Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades now dated (in more ways than one)
by Chris Greenhough 
{ Oct 6th 2008 at 5:45PM }
For the first time in ages, we're actually intrigued about Guitar Hero on the DS. It's less to do with the games, and more about how Activision plans to squeeze the franchise and Guitar Grip onto the GBA slot-less Nintendo DSi (and squeeze it on they will, believe us -- those sales figures can't be ignored).
Still, it's not an immediate problem. While Activision scratches its head over a solution, there are still 80 million or so GBA slot-equipped DSes out there that can accomodate Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades and its lumpy, hand-torturing peripheral. We imagine there'll be no shortage of takers for this sequel, which Activision has just confirmed will launch November 16th. One day less to wait, then!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ditikos @ Oct 7th 2008 4:15AM
One viable solution? Wifi controlled glove (yes we go back to gloves) but it requires the use of both our hands (one to hold the ds, one to use the glove).
MowDownJoe @ Oct 7th 2008 7:58AM
I love the powerglove. It's so bad...
(I had to, sorry.)
Frastoglegnia @ Oct 7th 2008 3:16AM
In simple terms, the GBA slot has been replaced by an SD slot. Unless it makes copy protection problematic, why wouldn't that be a good spot for additional GH game data?
Also: If the DSi's SD slot functions at all like the PSP's, it will make backing up game saves from a cartridge far easier, which is small improvement no one seems to be mentioning.
WhatIsThatThing @ Oct 7th 2008 6:25AM
Um, the data isn't the problem. The controller is. It plugs into the GBA slot.
Frastoglegnia @ Oct 8th 2008 5:51AM
The article wasn't speaking to the controller alone. I was replying to this specifically: "It's less to do with the games, and more about how Activision plans to squeeze ***the franchise*** . . . onto the GBA slot-less Nintendo DSi (and squeeze it on they will, believe us -- those sales figures can't be ignored)."
bug frawg @ Oct 7th 2008 5:54AM
Does anyone else see the irony of giving the dsi better speakers, (and possibly for dlc) and then making it incompatible with the current guitar grip?(and thus the first two GH ds games)
nparayo @ Oct 7th 2008 8:03AM
It doesn't matter DSi is ages from release so GH's life will have ended by then. Yes a small percentage of people will be disappointed inevitably. The problem will be there for the next version but i can see Activision being annoyed at Nintendo for making it harder for them and simply not bothering with another version. Potentially moving to the PSP.
agelgamer @ Oct 7th 2008 7:33AM
This is Nintendo we're talking about right. King of peripherals... you think they give a rats ass right now that the guitar grip is pretty much incompatible with the new DS?
GHFan @ Oct 7th 2008 4:25PM
I think it would be pretty easy for them for the future GHDS games to make a grip that went into the SD card slot, then the grip would have an SD card slot so you could save your game and potentially have DLC.
richard @ Oct 8th 2008 7:00AM
Why not just have a mini wifi guitar, you prop the DS up on the table and strum away. I'd buy that !!!
FifthE1ement @ Oct 9th 2008 3:37AM
Richard and a few others have a good idea in the notion of a wireless new wireless guitar peripheral (similar to the wireless pedometer soon to be released for the DS). However, this extra peripheral would probably significantly reduce the devices’ already poor battery life, not to mention jump the price way past the current $50 price tag. Would you be willing to spend in upwards of $60-90 for a DS title? I might be willing to hop on the bus if they enabled downloadable content and included additional or exclusive features similar to those found in Guitar Hero’s home editions.
Also how about simply doing what the hackers did and enabling the buttons and digital pad to be used as a controller. It works fairly well for the DS Lite and DS Phat and is quite simple to use. For those that don’t know, hackers modified the original Guitar Hero: On Tour ROM so that the Guitar Grip device is no longer needed for gameplay. It actually comes together quite well and was achieved by simply remapping the four buttons on the Guitar Grip peripheral with the DS Phat/Lite’s actual face buttons and digital pad. The result is a control scheme which works well with a bit of practice. Perhaps they could simply enable the use of the face buttons while also utilizing the Guitar Grip device for those who want to use it.
I was also thinking that since it is kind of hard to hold the DS that perhaps they could allow users to change the touch screen string strumming to work with the microphone. EG: Rub your finger over the mic which causes noise which in turn strums the guitar strings. I also thought that the digital pad would be great for this as well. These are all hypothetical options to ensure everyone is comfortable playing the game. Perhaps they should simply allow the users to button map any feature to any peripheral, button, or DS feature. EG: Allow users to change the button mapping to use a combination of the Guitar Grip device, mic, face buttons, digital pad. With also giving the users the options to change the screen positions such as left screen on right side and also allowing the plays to switch the screens up/down independently of each other.
The whole goal of Guitar Hero is to make users feel comfortable playing the game in a similar fashion as playing a real guitar. And allowing users to customize the button mapping/screen settings, sounds, etc to their liking only increases the chance of more people playing the game. I’m sure many didn’t pick up the game simply because they tried it in the store and didn’t find the control scheme useable. Not that I blame them since I prefer the face button guitar method to the actual Guitar Grip! These are just suggestions and I hope that Activision takes them all into account when completing Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades. Anyone else agree with me or have suggestions?
FifthE1ement