Get Plugged In: Rocksmith will include a unique quarter-inch to USB cable that is the first of its kind, and will allow users to plug any real guitar with a quarter-inch jack directly into their Xbox 360®, PlayStation 3®, or PC. Developed exclusively for Rocksmith, this guitar cable is 11.25' and turns the guitar’s signal from analog to. Aug 16, 2014 And no matter how many zombies I kill in Rocksmith 2014's Return to Castle Chordead, I'm not really learning chords; instead, I've just learned how to play a video game with a real guitar as the.

1. Guitar Hero 2 Xbox 360
2. Xbox 360 Real Guitar Player
3. Xbox 360 Guitar Games Real Guitar
4. Guitar Hero Games Xbox 360

Rocksmith is an interesting experiment in mixing rhythm games with instructing players how to play an actual guitar. The first code we were able to test looked good, but it was clear that the game needed to be cleaned up before launch. Now that you can buy the retail experience for the Xbox 360, PS3, or PC, it's time to see how much progress has been made. You will need your own working guitar—the game's special cable will work with any six-string—and once you have that, it's off to the races.

This is a product that had a ton of promise, but unfortunately the execution fails in more ways than it succeeds. There are many things that were disappointing, from the lackluster presentation to the lack of an included, printed manual, but here are the three deal breakers that ruined what could have been a fun way to learn to play the guitar.

There is lag

Rocksmith's hardware is simple: a cable that plugs into your guitar on one end and your console on the other. Any guitar will work, and it's simple to set up. The problem is the lag that is introduced when you try to play along with the songs. I played on an Xbox 360 connected to a high definition display via HDMI cable. I imagine that this is how most of you will play as well: a console connected to a nice display via HDMI. As the printed insert helpfully points out, this is the worst way to play and introduces the most lag between playing the guitar and hearing the results.

The best way to minimize lag? Connect your 360 to your home theater or stereo for audio via your console's Audio Adaptor Cable, and then use the HDMI cable for video. This may be how you're already gaming, but I doubt it. For the rest of us, the choice is between rewiring our system or living with the distracting timing.

It's possible to play with any setup, but if you're used to the responsiveness of either Rock Band or playing a real guitar, expect disappointment.

There is no way to select your difficulty

The game is very proud of the dynamic difficulty feature of each song, and it's a neat trick: as you play each song the game takes notes on how well you do, and then dials the difficulty of each section up or down. So if you nail the chorus but blow the solo, it will make the chorus harder while dropping notes from the solo until you catch up. It's neat, in theory. I did find myself learning a few actual solos, and that's an area of playing that usually causes me to struggle. This feature is not a complete failure.

The problem is you can't tell the game how you'd like to play, so it becomes drudgery. Why can't I try to play the real song the first time if I so choose? I wanted to shake the game and tell it I have played songs on an actual guitar in a real club in front of an audience. It would be fun to be able to jump in and play the songs I know how to play with the virtual backing band and really get into it, but the game forces you to start at one level and then through repetition teach the game your level of skill.

Remember how good it felt when you were able to play Guitar Hero on hard consistently? Or when you played a song perfectly all the way through? Rocksmith's dynamic difficulty means you're chasing goalposts that are always moving, up until the point where you can play the song perfectly every time. Until you put the hours and hours into proving you know the song, it's going to make the parts you struggle with easier and the parts you are proficient in harder. It never feels like you're getting anywhere, and this turns the game into a treadmill where it's impossible to find a good pace.

You can learn songs this way, but it's no fun, and you have to show the game monk-like patience as it sets the pace for you. I felt strangled as I played many of the songs, and I never felt that way while playing the lessons in Rock Band 3 or using the Pro Guitar. A real teacher will also be able to adapt to your playing style. Rocksmith tries to juggle being a game and a learning tool, and this causes it to stumble as both.

Guitar Hero 2 Xbox 360

Unlocks? Why?

There is no better feeling than getting a new guitar, amplifier, or effects pedal and tripping out on the world of possibilities that have been opened to you. Twisting the knobs, messing with tones, figuring out the limits of what you can and can't do—playing music is all about exploration and finding your own path. Rocksmith locks you down by keeping so much of its content under wraps when you first begin to play. You have to prove you can play the songs at a certain level before you can move forward, and you have to work to unlock most of the content the game offers.

This is what happens when you try to walk the line between making a game and making something that will help people learn a skill. You either get the strengths of both, or you double-down on the weakness. The progression system of Rocksmith keeps so much of the good stuff away from you at the beginning, while locking you down to the game's laborious, linear pacing. There is a lot to like here, but I wish more of it had been laid out in front of me to play with and explore, instead of little rewards being doled out arbitrarily. The game has one way it wants you to play it, and you can't deviate. There may be gamers out there who don't mind being told how to play and what you can play at first, but I'm not one of them, and it feels like it goes against the nature of what it should feel like to pick up a new instrument.

It's not a terrible game

The lessons and minigames that are included will teach you some guitar skills, and the way the progression system rewards good playing while helping you improve is solid, but there are too many ways in which the game trips over itself. There are simply too many frustrations and miscalculations made in the game's presentation, interface, and progression system to keep the interest of very new, or even moderately talented, guitarists.

You can rewire your gaming system to decrease the lag, but the rest of the problems won't be so easy to fix. This idea has promise, and we think a sequel could go a long way to making something like this work, but as of right now Rocksmith isn't worth your time or money.

A guitar controller is a video gamecontroller designed to simulate the playing of the guitar, a stringmusical instrument. Guitar controllers are often used for music games such as UmJammer Lammy: NOW!, GuitarFreaks, Guitar Hero, and the Rock Band series. The controllers are played by holding down a colored fret button that matches a colored, on-screen note, while pressing the strum bar as the note passes through the target. The controllers also feature a whammy bar, which is used to bend notes and collect each game's equivalent of bonus energy. Different games and models of controllers have introduced additional features, such as effects switches, additional fret buttons, and fret touch pads. The fret buttons are colored usually in the order of (from lowest to highest pitch) green, red, yellow, blue, and orange.

The guitar design for Guitar Hero Live does not use the five colored frets, instead using two rows (one black and one white) with three buttons each.^[1]

Implementation as game controllers[edit]

A guitar controller is almost always an adaption of existing controller technologies for a given console—all features of the guitar are implemented using features found on a standard game controller. Generally speaking, the following apply:

• Fret Buttons are implemented as the standard action buttons on the controller- for example, the buttons on a guitar controller for the Xbox 360 map to the face buttons and left shoulder buttons on the standard Xbox 360 controller.
• The whammy bar is implemented as an axis, used for menu navigation.
• The meta buttons (start, select, back) map directly to their standard controller counterparts. A guitar controller for a Wii music game would conveniently have the meta buttons supplied by the Wii Remote itself, which is inserted into a conveniently shaped cavity in the controller.

Other, vendor-specific features can be implemented using standard controls, or combinations of them- for example, the solo bar on a Rock band guitar controller is implemented using the same controller buttons as the main fret buttons, plus an additional modifier key, whereas the Slide Bar from recent versions of Guitar Hero is simply another axis.

The 'tilt' function is also usually mapped to an axis.

Variations[edit]

Guitar Hero (PlayStation 2)[edit]

The HarmonixGuitar Hero Guitar Controller was a 3/4 scale replica of a Gibson SG. The controller has 5 buttons under the turning pegs, on the neck of the guitar. These buttons are as follows: green, red, yellow, blue, and orange. Then, at the bottom of the guitar are as follows: Start, Select, Back button, a Whammy Bar, and a Strum bar.^[2]

Guitar Hero II (PlayStation 2 & Xbox 360)[edit]

The Harmonix Guitar Hero 2 Guitar Controller has two different variations. The first being for the PlayStation 2 which has the same layout as the previous model, but the guitar's design is different. This guitar was based off a red Gibson SG.^[3]

With the Queue page in the later version of djay 2 iOS, you can start to search through the library during the gig and dig out tracks (add them to the queue) which you might consider playing later on. /djay-2-ipad-tutorial.html.

Guitar Hero II was also released for Xbox 360 and had a separate design and layout. The design of the guitar resembles a Gibson X-Plorer with a layout of the head having the default 5 fret buttons, a Strum bar, and a Whammy Bar, but now a button with the Xbox 360 Guide with 4 lights surrounding it (which represents which player your controller is), a D-Pad, a Back button, and a Start button.^[4]

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PlayStation 2 and 3, Wii, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, & Mac OS X)[edit]

Guitar Hero III had 3 different types of guitars. 1 of them having 3 color designs. The first guitar was for the PlayStation 2. It resembled Gibson's Kramer model and had the same layout as its predecessor.

The guitar for Windows and Mac OS X was the same guitar that came with the Xbox 360's version of Guitar Hero II.^[5]

The PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii all had the same design, that resembled a Gibson Les Paul. The difference between the three was the color. The Wii came with a white body and a black head. The Wii's controller, unlike the other models, had a cut out for the Wii remote and would use the remote as it's D-Pad, Start, Back, and Guide button.^[6] Although it still had a start and back button built into it. The Xbox 360's controller had the same layout as its predecessor, but the design was a black Gibson Les Paul.^[7] The PlayStation 3's controller had the same layout as the Xbox 360, but it was a slightly lighter black.^[8]

Guitar Hero World Tour (PlayStation 2 and 3, Wii, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, & Mac OS X)[edit]

The Guitar for Guitar Hero World Tour was a new design that was the same across all consoles, expect Wii which had a cut out for the Wii Remote. The new guitar though had some new features and improvements. First off, the guitar was 25% larger, making it closer to the size of a real guitar. Secondly, the guitar now has a longer whammy bar and a new Star Power button. Third, under the standard fret buttons, a touchpad was implemented under the fret buttons letting players execute notes via tapping or also known as tap strumming. Connectivity issues were resolved. The design of the guitar was an original design created by the developers of Guitar Hero, but they took ideas from the Fender Stratocaster.^[9]

Guitar Hero 5 (PlayStation 2 and 3, Wii, & Xbox 360)[edit]

The Guitar for Guitar Hero 5 was an adaptation of the Guitar Hero World Tour Guitar. The only changes to this one was a rubberized strum bar, the nuts on the head of the guitar were replaced with chrome instead of the plastic design, and the “Solo section” of the neck had a different mold and was converted from its analog design to digital.^[10]

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, & Wii)[edit]

The guitar for Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock was developed by Neversoft, the developers of Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. It was a huge redesign for the series as it looked like an ax rather than the classic design of electric guitars. The “Solo section” on the guitar was removed. The d-pad and guide button were merged into one.^[11]

Rock Band (Xbox 360, PlayStation 2 and 3, & Wii)[edit]

The guitar for Rock Band is used for the lead guitar and bass gameplay. The guitar resembles a Fender Stratocaster It is similar to the guitars from Guitar Hero as it pertains fret on the neck, a strum bar, and a whammy bar. Unlike its adversary, Guitar Hero, there were fret buttons at the bottom of the neck for tapping (A technique where a string is fretted and set into vibration as part of a single motion).

Rock Band 2 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 2 and 3, & Wii)[edit]

The guitar for Rock Band 2 is nearly identical to its predecessor except for the fact that the coloring of the new guitar had a sunburst paint job. Minor improvements to the fret buttons (which made them quieter) and durability improvements to the strum bar. The Rock Band 2 guitar is backward compatible with Rock Band.

Rock Band 3 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, & Nintendo DS)[edit]

Rock Band 3 was the beginning of merging professional instruments and the classic guitar design for rhythm games. Harmonix developed a pro-styled guitar, a guitar bass, and Premium/Limited Edition replica 5-button fret guitars. As well as an improved version of their Stratocaster guitar.

The Pro-style guitar came in two different colors, black and red, and resembled a Fender Mustang. Instead of the original 5 fret button and strum bar setup that the previous models had. The Pro-style guitar would have 6 rows and 17 different frets, totaling in 102 buttons, and a string box, which had 6 stainless steel strings. The player would have to play this guitar as if it was a real one, requiring them to press a button and strum the correct string at the same time.^[12]

The bass guitar which was designed like a normal bass guitar, with a legacy design of having 5 fret buttons and a strum bar, had 2 strum bars since many bass guitar players would play with two fingers when they strum. Also, there is no whammy bar since bass players don't use a whammy. The bass guitar would also be offered in 3 different colors. Those being a seafoam green, candy apple red, and white.

The Premium/Limited Edition guitars would still resemble a Fender Stratocaster, but would not be a scale replica of it with a Wooden design and the original design as well. The guitars also got a durability improvement to the fret buttons and strum bar.

Rock Band 4 (Xbox One, PlayStation 4)[edit]

As stated by Harmonix, they did not want to “reinvent the wheel”.^[13] The guitar for Rock Band 4 would still be the same original Fender Stratocaster design, but with improvements to the fret buttons and strum bar.

Xbox 360 Real Guitar Player

In 2016, Harmonix switched their hardware developers and since Harmonix was coming out with a new DLC for Rock Band 4, rivals, they made a new guitar controller. This one would resemble a Fender Jaguar. It also featured an optional rechargeable battery pack as well as a charging stand.

The Beatles: Rock Band (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii)[edit]

The Beatles: Rock Band would have the same layout as the guitar from Rock Band 2, but the design is different. Harmonix had developed three different guitars. Each console had the guitars. One of the guitars would resemble a Rickenbacker 325. Another would resemble a Gretsch Duo Jet. The last one would resemble a Höfner Bass.^[14]

Use as a musical instrument[edit]

Xbox 360 Guitar Games Real Guitar

Numerous attempts have been made to adapt Guitar Controllers for use as legitimate musical instruments. These attempts range from simple solutions that output a single note or sound for each button on the controller, to more complicated applications, such as MIDItar Hero and Armchair Guitarist that attempt to fully adapt the controller to use as an instrument, with a wide range of notes and playing styles.

Use as a controller for other games[edit]

Guitar controllers are not just used for playing Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Video game streamer, Benjamin 'Bearzly' Gwin, used a Rock Band guitar to complete Dark Souls. Gwin stated on his Reddit Post 'This was done on PC using x360ce to remap the guitar controller' and a picture was posted of how he converted his controls.^[15]

References[edit]

Guitar Hero Games Xbox 360

1. ^https://www.engadget.com/2015/04/14/guitar-hero-live-hands-on/
2. ^'Amazon.com: Guitar Hero (Bundle with Guitar)'. www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
3. ^'Amazon.com: Guitar Hero II:Game & Guitar Controller Bundle: PlayStation 2'. www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
4. ^'Amazon.com: Guitar Hero 2 Bundle with Guitar -Xbox 360'. www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
5. ^'Amazon.com: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle With Guitar - PC/Mac'. www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
6. ^'Amazon.com: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle: Nintendo Wii'. www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
7. ^'Amazon.com: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Wireless Bundle - Xbox 360'. www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
8. ^'Amazon.com: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Wireless Bundle: PlayStation 3'. www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
9. ^'Amazon.com: Xbox 360 Guitar Hero World Tour - Stand Alone Guitar'. www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
10. ^'Fake Plastic Musical Instrument Mod – Fake Plastic Rock'. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
11. ^Wilson, Mark. 'The New Guitars of Guitar Hero'. Gizmodo. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
12. ^''Rock Band 3': What's new, what's notable - USATODAY.com'. usatoday30.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
13. ^Kuchera, Ben (2015-03-05). 'Rock Band 4 is coming, and Harmonix is bringing it back to basics'. Polygon. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
14. ^'Rock Band: New Rickenbacker and Gretsch guitars unveiled'. Destructoid. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
15. ^'r/darksouls - I completed Dark Souls using only a guitar controller! Here is the O+S fight plus some more info'. reddit.