Call it a natural evolution, call it great minds thinking alike, or just call it coincidence — the music-game scene at this past E3 was all about real guitars…or reasonable facsimiles thereof. I was fortunate enough to be able to squeeze in meetings with all of the companies preparing to unleash these things on the market, and I’d like to share my experience with you. You know, if that’s OK.

And so I present to you, ranked roughly in order from least favorite to favorite: the real — and real-ish — guitars of E3.

Peavey HeroMaker
$TBA | Early 2011 | www.peavey.com/heromaker
Previously on Plastic Axe

As a guitar: Peavey has been making solid, if unremarkable, entry-level guitars for decades, and this seems like pretty much that: solid, but unremarkable. This is the one guitar I wasn’t able to get hands-on time with, but based on the specs — Strat-style body, one dual-coil pickup, and a fixed bridge — it seems like it will do the job fine as a training aid, but it’s nothing you’d want to take up on stage.

As a game controller: The HeroMaker takes an unusual approach to the whole real-guitar-as-game-controller thing: Only one string (the high E) has a sensor beneath it, so all of your in-game playing will be on that single string. The sensor covers 12 frets, but only recognizes the five traditional “colors,” which presumably repeat.

The technology here is optical, which appeared to offer very quick response. And since it’s optical, the guitar can detect the presence of a capo or finger when starting up, and will “zero out” at that fret — so you can move the actual in-game detection area as high as frets 8 through 12.

The guitar also includes standard guitar-controller features like a whammy bar (digital, so it works in-game only), effects switch, and d-pad.

The verdict: Looks fine enough as a guitar, but it’s almost comically limited as a game controller thanks to the single-string sensor. You can strum and fret a single string, but really — how much better is that than a regular plastic controller?

Now, the Peavey rep showed me a prototype neck being developed for a second edition, which featured optical sensors across the whole neck, allowing for play outside of the single string. That could be worth checking out. But in its current form, the guitar function and controller function are almost completely separate. It’s hard to think of a target audience for this one, given what else will be available by the time it releases. Continue reading →

Last week I mentioned Power Gig: Rise of the SixString, a game/guitar combo that appears to take a slightly new approach to music-game gameplay and a very new approach to controllers — that is to say, it uses what’s basically a real guitar.

If that sounds interesting to you, you’ll probably be interested in this piece in the Chicago Tribune. It doesn’t include much in the way of new info, but it does mention something about the manufacturer that makes me think this is more than a shot-in-the-dark experiment:

Seven45 has the advantage of being owned by the same people who own First Act, a line of affordable, introductory-level musical instruments and accessories sold at Wal-Mart, Target and other major retailers, potentially giving “Power Gig” a foot in the door to a mass audience.

So there’s experience — and perhaps more importantly, money — behind this project, which is a promising sign.

Looking for more? There’s not much out there at the moment; Joystiq posted a trailer the other day, but it’s completely devoid of any gameplay footage. I’m hoping to get a look at this thing in person at PAX East next week, whereupon I will divulge every bit of info I can wring out of the experience. Just for you.