July 18, 2008 -- Hands-On Mobile, Inc., in partnership with Activision Publishing, Inc., today announced the availability of Guitar Hero III: Backstage Pass for mobile phones. The game is available today on select carriers nationwide.

Backstage Pass adds a whole new dimension to the Guitar Hero universe and offers more than 25 hours of gameplay. Players assume the identities of Axel Steel or Judy Nails and promote their band and music on TV and radio, build buzz and street cred, create demo tapes, sign record contracts, handle press interviews, rehearse songs and play shows. By achieving certain career goals, players can unlock several guitars to strengthen their performance. Players can also earn in-game money, which can be used to buy new guitars to play at a variety of venues in an effort to gain the attention of record labels and soar to the top of the charts.  read more »

July 16th, 2008 - Peak Products, a gaming peripheral company dedicated to providing the best in instrument quality gaming controllers, announces Starpex, the first-ever full-size, wood, PS2 / PS3 Guitar controller with the look and feel of an actual guitar. Starpex boasts an instrument-quality, high-gloss lacquered finish with a hardwood body, neck, and headstock handcrafted by a leading guitar manufacturer giving the authentic guitar experience that Guitar Hero and Rock Band enthusiasts crave.

Other unique features include…

• Full Guitar Hero and Rockband Functionality for PS2 and PS3 – Starpex is compatible with both PS2 and PS3, and allows users to experience the full list of game play features in both Guitar Hero and Rockband, including toggle effects switch and solo button functionality.
  
• Unique Speed Star Power / Overdrive Button provides the fastest and most accurate access to Star Power and Overdrive. Additionally, built in tilt sensor technology allows users to access Star Power and Overdrive in a more traditional way.
  
• Optimized Whammy Bar maximizes comfort, provides better feel, reduces fatigue and provides a higher level of durability.
• High Quality Ten Fret Button Design features optimal button travel for enhanced feel, reduced fatigue, and higher score potential. Ten fret buttons means that players have the option of using traditionally positioned fret buttons, or rock out with solo buttons high up on the neck which also provide critical soloing capabilities in Rockband.
  
• Enhanced Strum Bar gives the perfect balance of tactile and audible feedback to maximize enjoyment and scoring.
  
• Connectivity Options – Dual wired / wireless capabilities allow players to use a 15’ wired cable or a 2.4 Ghz wireless connection (both included).
  
• Forward - Thinking Compatibility – Starpex’s modular design allows users to easily separate the electronic components from the body of the guitar which will allow for further customization including new guitar bodies, pick guards, and more.
  

“With well over 11 million copies of Guitar Hero/Rock Band sold on the PlayStation consoles, we see a tremendous opportunity in bringing Starpex to market” says Jamie Leece, Vice President for Peak Products. “Never before have Guitar Hero/Rock Band enthusiasts been able to shred with a hardwood, handcrafted authentic guitar controller that’s built with the look and feel of a real guitar. This will change the way the games are played.”  read more »

July 15, 2008 – Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) held its annual press conference today at the E3 Media & Business Summit, making a series of announcements which demonstrated the strength of the PlayStation brand across all three of its platforms and further leveraged the heritage and momentum of PlayStation’s family of products to provide consumers with more compelling entertainment options than anyone in the videogame industry.

Starting in September 2008, the newly announced PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) 80GB model will become the mainstay of the company’s hardware line-up. The 80GB model will retail for $399, and will offer all of the features and functionality of the 40GB model with double the storage to accommodate more movies, graphics, music, photos and other entertainment content – all for the same price. As with its predecessor, the new 80GB model will be a complete entertainment system comprising of a Blu-ray player, HDMI output, an integrated Wi-Fi connection, Cell Broadband Engine and a built-in 80GB hard-disk drive. The multi-functionality of the 80GB PS3, combined with more than 140 exclusive and third-party titles and the PLAYSTATION Network, is a comprehensive entertainment value designed to appeal to a wide range of consumers from hard-core gamers to general entertainment enthusiasts.  read more »

July 16, 2008--To make it easier for you to communicate with your friends and family on your Wii game console, Logitech just introduced the new Logitech Cordless Keyboard for Wii – licensed by Nintendo – a must-have accessory for chat-oriented games and the Wii Internet Channel. With its compact, slim design and 2.4 GHz wireless technology, Logitech’s new keyboard for Wii enables a natural typing experience for easy communication, browsing and searching – even from your favorite easy chair.

“One of the big reasons Wii has been so successful is the social element of the games and applications,” said Ruben Mookerjee, Logitech’s director of product marketing for gaming. “Our new keyboard helps families experience the Internet in the living room – and it will make chatting with online friends simple in popular games, such as Animal Crossing.”  read more »