Guitar Hero DS peripheral unveiled

By Ellie Gibson Published 19 March, 2008

Plugs into handheld's GBA slot.

Activision has revealed details of the first DS instalment in the Guitar Hero series.

IGN is reporting that Guitar Hero: On Tour will come with a special input device, as Vicarious Visions hinted just over six months ago.

Called the Guitar Grip, it will plug into the handheld's GBA slot. The DS is held vertically and your hand slides into a special strap. There's a stylus pick for strumming strings on the touch screen, and you press the fret buttons on the Guitar Grip at the same time. The microphone will also come into play.

"We figured that attaching a full-size guitar or even a mini-guitar would be too awkward to play on the road," said VV boss Karthik Bala. "Hence the design of the more compact Guitar Grip, which gives you the tactile sense of the fret buttons with the touch screen depicting the strings of the guitar."

There will be career, competitive and co-op modes, and new power-ups exclusive to On Tour. You might have to put out fires caused by pyrotechnics by blowing into the mic, or sign autographs on the touch screen to see off adoring fans sent your way by your rival. More than 20 licensed songs are promised from the likes of Nirvana, OK Go and No Doubt. There will be six characters to choose from, including two brand new ones.

Guitar Hero: On Tour is down for a summer release in the US, with a European date yet to be announced.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (22) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Kyle #1 4 years ago

    Got any pictures? 'Cos I still don't understand how it works.

  • brooza #2 4 years ago

    Presumably it doesn't stick straight out of the GBA slot, but it plugs in and is bent stick out by the D-pad

  • brooza #3 4 years ago

    There's a pic on the IGN link and it's nothing like my guess.

    I'm also not convinced that it'll work well

  • dsmx #4 4 years ago

    I'm guessing you hold it in your left hand with your fingers on the 4 buttons supporting the ds in the palm of your hand, there's a pic here http://ko taku.com/369821/wicked-ds-guita...

  • DonnieDarko333 #5 4 years ago

    It looks brilliant in my opinion! I'll be importing this beauty!

  • Kyle #6 4 years ago

    Oh I see... I think. So your strumming the guitar on screen as if it were held upright? That doesn't seem right. Also, do you reckon you'll be able to flip it for lefty's? I guess it looks kinda cool though, more innovative than I expected they'd come up with at least.

  • theguyfromspark #7 4 years ago

    From the trailer on IGN, it looks like you have to blow on the DS when your guitar sets on fire.... instant pass from me then.

  • tonynibbles #8 4 years ago

    Awesome.

  • DanWhitehead #9 4 years ago

    Looks more like Accordion Hero to me.

  • MrMarbles #10 4 years ago

    Surely the whole point of Guitar Hero is to strut about like some God of Rock as if you were actually playing a guitar? I must've missed Hendrix playing a Power Glove/book hybrid.

    Oh Activision, when will your milking of the sagging GH teat end?

  • DrKuK #11 4 years ago

    Looks cool but just 4 buttons, Might be too easy for some guitar hero veterans. And around 20 songs isnt gonna be enough unless the price is suitably low (fat chance)

  • FeralUK #12 4 years ago

    If you turn it on its side like a book then you can use your right thumb to play the 4 buttons.
    Turn it like it is shown in the pic.

  • el_pollo_diablo #13 4 years ago

    Looks like a RSI monster to me. I think I'll give it miss...

  • marilena #14 4 years ago

    It's an interesting attempt, but looks extremely awkward in the trailer on IGN. To be honest, I just can't see Guitar Hero working well on the DS. Without a guitar it's not really Guitar Hero, with a guitar it's not really the DS.

    And the music doesn't sound that well on the DS either, although it's serviceable in Elite Beat Agents (the last DS game I actually played with sound).

  • beep #15 4 years ago

    Surely the developers of DS Guitar Hero can take advantage of plucking more than one virtual string? Or maybe they have incorporated stylus taps for plucking and strokes for strumming? I dunno. Make it more different!

    I'll still get it though. Regardless. Probably.

  • Wyrm #16 4 years ago

    I think it looks like an abomination. Kudos for trying, but in no way is this going to capture what makes Guitar Hero so enjoyable.

  • Royal Fool #17 4 years ago

    Warning: Playing Guitar Hero: On Tour will result in permanent wrist damage.

  • t8yman #18 4 years ago

    I dont really know how to post links direct on the comments section here, but there is a trailer on kotaku's front page. I smell money - lots of money being made on this product.

  • Paleface #19 4 years ago

    From the trailer on IGN, it looks like you have to blow on the DS when your guitar sets on fire.... instant pass from me then.

    Yes, this is a major worry. Dear developers: please get over blowing on the screen.

  • mrtrevelyan #20 4 years ago

    The alleged new DS design (which supposedly does away with the GBA cartridge slot) would make these sort of peripherals redundant surely?

    "don't call me Shirley" - name that quote.

  • MBar #21 4 years ago

    Also, do you reckon you'll be able to flip it for lefty's?

    Oooh, good point. I also have the left-handed disease, so how that's going to work for me?

    It's discrimination I tells ya.

  • dudefella #22 4 years ago

    From the trailer on IGN, it looks like you have to blow on the DS when your guitar sets on fire.... instant pass from me then.





    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH

    ITS FUCKING GUITAR HERO YOU FUCKING RETARDS! NO MORE BOSS BATTLES AND NO MORE EXTRANEOUS, CONTRIVED, BULLSHIT MINIGAMES YOU FUCKING ACTIVISION RETARDS


    rage.