PlayStation LifeStyle » DJ Hero

DJ Hero 2 Pendulum DLC Hitting PlayStation Store Today

Mike Hartnett — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:06:50 +0000

It was a sad, sad day when Activision confirmed that it would no longer be supporting the Guitar Hero and DJ Hero franchises with new titles or DLC. However, just because the company has ceased development on these titles doesn’t mean that the already-finished DLC won’t see the light of day, as DJ Hero fans will certainly have something to look forward to in this week’s PlayStation Store update.

Later today, be on the lookout for the Pendulum Mix Pack in the PlayStation Store. This latest batch of DJ Hero 2 DLC will feature three new mixes for “Watercolour,” “Set Me On Fire,” and “Salt In The Wounds”, all taken from Pendulum’s latest album. I can personally attest to the sheer amount of awesome that this group conveys with their music, and I highly recommend it. This latest song pack will run you $7.99 in the PlayStation Store, so be sure to keep an eye out!

For all the latest DLC news, be sure to stay tuned to PlayStation LifeStyle!

[Source]

DJ Hero Franchise Takes Its Last Spin

Anthony Severino — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:23:06 +0000

I know how upsetting the recent news of Activision killing off the Guitar Hero series is to many. The game is responsible for the music/rhythm genre renaissance, which sparked a number of spin-offs, including the most recent, and my personal favorite, DJ Hero.

But to my dismay, DJ Hero too has fallen victim to Activision’s axe-dropping.

This is one of those times I wish I could perform a rewind, and not hear the following news: DJ Hero has gone the way of the Dodo. On the official DJ Hero site, comes the following devastating message:

Due to continued declines in the music genre, the company will disband Activision Publishing’s DJ Hero business unit and discontinue development on its DJ Hero game for 2011.These decisions are based on the desire to focus on the greatest opportunities that the company currently has to create the world’s best interactive entertainment experiences.

It’s really saying something about the current state of the Music genre, when the “best-selling new IP of 2009 by revenue” just two years later is disbanded due to poor sales.

Sorry folks, but this Mau5, is really Dead.

PS3 Review – DJ Hero 2

Anthony Severino — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:05:01 +0000

When DJ Hero launched last year, it faced quite a bit of skepticism along with a general distaste from consumers who already had too many peripherals cluttering up their homes. Was DJ Hero worth the hefty price tag and additional clutter thanks to the necessary turntable controller? The answer was a resounding yes. DJ Hero went on to become the highest-grossing new IP of 2009. That meant the sequel, DJ Hero 2, has some big shoes to fill, and is going to have to bring fresh ideas and features to the (turn) table. So the question is, does DJ Hero 2 add enough to the mix to keep things fresh, or does it feel more like a rewind of the previous installment, only with a new setlist and a fresh coat of paint?

At first glance, the gameplay hasn’t changed much from the first DJ Hero. After a short amount of time, it’s hard not to notice that much more control has been put into the hands of the player. A DJ’s main job is to take control of the music and add their own unique cuts, cues, and overall flair to it. Instead of just tapping and buttons and scratching the corresponding action as it comes down the highway, there is now “freestyle” gameplay elements that allow you to put your own twist on the track. Certain areas will call for freestyle scratching, freestyle crossfading, or using the red button to perform freestyle sampling.

Gone are the generic samples from the previous game. Now, when you freestyle sample, the sample will actually be a tone, tune or vocal that is grabbed right from the track itself. This allows for the track to flow much more naturally, rather than just hearing “Yeeeaaahhhh Boyyyyyeeeee!” over and over and over again.

Freestyle scratching can mesh just as well with the track as the freestyle sampling does, providing that you are good at scratching. If you’re not, it sounds out-of-place. But if you’re good, it sounds as if you’re a veteran at the wheels of steel. It just works that well. Freestyle crossfading is the toughest to master, but doing it effectively, by taking advantage of certain parts of the track can rack up your score all while sounding like a professional mix-master. Using the freestyle controls not only will provide a better score at the end, but it lets you personalize the song with your own flair — and that’s what being a DJ is all about. DJ Hero 2 captures that perfectly within the gameplay.

The set list features over 83 mashups from over 100 top artists from today and yesteryear, all mixed, cut-up and blended by master mixologists such as Deadmau5, David Guetta and more. Although the setlist is compiled of mostly relatively new music such as Eminem’s “Not Afraid”, there are some old school classics that will be sure to make you smile like Warren G’s “Regulate”. The overall variety is packed with the best artists in the hip hop, pop, and dance genres, and makes for a great listen. The setlist itself could be sold as a standalone album or compilation. If you’ve got the right audio set-up, you can instantly turn your living room into a jumping club just by firing up DJ Hero 2.

While the first DJ Hero featured some mulitplayer, it definitely wasn’t a primary focus. This time around, it’s a party. Not only are you encouraged to play versus a fellow turnablist, but the game invites a third player to team up and lend their vocal skills on the mic. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is another sing along; the majority of the tracks are compromised of mash-ups and mixes — so the vocals are also mixed up — which will throw even the best karaoke buffs for a curveball. A second turntable or vocalist can jump in at any time during gameplay.

Along with the normal versus multiplayer mode where you will just both compete for a high score, there’s also a new DJ battle mode. Battle mode puts two players up against each other for a sort of game of horse. The track is broken down into segments and it will bounce back and fourth between the two players in a game of one-upmanship. Whoever hits the most notes, and performs the best on freestyles will win the match. Here, in the true spirit of battle DJs, the scratching and fading can get hectic.

Last and least is the game’s single player campaign, Empire Mode. Here, you’ll choose through a small list options to create your own DJ and “Empire”. Your created DJ will travel from venue to venue performing sets all with the goal of growing your empire. Where this mode suffers, is from the lack of customization — your DJ never really feels like an extension of you. The mode itself is also rather shallow, providing you with little to do aside from just performing pre-set lists of tracks. The only real highlight of Empire mode is the all too rare head-to-head matches with the DJ talent Freestyle Games has enlisted for DJ Hero 2.

DJ Hero 2 takes everything that made the original so special and spices it up a bit by letting players add their own personal touches thanks to the new freestyle gameplay. The additional modes certainly don’t hurt the overall package, but they’re missing that fresh new take on things. Empire mode which is the bulk of the single-player experience is unfortunately lacking. These minor flaws don’t detract from the top-notch gameplay, the eclectic mix of music spun by the industry’s best DJs. DJ Hero 2 really is a party in a box, and one of the best the music/rythym genre has to offer.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score

+ Freestyle gameplay add personal touch

+ Setlist is jam-packed with great music

- Empire mode is lacking

PlayStation Release Horizon – Week of October 18, 2010

Kishen Patel — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 18:45:03 +0000

At this point, it’s hard to tell what is coming out on its given date anymore after a high-profile title like Gran Turismo 5 gets delayed. Just between last week and this week alone, Rock of the Dead was scheduled for release and was subsequently rescheduled. While there are some sketchy releases on this week’s horizon, there are definitely some anticipated, definite releases in store with the core gamers in mind. This week, MMA fans are in luck while fans of music and legitimate musicians each have a package for their PlayStation 3. Not to cut short the Move gamers, there are two shooters on the front lines at the ready. Check out this week’s PlayStation releases and more (that’s right, more) below.

PS3 -

DJ Hero 2 (10/19)
- Turntable bundle
- Party bundle
EA Sports MMA (10/19)
Fallout: New Vegas (10/19)
Kevin VanDam’s Big Bass Challenge (10/19)
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 (10/19)
PES 2011 (10/19)
Power Gig: Rise of the SixString (10/19)
- Guitar Kit
  - Replacement strings and picks
- Band Kit
  - Amplifier
Rock of the Dead (10/19)
Saw II: Flesh and Blood (10/19)
Time Crisis: Razing Storm (10/19)
The Shoot (10/19)
Vanquish (10/19)

PSP -

Blazing Souls Accelate (10/19)
Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team (10/19)

PS2 -

No new releases

Anyone interested in learning or playing with a real guitar or would we prefer to spin some tunes that anyone can handle? What about Move fans? Anything this week pique your interests? Tell us in the comments section below.

DJ Hero 2 DLC Revealed; Mix of Trailers Released

Anthony Severino — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:58:38 +0000

DJ Hero 2 is set to hit retail shelves in less than one week. Activision plans to keep the party going long after the game’s release date with plenty of DLC. The first downloadable mixes will be available starting in November and we’ve got the details right here.

Starting this November, Activision will be releasing two downloadable mixes to expand upon DJ Hero 2‘s already packed set list. On November 4, a Hit Makers Mix Pack will be available on the PlayStation Store which included the following mixes:

Usher ft. will.i.am – “OMG” (Remix by FSG)
Rihanna ft. JAY-Z – “Umbrella” Mixed With Marvin Gaye - “Let’s Get It On”
Big Boi & Cutty – “Shutterbug” Mixed With Mark Morrison – “Return of the Mack”

Two weeks later on November 18, an Electro Hits Mix Pack will be released featuring these mixes:

LMFAO – “I’m In Miami Trick” Mixed With Green Velvet – “Shake & Pop”
Steve Aoki ft. [[[Zuper Blahq]]] – “I’m In The House” (Remix by FSG)
SMD – “Hustler” Mixed With Technotronic – “Pump Up The Jam”

Each downloadable mix pack will be priced at $7.99. Check out the trailers for each mix pack below:

Buy DJ Hero 2, Get DJ Hero Free

Matt Baker — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 04:01:06 +0000

Publishing powerhouse Activision has officially confirmed that consumers who purchase either the DJ Hero 2 Turntable Bundle or Party Bundle will get a standalone version of the first DJ Hero game for free.

While stocks last, this enticing offer should be a perfect excuse to buy the sequel to one of the best selling IPs of 2009. The DJ Hero 2 Party Bundle includes a copy of the game, two turntable controllers as well as a microphone.

Activision recently unveiled the full track list for the hotly anticipated sequel. DJ Hero 2 is currently scheduled for a release on October 19th, 2010.

DJ Hero 2 Empire Mode ‘Vignette’

Anthony Severino — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 05:29:10 +0000

DJ Hero 2 is much more than just a sequel to the best selling new IP of last year. The much anticipated follow up not only features new tracks from today’s hottest artists and DJs, but new modes and new ways to play as well. One of these new modes is called Empire Mode, which let’s you “customize your DJ experience”. Activision has just released an all new “vignette” to demonstrate what Empire Mode is all about.

Be sure to check out our E3 impressions if you haven’t already!

Huge PS3, Blur, DJ Hero Deals Coming Next Week

Mike Hartnett — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:25:51 +0000

Whether you’re considering purchasing a new PS3 or perhaps just picking up a few new title, particularly Blur or DJ Hero, then you have some phenomenal deals to look forward to next week.

Yes, once again we bring you word of some phenomenal gaming deals coming out of Toys R Us. We got a sneak peak of next week’s circular, and potential and veteran PS3 owners alike will have something to look forward to. The deals for next week are as follows:

$15 gift card when you purchase Madden 11. (For Rewards Members on August 10th Only)
$20 gift card when you purchase a 120gb PS3 Slim.
$40 gift card when you purchase Blur or DJ Hero for any game system.
Buy 1, get 1 50% off on the following titles: Skate 3, FIFA World Cup South Africa, Transformers: War for Cybertron, UFC: 2010, Split/Second, NCAA Football 11 and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11.

Check out the full gaming section for next week’s ad below. (Deals run from August 8th-14th)

Well, there certainly seems to be no shortage of good deals as of late. Let’s hope they keep on comin’! Stay tuned to PlayStation LifeStyle, as we solute penny pinchers, far and wide.

DJ Superstar Tiësto Becomes DJ Hero

Kishen Patel — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 18:59:57 +0000

While the debut of the DJ Hero franchise may not have met or lived up to the success of Activision’s smash-hit franchise Guitar Hero, that is not stopping the powerhouse publisher from keeping the hip-hop and electronic front covered by the series. This was also made apparent by the performances of greats such as Eminem and David Gueta at the Activision E3 press conference of 2010

Next up on the DJ Hero 2 list of hit musicians is the world’s biggest electronic artist and dance music icon, Tiësto. With a resume that features a roster of icons such as Muse, Justin Timberlake, Flo Rida, Sean Kingston, and Three 6 Mafia, Tiësto is sure to be a key to DJ Hero 2′s success. Tiësto’s virtual inclusion in the lineup of playable characters such as the already confirmed Deadmau5, David Guetta, and DJ Qbert, DJ Hero 2 is already poised to be a much grander and more popular title than the original disk jockey simulator. According to the superstar DJ himself:

“DJ Hero 2 is all about bringing people of different backgrounds, ages and music tastes together to have some fun DJ’ing their favorite music. The way the music comes together is fresh and unique and as a DJ, I couldn’t ask for more than that. I am excited to be involved with this medium and to be contributing to a great game with an amazing soundtrack.”

Of course Activision, themselves, are more than pleased with the collaboration and inclusion of the digitized DJ. According to Vice President of Music Affairs for Activision, Tim Riley:

“From touring the globe and working with some of the world’s most visionary artists across five hit albums, to performing at the biggest clubs and the hottest festivals, Tiësto is one of the biggest DJ’s in the world. We’ve assembled a cast of the biggest and best DJ’s and having Tiësto bring his unique style adds incredible flavor to the best soundtrack in entertainment.”

Still iffy about the collaboration? Check out the video below for a closer, visual look at the Tiësto experience. Think he’s a perfect fit or is it too radical of a change to the original DJ Hero formula? Tell us in the comments below!

Click here to view the embedded video.

DJ Hero May Have Helped The Audio Industry

Paulmichael Contreras — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:50:27 +0000

DJ Hero has slowly but surely risen to become a commercial success for Activision. It also appears to have had a positive effect on the actual audio industry as well.

In speaking with CVG, Creative Director for DJ Hero 2 Jamie Jackson stated an unconfirmed rumor that DJ equipment sales have been on the upswing at places such as Best Buy and Wal-Mart when DJ Hero was placed in the same department:

“They had a strategy where the music games were situated near their music area. I thought it was quite a cool way of doing things, but I think it works differently for each market…One thing that I’ve learnt is that the American market is vastly different to the UK and European market”

So whether or not the same is true in other countries, in the US at least DJ Hero has spurred more sales of DJing equipment. So while actual musicians may look down on those simply playing music games, it may very well be those same music games that are spurring growth within the industry.

DJ Qbert Joins DJ Hero 2′s Ranks

Kyle P. — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 03:41:49 +0000

Activision is looking to deliver, once again, this fall, the sequel to the surprisingly successful DJ Hero. For fans of the upcoming game, Activision has been hard at working mixing up some good news for you.

Today, Activision announced that legendary turntable musician DJ Qbert will be joining the ranks of other DJ’s in DJ Hero 2. DJ Qbert has won multiple worldwide competitions and is highly regarded within the DJ world. The renowned DJ had this to say regarding the announcement:

“I’m excited about finally getting to bring the art of turntablism’s defining skills, as well as two exclusive mixes, to DJ Hero 2. It’s been a dream of mine as a gamer to battle myself on the turntables and now millions of fans around the world and their friends will get their chance to also.”

Continuing, was Tim Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs for Activision:

“As a pioneer of his craft, DJ Qbert’s one-of-a-kind scratch and battle skills made him an amazing partner and prefect representative of DJ Hero 2’s new multiplayer modes, especially the unique DJ vs. DJ battle mixes.
“We’re bringing together the biggest and best DJ’s from around the globe, having already announced Deadmau5 and David Guetta as part of our incredibly talented crew, and having DJ Qbert cut up records in his signature style will help us put an indelible stamp on the DJ Hero 2 soundtrack.”

We can only hope this newest addition will only add to the authentic experience Activision is trying to create with DJ Hero 2. DJ Hero 2 will hit the PlayStation 3, Wii and the Xbox 360 this October.

PlayStation To Rock Out at Lollapalooza

Anthony Severino — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:27:47 +0000

If you’re a fan of killer music, three-day long festivals, and plenty of PlayStation, then we’ve got the event for you. Sony will be bringing PlayStation Headquarters to this year’s Lollapalooza, the three-day, eight stage, music festival, which takes place August 6-8 in Chicago, Illinois.

This August during Lollapalooza, in Chicago, you can get your hands on some of the biggest upcoming PlayStation 3 titles at “PlayStation Headquarters”. Take a break from the speaker pounding music and the sun beating down on your shoulders to enjoy the following titles:

Sports Champions – PlayStation Move
wipEout HD – 3D
Gran Turismo 5 – 3D
MLB 10: The Show – 3D
DJ Hero

Lollapalooza is set for August 6th – 8th at Great Park, and if you like music and games get your tickets quick.

For more information on PlayStation’s presence at the event, click here

DJ Hero Scratching Over a Million Units Sold

Cameron Teague — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:01:54 +0000

Upon its release onto the market with its high rolling $120 price point, DJ Hero was labeled by many as a commercial flop and overall failure despite fairly solid reviews from critics around the web. However almost a year after its release, Activision’s Dan Amrich wants everyone to know that you shouldn’t judge a book by just the first few pages but instead by its entirety.

“DJ Hero was dubbed a flop on its release too, but what it needed was time for its audience to find it, a price break, and positive word from both friends and reviews to circulate. October and November were soft, but after the holiday, DJ Hero had hit about 800,000 units; today it’s 1.2 million units and counting, all of which come with a turntable controller. That’s not a flop; that’s the long tail at work.”

So there you have it, DJ Hero is not a flop at all but a game with some great legs and the start of what I am sure Activision hopes to be a long standing franchise.

[Source/Via]

New DJ Hero 2 Trailers Have A Deadmau5 in the House

Paulmichael Contreras — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:22:44 +0000

When DJ Hero first burst onto the scene, it brought a much-needed burst of fresh gameplay to the crowded music-based games genre. While generally praised by critics (including PSLS), the game did not sell as well as was expected. But with news of a sequel, information is now slowly trickling out about just what the game has in store for newcomers and fans alike. Two new trailers have been released, featuring electronic maestro Deadmau5 (yes, it is pronounced “dead mouse”), and you can take a peek at them after the jump.

First up, we have a teaser:

Next, some actual gameplay footage, showcasing some of the new elements to the battle mode and of course singing:

DJ Hero 2 is due out later this year (Q4).

DJ Hero 2 E3 Impressions

Anthony Severino — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:02:41 +0000

Activision is prepping the follow up to DJ Hero, the #1 new IP of 2009. We had a chance to take the sequel, DJ Hero 2, for a spin.

When DJ Hero released to the masses last year, it was very well received. The game combined tried and true rhythm-based gameplay with mashups from top musical talents. The game was nearly perfect. However, that hasn’t stopped Activision from improving on that successful formula.

Two Turntables and a Microphone

In fact, Activision listened very closely to fan feedback to ensure that DJ Hero 2 is the ultimate home party experience. This time around, they’re bringing gamers a much more social game. Multiplayer is a focal point, so much so, they’ve added the ability for someone to join with a microphone and sing the vocals all while the “DJ” cuts up the track. Since DJ Hero is about mashups, it really adds quite a challenge to the vocalist as the lyrics will switch back and fourth between the two songs as the DJ crossfades.

Adding a mic to the mix isn’t the only new feature in DJ Hero 2. Activision is also encouraging two DJs to go head-to-head in DJ Battle mode. Each DJ, armed with a video game controller version of the “wheels of steel” will battle it out, trying to one up each other. The track will switch back and fourth between the two players while each person plays a game of DJ-styled horse. Even in the normal 2 player modes, there is a heavy push toward competition, both online and offline. Visual ques, such as a new score “totem pole” will give the better player bragging rights.

Freestylin’

One new touch is the revamped freestyle. Instead of picking from a set list of freestyle sounds effects, the game actually grabs sounds right from the track you are playing. Gone are the out of place “Yeaaahhhh boyyeeeee” and replaced is a true to life DJ cut and sample. There’s also something called freestyle scratching, which gives you a zone on the “highway” to unleash you scratching skills. The result has your cuts sounding like you are a professional DJ.

The game promises much more talent than the first game’s already star-studded roster. So far the likes of Lady Gaga and Usher have been revealed, having their tracks mashed up by world renowned DJ’s like Deadmau5 and David Guetta. During our playtime we saw much of today’s hottest music, along with many classics such as Warren G’s “Regulate”.

Life of the Party

No one is happy when a party ends, and Activision knows this. So they have implemented seamless blending from one track to another. Instead of getting a score and it stopping at the end of your track, each track will blend into the next track in your set list. You can even create a set list of up to 30 tracks, for hours worth of scratching and mixing.

Given the amount of downloadable songs available for Guitar Hero, many expected DJ Hero to feature a similar DLC model, releasing hit after hit for user to download and personalize their library. However, that wasn’t the case at all. As of this writing, only a handful of additional tracks have been made available for download. With DJ Hero 2, there’s plans to support DLC much more along the lines of Guitar Hero. We also asked if tracks from the original DJ Hero could be “imported” into DJ Hero 2, and as of right now, they said that there are “plans” to do just that, but it’s not set in stone.

DJ Hero 2 will be available this October as a standalone game, a bundle with a turntable controller for $99.99, and a ultimate “Party bundle” which includes the game, two turntable controllers and a microphone for $149.99.