The Sponsors of Guitar Hero II
Look who wants to be a in a guitar video game now.
Published: November 2, 2006
You know what's fun? Making a game that is so damned awesome that it spreads through the public consciousness through pure word of mouth (and some reviews, but those don't actually do anything) that sponsors of real-life guitar accessories want in on the sequel. That's fun, and that's exactly what developer Harmonix Music Systems and publisher RedOctane managed to do with their Guitar Hero games.
Specifically, Guitar Hero II has managed to land sponsorships from (in delicious alphabetical order) BOSS Effectors, DW Drums, Eden Bass Amplication, EMG, Epiphone, Ernie Ball Strings, Gibson Guitar, Guitar Center, Hofner, Kramer, Krank, Line 6, Mesa Boogie, MusicMan Basses, Orange, Randall Amplifiers, Roland, Vans® and the Vans Warped Tour®, VHT, and Zildjian. Not bad, eh? The RedOctane folks seem to think so.
"The product placement within Guitar Hero II is designed to add an extra element of realism for gamers," explained Dusty Welch, head of publishing for RedOctane. "Players are deeply immersed into the rock star culture, utilizing the authentic tools of musicians worldwide including an extensive array of amps, strings, pedals, cymbals, music stores and venues."
"We are very excited to be part of Guitar Hero II this fall," added Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. "As the leader in innovation in the musical instrument industry we take great pride in partnering with such an enormously talented and aggressive group as those at RedOctane and Activision. We look forward to many more years of success and entertainment for our many fans."
Gibson, in particular, deserves a lot of credit for buying into the whole experience. They were down with not only showing up for the first game, but that fancy little controller you were playing with was a licensed Gibson SG miniature. With GHII, they're just continuing the relationship. And we're just continuing to crave more hot, hot GHII goodness.
In fact, if you're down with the whole celebrity thing, and you live in LA (or are visiting for some reason), you can go watch Jane's Addiction's Dave Navarro sign copies of games and guitars and shirts and (hopefully) huge, fake LA boobies during the West LA Best Buy's Midnight Madness event the night before the game goes on sale. If you happen to find yourself on Pico, head to 11301 (cross street Sawtelle) around 10:30PM or so and hop in line. That way you can spend the last few moments before the game's launch talking to other GH freaks.
And now you know!
Specifically, Guitar Hero II has managed to land sponsorships from (in delicious alphabetical order) BOSS Effectors, DW Drums, Eden Bass Amplication, EMG, Epiphone, Ernie Ball Strings, Gibson Guitar, Guitar Center, Hofner, Kramer, Krank, Line 6, Mesa Boogie, MusicMan Basses, Orange, Randall Amplifiers, Roland, Vans® and the Vans Warped Tour®, VHT, and Zildjian. Not bad, eh? The RedOctane folks seem to think so.
"The product placement within Guitar Hero II is designed to add an extra element of realism for gamers," explained Dusty Welch, head of publishing for RedOctane. "Players are deeply immersed into the rock star culture, utilizing the authentic tools of musicians worldwide including an extensive array of amps, strings, pedals, cymbals, music stores and venues."
"We are very excited to be part of Guitar Hero II this fall," added Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. "As the leader in innovation in the musical instrument industry we take great pride in partnering with such an enormously talented and aggressive group as those at RedOctane and Activision. We look forward to many more years of success and entertainment for our many fans."
Gibson, in particular, deserves a lot of credit for buying into the whole experience. They were down with not only showing up for the first game, but that fancy little controller you were playing with was a licensed Gibson SG miniature. With GHII, they're just continuing the relationship. And we're just continuing to crave more hot, hot GHII goodness.
In fact, if you're down with the whole celebrity thing, and you live in LA (or are visiting for some reason), you can go watch Jane's Addiction's Dave Navarro sign copies of games and guitars and shirts and (hopefully) huge, fake LA boobies during the West LA Best Buy's Midnight Madness event the night before the game goes on sale. If you happen to find yourself on Pico, head to 11301 (cross street Sawtelle) around 10:30PM or so and hop in line. That way you can spend the last few moments before the game's launch talking to other GH freaks.
And now you know!
