Guitar Hero III + amBX = party machine

by Richard Mitchell { Mar 11th 2008 at 2:45PM }

Well, any rhythm game really, but this example uses Guitar Hero III. Honestly, we'd never heard of amBX before, but Phillips would have you believe it's the next step in interactive technology. Nope, it's not touch screens or big ass tables, it's ... colors? Desperate marketing aside, when combined with Guitar Hero III, amBX does make for an impressive light show. Whether or not it gives the $99 Rock Band stage kit a run for its money remains to be seen. At twice the price, you'd think it would (or hope so anyway). Unfortunately, it looks like we'll have to wait for the 360 version of amBX hardware -- this video utilized the PC version -- as it's still in development. We're waiting with sarcastically bated breath.

Tags: activision, ambx, ghiii, guitar-hero, guitar-hero-3, guitar-hero-iii, neversoft, phillips

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

andyg8180 @ Mar 11th 2008 3:01PM

this was originally developed on their shitty plasmas... But i like that they made a stand alone version... Not too sure i'd buy it, but if i was a stoner, i would definitly get it lol

SugarDaddy @ Mar 11th 2008 3:38PM

That guy sucks at Guitar Hero.

Edgar N, @ Mar 11th 2008 3:42PM

yea sugar, cuz you know, that was the whole point of the video....

Christopher @ Mar 11th 2008 3:47PM

Lame. At $200 - even lamer ....

Also, what does being a stoner and flashing lights have in common? Not that much. I would say it's more of a LSD/mushies/ecstasy kind of thing if we're going to relate it back to the drug culture.

Stoners, as in someone who readily smokes ganja and has done so for a long time, don't usually dig dark rooms, loud music, and neon-like flashing lights in combination in their living room. Just a little FYI.

andyg8180 @ Mar 11th 2008 4:11PM

It was more of a joke Chris... not to be analyzed into what drugs would work best with this...

Deck @ Mar 11th 2008 4:44PM

The "next step in interactive entertainment"? What? You serious? Must be a joke right?...they really don't think....

Damnit it seems they do! Well, I think its a waste!

Dirk Dorkelson @ Mar 11th 2008 5:30PM

I played around with amBX a bit on the GDC Expo floor. They had it set up for FPS games, as well as Overlord, with little lights around the PC monitor and fans that would blow air in your face as you, say, jumped off a platform and were flying through the air. It was actually a bit cooler in practice than it sounded when the woman working the booth described it to me.

ethan @ Mar 11th 2008 7:04PM

at andy.

actually it wasnt.
the thing on plasmas was just a cheap mood lighting trick.

this is for computers where its sposed to set the light and the speakers have fans in them to simulate wind in your face when you move...

yeah, silly.

elmersglue @ Mar 11th 2008 10:38PM

shit, if i was filthy rich, I wouldn't care if its silly, i'd still get it. I'm sure showing friends that your entertainment system blows air at your face to simulate wind, they'd be blown away (pun intended).

Mike Jenkins @ Mar 12th 2008 12:26AM

Stoners generally implies anyone why does drugs, so it works anyway.

colin @ Mar 12th 2008 1:47AM

idk mike, crackheads and tweakers aren't called stoners. to me at least, stoner implies consistent use of a downer-type chemical substance. pills, H, pot.

also, someone needs new wallpaper.

Boff @ Mar 12th 2008 7:27AM

Mike, a stoner is someone who gets stoned. Weed gets you stoned.

Anyway, seen this a few times on GamerTV on Bravo and it sounds good in practice but does it actually add to the experience? The guy showing it off on telly used an in-game explosion as an example, so you'd get red/orange/yellow lights and then a blast of air in the face.

As stupid as it sounds, I'll be keeping a guilty eye out for the 360 version.

I'm all for more immersion in my games.