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If you want to spend way too much money on game instruments, but don't want to buy the fancy Beatles: Rock Band box, Logitech has you covered. Following the launch of the Wireless Guitar Controller for PS3/PS2 and Xbox 360, Logitech is bringing the $199 peripheral to Wii in North America and Europe this October.

The controller, which was black in its PS3 incarnation and orange for 360, will have a white body (with room to attach a Wiimote), and the same "maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and metal frets" that help justify the price of the other versions.

Logitech is also introducing a Wii version of its $229 Wireless Drum Controller, which is designed to fold up easily, and features both drum pads and kick pedals that are improved over the basic Guitar Hero drums -- which, at that price, they'd better be.

It's a scientific fact that 95 percent of American households are silently being overthrown by plastic musical instruments -- we'd wager your homestead is among those afflicted. Fortunately, a small video game accessories company, known as NEXiLUX, has come up with a clever solution for your guitar-storing needs: Collapsible guitar controllers, which are demoed in a video after the jump.

Here's the bad news -- these guitars are only compatible with the Wii versions of Guitar Hero titles or Wii/PS3/PS2 versions of Rock Band games. Also, when snapped together, they form what one could only charitably call a "guitar" -- it would probably be more accurately described as a "skinny keytar." The good news? It makes your acts of post-rocking instrument destruction much less permanent.

It seems that those who've chained themselves to their couches in anticipation of the September-bound demo for Double Fine's upcoming rock god sim, Brütal Legend, won't be the first ones to get their hands on the game. Rather, unrestrained persons who manage to pre-order the game at their nearest GameStop will be granted early access to the demo on September 17. The pre-order deal mentions this early access beats the demo's normal release by a week -- meaning non-reservers will likely get the trial on Wednesday, September 23.

Also bundled with the pre-order offer is a GameStop-exclusive in-game guitar, which possesses a "unique, sexy body inspired by the members of Tenacious D." We hope this means Jack and Kyle gave their input on what the guitar should look like, and not that the guitar actually looks like their bodies. We're doing just fine without that mental image, thanks.

Update: While the demo access is new information, we actually knew about the gee-tar in May. We've even got a picture of it -- and we're happy to report it doesn't feature nude versions of K.G. and Jack. No, wait! There they are!

[Via Kotaku]

The latest Xbox 360 guitar controller from Mad Catz, first announced during E3, is like normal Rock Band instruments, except made of wood. In other words, it's like a real Fender guitar, except without strings. What a lonely middle ground the Mad Catz Wireless Wooden Stratocaster Replica for Rock Band occupies (along with the other wooden instrument controllers).

The video showing off the guitar (after the break) mentions that these controllers are made in the Fender factory, and they certainly look a lot like real Strats. Also very much like a real guitar's: the $300 price tag. The company also shot a video for the more sensible (plastic) Telecaster Player's Edition guitar for 360 and the pan-platform Overdrive Pedal peripheral, which can also be seen after the break.

The Japanese PlayStation Store recently received a massive booster shot from Sony and a number of third-party developers who've made a few of their PSP titles downloadable. Coded Arms, Dynasty Warriors and Valhalla Knights are among the notable downloadable games -- but the inclusion of Koei's cult classic rhythm title, Gitaroo Man Lives, is what really sets our hearts a-flutter. Available for just ¥1,200 (about $14), we'd be hard pressed to not buy this hard-to-find gem five or six times should it come stateside.

Speaking of which, we've contacted Koei to see if they plan on bringing U-1's epic journey to the North American PlayStation Store. We'll let you know whether or not the developer plans on breaking our hearts.

There hasn't been an official announcement that we know of, but a sequel to Plato's guitar simulator Jam Sessions is on the way this September. We first noticed a listing for Jam Sessions 2 at GameStop, then found it at Ubisoft.com.

The Ubisoft product page has a fairly detailed list of features for the game. Players can now record their "freestyle" creations and make them into playable levels for other players. A multi-track song editor is now included. In addition, there are now multiple selectable guitars, including Fender and Gibson models, and both acoustic and electric guitars. Jam Sessions 2 features songs from artists including REM, Heart, The Ramones, The Clash, Doobie Brothers, Plain White-T's, The Black Crowes, and The Pixies. Some kind of DSi-based "features to enhance sound effects while playing" are also included.

Ubisoft lists a September 29 release date for Jam Sessions 2. We're contacting Ubisoft to try to learn more about this currently unannounced title.

Surprise! There's a new, slightly different guitar controller bundled with Guitar Hero 5. The sparkly red controller includes a redesigned touchpad, which now uses digital input instead of analog. The touchpad area also has small dots to indicate the fret color, and "slight reliefs" on the neck. Neversoft's Brian Bright told IGN that "all of these changes to the slider allow you to hit the tapping sections with better precision – we also removed the purple rope in the tapping/slide sections of game play by the way :)."

Activision has yet to determine whether this guitar will be available by itself or if it will be restricted to GH5 bundles. What is much more certain is that there will be a new Guitar Hero controller every single year, just in case Activision can convince some current guitar owners to upgrade.

Is the Rock Band strum bar too ... tangible for you? YouTube user adderd019 swapped out all that tiresome plastic in his Rock Band guitar for a beam of infrared light, turning it into an optical theremin of sorts.

The way he explains it, it sounds simple -- merely add an LED emitter and a receiver to the space where the strum bar usually goes, and then wire the controller up so that it registers a strum whenever the light beam is broken. Anyone can do that, right? The result is a guitar that strums when you wave your hand through the strum bar area. See the video after the break and marvel at the less-clicky, vaguely magical guitar!

[Thanks, Comet!]

Regardless of your feelings towards the mop-topped British rock sensation upon which the next Rock Band game is based, you have to admit -- The Beatles had them some lovely instruments. Two of these six-strings, Lennon and Harrison's Rickenbacker 325 and Gretsch Duo Jet, will be coming as $99 add-ons to The Beatles: Rock Band -- however, a third replica guitar will be coming in the game's Limited Edition Premium Bundle: Paul McCartney's Höfner bass guitar, pictured above.

According to a recent Harmonix press release, this wireless periph will work with all versions of Rock Band. It certainly looks gorgeous, but as our well-read colleagues at Engadget point out, this Höfner controller was designed for a right-handed player. McCartney, of course, was a Southpaw. Man, the game isn't even out yet, and already Harmonix is taking outrageous liberties with history. Unbelievable.

[Thanks, MarkHawk!]

Releasing right on schedule, standalone versions of Guitar Hero World Tour's drums and guitar are now available at retail. The percussion set and the axe have a suggested retail price of $100 and $70, respectively. The Guitar Hero community site notes the items are available at Best Buy and Gamestop, but we've also seen them available online at Amazon.

The standalone plastic peripherals are currently available only in North America. Europe and Australia will receive the items at "a later date." If you have any questions regarding the compatibility of the items across rhythm games, please check out our "Instrument Compatibility Matrix" for a complete rundown.

Talismoon, purveyor of replacement Wii shells, has announced a new guitar controller for Wii, the "Rock Thunder Guitar." Normally, a guitar controller from some random third-party wouldn't be terribly noteworthy, but the Rock Thunder Guitar has two features that distinguish it from its peers:

• It is compatible with all versions of Guitar Hero and Rock Band on the Wii, and
• It is shaped like a Gibson Flying V, which is awesome.

The wireless guitar also features a sleep mode, as well as its own motion sensor, probably for use in Rock Band (which doesn't require a WIimote to be attached to the guitar). Now, as for features like "the buttons all work" and "won't fall apart" -- the product description does not specify.
[Via MaxConsole]

Look at it! We mean, just look at it! Have you ever seen something so mind-numbingly precious in your entire life? The only thing cuter than this baby-sized toy Guitar Hero controller (is that a "toy toy?") would be to watch an actual baby playing Guitar Hero with it. ... Oh, and the baby is wearing a powdered wig and neon sunglasses. (Seriously, what's cuter than that?)

The only un-adorable thing is that this tiny contraption was discovered in a box of Frosted Mini Wheats, meaning we're going to have to buy an inferior cereal if we want one of our very own.

(P.S. Someone needs to update the Instrument Compatibility Matrix to include guitars that only work on our hearts.)

[UPDATE: Our friends at That Video Game Blog report that you can also find the toys in Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, Corn Pops and Rice Crispies, so you won't necessarily have to punish your tongue with Mini-Wheats.]

Even though it has been thoroughly thrashed with the ugly stick, ezGear's "You Rock Guitar" is actually a nifty bit of kit. Labeled "the world's most advanced video game and music controller" by its maker, the guitar is compatible with all current music games on the Wii, and swaps out the traditional strum bar and colored fretboard buttons for real strings and a multi-touch pad respectively (despite how it looks, there are no strings on the fretboard).

There's a bunch of non-Wii functionality in the You Rock. It can hook up to your PC or Mac (where it works with programs such as Garage Band, Sonar, and Finale), and can additonally link to your iPod, iPhone, or MP3 player, allowing you to "jam along" with your favorite Showaddywaddy tracks (yes, we know). You can even connect it to a guitar amp or mixer!

Alas, the peripheral's many functions mean it will launch in Q2 or Q3 with a price tag of $149.99. If you think you could get some use out of this besides playing on the Wii, that might make this worth it. While you wait, make the jump for the cheesiest trailer we've seen in forever.

If, for some reason, you suddenly find yourself both in need of an extra Wii Guitar Hero controller and a little light on cash -- no idea what could put so many people in such a state at this particular time -- you may be interested in today's Amazon Deal of the Day.

For $25.98 (just enough to qualify for free shipping!), the retailer is offering the Nyko Frontman guitar controller in either white or yellow. Both include interchangeable pickguards for a bit of customization. Of course, this guitar was originally designed for Guitar Hero III, and consequently does not feature the freaky touch pad business that the newer World Tour guitars do. But as a second guitar (or a bass) it should be fine.

Many of us will find it easy to imagine the following scenario, having lived it a little over a year ago with the release of an alarmingly similar title -- hordes of rhythm game junkies returned home last night from midnight launch parties at various retailers, cumbersome Guitar Hero: World Tour bundles in tow. Shortly after failing "Eye of the Tiger" for the third time in a row, an upsetting discovery is made -- one (or more) of the bundled instruments doesn't work as intended. The rocking is abated! Hearts are broken! Hands are wrung! Teeth are gnashed!

Sadly, such a scenario has reportedly been experienced by many a concerned forum poster, as threads stating issues with the game's peripherals have sprung up like discontent weeds. Their complaints are many -- one GameFAQs thread includes reports from players with unresponsive cymbals and, less commonly, drum heads; some posters decry their guitar's inability to register every strum; and some complain of faulty fret buttons.

We should point out that there are a number of forum posters who have stated complete satisfaction with their newly acquired fake instruments -- still, Activision has been quick to direct those with busted periphs to their customer service page, where information on how to get warranty replacements from RedOctane is given. We certainly hope the replacement process is a speedy one -- not that you don't already have a gaggle of fully functional instrumentrollers strewn across your den.

[Thanks, Neb.]