Tag: guitar hero

Schadenfreude: Too metal for Sony, too metal for the law

By now, you’re probably sitting down and looking at this page near your lunch time. Still, who doesn’t like a nice cup of coffee at lunch? Especially when it’s the Schadenfreude blend.

Robert Snively of Port Clinton, Ohio, should be having a moment of clarity right now, because the man is headed for town court over Guitar Hero. Heh.

Snively, 33, was jamming away on the game late at night this past weekend, pissing off his neighbors.

For the last time.

They got the boys in blue on him, who proceeded to show up and promptly write him a ticket. Since he’s a repeat offender for this sort of thing, that means he’s off to court in April.

Let’s face it people: this is sad. Now, I’ve been known to have people who lived below me in college ask to turn whatever I’m dealing with down. I’ve also had to do the same thing for people who have lived below me. But when you’re 33? And you’re a repeat offender? That’s just pathetic. And hilarious.

Mm, Schadenfreude. Taste that? That’s called being better than other people, having more common sense than most and reveling in the misery of others.

You can set a world record, but you’re still the lamest kid in school

Danny Johnson, Wednesday, set a new world record in Guitar Hero III, toppling the previous record set last August in Minnesota.

This is what counts for news these days.

Seth Schiesel reports that Johnson recorded a score of 973,954 in a roughly seven-minute rendition of DragonForce’s Through the Fire and Flames at a Best Buy in Midtown Manhattan. Preparing for the record-setting run, Johnson went through about 80 Guitar Hero controllers, destroying them over the last nine months in practice sessions.

80 Guitar Hero controllers? That’s a lot money, even if you got them used.

Okay, let me revise the title: You can set a world record, but you’re still the lamest (though a member of possibly the most loaded family) kid in school. Word.

MasterChugs Theater: Brett Ratner serves a purpose

I just got the bad news. Blood pressure’s up. Stress is on its way to end it all. Granted, it’s genetic and runs in the family, but still–why now? Is there anything that can be done to help the situation?

Oh my. Oh my, oh my, oh my. What am I to do?

Well, the doctor recommends a form of catharsis. Think of it as therapy, he says. Maybe you should excise some of that gratuitous stress that’s all built up within, is his advice.

OK. Sure, that can be done.

Dear Brett Ratner,

Just who do you think you are? Continue reading MasterChugs Theater: Brett Ratner serves a purpose

Axl Rose doesn’t like corporations, uses big word

Axl Rose is awesome and can do anything and say anything he wants.

That is what I would say if I thought “Chinese Democracy” was actually worth your money. Personal preferences aside, it doesn’t really matter what I think, because ol’ Axl’s got something to say–and he’s going to say it. During what can only be called an epic rant on a forum, the Guns N’ Roses front man went to town on Activision, the video game conglomerate company responsible for the Guitar Hero series, accusing them of … well, something. To be honest, the rant is rather weird and discombobulated, but you can gather what you will:

It doesn’t bother me unless it’s being done at my expense and or to keep [Slash] associated as in Guitar Hero. Him being Guitar Hero’s fine but not when Activison in using Jungle, having Yahoo use Sweet Child unauthorized, claims no involvement with Slash, his or anyone’s image or VR or anyone or anyone’s music in either camp in promotion or commercials etc. I wasn’t broadsided. I read about it as it moved along but Activision continually denied it right up to the release. That’s some low life chicanery on all their parts.

Pause. Yes, Axl Rose just used the word “chicanery.” It appears that Word-Of-The-Day-Page-A-Day Calendar has finally paid off. Huzzah!

Yes Slash was in Guns and on Jungle (and the whole I came to him for his riff is as much crap as him saying he brought Locomotive and Coma in as complete songs) and he has rights to perform it but not to be represented in this context in association with Guns. And since they weren’t granted the license it’ll take some sorting.

The rant is all kinds of random, but Rose is obviously perturbed with Activision using the band’s name of Guns N’ Roses. Also, somewhere in there is a legal threat or two. Somehow.

Plus, it almost sounds as if he may be mad at Activision trying to be the new BFF of Slash. Maybe.

Take it from Snee: The State of Cool Address

Good evening, my fellow Internet users.

It my duty as the coolest person on the Internet to report every so often on the state of cool: that is, what is cool, what is no longer cool, threats to coolness and cool programs I am spearheading to keep our collective pimp hand strong.

As we approach 2009, we have reached a crucial focal point for what is cool. Environmentalism, economics and the downfall of Hot Topic raise many questions in the cool person’s mind. In these uncertain times, we shall work together to lift a few select individuals above the crowd. Continue reading Take it from Snee: The State of Cool Address

It took you how long to get around to this?

Tilt to rock out. Set down to sue.Schools, could we get you to file this under “surprised it took them this long”, please? Thanks, you’re a peach.

Yesterday, Konami’s lawyers in the US filed a patent lawsuit against Harmonix (and MTV, and Viacom) in the federal court in Tyler, Texas. They allege that Harmonix’s Rock Band violates a pair of patents Konami obtained in 2002 and 2003, which relate to “simulated musical instruments, a music-game system and a musical-rhythm matching game”. For this unmitigated affront to them, Konami seeks justice.

They also seek cash money.

Loads of cash money.

As well as an order blocking Harmonix (or Viacom) from using technology that violates Konami’s patents. When asked for comment, Viacom didn’t even know they were being sued. Apparently Konami’s legal department is as slow to the punch as their own recognition that another guitar game has been pumping out sequels the last three years.