were more classic rock songs, I might be prone to give it a try.
Gewurztraminer (needs more umlaut) @ Mar 19th 2008 5:21PM
Hopefully "Guitar Hero: The Beatles" ends up being more than just talk
Good news! @ May 27th 2008 12:18AM
Actually on GH4, there have been rumors it will include Van Halen, AeroSmith, and the Eagles. Its also rumired it will gave a drumset, mic, and guitar- all wireless.
Croove55 @ Mar 19th 2008 3:42PM
This is actually pretty clever. It's obviously nothing like playing a guitar at this point, but it is reminiscent of guitar HERO. That is to say, it's familiar enough to work, it just lost it's "guitar simulation" status. The peripheral is a fantastic way to go about this.
That being said, this MIGHT be awkward for lefties.
foosnark @ Mar 19th 2008 4:20PM
Ugh. That video makes keytars look awesome.
Maybe it's still fun to play, at the cost of looking like a terrible dork.
Sam @ Mar 19th 2008 4:37PM
from the looks of the gba thingy, it won't fit on a ds phat, notice how it stops as soon as it comes out of the ds lite it goes into the buttons, so it is probably lite only, glad I converted.
ArmorForVictor @ Mar 19th 2008 5:06PM
I'm really over guitar hero now. rock band FTW!
Bill McCai @ Mar 19th 2008 8:32PM
"More like Tiny Accordion Hero, amirite?"
I blame you for making me laugh coffee out of my nose just now.
Alisha Karabinus @ Mar 21st 2008 12:48AM
I'm glad I could help (burn your nose)!
iruka @ Mar 19th 2008 10:06PM
I've been waiting for news on this one! Thanks for the update! I'm just a little disappointed that it only had 4 buttons :( but I guess it's hard to add the orange button since it would change the grip of the user and it might be more prone to dropping the DS. It would be cool to try it out though... I'm actually considering on buying it when it comes out.
chispito @ Mar 19th 2008 10:24PM
All I can say about that peripheral is, "It's so bad."
atastysammich @ Mar 20th 2008 4:47AM
Eh, call me when they announce Beatmania DS.
Kyle @ Mar 20th 2008 12:07PM
ccordion Hero....sweet....
Tatang Putra @ Mar 20th 2008 8:34PM
I'm so buying this!!!!!!!
Jon @ Mar 22nd 2008 6:35PM
First off the reason why their is no orange button is because, it will, A. Take up either the volume control button or the Ear phone plug-in (head set What ever) B. There is no unlimited space on the Nintendo DS lite screen so they don't want to make anything look crappy by shrinking it, and C. It would completely fell awkward on the fingers.
The commercial obviously is targeting the teenage youth group so all of those dumb as can be older men and women should either grow up, or be like Micheal Jackson and try to stay a kid forever.(of course adults could join in the fun too.) Now, it is called a Guitar Hero Guitar Grip now to me if the do a little re-modeling like make it look like a fret board, then i would be abit more convinced (im still going to get it) so anyway when spring-break is over, im going to make a web-site completely dedicated for this game. *as long as im not baned from the Computer room.*
**P.S. Rock band sucks big time, i mean i played every one of the instruments, and it feels so awkward. **
P.P.S. I'm not even legally able to drive so don't talk out of your butt. Like saying, ''How would you know'' or ''Dude, aren't you one of those old retards who love the game.'' Guitar hero Addict all the funking way dudes
P.P.P.S. All of my info is fan guessing and mathematical estimating. So bye
digifresh @ Mar 27th 2008 10:38PM
i think its going to suck but .... i really hope it doesnt cuz i wants it so bad
=O @ May 27th 2008 12:12AM
Holy shit looks awesome. I have a DS Lite and I know for sure that I WILL be getting this game. It just looks like fun, possibly a little dorky, but not as bad as flailing around a guitar. I will have to say that basically it isn't about the actual guitar experience anymore, but still looks awesome. This will definitely be added to my GH1, GH2, GH3, and GH4 whenever it comes out.
JRM @ May 27th 2008 3:18AM
The whole grip thing isn't as bad people make it out to be. It's actually a lot like brain age, except the hand that supports the ds also presses the coloured buttons (I will not dare say frets, because this nor the plastic guitar comes anywhere close to the real thing).
I will buy it if it's compatible with my ds phat.
zair @ May 31st 2008 4:55AM
ths looks like a bit of a phailed attempt to juice of the GH craze but i hope its fun. hell, ill do it just for the sake of annoying the guy seated next to me on the plane =D