While it’s not the biggest value add-on we’ve ever seen, I imagine there’d be something pretty special about playing along to Muse’s Plug In Baby at full volume through these monsters.

You’ll need to pay $25 for shipping and handling, but otherwise the game is free. Check out Sony’s MU.TE.KI page for all the details…

[Sony]

Now this is cool. Using a standard electromyograph attached to the forearm, the geeks at Microsoft’s Muscle-Computer Interface group set up Guitar Hero to react to the position and pressure of all five fingers.

How badass is this? In all honesty, overpriced toy instruments cluttering up my living room is one of the big reasons I almost never play Rock Band or Guitar Hero games anymore. This looks to solve that problem while also bringing all of my air guitar fantasies to life. [Procrastineering via Make]

Definitely one for the things-I-wish-I-were-talented-enough-to-do category. These five guys are playing a way-bigger-than-life-size game of Guitar Hero by shooting soccer balls at sensors made from torn-apart Guitar Hero controllers. Oh and they’re scoring some pretty decent accuracy too.

Well, at least I would consider 76 per cent accuracy to be pretty great when you need to time your kick so that the ball actually hits the right sensor. That and it’s better than I score on a regular round of the game to begin with. [YouTube via HacknMod]

Each of the peripherals on each of the platforms will have an RRP of $399.95. That’s more on one instrument than the entire instrument+game pack for Guitar Hero 5. The PS3 version is out now, the Xbox version will land late October and the Wii version lands in late November.

While I’d love to take my music rhythm gaming to the next level, somehow I don’t think dropping $800 on instruments is the way to do it. With that kind of cash, I could buy real instruments and go on tour (at the local pub)…

[Logitech]

Sure that is more than Guitar Hero for Wii (including guitar and drums) will cost you but for those that love to have the best for rocking, the Logitech stuff is made from the best stuff on earth (just like Snapple). The wireless guitar has a maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and metal frets. Even the wireless controller has a white finish with a glossy-black pick guard.

Like those for the PS3, the Logitech Wireless Drum Controller for Wii has got three drum pads and two cymbals. You can adjust them to your liking and there is a recessed-rim around the pads that help avoid accidental rim shots. And haven’t you always wanted a kick pedal made of stainless steel. The Wii remote fits into the panel on the drum set (and into a slot on the back of the guitar).

Logitech also released a wireless drum set for the Xbox360 which is pretty much the same as the one for the Wii without the opening for the remote. Same pricing and all.

For those watching the cash, you can always find the closest pub with a Rock Band jam session and totally mooch on their instruments. [Logitech]

Sometime early next month, Nexilux is planning to release this mini retractable guitar that works on the PS2, PS3 and the Wii for both Guitar Hero and Rock Band games. Plus, putting it together makes you feel cool. [Nexilux]

What you’re watching is “JRefleX93″ playing Mr. Crowley in Guitar Hero on expert. With his elbow. While he does this, there are going to be two Rubik’s Cubes entering the frame. By the end of the video they are solved.

He doesn’t hit every note, sure, but he hits most of them, including the majority of those intense guitar solos. By the end he has a 77% rating and the hearts of geeky middle school gals the world over are his for the taking.

Money shot proof comes at the end, alongside a fade to black groan at about 6:15 that immediately destroys whatever geek cred this kid just spent six minutes of his life trying to create. [YouTube via Geekologie]

Young Alan here would like to show you how his OpenChord V1 guitar—an actual, string-having guitar—can be used to control everyone’s favourite rhythm game. Warning: If you ever want to play Guitar Hero again, don’t watch this video.

I’ll grant this: it’s pretty neat what the OpenChord does, plugging into the Wiimote and convincing the console that it’s a controller, and converting your finger presses into button inputs. It’s a funny concept, and it’s executed well. But somewhere around 40 seconds in, something happens that vindicates every feeling of unease and confusion anyone has every had about concept of rhythm gaming. For perhaps the first time ever, we hear what these games’ mechanical fret-bashing translates too, in real musical terms.

To be fair to the OpenChord crew, who sell V1 kits so you can reenact this whole wretched scene in your own basement, they regret leaving the guitar plugged into an amp:

If you unplug the guitar, you don’t really hear it, and if the slight sound is still too much, you can just tap the pick against the strings instead of a full strum…Yeah, what an embarrassing mistake!

Too late guys, the damage is done. Activision: SHUT IT DOWN. [OpenChord via Joystiq]

Yep, the price for the drums exceeds the price for the game and full set of regular instruments. But these things are seriously solid for that price, feeling more like an electric drum kit you’d buy at a real music store rather than a big toy like the regular drums.

In addition, these use an RF-based signal with a USB dongle rather than Bluetooth, which cuts back on latency and offers backwards compatibility with the PS2. Look for these to hit stores later this month.

Feel the Beat: Logitech Unveils Premium Drum Controller for Guitar Hero

Logitech Wireless Drum Controller Licensed for the PLAYSTATION 3 Computer Entertainment System

FREMONT, Calif.—So you can really rock out to Guitar Hero® on the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3) computer entertainment system, Logitech (SIX:LOGN) (NASDAQ:LOGI) today introduced the Logitech® Wireless Drum Controller for the PLAYSTATION 3 system. Licensed by Activision Publishing, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), for the award-winning Guitar Hero franchise, the Wireless Drum Controller features premium drum heads with recessed rims – making it easy for you to play like a rock star.

“When you’re ready to experience a new premium drum controller or expand your band, you’ll want to rip on Logitech’s new drum controller,” said Ruben Mookerjee, Logitech’s director of product marketing for gaming. “With the Wireless Drum Controller, you can mark time, keep the backbeat, colour up your riffs and crash down on the cymbal pads. Joining the Logitech® Wireless Guitar Controller, the new Wireless Drum Controller lets you rock out to your favourite songs on the PS3 system.”

The Logitech Wireless Drum Controller features three fully adjustable drum heads and two cymbal pads. Each piece can be positioned to fit your reach and suit your style. Offering a unique playing experience, the new Logitech Wireless Drum Controller provides quiet, responsive heads that deliver a lively feel, won’t distract you from the music, and are designed to let you take advantage of all the latest features of Guitar Hero games.

But Logitech did not just replicate typical drum heads. The recessed rims help make it easier to score points and avoid accidental rim shots. The kick pedal uses a stainless steel surface and an adjustable spring – providing a highly durable, responsive drumming experience.

Delivering up to 50 hours of battery life on two AA batteries, the Wireless Drum Controller gives you enough juice to perform a concert’s worth of hits, encores included.

Compatible with the PS3 system as well as the PlayStation®2 system, the Wireless Drum Controller uses a 2.4 GHz wireless USB receiver, so the connection is as steady as a drum beat. When you’re ready to play, the Logitech Wireless Drum Controller sets up quickly and folds flat in seconds. You can start playing within minutes of opening the box and when the show is over, the set can be easily stowed away. (Roadies are not required.)

Pricing and Availability

The Logitech Wireless Drum Controller for the PS3 system is expected to be available in the U.S. beginning in July and Europe beginning in August for a suggested retail price of $US229.99 (U.S.).