Today, music videogame peripheral manufacturer The Ant Commandos have revealed their huge batch of Rock Band and Guitar Hero peripherals for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3. The line-up includes a guitar that is compatible with all Guitar Hero and Rock Band products for both PS2 and PS3, a wireless bass-shaped guitar, as well as a pack of two wireless microphones.
"All of our Guitar controllers are designed to provide 100% 4-in-1 compatibility, even down to the most minute features, with Guitar Hero 1, 2, and 3 and Rock Band for both the PS2 and PS3 platforms," assures Raymond Yow, Director of Marketing at TAC.
TAC will also be releasing a product that is sure to have long-time Guitar Hero players cheering -- a PS2 to PS3 guitar adapter. This adapter is designed to make all PS2 guitar peripherals work with both Rock Band and Guitar Hero on the PS3; now might be a good time to dig out and dust off those old guitars from your closet.
With lower price points and better compatibility than first-party products, these peripherals should offer a nice alternative for gamers ... provided they don't feel like junk in your hands. The full press release, including details on each of the products, can be found after the jump.
Experience The Ultimate In Innovation This Spring With The Ant Commandos' New Lineup Of Musical Video Game Controllers
TAC's Upcoming Wireless Products Include the First 4-in-1 Double Range and Widow Maker Bass Guitars, Breakfree Microphone, Universal PS2 to PS3 Adapter and More
April 14, 2008 - Ontario, CA- The Ant Commandos (TAC), a leading provider of innovative wireless video game music peripherals and accessories, announced today its upcoming lineup of products hitting retail this spring. The new lineup includes the first-ever guitar controllers to offer 4-in-1 compatibility, with all of its new
guitars being 100% compatible with all Guitar Hero and Rock Band games for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3.
The new lineup includes the Double Range Guitar in flame red, electric blue and jet black, the Widow Maker Wireless Bass Guitar, Breakfree Wireless Microphone Dual Pack, BreakFree Wireless Microphone Single Pack (for Rock Band) and a Universal PS2 to PS3 adapter for guitar and game controllers. TAC will also introduce illuminated drumsticks and a new Universal Guitar Controller Bag to help gamers tote their guitar controllers wherever they want to rock out.
"The music genre in the video game industry has grown so much in recent years, we have seen the demand for products that deliver high-quality, high value musical experiences also grow," said Raymond Yow, Director of Marketing at TAC. "All of our Guitar controllers are designed to provide 100% 4-in-1 compatibility, even down to the most minute features, with Guitar Hero 1, 2 and 3 and Rock Band for both the PS2 and PS3 platforms."
After successfully offering the first wireless and then the first 10 button design guitars for the Guitar Hero games, TAC is at it again by introducing the first 4-in-1 guitar that is 100% compatible with all Guitar Hero and Rock Band products on the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3.
TAC's new line of guitar controllers and accessories help make the most of any player's musical gameplay experience:
The Double Range Guitar
The first 4-in1 compatible guitar, the Double Range is 100 % compatible with all Guitar Hero and Rock Band products for the PS2 and PS3. The guitar will retail for $49.99 in late April and will be available in flame red, electric blue and jet black. The Double Range Guitar controller allows players to act out their rock star fantasies with its 2.4GHz wireless technology which doesn't require a direct line of infrared sight to the console. Providing gamers the freedom to thrash around up to 30 feet away from the console, players will also appreciate the second set of FeatherTouch fret buttons on its patent pending Xtended Fret Button Array which enables players to jam like their musical idols by jumping to the lower set of fret buttons for world-class solos, and then using the higher set for rhythm parts. The Double Range's lower 5 buttons are 100% compatible with Rock Band's Solo Guitar play and it offers a 5-way switch to support the sound effect feature in Rock Band. In addition, players will love the FreedomClip, a special belt clip that allows for strap-free play.
The Widow Maker Wireless Bass Guitar
The first bass guitar that is 100% compatible with both Guitar Hero and Rock Band, the Widow Maker will retail for $59.99. Compatible with all versions of Guitar Hero and Rock Band for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3, the Widow Maker is the most advanced controller on the market, featuring AutoSense wireless technology using 2.4GHz connectivity and offering a larger and longer body design that mimics a real Bass guitar. The Widow Maker features the new BigBoy Strum Bar
which makes for a wider and tighter strumming zone, and players can be ready for fast action with the FeatherTouch Fret Buttons which are undercoated with new rubber cushions, designed to activate at the slightest touch. For special features that every guitar fan will love, the Widow Maker features a special button cluster that has a recessed pause button so players do not accidentally pause during a jam session. With its 4-in-1 compatibility, players can be assured that their investment is a good one, even if they upgrade to another system-because their guitar will work with all PS2 and PS3 versions of the games.
The Breakfree Wireless Microphone Dual Pack
The Breakfree Wireless Microphone Dual Pack will carry a retail price of $49.99, comes in two colorful designs - flame red or electric blue, and the package includes two wireless microphones, two wireless microphone antennas and one wireless microphone receiver unit. The microphones are compatible with SingStar, Boogie, High School Musical and Karaoke machines. Featuring an AutoSeek 'n' Set RF wireless antenna, gamers can perform like a star up to 45 feet away from the base station without worrying about getting caught in wires and cords. No one will know you're not a professional singer, with the 100 to 10,000 Hz frequency response which delivers a wide spectrum of rich sound. The Breakfree Wireless Microphone conserves energy by turning off if it doesn't receive a signal for more than 10 minutes, and it offers up to 100 hours of extended play on one battery pack.
PlayStation2 to PlayStation3 Adapter
The new PlayStation 2 to PlayStation 3 adapter enables all PlayStation 2 controllers and Guitar Hero and Rock Band Guitars to be utilized on the PlayStation 3 so players do not have to throw away all of the valuable hardware and software they have invested in. Unlike previous adapters from other companies, this adapter is compatible with most of the popular guitar controllers on the market and is engineered to function perfectly with all the features of the Guitar Hero and Rock Band games.
Contest:
12:51 PM on 04.14.2008
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Also, two of the photos are broken.
Basically, the normal fret buttons are way too stiff, and they seemed to be touting this as a feature. But when compared to say the rock band guitar, which is smooth with almost no resistance to your input, the Ant Company's method sucks.
And SteamyV, you are right about those solo frets. The roundness makes using them not only a chore, and difficult to hit, but it also gets kind of painful after a while, unlike the rock band solo frets (although those ones are still kind of hard to use when you're so used to the other ones).
One of the guitars look like John Petrucci's Ernie Ball Music Man guitar
What's the point in getting excited when the stuff is of such poor quality?
I really want a owrking guitar, my Rock Band strum bar is starting to fail.
Glad to see love still being given to the hardcore ps2 fans that have been with them since the beginning. I still have all the games on Ps2 and two controllers...I don't have the extra moneys to upgrade. Also I'm big into the Custom GH scene.