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Band Hero Coming to DS

Activision brings awkward-looking multi-instrument rhythm action to the DS Lite.

While I might not be the biggest fan of Activision's approach to bringing Guitar Hero to the DS, the On Tour games have apparently sold like gangbusters, so they must be doing something right. It's an approach that is now being taken to its logical conclusion with the newly announced Band Hero for the DS. While the Band Hero name on other platforms mostly seems to suggest a more family-friendly playlist and aesthetic than a regular Guitar Hero game, it will also bring significant new gameplay options to the DS. In addition to the screen-strumming guitar gameplay that has been the staple of three Guitar Hero: On Tour games so far, Band Hero will also feature support for vocals and drums, with the percussion gameplay necessitating the new drum grip seen below.

As far as I can tell, the drum grip, unlike the guitar grip, doesn't actually introduce any new functionality. Furthermore, Activision's press release specifically names the DS Lite in its press release for Band Hero, suggesting that original DS and DSi owners will be left out in the cold, a move that just seems, well, kinda crappy. I can appreciate the attempt to cram as much rhythm action into the DS as possible, but the idea of singing into my DS sounds even more socially awkward than your usual karaoke. Still, if the DS is your sole gaming platform, and bands like blink-182, Avril Lavigne, The Killers, KT Tunstall, and Fall Out Boy are appealing to you, Band Hero might just be the ticket.
 
UPDATE: I sent an email to Activision concerning Band Hero's focus on the DS Lite specifically, and received this response from the game's executive producer, David Nathanielsz:

For Band Hero DS we chose to focus our development efforts on the primary DS platform, where millions of fans have already embraced the handheld innovation we brought to the Guitar Hero On Tour games. The new Drum Grip does not require the use of DS Lite’s expansion port.  The grip itself slips over the DS Lite replacing the directional arrows and buttons with 4 drum pad buttons that allow for a more natural, responsive and enjoyable play experience.  While we will continue to innovate the portable music game experience and we are very excited about the emerging technologies available with the DSi, Band Hero is not compatible with DSi at this time.

Band Hero for the DS will be available this November.
 
UPDATE #2: Some actual gameplay screenshots. Whee!

31 Comments

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Media_Master

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Edited By Media_Master

for the kiddies

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Daryl

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Edited By Daryl

FUCK OFF

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digital_sin

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Edited By digital_sin

LAME!

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BlameTheGame

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Edited By BlameTheGame
@JeffGoldblum: That made me laugh very hard. 
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KnifeySpoony

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Edited By KnifeySpoony

That's it. It can't get any worse. Finger drumming on your DS for Band Hero. Holy shit, no. Why does this have to exist, what the fuck.

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Nat3TheGreat13

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Edited By Nat3TheGreat13

terrible just terrible

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Death_Unicorn

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Edited By Death_Unicorn

Sucks, that they removed the other slot in the DSi.

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Linkyshinks

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Edited By Linkyshinks

A shame, seeing as trhough there is improved sound quality with the DSi speakers.

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jeffgoldblum

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Edited By jeffgoldblum
@BlameTheGame said:
" Why do they keep making games with plastic things that... ruin  the purpose of games, ugh. "
A controller is a plastic thing.
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CL60

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Edited By CL60

I'm gonna buy it and start my singing career on the bus.

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bekern

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Edited By bekern

Whaattt at drums haha! That's pretty lame, I mean you could easily just use the buttons, unlike the guitar piece.
I actually got pretty good at using the guitar peripheral for the previous games, expert isn't really a problem for me anymore, but it does make your hand cramp up if you use it for too long. And it is pretty embarrassing using it in public >_>.

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OllyOxenFree

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Edited By OllyOxenFree

Wow Activision is getting worse and worse lol.

How low can they go, how low can they go.

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BlameTheGame

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Edited By BlameTheGame

Why do they keep making games with plastic things that... ruin  the purpose of games, ugh.

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Kajaah117

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Edited By Kajaah117

Man, Activision is just... I don't even... I mean why would... it's just... I don't know.

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phlegms

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Edited By phlegms

This looks aaaawwwwkkkkaaaarrrdddd.

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fishinwithguns

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Edited By fishinwithguns

Something specifically for DS Lite owners like me, ones who are holding out on the DSi, and this turns out to be it.  That's lame.  But how could it work for the DSi anyway?  There's no GBA/accessory slot.

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Ben_H

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Edited By Ben_H  Online
@ParaParaKing said:
" Who the fuck buys this crap? "
The same idiot 10-12 year olds that buy the Guitar Hero toys that they can build custom plastic guitars for.  Seriously, I them, it's like 20 bucks to get 2 guitars worth of part and then another 20 for a dude to hold the guitar.
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ParaParaKing

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Edited By ParaParaKing

Who the fuck buys this crap?

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TabooTongue

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Edited By TabooTongue

Actually looks kind of cool; and I'm not much for the Guitar Hero\Rock Band games.

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jonnyboy

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Edited By jonnyboy

A for effort, but I'm pushing 30, this will not be marketed to me. But kids are gonna lap this up. At the very least it's a rhythm game for young boys who don't want to play a game that's Disney produced.

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BlameTheGame

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Edited By BlameTheGame

Don't like the idea..

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KillaMaStA

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Edited By KillaMaStA
great



sigh...
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DukeTogo

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Edited By DukeTogo

Why not make Trumpet Hero and have you blow into the mic while pressing buttons?

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JJOR64

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Edited By JJOR64

I think I'll just stick with GH/RB on my 360.

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Systech

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Edited By Systech

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

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Afroman269

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Edited By Afroman269

Wow Activision.....just wow......

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Cult_of_Cthulhu

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Edited By Cult_of_Cthulhu

sheesh why not just print Band Camp on the thing and be done with it, way to make us look even dorkier on a bus or train.

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Deathdealer108

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Edited By Deathdealer108

I'll stick with Elite Beat Agents. Still the best rythmn game on the DS.

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darkjester74

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Edited By darkjester74

So instead of eliminating the gimmicky and unnecessary additional hardware that stopped me from buying GH: On Tour in the first place, they are actually adding MORE of this crap.  Unbelievable.  Ill stick to playing Rhythm Heaven, thanks.

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Revell

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Edited By Revell

The Guitar Heros on DS cramped my hands while playing, so I think I'm going to pass on this one.

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Ryan

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Edited By Ryan  Staff

While I might not be the biggest fan of Activision's approach to bringing Guitar Hero to the DS, the On Tour games have apparently sold like gangbusters, so they must be doing something right. It's an approach that is now being taken to its logical conclusion with the newly announced Band Hero for the DS. While the Band Hero name on other platforms mostly seems to suggest a more family-friendly playlist and aesthetic than a regular Guitar Hero game, it will also bring significant new gameplay options to the DS. In addition to the screen-strumming guitar gameplay that has been the staple of three Guitar Hero: On Tour games so far, Band Hero will also feature support for vocals and drums, with the percussion gameplay necessitating the new drum grip seen below.

As far as I can tell, the drum grip, unlike the guitar grip, doesn't actually introduce any new functionality. Furthermore, Activision's press release specifically names the DS Lite in its press release for Band Hero, suggesting that original DS and DSi owners will be left out in the cold, a move that just seems, well, kinda crappy. I can appreciate the attempt to cram as much rhythm action into the DS as possible, but the idea of singing into my DS sounds even more socially awkward than your usual karaoke. Still, if the DS is your sole gaming platform, and bands like blink-182, Avril Lavigne, The Killers, KT Tunstall, and Fall Out Boy are appealing to you, Band Hero might just be the ticket.
 
UPDATE: I sent an email to Activision concerning Band Hero's focus on the DS Lite specifically, and received this response from the game's executive producer, David Nathanielsz:

For Band Hero DS we chose to focus our development efforts on the primary DS platform, where millions of fans have already embraced the handheld innovation we brought to the Guitar Hero On Tour games. The new Drum Grip does not require the use of DS Lite’s expansion port.  The grip itself slips over the DS Lite replacing the directional arrows and buttons with 4 drum pad buttons that allow for a more natural, responsive and enjoyable play experience.  While we will continue to innovate the portable music game experience and we are very excited about the emerging technologies available with the DSi, Band Hero is not compatible with DSi at this time.

Band Hero for the DS will be available this November.
 
UPDATE #2: Some actual gameplay screenshots. Whee!