Rumor: Guitar Hero: Aerosmith to use drum and mic peripherals

94 Comments by Griffin McElroy Feb 17th 2008 8:30PM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Rhythm

While you might think a game titled Guitar Hero: Aerosmith would have you playing, you know, guitars, a Best Buy advertisement for the latest ~~mistake~~ chapter in the rhythm game franchise claims you'll be able to play as all of the "famous rock legends" in "America's greatest rock and roll band" -- including the drummer, Joey Kramer, and band's own lady-lookin'-dude, Steven Tyler, using a drum peripheral and microphone peripheral (complete with flamboyantly colored scarf, we assume).

If true, we wonder if Activision would release their own controllers for the game, or count on backwards compatibility with the Rock Band peripherals (fat chance, considering the near feud between Harmonix and Activision over Rock Band's guitar compatibility issues). Not that it matters to us -- the only devices we'd use to interact with a rhythm game featuring songs by Aerosmith are a clay pigeon launcher and our trusty pump-action shotgun.

[Thanks, Waffle Slayer.]

Tags: activision, aerosmith, drums, guitarhero, joeykramer, mic, microphone, neversoft, steventyler

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Fernando Rocker: Feb 17th 2008; 8:36PM

"America's greatest rock and roll band... "

Yeah, right.

FidliousWong: Feb 17th 2008; 8:49PM

While I don't agree, I almost fear to ask what you would consider the greatest....

Fernando Rocker: Feb 17th 2008; 8:51PM

I absolutely love Grand Funk Railroad.

ThornedVenom: Feb 17th 2008; 8:53PM

The title for the best band the world has ever known is battled between Dethklok, Tenacious D and Flight of the Conchords.

Fernando Rocker: Feb 17th 2008; 8:54PM

Too bad people don't apreciate that bands any more... I went to a Grand Funk concert (well, not stadium concert... in a convention center) about 5 years ago... just 150 people showed...

Excellent musicians... way better than Aerosmith members.

brandonius: Feb 17th 2008; 9:45PM

@thorned venom

tenacious d and flight of the conchords are possibly two of the greatest bands. i second that, sir.

"you know when im down to my socks its time for business, thats why they call them business socks, OOH!"

FordGTGuy: Feb 17th 2008; 10:58PM

Metallica \""/

Ian: Feb 18th 2008; 8:37AM

While I won't tell you that you're wrong for liking Grand Funk, you can't argue that Aerosmith has had a much better career as far as 'success' is concerned. Most people don't know any grand funk other than American Band.

I also would not argue that Aerosmith is the greatest american band either. I'm not sure who I would say is, but its not Aerosmith.

Ian: Feb 18th 2008; 8:37AM

Victor: Feb 17th 2008; 8:37PM

i hope they never finish developing this game.

The Artist formally known as Jesus: Feb 17th 2008; 9:08PM

The only problem is that 3D Realms isn't developing it

Tiptup300: Feb 17th 2008; 9:08PM

It'd be great if rock band like released all the aerosmith songs on DLC the day this game came out for half the price. Call it the "[arguably] PWNED pack".

steven tyler: Feb 17th 2008; 8:38PM

what the hell is you guys problem with Aerosmith? they're better then alot of other bands that could have been featured in their own guitar hero. would you rather guitar hero: fall out boy or guitar hero: U2?

Fernando Rocker: Feb 17th 2008; 8:41PM

Steven... your daughter is hot =p

Dracard: Feb 17th 2008; 8:43PM

How about none of the above?

I like variety. This does not give me that option.

FidliousWong: Feb 17th 2008; 8:45PM

agreed, variety rocks. In fact, I'd prefer THEME packs over band duck sucks...

Victor: Feb 17th 2008; 8:48PM

there's nothing wrong with aerosmith (at least in my opinion).
i just think it's too soon for another guitar hero game to be announced. that and activision is banalizing guitar hero, i wouldn't doubt if it became like FIFA, having a new game every year.

ThornedVenom: Feb 17th 2008; 8:54PM

You're all missing the point: amen to Fernando.

Ghen: Feb 17th 2008; 9:18PM

I love Aerosmith's music and so does my wife. Are they my favorite band? No, not by a long shot. But I'll buy the game and play it for a very long time.

Ben: Feb 18th 2008; 5:07PM

Yeah, I'd much rather have a U2 Guitar Hero than Aerosmith... actually, I'd rather have a Fall Out Boy GH too, and I can't stand them.
I can't stand Aerosmith.

XanthouS: Feb 17th 2008; 8:39PM

"See if you can drum like Joey Kramer, play guitar like Joe Perry and Brad Whitford, play bass like Tom Hamilton and sing like Steven Tyler"

Wow. I expected Activision to crap out a "me too!" clone of Rock Band, but not this soon.

So..

Invest ~$150 in order to play several Aerosmith songs.

Or...

Invest ~$150 in order to play literally hundreds of songs ranging across nearly every genre of rock.

The worse part of this whole situation is that Activision is going to start getting desperate and throwing bags of cash at artists so that they "exclusively feature" their music in GH games.

XanthouS: Feb 17th 2008; 8:41PM

I just noticed that the Best Buy page says:

"Number of players: 1"

I'd hope that proves to be a mistake. Why would a game release a guitar, drum and mic if it could only be played in single player?

alphajake: Feb 17th 2008; 8:40PM

Why is everyone so down on Aerosmith? America's greatest rock band??? maybe not, but how many other bands have enough material to fill up a guitar hero game?

Fernando Rocker: Feb 17th 2008; 8:43PM

Although not in my favorites ny any chance, I prefer a Guns n Roses Guitar Hero.

At least Slash has a feeling when he play guitar (not very good technically, but sounds nice).

XanthouS: Feb 17th 2008; 8:44PM

It's not about Aerosmith. I enjoy a lot of their work.

It's about Activision whoring out a once great franchise and taking one more step toward becoming the next EA.

FidliousWong: Feb 17th 2008; 8:48PM

You know, maybe it's the whole 60 year old singing about banging 20 year olds (Jaded...)

I mean, that shit was creepy when William Randalf Hearst was all about it.

Batzarro: Feb 17th 2008; 8:49PM

I'll explain: In the internet every negative reaction to anything is multiplied by 70%. So, "I'd rather have Rice Crispies than Lucky Charms" becomes "I'd rather eat hot coals than Lucky Charms. And "I slightly dislike Aerosmith" becomes "Aerosmith is the worst band ever". I rather like them, but I'd never buy a peripheral based music game with only them. Come to think of it, I'd never buy a peripheral based music game period.

Dracard: Feb 17th 2008; 8:50PM

"It's about Activision whoring out a once great franchise and taking one more step toward becoming the next EA."

So ironic.

FidliousWong: Feb 17th 2008; 8:50PM

Actually, this is MORE than one a year. This drops in June, GHIV is october...

Fernando Rocker: Feb 17th 2008; 8:50PM

sheppy...

Friend code dude? Or add me to MSN rock_rules20 at hotmail

ill trooper: Feb 18th 2008; 1:43AM

Batzarro: I think you meant 'multiplied by 170%,' in which case, I totally agree about the 'opinons go nuts' part.

Sky Shark X2: Feb 18th 2008; 2:18AM

Lets see, Rush, Metallica, most like Iorn Madien, possibly Linkin Park, maybe Fall Out boy if you use a shorter set list, Cream, Rolling Stones etc.... Yeah a lot of bands also this is just cop out Rock the 80s was acceptable because that was pre dlc. This is just a cheap cash in and an attempt in copying RB kinda like six axis cashed in on wii mote idea.

Probot: Feb 17th 2008; 8:44PM

I wouldn't put much stock in this rumor. The press release went out of its way to note which members are "playable" in the game.

"puts players in the shoes of Perry (guitar), Whitford (guitar) and Hamilton (bass), as they rock out alongside frontman Tyler and drummer Kramer."

Maybe their not ready to announce the peripherals, that would probably have been the best time, considering Steven Tyler is clearly the frontman and playing as him would be a major announcement.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School): Feb 18th 2008; 9:55AM

Good point, and one that get glossed over.

rawkersparadise: Feb 17th 2008; 8:45PM

I wonder if this has anything to do with thier recent patents for "drum hero". I totally expect Activision to come out with a drum kit soon, IMHO the drums are the most fun part of Rock Band and hopefully they can do one better in the drum design than the rock band model.

of course the steady dlc of rockband has yet to be matched by activision. I have actually been surprised at how good things have been with rock band in spite of electronic arts being involved

THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime): Feb 17th 2008; 8:58PM

blizactardvision is the new EA. But yes rock band has been awesome and even though I had a bad guitar they mailed me a new one and offered an apology. As for Aerosmith I simply have never liked them. I got Pandoras Box as a kid and it just didnt do anything for me. With this and u2 on the horizon, i am left with an even more vile taste in my mouth for GH. As far as im concerned GH was a shinning crazy diamond that burned its candle at both ends and died of an cocaine and painkiller overdose after its brilliant GH2 performance. The remaining members picked up the pieces and hired me as lead singer in a Rock Band. Once again why buy? I am getting albums for presumably cheaper (Whos Next?).

Shmil: Feb 17th 2008; 8:52PM

awww and here i was hoping for a def leppard drum set

Brendon: Feb 17th 2008; 9:27PM

I guess the Wiimote would come in (one) handy for that...

xGeneral DEATHx: Feb 18th 2008; 7:40AM

I see what you did there.

And I lul'ed.

MarkHawk: Feb 17th 2008; 8:55PM

speechless... but one question

Can we create custom Aerosmith characters? Will we get to make music videos? Can we do the Armageddon video? Will Bruce Willis and Ben Aflick finally step into the roll they were born to play as CG versions of there characters in a Guitar hero make a music video game mode?

Shovelware?

ThornedVenom: Feb 17th 2008; 8:56PM

Oh well, the game shouldn't be too hard to play now!

*ducks*

Fernando Rocker: Feb 17th 2008; 8:57PM

I wonder if the consoles have enough power to render so many mouth polygons in real time...

=)

The Artist formally known as Jesus: Feb 17th 2008; 9:13PM

Not even the Cell can handle the mouth of Steven Tyler

Neebs: Feb 17th 2008; 9:04PM

fail

Flit: Feb 17th 2008; 9:07PM

Shovelware? How dare you imply a band with such great albums as "get a grip", "pump" and "nine lives" be putting out anything except top shelf merchandise?

The only way this game could get any more insulting is if Liv Tyler showed up to make fun of the size of your genetailia and then punch you in the nuts. When you beat the game, Steven Tyler will come out and show you his ass, and say "thanks for the $60 sucker!"

Sorry Activision, you fooled me with Rocks the 80's, never again... never again.

EihBeir: Feb 17th 2008; 9:09PM

Nope. No more. Not buying anymore pretend instruments. I got too much shit laying around here as it is.

DCBlack: Feb 17th 2008; 11:30PM

Seriously. Just as I suggested they should NOT do, Activision is going ahead with making a copycat of Rock Band, only poorly. If they don't come out with a deal for compatibility with RB peripherals, I'm not buying theirs.

Zeromaru: Feb 17th 2008; 9:10PM

I got GH3 before I got GH2, and now after getting Rock Band and playing some nostalgic Amplitude I'm in full Harmonix mode, and Guitar Hero: Aerosmith just seals the deal.

And I have to disagree with alphajake, there are LOTS of bands that could fill up the 30 songs Activision wants for the Guitar Hero expansions (see Rocks the 80's). And even if they want a full 70 song tracklist, in my own personal collection, the following artists more than satisfy the requirements:

AC/DC (179 songs)
Alice Cooper (294 songs)
April Wine (54 songs)
The Beatles (87 songs)
Brooks & Dunn (68 songs)
CAKE (51 songs)
David Bowie (43 songs)
Freezepop (33 songs)
Garth Brooks (147 songs)
George Strait (401 songs)
Great Big Sea (62 songs)
Green Day (150 songs)
Matthew Good (52 songs)
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes (62 songs)
Metallica (178 songs)
NESkimoes (43 songs)
Pearl Jam (81 songs)
Queen (251 songs)
Red Hot Chili Peppers (89 songs)
Rush (56 songs)
Tenacious D (37 songs)
Trans-Siberian Orchestra (79 songs)
Twisted Sister (79 songs)
Weezer (72 songs)
Weird Al (120 songs)

In fact any one of these band I know myself and many other people would prefer over Aerosmith to have a dedicated Guitar Hero game.

alphajake: Feb 17th 2008; 9:35PM

How many copies of Guitar Hero: Tenacious D would sell? I don't think I could stand to play another TD song. Like I said before I don't think there are a lot of other bands that could fill up a game. Just because they've released 30+ songs doesn't mean you can make a game around it. I'm not saying Aerosmith is the best choice for a GH game, but it is certainly better than about half bands on your list.

Zeromaru: Feb 17th 2008; 9:40PM

But you see that is precisely my point. Those are all bands *I* would rather see, and lots of people would agree on at least one of them, but very few would actually agree on any particular one. Just like very few would actually want a Guitar Hero full of Aerosmith. Variety is what will sell the game.

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