American exceptionalism! Don’t scenes like this make you proud of your country? Then again, maybe these people really wanted that copy of Guitar Hero World Tour? ::shoulder shrug::

I’ve never hidden my disdain for Metacritic (and GameRankings, but mostly Metacritic), the Web site that aggregates review scores for video games (and movies and so forth). It’s an insane concept: let’s round up all of these ostensibly separate opinions, throw ‘em in a blender, and come up with a single, solitary number that conveys a game’s entire worth. Balderdash, I say. Review scores aren’t a standardized measurement—a 9.2 over at IGN doesn’t mean a 9.2 at Edge, or an A over at 1UP.

This latest news pleases me. The Cowen Group (one of those fancy research companies whose analysts are always quoted in news stories) has released the details of a study that shows, plainly, that a game’s review score is the least important barometer that people pay attention to when shopping for games. That is to say, whether a game gets an 8 or higher (or lower!) matters very, very little to a person when they’re at Wal-Mart or Best Buy, or cruising the latest releases on Amazon or Steam.

The study found that people pay attention to the following items, in order of most important to least important, when shopping for video games: genre; whether or not it’s a familiar game series; price; word-of-mouth; advertising; publisher reputation; and, lastly, Metacritic score.

Let’s look at this.

• Genre Obviously. If you don’t like FPSs, odds are you’re not going to like Modern Warfare 2 or BioShock or Left 4 Dead 2. If you are a fan of the genre, then it’s pretty much guaranteed that you’ll derive some entertainment out of said games.

• Familiarity This helps explain why all the big games for the past few years have all been sequels. If you liked Left 4 Dead 1, you can pretty safely assume you’ll enjoy Left 4 Dead 2. Well, unless you’re one of the boycotters. It’s merely more of the same. New Zelda? Sign me up. Final Fantasy XXXIV? I loved the other thirty-three!

• Price Well, yeah. How many people enjoyed all those Guitar Hero games, but then bailed out when it became a yearly $150+ affair? (Not that you have to re-buy the instruments every year, no, but you play one of these games and you’ve played them all.) Remember when PlayStation games were $40?

• Word-of-mouth You’re at the store with your friends, “Oh, don’t buy that, I heard it sucks.” Or, “Dude, did you buy Game yet? The multi-player is wicked awesome.”

• Advertising I readily admit to being susceptible to advertising. I had zero interest in buying Assassin’s Creed II until I saw that slick Justice trailer on TV. A few days later, and I’m jumping around the rooftops of Renaissance Italy.

• Publisher reputation Remember a few years ago when everyone hated EA? You know, ea_spouse and all that. (By the way, what publisher do we all hate now? My guess is Activision.) I’m going to assume that only the “hardcore” gamers give a turkey what company publishes (or develops) a video game. Why haven’t I bought Call of Duty: World at War? Because it was developed by “the other guys,” Treyarch, and not good ol’ Infinity Ward.

• Score Who honestly walks through a Best Buy and says, “You know, I was going to buy Game 2: The Sequel, but IGN (or whomever) only gave it a 7.3”? The number itself is meaningless, and if you’re even remotely interested in a game you’d do well read every single review you can stomach. And by read the review I really do mean sit there and absorb what the writer is trying to convey; don’t just skim it and say, “eh, looks neat.”

In conclusion, review scores are dumb; aggregating review scores is monumentally dumb.

This is the worst time to be a gamer. Yeah, it’s great that so many good games have come out recently (take your pick from New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Modern Warfare 2, Assassin’s Creed II, Left 4 Dead 2, etc.), but it’s pretty difficult to shell out $60+ every other day in the span of two weeks.

This list may help. It’s a bunch of older Xbox 360 games for up to 75 percent off the regular price. Granted, I don’t exactly see Modern Warfare 2 or Left 4 Dead 2, but I do spy veritable hits like GTA IV and Guitar Hero World Tour and Lego Batman and TNA Impact.

I’ve listed TNA Impact primarily as a joke, because as we all know, nobody watches TNA. It’s a shame since so many of those wrestlers (Kurt Angle, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels, Nigel McGuinness, etc.) are pretty darn good.

Although there are far too many items to list in a single post, here’s a look at what’s in store. Check Amazon’s Black Friday page each day for the full list of deals too.

Monday:

• Samsung LN52B530 52-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV for $1299.99
• Polk Surroundbar 360 for $399.99
• LG 37LH55 37-Inch 1080p 240Hz LCD HDTV for $649.99
• HP Mini 10.1-Inch White Netbook (Windows 7 Starter) for $378.99

Full list of electronics deals here…

Tuesday (pricing not revealed yet):

• Magellan Maestro GPS
• Plantronics Voyager PRO Bluetooth Headset
• La Crosse Technology Digital Thermometer
• DJ Hero Bundle with Turntable (Xbox)

Wednesday (pricing not revealed yet):

• LG Blu-ray Player
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox)
• Guitar Hero Smash Hits (PS3)
• Rapala: We Fish with Rod Bundle (Wii)

Thursday (pricing not revealed yet):

• We Ski and Snowboard (Wii)
• Tekken 6 (PS3)
• Sharp 32" LCD HDTV

Friday (pricing not revealed yet):

• Altec Lansing Computer Speakers with Powered Subwoofer
• Polk Bookshelf Speakers
• MartinLogan In-Ceiling Speakers

• Panasonic 46" 1080p Plasma HDTV
• HP 15.6-Inch Laptop
• Canon PowerShot 12.1 MP Digital Camera
• Panasonic 42" 1080p Plasma HDTV
• Dell Inspiron Mini Netbook with Integrated TV Tuner

• Nintendo DSi Bundle with 5 Pre-installed Titles
• Xbox 360 Bundle with 2 Games
• Xbox 360 Limited-Edition Console
• PlayStation 120 GB Bundle with 2 Games

There will apparently be sales on Saturday and Sunday, too.

Black Friday Calendar [Amazon]

Black Friday Deals Page [Amazon]

More Black Friday deals…

GameStop will be opening at 6AM on Black Friday, a good 10 hours before most hardcore gamers normally wake up. The good news is that you can basically just stay up an extra couple hours, make your purchases, and then go home and go to bed.

Here’s a list of the goodies that’ll be on sale. Doorbusters are marked with an asterisk and will be available until 11AM.

Digital Media Cards

SanDisk Memory Stick Pro Duo 2GB (PSP) – $14.99

SanDisk Memory Stick Pro Duo 4GB (PSP) – $19.99

SanDisk Wii/DSi 2GB SD Card (Wii) – $7.49

SanDisk Wii/DSi 4GB SDHC Card (Wii) – $14.99

Video Games

AC/DC Track Pack w/Rock Band Purchase – Free

Assassin’s Creed II (Xbox 360) – $59.99

Bakugan Battle Brawlers (DS) – $29.99

Band Hero (Game Only) (Wii) – $59.99 

Batman Arkham Asylum (PS3) – $39.99 *

Batman Arkham Asylum (Xbox 360) – $39.99 *

Beatles Rockband (Xbox 360) – $49.99

Ben 10 Alien Force (DS) – $9.99

Ben 10 Alien Force (Wii) – $9.99

Borderlands (PS3) – $49.99

Borderlands (Xbox 360) – $49.99

Buy 2 Get 1 Free On All Pre-Owned Games and Accessories – B2G1 Free

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (PS3) – $59.99

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360) – $59.99

Call of Duty World at War (PS3) – $39.99 *

Call of Duty World at War (Xbox 360) – $39.99 *

Call of Juarez Bound in Blood (Xbox 360) – $19.99

Chicken Blaster w/Wii Rifle (Wii) – $29.99

Crisis Core – Final Fantasty VII (PSP) – $9.99

Dead Space (Wii) – $19.99 *

Dirt 2 (Xbox 360) – $49.99

Drawn to Life (DS) – $19.99

Drawn to Life (Wii) – $39.99

DS Duo Game Case & Stylus – $4.99

DS Lite Traveler Case – $4.99

Dynasty Warriors 6 (Xbox 360) – $19.99

Fallout 3 (PS3) – $49.99

Fallout 3 (Xbox 360) – $49.99

Family Game Night (Xbox 360) – $39.99

Forza Motorsport 3 (Xbox 360) – $39.99

Fossil Fighters (DS) – $34.99

Game Boy Advance SP Pre-owned System – $29.99

Gears of War (Used) (Xbox 360) – $9.99

God of War II (PS2) – $19.99

God of War II (PS3) – $39.99

Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3) – $19.99

Grand Theft Auto IV (Xbox 360) – $19.99

Gran Turismo 3 (Used) (PS2) – $1.99

Gran Turismo 5 (PS3) – $29.99

Gran Turismo (PSP) – $39.99

Guild Wars Trilogy (PC) – $24.99

Guitar Hero 5 (PS3) – $39.99

Guitar Hero 5 (Xbox 360) – $39.99

Guitar Hero Aerosmith (Used) (PS3) – $7.49

Guitar Hero Aerosmith (Used) (Xbox 360) – $7.49

Guitar Hero III Legends of Rock (Used) (PS3) – $4.99

Guitar Hero III Legends of Rock (Used) (Xbox 360) – $4.99

Guitar Hero World Tour (Used) (PS3) – $14.99

Guitar Hero World Tour (Used) (Xbox 360) – $14.99

Halo 3 ODST (Xbox 360) – $39.99

Jewelry Design (DS) – $19.99

Left 4 Dead 2 (PC) – $29.99

Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360) – $39.99

LEGO Rock Band (Xbox 360) w/Free Lego Keychain – $49.99

Little Big Planet (PSP) – $39.99

Littlest Pet Shop Starter Kit (DS) – $14.99

Madden NFL ‘08 (Used) (PS3) – $2.99

Mario and Sonic Olympic Winter Games (Wii) – $49.99

Mario Kart (DS) – $34.99

Mario Kart Super Circuit (Used) (GBA) – $19.99

Mario Kart (Wii) – $49.99

Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story (DS) – $34.99

Mario Party (DS) – $34.99

Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (PSP) – $19.99

MySims Agents (Wii) – $19.99 *

My Sims Racing (DS) – $29.99

Naruto Shippuden Ninja Destiny 2 (DS) – $19.99

NCAA Football ‘10 (Xbox 360) – $49.99

Need for Speed: Nitro (Wii) – $19.99 *

Need for Speed Shift (Xbox 360) – $39.99

Nerf w/Controller (Wii) – $59.99

Nintendo DSi Limited Edition Brain Age Bundle – $169.99

Nintendo DSi Limited Edition Mario Bundle – $169.99

Nintendo DSi System – $169.99

Nintendo DS Lite Pre-owned System – $59.99

Nintendo DS Original Pre-owned System – $49.99

Nintendo Wii Console – $199.99

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers Sky (DS) – $34.99

Pokemon Platinum Version (DS) – $34.99

Pokemon Ranger (Used) (DS) – $12.99

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (DS) – $34.99

Prototype (PS3) – $29.99

Prototype (Xbox 360) – $29.99

PS2 Console – $99.99

PS2 Pre-owned Console – $39.99

PS2 Slim Pre-owned Console – $49.99

PS3 120GB Console – $299.99

PS3 120GB Holiday Bundle with 3 Games – $299.99 *

PS3 DualShock 3 Wireless Controller – $54.99

PS3 Energizer Controller Charger – $19.99

PSP 3000 Core Pack – $169.99

PSP Assassin’s Creed Bloodline Bundle – $199.99

PSP Go In-Ear Headset – $19.99

PSP Go System – $249.99

PSP Go Traveler Case – $19.99

PSP Original Pre-owned System – $79.99

PSP Road Gear Kit – $9.99

Rainbox Six Vegas (PSP) – $9.99

Rock Band Unplugged (PSP) – $29.99

Scribblenauts (DS) – $29.99

Sims 3 (PC) – $29.99

Sing It w/ Microphone (Wii) – $49.99

Smackdown Vs Raw 2010 (Xbox 360) – $49.99

SOCOM U.S. Navy Seals (Used) (PSP) – $9.99

Spider Man (Xbox 360) – $19.99

Spore Hero Arena (DS) – $29.99

Spore Hero (Wii) – $19.99 *

Style Lab Makeover (DS) – $19.99

Style Savvy (DS) – $34.99

Super Mario Bros. (DS) – $34.99

Super Mario Bros. (Wii) – $49.99

Super Mario Galaxy (Used) (Wii) – $39.99

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Smash-Up (Wii) – $29.99

Tekken 6 (Xbox 360) – $39.99

The Price is Right (Wii) – $19.99

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3) – $59.99

Various Charm Girls Club Games (Prom, Show, Mall) (DS) – $29.99

Various Littlest Pet Shop Games (DS) – $29.99

Wii Active – $29.99

Wii Energizer Power & Play Station – $19.99

Wii Fit Plus (Game Only) – $19.99

Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board – $99.99

Wii Motion Plus – $24.99

Wii Music (Used) (Wii) – $39.99

Wii Nunchuck – $19.99

Wii Play – $49.99

Wii Play (Used) (Wii) – $9.99

Wii Remote – $39.99

Wii Remote Controller Red – $29.99

Wii Sports Pack – $9.99

Wii Sports Resort – $49.99

Wii Sports Resort w/Free 2nd MotionPlus Controller – $49.99 *

Wii Zapper w/Link’s Crossbow Training – $24.99

Wireless Controller and Charger (Xbox 360) – $69.99

World of Warcraft Battlechest (PC) – $19.99

World of Warcraft (PC) – $4.99

World of Zoo (Wii) – $29.99

Xbox 360 Arcade Console – $199.99

Xbox 360 Elite Holiday Bundle with 3 Games – $299.99 *

Xbox 360 Energizer Controller Charger – $19.99

Xbox Live 3 Month Gold Card – $19.99

Zelda (Used) (DS) – $19.99

GameStop Black Friday Ad [BlackFriday.info]

Read more Black Friday posts…

Blank Media

Maxell 50-Pack DVD+R or DVD-R Media – $9.49

Digital Cameras

Fujifilm A170 10.2MP Digital Camera – $69.99

GE A1250 12.2MP Digital Camera – $69.99

Kodak M341 12.2MP Digital Camera – $129.99

Vivitar V8025S 8.1MP Digital Camera – $49.99

Digital Media Cards

SanDisk 2GB microSD Memory Card – $6.49

SanDisk 2GB Secure Digital Memory Card – $6.49

DVD Players

Curtis Compact DVD Player – $17.99 *

GPX 8″ Portable DVD Player w/ Remote – $79.99

Electronics

Audiovox Under-Cabinet 10″ HDTV & DVD Player – $179.99

Belkin HDTV Starter Kit – $34.99

Coby 1.5″ Digital Photo Keychains – $9.99

DieHard Batteries (8 AA or AAA, 4 C or D, 2 9V) – $5.50

GPX Under-the-Counter AM/FM CD Clock Radio – $24.99

Jazz T55 Digital Camcorder – $49.99

Kodak 7″ Digital Photo Frame – $49.99

Kodak 8″ Digital Photo Frame – $99.99

Maxell Headphones (Assorted Colors) – $2.79

Memorex Ambient iPod / CD Shelf System – $79.99

Net 10 Motorola Prepaid Slider Phone – $29.99

Pandigital 7″ Digital Photo Frame – $49.99

Portable Karaoke System w/ Microphone – $29.99

RCA iPod Docking CD Shelf System – $59.99

Sakar iSpeakers for MP3 Players B1G1F – $9.99

Sony BDP-S360 Blu-ray Player – $149.99

Vtech DECT 6.0 Cordless 2-Handset Phone – $29.99

Wireless Gear Bluetooth Car Kit – $19.99

GPS Systems

Magellan RoadMate 1440 GPS Navigation System – $119.99

TomTom One 130 Portable 3.5″ GPS System – $79.99

MP3 Players

GPX 4GB Portable MP3 Player – $24.99

Mach Speed 2GB Clip MP3 Player – $11.99

Portable USB Storage

PNY 8GB USB 2.0 Mini Flash Drives – $9.99

SanDisk 2GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive – $6.49

Televisions

AOC Envision 24″ Widescreen 1080p LCD HDTV – $229.99

Element 40″ Widescreen 1080p LCD HDTV – $549.99

Samsung 50″ Widescreen Plasma HDTV – $699.99

Sylvania 32″ LCD HDTV w/ Built-in DVD Player – $349.99

Venturer 17″ Widescreen LCD HDTV – $119.99

Video Games

A Boy and His Blob for Nintendo Wii – $29.99

Assorted Nintendo DS Video Game 2-Packs – $14.99

Assorted Nintendo Wii Video Game 2-Packs – $14.99

Assorted Sony PS2 Video Game 3-Packs – $9.99

Assorted Sony PS3 Video Game 2-Packs – $24.99

Assorted Xbox 360 Video Game 2-Packs – $24.99

EA Active for Nintendo Wii – $39.99

Forza Motorsport 3 for Xbox 360 – $39.99

Guitar Hero Metallica for All Platforms – $39.99

Guitar Hero Smash Hits for All Platforms – $39.99

Guitar Hero World Tour for All Platforms – $29.99

Guitar Hero World Tour Guitar Bundle for PS3 – $49.99

Guitar Hero World Tour Guitar Bundle for Wii – $49.99

Guitar Hero World Tour Guitar Bundle for Xbox 360 – $49.99

Halo 3 ODST for Xbox 360 – $39.99

Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010 for Nintendo Wii – $29.99

Nintendo Wii w/ Free $25 Nintendo Gaming Coupon – $199.99

Sony PSP 3000 Core System w/ Free $25 Gaming Coupon – $169.99

Sony PSP Gran Turismo Pack w/ Free $25 Gaming Coupon – $199.99

Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board for Nintendo Wii – $99.99

Kmart Thanksgiving Black Friday Ad [BlackFriday.info]

See more Black Friday posts here…

I have no backwards R key on my keyboard and I don’t have the wherewithal to figure out the tricky Wingdingy ALT+numpad+four digit code voodoo it’d take to produce it (if it’s even possible), so let’s just say “Toys R Us” and enjoy the store’s Black Friday ad.

Stores open at midnight – yes midnight – on Thursday night/Friday morning. Doorbuster deals are marked with an asterisk and are good until 1PM on Friday.

Computers

VTech Learning Laptop – $14.99 *

Digital Cameras

Fujifilm FinePix Red 12MP Digital Camera – $69.99 *

iCarly Mini Digital Camera – $12.49 *

Pink Or Blue Digital Video Camcorder – $29.99 *

Vivitar 8.1MP Digital Camera – $39.99 *

Digital Media Cards

SanDisk 8 GB SDHC Memory Card – $19.99 *

DVD Players

Coby 7″ Portable DVD Player – $49.99 *

Digital Labs DVD Player – $19.99

Electronics

Grand Prix AM/FM Clock Radio – $4.99

iHome iPod Docking Station – $39.99 *

iHome iPod/iPhone Alarm Clock Docking Station – $49.99

Nickelodeon Portable CD Player – $14.99

Sakar Digital Photo Frame Keychain – $9.99

Singing Machine Karaoke System – $49.99 *

Home Theater

Coby Home Theater System – $49.99

Miscellaneous

Toys R Us Battery 20 Packs – $4.99 *

MP3 Players

$50 Gift Card With Any Apple iPod 8GB Touch – $0.00 *

Nextar 1GB Digital Mp3 Player – $11.48

Nextar 2GB MP3 Player With Video – $17.49 *

SanDisk 8GB Sansa Fuze MP3 Player – $49.99 *

Photos

Nextar 7″ Digital Photo Frame – $29.99 *

Televisions

Haier 22″ LCD TV – $199.99 *

Video Games

All iCarly Video Game Accessories – 50% Off

Avatar For Nintendo DS – $9.99

Avatar Into The Inferno For Nintendo Wii – $9.99

Carrying Case For Wii – $15.00

Cheetah Girls For Nintendo DS – $21.99

Chrysler Classic Racing For Nintendo Wii – $9.99

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs (Wii Game) – $29.99 *

Club Penguin For Nintendo DS – $17.99

Crash Bandicot For Nintendo DS – $9.99

Dead Space (Wii Game) – $24.99 *

Forza Motorsport 3 (Xbox 360 Game) – $34.99 *

Gear Monkey Video Game Accessories – B1G1 Free *

Guitar Hero On Tour And Decades Two Pack Bundle (DS Game) – $29.99 *

Halo 3 ODST (Xbox 360 Game) – $34.99 *

Hannah Montana Guitar Video Game – $24.99 *

Hot Shots Golf – $21.99

iCarly (Wii Game) – $23.99 *

Ice Age For Nintendo DS – $9.99

Imagine Family Doctor For Nintendo DS – $9.99

Imagine Party Babyz For Nintendo Wii – $9.99

Kingdom For Nintendo DS – $9.99

Messenger Bag For Xbox 360 – $15.00

Monsters Vs Aliens For Nintendo DS – $9.99

Mushroom Men For Nintendo DS – $21.99

MySims Party For Nintendo Wii – $9.99

Narnia For Nintendo DS – $21.99

Need For Speed: Shift (PS3 Game) – $34.99 *

Need For Speed: Shift (Xbox 360 Game) – $34.99 *

Nintendo DS Lite Starter Kit – $11.99

Petz Horse Ranch For Nintendo DS – $9.99

Pirates Of The Caribbean – $21.99

PSP Accessories – 50% Off *

Scooby Doo First Frights (Wii Game) – $23.99 *

Select Nintendo DS Accessories – $5.00

Select Nintendo DS Games – B1G1

Select Wii Accessories – $10.00

Sonic Rivals 2 – $21.99

Spore Hero (Wii Game) – $24.99 *

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Wii Game) – $29.99 *

The Price Is Right For Nintendo Wii – $9.99

Tony Hawks Motion For Nintendo DS – $9.99

Transformers For Nintendo DS – $17.99

Ultimate Alliance 2 For Nintendo DS – $17.99

Video Game Charge Docking Stations – $15.00 *

Wii Fit Accessories – 50% Off *

Wii Nerf N-Strike Bundle (Wii Game) – $14.99 *

Xbox 360 Arcade System With Carry Case And Three Games – $229.95 *

Xbox 360 Wired Guitar Hero Game Controller – $9.99 *

Toys R Us Black Friday Ad [BlackFriday.info]

More Black Friday deals…

Well, well, well. If it isn’t Target’s Black Friday ad? Let’s see what’s inside, shall we? Oh my, hello there 32-inch HDTV for $246. How do you do?

Stores open at 5AM on Black Friday. Doorbusters are marked with an asterisk and are good “while supplies last,” according to the circular.

Digital Cameras

Kodak ZD15 Digital Camera – $129.00

Nikon CoolPix S203 Digital Camera – $88.00

Polaroid V130 2″ Color LCD Camcorder – $39.00

Digital Media Cards

Lexar Media 4GB microSDHC Card With 50 Free Song Downloads – $10.00 *

Lexar Media 4GB SDHC Card With 50 Free Song Downloads – $10.00 *

DVD Players

Memorex Compact DVD Player With Progressive Scan – $19.99

RCA 7 Inch Dual Screen Portable DVD Player With Car Adapter – $88.00

RCA 7 Inch Portable DVD Player – $47.00

Sony Blu-Ray Player With Free $20 Gift Card – $149.99

Electronics

Casio Keyboard With Stand And Song Book – $49.99

Digital Decor Color LCD Key Chain Holds 48 Pictures – $10.00 *

First Act Electronic Drum Set – $35.00

GE 6 Foot HDMI Cable – $9.99 *

Memorex Home Audio System For iPod – $49.99

GPS Systems

Garmin Nuvi 1350T GPS System – $179.00

TomTom XL340S GPS With Case – $97.00

Hard Drives

Western Digital Elements 1TB Desktop Hard Drive – $59.98

Western Digital Elements 500GB Portable Hard Drive – $59.98

Miscellaneous

$10 Gift Card With Any $100 In Store Purchase – $0.00 *

3-Slot Charging Station – $14.99

MP3 Players

$15 Gift Card With Any Apple 8GB iPod Nano Purchase – $0.00

$30 Gift Card With Any Apple 32GB iPod Touch Purchase – $0.00

Apple 32GB iPod Touch With Free $30 Gift Card – $295.00

Apple 8GB iPod Nano With Free $15 Gift Card – $145.00

Photos

Digital Decor 7 Inch Digital Photo Frame – $29.00

Portable USB Storage

Lexar Media 4GB Twist And Turn USB Drive With 50 Free Song Downloads – $10.00 *

Televisions

Apex 40″ Full HD LCD TV – $449.00 *

Haier 7 Inch Portable Digital TV – $79.99

Westinghouse 32″ LCD HDTV – $246.00

Video Games

$10 Gift Card With Select Video Game Purchases – $0.00

$20 Gift Card With Any DSi System Purchase – $0.00 *

$50 Gift Card With Any Call Of Duty Super Elite XBOX 360 System Bundle – $0.00

$50 Gift Card With Any XBOX 360 120GB Elite Game System Bundle Purchase – $0.00

Animal Crossing Wii Video Game – $27.00

Assassins Creed II PS3 Video Game With $10 Gift Card – $59.99

Assassins Creed II XBOX 360 Video Game With $10 Gift Card – $59.99

Batman PS3 Video Game – $37.00

Batman XBOX 360 Video Game – $37.00

Call Of Duty Modern Warfare PS3 Video Game With $10 Gift Card – $59.99

Call Of Duty Modern Warfare XBOX 360 Video Game With $10 Gift Card – $59.99

Call Of Duty Super Elite XBOX 360 System Bundle With $50 Gift Card – $399.99

Call Of Duty Wii Video Game – $27.00

Cooking Mama DSi Video Game – $17.00

DSi Game System With Free $20 Gift Card – $169.99 *

Guitar Hero 5 Wii Video Game – $37.00

Halo 3 ODST XBOX 360 Video Game – $37.00

Hannah Montana DSi Video Game – $17.00

iCarly DSi Video Game – $17.00

Littlest Pet Shop DSi Video Game – $17.00

Need For Speed Nitro Wii Video Game – $27.00

Personal Trainer Cooking Game For DSi Video Game – $7.00

PS3 Black DualShock Controller – $39.00 *

Rock Band PS3 Video Game – $7.00

Shaun White PS3 Video Game – $7.00

Shaun White XBOX 360 Video Game – $7.00

Shift PS3 Video Game – $37.00

Shift XBOX 360 Video Game – $37.00

Sim Animals Wii Video Game – $27.00

Star Wars Clone Wars PS3 Video Game – $37.00

Star Wars Clone Wars XBOX 360 Video Game – $37.00

Super Squad DSi Video Game – $17.00

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Wii Video Game – $27.00

Ultimate Alliance 2 PS3 Video Game – $37.00

Ultimate Alliance 2 Wii Video Game – $37.00

Ultimate Alliance 2 XBOX 360 Video Game – $37.00

Video Rocker Extreme 2 Chair – $29.98

Wii Mario And Sonic Olympics Video Game With $10 Gift Card – $59.99

Wii Music Wii Video Game – $27.00

Wii Nerf Video Game With $10 Gift Card – $59.99

Wii Play Remote Bundle – $39.00 *

Wii Sports Resort Video Game With $10 Gift Card – $59.99

XBOX 360 120GB Elite Game System Bundle With $50 Gift Card – $299.99

XBOX 360 Black Controller – $39.00 *

Target Black Friday Ad [BlackFriday.info]

More Black Friday deals…

Famous rock band No Doubt has sued Activision over the use of its avatars in the game Guitar Hero 5. No Doubt says that the deal it signed with Activision only permitted the avatars to be used when playing No Doubt songs. The problem is that Activision has it set up that you can play any song in the game with the No Doubt avatars. That I’m even writing about this is rather depressing.

As easy as it is to ride No Doubt for being a bunch of nerds, the fact is if the contract the band signed with Activision specified that the avatars could only play No Doubt songs, well, then Activision is in the wrong here.

The band said in a statement:

No Doubt agreed to place avatars containing their name and likeness performing three No Doubt songs in the upcoming Band Hero game of the Guitar Hero series from Activision.

Without the band’s knowledge or approval Activision turned the group into virtual karaoke players by having them perform over 60 additional songs by other musical groups.

Meanwhile, Activision said:

Some of the world’s most popular and iconic artists have been featured in Guitar Hero as playable characters, and we are proud to count No Doubt among them. Activision has a written agreement to use No Doubt in Band Hero — an agreement signed by No Doubt after extensive negotiations with its representatives, who collectively have decades of experience in the entertainment industry. Pursuant to that agreement, Activision worked with No Doubt and the band’s management in developing Band Hero. As a result, Activision believes it is within its legal rights with respect to the use and portrayal of the band members in the game and that this lawsuit is without merit. Activision is exploring its own legal options with respect to No Doubt’s obligations under the agreement.

And there you have it. What a way to start the day~!

Let me preface this by saying that I could be the worst GTA player on Planet Earth. I don’t know if my thumbs just can’t twiddle like they used to when I was a spry 16-year-old. I don’t know if the sandbox “oh my god everything is happening all at once~!” style of gameplay is exacting its revenge on me for some previous offense I committed in a past life. I simply don’t know what’s up. The bottom line is: I completely stink on ice when it comes to all things GTA.

And yet I still had a very fine time playing The Ballad of Gay Tony. Well, “very fine time” inasmuch as I can experience the emotion known as “joy” anymore.

The tale of the tape: when you go to the store and buy Episodes From Liberty City, you’re buying a stand-alone (that is, you don’t need to have GTA IV for it to work), $40 disc for your Xbox 360 that contains both The Ballad of Gay Tony and the previously released The Lost and Damned. Since biker culture doesn’t appeal to me in the least I skipped out on buying The Lost and Damned, so hooray for me that I get both DLCs on the one disc.

But only The Ballad of Gay Tony concerns us right now. If, for whatever reason, you don’t want to buy the retail copy of Episodes From Liberty City know that you can download it from Xbox Live, like any other DLC, provided you already have GTA IV.

Hopefully that clears up any misconceptions you may have.

Moving on.

You play as Luís Lopez, a thuggish but well-meaning Dominican gentlemen with a sharp haircut who’s the business partner (read: hired goon) of Gay Tony. Gay Tony runs Liberty City’s nightlife, which means Luís has to deal with all of the associated nonsense. You know, the mob loans Tony some money for a club and now wants to kill everyone he holds dear because he’s a little late in his payments. So you going around GTA-ing the city in order to protect Tony from enemies that are largely of his own creation. Tragedy.

Being that it’s a GTA game, I’m going to assume that you’re familiar with the basic mechanics. Run and drive about, shoot and blow up some stuff, watch tremendously written and directed cutscene, etc. Nothing out of the ordinary, but you do wonder how long Rockstar can keep selling us the same concept. In that sense, if you’ve played, say, Vice City for the PS2 then you’ve played The Ballad of Gay Tony.

Then again, EA keeps pumping out Madden after Madden, and sales there don’t seem to be suffering. Plus, Rockstar releases GTA games so infrequently that maybe my initial concern, that people could tire of the formula, may be overstated. Rockstar hasn’t Guitar Hero‘d the series quite yet.

The overall atmosphere is the biggest change to the game, so much so that you might even consider a character unto itself. If the original GTA IV was too serious (which it was), then The Ballad can be seen as an appeal to the PS2 era’s better angels. It’s fun again. The game still oozes violence, and you still confront adult subject matter (best not to play the game with children about), but the mere fact that you conclude a mission by parachuting off one of Liberty City’s skyscrapers speaks volumes.

Or didn’t you notice the name of the game is The Ballad of Gay Tony?

You’re also knee-deep in the city’s club culture, which is to say you’re knee-deep in one of the circles of hell, the fun one with coke and progressive house music. You walk into a club in the game and it’s just like walking into one of those Meat Packing District hellholes in New York City: it’s dank, there’s guidos everywhere (no disrespect, but come on, cut it out with the wife beaters and hair gel already), the DJ is playing a song you yourself downloaded from Beatport that very week, and the women, despite the fact that it’s 30 degrees outside, are covered up in enough cloth to fill a thimble. Not that I mind, but to relay a Louis CK story I heard some time ago, you just want to go up to these girls and take them home to their parents, and explain to them that there’s more to life than popping bottles with deadbeats in the “VIP section” of a club, then doing the walk of shame at 7am the next morning. Go to night school, clean yourself up, do something with your life for God’s sake!

The mere fact that I was able to work a Louis CK reference into this post pleases me greatly.

The song selection gets many, many stars, and that’s something fierce considering I only listen to three stations in the game: Integrity, Beats 102.7, and Electro-choc. Integrity is still the most entertaining station in the game, Beats has no shame in playing “Arab Money” (thank you, Rockstar) every 10 minutes, and Deadmau5 himself would do well to work the “Electro-choc” playlist into his next set. (As I write this, I’m listening to a Deadmau5 live set from the Amsterdam Dance Event where he mixes in the Zelda overworld song.)

“Pjanoo,” the song featured in the trailer, is nowhere to be found in the game. Sad clowns, all of us.

I dabbled in the multi-player, but only just. It’s largely the same—mayhem everywhere, always—but there are new weapons, parachutes, Halo-like kill streaks, and so on.

Rockstar has improved the replay mission feature. If you fail a mission, and I’m pretty sure I failed all of ‘em at least once, you’re sent a text message that gives you the option to replay said mission. This time, however, many of the missions are broken into segments, and each segment serves as a checkpoint for any subsequent replays. For example, in one multi-part mission you have to go around and blow up various items (a construction crane, a subway train, and a plane, to be exact). So if you succeed in blowing up the crane but then fail in your attempt to blow up the subway, you resume the mission from right after blowing up the crane; you don’t have to start the mission all the way from Step One.

Such a time saver, believe me.

You’re also given the option to upload your mission score (the game ranks how well you complete missions this time around, taking into account time taken and damage received) to the Rockstar Social Club. I’d be lying if I said I had any real idea what the Rockstar Social Club is, but I’m sure it’s swell.

OK, this is already twice as long as I originally intended for it to be, so I’ll finish with this: The Ballad of Gay Tony concludes the GTA IV saga quite nicely, finally bringing some levity to a series that desperately needed it.

Oh, and Ron Bennington lends his voice to the game. That’s a Good Thing.

We have another early entry into the wonderful world of leaked Black Friday ads with Sears opening at 4:00 AM on Friday morning and offering a pretty enticing list of door busters (available until noon) and other sale items to satisfy the rabid consumer in everyone.

Products include the following (door busters are marked with an asterisk):

Digital Cameras

Canon 980IS 12.1MP Digital Camera – $279.99

Canon Powershot SD780 IS 12.1MP Digital Camera – $179.99

Canon Rebelx XS Digital SLR Camera & Canon EF 75-300MM Telephoto Zoom Lens – $669.98

Disney Pix Micro Digital Cameras Designed For Just For Kids – $9.99 *

Fuji J29 10MP 3X Zoom 2.7″ LCD Digital Camera Bundle – $89.99 *

GE A1250 Digital Camera #0387779 – $69.99 *

Hi Pro Camera Kits #0354381/80 – 50% Off *

Jazz T20 4X Digtal Zoom 1.5″ LCD Camcorder #0339539/39540 – $19.99 *

Jazz T55 Camcorder #0339538 – $49.99 *

Kodak CD80 10.2MP, #x Zoom Digital Camera 2.4″ LCD 2GB Card And Case – $79.99 *

Kodak M1063 10.3MP Digital Camera – $89.99

Nikon Coolpix 12MP Digital Camera – $149.99

Nikon COOLPIX L20 Digital Camera – $99.99 *

Olmpus FE-4000 12MP Digital Camera – $99.99

Samsung C10 SD 1200 Digital Zoom 10X Optical Zoom 2.7″ LCD Camcorder – $149.99 *

Samsung Compact Full HD Camcorder – $399.99

Samsung SL40 12.2MP Digital Camera – $79.99

Sony 4GB Camcorder – $249.99

Sony 60GB Hard Disk Drive Camcorder – $299.99

Sony Cyber-Shot 10.1MP Digital Camera – $99.99

Sony Cyper-Shot 10.1MP Digital Camera – $249.99

Digital Media Cards

Sandisk 2GB SD Card – $5.99

SanDisk 4GB Memory Cards Or Flash Drive – $8.99 *

Sandisk 8GB SDHC Card – $14.99

Sony 2GB Memory Stick PRO Due – $12.99

DVD Players

Curtis DVD Player AR – $17.99 *

GPX 8″ Portabe DVD Player PD808BU – $79.99

GPX DVD/CD Boom Box 7″ LCD Display #5710084/BD707B – $99.99 *

Magnavox DVD Player With VCR #5757168/DV225MG9 AR – $49.99 *

Samsung Blu-ray Disc Player BD-P1600-A – $149.99

Sony Blu-ray Disc Player BDPS360 – $149.99

Sony DVD Player DVP-SR200P – $34.99

Sylvania 7″ Portable DVD Player #5757149/SDVD7015-BLUE AR – $49.99 *

Electronics

AT&T DECT 6.0 Cordless Phone System w/4 Handsets – $59.99

Coby 7″ Digital Photo Frame – $29.99 *

Coby 8″ Digital Frame – $49.99

iHome Portable iPod/MP3 Speaker System – $9.99

Karaoke CP398 – $29.99

Kodak 7″ Digital Frame – $49.99

Pandigital 10″ Digital Photo Frame – $69.99 *

Sony E10 Ear Buds Headphones – $4.99

Sony Wireless Headphones – $29.99

GPS Systems

Garmin Nuvi 205 GPS – $89.99 *

Magellan RoadMate 1220 GPS – $89.99

Magellan RoadMate 1440 GPS – $119.99 *

TomTom One 130 GPS – $79.99

TomTom XL325S – $99.99

Home Theater

Panasonic Blu-Ray Home Theater System #5798529/SC-BT200 – $399.99 *

RCA 5.1 Channel 250 Watt Home Theater System RTD317 – $99.99

Samsung 5.1 Channel 1000 Watt Single Disc DVD Home Theater System #5798659/HT-Z320 – $197.99 *

Samsung Blu-ray Home Theater System HT-BD1250 – $397.99

Sony Bravia 5.1 Channel 1000 Watt Integrated Home Theater System DAV-HDX589 – $329.99

MP3 Players

GPX 4GB MP3/4 Player – $32.99

iH4 iHome Alarm Clock For iPod #5792408/18 – $29.99 *

Mach Speed MP3 Player #5782229 – $24.99 *

RCA 1GB Sport MP3 Player #5731060 – $13.99 *

Televisions

AOC 32″ Full HD LDC TV – $379.99

Audiovox Under Cabinet Kitchen 7″ LCD DVD Clock Radio – $179.99

Eviant 7″ Hand Held TV – $89.99

LG 55″ LCD HDTV 55LH40 – $1499.99

Panasonic 42″ Class Plasma HDTV #5775529/TC-P42S1 – $649.99 *

Panasonic 54″ Plasma HDTV TC-P54G10 – $1499.99

Proscan 40″ Class LCD HDTV #5771379/40LC45Q – $539.99 *

Samsung 22″ Class LCD HDTV #5772015/LN22B350 – $249.99 *

Samsung 40″ Class 1080p LCD HDTV #5771409/LN40B500 – $599.99 *

Samsung 40″ LED HDTV UN40B6000 – $1399.99

Samsung 42″ Plasma HDTV PN42B400 – $549.99

Samsung 46″ 1080P Class LCD HDTV #5771419/LN46B500 – $899.99 *

Samsung 46″ Class LCD HDTV #5771079/LN46B650 – $1309.99 *

Samsung 46″ LED HDTV UN46B6000 – $1599.99

Samsung 50″ Class Plasma HDTV #5775129/PN50B430 – $699.99 *

Samsung 50″ Plasma HDTV PN50B530 – $899.99

Samsung 55″ LED HDTV UN55B6000 – $2469.99

Sharp 19″ Class LCD HDTV #5772149/LC19SB27UT – $179.99 *

Sony 32″ Class LCD HDTV #5771459/KDL-32L504 – $379.99 *

Sony 40″ Class LCD HDTV #5771439/KDL40S504 – $664.99 *

Sony 46″ Class LCD HDTV #5771449/KDL-46S504 – $854.99 *

Sony 46″ LCD HDTV KDL46V5100 – $1239.99

Sony 52″ LCD HDTV KDL52V5100 – $1599.99

Toshiba 40″ 1080P Class LCD HDTV #5771438/40RV525U/R – $589.99 *

VIZIO 32″ ECO HDTV VO320E – $349.99

Zenith 42″ Class Plasma HDTV #5775849/Z42PO2 – $499.99 *

Video Games

2-Pack Wii or DS Games – $14.99 *

2-Pack Xbox-360 Games or PS3 Games – $24.99 *

3-Pack PS2 Games – $9.99 *

Biggest Loser (Wii) – $29.99

Facebreak (Xbox 360) – $14.99

Guitar Hero World Tour For PS2, Xbox 360, Wii, PS3 – $49.99 *

Halo ODST (Xbox 360) – $39.99

Left 4 Dead (Xbox 360) – $39.99

Nerf Racing Wheel Wii – $9.99

Nintendo DS Games – $19.99 *

Nintendo DS Games – $29.99 *

Nintendo Wii w/Nerf Racing Wheel – $199.99

Playstation 3 120GB – $299.99

PS3 Blu-Ray Remote – $24.99

TNA Impact (PS3) – $14.99

Various Video Games – $14.99 or Under

Xbox 360 Elite Bundle – $299.99

Xbox Live 12 Month Gold Card – $49.99

Check out the entire list and ad scan over at BlackFriday.info.

More Black Friday deals…

In the interest of bringing Ron and Fez’s fantastic radio show topics to a more tech-minded audience, I propose the following: games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band, while fun and, generally speaking, “good,” will not save rock music. Rock and roll, for all intents and purposes, is dead. Bear with me for a minute, I’ll make this relevant to CrunchGear.

So the topic on today’s show was: U2—you may have heard of them—recently released a new album, but it didn’t sell too well. This created the discussion: is rock dead? Someone brought up the idea that kids today just aren’t buying music anymore, that they’re playing video games instead; you have but so many entertainment dollars to spend, right? But even if kids (and by kids I mean the 30 and under crowd, a completely arbitrary cutoff point) are going out and buying these games left and right, does that mean they’re experiencing music in a new way, as proponents of the idea that Guitar Hero will save the music business would have you believe, or are they just killing time?

To paraphrase Ron Bennington, if the only thing these kids are doing is playing Simon with Pearl Jam in the background, Pearl Jam might as well be the Pac-Man theme song. The kids aren’t paying attention to the music, aren’t getting “into it,” per se, but are merely following along with whatever random melody is playing in the background.

(Incidentally, a caller tried to blame the decline of rock music on Pearl Jam’s anti-everything antics back in the 1990s and 2000s, driving kids into hip hop’s flashy embrace. Kids want to look up to Rock Stars, and the lifestyle they live, and not necessarily people who, while armed with guitars, are generally against the whole rock “scene.” That’s partially why rapping about money, women, and cars caught fire in the 1990s: it filled a void that rock had left behind. I sure as hell would rather listen to Jay-Z than, say, The Strokes, who, if I recall correctly, were once promoted as the saviors of rock and roll.)

The future?

What new (and I do mean brand new, and not merely new to you) rock music have you heard in one of these games that made you think, “Hey, this band is pretty good. I’m gonna buy their album from iTunes and buy a t-shirt from their Web site.”? You may well be able to play along just fine with a Weezer or Peter Frampton song, and you’ll have a good time doing so, but in doing so you’re not exactly discovering Bruce Springsteen back when he was just a local Jersey act. You’re not discovering new music, but rather pressing a fisher price fret along with the melody to a classic rock song. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but that’s not going to save rock music, now is it?

And by save I just mean to make it popular again. I’d love to see a sales comparison between rock music and hip hop over the past 10 years. I bet it’s pretty one-sided.

Now these games are great for bands like The Beatles that are trying to introduce their catalog to millions of new eyeballs, but you’re not necessarily creating any new talent. It’s sorta like WWE in that sense: I stopped watching regularly back in high school (2004ish), but I turn on Raw or Smackdown today and the very same guys are who were main-eventing then (Triple H, Undertaker, John Cena, etc) are main-eventing now; no new stars have been created in the past five years. That’s not good!

So yeah, sorta rambling, but you get my point: Rock Band & Co. may be great for the record labels looking to make a extra few dollars on licensing deals, and may be great for old bands looking to introduce new fans to their music, but you’re crazy if you think these games will make rock music the music of this generation’s young people; hip has already won that battle. No new rock talent is being cultivated with these games, and the relationship between the actual music and the player isn’t genuine: you’re playing a video game with your friends as part of an event or fun social gathering, and aren’t carefully digesting the melodies and lyrics of “Gouge Away” for the sake of the music itself.

That is all.

Flickr and Flickr

Playing guitar with your hands is so 4 years ago. So this team of DIYers and soccer football players  crafted the first ever, wall mounted, full sized, football hero. The control pads are large piezo sensors controlled with the Arduino electronics platform. But let the video do the talking.

A behind the scene video is also available below:

via [Hack N Mod]

Yes, you can leave work early today. No need to ask your boss, he/she is okay with it.

If you haven’t had your fill of music rhythm games by now or you watched with a furrowed brow as guitar-based game after guitar-based game flooded the market, your giant headphones covering only one of your ears and held in place by your own shoulder just like your favorite DJs, then you’ll want to scrounge up between $100 and $200 for Activision’s DJ Hero, depending on your console and whether or not you want the special “Renegade Edition.”

Pricing is as follows:

• DJ Hero with Turntable Controller for PS2: $100
• DJ Hero with Turntable Controller for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii: $120
• DJ Hero Renegade Edition for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii: $200

The “Renegade Edition” includes “premium Renegade turntable controller, case, stand and exclusive DJ Hero Renegade 2-CD pack from Jay-Z and EMINEM.”

Available today all over the place. Full press release below:

DJ HERO™ – THE MOST-ANTICIPATED NEW MUSIC GAME OF THE YEAR – SPINS ONTO STORE SHELVES NATIONWIDE

DJ Hero Renegade Edition Features Premium Renegade Turntable Controller, Case, Stand and Exclusive DJ Hero Renegade 2-CD pack from JAY-Z and EMINEM

93 Exclusive Original Mixes from World Renowned DJ’s Bring Unprecedented Variety of Music Spanning Hip Hop, Rock, Pop, Dance and R&B to the Music Game Genre

SANTA MONICA, CA – October 27, 2009 /PRNewswire/ — The party has started with the most anticipated music game of the year, as DJ Hero^™ is now available at retail stores nationwide, Activision Publishing Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced. DJ Hero invites audiences of all kinds to the party, bringing living room legends to the main stage with the newest innovation in music gaming with an exclusive 93-mix track list, created by a host of legendary DJs uniquely blending almost every genre of music including hip hop, rock, pop, R&B and dance. Featuring electrifying gameplay that incorporates the fundamentals of DJing in a fun and accessible format, and booming tracks from Rihanna to The Killers; Marvin Gaye to Daft Punk; Queen to the Black Eyed Peas, DJ Hero provides consumers an opportunity to interact and listen to music unlike ever before. Heightening the euphoric experience, the DJ Hero Renegade Edition delivers exclusive special edition hardware and a limited edition CD collaboration between two cultural icons – JAY-Z, the most successful solo recording artist of all time and hip hop legend, EMINEM – introducing unreleased material from EMINEM and JAY-Z’s first ever “best of” compilation.

The game has already received global accolades:

“DJ Hero is an impressive piece of work…” with “…infectiously inventive mash-ups.” –Entertainment Weekly

“One of the best games I’ve played this year” with “the best soundtrack for any music game, ever” and “You’re going to want to have DJ Hero on hand for your next party.” – 9/10 – IGN.com Editors’ Choice Award. – IGN.com

“The best music game of the year and a leap forward for the genre.” – 92/100 – GamesMaster Magazine

“DJ Hero allows a player to get lost in a DJ universe, creating a genuine experience,” said JAY-Z. “It’s a perfect way to expose hip hop as all encompassing of every musical genre and how the DJ combines everything to make great music.”

“I think that the cool thing about DJ Hero is that the music is actually part of the gameplay,” said EMINEM. “You get a chance to experience what it’s like to be a DJ and scratch up different songs of mine in really great mixes.”

“When artists with the global appeal and cultural significance like JAY-Z and EMINEM come together you know it’s something groundbreaking,” said Dan Rosensweig, President and CEO of Guitar Hero. “DJ Hero pushes the boundaries of music and gaming with original music mixes and innovative game play that put the power of the DJ and the artistry of hip hop music into the hands of consumers around the world.”

Expanding upon the revolutionary easy to pick up/challenging to master gameplay mechanics developed and refined in Guitar Hero®, DJ Hero delivers an all-new interactive music experience that allows players to start the party and not only experience, but to hear music in an all-new way. Featuring mixes created by DJ AM, Cut Chemist, Grandmaster Flash, DJ Jazzy Jeff, J. Period, DJ Shadow, DJ Z-Trip and more, spinning over 100 individual songs, highlighted in 93 unique never-before-released mixes that blend genres of music, including hip-hop, pop, rock and dance, DJ Hero delivers the most diverse and international collection of music ever assembled in a music game by incorporating anthems from legendary artists. Created exclusively for DJ Hero, the turntable controller immerses fans into the DJ culture and a sea of music as they utilize and master various DJ techniques including scratching, crossfading and sampling, while leaving room for creative expression with a variety of effects and player chosen samples and scratches, transforming a face in the crowd into the life of the party.

The DJ Hero Renegade Edition includes a copy of the game, a premium Renegade turntable controller, hardshell turntable carrying case that converts to a performance-ready DJ stand, and an exclusive JAY-Z and EMINEM 2-CD pack featuring “best of” and new, unreleased material.

Available now, DJ Hero was developed by FreeStyleGames for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems and the Wii^™ system from Nintendo. The game is rated “T” (Teen – Mild Suggestive Themes, Lyrics) by the ESRB. For more information about DJ Hero, please visit djhero.com, facebook.com/djhero and twitter.com/djhero.

Interesting note regarding DJ Hero, where “interesting” means “potentially bad news.” One of those fancy analyst types, someone at Cowen and Company, has slashed sales expectations by a little more than 50 percent. That’s nothing to brush aside if you’re Activision.

Here’s the juicy part of the report:

On DJ Hero, despite some recent positive comments from company management about pre-orders, we remain very cautious about the title’s prospects at launch,” he noted. “A survey of online retailers indicates a demand profile that is well below what we would have expected to see just a few days before launch for a title that was destined to be a big (or even modest) hit. As a result, we are reducing our estimate for DJ Hero Q4 US unit sales from 1.6 million to 600,000, and we are reducing our first year estimate from 2.5 million to 950,000

Someone at Kotaku wrote, “It seems the turntables have turned on Activision,” which legitimately made me laugh.

Look, for a time I was into that whole DJ scene, and still am to an extent. That’s why I wrote what I wrote: that the barrier to entry to becoming a competent DJ, what with today’s software, is a lot lower than it is to becoming a competent guitarist. Plus, DJing is a little more niche than guitaring; who didn’t want to play the guitar growing up?

Now, the analyst isn’t saying that DJ Hero won’t sell at all, just that, based on the early hype, and the Hero brand name, it he and his company initially expected it to do better.

Or, if you want to be a cynic, you can blame Activision for burning through all these music games in such a short period of time that people are either A) tired of them or B) they’ve played enough if them, and don’t need to play any more.

In any event, the game comes out tomorrow for $120 with turntable. (Maybe the price has something to do with it, too?)

via Kotaku

Pic, of course, via Penny-Arcade

The Stage-Gig speaker system is being debuted at the College Music Journal (CMJ) music festival in New York City. Modeled as a stage monitor, the Stage-Gig gives you a 6.5″ woofer, silk tweeter, all with 40 watts of output power. It has two sets of RCA plugs so you can theoretically chain as many of these units are you could possibly want.

If you don’t have any better speakers, these offer you a simple, plug-and-play upgrade for your game console. XBox, Playstation, Wii, anything that uses RCA audio outputs will work. Look for it in early November and expect to shell out $99.95.

Actually, what really needs to happen is the guitarist from The Advantage needs to rock this thing. I think I would die from a nerd overload if I saw him jam out the Castlevania theme on this thing. I met those guys at a show in Tokyo, incidentally, and they’re cool as hell.

The project is actually an updated version of an much older NES guitar, updated with Mario, Luigi, and Donkey Kong knobs and a cartridge for the headstock.

[via TecheBlog, Craziest Gadgets, and Gearfuse]

At this rate, you and your garage band could be starring in the next Rock Band-like game! (That’s actually not a bad idea. Some sort of service wherein you upload your band’s songs, and a little while later out pops a file that works in Rock Band and Guitar Hero.) Famous band U2 recently told USA Today that, sure, it would love to be in a video game of its own one day. It’s probably too late now, seeing as though, years from now, The Beatles: Rock Band will be viewed as the apex of these music games.

The band’s bassist, Adam Clayton, said:

We definitely would like to be in there, but we felt some of the compromises weren’t what we wanted. That could change. I love the idea that that’s where people are getting music, and we’d love to be in that world. We’ll figure something out. What The Beatles have done, where the animation is much more representative of them, is what we’re interested in, rather than the one-size-fits-all animation. We didn’t want to be caricatured.

If the control freak Beatles can agree to a game, there’s no reason why U2 can’t agree to a game.

Also, War > Joshua Tree. Just sayin’.

via Kotaku

Here you go – the official list of mash-ups that’ll appear in DJ Hero when it becomes available on October 27th. These are apparently all original, not-available-anywhere-else mixes.

· 2Pac – “All Eyez On Me” vs. The Aranbee Pop Orchestra – “Bittersweet Symphony (Instrumental)”
· 50 Cent – “Disco Inferno” vs. David Bowie – “Let’s Dance”
· 50 Cent – “Disco Inferno” vs. InDeep – “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life”
· Afrika Bambaataa – “Zulu Nation Throwdown” vs. Freedom Express – “Get Down”
· Beastie Boys – “Here’s A Little Somethin’ For Ya” vs. DJ Shadow – “The Number Song (2009 Version)” (Produced and mixed by DJ Shadow)
· Beastie Boys – “Intergalactic” vs. Blondie – “Rapture”
· Beastie Boys – “Lee Majors Come Again” vs. Daft Punk – “Da Funk” (Produced and mixed by Cut Chemist)
· Beck – “Where It’s At” vs. DJ Shadow – “Six Days (Remix ft. Mos Def)”
· Bell Biv DeVoe – “Poison” Beat Juggle
· Bell Biv DeVoe – “Poison” vs. Beastie Boys – “Intergalactic” (Produced and mixed by DJ AM)
· Bell Biv DeVoe – “Poison” vs. Cameo – “Word Up!”
· Benny Benassi – “Satisfaction” vs. Tiësto – “Elements Of Life”
· Billy Squier – “The Big Beat” vs. N.E.R.D. – “Lapdance” (DJ-Guitar mix)
· Black Eyed Peas – “Boom Boom Pow” vs. Benny Benassi – “Satisfaction”
· Bobby “Blue” Bland – “Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City” vs. 2Pac – “How Do You Want It”
· Bobby “Blue” Bland – “Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City” vs. Connie Price & The Keystones – “Fuzz And Them”
· Boogie Down Productions – “Jack Of Spades” vs. David Bowie – “Let’s Dance” (Produced and mixed by DJ Shadow)
· Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers – “Bustin’ Loose” vs. The Zombies – “Time Of The Season” (Produced and mixed by DJ Shadow)
· Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers – “Bustin’ Loose” vs. Young MC – “Bust A Move”
· Common – “Universal Mind Control (U.M.C.)” vs. Masta Ace – “Jeep A** Gutter (Aaron LaCrate & Debonair Samir RMX)” (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)
· Cypress Hill – “Insane In The Brain” vs. Classics IV – “Spooky”
· Cypress Hill – “Insane In The Brain” vs. David Axelrod – “The Edge”
· Daft Punk – “Around The World” vs. Young MC – “Bust A Move”
· Daft Punk – “Da Funk” vs. N.A.S.A. – “Strange Enough ft. Karen O, ODB & Fatlip”
· Daft Punk – “Megamix 1″
· Daft Punk – “Megamix 2″
· Daft Punk – “Robot Rock” vs. Hashim – “Al Naafyish (The Soul)” (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)
· Daft Punk – “Robot Rock” vs. Queen – “We Will Rock You”
· Daft Punk – “Short Circuit” vs. Boogie Down Productions – “Jack Of Spades”
· Daft Punk – “Technologic” vs. Gary Numan – “Cars”
· Daft Punk – “Television Rules the Nation” vs. No Doubt – “Hella Good”
· David Axelrod – “The Edge” vs. Eric B. & Rakim – “Eric B. Is President”
· Dizzee Rascal – “Fix Up, Look Sharp” vs. DJ Shadow – “Organ Donor (Extended Overhaul)”
· Dizzee Rascal – “Fix Up, Look Sharp” vs. Justice – “Genesis”
· DJ Shadow – “Six Days (Remix ft. Mos Def)” vs. D-Code – “Annie’s Horn”
· Eminem – “My Name Is” vs. Beck – “Loser”
· Fedde Le Grand – “Put Your Hands Up For Detroit” vs. Sandy Rivera and David Penn – “I Can’t Stop (David Penn Remix)”
· Foo Fighters – “Monkey Wrench” vs. Beastie Boys – “Sabotage” (DJ-Guitar mix)
· Foreigner – “Juke Box Hero” vs. DJ Z-Trip ft. Murs – “DJ Hero” (Produced and mixed by DJ Z-Trip)
· Foreigner – “Juke Box Hero” vs. DJ Z-Trip ft. Murs – “DJ Hero” (DJ-Guitar mix, produced and mixed by DJ Z-Trip)
· Gang Starr – “Just To Get A Rep” vs. Mobb Deep – “Shook Ones, Pt 2″ (Produced and mixed by J. Period)
· Gorillaz – “Feel Good Inc.” vs. Blondie – “Atomic”
· Grandmaster Flash’s – “Boom” vs. “Tap” (Produced and mixed by Grandmaster Flash)
· Grandmaster Flash, DJ Kool, DJ Demo – “Here Comes My DJ” vs. Gary Numan – “Cars” (Produced and mixed by Grandmaster Flash)
· Gwen Stefani – “Hollaback Girl” vs. Gorillaz – “Feel Good Inc.”
· Gwen Stefani – “Hollaback Girl” vs. InDeep “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life” (Produced and mixed by DJ AM)
· Gwen Stefani – “Hollaback Girl” vs. Rick James – “Give It To Me”
· Herbie Hancock – “Rockit” Beat Juggle
· Herbie Hancock – “Rockit” vs. N.E.R.D. – “Lapdance” (Produced and mixed by Grandmaster Flash)
· InDeep – “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life” vs. Cameo – “Word Up!”
· Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back” vs. Gang Starr – “Just To Get A Rep” (Produced and mixed by DJ Yoda)
· Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back” vs. Third Eye Blind – “Semi-Charmed Life” (DJ-Guitar mix)
· Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back” vs. Third Eye Blind – “Semi-Charmed Life”
· JAY-Z feat. Pharrell – “Change Clothes” vs. 2Pac – “All Eyez on Me”
· JAY-Z – “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” vs. Eminem – “My Name Is”
· JAY-Z – “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” vs. Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back”
· JAY-Z – “Excuse Me Miss” vs. Rick James – “Give It To Me”
· Jean Knight – “Mr. Big Stuff” vs. Masta Ace – “Born To Roll”
· Jurassic 5 – “Jayou” vs. Billy Squier – “The Big Beat”
· Jurassic 5 – “Jayou” vs. Herbie Hancock – “Rockit”
· Kid Cudi – “Day ‘N’ Nite” vs. Black Eyed Peas – “Boom Boom Pow”
· Kool Moe Dee – “How Ya Like Me Now” vs. Reel 2 Real featuring The Mad Stuntman – “I Like To Move It”
· Little Richard – “Tutti Frutti” vs. Shlomo – “Beats” (Produced and mixed by DJ Yoda)
· M.I.A. – “Paper Planes” vs. Eric B. & Rakim – “Eric B. Is President” (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)
· M.I.A. – “Paper Planes” vs. Wale – “Lookin’ At Me”
· Marvin Gaye – “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” vs. David Bowie – “Let’s Dance”
· Marvin Gaye – “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” vs. Gorillaz – “Feel Good Inc.”
· Motörhead – “Ace Of Spades” vs. Noisia – “Groundhog” (DJ-Guitar mix)
· N.A.S.A. – “Strange Enough ft. Karen O, ODB & Fatlip” vs. Isaac Hayes – “Theme From Shaft”
· Noisia – “Groundhog” Beat Juggle (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)
· Paul van Dyk – “Nothing But You” vs. Sandy Rivera and David Penn – “I Can’t Stop (David Penn Remix)”
· Public Enemy – “Shut ‘Em Down” vs. Beck – “Where It’s At”
· Public Enemy ft. Zakk Wylde – “Bring The Noise 20XX” vs. Justice – “Genesis” (Produced and mixed by DJ Z-Trip)
· Public Enemy featuring Zakk Wylde – “Bring The Noise 20XX” (DJ-Guitar mix)
· Q-Tip – “Good Thang” vs. Billy Squier – “The Big Beat” (Produced and mixed by J. Period)
· Queen – “Another One Bites The Dust” vs. Beastie Boys – “Brass Monkey” (Produced and mixed by DJ Z-Trip)
· Queen – “Another One Bites The Dust” vs. Daft Punk – “Da Funk”
· Rihanna – “Disturbia” vs. Kid Sister – “Control”
· Rihanna – “Disturbia” vs. The Killers – “Somebody Told Me” (DJ-Guitar mix)
· Rihanna – “Disturbia” vs. The Trammps – “Disco Inferno”
· Shlomo – “Beats” vs. Billy Squier – “The Big Beat”
· Street Sweeper Social Club – “Fight! Smash! Win!” vs. Beastie Boys – “Intergalactic” (DJ-Guitar mix)
· Tears For Fears – “Shout” vs. DJ Shadow – “Six Days (Remix ft. Mos Def)”
· Tears For Fears – “Shout” vs. Eric B. & Rakim – “Eric B. Is President” (Produced and mixed by DJ Jazzy Jeff)
· Tears For Fears – “Shout” vs. Eric Prydz – “Pjanoo”
· The Aranbee Pop Orchestra – “Bittersweet Symphony (Instrumental)” vs. LL Cool J – “Rock The Bells” (Produced and mixed by DJ Jazzy Jeff)
· The Scratch Perverts Beats and Pieces (Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts)
· The Killers – “Somebody Told Me” vs. Eric Prydz – “Pjanoo”
· Vanilla Ice – “Ice Ice Baby” vs. MC Hammer – “U Can’t Touch This”
· Vanilla Ice – “Ice Ice Baby” vs. Paula Abdul – “Straight Up”
· Wale – “Lookin’ At Me” vs. Black Eyed Peas ft. Tippa Irie – “Hey Mama”
· Weezer – “Beverly Hills” vs. Evidence, The Alchemist, Aceyalone, Rakaa & 88 Keys – “Fresh Rhymes And Videotape” (DJ-Guitar mix)
· Wild Cherry – “Play That Funky Music” vs. Gang Starr – “Just To Get A Rep” (DJ-Guitar mix)

Some pretty sweet mixes in there if you’re into this sort of thing. The DJ Hero YouTube page has a handful of them in quick 30-second bites as well.

[via Kotaku]

Bad news, sports fans. Well, to be specific, DJ Hero fans. Anyhow, it looks like you won’t be able to use the turntable controller on any other video game. Why you’d want to use the turntable when playing, say, Street Fighter IV, I don’t know.

This is really only applicable if you had planned to buy DJ Hero, then buy Scratch: The Ultimate DJ without its turntable. One of the DJ Hero devs told Destructoid that any game that could use the turntable would necessarily be a ripoff.

Yes, because Rock Band and Guitar Hero are two totally different games…

But yeah, the turntable only works on DJ Hero. You don’t send me flowers!